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Erie PA News and Events for Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Posted by ErieBlogs on June 24, 2008
A recent poll shows Barack Obama leading John McCain in Pennsylvania by 4%. The Rasmussen poll was done by telephone survey of state voters with the following figures: 46% Barack Obama; 42% John McCain; 5% unspecified third-party candidate (Ron Paul hold outs?); and 8% remain undecided. This is a 2% increase over last months polling figures when Obama lead McCain 45% to 43%. In another context, Newsweek has a much different figure based on a national poll that gives Obama a 15% lead over McCain. Later this week Hillary Clinton reportedly will appear with Obama on the campaign trail, with Pennsylvania as a possible location.
The Department of Environmental Protection announced a $6.1 million penalty against the Erie Coke Corporation located at the foot of East Avenue near the Gertrude Barber Center. “Erie Coke has shown a flagrant disregard for the well-being of its neighbors and, indeed, the entire community by operating the facility in a manner that is totally unacceptable,” said DEP Regional Director Kelly Burch. Erie Coke had since February of 2007 to correct the violations but failed to do so. Erie Coke has a long history in the Erie community but it seems time to leave some of that history behind by upgrading its coke ovens which date back as far as the 1940’s (coke is a fuel used in steel production made by baking coal in large ovens to remove impurities).
Pennsylvania hunting licenses for the 2008-09 seasons went on sale yesterday morning at 10 a.m. Licenses can be purchased online now, or later this month through issuing agents. In order to purchase a license, applicants must provide their Social Security Number. Apparently this policy was instituted in order to enforce state welfare reform and child support requirements. Correlation: hunters = dead beat dads?
Last week, we reported about Corry resident Erin Howard who is facing charges after she was driving under the influence and got into an accident, killing her 6-year-old son. She was released from prison to attend her sons funeral, and instead of returning to prison as expected, she went to a bar in Ohio. Howard is currently in a Hamilton, Ohio jail awaiting extradition to Erie.
Jury selection for former Pennsylvania Superior Court Judge Michael Joyce’s trial will begin July 21st, at 10:00 a.m. Joyce faces charges of mail fraud and money laundering for filing $440,000 in false insurance claims with State Farm and with Erie Insurance. The trial was moved from Erie to a federal court in Pittsburgh due to pretrial publicity. Senior U.S. District Judge Maurice B. Cohill will preside over the trial.
This site, reporting on Panama City’s real estate boom uses Erie as an illustration stating: you can get a “4 bedroom, single family home coming in at just over $200,000” which is “comparable to what you would pay for a similar house in Erie, Pennsylvania.” Apparently Erie real estate is used as a benchmark for measuring booming real estate markets. Weird.
This week, the Erie City Water Authority will be issuing $65.3 million of water revenue bonds. The money raised will go towards building a filtration system that will also remove pharmaceuticals from the water. Water rates will also be raised 11.5% over the next five years to cover the system. The Water Authority will sell the bonds using JPMorgan Securities—a subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase & Co, which if you remember made millions off of the Erie School District in complex transactions called interest-rate swaps.
June 30 marks the deadline for membership in the Erie BayHawks Founding Fans program. Members will receive special recognition and benefits throughout the team’s inaugural season including exclusive discounts on BayHawks merchandise and recognition on the BayHawks Web site as a Founding Fan.
The SeaWolves fell in the series opener to the Trenton Thunder on Monday night at Waterfront Park, 4-3. The ‘Wolves allowed a pair of unearned runs which proved to be the difference in the game.
Chuck Hebing picked up his 29th career ASCS Patriot win Sunday Night at Eriez in the 100th points race in series history in a way that had never been done before. His opponent in the race had unapproved right tire. The left tire was unavailable for comment.
The Saint Vincent Auxiliary presents “A Night at the Races” on Wednesday, June 25 at Presque Isle Downs Clubhouse and Lounge. The event is from 4:30 pm - 9 pm. Each attendee will receive $10 in gaming tokens, a four-course meal in the Clubhouse, and a chance to gamble the night away while learning more about the Children’s Miracle Network. For questions and/or RSVP, please contact Stephanie Flanagan at (814) 452-5302.
Gannon University Writers’ Workshops 2008 are for students Grades 4-12. Develop your writing process and produce a book of your writing under the direction of Dr Sally LeVan and the teachers of the NWPA Writing Project. Each session will be limited to 25 students per session. Dates are June 23-27, July 7-11 and July 21-25. Workshops will be held 9 am to 12 pm in Room 3200 of the Palumbo Center, 8th and Peach Streets. Registration includes T-shirt, snacks and book. $125 per one-week session/$200 for two-weeks. For information contact Dr Sally LeVan, (814) 871-7506. Registration.
Erie area eighth and ninth-grade students are invited to Mercyhurst College to explore career pathways as part of a three-day Game of Life Future Fair offered June 23-25 by the Mercyhurst College Aspirations Program. The FREE sessions, from 5 to 7 pm each day, take place in the Audrey Hirt Academic Center on Mercyhurst’s Erie campus, and include a light dinner and prize giveaways. The project aims to help students make the most of their high school years by exploring future career paths, particularly opportunities in the Erie area, and identifying realistic options toward preparing for careers in those fields. Program organizers say that research suggests students who explore career preferences during middle school are more focused and more successful during their high school years. Pre-registration is not required; for more information, contact Jillian Perfetti at jperfe43@mercyhurst.edu.
