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Erie PA News and Events for Wednesday May 7, 2008

Erie Renewable Energy yesterday held a press conference at the Erie Labor Temple to announce a $1.5 million diversity program to recruit and train minority workers to build the proposed tire to energy plant which will be called Port Erie Power. Agreements were signed with the Booker T Washington Center, Great Lakes Building and Construction Trades Council and the Erie Indian Moundbuilders Tribal Nation which will yield up to 100 trained construction workers.

An agreement for local funding for the $80 million Erie International Airport Runway Extension Project was FINALLY signed. It should be about 5 years before the project is completed.

Yesterday morning, the site for the Northwest Pennsylvania Community College was down so I shot an email to MutualGravity, the Erie based company that designed and hosts the nwpcc.info site. I got a note a short time later from MutualGravity President/CEO David VanAmburg that they placed a notice on the site for the reason it was down. During the Monday meeting with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the group from Erie were informed that for the good of the public, state law specifies that an educational institution is not allowed to be named and identified until it is registered with the Department of State and approved by the Department of Education. Since they had provided a tentative name for the proposed institution, we were in violation of state law. They are currently revising the nwpcc.info website and presenting the revision to Department officials for their review and approval, and will have the site back up as quickly as possible. Their hope is that it will be live again within one week. You can see the complete notice on the proposed Northwest Pennsylvania Community College site.

On Fri, May 9 at 12 noon there will be a ceremony in Griswold Park to mark the 100th anniversary of Erie magician Harry Kellar’s final public performance at Ford’s Theater in Baltimore, and the kickoff a national public television documentary and traveling exhibit that will chronicle his life. You can view the trailer for the documentary here. Hope you do watch it. It’s exceptional. The documentary was produced by Main Street Media, an independent production company based in North East, PA. It’s as good as ANY documentary on television. And the company is located not in Hollywood or NYC, but here in Northwestern Pennsylvania.

Erie County Council on Tuesday night twice proved that they have no respect for taxpayers or taxpayer money. They pretty much gave a blank check for courthouse 5th floor renovations.The prison pre-release center was moved from the 5th floor to a free standing building. In January they OK’ed the spending of $3 million for renovations. Yesterday they were told that the money was only to gut the space, not for actual construction. $3 million.
Council also OK’ed the lease for the Erie County Library branch at the Millcreek Mall. They gave their blessing for $125,000 in interior work in addition to the new lease which is over $50,000 a year.

For the week of April 28 - May 4, Presque Isle Downs and Casino reported wagers of $43,200,200 with payouts of $39,402,471.

US Congressmen Jason Altmire (PA-04) and Phil English (PA-03) unveiled legislation that they are introducing in the US House of Representatives this week to help manufacturers whose businesses are being jeopardized by a flood of Chinese imports. The Supporting America’s Manufacturers Act establishes Congressional review of the president’s decisions regarding whether to provide temporary relief - in the form of import duties or quotas - to American companies facing market disruptions caused by Chinese imports. This bipartisan legislation is supported by both industry and union groups - including US Steel, Wheatland Tube Company, and American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).

Michael J Messina, PhD, associate professor of marketing and director of the marketing program at Gannon University, was recognized with a Best Paper Award for the published proceedings contribution with coauthor, Dr John F Wellington, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, titled “Marketing Implications of Reassessing Residential Properties Using Regression Analysis.” The paper was presented at the 2008 Marketing Management Association Conference in Chicago. Messina also served as a track chair and session chair at the conference and was elected to serve a three-year term on the board of directors for the Marketing Management Association.

IBM announced a few changes in the executive ranks including the retirement of William Zeitler who has been with the company for over 39 years. Zeitler joined IBM in 1969 as a programmer in White Plains, New York after receiving BS in mathematics from Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania in the same year. In September 2000 Zeitler was named senior vice president and group executive of IBM Server Group, which later became the consolidated Systems and Technology Group. As well as being responsible for all IBM hardware offerings he’s also in charge of the Microelectronics division, which translates IBM Research and Development into semiconductor solutions for IBM systems and OEM clients - including custom microprocessors, ASICs tools and methodology, IP, manufacturing capacity, and process technology. Zeitler plans on retiring on August 1.

