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Erie PA News and Events for Wednesday January 4, 2006

Erie based Spectrum Control has purchased the former Murata Erie plant near Harrisburg PA for $1 (but Murata received $5.1 for the property with the state footing the bill). They will initially hire 130 workers. The Murata plant will become Spectrum Control’s ceramic operations design and manufacturing center, replacing a New Orleans plant that was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. The financial package includes $3.1 million in state support to help offset relocation costs, $2.25 million from the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority plus an opportunity grant, money for job training assistance and job creation tax credits. After the water was drained from New Orleans, Spectrum shipped much of the equipment to the Ferguson Township plant for clean-up and repairs. Spectrum CEO Dick Southworth was the general manager of the Murata facility. The Murata Erie plant once employed over 1,300 so Spectrum will have no trouble finding skilled workers. Both Spectrum Control and Murata manufacture ceramic chip capacitors.

Erie Indemnity (Erie Insurance) was named to the Forbes Platinum 400, also known as America’s Best Big Companies. ERIE was ranked Number 200. The company had a total 5 year return of 18.9 percent. Their latest 12 month dividend yield was 2.5 percent.

Hall of Famer Lynn Swann will announce his candidacy for Pennsylvania governor today. He will be in Erie on Thursday to repeat the announcement.

National Fuel Gas has requested a 8.5 percent rate hike from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission which would be effective as of August, 2006.

The Ambassador’s Agenda by Erie PA author James Stumpo is Number 41 position on the Buy.Com Suspense Bestselling List. He’s in pretty good company: Number 35 A Time to Kill by Author John Grisham (Doubleday Books) Number 41 The Ambassador’s Agenda by Author James T Stumpo (Publish America) Number 42 The Mad Cook of Pymatuning by Author Christopher Lehmann-Haupt (Simon and Schuster) Number 49 The Beach House by Author James Patterson (Warner)

Lake Erie Regiment Jr Drum and Bugle Corps still has spots available right now in all areas. They are also seeking a drum major. Their next camp is this weekend Jan 6-8. Lake Erie Regiment (LER) is open to anyone from 12 to 21 years of age. Last year’s roster included members from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois and West Virginia. They are a Division III member of Drum Corps International (DCI) and Drum Corps Midwest (DCM).

“Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Magic” has 6 performances scheduled for the Erie Civic Center Tullio Arena, Jan 4 - 8, 2006 Wed-Fri 7pm; Sat 11am, 3pm, 7pm and Sun 2pm. Tickets are $42, $31, $18 and $12. Children who have reached their 1st birthday must have a ticket.

The Capitol Steps will be performing at the Warner Theatre on Jan 7 at 8 pm. Proceeds benefit WQLN. Tickets run $42.50, $30 and $25.

Bobby Schindler, brother of Terri Schiavo will be the keynote speaker at the 28th annual People for Life Pro-Life Prayer Breakfast to be held Jan 7 at 9 am at the Avalon Hotel in Erie, PA. Since his sister’s death on March 31, 13 days after her feeding tube was removed by court order, Bobby has left his teaching position and as spokesman for the Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation, travels across the country, appearing in numerous speaking engagements, devoting himself to raising public awareness about euthanasia.

The Highmark Quad Cross County Ski and Snowshoe race will be held January 8, 2006 at 1 pm on the Upper Golf Course of Peek ‘n Peak. The cross country ski race is 5 miles and the snowshoe race is 2.5 miles. This is the final event of the 23rd Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Quad Games season.

Dr Harm de Blij, author, geography professor and television personality, will speak at the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center at Mercyhurst College Tuesday, Jan 10, at 8:15 pm. For seven years, de Blij was the popular geography editor at ABC’s “Good Morning America.” In 1996, he joined NBC News as geography analyst, appearing mostly on MSNBC. He was a writer and commentator for the original PBS series “The Power of Place.” His talk is free and open to the public.

Presque Isle State Park has planned a couple of guided snowshoe hikes: Jan 14, how animals survive in winter; Jan 28, tree and plant identification; Feb 15, winter magic; and Feb 25, tracking animals in snow. All the hikes run from 1-3 pm. Also, on Jan 18 and Feb 15 there will be a night hike from 6-8 pm. Snowshoes are available free of charge to those who make reservations and register. There’s no registration required for those who bring their own equipment. For information, call 814-833-7424 or 814-833-0351.

The World Famous Harlem Globetrotters will perform at the Erie Civic Center Tullio Arena on February 5th. Tickets run from $15 to $61.

Pat Fabian has been hired as the new baseball coach at defending WPIAL Class AA champion North Catholic High School. Fabian is a grad of Gannon University.

Posted by Dennis at January 4, 2006 7:07 AM

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