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Erie PA News and Events for Thursday April 24, 2008

GE held their annual shareholder meeting yesterday in Erie at the Bayfront Convention Center. It was pretty clear that Erie appreciates having GE in Erie. CNN reflected that with their story headline GE Executives Take Some Solace From Erie Hospitality. Officials with GE had very nice things to say about Erie. GE has taken some heat for not making their earnings estimate which fell 5.8 percent but they still made $4.3 billion. That during a time with a credit crisis that only rivals the Great Depreciation. The number of people attending the meeting was 1200-1300 people. Last year when GE held their meeting in Greenville, SC, about 600 attended.

GE officials spent a couple of days in Erie. Most stayed at the SpringHill Suites in Erie. Why there and not the new Sheraton? The Sheraton JUST opened and there were concerns that it wouldn’t be open in time plus GE event planners did “trial runs” each month for the past 3 months here at the hotel… just to make sure everything would be perfect. Also, GE did not want all of it’s chiefs, board right next to the actual meeting in case of protesters, death threats, etc. GE planned for the worst case scenarios. They had bio-terrorism suits in all of the exec/board rooms. They had an ambulance there overnight, plus added security and Millcreek Police. Also, they had a full size coach bus parked outside in case of an evacuation.

ProgressiveRailroading.com reported on the day of the GE shareholders meeting that Iowa Interstate Railroad Ltd (IAIS) is taking delivery of 12 new Evolution Series locomotives from GE Transportation this year so the regional can handle more traffic next year. Costing about $2.2 million each, the 4,400-horspower GE ES44AC locomotives will be 18 percent more fuel efficient than other alternatives, including rebuilt locomotives, that the railroad considered, said IAIS President and Chief Executive Officer Dennis Miller in a prepared statement. GE will manufacture the locomotives at its Erie, Pa, plant and deliver them by Oct 1. IAIS’ traffic has increased more than 50 percent during the past five years. After five new ethanol plants start up within the next year, the regional’s traffic will jump up another 25 to 30 percent, Miller said.

April 24, 1998: At a school 8th grade graduation dance for James W Parker Middle School at Nick’s Place in Edinboro, 14 year old Andrew J Wurst shoots 3 students and kills teacher John Gillette. Wurst was sentenced to 30-60 years.

April 24-25, 1980, was the Hostage Rescue Attempt (Operation Eagle Claw). The US Government attempted to rescue 53 hostages kidnapped by the radical Muslim Iranian Government. Eight American service members died. Three of these men were United States Marines: Sgt John D Harvey; Cpl George N Holmes; SSgt Dewey L Johnson. Five were were members of the United States Air Force, Maj Richard F Bakke; Maj Harold L Lewis; TSgt Joel C Mayo; Capt Lyn D McIntosh; and Capt Charles T McMillan.

On a national level, ASPCA and Pedigree have been tugging on America’s heart strings with emotional commercials featuring rescue animals, and Oprah has recently turned the spotlight on the problems of puppy mills. In our own community, rescue dogs face those same harsh realities every day. Limited resources, such as trained volunteers and steady funds, keep all the local rescue groups struggling to meet the demand of stray, neglected and abused animals throughout Erie County. One rescue group in particular needs your help right now. Because You Care, Inc dedicates much of their volunteer time to help the cases most in need - the cases that wouldn’t have a chance anywhere else. They’ve recently seen an increase of severe, and unusual, cases that include shattered bones, deformed hips and internal scar tissue. The severity of the dogs’ situations qualifies them for help through BYC’s Franklin Fund. This Fund, supported solely through group fundraisers and individual donations, provides much needed veterinary care, usually involving surgery, to animals that have been abandoned and have no one to help them. “All of the animals we reach out to have tragic stories,” says BYC President Kris Steiner. “But the Franklin Fund cases are usually our most dire. They’re the animals who’ve been left for dead somewhere and are in severe pain when found. They often become our most loving and caring dogs after rehabilitation. They prove over and over again that they’re worth investing in.” Over the past five years, Because You Care has spent more than $20,000 on the Franklin Fund recipients and helped dozens of cats and dogs. In the last two months alone, they’ve encountered four cases that will cost more than $12,000 to rehabilitate - even after generous donations by the operating veterinarians. They’re calling for donations to help see these four dogs find a life they deserve. “Because You Care’s service to the community through the Franklin Fund goes beyond helping these particular cases,” says Veterinarian Randy Sliker of Camboro Veterinary Hospital. “I wouldn’t get to work with cases like these because they’re very rare and because the supplies alone - plates, medications - are very costly. Because BYC is willing to dedicate their time to rehabilitate these animals, I have the opportunity to help heal them. That also gives the community more expertise and practice right here in the area.” Like many of the local vets, Camboro provides discounted services to animals in the Because You Care program. BYC is a 501(c)3 charitable organization operated solely by volunteers and it receives no public funding. They hold fundraisers and rely on community donations to support the animals they rehabilitate - more than 200 of which are currently in the program. If you would like to make a donation to help these Franklin Fund cases, you can do so online or by sending a donation to PO Box 54, McKean, PA 16426. Checks can be made out to Because You Care, with Franklin Fund donation in the memo. You can meet local rescue dogs in need today, April 24, at 7 pm at the Days Inn on Route 97.