The Erie SeaWolves dropped their second straight game to the Trenton Thunder on Tuesday night to 5-2. The loss drops the SeaWolves to a game under .500 for only the second time this season at 15-16. The SeaWolves and Thunder meet in game three of a four-game series on Wednesday night at Jerry Uht Park…6:35 First Pitch. LHP Danny Christensen (0-3, 3.77 ERA) takes the mound for the ‘Wolves against LHP Phil Coke (1-1, 4.91 ERA). The first 500 fans will receive a free SeaWolves poncho on this special night dedicated to staying dry. Show your Giant Eagle Advantage Card for $2 off Reserved Seat Tickets.

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.

A public open house today, 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.

Every Wednesday is free admission to all four Erie Art Museum galleries from 11 am to 5 pm.

Young Erie Professionals will hold their monthly Happy Hour at 5:30 pm on Thursday May 8 at the BrewErie At Union Station. Weather permitting, The Trackside Beer Garden and the bocce courts will be open. Tours of the Brewerie and train station will be available.

Kim Mik’s Flick Pics are back at Theatre 145 (The Roadhouse Theatre) with “The Beales of Grey Gardens”, the second installation of the Maysles Brothers documentary “Grey Gardens”, on Thursday May 8 at 7:30 pm. Membership pass: $5 (includes 1 free refreshment in the coffeehouse).

A state historical marker commemorating magician Harry Kellar’s achievements will be unveiled by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC), Mayor Joseph Sinnott, County Executive Mark DiVecchio and local community leaders in the heart of Erie’s cultural and entertainment district in Griswold Park on Fri, May 9 at 12 noon. Members of Kellar’s family will also be on hand for the celebration. Erie native Harry Kellar (1849-1922), who was known as the Dean of American Magicians, was Harry Houdini’s mentor and the inspiration for the Wizard in the Wizard of Oz. The May 9 event marks the 100th anniversary of Kellar’s final performance as a magician at Ford’s Theater in Baltimore, and the kickoff a national public television documentary and traveling exhibit that will chronicle his life. The documentary is being produced by Main Street Media, an independent production company based in North East. A short magic performance will follow the dedication ceremony. The public is welcome to attend. The ceremony is being hosted by the Erie Art Museum and the PHMC during National Preservation Month.

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 Gem City Concert Band, under the direction of Scott Tomlison, will present their annual Spring Concert at two venues this spring. The first performance will be Sunday May 11 from 2:30 to 4 pm at All Season’s Marketplace and Flea Market at the Millcreek Mall Pavilion. While spending time with Mom, treat her to this FREE and open to the public performance. If you miss the Sunday show, you can catch the next performance on Tuesday evening, May 13th from 7:30 to 9 pm at the St John’s Lutheran Church Parish Center on 23rd and Peach Streets. This concert is also FREE and open to the public with plenty of off-street parking and handicapped accessibility. Some of the music on the program includes Alfred Reed’s Festival Prelude, Francis McBeth’s Chant and Jubilo, Robert Jager’s Carpathian Sketches, and a lively medley of sailing songs from Clare Grundman’s Fantasy on American Sailing Songs. For more information about Gem City Bands or the Spring Concerts, please visit online at www.GemCityBands.org or call (814) 899-8467.

The Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission is holding a seminar called Gaining Access to Europe on May 13 at the Ambassador Banquet and Conference Center, 7794 Peach Street in Erie. Cost is $50. You must register by May 6.

Discover RFID in the Food Industry with the 2008 RU ready for RFID? Conference on Wednesday May 14 at Penn State Behrend’s RFID Center of Excellence. This year’s conference features five sessions presented by companies experiencing the benefits of RFID, as well as organizations that are providing RFID solutions throughout the food industry. The information presented will not only help you understand ways in which RFID is being utilized in this industry, but also how to increase your productivity and improve processes related to food manufacturing, distribution, and retail. Also, be sure to check out the 2007 RU ready for RFID? Conference Highlights, containing downloads of the 2007 speakers’ presentations, and images from the event.

