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Erie PA News and Events for Friday January 6, 2006

Saint Vincent Health System (St Vincent Hospital) held a formal groundbreaking at 24th and Myrtle on a $28.2 million expansion project. Landmark Healthcare Facilities LLC will finance and own the medical office building. Erie Mayor Joe Sinnott was all over the news saying how great that it was a new private development and that it would be on the tax rolls. Partly right Joe. The project has been in the works for around 5 years. It’s my understanding that the land ONLY and not the building will be on the tax rolls. Land in Erie typically is about 20-25 percent of the total property value. Press release by St V’s.

We elect morons to state office, not just locally. In December, the Pennsylvania House passed a bill by Rep Mario Scavello, R-Monroe, that cut property taxes but increase other taxes. The current 6 percent sales tax would apply to new items, including advertising, assets management, other management and consulting services and raise the personal income tax rate from 3.07 percent to 3.29 percent. Yesterday, at a State Senate committee hearing Erie Insurance Group Senior Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel Jann Van Gorder said that a new tax on management and consulting services would increase costs for ERIE and that his firm would move its headquarters staff to Ohio. Two seconds later, Scavello has said he was willing to restore the management and consulting exemption.

The Erie International Airport, Tom Ridge Field set a second consecutive annual enplaned passenger record in 2005. The 2005 year-end total of 187,848 enplanements represented the most in the history of the Erie airport (besting the previous record set in 2004 by 10,811). 2005 enplanements ended the year up 6.1 percent, on top of an amazing 26.2 percent increase in 2004 over 2003. Since 2001, enplanements increased by 47.1 percent, the number of airlines have increased by 100 percent and the number of non-stop destinations have increased by 150 percent.

Schvaro Realty received a $946,306 PIDA loan to construct a new 15,200 square foot facility on West 18th Street as well as to expand an existing 34,200 square foot building on McCain Avenue, both in the City of Erie. Hardinger Transfer Company Inc., doing business as Team Hardinger Transportation, will use the facilities to distribute locomotive parts. This project will retain 136 jobs and bring 33 new jobs to Erie.

An FBI-led task force made eight arrests and seized weapons cash and drugs in a sweep across Buffalo on Thursday. Agents searched five locations and seized kilos of heroin, $100,000 in cash and several weapons. The FBI alleges the suspects would pick up heroin in New York City and take it to Buffalo for distribution across Western New York and in the Erie, Pennsylvania area.

Three newly elected McConnellsburg PA Borough Council members took office on Monday evening. James H Smith, an Erie PA native, won a seat with write-in votes.

The Quartet Allemande of Erie, Pa will be performing at the Twelfth Night Ball, an 18th-century English style dance, on Saturday at Old Fort Niagara.

Tourism brings millions into the Erie area. People visit Erie from near and far for the great fishing - even in Winter. Cy Grajcar of Accworth, Georgia landed a 16 pound, 2 ounce, 33 1/4-inch steelhead on Walnut Creek last week.

The 2006 Eerie Horror Film Festival has officially opened its call for entries and is seeking independently produced feature length and short horror/sci-fi films and screenplays from around the world. The 2006 Eerie Horror Film Festival will be held October 4-8, in Erie, Pennsylvania. They announced their first ever Student Film Competition for ages 5 - 17 as well as more stream-lined and easy to understand submission categories. Submission categories for the 2006 Eerie Horror Film Festival are Horror Feature; Horror Short; Experimental Horror Feature; Experimental Horror Short; Psychological Horror Feature; Psychological Horror Short; Sci-Fi Feature; Sci-Fi Short; Animated Horror Feature; Animated Horror Short; Horror Comedy Feature; Horror Comedy Short; Student Horror Feature; Student Horror Short; Foreign Horror Feature; Foreign Horror Short; Short Screenplay; Feature Length Screenplay. They will also accept horror related documentaries.

