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Erie PA News and Events for Wednesday November 2, 2005

GE Infrastructure Rail said yesterday that it received a contract worth more than $450 million to supply 300 locomotives to the Chinese Ministry of Railways. Most of the locomotive kits, which include engines, alternators, motors and other machinery, will be manufactured at the Erie GE plant. Last year, China awarded over $300 million in contracts to GE for rail technology. Over the next 15 years, China will need to replace 6,500 locomotives.

Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan met in Beijing Tuesday with an American Foreign Policy Council delegation led by former US Homeland Security secretary Tom Ridge. Ridge, who still resides part-time in Erie, said the delegation members have exchanged their views with the Chinese side on issues of bilateral relations, anti-terrorism and 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, which help them expand their understanding of China.

Lord Corporation, Erie, Pa, was awarded on Oct 28, 2005, a delivery order amount of $6,498,000 as part of a $39,446,109 firm-fixed-price contract for spindle bearing assemblies for the UH-60 Utility Blackhawk helicopter. Work will be performed in Dayton. The US Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala, is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-05-D-0557).

The JD Power and Associates 2005 Homeowners Insurance Study was released yesterday. Among homeowners insurance providers, Amica Mutual ranks highest in overall homeowners insurance customer satisfaction for a fourth consecutive year with a score of 860 out of 1,000. Amica is followed by State Farm, which records a 14 index point improvement from 2004 with a score of 808. Erie Insurance Group round out the top three providers in the study at 786.

The state released September employment figures yesterday. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the Erie PA area fell to 5.4 percent in September from the August figure of 5.6 percent. The September 2004 unemployment rate was 6.4 percent. The complete Pennsylvania employment data in pdf format can be found here.

Blackboard, a leading provider of enterprise software and services to the education industry, included the Erie School District in the list of clients that they gained in the last quarter.

Paul Raymond Martin has been published in writing magazines and other publications, has authored several books and hails from the Erie area residing in Saegertown, PA. Although Martin often writes short stories and other fiction, his most recent works include the three part Writer’s Little Instruction Book series with: “Inspiration and Motivation,” “Craft and Technique,” and “Getting Published.” Martin, a former high school math teacher, now writes full time. He has been nominated for the Best American Mysteries and Best American Short Stories awards, and has been featured in the 2005 Poetry Writer’s Market and the 2006 Writer’s Market.

WJET Radio 1400 will broadcast a debate between Dale McBrier and Mark DiVecchio, candidates for Erie County Executive, today at 5 pm.

The Political Science Society of Penn State Behrend and the League of Women Voters of Erie are sponsoring a public forum for 7 Harborcreek School Board candidates and 2 Township Supervisor candidates. The forum will be held at the Faith Lutheran Church, 5414 East Lake Road on Wednesday, November 2 at 7 pm. Harborcreek voters are invited to attend and ask questions of the candidates.

Join musicians, dancers, chefs and more for A Passage to India, the Penn State Behrend November celebration of Indian culture, music, dance, and food. Beginning at 5 pm Friday, Nov 4, Indian food will be available for purchase in the Wintergarden of the Reed Union Building. Entertainment begins at 6:20 pm with authentic Indian dance performed by Penn State Behrend students Deepti Soni, a political science major, and plastics engineering technology major Nehal Kachalia. The featured performers, internationally known musicians Kiran Ahluwalia and Shafaatullah Khan, will begin to play at 7 pm.

The Asbury Woods Nature Center will hold a dedication and ribbon cutting on November 5 at 11 am. The center will host an Open House all day Saturday and Sunday with live music, tours, hikes, crafts and more. If you’ve never seen this amazing place, go this weekend.

Gannon’s Dan Howell (Erie, PA/Iroquois) and Alex Scott (Cape Town, South Africa) made a clean sweep of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) men’s soccer weekly awards released yesterday. Howell was involved in every Gannon goal, assisting on one and scoring two. He leads Gannon in goals (11) and points (27) this season. Scott earned his second consecutive ECAC Goalkeeper of the Week honor. He has a 1.29 goals against average in 10 starts this season.

With the addition of Troy, Ohio, announced Tuesday, the American Indoor Football League will grow by 10 teams to 16 for the 2006 season. The Erie Freeze will compete in the eight-team North Division with the Canton Legends, Johnstown Riverhawks, Binghamton Brigadiers, Reading Express, Steubenville Stampede, and yet unnamed squads in Huntington (WVa) and Troy. The AIFL season will tentatively begin on Feb 25, about seven weeks earlier than last season.

Posted by Dennis at November 2, 2005 7:00 AM

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Posted by: Jenson at November 2, 2005 11:00 AM

Posted by: Nick at November 2, 2005 11:27 AM

Posted by: Dennis at November 2, 2005 12:14 PM

Posted by: Jenson at November 2, 2005 1:20 PM

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