NEWS

Corry, Pennsylvania, where approximately 17% of the residents do not have health insurance, is set to get its first free clinic this spring.  Located at 336 York Street, it will offer basic medical services to those who don’t qualify for Medicare and cannot afford health insurance.

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The Non-profit company, Lake Erie Energy Development Corp., released a request for proposals for its new $100 million energy project — wind turbines in Lake Erie off the shores of Cleveland.  And Erie?  We get a tire burning plant.

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According to ErieAlerts’ Twitter feed, shortly after midnight on Tuesday morning, a car slammed into a house at 1406 Buffalo Road, prompting responses from Erie Police and Fire Departments.  Apparently, in conjunction with hitting the residence, the gas meters/lines were also struck.  And I always thought those gas meters in the front of houses were just ugly.  I guess they can be dangerous, too. 

Also according to ErieAlerts Twitter feed, there were more shots fired on Erie’s east side last night.  This time, it was around the 1100 block of East Third Street.

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For the fourth time, Hamot Medical Center has been recognized as one of the 100 Top Hospitals in the U.S. by Thomson Reuters.  The award is based on the overall organizational performance.  Hamot is the only hospital in the area to ever receive this recognition.

“I’m extremely proud of Hamot’s people for consistently working so hard each and every day,” Hamot President and CEO John Malone said. “To achieve this unprecedented recognition for the fourth time is certainly extraordinary. It’s important for us to take time to recognize each other for the high-quality care every employee provides.”

The Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals®: National Benchmarks study evaluates performance in 10 areas: mortality, medical complications, patient safety, average length of stay, expenses, profitability, patient satisfaction, adherence to clinical standards of care, and post-discharge mortality and readmission rates for acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, and pneumonia. The study has been conducted annually since 1993.

“This year’s study magnified the value that 100 Top Hospital award winners provide to their communities.  Even during the economic downturn, the 100 Top Hospitals maintained a profit from operations while raising the bar for clinical quality and patient satisfaction,”  said Jean Chenoweth, senior vice president for performance improvement and 100 Top Hospitals programs at Thomson Reuters. “The insistence of these hospitals’ leaders — their boards, executive teams and medical staffs — on overall excellence makes the difference.”

To conduct the 100 Top Hospitals study, Thomson Reuters researchers evaluated 2,926 short-term, acute care, non-federal hospitals. They used public information — Medicare cost reports, Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MedPAR) data, and core measures and patient satisfaction data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Compare data set.

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According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, my dog’s least favorite former senator, Rick Santorum, is filling his coffers for a run at the presidency in 2012.

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The Erie General Electric Federal Credit Union has taken the top honors from both the Pennsylvania Credit Union Association and the Credit Union National association for their unwavering efforts in support of the Erie region.

The Pennsylvania Credit Union Association’s Louise A. Herring Award for Philosophy in Action formally recognizes credit unions that demonstrate in an extraordinary way the practical application of the People Helping People philosophy.   General Electric Credit Union was recognized for their immense package of products and services offered to their membership that help build financially strong futures.

On the national level, the General Electric Credit Union took home three awards from the Credit Union National Association including two top honors.  These awards included a Diamond Award for their efforts in engaging the community in their “Take Action” campaign, where Erie residents submitted video’s to win $1000 for the charity of their choice as well as themselves! The other awards were recognized for their Quarterly Member Newsletters and the Laidoffinerie.com website for those suffering from job loss.

Trent Mason, Chief Marketing Officer at Erie General Electric FCU says, “We feel extremely honored to receive these distinguished awards in recognition of our Credit Union’s efforts.  Our ongoing support of the Erie community shows why the valuable programs we offer at our Credit Union continue to be offered to those who need it most.  While other financial institutions will not look beyond a credit score, we take a holistic view of the person and realize sometimes a person cannot help but deal with the hand they were dealt.”

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EVENTS

Mix It Up With The Maestro, a fundraiser for the Erie Philharmonic, will be held on April 13, 2010 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  at Victor’s @ The Bel Aire.  Conductor Daniel Meyer and a bevy of Phil supporters will be your bartenders and all tips will be donated to the Erie Philharmonic.  Live music will be  provided by Matt Kramer & Chelcie and there will be drink specials and half price appetizers.

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Our friends at the Chautauqua Institution have put together another fine season of lectures and entertainment.  Some of the more notable thus far include:

PBS host Jim Lehrer
Actor Alan Alda
Former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn
Filmmaker Ken Burns
Charleston, SC mayor Joseph P. Riley
Social and political commentator David Brooks

Music at the amphitheater includes Tom Chapin, “Redneck Woman” Gretchen Wilson, The Oak Ridge Boys
And especially for all you baby boomers… Bob Newhart, Tim Conway, and Dion
Go to http://www.ciweb.org/ for more details

There are some great places to nosh around the Institute. My favorite is the Italian Fisherman in Bemus Point
http://www.italianfisherman.com/

For more good places in the Chautauqua region look here:
http://tourchautauqua.com/Dine-Chautauqua-Lake.aspx

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If you’re a REAL maple syrup lover (sorry Aunt J.) and find that your winter stash of the sweet stuff is almost gone, get yourself to Hurry Hill Farm in Edinboro and replenish your supply. Owner Janet Woods has put together a maple museum that’s fun for kids and big kids alike.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10070/1041678-34.stm?cmpid=fooddining.xml
Hurry Hill Farm and Maple Museum
11380 Fry Road, Edinboro, Pa.
Hours: Open from 2 to 5 p.m. Sundays until Memorial Day. The museum will close for summer and open again for the same Sunday hours beginning Labor Day.
Information: 1-814-734-1358 or hurryhillfarm@verizon.net.

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On April 14, 2010, the newly formed NWPA Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America is hosting Extreme PR, a presentation by Engel O’Neill Advertising that takes a behind-the-scenes look at the PR and media involved in the Erie episode of Extreme Makeover:  Home Edition.  The event will take place at the Ambassador Banquet & Conference Center.  Cash bar is at 6:30 p.m., with the program beginning at 7:00 p.m.  Cost is free for members and $15/person for non-members.  For more information, check out the organization’s Facebook page.