This week’s video is a blast from the past.

Not funny, Ray. Not funny at all. According to the US Census Bureau, we in Erie have the highest poverty rate of any large city in the commonwealth. Nearly 20% of city residents were below the poverty live, earning less than $10,830. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting that Allegheny County Executive Dan Onoroto will enter [...]

I love this image. The trunk reaches up out of the ground like a hand to hold this boy who is in last years of childhood. This image captures the magic, wonder and adventure of boyhood.

Secretly, we kind of like days like yesterday – windy and drizzly. Not every day, mind you, but once in a while, it’s nice. We should have a few more days like that this week. Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong has a new lawyer – Douglas Sughrue. Of course, she could always change her mind 12 more times. [...]

Kim Fabrizio is a high-capacity person. Currently the executive assistant to the President of Edinboro University, she has held high posts at WQLN and the Erie Times-News in years past. Kim is a person that gets things done; and she does it while battling Multiple Sclerosis. Soon after her diagnosis in 2007 she began blogging [...]

Second Lieutenant Edward French, missing in action since 1943, was finally laid to rest here in Erie this weekend. He was lost when his B-24 crashed in New Guinea. Welcome home. Ed Palattella had a good story in yesterday’s paper about Greg Rubino and his Tecnica Development Corporation. A state grand jury is looking into [...]

CultureSpark, the Erie County Cultural Plan, has developed an initial set of priorities and ideas through a series of forums, leadership interviews and meetings with artists and organizations. Now, CultureSpark is reaching out to Erie County residents, artists and organizations to gather their opinions, ideas and hopes by conducting three Web-based questionnaires. The three surveys [...]

I came up with this I’m Bored topic when I was hanging out at the Erie County Library recently and… guess what… it’s absolutely free.

I am so glad that it’s Friday. Was it just me or was this week completely brutal? Dasa, an orangutan at the Erie Zoo, gave birth to a baby boy last week. The new arrival does not yet have a name. Mercyhurst College and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) have announced a [...]

The Advertising Federation of Northwest Pennsylvania (formerly the Erie Ad Club) has announced the winners of its 2009 Creative Spark Awards. Whereas the organization’s ADDY Awards, held each spring, recognize work done by companies and organizations, the Creative Spark Awards recognize individuals who are making a positive impact on the advertising and marketing communications industry [...]

We’re feeling sorry for all those poor folks who live in the Pittsburgh area as the G-20 Conference opens today.  It looks and sounds like everyone in the country with something to protest or an agenda to push has descended on the City.  Several groups couldn’t wait for the official opening, and started their shenanigans [...]

ArtsErie will launch its Big Read program in celebration of Ray Bradbury’s classic Fahrenheit 451 with a community kick-off on Thursday, Oct. 1 from 6-8 p.m. at the H.O. Hirt Auditorium in Blasco Library (160 East Front St., Erie). The Big Read–Erie is presented in partnership with the Erie County Public Library and the School [...]

Several legal stories today. The U.S. Department of Justice filed a complaint today on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection against Erie Coke Corporation for Clean Air Act violations at its coke foundry. The company has been fined several times for high levels of air pollution. Is [...]

While searching for a video to post this week I came across TripWire Operations. According to their video info Tripwire Operations conducts explosives training for emergency personnel, police canine handlers, law enforcement, medical personnel, and firefighters. This video was shot in Erie during August 2007. All I can say is – Yowza!

Believe it or not, today is the first day of fall. Funny, I thought fall started back in late July. John Guerriero has a good look at the state budget proposal in the Erie Times-News. While we won’t face an income or sales tax hike, other taxes will go up (shocker.) The tax on cigarettes [...]

The Erie Maritime Museum is pleased to announce it will offer the public a chance to see and learn more about the city’s three historic lighthouses. On Saturday, October 3, 2009, you can join the Lighthouse Keeper for a narrated tour of Presque Isle Lighthouse, the North Pier Light, and Erie Land Lighthouse. Other historic [...]

VisitErie and the City of Erie are hosts for the Pennsylvania Convention & Visitors Bureau (PACVB) regional fall conference September 19-23. The conference, taking place at the Bayfront Convention Center and Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel, is expected to attract 100-125 attendees. The last PACVB conference held in Erie was 1998. PACVB was founded in 1972. [...]

And baby makes three. Or six feet or thirty toes.

We didn’t have a post yesterday, so I’m technically a day late, but that’s ok. Happy birthday to my lovely wife, Jennifer. Thanks for putting up with me all these years. We mentioned last week the email that was going around about attacks at the Millcreek Mall. Reader Jim sent us a copy. It reads: [...]

We received a few emails from people affected by impending GE layoffs, here’s one person’s feelings: Corporate wife of one laid off. What goes around comes around. For all those under 40 years of age making a good living – traveling all over the world – not being there for special events with your sons, [...]

Autumn is absolutely my favorite time of year, and I know I’m not alone.  I even have friends who now reside in the southwest, but make a special effort to return to Erie for a visit almost every year around this time.

Lilly Broadcasting will carry the second annual Community for Kanzius Cancer Research Fund Telethon this evening on WSEE, WICU, and the CW.  Let’s all do our best to help them top last year’s total of almost $100,000 dollars. Patricia Fronzaglia, of Warsaw Ave, became the first recipient of the Maleno family-to-Family Fund’s Home Makeover.  Mrs Fronzaglia has been [...]

Gannon University’s Schuster Theatre will open its 2009-10 season with seven performances of “Dancing at Lughnasa.” Performances will be held at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Oct. 1, 2, and 3; at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Oct. 8, 9, and 10; and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 11. Gannon [...]

Obviously the big news of the day is the announcement that GE will lay off over 1,400 hourly and 50 salaray workers, this time permanently. The plant had been having rolling layoffs the last few months. The challenge is trying to find new jobs in a similar field for these workers. There just isn’t that [...]

I love the innocence and sweet exuberance. The image is simple yet captivating.

This week’s video is the of the Stryker Unit returning to Cambridge Springs on September 12th. Thanks to The Meadville Tribune for shooting the video. Stryker troops return to Cambridge Sept. 12 from The Meadville Tribune on Vimeo.

Scott Bremner at WSEE TV broke the news this morning that GE will permanently lay off over 1480 hourly workers.  Most  affected are those who are already on temporary lay off, about 1200 employees, and 230 who are still working.  Also eliminated are 50 salaried positions. I will update the details as the become available.  [...]

Actor Patrick Swayze passed away yesterday after a battle with cancer. We’re thinking of watching Road House today in his honor. Erie gets a mention in this USA Today story about testing for toxic substances at schools. You may remember that the paper ran tests of air quality near schools. They report: The EPA also [...]

Christine Reed is not your typical Erie-survivor type person. You know, the way Erie people think it’s cool to complain about everything, act hard-to-impress, and commiserate over the number of inches of snowfall in the forecast. Nope, Christine chooses joy. Her blog, Blisschick is full of encouragement, ideas, and tips that help the reader redirect [...]

We hope you had a nice weekend – the weather was pretty great though we felt a twinge of sadness as we drove past Waldameer on our way to Presque Isle and the parking lot was empty and no rides were spinning and no fun was being had. Welcome hom to the Stryker Brigade, who [...]