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Erie PA News and Events for Wednesday September 26, 2007
Posted by Dennis on September 26, 2007
The Erie County Office of Children and Youth employees today take a vote on a new contract. It’s expected to be rejected. The contract call for wage increases of 3 percent for the first 3 years and 3.5 percent in the fourth year. The union has said the wages are too low adn they are short 16-18 caseworkers because of that. The starting wage is nearly $14 per hour plus a large benefits package. There are no job openings currently listed for the department. With all the problems at the department, maybe it’s time to look into privatizing it like the county had with Case Management Support Services.
WJET-TV ran a story on a 8-week training program to get firefighter candidates ready for the physical test on October 27. Wouldn’t it have been nice to let people know about it before the practice program was half over? There is nothing about it on the city page for the Erie Fire Department nor the web site for the Erie Fire Department. The Justice Department is asking why there are ZERO minorities in the 135 member department. Who was told about the training? What is the ethnic breakup of the people attending the training?
Note: I have come to learn that the physical training test for firefighter candidates is only open to the top 40 from the written exams. I only saw while males taking the training.
The 2006 FBI Uniform Crime Report was released yesterday. There are 81 tables and every town is listed. Here are the major stats for the City of Erie: Population 102,703; Total Violent crimes 554; Murders 2; Rapes 69; Robberies 275; Aggravated assaults 208; Property crimes 2,987; Burglaries 740; Larceny / theft 2,106; Motor vehicle thefts 141; and Arsons 38. The City of Erie has 201 law enforcement employees - 173 police officers and 28 civilians. The number of crimes in Erie is on a downward trend, even though the number of police officers has dropped.
Note: Emma correctly pointed out that in recent years the trend is actually up.
Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong is still in prison and wasn’t in Florida on Tuesday, was she? There was a Brian Wells copycat bank robbery in Hollywood, FL. A man was abducted by two armed men that strapped a bomb on him. The men drove to a Wachovia drive-through and, threatening to detonate the device, demanded cash from a teller. The teller gave them a large amount of cash. The third man was left at the bank still wearing the device. A bomb squad robot removed the device which was later detonated. The two armed men on still on the loose.
Wells died August 28, 2003, after he claimed gunmen had grabbed him, locked the bomb around his neck and ordered him to rob a bank. He died when the bomb exploded. The FBI said Wells had a limited role in the robbery.
Peccadillo’s is being sued by the estate of two people that died as the result of a St Patrick’s Day 2006 accident. The suit say that the bar over-served Jacob Latta. Latta hit a car head-on and four people died.
Presque Isle Downs and Casino reported wagers of $37,026,540 with payouts of $33,799,571 for the week of September 17-23. The number of active slot machines is now 1,880.
Buffalo and Albany financial services offices affiliated with John Hancock Insurance and Financial have merged into one company called Empire Financial Partners. The firm combines the head offices in both cities, six satellite locations across New York state and one in Erie, Pa, employing a total of 100 agents and a staff of about 20.
The Gannon men’s water polo team used a match-high four goals from senior Paul Musille (Canton, Ohio/Glen Oak) and a big-time save by senior goalkeeper Brandon Thomas (Erie, Pa/Cathedral Prep) with one minute to play to earn a hard-fought 11-10 victory over local rival Mercyhurst Tuesday evening before a standing-room-only crowd at Gannon’s Carneval Athletic Pavilion. Gannon moved to 17-3 all-time against Mercyhurst, including a perfect 13-0 mark under head coach Don Sherman. The Golden Knights improved to 3-5 overall and 1-0 in the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA). The Lakers, ranked eighth in the latest CWPA poll, dropped to 4-5 overall and 0-1 in conference play.
The Mercyhurst College women’s ice hockey team was ranked second in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Women’s College Hockey Poll for the 2007-08 season. The University of Wisconsin received all first place votes and was ranked first.
The Gannon men’s soccer team (7-1) remained 25th in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) national rankings released Tuesday afternoon. The Golden Knights also remained fourth in the NSCAA Great Lakes regional rankings.
