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Erie PA News and Events for Thursday September 28, 2006

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board unanimously approved licenses for five locations but not Presque Isle Downs, under construction in the Erie suburbs. The decision on a license for Presque Isle Downs was delayed “for further investigation.” Board members wanted “adequate time to review testimony and personal notes taken at that applicant’s Suitability Hearing.” The association Ted Arneault and MTR Gaming has with Greg Rubino and Ian Murray is now biting them in the ass. The vote to approve the license for Presque Isle Down will be held October 25. The one month delay seems to be a lesson to MTR about watching who they are associating with.

Kazakhstan’s national railway has agreed to spend more than a half-billion dollars on locomitives built by GE in Erie PA. Kazakhstan Temir Zholy will buy 310 new dual-cab locomotives between 2008 and 2012, in a contract worth more than $650 million.

Sunburst Electronics, a contract manufacturer of electronic controls in Erie, Pa, recently fulfilled requirements to become a J-STD-001 facility — permitting the company to expand services to the military and other high-reliability electronics markets. Certified to ISO 9001:2000, Sunburst Electronics specializes in developing electronic assemblies (printed circuit boards, chassis assembly, cables and harnesses) for industrial machinery, control and measurement applications, instrumentation, avionics, transportation, transducers and medical devices, among others. The company houses its operations in a 31,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility based in the Erie, Pa bayfront and maintains a separately staffed, 4,000-square-foot repair center specializing in end-of-life product management. Founded in 1975, Sunburst is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bliley Technologies. Bliley is a manufacturer of quartz crystals and crystal oscillators used in the telecommunications, military and space industries.

The PA Department of Labor and Industry released the most recent unemployment figures for Pennsylvania. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Erie PA for August 2006 stood at 5.4 percent. The unadjusted rate was 5.1 percent. The August 2006 seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the Meadville area was 5.8 percent. The rates for July were 5.1 percent for Erie (unadjusted 5.2) and 5.2 percent for Meadville (unadjusted 5.6). There were 133,600 people employed in Erie County PA in August.

The Precision Manufacturing Institute (PMI) in Meadville is prominently mentioned in the American Machinist magazine September issue. The article titled “Advances In Tech Education At Local Levels” states that facilities such as PMI could make a significant dent in the shortage of skilled manufacturing labor in America. Students who pursue a career in manufacturing at PMI can choose from 28 diploma and certified programs.

Tom Noyes, assistant professor of creative writing in the B.F.A. program at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, has been named runner-up for the Association of Writers and Writing Programs’ 2006 Grace Paley Prize in Short Fiction for his manuscript “Spooky Action at a Distance and Other Stories.” The association will work with Noyes to secure a publisher for the story collection, his second. Noyes’ first book, “Behold Faith and Other Stories”, was published by Dufour Editions in 2003. It was short-listed for Stanford University Library’s William Saroyan International Prize for Writing and reviewed favorably in many publications, including the New York Times Book Review, where it was praised for its macabre wit and startling confessions of frailty and delusion.

Erie Otters goalie Jeff Dawson s studying psychology and kinesiology at Gannon University.

Newfane High School (Buffaol NY area) senior Melissa Wasik announced she will continue her academic and volleyball career at Gannon University.

Medaille’s men’s soccer team improved its record to 8-1 with a 9-0 rout of Penn State-Behrend.

Green Bay Packers offensive line coach Joe Philbin spent four years coaching at Allegheny College.

The Alfred State College volleyball team, ranked 8th in NJCAA Division III, improved to 20-0 on the season with a 30-23, 30-14, 31-29 victory over WNYAC rival Mercyhurst North East. The Lady Pioneers are now 4-0 in WNYAC play.

The Mercyhurst College men’s hockey has been tabbed the top team in the Atlantic Hockey Association Preseason Coaches Poll. This is the third straight year that the Lakers have been chosen the pre-season favorite by the coaches, as last season Mercyhurst shared the top spot with Holy Cross. The Lakers garnered 96 points and seven first place votes.

