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Erie PA News and Events for Saturday December 15, 2007

Rumors are flying that employees at Ameridrives in Erie on Pittsburgh Ave will receive layoff notices next week. The number rumored by company workers is a job cut of 18. The company has made no official announcement. Even workers at the New Braunfels, TX have heard the rumor there will be layoffs in Erie and that in 2008 the Erie plant will close with operations moved to Texas. Ameridrives Couplings, based in Erie, PA, was started in 1928 and builds gear couplings, gear spindles, universal joints and diaphragm couplings for the power generation, mining, marine, petro-chemical, metal, rubber and paper industries. One year ago today, December 15, 2006, Ameridrives announced the opening of a facility in New Braunfels, TX. The company spent $600,000 to refurbish a building there. The city’s Industrial Development Board approved a deal to provide $225,000 in incentives to bring up to 25 white collar jobs. The city would provide training grants of $5,000 per employee for up to 25 blue collar employees and also give the company up to $100,000 to improve its building. The announced average starting wage was $16.79 per hour.

Dan Desrochers of the Erie Community Blood Bank keeps saying you never know who is going to need blood during the holidays. I don’t think he expected it to be his Father. His Dad had emergency quintuple bypass surgery at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Florida. Sarasota Memorial gets their blood from their ‘sister’ Community Blood Bank called the Suncoast Blood Bank. This is exactly the kind of event that other local families will face. Donors do
really does save lives. While in Florida for a few days, Dan will helping out with the company his Father owns called Dream Screens.

The FBI’s Federal Fugitive Task Force is now looking for Malcolm Kysor. Kysor walked out of the State Correctional Institution-Albion back on Nov 25 prison by hiding in a garbage can. He was serving a life sentence for murder.

Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, will hold its fall 2007 commencement ceremony for 257 students on Friday, December 21, in the college’s Junker Center. The ceremony begins at 6 pm and will confer 10 associate, 209 baccalaureate and 38 graduate degrees.

Erie Cathedral Prep announced they will drop to AAA in football and baseball. Enrollment numbers at the private all boys school have always warranted AAA but the school choose the Quad A classification.

The 14th-ranked Edinboro wrestling team turned in an impressive performance at the Erie Civic Center on Friday night. Competing in the War at the Shore 3, the Fighting Scots won eight of ten matches, six by bonus points, to come away with a 31-6 win over Eastern Michigan.

The Gannon University wrestling team left the Erie Civic Center with the Oar trophy Friday evening after defeating rival Mercyhurst College at the third-annual War At The Shore competition. The Golden Knights, ranked 20th nationally and fifth in the Eastern region, came back to defeat the 13th ranked Lakers 24-23 in the final round with a late pin.

Freshman forward Mike Gurtler recorded his first career two-goal game, Mercyhurst registered its first two-game winning streak of the season, and freshman winger Steve Cameron tallied his first ever game-winning goal as the Mercyhurst College men’s hockey team edged American International College 5-4 Friday night at the Ice Center. The Lakers improved to 4-11-2 overall and 4-5-2 in Atlantic Hockey. The two teams play again Saturday night in Erie at 7 pm at the Merchurst Ice Center.

The London Knights used a seven-goal third period to lead the Erie Otters in the dust on their way to a 8-1 win in an Ontario Hockey League game played last night in front of 8,887 at the John Labatt Centre. Former Erie Otter Sean O’Connor paced the London offense with three goals and an assist. Today the Otters return home to meet the Kingston Frontenacs at 7:30 pm at the Tullio Arena. The first 2,500 fans into the game receive a free taco courtesy of Taco Bell. In addition, make a donation to Erie Toys for Tots or the Erie City Mission and receive two free tickets to the Otters game on January 2nd (limit two tickets per person) and all children 12 and under are admitted free with a paying adult courtesy of WICU.

The Mercyhurst College women’s hockey team closes the 2007 portion of its season Saturday and Sunday with road games at Dartmouth. The No 5/6 Lakers, 13-3-2 overall, and Big Green, 9-2-1, will be meeting for the 9th and 10th times in history with Dartmouth holding a 5-2-1 advantage.

Edinboro University of Pennsylvania will hold its Winter Commencement today at 1 pm in McComb Fieldhouse.