VisitErie has coordinated a Destination Erie FAM (Familiarization) tour, incorporating Erie attractions, restaurants and various points of interest. The FAM will take place April 23-25, 2008. Seventeen people representing 12 tour companies are expected. VisitErie Director of Tourism Development Emily Beck will serve as the group’s “step-on tour guide” during their visit. FAM stops include time at Splash Lagoon Indoor Water Park Resort, Presque Isle Downs and Casino, The Station Dinner Theatre, Asbury Woods Nature Center, Troyer Farms and St Patrick Church. VisitErie’s goal is to entice and educate the attending group tour company leaders and to encourage future bookings and multiple night stays for their customers. According to Travel Industry Association a bus tour making a day trip contributes an average of $3500 per day to the local economy while an overnight tour contributes an average of $7,000 per day to the local economy including meals, lodging, shopping, admission fees, souvenirs and local taxes. Stated Beck, “Tour operators will have the chance to test the waters and possibly schedule future trips. If they have a good experience and Erie leaves them with a lasting impression, they will bring bus tours back to Erie for day trips and overnight tours.”

For the week of April 14-20, Presque Isle Downs and Casino reported wagers of $42,662,725 with payouts of $38,796,161.

Gannon University President Antoine M Garibaldi, PhD, will award some 653 degrees when the university hosts its Spring Commencement on Saturday, May 10. The ceremony will begin at 2 pm at Tullio Arena. The graduates include 24 students who will be receiving doctor of physical therapy degrees, two receiving doctorates in counseling psychology, 244 receiving master’s degrees, 358 receiving bachelor’s degrees, and 24 receiving associate’s degrees. Some 48 students will graduate summa cum laude, 80 magna cum laude, and 49 cum laude. In addition, 18 students will graduate with academic honors. His Eminence Theodore McCarrick, PhD, DD, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington, will be the ceremony’s keynote speaker. Cardinal McCarrick will receive two honors during the ceremony: the Ut Diligatis Invicem award and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. The Ut Diligatis Invicem award is named in memory of the university’s founder, Archbishop John Mark Gannon, and his motto: “That you may love one another.” The award is presented to individuals who demonstrate a strong commitment to their faith, who exemplify the Judeo-Christian ideals of unconditional love and respect for human dignity, and whose life’s work enriches mankind. Gannon’s ROTC will hold its Commissioning ceremony at 8:30 am on May 10 in the university’s Schuster Theatre, 620 Sassafras Street. The traditional Baccalaureate Mass will be held at 10 am at St Peter Cathedral.

A $200,000 Small Business First loan was awarded to Sedney Enterprises II Inc, d/b/a Rum Runners Cove, to purchase machinery and equipment and renovate an existing building in Erie. I’m pretty sure this is for the new restaurant going into the parking ramp next to the Sheraton.

Dr Ish Gupta has joined physicians who now staff the UMass-Memorial Medical Center Hospital Medicine Program at Clinton Hospital in Clinton, Mass. Dr Gupta is board-certified in internal medicine. He received his medical degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, PA. He completed his residency at UMass-Memorial Medical Center.