The Mercyhurst College athletic department will be honoring the 2007 men’s lacrosse team with a hot buffet brunch during this year’s Homecoming Weekend. The brunch will take place on Saturday, September 29th from 10:30 am-noon at the Marriot Courtyard Ambassador Room. Last year’s team finished the year with a record of 13-2 overall. The Lakers won the East Coast Conference by posting a perfect 6-0 mark. The team also advanced to the NCAA Division II National Championship game for the first time in school history, losing to Le Moyne 6-5. The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association named five Mercyhurst men’s lacrosse players All-Americans. Seniors Bryon Lindner, Adam Mulherin and Joe Thon were named to the first team, sophomore Jason Lashomb was named to the second team, and senior Mike Grizanti was named honorable mention. Coach Chris Ryan was named USILA Coach of the Year for the second time in his career and was one of three local Champions For Education Coaches of the Year. The brunch is open to the public and tickets are available for $12 per person. Please contact athletic secretary Elizabeth Morgan by phone at (814) 824-2228 to RSVP as soon as possible. Payment will be accepted at the door. Special speakers will be on hand to address the team and fans.
Last year, Mercyhurst College became home to a life-size specimen of a Tyrannosaurus Rex skull, thanks to the donation of a museum-quality natural history collection of casts and fossils. This year, Mercyhurst will go one better when it unveils a set of shark jaws so enormous that people can lock arms and walk through together. Mercyhurst College’s second annual natural history exhibit runs Sept 27 to Oct 17 at Cummings Gallery in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center. An opening reception, which is free and open to the public, will be held Thursday, Sept 27, from 5 to 7 pm. Because of the anticipated public appeal, normal gallery hours are being extended for the exhibit’s duration. They are Tuesdays through Saturdays from 2 to 7 pm, except Thursdays, 2 to 9 pm; also Sundays from 2 to 5 pm. Special tours for school students are available by contacting the Mercyhurst Archaeological Institute at 824-2545.
The Erie Art Museum’s Contemporary Music Series will present violinist Diane Monroe in concert on Friday, Sept. 28, 2007 at 8 pm at the Erie Art Museum Annex, 423 State Street. Admission is free; a $10 donation is suggested.
The 2007 Wine Country Harvest Festival will be held in North East, PA September 28, 29 and 30.
Mercyhurst Men’s Basketball Alumni are organizing an Alumni Basketball game for charity. The event is scheduled for September 29, 2007 at 7pm at the MAC. Come See some of your favorite Mercyhurst players from the past and some of the Mercyhurst stars of the future compete in 3-point contests and a dunk contest. All proceeds from the gate will benefit the Alheimer’s Association of Erie. There will also be a 50/50 raffle. Players include Brent Swain, Keith Nies, Matt Thielker, Gerry Battle, and Dion Brown, Jason Ioppolo, and Jody Crymes.
In conjunction with Alumni Reunion 2007, Penn State Behrend Finance graduates are invited back to campus for a Finance Alumni Reception hosted by Sam and Irene Black School of Business faculty. Greg Filbeck, the Finance program chair, and Finance faculty Brian Boscaljon, Jessica Zhou, and Kay Johnson have planned an informal reception for Finance alumni and their guests from 10:00 until 11:30 am on Saturday, September 29. The reception is part of the college’s Alumni Reunion and concurrent Parents & Families Weekend, and will be held in the cafe of the Research and Economic Development Center (REDC). Attendance reservations should be made by Saturday, September 15.
Alec Chien, professor of music and artist in residence at Allegheny College, will present a concert of Beethoven piano sonatas at 7 pm on Saturday, Sept 29 in the college’s Shafer Auditorium. The concert, the sixth in a seven-concert series in which Chien is performing all 32 of Beethoven’s piano sonatas, is FREE and open to the public.
The Erie City Mission Annual Banquet and Silent Auction will be held October 4 at the Ambassador Conference Center. Volunteers have been working all year to create one of a kind packages to be awarded to the highest bidder. These packages include beautifully unique furnishings, decorative touches, holiday decorations and sports packages too. Look for 100 opportunities to take home a treasure. That includes the chance to win beautiful jewelry and even a money tree. For more information on the banquet, and how you can get in on the fun, call Sue McChesney at (814) 452-4421 or e-mail her at susan.mcchesney@eriecitymission.org.
Barbara Hurd will be the next author to read from her works in the Creative Writer’s Speaker Series at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. She will appear on campus on Thursday, Oct 4. Hurd’s reading will begin at 6 pm in the worship space of the Larry and Kathryn Smith Chapel. A 4:30 pm reception in the chapel living room will precede the reading; both are free and open to the public.
