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Erie PA News and Events for Thursday December 27, 2007

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruled (press release) that employers may take Medicare benefits into account on voluntary health care to their retired workers. This was a response to a 2000 court decision in the case of Erie County Retirees Association v County of Erie. Erie County was spending more on workers under age 65 because the county said that Medicare benefits to retired workers equaled out the extra amount they were giving to workers under age 65. This EEOC ruling says that Erie County didn’t violate discrimination laws. It isn’t very often that government officials in Erie get something right but this time they did. Even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while.

Might want to keep an eye on the New Mountain Vantage Advisers (Vantage) web site Build NFG Value. New Mountain Vantage is an institutional asset management firm investing on behalf of the pension accounts of more than one million Americans. Vantage controls over 9.5 percent of National Fuel Gas. NFG has filed complaints with the New York State Public Service Commission and the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission that Vantage is trying to make the company more profitable. A couple of years ago economic development officials made a strong effort to have NFG move their corporate headquarters to Erie but instead, NFG signed a very expensive lease to stay in New York state.

For the week of Dec 17-23, Presque Isle Downs and Casino reported wagers of $27,756,795 and payouts of $25,316,806.

The most serious incident of the Erie Gauge War happened on this date, December 27, 1853 when a railroad conductor shot a Ripper in the head. The Ripper wasn’t seriously injured.
Unlike today where all trains run on a standard width of track, different railroads and different states had separate track gauges (widths). Being a county sandwiched between New York and Ohio, Erie County profited - at least for awhile. From Erie to Ohio, the gauge was 4 feet, 10 inches and from New York state to Erie the gauge was 6 feet. All passengers and cargo had to get off one train and get on another. It became big business as restaurants and vendors sold there wares to the passengers as the teamsters moved cargo from train to train. This was case from early 1852 to late 1853 as the lawyers files suit after suit trying to resolve the conflict. The railroads finally adopted one gauge going through town eliminating the need for all trains to stop in Erie. The hard charging people of Erie were pissed. Citizens ripped up tracks and went so far as to tear down the two overpasses just south of 18th Street on French Street and State Street. The people tearing up the track became known as Rippers. It took nearly two month, until February 1854, for all repairs to be made and ending the Erie Gauge War between the people of Erie PA and the railroads.

The Chicago Blackhawks placed Martin Havlat on the injured reserve and recalled for Erie Otters great Michael Blunden from the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League.

The Erie Otters return to action Friday December 28 at 7:30 pm when they travel to Kingston to meet the Frontenacs in the first game of a three-game road trip. A live webcast of the game will be available online for FREE.

If you’re visiting Erie for the holidays, the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership is holding a free reception today for for GlobalErie at the Intermodal Transportation Center from 4 to 6 pm.

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.

The RockHouse Arts Foundation is having a fundraiser Saturday Dec 29 at 9 pm at the Docksider in Erie at 1015 State St. The Jungle, RockHouse Band, Bill Burke and Colorado Drive will be performing. $5 min donation at the door. Proceeds will be used to purchase instruments and educational materials for The Neighborhood Art House and Sarah Reed Children’s Center of Erie. Silent auction with autographed items from Keller Williams, Maroon 5, Rolling Stones, KORN, Phish and more.

“Around The World with Disney” will be performed at the Erie Playhouse on Monday December 31 at 7:30 and Tuesday January 1 at 2 pm.

The Erie Runners Club New Year’s Day 5M Race takes place Tuesday Jan 1 at 10 am at Presque Isle State Park. Day of race signup and packet pickup for pre-registered runners will begin at 9 am in the Rotary Pavillion near the Waterworks area.

After a two-year hiatus, Vienna in Erie returns to the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, January 1 at 3 pm. Once again, Maestro Frank Collura will conduct a 65 member Pennsylvania Chamber Symphony in an elegant program of Viennese waltzes, gallops and polkas that have delighted audiences for years. Make this grand and lively concert part of your family tradition. And, of course, enjoy a complimentary glass of champagne at intermission. To order tickets, call the box office at (814) 824-3000.

Cross-Country Skiing 101 will be held Saturday, January 5 at 10 am at Presque Isle State Park. Weather permitting, meet at the cross-country ski concession to check out cross-country skiing. Get basic technique and skills for this exhilarating sport. Bring your own skis or rent. FREE. Rental fee only. Registration appreciated, (814) 833-7424.

For beginners and more experienced skiers wanting to know more about the winter world around them, enjoy Guided Cross-Country Skiing on Saturday, January 5 at 1 pm at Presque Isle State Park. If there is no sufficient snow, a hike will take place instead. Bring your own skis or rent. FREE, rental fee only. Meet at the cross-country ski concession.

There will be a Snowshoe Building Workshop on Saturday, January 5 at 9 am to 3 pm at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center at Presque Isle. Build your own snowshoes - great to use, hang on the wall, or pass along for generations. $155 fee, registration required, call (814) 833-7424.

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.

Daniel S Mead, president of Verizon Services Corp, will discuss how creation of a centralized business services unit saved the telecommunications giant $562 million in one year during an upcoming presentation for the Sam and Irene Black School of Business at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. Mead, a Warren native and member of the college’s Council of Fellows, will speak at 6 pm on Tuesday, January 22, in the Samuel P “Pat” Black III Conference Center in the college’s Research and Economic Development Center. Admission to his talk is free and open to the public.

The 14th annual Sarah Backstrom Memorial Women’s and Girl’s Hockey Tournament will be held in Erie February 8-10, 2008. Admission is FREE to all games. About 1,000 young ladies plus family and friends will be in town for the weekend. Hotel rooms will be hard to come by and expect delays at restaurants. Who was Sarah Backstrom? She was a feisty red headed defensewoman who gave all off her love of the game and passion to play it to the Erie Lady Lions. Sarah fought every battle to the end, with passion and determination. The Erie Lady Lions lost Sarah to Leukemia but have never lost her spirit.

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.

The GE (NYSE: GE) 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held on April 23, 2008 in Erie, Pennsylvania at the Erie Bayfront Convention Center.

Dennis Weed

Posted by Dennis at December 27, 2007 7:06 AM

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