Celebrate the Christmas season by visiting Santa Claus himself at the Experience Erie Children’s Museum. Enjoy a picnic breakfast, singing, a puppet show, and time for the children to make gifts for their loved ones. Picnic Breakfast with Santa Giftmaking Workshop takes place Saturdays, 9-11 am, Dec 15 and 22. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Admission is $8, $6 for members and free for kids under 2.

Join your friends at the Watson-Curtze Mansion for the 28th annual Victorian Holidays program Whimsical Wonderland. Included in this exhibit are professionally decorated evergreens, fireplace mantles, doorways, windows and other displays that will be open to the community. Whimsical Wonderland features more than ten different themed rooms; including a Seussical room decorated in all things Dr Seuss, a wintertime teddy bear picnic, a Victorian garden and much more. Participating decorators includes Traditions, the Carrie T Watson Garden Club and Melody Potratz of Potratz Garden Shop. Try you luck with the annual Chinese auction and win gift certificates from local eateries and specialty shops, or a holiday wreath. Victorian Holidays will run until December 30. Wednesday - Saturday 11 am - 4 pm, Sunday 1 pm - 4 pm. Museum Admission: $4 Adults, $3 Seniors, $2 Children.

Get the family together and take them to the Erie Playhouse for the heartwarming holiday musical “It’s a Wonderful Life”, through December 16. The lights will shine bright at the Erie Playhouse throughout the holiday season with the mounting of this classical seasonal tale. This new musical is a faithful adaptation of the 1946 film, which has entered into our national mythology, and has become as much a part of the Christmas holiday as the evergreen tree and fruitcake.

The Lake Erie Ballet 49th annual production of the Nutcracker will be held Sat Dec 15 at 7 pm and Sun Dec 16 at 2:30 pm. Purchase tickets at the Erie Civic Center box office or at Ticketmaster.

There will be a Benefit Dinner and Concert at Luther Memorial on Sat, Dec 15 at 5:30 pm for 3 year old Jack Sundberg. Jack has an inoperable brain tumor. Dinner will be served from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm and music will start in the main sanctuary at 6:30 pm. Performers will include, but not be limited to, Preston Gorman, Jelena Holmberg, Mariah Miller. There are no reservations needed, just come and join in. Luther Memorial is located at 225 West 10th Street, Erie, PA 16501. Your donations will be subsidized by the sponsor Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Erie County PA Chapter.

The Mercyhurst College Concert Choir and Carpe Diem Chorale will present their annual holiday concert on Sunday, Dec 16, at 2 pm in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center on the Mercyhurst campus. The program is free and open to the public as a Christmas gift to the community. The Concert Choir and String Orchestra, directed by Rebecca Ryan, will perform Vivaldi’s “Gloria.”

While you are finishing your last minute shopping at the Millcreek Mall on Saturday, December 22, stop by the Center Stage located by Burlington Coat Factory between noon and 1:30 pm. The 20-member Gem City Jazz Ensemble will be filling the halls with Christmas carols and other jazz selections. Join the band for the entire show or just a couple songs to keep you in the holiday spirit!

The 25th annual McDonald’s High School Basketball Classic will be held in Erie PA on Friday, January 18 and Saturday January 18, 2008 at the Gannon University Hammermill Center. St Edward of Lakewood Ohio, Rice High School of NYC, Saint Patrick of Elizabeth NJ and Erie Cathedral Prep are in the powerful field. Adult General Admission tickets are $7 and Student General Admission are tickets are $5. Reserved tickets are $12.50.

The Association of Program Members (APM) of General Electric Transportation in Erie PA announced that it will be sponsoring the 13th Annual Winter Wishes Benefit Gala for the Foundation of Western Pennsylvania on February 16, 2008. Each year, the members of APM reach out to the community to collect donations for the silent auctions, live auctions and raffles that are held at the event. They also solicit “table sponsors” from local businesses. As a table sponsor, the business’ name appears on the centerpiece showing their support for this wonderful event as well as in any promotional materials that they put together for the function. The money raised with the auctioned items donated by local businesses will help provide funding for Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. Community support of this event is recognition of the importance of this cause are greatly appreciated. Along with your assistance, GE will be able to make an impact on the day-to-day life of children whose lives are threatened.

Dennis Weed

Posted by Dennis at December 15, 2007 8:09 AM

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