ErieBlogs.com: Erie PA News and Events for Thursday August 31, 2006

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Erie PA News and Events for Thursday August 31, 2006

Posted by Dennis on August 31, 2006

Developer Brad Fairfield announced that Sky Bank will finance $3.2 million of the $6.4 million to begin construction of the Koehler Brewery Square project. So it’s still $3.2 million away but Sky is trying to line up line up other banks to help with the financing. I’m still pretty optimistic that construction will begin shortly.

Brazillian Coffee and Machines Company, (814) 480-5766, yesterday held a press conference at the Intermodal Transportation Building to introduce their company to Erie. They are ecstatic about being located in Erie and the future of the company. Their future plans include the addition of a manufacturing plant in Erie. Holy cow do they have some great looking coffee machines. They gave away a coffee machine to the invitees to the press conference. The President and CEO of the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership, who was instrumental in helping bring the company to Erie, won it. It was REALLY hard not to yell out ‘Fixed!’ but Jake was a little embarrassed he won.

The summer blood shortage worsened yesterday and creates a dangerous situation with one of the worst weekends of the year for the blood supply just 3 days away. The Erie Community Blood Bank is urging the public to help by donating blood. The next 100 donors that come in and donate blood get a 6-pack of Coke products generously donated by the Coca Cola Bottling Company of the Great Lakes. Officials at the blood bank expect the summer blood shortage to end by mid September as vacations end and as schools begin holding blood drives. Donors are desperately needed to get through the last weekend of what has been the worst summer for the blood supply in decades. This is also the final week for the “Back to School” Promotion with Ambridge Rose Spa and Salon. Donors all week can enter to win a huge “Back to School” Bag with $200 worth of great salon quality product from Ambridge Rose Spa and Salon and a back to school haircut. All donors are strongly encouraged to donate at the 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 am -12:30 pm. Photo ID required.

Meadow Brook Dairy announced a new, contemporary logo and packaging for their fluid milk products in quart, half-gallon and gallon sizes. The evocative logo features an illustrative farmscape that is visually representative of the rolling farmland along Route 90 from Erie, Pennsylvania to Syracuse, New York.
Ahhh, didn’t the logo change about 6 months ago?? Little slow on the news by the ad firm.

The Erie County Fair is taking place through September 2 at the fairgrounds in Wattsburg, PA. Here is the schedule of events.

This weeks downtown Erie block party takes place tonight, Thursday Aug 31 at 7 pm on the 800 block of State Street in front of the Floral Gallary. Key West Express performs. The event is FREE. Food and beverages will be available for sale.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is this weeks FREE outdoor movie for the Guelcher Film Series at the Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier Park, Movies in the Park, on Friday September 1 at 9 pm. Bring a blanket or a chair to sit on and join 1,000 of your friends for a fun family friendly evening for a movie in the park. This is the last movie for the year. The movies wre a great idea, hope they do it again next year.

Family First Sports Park will be hosting the Challenge Cup soccer tournament September 1-3, 2006. The National Premier High School Challenge Cup will feature some of the top high school boys and girls teams in the nation. Every hotel room within 50 miles of Erie is booked that weekend.

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).

The Presque Isle Cycling Club Ride for the Refuge Bike Tour will be held on September 4 at 7:30 am at Shades Beach in Haborcreek. Bike tour with various ride lengths - 25km, 50 km, 100km, and 50 miles. Water stops and a picnic following the tours. All rides start and finish at Shade’s Beach, 7000 E Lake Rd at Barlett Rd. Donation of $20 ($25 day of event) for age 16 and older, $10 ($12 day of event) for under 16 with parent. Click here for a registration form. For more info call Erie United Methodist Alliance at 456-8073.

The Northwest PA Commission will be holding a seminar on RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) on September 13 at the Warren Holiday Inn. Cost is $35 and the deadline to register is Sept 6. For many businesses, RFID will soon be mandatory. Click here for brochure/registration form.

Kayak enthusiasts will have the chance to participate in an eco-paddling experience, unlike any other. The three-day, three-night expedition will explore the many natural resources and recreational opportunities exclusive to Erie PA and the surrounding area. Registration to participate is required. Lake Erie-Allegheny Earth Force is sponsoring this event called the Lake Erie Sojourn which will be held September 7-10.

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.

Former Mecyhurst College basketball great Brent Swain is organizing a Mercyhurst Laker Alumni Basketball Game which is scheduled for September 9 at 7 pm in the Mercyhurst Athletics Center (MAC)..

Barbara Hurd will open the 2006 Creative Writer’s Speaker Series at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, with a reading on Thursday, Sept 14. Hurd’s reading will begin at 6 pm in the worship space of the Smith Chapel. A reception for her at 4:30 pm in the chapel living room will precede her appearance; both are free and open to the public. Hurd is the author of two literary nonfiction books, Stirring the Mud: On Swamps, Bogs, and Human Imagination, which was named a Los Angeles Times Best Book of 2001, and Entering the Stone: On Caves and Feeling Through the Dark, and a book of poetry, Objects in This Mirror.

The Scions Of Britain Car Club (the SOB’s) will hold their 14th annual ‘All British Car Gathering’ meet at the Gazebo Park in Waterford, Pa, about 12 miles South of Erie, on September 17 from noon to 4 pm The event is informal - no vendors, no judging, no fee - drive it, drag it, or just talk about it kind of event. There are usually about 75-80 cars and a few motorcycles, and they usually have door prizes for everyone. For more info, please contact Tom Lee at (814) 725-5992 or rthomaslee@aol.com .

The 2006 Great Lakes Film Festival will be held at the Roadhouse Theatre For Contemporary Art, 145 West 11th St in Erie PA September 20-24.

The Northwest PA Entrepreneur Club (E-Club) will be holding a Networking Event on September 20 at 6 pm in the Oil City library. It’s open to entrepreneurs at all stages of a business’s life who want to benefit from networking and education. Featured Speakers will be Mike Snyder, Attorney and Mike Klapec, Small Business Owner. RSVP by September 13 by calling Ethel Rodebaugh at 814-677-4800 x113.

The 25th Annual Wine Country Harvest Festival takes place in North East, Pa September 22-24, 2006. The festival features two venues, Gibson Park in downtown North East and Gravel Pit Park just 1.5 miles west of downtown. You’ll enjoy wine by the glass, tour buses to the five local wineries, Arts and Crafts, Main Stage Entertainment, a Children’s Area, Cruise in on Sunday, Bike Wine Country Tours, wine and food seminars and a champagne breakfast.