ErieBlogs.com: Erie PA News and Events for Wednesday February 1, 2006

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Erie PA News and Events for Wednesday February 1, 2006

Posted by Dennis on February 1, 2006

The Erie Gauge War ended on this date 152 years ago, February 1, 1854. Unlike today where all trains run on a standard width of track, different railroads and different states had separate track gauges. Being a county sandwiched between New York and Ohio, Erie County profited - at least for awhile. The first railroad line in Erie PA was the Erie and Northeast Railroad. Their first train arrived January 10, 1852. The track coming from Buffalo to Erie was one gauge and the track coming from Cleveland to Erie was another. All passengers and cargo had to get off one train and get on another. It became big business as restaurants and vendors sold there wares to the passengers as the teamsters moved cargo from train to train. This was case from early 1852 to late 1853 as the lawyers files suit after suit trying to resolve the conflict. The railroads finally adopted one gauge going through town eliminating the need for all trains to stop in Erie. The hard charging people of Erie were pissed. Citizens ripped up tracks and went so far as to tear down the two overpasses just south of 18th Street on French Street and State Street. While the railroad was making repairs in December of 1853, shots were fired at Erie citizens. It took nearly two month for all repairs to be made and ending the Erie Gauge War between the people of Erie and the railroads.

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that a cool song called ‘Erie PA’ was making the rounds by email. I asked if anyone wanted to hear it and 3 dozen people responded. I heard from Mike, the singer/songwriter, and he has that song and 3 other tracks on a Myspace website. You gotta take a listen to them.

Mark W Potter, Special Agent in Charge of the Philadelphia Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), announced that the January 23 fire that destroyed Chipsco Mold and Design, Meadville, Pa, was intentionally set. Investigators from ATF and the Pennsylvania State Police have jointly worked the 9936 Liberty Street fire scene since the blaze was extinguished. Chipsco Mold and Design is a 50,000 square foot warehouse and manufacturing facility. Damages to the business and structure are expected to exceed $15,000,000. Information regarding this case should be reported to the ATF Erie Field Office at (814) 456-1200 or 1-888-ATF-FIRE, or the Pennsylvania State Police Meadville Barracks at (814) 332-6911.

National Fuel Gas announced a rate decrease of 4.2 percent starting today. National Fuel purchases the natural gas that heats your home on the open market. This means that the market forces of supply and demand determine the cost of natural gas just like they do with other consumer goods. Economics 101, supply and demand.

Two Crawford County businesses were featured in the most recent episode of the Discovery Channel show Dirty Jobs. The Byler Brothers farm and Platt’s Feed Mill, both of Spartansburg PA, were on the episode titled “Viewer’s Choice.” It will rerun today Feb 1 at 11 pm and again Feb 7 at 7 pm. Host Mike Rowe is insane and one of the funniest people on TV.

Eriez Magnetics introduced its new, compact E-Z Tec 9100. This highly sensitive device is designed for installation in free fall or gravity fed applications, especially where vertical space is limited. E-Z Tec 9100 detects and rejects very small ferrous, non-ferrous and stainless steel metals. Some of the many diverse industries that can benefit from the superior sensitivity of the E-Z Tec 9100 include plastics, rubber, recycling and chemicals. Eriez is recognized as world authority in advanced technology for magnetic, vibratory and metal detection applications.

St Vincent Health Center of Erie PA is using an IntelliFill, a robot that automates the compounding and labeling of IV syringes. ForHealth Technologies produces the IntelliFill. IntelliFill works by automating the compounding and labeling of up to 300 IV syringes per hour in “reservoir mode,” or as many as 60 syringes every hour for an IV batch. The device accurately fills each syringe and IV at plus or minus five percent. The use of bar code scanning, vision systems and steps to confirm weight allows IntelliFill to reduce errors in prescribed medicine while promoting long-term cost savings.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board announced that the public hearing for Presque Isle Downs gaming license will be held April 21 at Gannon University in Erie. The board hasn’t said when it will begin issuing licenses, but has said that it most likely won’t happen before August. MTR recently began work on Presque Isle Downs, a $100 million racetrack casino in Erie, PA, where it hopes to offer slot machines this fall and begin live racing in fall 2007. Presque Isle Downs will be located on Perry Highway (Route 97) just South of I-90 in Summit Township.

