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Erie PA News and Events for Friday January 4, 2008

Presque Isle State Park attendance for 2007 was 4,073,053.
To put that in perspective, that is more people in a year than visit Yosemite National Park (around 3.2 million), more people than visit Yellowstone National Park (around 2.8 million), more people than visit the Empire State Building (around 3.7 million), and just slightly fewer people than visit the Grand Canyon (around 4.2 million).

The Greater Erie Board of REALTORS released the Erie County monthly property sales figures. Properties reported include all residential, commercial, investment and vacant land in which a property transfer tax was paid. For December 2007, 361 properties were sold for $38,056,550. This compares to December 2006 when 385 properties changed hands for $52,712,947 and December 2005 when 415 properties sold for $41,136,116.
For all of 2007, there were 5,056 properties sold for $628,009,460. The 2006 sales were 5,330 properties for $606,689,859. The 2005 figures were 5,667 properties for $628,407,507.

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry released the monthly Civilian Labor Force Packet (CLF), which contains November’s unemployment rates. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the Erie metro area for November 2007 was 4.5 percent, a fall from the October rate 5.2 percent, as 900 people were added to payrolls. The non-seasonally adjusted rate for November was 4.4 percent. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the Erie metro area for November 2006 was 5.0 percent.

The Erie Shriners Hospital for Children laid off 39 employees as they are short orthopedic surgeons. They need at least one full-time pediatric orthopedic surgeon on staff.

William Krawczyk of Erie is suffering from Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA. Krawczyk has an infection that has grown resistant to antibiotics. He thinks he was bitten by a spider, but doctors don’t know for sure. Krawczyk, a First Sergeant in the US Army Reserves, was on his second deployment in Iraq in May 2005 when he first noticed symptoms.

The 10th annual MECA Bar Stool Open will be held on Saturday February 23, 2008 in downtown Erie, PA. Entry fee is $100 per team of 4 golfers, $25 per person. Must be 21 years of age or older to participate. Click here to for the registration form.

Pure Weight Loss Centers are closing all their locations today. They had a location in Erie at 5043 Peach St. They did a good job to lighten peoples wallets. Customers may file complaints by calling 1-877-888-4877 or visiting the web site of the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

A warm welcome to The Baird Clan on their relocation to Erie.

Teams can always point to significant victories that lead to successful seasons. The Gannon women’s basketball team (8-4) might have carved out one of those signature victories Thursday night at the Hammermill Center. Trailing for the majority of the game, Gannon rallied from a seven-point deficit with 2:30 to play and a five-point deficit with 26 seconds remaining to forge overtime, before winning the game with a buzzer beater in the extra session as they edged Slippery Rock 83-81.

The Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League return to action tonight as they welcome the Eastern Conference leading Oshawa Generals to the Tullio Arena for a 7:30 pm start. It’s $5 College Friday with college students admitted for only $5 when they show their ID at the Civic Center Box Office. AAA members also can receive $2 off up to eight tickets when they show their membership card at the Box Office. The game can also be seen live on the Image Sports Network beginning at 7:30 pm. The team announced that Saturday’s game against the Kitchener Rangers at the Tullio Arena will start at 6 pm. The game was originally scheduled as a 7:30 pm start. However, the Otters received permission from the OHL for an earlier start time due to the Pittsburgh Steelers playoff game.

Kelley Steadman has been named to the USA Hockey Women’s National U-18 team. Steadman is a senior at Northwood School in Lake Placid, NY. Next year she will play hockey for Merchurst College in Erie.

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 Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Quad Games 5-mile Cross-Country Ski Race or 2.5-mile Snowshoe is scheduled to take place Jan 6, 2008, at 1 pm at the Peek n’ Peak Upper Golf Course, in Clymer, NY. Nearly every year this race has to be postponed due to lack of snow.

Enjoy great food and friendship at the annual Radio Association of Erie Holiday Party which will be held on Friday January 11 at the Zem Zem Shrine Club at W 38th and Zuck Roads. Social Hour will start at 6 pm with dinner at 6:30 pm. The cost for the buffet dinner is $15 per person. The menu will consist of: Sausage with peppers and onions, Rigatoni with meat, Breaded Chicken, Garden Salad, Relish Tray, Green Beans, Scalloped Potato, Rolls and Butter, Cake and Coffee and Tea. For reservations contact Neil Shea (N3ZNP), (814) 474-2346.

Gannon University will host a Financial Aid Workshop on Wednesday, January 16. The workshop will cover the entire financial aid process as well as a step-by-step review of the questions on the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The workshop also will cover definitions of terms that parents and students should know and the various aid programs available. The workshop is free and open to the public and will begin at 6:30 pm in room 1200 of the university’s Palumbo Academic Center, 824 Peach Street. For more information, contact the Financial Aid Office at (814) 871-7337 or 1-800-GANNON-U (1-800-426-6668).

As part of its series of Pink Ribbon Educational Events for breast cancer survivors and to promote breast cancer awareness, Saint Vincent will present a program on Thursday, January 17, from 6 to 8 pm at the McGarvey Learning Center at Saint Vincent Health Center, 232 West 25th Street, Erie, Pa. The event will feature music, heavy hors d’oeuvres, refreshments, and a brief talk on “Fact vs Fiction: Nutrition for Breast Cancer Survivors,” presented by Sandra Luthringer, RD, owner of Super Suppers. The event is supported by a grant from The Pittsburgh Affiliate of Susan G Komen for the Cure. Komen awarded a $75,000 grant to Saint Vincent Health Center to support a program offering restorative health services, education, support and specialized products for breast cancer survivors, particularly those who cannot afford it. Cost is $6. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (814) 866-4817.

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.

Posted by Dennis at January 4, 2008 7:07 AM

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Posted by: Brent at January 4, 2008 10:43 AM

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