The Highmark Quad Games Cross County Ski and Snowshoe Race has been postponed due to lack of snow. It’s just amazing how often this has to be rescheduled. Seems like almost every year. The event was originally scheduled for Jan 8th and has been pushed back to Jan 15.

“Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Magic” has 6 performances scheduled for the Erie Civic Center Tullio Arena thru Jan 8, 2006, today and 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.

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.

Tickets are still available for the 23rd edition of the McDonald’s High School Basketball Classic which will be held in Erie on Friday, January 13 and Saturday, January 14, 2006 at Gannon University’s Hammermill Center, 6th and Peach Streets. This year’s event features nationally renowned programs from Wisconsin, New York, and Pennsylvania, all with the potential to be in competition for a national title. Plenty of General Admission tickets are still available and cost $7 per night in advance for adults and $5 in advance for students. They are available at Cathedral Prep, the Erie Sport Stores, the Avalon Hotel, Dee’s News, and Erie area McDonald’s Restaurants while they last. Reserved tickets are sold out. The field is highlighted by the first appearance in the Classic of Milwaukee Rufus King High from Wisconsin, featuring 7’0” Top 100 All-American Mitchell Carter. The Generals are coached by legendary scholastic mentor Jim Gosz, who in a 16-year career has compiled a 306-50 record and four state titles. The two other visiting squads also have impressive credentials and high aspirations. Chester High was last season’s Pennsylvania AAAA State Champions and rang up a 27-6 final record, and New York’s Mount Vernon High notched a 20-4 mark. The Classic will tip-off on Friday, January 13, with a first round, 7 PM match-up between Rufus King and Mount Vernon. The 8:30 PM nightcap will feature the two Pennsylvania powers, Chester High and the host team Cathedral Prep. Leading the attack for Mount Vernon will be Jonathan Mitchell, an All-American forward who has already signed with Florida. Mike Coburn, one of the nation’s best juniors, also returns at the guard position to provide plenty of fire-power. Coach Bob Cimmino has compiled a 234-39 record over the past twelve seasons and won New York Public and Federation State titles in 2000 and 2004. The Chester Clippers captured their fifth Pennsylvania State title last season in easy fashion over Lower Merion, 74-61. They ended with an overall mark of 27-6. Coach Fred Pickett enters his eleventh season at the helm of the Clipper’s ship, and has a record of 245-65 in his first ten seasons, including state titles in 2000 and 2005. No phone orders will be accepted, and no tickets can be held. Another sell-out crowd is expected, so fans are encouraged to buy their tickets asap.

Michael Blunden of the Erie Otters scored two power-play goals in a 5-0 victory over Russia that earned Canada its second consecutive World Junior Championship. Blunden was a second round draft choice of the Chicago Blackhawks in 2005. They got a steal. He proved once again that he’s one of the best young hockey players in the world.

Edinboro University of PA announced the promotion of Scott Browning as head football coach. Browning has served twenty years as an assistant coach at Edinboro under three different head coaches, the last six under Lou Tepper. He becomes the 13th head coach of the Fighting Scots. While still working to piece together his staff, Browning noted that he is pleased Wayne Bradford will remain with the Fighting Scots in 2006. Bradford oversaw a defensive unit that led the country in scoring defense (9.3 ppg.), rushing defense (53.7 ypg.), and total defense (211.2 ypg.).

Mike Machuga of Erie finished in 55th place at the PBA 2006 Earl Anthony Medford Classic.

The Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League complete the second half of a six-game road trip this weekend when they head to Eastern Ontario for three games in two-and-a-half days. The trip begins Friday night in Ottawa against the 67’s. Saturday the Otters travel to Belleville to face the Bulls and then wrap everything up Sunday afternoon in Kingston against the Frontenacs. The Otters began the trip by posting a 2-1 record in three games in three days last week. The next Otters home game takes place Wednesday, January 11th when the Mississauga IceDogs visit the Tullio Arena.

Posted by Dennis at January 6, 2006 7:12 AM

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