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Erie PA News and Events for Wednesday March 22, 2006
Posted by Dennis on March 22, 2006
Judge Ernie DiSantis dismissed the bribery charges against former Erie Mayor Rick Filippi and his business partners Rolf Patberg and Eric Purchase. The group who still has a bundle of charges facing them including conspiracy, conflict of interest and using inside information. Filippi, Patberg and Purchase formed a partnership called Aiko Acquisitions which bought properties around the former IP?Hammermill Paper plant. MTR Gaming was looking at the plant site for a possible race track and slot machine casino. The timeline is the major question in the case. Also now in question is if MTR Gaming ever actually considered the site or if they were just using it to negotiate a better deal to where they really wanted to build it.
Now this story has a much better chance of having someone wind up in jail over someone using insider information. Erie Indemnity Company (Nasdaq: ERIE) and Erie Insurance Exchange announced that they intend to make a tender offer for all of the outstanding publicly held shares of Erie Family Life Insurance Company (OTC Bulletin Board: ERIF). This is a case of a company buying back a subsidiary that they had at one time spun off. For the past month, there have been rumors flying about some sort of merger about Erie Insurance. I even mentioned it in the ‘Fun with search terms’ post which I dismissed as a wild story. I could have cleaned up and made a bundle. A month ago when the rumors started the price of Erie Family Life Insurance stock was $26.50. At around 2:30 pm someone made a purchase at $30 which was up $2.75, a HUGE jump over the last sale price. The buyout at $32 was announced after the 4 pm market close. It will be interesting to see if there is any SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) investigation.
Spectrum Control (Nasdaq: SPEC), a leading designer and manufacturer of electronic control products and systems, today reported results for the first quarter ended February 28, 2006. The first quarter customer orders were up 32 percent and sales were up 21 percent from a year ago while profits were down because they lost a plant in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. For the first quarter of fiscal 2006, the Company generated net income of $290,000 or two cents per share on sales of $25,560,000, compared to net income of $607,000 or five cents per share on sales of $21,142,000 for the first quarter of fiscal 2005. The company is opening a plant in State College PA to replace the facility lost in New Orleans. It would be open by now if the company didn’t hae to jump through bureaucratic hoops from the state and federal government. Some manufacturing is expected to start by the middle of May, with the company planning to begin shipping some products by the end of June.
David Coleman, “The Dating Doctor”, will speak at Gannon University tonight, Wednesday March 22. The focus of Coleman’s lecture will be, “making relationships matter.” The event is free and open to the public and will be held at 7:30 pm in room 104 of the Zurn Science Center, 143 West Seventh Street.
The Erie County Historical Society has a large number of events (30) in conjunction with their current exhibit Amerika! Land der Hoffnung (America! Land of Hope): the German Immigrant Experience talking place now through June 11, 2006 taking place at the Watson-Curtze Mansion at 356 Wet 6th Street.
Here are a couple of events to mark on your calendar:
May 19 - 21, 2006 is the Edinboro Highland Games and Scottish Festival.
May 26, 2006 is the grand opening of the Tom Ridge Environmental Center (TREC) at Presque Isle.
May 31 - June 3, 2006 is the Erie Downtown Wild Rib Cook-Off and Music Festival
June 22 - 25, 2006 is the Erie Summer Festival of the Arts at Liberty Park on the Erie Bayfront.
“Comets and the Origin of Life” will be the topic of the upcoming Penn State Behrend School of Science Open House Night in Astronomy. Darren Williams, Penn State Behrend associate professor of physics and astronomy, will discuss how comets gave rise to life on Earth in a non-technical lecture that is free and open to the public. The lecture will begin at 7:30 pm on Thursday, March 23, in 101 Otto Behrend Science Building. Weather permitting, astronomical observation from the college’s Mehalso Observatory will follow.
The musical “Brigadoon” will be performed at the Erie Playhouse March 23-26,
March 29-April 2, 6-9, 2006. For tickets and times call (814) 454-2852.
Mercyhurst Prep has a production of “Hello, Dolly!” playing March 23, 24, 25 and April 6, 7, 8 at 7 pm as well as matinee performances March 25, 26 and April 8, 9 at 2:30 pm. Tickets are $4 for students, $6 for seniors and $7 for adults.
The Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School is hosting a parent information session March 24 from 7-8 pm at Family First Sports Park. Families attending the information sessions will learn more about the school, view the curriculum, books and materials, witness a demonstration of the academic program, and find out how their child can enroll in this tuition free public school for the 2006-2007 year. All sessions are free and open to the public. The Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School (PAVCS) is a statewide public charter school that currently serves over 4,000 Pennsylvania students in grades K-9.
Roadhouse Theatre will perform “Reservoir Dogs” Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm March 24 – May 6. Reservations are a must for this show and can be made by phone at (814) 456-5656 or in person at the Theatre Box Office, 145 West 11th Street. Box Office hours are 2-6 pm Tuesday – Saturday. The Theatre accepts cash, checks, Visa, MasterCard and Discover. Tickets remain ever affordable at the Roadhouse, $8 regular, $10 riser and $12 VIP. Students with ID can see the show for just $5.
Gannon University’s Erie Chamber Orchestra conducted and directed by Bruce Morton Wright will perform a concert on Friday, March 24. The concert will feature as soloist Bruce Gingrich (organ). The performance is free and open to the public and will begin at 7:30 pm at First United Methodist Church, 707 Sassafras Street.
Sesame Street Live “Out of This World” is coming to the Warner Theatre Mar 24-26, 2006. Show times are Fri 7 pm, Sat 2 pm and 5:30 pm, and Sun 2 pm. Tickets are $14 to $25. Children ages 1-12 years receive $1.50 off regular priced tickets (excluding VIP seats). Any child who has reached his or her first birthday must have a ticket.
Presque Isle State Park is a leading migratory stop for all kinds of birds. There are a number of programs on the subject scheduled at the park. On Saturday, March 25 at 8:30 am there will a hike and lecture about birding. A brief indoor program will be followed by a drive/hike to each week’s birding hot spot for some in-the-field experiences. No fee, no registration. Meet at Stull Interpretive Center.
Because You Care animal shelter is holding their 25th anniversary dinner dance on Saturday March 25 from 7-11 pm at the St John’s Parish Center in Girard. Tickets are $25.
On Sunday, March 26, the Millcreek Kiwanis Club will be hosting its annual Breakfast with the Easter Bunny. The event takes place at Asbury Barn from 8 am until 2 pm. Cost is $4 with kids under two admitted free. The children can visit with the Easter bunny and participate in many activities including an indoor Easter egg hunt, face painting and arts and craft activities while the parents enjoy a pancake breakfast. Also, there will be a Chinese auction and a Bake Sale. The proceeds benefit the activities of the Millcreek Kiwanis Club.
Franklin earned a berth in the Class AAA boys basketball state finals Tuesday night by getting past General McLane 58-52 in front of 6,000 at the Tullio Arena. Franklin Area School District cancelled school on Friday so fans can make it to the game that night at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Mike Machuga of Erie is in second place after the opening round of the PBA Tour stop in Indianapolis, the 2006 Denny’s World Championship. The entire 182-bowler field will bowl a second nine-game qualifying session Wednesday, after which the top 49 bowlers will return Thursday morning for nine more games of qualifying. The final four will bowl for the $100,000 top prize.
Two members of the Erie Freeze picked up American Indoor Football League Northern Conference players of the week honors. Roosevelt Benjamin was named Defensive Player of the Week. Darmel Whitfield was named Special Teams Player of the Week. Whitfield picked extra points, handled kickoffs, returned 3 kicked for 90 yards including a TD, threw for a TD and also caught a TD pass.
Breanna Haggerty of the Mercyhurst College women’s lacrosse team has been named the Division II Rookie of the Week by Women’s Lacrosse.com. Haggerty earned the honor after scoring a combined seven goals with four assists in the Lakers’ wins over Seton Hill and East Stroudsburg.
Former Erie Otter goaltender Josh Disher is going to be racking up some frequent flyer miles or at least spending a lot of time on buses. Johnstown of the ECHL just signed him and already Albany recalled Disher to the AHL on Tuesday. Disher is scheduled to return to the Johnstown Chiefs for Sunday’s game at Wheeling.
The Reading Royals of the ECHL announced today that they have signed former Erie Otters forward Chris Greene to an ECHL contract.
The Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL announced today that they have signed former Erie Otters forward Mike Rice to an ECHL contract.
Posted by Dennis at March 22, 2006 6:56 AM
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