ErieBlogs.com: Erie PA News and Events for Saturday March 3, 2007

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Erie PA News and Events for Saturday March 3, 2007

Posted by Dennis on March 3, 2007

Erie County Judge John Bozza granted a permanent injunction preventing the county wide smoking ban from taking effect. The judge concluded that the county ordinance violated the Pennsylvania Clean Indoor Air Act. Congrats to Eric Purchase on the win. This is exactly what the county solicitor told Erie County Council would happen. The arrogant members of county council believe they are above the law and passed it any way. The only thing Erie County Council did was waste time and a stack of taxpayer money. To continue throwing good money after bad, Erie County Executive Mark DiVecchio said the county will appeal the ruling. For those of you worried about second hand smoke but not the health effects of consuming mass quantities of alcohol, Senate Bill 246 is now before the Senate Appropriations Committee as it works its way to the Senate floor for a vote.

Bonds are usually classified into two groups - “investment grade” bonds and “junk” bonds. Investment grade bonds include AAA, AA, A and BBB. Fitch Ratings affirmed the rating on approximately $2.2 million series 1997 Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority (Port Erie or the port) revenue bonds at ‘BB+’. The Rating Outlook is revised to Stable from Negative. A bit better, but still junk bond status. Port bonds are secured by a pledge of port operating revenues together with income derived from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania subject to annual appropriation by the state general assembly. Fitch does not rate the authority’s $3 million series 2006 revenue bonds, but that debt was factored into the port’s rating and outlook. The series 1997 bonds were initially underwritten by PNC Capital Markets. The ‘BB+’ rating is principally supported by the historical grant support given by the commonwealth and also on the essentiality of products shipped through the port to the regional construction industry. The rating also acknowledges the significant credit risks, which include the port’s negative operating margin and its reliance on the state grant to close the shortfall in operating income, fund debt service and pay for capital projects. The Outlook was changed to Stable because port does retain some flexibility to meet its financial obligations over the next several years. Furthermore, improvement in the port’s credit rating or outlook is not wholly dependent on the port returning to break-even or positive operations, net of commonwealth support. Ongoing state support to fund debt service and close the gap in operations, combined with the port’s improved fiscal 2006 fund balances, should offset the expected operating deficits over the medium term while management develops steps to return its operations to break-even or more stable financial performance. The port should also gain significant financial flexibility in fiscal 2011 and beyond when the series 1997 bonds are fully paid and debt service drops to $424,000 from $1.1 million currently. Rating improvement in the medium term is possible if the port continues to demonstrate prudent capital project management to better time project expenses with available revenues, succeeds at minimizing or stabilizing the operating loss and/or implements programs that generate additional revenue streams. The port finished fiscal year 2006 with a $1.1 million operating loss, a significant increase from the previous year’s $573,000 operating loss. Revenues for fiscal 2006 were comparable to 2005 but expenses for 2005 and 2006 were much higher than previous years due to the cost of repairs related to a mudslide on port property. Management has estimated that repair and mitigation costs totaled approximately $780,000 in the last two fiscal years, but should decline to $50,000 for fiscal 2007 as most of the work is complete. Unrestricted cash balances, however, improved to $3.1 million as of January 2007 from $2.2 million at the close of fiscal 2005 due in part to the sale of a parcel of land for $1 million and to a $1.3 million settlement received as part of a separate legal suit concerning a port contractor. Overall port operations have run a combined $3.3 million operating deficit since fiscal year 1999 due to increasing operating expenses related to new projects. The largest of these projects was the Erie Intermodal Center, a 33,500 square foot facility which provides a central terminal for the city of Erie’s various transportation systems. Port management had expected that the center’s rental income would cover operating expenses. However, the center itself has incurred a combined $450,000 operating deficit since opening in fiscal 2003. Additional rental space at the center is limited, thus management’s ability to close the port’s overall operating deficit will largely depend on efforts to control or cut expenses at the center or increase revenues from other port operations. The port derives a significant portion of its income from fixed long-term operating leases, limiting management’s ability to regularly adjust rates and resulting in revenue growth averaging just 2 percent per year since 1999. Fitch believes that ongoing operating deficits are likely in the near term. Prior to 1999, the state grant was generally allocated to pay principal and interest on the bonds and to fund capital projects, but beginning with the port’s operating losses in fiscal 1999, management has needed to allocate portions of the grant towards operating costs as well. The $2.5 million state grant received in fiscal 2006 funded approximately $1.2 million in debt service, $921,000 in operations and $414,000 in capital projects. Complete press release.