Mercyhurst College will host the Northwest College Fair this evening from 6:30 to 8 pm in the Mercyhurst Recreation Center. Students and parents will be able to speak with more than 85 college representatives from Pennsylvania and surrounding states. The fair is free and open to the public. Parking is available on campus and also next door in the St Luke School parking lot.

“Dining Room” by AR Gurney will be performed at the Gannon University Schuster Theatre Thur-Sun, Sept. 28-Oct. 1 and Thur-Sat, Oct. 5-7. Thur-Sat shows will begin at 8 pm with the Sunday matinee at 3 pm. For more information call 814-871-5467 or contact the box office at 814-871-7494. Schuster Theatre is located at 620 Sassafras Street.

The Erie Ad Club to host Blogging seminar this Friday September 29 at the Marketplace Grill. Free to members, $15 for non-members. Dennis Weed (hey, that’s me!) will be the featured speaker. To register, simply call (814) 451-8677 or RSVP here.

“Bat Boy: The Musical” (based on a story in the Weekly World News) is now playing at the Roadhouse Theatre. First produced by the Roadhouse Theatre in 2005, the original Erie production of this raucous show received rave reviews. Performances are Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 pm, through October 21st. Tickets are $10 with students at $7. Reservations can be made by phone at 814-456-5656 or in person at the Roadhouse Theatre 145 West 11th Street. Box Office hours are 2-6 PM Tuesday - Saturday. Recommended for mature audiences.

The Erie Philharmonic season opener will be held at the Warner Theatre on Sept 30.

Big plans are in place highlighting the adventures of Lewis and Clark at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center (TREC) and Presque Isle State Park this weekend, September 30- October 1, 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, Camp Adventure Program and Lagoon Pontoon Boat Rides. The Sunset Cafe will have featured specials for everyone to enjoy. People can experience the National Geographic Lewis and Clark, A Great Journey West film firsthand on the 45 foot wide, 4-story high Big Green Screen to top off the weekend. Special theater packages will be offered all weekend. Test out your survival skills inside or out! The Lewis and Clark Family Scavenger Hunt will take you on an adventure in search for clues at TREC. Or try testing your knowledge of the Lewis and Clark Trivia contest that follows along with the film. Lucky winners of the different contests will win special prizes offered by the Nature Shop and Gallery and the Big Green Screen Theater.

Developed by National City Bank in 2002, the Women’s Economic Development Outreach (WEDO) is a coalition of dynamic women leaders working together to bring information and focused resources that directly impact women-owned businesses and their opportunity for business expansion. Speakers will share their tips to building a successful business while getting the most from life. Start each day with a networking breakfast, end around noon, and use the time after to attend workshops or to network with speakers and attendees. The Erie area seminar will be held Monday, October 2 at 8 am at the National City Community Room, 801 State Street, Erie, PA.

The 3rd annual Eerie Erie Horror Film Festival takes place once again at the Roadhouse Theater in Erie, Pa, October 4-8, 2006. Director George A Romero (“Night of the Living Dead”, “Dawn of the Dead”) is the big name that will be there this year.

The Erie Civic Music Association is brining the Glenn Miller Orchestra to town. They will perform at the Warner Theatre on Oct. 8 at 3 pm. Tickets are $20.

The Wooden Nickel Buffalo Farm Fall Festival will be held October 8-9 2005, each day from 11am-6pm. Fall Festival offers fun for the whole family. Admission and parking are free but donations are encouraged benefiting the Edinboro Lions Club. They’ll have face painting, wagon ride and the mini petting zoo featuring Sierra, the friendly Bison. We will have pumpkins, squash, hay bales and corn stalks for sale for Halloween and fall decorating. Mickey’s famous pumpkin and apple pies will be for sale. Made from local pumpkins and apples, these pies don’t stick around long. Come view all the beauty that northwestern Pennsylvania offers with a peaceful country backdrop and the majestic Bison roaming in the fields. The Buffalo Grill will be serving up delicious Buffalo fare cafeteria style. Wear your 2005 Event T-Shirt and get a FREE wagon ride.

Posted by Dennis at September 28, 2006 6:56 AM

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Posted by: Tim at September 28, 2006 5:20 PM

Posted by: Dittman at September 29, 2006 9:26 AM

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