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Erie PA News and Events for Thursday May 1, 2008

Erie Indemnity Company (Erie Insurance) (Nasdaq: ERIE) announced financial results for the first quarter 2008. Net income per share-diluted decreased to $0.51 per share, compared to $0.88 per share in the comparable quarter in 2007 influenced by net realized losses on investments of $0.27 per share, after tax. Although they sold more policies and their policy retention rate was up, investments killed them. “Our underlying insurance operations recorded favorable results in the first quarter of 2008, as total year-over-year policies in force continued to grow in the first quarter,” noted John J. Brinling, Jr., president and chief executive officer. “This positive policy growth, and continued improvement in our policy retention rate, helped us offset reductions in direct written premiums that were caused by premium decreases. While the results of our investment operations reflected the volatility of the financial markets in the first quarter, by managing our operating costs, maintaining our underwriting discipline and continuing to grow our business we remain positioned to perform well in this increasingly competitive environment.”

VisitErie (formerly the Erie Area Convention and Visitors Bureau) released the latest Erie County hotel tax figures. In March 2008, they received $37,091 vs the March 2007 amount of $35,561, an increase of about 4.3 percent. The fiscal year to date figures show an increase of 12.6 percent. Of the 5 percent collected tax, VisitErie receives 1 percent and the Erie County Convention Center Authority receives the remaining 4 percent.

I was stuck at the light at 26th and Parade when a fire truck went through the intersection. At that intersection nor the one at 26th and German, the RELCO (Radio Emergency Light Company) preemption system never kicked in. Hope they fixed the problem.

Saint Vincent Health Center has announced it will present the inaugural Star of Life Award, an annual award honoring exemplary service by emergency medical technicians (EMT) and paramedics, at a special event on May 20. The award recognizes excellence and outstanding commitment to prehospital medical care and will be presented at the Star of Life award luncheon at 12:30 pm at the McGarvey Learning Center at Saint Vincent Health Center. Organizations eligible for nominating a deserving EMT or paramedic include volunteer fire departments, ambulance services, and other emergency care providers and related agencies. The nomination deadline is Tuesday, May 6. Nomination forms have been distributed to these organizations and are also available at the Saint Vincent Health Center Star of Life Award.

The Erie Downtown Super 8 Motel will become a Knights Inn. They are both Wyndham franchises so expect very few changes.

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) extended the accreditation of the Pharmacy Practice Residency program coordinated between Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) and Millcreek Community Hospital (MCH) by two years. The decision was made at the ASHP’s April Board of Directors meeting. Program Director Timothy W Zurn, RPh, coordinates the LECOM-MCH PGY1 pharmacy residency program, which is open to two students each year. Four residents have graduated through the program in its history with two more preparing to complete their training in June. The residency program is highly focused on teaching and patient care at MCH. Residents learn about internal medicine, infectious diseases, cardiology, long-term care, ambulatory care, and drug information. Each year the residents complete a research project and they present their work at the annual ASHP Conference. Also, they gain practical experience by providing pharmacy clinical consult services at Millcreek Community Hospital and assist professors at LECOM School of Pharmacy with community service and teaching activities.

Carbon Motors Corporation announced that former Secretary Tom Ridge of Erie, the nation’s first secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security and two-term governor of Pennsylvania has joined the company’s board of advisors to help guide the development of the world’s first purpose-built vehicle for law enforcement. Led by former senior executives of Ford Motor Company, Carbon Motors is a new American automaker with a focused and singular mission: to design, develop, produce, distribute and service the Carbon E7, a vehicle designed specifically for law enforcement operations.

Freedom Bank (OTC Bulletin Board:FBBF) announced the bank has appointed Erie PA native David E Zuern to the position of Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. Zuern replaces former Freedom Chief Executive Gerry Anthony, who is retiring. A Graduate of Gannon University, Zuern received his MBA in Banking and
Finance from Case Western Reserve University. He is Past President and CEO of Waypoint Financial Corp and was CEO of PNC Bank for Northwest Pennsylvania. He served as Secretary of Banking for the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania during the Tom Ridge administration.

Each weekday in May, Troyer Farms will giveaway a gift box of their snacks… free to you! No cost, no postage, just delivered right to your door. You can sign up at Troyer Farms Gift Box a Day in May Giveaway.

The Akron Aeros scored seven unanswered runs on Wednesday night at Canal Park to snap the Erie SeaWolves four-game winning streak by a final of 8-4. The SeaWolves and Aeros will play the rubber match of their three-game series on Thursday morning…10:35 AM First Pitch. LHP Danny Christensen (0-2, 3.91 ERA) takes the mound for the Howlers against LHP Chuck Lofgren (0-2, 8.66 ERA).