On the 3d of March, 1792, the Triangle of which is most of Erie County was purchased from the United States by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. A patent was issued, signed by George Washington as President, and Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of State. The consideration was $151,640.25, 75 cents an acre.

eDynaQuote, the provider of internet- based competitive bidding services and consulting based in Erie, PA, has expanded its sales and marketing initiatives into the greater New York City area. Joseph Roman, a New Jersey resident with over 20 years of sales and marketing experience, has joined eDynaQuote as Director of Business Development. In this capacity, he manages sales relationships with new and existing clients in the New York Tri-State territory, which includes southern New York, New Jersey, and southeast Pennsylvania. In addition, he will lead the continued expansion and formalization of eDynaQuote’s sales function and capabilities. The eDynaQuote New Jersey office is located in the Sperro Corporate Center at 2 Skyline Drive, Montville, NJ. The phone number is 973-331-0212. eDynaQuote provides a powerful, yet easy-to-implement, system that helps clients streamline the purchasing process and potentially save millions of dollars. The company offers professional support and allows clients to choose from among a variety of service levels to address specific needs, coupled with full-service help-desk support. eDynaQuote was created by the Center for eBusiness and Advanced Information Technology (eBizITPA), a Pennsylvania resource initiative begun in 2002. Recently eDynaQuote was spun off into a free-standing, self-supporting entity and is currently being offered for acquisition. Interested parties should contact Prima Problem Solving Inc. (pmiller@ppspi.com). For additional information, visit http://www.edynaquote.com.

Meghan Agosta had a pair of goals and two assists as top ranked Mercyhurst won its 31st game and advanced to the College Hockey America championship game Saturday with a hard-fought 5-2 win over Robert Morris. The Lakers, who improved to 5-0 this season and 10-0 lifetime against the Colonials, are now to 31-1-3.

The Gannon University women’s basketball team will have a chance Saturday night to make school history. The Lady Knights will try to capture their first-ever Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Championship after dismantling Michigan Tech 80-60 Friday night in the GLIAC semifinals played at the Hammermill Center. Gannon will battle Hillsdale for the title in the conference’s first-ever All-South Division final. The Chargers rallied for a 90-87 overtime decision against Ferris State in the second semifinal. Saturday’s title game is scheduled for 7 pm.

The Mercyhurst men’s basketball team, the No 2 seed in the Mercyhurst South, fell 77-40 at top-seeded Findlay, the No 3 team in Division II in the GLIAC Semifinals.

Mickey Renaud scored twice and added two assists to lead the Windsor Spitfires to a 5-3 win over the Erie Otters in an Ontario Hockey League game played last night in front of 3,565 at the Tullio Arena. The lowly Otters lost for the 11th straight time and are now 13-45-1-2 on the season. The Otters return to action tonight at the Tullio Arena when John Tavares and the Oshawa Generals pay a visit for a 7:30 pm start. The game can also be seen live on the Image Sports Network beginning at 7:30 pm.

Lake Erie Speedway has announced its 6 racing divisions that will take part in the 2007 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series at Lake Erie Speedway. The top class at Lake Erie Speedway will remain the Plyler Overhead Door Late Models. In 2007 Late Models will showcase two MAARA events, the MAARA 100 on Saturday, May 26th, and the Lake Erie 200 on Saturday, July 21st. The Legends class will remain as another of Lake Erie Speedway’s continually growing race divisions. In 2006 Lake Erie Speedway saw 56 different Legends compete at the speedway. The Dodge Truck class will start its 6th season at Lake Erie Speedway, with the absence of its two-time champion Al Fisher, who has moved into the Late Model class for 2007. The Advance Auto Parts Street Stocks will be returning in 2007, with over $22,000 in winnings available to competitors. Bandolero’s will be back with a new title sponsor for 2007. Boyer RV Center has jumped on board, to help promote the best class for kids under 16 to get their start in racing. The final class to race at Lake Erie Speedway in 2007 will be the Jensen’s Target Collision Krazy Kompacts, who will be starting their 2nd season at Lake Erie Speedway. The Krazy Kompact class had the largest car count of any division in 2006, with 59 different drivers. Lake Erie Speedway estimates that over $255,000 will be paid out in total to the six divisions over the course of the season.

