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Erie PA News and Events for Friday February 3, 2006
Posted by Dennis on February 3, 2006
Oops. A group of local hotel owners is suing the Erie County Convention Center Authority because the authority is building a 200 room hotel with funds coming from the county hotel room tax. The trial began Monday and continues today. The authority tried to find a local company to build and operate the hotel but the local guys saw dollar signs and priced themselves out of the picture. So they are suing saying it’s unfair and this new hotel isn’t needed and will put them out of business. That blew up in their face yesterday when OTO Development, a private hotel development company, announced they were building a $30 million, 119 room SpringHill Suites near the Millcreek Mall saying that the area is under served.
‘Fat Boys’ bar at 12 and State closed for good. The place had been going downhill and most people avoided the place at night as the clientele was, ummm, a bit rough.
Yesterday, I mentioned that Lutheran Service Society of Western Pennsylvania plans to use a HUD grant to construct two low-income senior housing buildings in Girard. Later this month or early March, they be holding a groundbreaking for building a 17 apartment complex in Titusville, PA.
Democrat Dennis Iaquinta announced his will run against Linda Bebko-Jones for the 1st Legislative District seat in the Pennsylvania State Assembly. Republican Christine Pontoriero and Democrat Pat Harkins previously announced they are also running.
Engineering students at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College will benefit from the unexpected generosity of the late Shirley L. Roth. The campus has received a scholarship bequest of a little more than $417,000 from the estate of the longtime Erie resident, who died in December 2003. Edinboro University of Pennsylvania received an equal amount of money for nursing scholarships; neither institution had a previous relationship with Roth. Roth died at Sarah A Reed Retirement Center in December 2003. Her will also included gifts to the Visiting Nurse Association’s of Erie County Hospice, the American Cancer Society, the International Institute of Erie and the Shriners Hospital for Children in Erie.
The Mercyhurst College Dance Department presents The Mercyhurst Dancers in Raw Edges VII, Saturday, Feb 4, at 2 and 7 pm and Sunday, Feb 5, at 2 pm in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $10 for general admission and can be purchased at the door or by calling 824-3000.
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.
Gannon University’s Schuster Theatre will host seven performances of “Cats” Thursday-Sunday, Feb 9-12 and Friday-Sunday, Feb 17-19. Words and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The performances are directed by Shawn Clerkin, assistant professor, theatre, and theatre director at Gannon University. Thursday-Saturday performances will begin at 8 pm, Sunday performances at 3 pm. The Feb 19 performance will be the Alex Clemente Theatre Fundraising Event, tickets for this show only are $15. Proceeds will benefit the Alex Clemente Fund for Performing and Related Arts. Schuster Theatre is located at 620 Sassafras Street in Erie PA. For more information, contact the box office at 814-871-7494, or call 814-871-5467.
“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.
When you mix a great cause with drinking and golf, you come up with the MECA United Cerebral Palsy Barstool Open. It’s time for the 8th Annual Barstool Open. This year’s event is set to take place on Saturday, February 18, 2006. Download your 2006 Barstool Open Registration Form today. If you haven’t heard about the event before, here is a quick run down. Teams of 4 people walk bar to bar, playing a miniature golf hole at each bar. The bars get pretty creative on the designs. It’s gets a bit difficult after you’ve had 6 beers at 6 bars.
The registration fee is $25 per person, $100 per team. You must bring a putter and a couple of golf balls. Almost 1,000 people participated in last years event making the Erie event the largest in the country.
The Gannon University men’s basketball team defeated Michigan Tech 59-57. Gannon is outmaned this year but they sure play hard. Radayl Richardson of Michigan Tech was the offensive story of the night, lighting up the Hammermill Center nets for 33 points on 12-of-16 shooting.He was just amazing hitting fall away jumpers from 25 feet all night long. Former Gannon Center Geoff Husted, who is playing for the Dakota Wizards of the CBA took in the game.
Terry Smith hit a three with just 19 seconds left to break a tie and give the Mercyhurst College men’s basketball team (16-5, 6-5 GLIAC) a 48-45 win over Northern Michigan.
Holy cow. District 10 officials gave the OK to allow the McDowell football team to play five games against teams from the WPIAL. And in even more of a shocker D10 gave their blessing for Cathedral Prep to play two games against WPIAL teams and Strong Vincent one.