The 2008 City of Erie Recreation Tennis Tournaments will be held once again at
Frontier Park. Junior: June 24-27, Adult: August 13-17. Applications are available at: PennBriar Health and Tennis Club, Westwood Racquet Club, Lake Shore Country Club, Kahkwa Club and Erie Sport Store’s downtown location. For more information contact Richard Beck at 835-5452.
The Erie Summer Festival of the Arts will be held June 27-29 at Liberty Park.
The Erie County Historical Society will hold a weekly Ghosts and Legends Tour at 8 pm on Fridays, June 27-September 26. Discover the mysteries of downtown Erie through a 1.5 hour walking tour. Reservations required, call (814) 454-1813, ext 0. Cost: $8 Adult, $4 Child.
Erie’s gay, lesbian bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community will come together the weekend of June 28-29 to celebrate Pride 2008 with a picnic, march/rally, and social opportunities. Festivities get underway Saturday, June 28, with the Pride Erie Picnic at Rotary Pavilion, Beach 7 at Presque Isle State Park. The Pride Picnic runs from 1-6 pm with food being served from 2-4 pm. The Pride March will step off from The Zone Dance Club at 1 pm. Sunday, June 29, with the Pride Rally beginning in Perry Square at 2 pm.Please note that more info about the Pride Picnic next Saturday, on June 28 from 1 to 6 PM at the Rotary Pavilion at Presque Isle is at http://picnic.eriegaynews.com. More info is also available by emailing info@eriegaynews.com or (814)456-9833. You can register online for both the picnic and the march/rally at http://www.eriegaynews.com/pride/register.php.
The Erie Philharmonic’s Get Your Phil At Noon Summer Music Series FREE concerts will be held July 8 and August 12 at noon in front of the Warner Theatre on State Street. The free lunch-hour ensemble concerts, designed to provide “music while you munch,” will feature a Philharmonic string quartet fully amplified and seating for the outdoor event. WQLN radio will broadcast live from the event this year.
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 2008 City of Erie Junior Golf Program is open to boys and girls between the ages of 9 and 17. Entry fee is $7 per person. The number of entrants will determine the number of divisions. Registration will take place at J C Martin Golf Course from June 1 through July 19. Please call J C Martin Golf Course at 864-1821 with any questions. Tournament 1 is at J C Martin Golf Course, West 38th St and Shunpike Rd (next to Erie Zoo), on Wednesday, July 23 at 8 am. Tournament 2 will be held at Downing Golf Course, 1351 Troupe Rd, 899-5827, on Wednesday, July 30 at 8:30 am. Tournament 2 will be immediately followed by a picnic and an awards presentation.
The Erie Lions Club Save an Eye City vs County All-Star football game will be held July 25 at Erie Veterans Memorial Stadium, 26th and State Streets. The major purpose of the Save An Eye Game is to raise money to provide free eye care to low income children.
“Remembering Janis” will run June 26, 27, and 28 at Theatre 145, located at 145 West 11th St in Erie. Ticket prices are $10 Regular seating, $12 Riser seating and VIP seating at $15. For advanced tickets please visit their web site or call (814) 879-0733.
The Gannon University ShakeXperience Theater Camp will be held Monday, July 28 through Saturday, August 2. This one-week resident high school (through graduation) theater camp is taught by members of Gannon’s theater program and qualified professionals. Classes are conducted in Shakespeare, text analysis, stage movement, rehearsal and performance. Workshops are offered in stage combat, period dance, and music. Includes a public matinee performance of CYMBELINE as part of the Shakespeare SummerNights outdoor threatre festival. Cost: $99 (includes room, board, and instruction fee). For more information, contact Fr Shawn Clerkin, (814) 871-7493.
Posted by ErieBlogs at June 24, 2008 7:30 AM
Comments
Please NO POLLS as news! They don't count and aren't news unless you are trying to shape public opinion. Al Gore in 2000 and John Kerry in 2004 were both well ahead in the polls in June of their election years. We'd rather hear what the candidates are saying than about a poll of people who won't vote for more than 4 months. Thank you!
Posted by: Heavy D at June 24, 2008 8:25 AM
Heavy D, you must be one of those Ron Paul holdouts. Kidding. Actually point well taken and I was going to say something about the value of polls.
However, the reality is many people were left wondering how receptive Pennsylvanians would be, especially Hillary supporters, to Obama since the Democratic primary was somewhat acrimonious (for both candidates and supporters). I think this is the first poll that gives us a general idea of what resulted from those primaries.
We're not going to post statistics daily, or even weekly, but consideration of these polls and what they mean will help with understanding the larger picture, specifically, how fractured voters are this election--even if it's only to promote discussion.
Posted by: Rich at June 24, 2008 9:20 AM
Rich,
Point well taken about PA & the Hillary voters. I personally believe that they will vote for Obama and same goes for must Republicans who supported Ron Paul will vote for McCain. The media uses polls to 'create' news. They are on 24 hours a day and they need fresh material so they can have viewers and sell ad time. I am sick of them already!
Posted by: Heavy D at June 24, 2008 11:46 AM
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