George C Hillman Jr has been named director of emerging technologies at Accounting Management Solutions. Hillman, who built several biopharmaceutical companies from start-up through various levels of private and venture financing including Pintex Pharmaceuticals and Cohesive Technologies, is a senior member of AMS’s recently formed Life Sciences/Technology practice. Hillman earned a BA degree from Gannon University and an MBA from Rutgers University.

Registration is now open for the second session of the Co-Motion movement and music program. The session will meet every Thursday from Feb 2 to Feb 23 in Ford Memorial Chapel on the Allegheny College campus. The baby class, which meets from 9 to 9:30 am, is for children 6-18 months old with their caregivers. The toddler class, which meets from 9:45 to 10:30 am, is for children 18-36 months old with their caregivers. The cost for the second session is $16 for babies and $20 for toddlers.

A mini-tour of America by one of Italy’s premier classical trios will include a stop in Erie at Penn State Behrend. Trio Johannes will appear as part of the college’s Music at Night: The Logan Series on Wednesday, Feb 1. The performance will begin at 7 pm in the Reed Union Building’s McGarvey Commons. Tickets are required. Tickets for the Feb 1 performance are available for purchase at the door or in advance at the Reed Student Union Building main desk. Cost is $15 for adults, $10 for Behrend students and children under 16, and $40 for a family.

eBizITPA, in partnership with the Gannon University SBDC, is offering educational programs on Internet sales and marketing strategies. The first in a series of 3 courses is Getting Started with an Online Store. It will be offered Feb 2 at eBizITPA at Knowledge Park, 5340 Fryling Road, Erie PA, from 9 am - 3:30 pm. Cost is $65.

Bundle up and join the Gem City Jazz Ensemble for SUNDAY FUNDAYS at the Blasco Library Auditorium on February 5th at 3 pm. The concert is free and open to public. This won’t be your ordinary jazz concert though, bring the kids and they can learn about the origins of jazz - America’s greatest cultural achievement. It will only be an hour-long program, so you’ll be home in time for the big game! For more information, visit Gem City Bands online or phone 814-602-3338. To learn more about SUNDAY FUNDAYS at the Library, please phone 814-451-6900. SUNDAY FUNDAYS are funded by the Friends of the Library.

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

“Grease” will be performed in the Mercyhurst College D’Angelo Performing Arts Center at Mercyhurst College Feb 10-11 at 7:30 pm and Feb 12 at 2:30 pm. Tickets are available for advance purchase at the box office and will also be available at the door. Prices for are $12.50 for adults and $1 for Mercyhurst students. Call the Performing Arts box office at 814-824-3000 for tickets.

The Chautauqua-Lake Erie Wine Trail presents a Wine and Chocolate Festival and Valentine’s celebration over the weekend of Feb 11-12. Tickets for the event are $21, must be purchased in advance, and are good for the weekend.

The Erie Engineering Societies Council (EESC) will sponsor its 42st annual Engineering Exposition, Expo Erie 2006, Feb 21-23 at the Erie Civic Center Tullio Arena on French Street between 8th and 9th Streets. This year’s show hours are Tuesday, 3 to 8 pm; Wednesday, 11 am to 8 pm and Thursday, 11 am to 4 pm. Admission is free. You do not to need to register in advance to attend.

Mercyhurst College junior defenseman Jamie Hunt’s second goal of the game, with 62 seconds left in overtime, gave the Lakers an exciting 8-7 win over the USA National Development U-18 Team Tuesday night. The exhibition tilt was played before nearly 1200 fans at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. Team USA left Erie dropping to 24-14-2.

Shawn Fendone has accepted a wrestling scholarship offer from Edinboro and will join older brother Joey at the school. He was 29-1 last year and is 28-1 this season. He is expected to wrestle at 184 for the Scots.