After being edge 8-7 in game one of Wednesday’s Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader at Ashland, the Mercyhurst baseball team rode the arm of Steve Grife and broke out the bats for a 9-1 win in game two.

The Gannon University baseball team played its second Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader against Findlay Wednesday afternoon, dropping both games at Swale Park. The Golden Knights (7-33, 3-25) fell 8-1 in game one. Findlay (26-19, 18-8) bested Gannon 7-4 in game two.

The Mercyhurst softball team came from behind in both games of a doubleheader with Edinboro Wednesday, defeating the Fighting Scots 5-3 and 8-4. With the sweep, Laker head coach Sara Headley picked up the 100th win of her career, becoming the first Mercyhurst softball coach in program history to reach that milestone.

The TOPSoccer program, currently in its eighth year at Penn State Behrend, is a community-based program aimed at giving special needs children the opportunity to learn and play soccer. The program was created by Penn State Behrend soccer coaches Dan Perritano and Patrick O’Driscoll in 2001. The program began with 12 participants in the first year, but has seen substantial growth over the years. This year, 65 children will participate over the eight weeks of the program along with 65 volunteers from various Behrend athletic teams and other organizations on campus. The program is sponsored by Sertoma Club of Erie County and the Kiwanis of East Erie. In addition to helping fund the speaker series and awards ceremony, the support of the sponsoring organizations also helps to provide a T-shirt and soccer ball for each participant. The program which runs every Wednesday from 6:00 to 7:30 pm, pairs a volunteer with a special needs child. Each week the children participate in basic soccer skills and small sided games as well as other activities. Other features of the program are the sibling swim program, a speaker series for parents of special needs children, and the end-of-season awards ceremony and pizza party.

Penn State Behrend Lions outfielder Jon Gray (State College/State College) was selected as the AMCC Baseball Player of the Week. Gray had an impressive week batting .526 (10-for-19), with five RBIs and seven runs scored. Gray also picked up two doubles, a triple, and a home run as he led the regular season conference champion Behrend Lions to a 4-0 week in conference play and 5-1 overall record for the week.

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.

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Walter A. McDougall will speak at Mercyhurst College on Thursday, May 1, at 7:30 pm in Walker Recital Hall. His talk, which is free and open to the public, is in conjunction with the ongoing Teaching American History Grant program organized by Mercyhurst political science professor Dr Michael Federici.

The Directors Circle Theatre will be presenting Rupert Holmes’ comic thriller “Accomplice”, May 1-17. Performances will be held Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm. The Directors Circle Theatre is located at 1001 State St on the second floor of the Renaissance Centre. For reservations please call (814) 451-1153.

The Erie Jr Philharmonic Ensemble Groups will hold their annual Spring Concert on Thursday, May 1, at 7:30 pm at the Blasco Library, Hirt Auditorium, 160 East Front St in Erie. Admission is FREE.

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 Opera Theatre presents “La Traviata” Friday, May 2 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, May 4 at 2 pm at Erie Central Tech High School Performance Auditorium, 3325 Cherry Street in Erie.

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.

A public open house on Wednesday, May 7, will introduce the Erie community to the nursing education laboratories at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. The open house is scheduled from 2 until 6 pm in the Benson Building, located on the west end of Penn State Behrend’s campus. Members of the nursing faculty will be on hand to explain the teaching features and equipment found in the college’s nursing technology laboratory and patient simulation center. Admission is free and open to the public.

St Martin Center is offering a free homebuying class that will take place Wednesdays from May 7 - May 28. The class will be from 6-8 pm at St Martin Center, located at 1701 Parade Street. During the four weeks, students will learn how to read loan documents, how to budget, what predatory lending is, how to determine what they can afford, and much more. For required registration, call (814) 452-6113 ext 221.

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.

The Technology Council of Northwest PA brings you the 5th Annual Business Intelligence and Technology Summit (BITS) event that will be held on Wednesday, May 21 at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. This event presents an opportunity for IT managers, CEOs, and professionals to gather, discuss, and learn about the forces shaping our regions IT industry. This year’s BITS theme will focus on Emerging Technologies for Business. This one-day event will be host to a full day of seminars, workshops and product demonstrations. They will have 15 topic speakers, as well both a morning and luncheon keynote address. Register online.

KillerWolf Films is holding meetings/open auditions for their new feature film “Warriors of the Apocalypse” on Friday May 23 and Friday May 30. 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.

The Saint Vincent Sports Medicine 2008 Edinboro Triathlon will be held March 31. You can register here.

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 May 1, 2008 7:01 AM

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