The Erie SeaWolves, behind a powerful performance of starting pitcher Luke French, shut out the Harrisburg Senators to improve to 10-9 on the season with a 7-0 win on Wednesday afternoon. The SeaWolves return home to take on the Altoona Curve in the first of a four-game weekend series on Thursday night…6:35 First Pitch. RHP Andrew Kown (2-1, 6.88 ERA) takes the mound for Erie against RHP Josh Hill (1-1, 2.87 ERA). SeaWolves players will wear throwback uniforms from the 1999-2000 seasons as a part of their 10-seasons of Double-A celebration. Plus the first 1,500 fans will get a free baseball card of the 2000 SeaWolves Most Valuable Player.

The Mercyhurst College baseball team swept a doubleheader from Gannon winning 6-3 and 4-0. The games were played at Jerry Uht Park, home of the Erie SeaWolves.

The Penn State Behrend Lions picked up two more conference wins on Wednesday against AMCC opponent Hilbert. The Behrend Lions (24-10, 10-4) won game one 6-3 and earned a 8-0 win in game two. Before the games Behrend’s Lauren Lubic (Bridgeville/South Fayette) and Kelly Houghton (Jamestown/Jamestown) were recognized for senior day.

The Gannon women’s lacrosse team moved up one spot and is ranked eighth in the latest Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division II Top 10 poll. Gannon returns to action Saturday, April 26 against second-ranked Limestone (SC) on a neutral field at Dowling (NY) College. Game time is scheduled for 2 pm.

The Mercyhurst women’s varsity eight crew jumped into the top five in the Collegiate Rowing Coaches’ Association/USRowing NCAA Division II poll released Wednesday. The Lakers moved into the top five on the strength of a win over Eastern Michigan during the past weekend.

Edinboro University senior Ryan McLemore (Cleveland, OH/St Peter Chanel) has been named to the 2007-08 Division II Bulletin All-America Team. He was accorded fourth team honors after previously being named the PSAC West Athlete of the Year and a first team NABC and Daktronics All-East Region honoree.

Music at Noon: The Logan Series brings Percussion Group Cincinnati to Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, this month. The award-winning ensemble in residence at the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati will perform at noon on Thursday, April 24, in the McGarvey Commons of the college’s Reed Union Building. Admission is FREE and the audience is welcome to bring a bagged lunch to enjoy with the performance, or purchase a meal from Bruno’s Cafe, which is located on Reed’s second floor.

Poet Malena Morling will read from her works at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, as part of the college’s Creative Writer’s Speaker Series. Morling’s reading will begin at 6 pm on Thursday, April 24, in the college’s Larry and Kathryn Smith Chapel. A reception for her will precede the reading at 4:30 in the chapel’s first-floor living room; both events are FREE and open to the public.

The Erie Playhouse presents Shakespeare in Hollywood, April 24-May 4. Magic and mayhem abound in this hilarious comedic ramp as Shakespeare’s most famous fairies magically materialize on the 1930’s Hollywood set of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Michael Acri Boxing Promotions presents the 2008 debut of undefeated former IBF lightweight champion “The Pittsburgh Kid” Paul Spadafora. Returning to the ring for the first time in over a year, Spadafora (40-0-1), fighting in a 10-round welterweight bout against an opponent to be named shortly, headlines a six-bout card at The Avalon Hotel in Erie, PA (16 West 10th Street) on Friday, April 25. Tickets, priced at $60 (Golden Ringside), $40 (Ringside), and $20 (General Admission), go on sale Monday March 10, and can be purchased at the Avalon Hotel, Dee’s Cigar Store, Pony Express (1903 W 8th St) and the Ringside Restaurant. The card will also feature Cincinnati super middleweight Stephan Pryor (10-3-1), Erie heavyweight Rocky Mullooly (2-1), Pittsburgh middleweight Chris Archer (9-2), and the pro debut of heavyweight Andres Taylor from Johnstown, PA.

The Northwestern Pennsylvania Autism Society of America 7th Annual Walk for Autism will be held Saturday, April 26 at Presque Isle State Park. Registration begins at 10 am with the walk starting at 11 am from Beach 1. You can print out a 2008 Walk Registration Form here.

You’re invited to a night of fun and fellowship at Community Board Game Night on Saturday, April 26 at the Community United Church, 1011 West 38th Street. At this event, you can play Pictionary, Trivial Pursuit, or Scruples (just to name a few). It always is a great night of laughter and good-natured game playing. Doors open at 7 PM, Games begin at 7:30 PM and run until 10 PM. Admission donation is $2. Youth under 18 must have a guardian.

Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, will host the 36th annual Western Pennsylvania Undergraduate Psychology Conference on Saturday, April 26. The all-day event will be held in the college’s Research and Economic Development Center. Registration for the Western Pennsylvania Undergraduate Psychology Conference is open to the public; for details visit the conference link or phone Victoria Kazmerski, Penn State Behrend associate professor of psychology, at (814) 898-6246.

The Cat Nation Fanciers 19th Annual All-Breed Cat Show will be held April 26-27 at the John M Cochran (JMC) Ice Arena, 423 West 38th St in Erie.

Students from the Mercyhurst North East Dance Institute and a group of Mercyhurst musicians will combine their talents in a performance on Sunday, April 27, at 2 pm in St. Mary’s Chapel on the Mercyhurst North East campus, 16 W Division St., North East. The event is free and open to the public. Call (814) 725-6277 for more information.

The Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission, US Commercial Service and the Gannon University SBDC are sponsoring a seminar, “Exporting: First Steps to Success”, on Tuesday, April 29 at the Bessemer Corporate Conference Training Center, 764 Bessemer St, in Meadville. Cost is $40.

Gannon University will host a concert headlined by OneRepublic and with special guest Fabolous on Tuesday, April 29. Additional acts include Tim Blane and Romantic Era. The concert will be held at Gannon University Field, West Fifth and Sassafras. Doors will open at 6 pm and Blane will open the show at 7 pm. Tickets are $10 plus applicable service fees and can be purchased at GannonTickets.com. For more information, call (814) 871-7659 or (814) 871-7766.

On April 29, three well respected local Business Leaders are pooling their knowledge and experience in order to help their fellow Professionals and Business Owners. They have put together a high impact conference for The Ultimate Executive. The three presenters and creators of The Ultimate Executive are, Tom Kennedy (Business Leader and Real Estate Developer), Steve Rosen (President of Domino Effect, Inc), and Tom Benson (Training Director, JL Nick Associates). The cost of admission is $69 before March 31 and $79 after April 1. Group rates are also available, call for details. The conference will be held at the Bel-Aire Clarion Hotel in Erie, PA from 8 am till noon. A continental breakfast is included.

Dr Charisse Nixon will present “Navigating the Turbulent Waters of Adolescence” on April 30 at 7 pm at the Villa Lecture Hall on Villa Maria Elementary School’s campus. The event, hosted by The Ophelia Project, is free and open to the public. “Navigating the Turbulent Waters of Adolescence” will provide those involved in the lives of adolescents insight into the development challenges they are facing. Nixon will also address what adolescents need during this time, whether their outbursts are normal and more. Dr. Nixon is an assistant professor of psychology at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. To RSVP, e-mail or call 456-5437. Villa Lecture Hall on Villa Maria Elementary School’s campus is located at 2551 8th Street, Erie, PA 16505. United Way of Erie County, Healthy Youth Development and Villa Maria Elementary School are supporters for this event. The Ophelia Project is a national nonprofit organization headquartered in Erie, Pa. Recognized as a leader in assessing social conditions and advocating healthy, safe relationships, the organization partners with educational, civic and community leaders to educate and empower kids and adults across North America.

The Moving Wall, the half-size replica of the Washington DC Vietnam Veterans Memorial that has been touring the country for more than twenty years, will be on display in Edinboro, PA May 1-5.

A Gannon University professor on Thursday, May 1, will host a discussion on the individual psychology of Alfred Adler. Ken McCurdy, PhD, associate professor, Gannon University community counseling program, will discuss “The Nuts and Bolts of Adlerian Clinical Supervision.” The discussion will be held from 8-10 pm in the Dean’s office on the first floor of Gannon’s Palumbo Academic Center, 824 Peach Street. The event will serve as the monthly TAPTalks colloquium hosted by Gannon University. Gannon’s Community Counseling program, the Gamma Upsilon Chi chapter of Chi Sigma Iota, and the Lake Erie Adlerian Institute are sponsoring the event. The TAPTalks colloquiums present brief, in-depth training experiences focusing on the individual psychology of Alfred Adler. They are designed to help professional counselors, psychologists, social workers, teachers, students, and other human service professionals expand their knowledge and skills through a foundational approach to human growth and development based on the strengths and individuality of each person. RSVPs can be made with Melissa Schmidt, graduate assistant, community counseling program, at (814) 871-5730. The session is free, and two continuing education credits are available for NCE/LPC through the Community Counseling program and for APA through NASAP, for a nominal fee.