A remarkable collection of museum-quality fossils and casts, including a massive Tyrannosaurus Rex skull that promises to fire the imagination, will go on public display at Mercyhurst College today through March 10. Besides the T-Rex skull, the Mercyhurst collection includes casts of several other skulls of large reptiles from the Jurassic Period, a two-ton section of petrified wood from Indonesia, a fossilized elephant specimen from Java, a dinosaur egg nest, a stalactite from China, and more. The collection will be available for public viewing from 2 to 5 pm each day. Additionally, the exhibit will be open Thursday evening, March 8, from 7 to 9 pm. It is located in the Cummings Gallery of the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center.

Peek’n Peak holds their Spring Fest celebration this weekend. All day lift tickets are $32 for adults and $22 for juniors (ages 6-11). Children 5 and younger ski free when accompanied by an adult with a lift ticket.

The Allegheny College Playshop Theatre continues its season with Gilbert and Sullivan's comedic opera "The Pirates of Penzance de Veracruz" under the direction of Professor of Communication Arts and Theatre Beth Watkins. Music department faculty Vicki and Ward Jamison are the vocal and musical directors for the production. The performance dates are Saturday at 8 pm, with matinees on Saturday March 3 and Sunday 4 at 2:30 pm in Arter Hall on the Allegheny College campus. Tickets are $7.50 for adults; $5 for non-Allegheny students, senior citizens and Allegheny employees; and free for Allegheny students with identification. For more information or to order tickets, contact the Playshop Theatre Box Office at (814) 332-3414.

The 25th annual Erie Sport and Travel Expo will be held at Family First Sports Park in Erie, Pa March 2-4. The show features fishing and hunting lodges, guides, outfitters, fishing charters and sporting goods vendors and boat and recreational vehicle dealers. General Admission $6 with children under 10 free.

The Roadhouse Theater production of "Glengarry Glen Ross" is scheduled for Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm through March 31. Admission: Regular seating $12, Riser seating $15, VIP table seating $20. Reservations can be made by phone at (814) 456-5656.

Allegheny College's Gator Activities Programming organization and Allegheny Student Government will host comedian and actor Wayne Brady for a live one-man show on Saturday, March 3 at 8 pm in Shafer Auditorium. Brady is widely recognized for his work on screen and stage. He is perhaps best known for his improvisational comedy on the television show "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" Brady won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety, Musical or Comedy Series for his work on that show. Brady also starred in his own ABC variety show, "The Wayne Brady Show," in 2001 and a daytime talk show of the same name that aired in 2002. He has also guest-starred on "The Drew Carey Show" and in 2004 was chosen to play the role of lawyer Billy Flynn in the Broadway musical "Chicago." Tickets are available now. Allegheny students are $10 and $20 for the general public All seating is general admission. For more information go to http://www.allegheny.edu/waynebrady or call 814-332-2754.

The North East Community Players have open auditions March 5 and 6 at 7:30 pm for the suspense/ thriller "Night Watch," directed by Alan Koch. The cast calls for 5 men and 4 women and the performances are scheduled for April 6 - 7, 12 - 15, and 19 - 21. Auditions will be held at the NECP Theatre (25 Vine Street, 2nd Floor) in North East, PA.

Music lovers are invited to follow Road to the Isles, and take in the sights and sounds of traditional Celtic folk music and dance along the way. "Road to the Isles" is a Pittsburgh-based quintet of pipe, guitar, fiddle, and two dancers that will perform at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, on Wednesday, March 7 at 12 pm. Their presentation of Scottish and Irish music and dance is part of college's Rhythms of Life cultural series and begins at noon in the Reed Union Building's Bruno's Cafe. It is free and open to the public.

The concert band and jazz ensemble at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, will play favorites "From Stage and Screen" at their annual joint spring concert. The performance will be held at 8 pm on Thursday, March 8, in the McGarvey Commons of the Reed Union Building. Admission is free and open to the public.

National Christian School Invitational basketball tournament will be held March 8-10 at Family First Sports Park in Erie PA.

The Erie Art Museum's annual end-of-winter bash is heading for Motown, or at least Motown is heading for Just My Imagination, Saturday, March 10 at the Bel-Aire Clarion Hotel, 2800 West 8th Street. Just My Imagination will replace the Museum's very popular mARTi Gras Bash, but organizers say it will truly be one night to boogie down. "Live Motown music from Cleveland's Tony Quarles and the Discovery Band, great food, elaborate decorations and costume prizes are all planned for this event," said event Chairwoman Rebecca Styn. Tickets are $45 and all proceeds benefit the Erie Art Museum. For tickets call (814) 459-5477.