The musical “1776”, the first play in which members of the Erie Cathedral Prep Alumni have been invited back to perform, is scheduled for a four-day run in the Erie Cathedral Prep auditorium on the weekend of May 15-18. This production is the third and final performance for this year by the Prep Performing Arts Department, which is under the direction of Father Michael DeMartinis. The special guest director for the show is Almi Clerkin, the managing director of the Erie Playhouse. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance at the Prep bookstore for $8 (adults) and $6 (children and seniors). Performances will be at 7:30 PM on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and Sunday’s performance will be at 2 PM.

The 16th annual Edinboro Highland Games and Scottish Festival takes place on May 16-18 in Edinboro, PA. Events will be held in downtown Edinboro, Saturday on the campus of Edinboro University, and Sunday at venues around Edinboro. This year’s musical guests include the Chelsea House Orchestra, Melinda Crawford (2003 National Scottish Fiddle Champion), Maidens IV, and Bare Bones. Pipers and other musicians should check out the new Freestyle Piping competition. Come to the Edinboro Highland Games and “Take a cup’o kindness home!”

Join your friends for the 6th Annual Bike Around The Bay in Erie, PA. Gather with hundreds of tri state bicyclists on Saturday, May 17, in Erie, PA at the Intermodal Transportation Center on the Bayfront Parkway to bike around beautiful Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie. The event is a fundraiser for the non-profit youth environmental education organization Lake Erie-Allegheny Earth Force. There is a 10 mile Town Tour, a 30 mile Bay Tour and a 50 mile Endurance Tour. Registration is $17 for individuals and $35 for families.

There will be a fundraiser for Drew Kauffman 4-9 pm on Saturday May 17 at the Knights of St John, 660 West 26 St. Tickets are $10 per person. Drew is being treated for brain tumors. For more information, call (814) 453-3248. Tickets will be available at the door. Donations can be made to Friends of Andrew Kauffman at any PNC Bank location.

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. Morning keynote speaker is Nortel President and CEO Michael Zafivorski who is a graduate of Edinboro. 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 Erie Playhouse Rehearsal space at 12th and Brandes Streets 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 18th annual Erie Wild Rib Cook-off and Music Festival will be held May 28-31 at Perry Square in downtown Erie. Admission is FREE. This popular annual family event includes eight Professional National Award Winning Rib Cooking Teams offering the very best in BBQ cuisine. Added attractions include a selection of delicious festival foods, ongoing stage music, the “Kid ZONE” - a children’s fun area featuring scheduled Ride-A-Ribba-Rama packages, artist and crafts booths, educational and informational displays, specialty vendors and more. This festival has grown to attract over 50,000 visitors to Perry Square Park and the adjacent streets in Erie’s downtown district.

JR’s Last Laugh Comedy Night Event to benefit Because You Care will be held at 6:30 pm on Thursday, May 29. Comedian: Juston McKinney. Food and drinks are available before and during the show. Ticket price: $15.50 Juston McKinney is one of the hottest comedians in the country. Coming to us from New York City, he has headlined many of the clubs in NY such as Caroline’s, Comic Strip Live, Dangerfield’s, and Stand-up NY. He’s been featured at the Toyota Comedy Festival and on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and had his own show on Comedy Central. He is a US Comedy Arts Festival Award Winner, and delivers a funny, original, high energy performance, which has made him a huge hit all over the country. Call (814) 899-0061 to buy single tickets or blocks of tickets. Circle May 29 on your calendar today and plan to enjoy a great night of entertainment. Get your party together and share the night with friends and family! A big thank you to JR’s Last Laugh Comedy Club for sponsoring the 6th annual Comedy Night event. The money raised will help Because You Care pay for the spay and neuter of the many kittens taken in during April and May.

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.

The Erie Summer Festival of the Arts will be held June 27-29 at Liberty Park.

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 7, 2008 7:06 AM

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Posted by: Jim Carstater at May 7, 2008 4:06 PM

Posted by: Dennis at May 8, 2008 2:12 PM

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