Of Note: Open Thread for June 30 - July 5, 2008, Erie 4th of July Fireworks, Gas Price Finder

« Erie PA News and Events for Wednesday May 3, 2006 | Main | Erie PA News and Events for Friday May 5, 2006 »

Erie PA News and Events for Thursday May 4, 2006

Erie City Council has given Invest Erie until July 1 to get financing for the grocery store project at 19th and Parade Streets. Attorney Billl Sessler wants to take over the project from the group that hasn’t done anything in the past four years.

Erie Indemnity Company (Erie Insurance) announced results for the first quarter. Net income was $49.5 million, $.73 per share, compared to $.83 per share in the comparable quarter for 2005.. New written premium in the first quarter of 2006 increased 3.3 percent over 2005 results. Total company assets stand at $3,006,215,000.

RentWay reported revenues of $142.4 million versus $136.2 million in the same quarter last year. Same store rental business revenue increased 1.2% versus last year’s quarter. Net income was $2.1 million. The company opened two new stores in the quarter which brings the total new store count to 8 this fiscal year, and 53 over the past 18 months.

The groundbreaking at the formenr IP/ Hammermill Paper plant for the Erie Management Group BioPreserve plant will be held in June.

There is a critical shortage of Type O blood. Between an aneurism and a severed aorta, almost all of the available type O blood has been used with even more needed. The Community Blood Bank is desperately seeking donors with type O blood to come and donate as soon as possible. All blood types are needed but especially type O. All donors are strongly encouraged to donate at the Erie Community Blood Bank, 2646 Peach Street. Community Blood Bank is open from 9-6 Monday through Friday and until 7:30 pm Tuesday night and Saturday 9-12:30. Photo ID required.

Mercyhurst West will open its doors in September to students taking one of four associate degree programs the new campus will offer. They also announced that the college has completed a deal to purchase the Faith Lutheran Church at 824 E Main St. in Girard, a building located a short distance west of the 405 acres the college purchased in April 2005. It will used as a temporary facility until other buildings are completed. The college plans to offer four associate degree programs – business administration, liberal arts, a hotel concentration in Hotel Restaurant Institutional Management, and a new concentration in facilities and property management in the HRIM associate degree track.

Selden Spencer is running for US Congress in the Iowa fourth district. Spencer received his bachelor’s degree at Allegheny College in Meadville, PA and doctorate from medical school at the University of North Dakota in 1978.

Aurora Trailer has announced new appointments to their senior management team. Tony Difilippantonio has joined Aurora Parts and Accessories in the newly created position of VP of Sales and Marketing - Aftermarket Parts. He previously held key management positions at
Carrier Corp, Fruehauf Corp and Pameco, and has a degree in Business
Management from Gannon University.

On Tuesday, May 9, Math Options, an outreach program of the Center for Corporate and Continuing Education at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, will celebrate 10 years of educational programming at its annual Career Day, which is designed to spark the girls’ interest in myriad science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. More than 230 seventh and eighth grade girls, representing 40 schools in Erie, Crawford, Potter and Warren counties, will participate in the event.

The Altoona Curve took their third game in a row from the Erie SeaWolves by the score of 11-5 on Wednesday night. Detroit Tigers DH Dmitri Young, playing with the SeaWolves on a rehab assignment, went 1-4 with a run scored. The two teams play again today at 11 am. Gotta love day games.

Erie SeaWolves coach Pete Incaviglia won’t be getting into the College Baseball Hall of Fame any time soon. He was elected to the HOF last month but one of the committee’s eligibility requirements is that hall of fame player and coaching candidates not be active coaches on a professional team roster.

The Gannon University women’s softball team (37-14) was ranked 19th in the final Division II regular season poll.

Former Erie Otters coach Dave MacQueen is considered the front-runner for the Sarnia Sting coaching job.

The 2006 OHL Priority Selection draft will be held on Saturday May 6. The Erie Otters own the fourth overall selection in the 15-round event that gets underway at 9 am. In addition to their first-round choice, the Otters own two third-round picks (44th and 45th overall) as well as two picks in the fifth and sixth rounds. In total, the Otters are scheduled to make 16 selections in the annual event.

Tonight the World Theatrical Premiere of the new psychological horror thriller “Fury” will be raging into The Roadhouse Theater in Erie, PA. Doors open at 7 pm with the showing beginning at 7:30 pm. Tickets will be $5 at the door and seating is very limited. The film will be followed by a brief question and answer period with film makers Paul Gorman and Steed Merrill along with a meet and greet with select cast members. Immediately following the meet and greet will be live music featuring singer/songwriter Greg Ropp who is featured on the “Fury” soundtrack with songs from both of his bands, The Void and 5 Empty Chambers. The film will then play in Meadville, then Cleveland, then back to Erie for a weekend at the Plaza Cinema.

The musical “South Pacific” will is playing the Erie Playhouse tonight through May 7. Performances times are Wed-Sat 7:30 pm and Sunday 2 pm. For tickets call 814-454-2852.

James Taylor will play in concert on Fri, May 5 at the Warner Theatre. Some tickets are still available.

The Mercyhurst College Political Science Department hosts Stafford T Thomas, professor emeritus of political science at California State University, Chico, who will lecture Friday, May 5, at 7 pm in Walker Recital Hall. His talk is free and open to the public.

The Erie Art Museum 3rd Annual Environmental Art Fair opens May 5 and runs through the end of June. The fair will focus on the theme of the built environment with an exhibit of photographs of New Orleans by Michael A Smith and participation of local school groups and artists.

Join the international celebration of Astronomy Day when Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, hosts guided astronomical viewing of Jupiter, Saturn, stars, nebulae, galaxies and the moon. This special evening of star-gazing will begin at 7:30 pm on Saturday, May 6, and continue until 11 pm in the field behind the Otto Behrend Science Building. Viewing will take place from the college’s Mehalso Observatory and through the telescopes of the Erie County Mobile Observers Group, whose members will be on hand to assist and answer questions. The viewing is free and open to the public. It is geared to all ages and experience levels, including children.

As part of the Erie Broadway Series, “Cats” is playing the Warner Theater on May 9 - 10.

Lake Erie Speedway will open on Friday May 12.

The late Jonathan Larson, best known as the creator of the stage sensation RENT, wrote only one other musical in his short life “tick, tick… BOOM!” The musical will be performed at the Roadhouse Theater Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm May 12th - July 8th (no shows Memorial Day weekend). Tickets are $10 regular, $12 riser and $15 VIP. Students with ID can see the show for just $5. Reservations 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 14th annual National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive, Stamp Out Hunger, is Saturday, May 13. Proceeds benefit the which distributes to 245 agencies in the region.

The Edinboro Highland Games and Scottish Festival will be held in Edinboro May 19-21.

The first cruise-in of 2006 will be held on May 22 at the Park and Ride lot on the Erie Bayfront.

Posted by Dennis at May 4, 2006 6:58 AM

Comments

Posted by: Eden at May 4, 2006 9:24 AM

Post a comment