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Erie PA News and Events for Wednesday August 9, 2006

Rent-A-Center announced they are buying Rent-Way for $10.65 in cash per share of Rent-Way common stock. The transaction is valued at approximately $567 million. Bill Morgenstern founded the company in Erie in 1981 and built it into a 784 store chain in 34 states. Last year William Short was named President and CEO of the company with Morgenstern semi-retiring. Morgenstern said he was looking for other opportunities. Don’t look for Morgenstern to take his proceeds from the sale and start another company in Erie. He moved to North Carolina where the tax rates are much lower.

GAF Materials Corporation, which manfactures roof shingles on the Erie bayfront, has sent a letter to the Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority asking if they were interested in purchasing the plant. The plant is difectly to the West of the Erie Bayfront Convention Center. A couple of years ago, GAF was offered land to build a new plant in exchange for the bayfront property but the company said it would cost them $80 million to relocate.

Millcreek Community Hospital announced expansion plans. The $10 million project will add a fifth floor to the main building with a new 40,000 sq ft building being added to their campus.

The Greater Erie Board of Realtors Erie County sales figures for Erie County. In July 2006 there were 474 transaction with a total dollar amount of $63,688,509. This is a steep decling from 2005 when there were 583 transactions. Sales include residential, commercial and vacent land properties.

I went to a Microsoft seminar yesterday. Dave Johnson, the speaker, said it must be tourist season in Erie because the only hotel room available in the area was a 3 bed suite. And this was on a Monday.

The annual Speaker Series at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, kicks off Thursday, September 7, with a lecture by Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, hosts of the Discovery Channel hit “MythBusters”. The pair will speak in Erie Hall beginning at 7:30 pm. The event is free and open to the public. I love watching Myth Busters.

The Pittsburgh River Rats, Professional Indoor Football Team, which will compete in the American Indoor Football League beginning in 2007, is looking for talent to fill the teams inaugural roster. Players will be tested in the 40 yard dash, 20 yard shuttle, broad jump, and individual position skill/agility sessions. Cost of the Tryout is $65.00 – payable in cash or money order only. Tryout Date: Sunday August 20, 2006. Registration begins at Noon. Tryout Time: 1-4 pm. Location: Rostraver Ice Garden (The Home Arena of the Pittsburgh RiverRats). Tryout is open to any athlete over 18 years old that is serious about pursuing a professional football career. Players are asked to contact Head Coach Shawn Liotta at (412)-334-4278.

The Erie SeaWolves lost at New Britain 6-5.

Gary Tufford was named commissioner and executive director of the World Indoor Football League. Tufford was coach and GM of the Erie Invaders of the IFL in 2000. After the season, the entire league was purchased by the Arena Football League’s Orlando Predators which then created the AF2 as a minor league.

Every Wednesday is free admission to all four Erie Art Museum galleries from 11 am to 5 pm.

The weeks downtown Erie block party takes place Thursday Aug 10 at 7 pm on the 1400 block of State Street in front of Jr’s Last Laugh Comedy Club. Cruisin’ performs. The event is FREE. Food and beverages will be available for sale.

The Classic car cruise-in Buggin’ State takes place on Friday August 11 from 6-10 pm along State Street in downtown Erie.

The St Paul’s Annual Italian Festival takes place August 11-13 at the parish located at 1617 Walnut St in Erie.

Big plans are in place highlighting the adventures of Lewis and Clark at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center (TREC) and Presque Isle State Park the weekend of August 11-13, 2006. Fun activities and programs for all ages have been coordinated by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and the Presque Isle Partnership to provide a better understanding of what Lewis and Clark may have encountered during their adventurous days. Activities will include a Lewis and Clark Family Scavenger Hunt, Big Green Screen Trivia Contest, Campfire Songs, Arts and Crafts Programs, Book Signing by Manny Twofeathers, Author of “My Road to the Sundance”, Woodcarving Demonstrations by Jeri Kline, a Camp Adventure and Lagoon Pontoon Boat Rides. In addition, the Sunset Cafe will be preparing food items from the Lewis and Clark Cookbook with a popular favorite, fresh roasted corn with specialty butters. People can experience the National Geographic Lewis and Clark, A Great Journey West film firsthand on the 45’ wide, 4-story high Big Green Screen to top off the weekend. Special theater packages will be offered all weekend.

Scooters is hosting the 1st annual Motorcycles 4 Meals poker run to benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank of NW PA on August 12, 2006. Registration starts at 9 am at the Food Bank, 1703 Ash Street with the first bike leaving at Noon. There will be FREE food, FREE music, Chinese auction and a 50/50 raffle at Scooters (last stop). First place winner gets $200, 2nd place $100 and 3rd place $50. For more information visit the link above or call Michele King at 459-3663.

The Erie PA Sport Fishing Association is hosting their 1st Walleye and Steelhead Pro-Am Team Tournament on August 12 and 13 from the port of Erie. There will be $20,000.00 worth of cash and prizes given out between the professional and amateur division.

Celebrate Erie takes place Aug 18-20 in downtown Erie. The Clarks, Seven Mary Three, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Povertyneck Hillbillies and the Beach Boys are a few of the musical acts. This event was formerly called ‘We Love Erie Days.’ It’s been 5 years since the name change.

The 10th annual Erie German Heritage Festival will be held September 2-3, 2006 from 11-8 daily at St Nick’s Grove, 5131 Old French Road (Route 97).

Erie’s last blast of summer, the second annual Erie Heritage Festival, featuring a special Erie Philharmonic Pops concert on the Bay, will be held on Saturday, September 9, at Liberty Park’s Pepsi Amphitheater.

Posted by Dennis at August 9, 2006 7:05 AM

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