The Erie County Bar Association and The Erie Runners Club Law Day 5k Run and Walk will be held Saturday, May 3 at 9 am. The race will start at the Erie County Courthouse.

New Found Glory will perform a concert at the Edinboro University McComb Fieldhouse on Saturday May 3 at 8 pm. Tickets are available online or at the Edinboro University Pogue Student Center SGA Convenience Store.

In celebration of The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 2008 Preservation Month theme, “Place Matters,” the Erie Center for Design and Preservation is hosting a lecture, seminar and walking tour on May 9-10. All three events are FREE and open to the public. The internationally-known founder of the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation, Mr. Arthur Ziegler, will be the featured speaker at the Erie Center for Design and Preservation’s first public event. Ziegler’s lecture, “The Good Works of Historic Preservation,” will be delivered Friday, May 9 at 7 PM in the Orientation Theatre of the Erie Maritime Museum, adjacent to the Blasco Memorial Library on Erie’s Bayfront. Ziegler says “historic preservation should be looked upon as both a cultural and economic development tool, leading to community revitalization, local investment, jobs, and a better quality of life.” On Saturday morning, May 10, the Erie Center for Design and Preservation (ECDP) will sponsor a seminar on historic preservation. Topics include: an overview of the National Register of Historic Places, the economics of preservation, and the tax credits afforded to property owners who rehabilitate historic buildings. The seminar will be held Saturday, May 10 from 9 AM to Noon at the Erie Art Museum Annex, 20 East 5th Street. On Saturday afternoon, May 10 , Mr Jeff Kidder AIA of Kidder Wachter Architecture will offer a 90 minute architectural walking tour of lower State Street and Perry Square. Kidder will meet members of the tour on the front steps of the Erie Art Museum, 417 State Street at 1 PM. Kidder will discuss the history of the City of Erie, neighborhood changes and attributes of the remaining historic structures. Kidder believes that “historic preservation in Erie is an effective tool for managing growth, revitalizing neighborhoods, fostering local pride and maintaining community character while enhancing livability.” Kidder serves on the City of Erie Planning Commission, the Downtown Improvement District board, the Erie Center for Design and Preservation board, and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Historic Preservation board.

The Gannon University Small Business Development Center along with Paulsen Productions are sponsoring “From Service To Success”, a seminar for entrepreneurial veterans. It will be held May 20 at the Gannon Yehl Ballroom, 124 West 7th St in Erie. Cost is $15 and registration is required.

KillerWolf Films is holding meetings/open auditions for their new feature film “Warriors of the Apocalypse” on Friday May 23 and Saturday May 24. They will be held at the Playhouse Rehearsal space on 950 State Street in Erie from 6-9 pm both days. Shooting commences Saturday July 19 and wraps Sunday July 27, with filming being in the Northwestern PA area and possibly a few dates on the NJ/PA/NY border. KillerWolf Films latest release, “Fist of the Vampire”, is now available for pre-order on Amazon.com and is to be released worldwide July 8 from Maxim Media International/Brain Damage Films. KillerWolf Films is co-owned by Erieite Len Kabasinski and Meadville,PA native Lisa McQuiston.

The charity bellydance event, “Shimmy for a Cure”, will be held May 31 at the Erie Playhouse in downtown Erie, PA. This event will benefit the John Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation.

Head Coach John T Reilly of Gannon University will conduct three sessions of basketball camp this summer. Sessions will be held June 9-13, June 23-27 and August 4-8. His coaching staff, area high school coaches and several of his players will serve as camp instructors. The sessions are designed as teaching camps that emphasize the fundamentals of the game of basketball. The camps are for students in Grades 3-10.

There will be a Rust Belt Bloggers Summit on July 11-12 in Erie. People from Youngstown, Buffalo, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and other area cities will be attendance to discuss economic development issues in the region.

The Manufacturers’ Association and Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority annual Roar on the Shore motorcycle rally will be held July 17-20, 2008. While downtown Erie serves as the hub of the rally, related events take place throughout the city and region. Most notably, two outdoor concerts featuring major artists will be held Friday and Saturday, July 18 and 19, at Liberty Park along Presque Isle Bay.

Posted by Dennis at April 24, 2008 6:59 AM

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