Food and fun both will be in abundance when Gannon University hosts its annual International Night on Saturday, March 10. The event will feature an "International Food Bazaar" with culinary delights from more than 20 countries, including Hong Kong, Sweden, Bahamas, France, Poland, Spain, Greece, Panama, Peru, India, Turkey, Japan, China, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. The dinner will start at 6 pm. The entertainment portion of the event will begin at 7:30 pm and will feature numerous cultural performances including Filipino folk dancing, Indian dancing, Greek dancing, Polish dancing, Celtic soft shoe and tap dancing, and traditional Turkish dancing. Music also will be offered, including South Korean violin and Bosnian flute. International Night will be held in Gannon's Hammermill Center, Peach Street and South Park Row. Tickets can be purchased at the information desk of the Waldron Campus Center, 124 West Seventh Street. Tickets are $15 for adults; $10 for senior citizens, military, and children 10 and over; and $5 for children under 10.

McLane Church in Edinboro, PA will present its annual "PowerZone Weekend" Children's Ministry worship services on Saturday, March 10 and Sunday, March 11, 2007 at the church, 12511 Edinboro Road, Edinboro. "PowerZone Weekend" is a weekend of worship services at McLane Church when the pre-school and elementary school aged students 'take over' the regular adult worship service and infuse it with high-energy music, motion and a message. Nearly 100 children along with their adult leaders will lead the worship service, presenting upbeat songs, funny skits, and an inspirational lesson designed to encourage everyone in attendance. The children of McLane Church prepare for weeks prior to this very popular worship service, learning songs and accompanying motions. Last year's "PowerZone Weekend" prompted the greatest weekend worship attendance of the 2005-2006 ministry year. As always, a complementary meal will accompany each of the three worship services: Saturday at 6 PM, and Sunday at 9 and 11 AM. For more information on the PowerZone children's ministry and directions to McLane Church, call (814) 734-1907 or go to www.mclanechurch.org.

The Northwest PA Maple Association 2007 Northwest PA Maple Taste and Tour Weekend will be held March 17-18, 10 am to 4 pm daily. Ten sugar houses in Crawford, Erie, Mercer, Warren and Venango counties open their doors during the height of maple sugaring time.

Meadowmount Trio, a frequent contributor to National Public Radio hailed as "an ensemble of seamless rapport" by The Strad magazine, will perform at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, on Wednesday, March 21. Meadowmount Trio appears as part of Music at Noon: The Logan Series. Its performance, which is free and open to the public, will be held at noon in the Reed Union Building's McGarvey Commons.

The Classic Rock Dance, a fund raiser for the family of Erie soldier Katie Beckwith, with the Bryan Burton Band will be held on March 24 at the Millcreek American Legion, 4109 West 12th Street in Erie (next to the Airport) starting at 8 pm. Tickets can be purchased at the door for a donation of $5 per person. Katie was injured when a roadside bomb detonated beside her Humvee in Iraq. She is presently being hospitalized at Fort Knox. The benefit is to raise money for travel expenses for her family to visit her.

Think you have what it takes to sing the National Anthem at a Double-A baseball game? Well here is your chance. The Erie SeaWolves announced their National Anthem tryouts to be held Sunday, March 25 at the Millcreek Mall. Tryouts will be held on the main stage located at the center of the mall. Registration begins at 1:30 pm and tryouts begin at 2 pm. Those interested in auditioning will perform the National Anthem for a panel of judges. Auditions must be performed a capella. For more information about the National Anthem tryouts, please contact Carol Trumbo at (814) 456-1300 or via email at ctrumbo(at)seawolves.com. SeaWolves Opening Day for the 2007 season is April 5 against the Altoona Curve. First pitch is set for 6:35 pm.

The Erie Micro Brew Festival presented by WQLN will be held April 21 at Union Station at 14th and French Streets. There will be 2 sampling sessions 1-4 pm and 5-8 pm. All proceeds support public broadcasting and all PLCB laws apply. Attendees must be 21. Tickets will be available soon at many Erie area locations. Scheduled to attend are: The BrewErie at Union Station, The Erie Brewing Company, Southern Tier Brewing, Pennsylvania Brewery, Voodoo Brewery, The Flying Bison, Ellicottville Brewing Company, North Country Brewing Company, Hereford and Hops, Sprague Farm and Brew Works, The Buffalo Brew Pub, Magic Hat Brewing and the East End Brewing Company.

Dennis Weed