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Erie PA News and Events for Friday May 5, 2006

The Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, who represent 4,500 sisters, announced a press conference yesterday at which the presidents of 25 regional communities of the order would call on Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform. The Erie, Pa., regional community of the Sisters of Mercy set May 4 as a day of prayer and fasting for immigration reform. “In our spirit of welcome and hospitality, we have always ministered to immigrant persons and to those most vulnerable,” said Sister Lisa Mary McCartney, vice president of Erie community. The Sisters of Mercy obviously doesn’t think children are vulnerable. The order has never spoken out about priests or nuns sexually abusing children. The order hired an alleged child predator, Dr Bill Garvey, as President of Mercyhurst College and let him resign quietly instead of conducting an investigation about the allegations.

Dennis Beard III was charged with the 1998 murder of Amy Lawrence. Beard is currently a guest of the state at the state prison in Albion.

General Electric Co.’s (GE) rail business is sold out of its Evolution locomotive for this year and mostly sold out of its production capacity for next year, Kevin Caponecchi, an executive in GE’s rail business said Thursday during an analyst meeting. The company has said its Erie, Pa., plant can only make about 800 locomotives a year, but the conglomerate hopes to boost its capacity by about 50 locomotives through lean manufacturing, Caponecchi said at the conference, which was broadcast over the Internet. The Evolution, which GE says cuts emissions 40 percent versus its last generation locomotive, sells for about $2 million. Separately, the rail business’ service operation has $10 billion in backlog due to the fact that 52 percent of GE locomotives in active service are under long-term service agreements. More than 70 percent of the locomotives it ships currently are going out with long-term service pacts in place, the executive said.

Railpower Technologies Corp (TSX: P) reported its financial results for the three month period ended March 31, 2006. The company is just starting production so their numbers are a bit messy. Sales revenue and other income were $3.0 million compared to $0.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2005. Net loss of $8.7 million compared to net loss of $5.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2005. They had firm orders for 162 locomotives compared to an order book of 80 at end of first quarter 2005. While only one locomotive was produced this quarter, significant progress was made in ramping up production to meet our targets for 2006. At the end of the quarter, they had 52 locomotives in various stages of production. Railpower has its US office in Erie, Pennsylvania.

RentWay (NYSE: RWY) announced that John Lombardi, Rent-Way’s current Vice President and interim Chief Financial Officer, has been appointed to the position of Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and that Roger Zwingler, Rent-Way’s current Vice President of Marketing and Advertising, has been appointed to the position of Executive Vice President of Strategic Planning and Chief Marketing Officer.

Air Force Major General Robert Smolen was in Pittsburgh yesterday for the 11th annual Tribute to Veterans sponsored by state Sen Jane Clare Orie. Smolen is responsible for the development, coordination and implementation of national security policies to support the president and the National Security Council. He is a graduate of Allegheny College.

Jessica Krahe of Erie will begin dancing and modeling for Transcontinental Records, which is affiliated with Lou Pearlman (N’SYNC and Britney Spears). Krahe also has an audition lined up for Tinkerbell at Disney World in Orlando. She will graduate this month from Slippery Rock.

Heather Swanson, a third-grade teacher at Meehan Elementary School in Belvidere IL, was received a Golden Apple award for teaching excellence. Swanson is a native of Erie PA and a grad of Wittenberg University.

The Erie SeaWolves salvaged the final game in a four-game set against the Altoona Curve 5-3 at Jerry Uht Park. Humberto Sanchez tossed anther gem for Erie and he picked up his third win of the season. Detroit Tigers DH Dmitri Young, playing with the SeaWolves on a rehab assignment, went 0-3.

Erie native Andrew Pratt is tied for the lead after the opening round of the Nationwide Tour Virginia Beach Open. Pratt gained entry into the field as a Monday qualifier after succeeding on the Hooters Tour in recent weeks. Pratt golfed for the University of Tennessee.

Lou Rosselli, who spent 14 seasons at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, has joined the staff of Ohio State.

Shawn Giewont has signed a letter of intent to attend Robert Morris University. At 6’4”, 225 pounds, Giewont finished with 11 catches for 205 yards and five touchdowns as a senior in 2005 and also played on defense, recording 40 tackles, including seven sacks. For those efforts he was named second team all-state at tight end and first team All-District 10 on both offense and defense.

James Taylor will play in concert tonight 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 tonight 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 today 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.

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.

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 5, 2006 7:11 AM

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