Asbury Woods will hold a tree leaf identification event on Saturday, October 6 from 10 am - Noon. Adults and Children 8 years and up accompanied by an adult. Fee: Members $10, Nonmembers $12/Parent/Child pair pay only one fee (includes Tree ID book and Tree Key) This class is for anyone who wants to know how to identify trees, or those who are doing a leaf project for school. You will learn how to identify trees by using a tree key, by leaf shape, and even by the bark. Pre-Registration and Payment Required. Please call (814) 835-5356.
What do you want Erie to look like in 20 years? Offer your response at the next SAM and ED meeting October 11, 4 to 6 pm, at the Plymouth Tavern. Facilitator - Ms Renee Lamis of PA Futures. Cost Free admission; cash bar. RSVP Appreciated, but not mandatory, lisa@lisaaustinpa.com. SAM and ED facilitates innovation, partnerships and education in Science,
Art, Manufacturing, and Engineering and Design. Founded in 2005,
SAM and ED is a voluntary, unincorporated collaborative that serves
as a catalyst for interdisciplinary initiatives and economic development. Those with a stake in Greater Erie are invited to participate in SAM and ED.
The 19th annual Erie Zoo Boo runs 6-9 pm, October 12-30. Admission is $4.50 for adults (ages 12 and up), $3.50 for children 2-11, and children under 2 will be admitted free.
The Lake Erie Region Conservancy (LERC) will be holding a concert fundraiser on Saturday, October 13, 2007 at the Mercyhurst D’Angelo Performing Arts Center featuring grammy-nominated jazz-funk group from Chicago, Liquid Soul. Tickets are $25.00 each and can be purchased by contacting LERC at 814-824-2407. LERC is also seeking 10 sponsors at a $1,000.00 level in an attempt to make this event a sell-out. If you are interested in sponsoring this event, contact Tom Fuhrman, President, at 814-824-2407 or email him at lerc@mercyhurst.edu.
The 6th Annual Walk To Make A Great Park Better will take place on Sunday, October 14 at 1 pm at Presque Isle State Park. All those interested in participating in the 5K Walk will meet at the Rotary Pavilion across from Beach 7. Proceeds from the Walk To Make A Great Park Better support Presque Isle as well as provide scholarships to high school seniors who exemplify the community involvement demonstrated by David Hanlon - educator and inspirational community leader. All Walk participants who raise a minimum of $25 in pledges will receive an attractive Walk T-shirt. This beautiful fall Walk affords participants the opportunity to enjoy the diverse colors that Presque Isle affords visitors in October. All Walk participants are treated to a picnic at the Rotary Pavilion at the conclusion of the Walk. If you are interested in participating in the 2007 Walk To Make A Great Park Better , plan to arrive at Presque Isle by 12:15 to register. To qualify for consideration of the Presque Isle Scholarship, you must be in grades 10-12, participate in the Walk and raise a minimum of $25 in pledges. Also you must register for the scholarship the day of the Walk at the Scholarship Registration table.
Romanian Gypsy melodies, punk frenzy, salty tangos, hard-rocking klezmer, haunting Balkan harmony, and hip-hop beats will be eaten and spit out by an eclectic ensemble of violin, resophonic guitar, bullhorn harmonica and bass when Luminescent Orchestrii appears at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, on Tuesday, Oct 16. Luminescent Orchestrii’s performance, part of the college’s Rhythms of Life cultural series, is free and open to the public. It begins at noon in Bruno’s Cafe, located on the second floor of the college’s Reed Union Building; a full menu of hot and cold lunch items will be available for purchase.
Gannon University’s Nash Library, 619 Sassafras Street, will host a book sale Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct 23-24. The sale will run from 10 am to 6 pm each day. Thousands of books will be available in categories like fiction, children’s, history, engineering, business, psychology, science, education, and medicine. On the first day, hardcover books, videos, and audiobooks will be $2.50, paperbacks $1, and pocket paperbacks 50 cents. On the second day, all items will be sold at half price. Patrons should enter through the library’s back door by the West Seventh Street parking lot. Cash sales only. All proceeds will benefit the library’s book budget.
Posted by Dennis at September 26, 2007 7:06 AM
Comments
Why no diatribes about Jacob Latta? No one forced him to drink. No one forced him to start the car and drive. He killed someone.
Posted by: Sean at September 26, 2007 10:04 AM
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