Paul Chestnutt is calling his last game tonight for the Pensacola Ice Pilots. He resigned to spend more time with his family and pursue other opportunities. His 3 year old son, Matthew, has cerebral palsy. Before he went to Pensacola in 1996, he was the radio voice of the Erie Panthers for a number of years.
Zach Williams isgned with the University of Buffalo. Williams finished his senior season at Cathedral Prep with 18 tackles for a loss, eight sacks, two pass breakups and 46 total tackles.
Brent Theobald, who played the Erie Otters during the 1997-98 season, is now engaged to former Olympic figure skater Elizabeth Manley. Theobald is 26 and Manley is 40.
Mercyhurst College head football coach Marty Schaetzle announced 11 recruits: Andrew Schuler of Warren JFK, Mitch Lorig of Amherst Steele, Tim Herberner of Chagrin Falls, Nick Bendzuck of Strongsville, Mark McGlynn of Austintown Fitch, Brian Kenny of Rocky River, Harley Garrett of Garfield Heights, TJ Salopek of Norwin, Demond McDonald of Maple Heights, Jordan Leviere of North Hills and Chris Clark of West Allegheny.
Rafael Silva, offensive lineman from Cape Coral, Fla, signed a letter of intent to play football with Gannon University. Silva spent the last two years at North Dakota State College of Science, a junior college.
The Day the Music Died. On February 3, 1959 a plane carrying Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, JP “Big Bopper” Richardson and the pilot, Roger Peterson crashed in a snow storm killing all aboard. As Don McLean wrote in his classic American Pie, it was “the day the music died.”
Posted by Dennis at February 3, 2006 6:51 AM
Comments
How is the mall area underserved for hotels? I can count 7 off the top of my head down there (Residence Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Microtel, Courtyard, the one back on Oliver Road, and the two by the Old Navy). And that's not counting the hotels that are located an exit from Peach St. either way on I-90, and not counting anything in Millcreek or downtown.
Posted by: Mike at February 3, 2006 8:20 AM
I agree. I'd like to see the average vacancy of those hotels. Personally, coming from Erie, I wouldn't want to stay on a hotel on the bayfront anyways. It seems that at least 2 times a week in the morning, if you're anywhere near 12-16 blocks away from the bayfront, you can smell the enchanting aroma of battery acid (or something similar), not to mention the odors coming from GAF (Where my dad works). Putting a hotel there would be like putting a square peg in a round hole.
Posted by: Ron at February 3, 2006 12:08 PM
Just wanted to add that I know Mike was talking about the proposed hotel near the Millcreek Mall, but I wanted to put in my $0.02 on the one by the bayfront too.
Posted by: Ron at February 3, 2006 12:09 PM
As to vacancy: we've had friends come up to visit and who have had trouble finding a room even when there's not a soccer tournament or other Big Event going on in town. I wonder if Erieites realize how many people come up from Pittsburgh to Erie on a regular basis. Allegheny County is second only to Dade County FL in number of boats registered and they aren't running all those boats on the rivers, my friends ;)
As to the Bayfront location: think of how many people who come from all over the tri-state area for procedures at Hamot. They come the night before, often with family and a Bayfront Hotel would be a good location (hence that proposed covered walkway leading to Hamot, I assume). Also weddings and wedding parties would gravitate to the Bayfront.
Just some immediate thoughts I had.
Posted by: eden at February 3, 2006 12:52 PM
i have noticed a lack of vacancy too. esp on major holidays and don't even get me started on those soccer tournaments. we couldn't get a room for my brother's wedding last june because of one of those--they were booked as far away as findley lake.
i was just looking at hotel rooms today as a matter of fact (i'd like to take a babymoon, and our primary sitter lives in erie). i think it might actually be a good idea to have more rooms available both up by the mall and on the bayfront.
Posted by: jenny at February 3, 2006 2:15 PM
Does anyone know what else they're building in the new marketplace besides the hotel?
Posted by: jessica at February 3, 2006 3:46 PM
The Gannon Schuster Thearte production of "Cats" is being directed by Ed Helenski. Shawn Clerkin is also playing a major role, as well, he is helping the students with the music part of the production.
Posted by: Deb Carlson at February 4, 2006 3:40 PM
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