Tonight is the last Erie Block Party of the summer, which will be held at Scully’s Pub with performer Money Shot. The theme of the party is “80’s on State” with the designated charity SafeNet.
As expected, Kenneth Barnes has pleaded guilty to conspiracy and aiding and abetting in the Brian Wells case. Some other [...]

Read the full post

The Erie Block Party, held most Thursday evenings during the summer, will be held tonight at Matthew’s Trattoria & Martini Lounge with performers Duke Sherman Band & Sam Hyman. Theme for the night is a “Hollywood Picnic,” and the event benefits the charity Emmaus Soup Kitchen.
If you remember from a couple of weeks ago, [...]

Read the full post

The Erie Block Party, held most Thursday evenings during the summer, will be held this week at Jr’s Last Laugh Comedy Club featuring the rock band M-80’s. The event theme is “Take You Back” and benefits Vietnam Veterans Chapter 435. Upcoming block parties:
August 14 – No block party; CelebrateErie begins.
August 21 at Matthew’s [...]

Read the full post

Our theme of the day could be “less news, more events.”
Discover Presque Isle begins this Friday with a concert at beach 11 by Jakes Blues and a bonfire, with various events running through-out the weekend. As promised, we’ve brought you details on the event. Read more about Discover Presque Isle 2008 and find [...]

Read the full post

Just yesterday we posted about the trend in TV news people coming to Erie and then leaving for bigger markets and more money. Add one more to the list – The Post-Gazette’s Rob Owen reports that Trina Orlando is headed to KDKA, where she will cover Westmoreland County. Trina is currently the morning anchor [...]

Read the full post

Indoor football team the Erie Riverrats will play the Reading Express tonight in the AIFA playoffs. The Express will host the Riverrats at the Sovereign Center in Reading, Pa., with a kickoff time of 7:00 p.m.
Two former University of Iowa athletes, Abe Satterfield, 19, of Erie, Pa., and Cedric Everson, 19, of Detroit, have [...]

Read the full post

Dan Mulligan didn’t know what to expect when the US Army summoned him from his civilian life as instructor at the Institute for Intelligence Studies at Mercyhurst College to active duty in Iraq last January. He hadn’t fired a weapon since he retired from the military 15 years ago; what’s more, he was 48-years-old. He [...]

Read the full post

The Pennsylvania House and Senate passed a smoking ban. Philadelphia Governor Ed Rendell said he would sign it. Hotels must have 75 percent of their rooms non-smoking. Casinos such as Presque Isle Downs and Casino in Erie must have 50 percent of their facility non-smoking. Exempted are bars with less than 20 percent food sales, [...]

Read the full post

BetaJohn has tried and tried to get Erie Times News and GoErie to fix their problem with the employment classified links. The Help Wanted link was recently fixed to reflect their switch over to HotJobs but none of the links for the sub-categories work. Maybe one of the job listings is for help in their [...]

Read the full post

The Erie area enjoyed another glorious day on Sunday – bright sunshine with a high of 88 degrees. About 80,000 people visited Presque Isle State Park over the weekend. The forecast today calls for a high near 90, the fifth day in a row with temps hitting the mid 80’s.
The Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority (EMTA) [...]

Read the full post

The official high temperature in Erie was 92 degrees on Friday. Temps on Saturday and Sunday might be near 90. There was a great crowd along the bayfront and at Presque Isle State Park. I’m a bit jealous of how Ella, daughter of Holli and Jason, kept cool.
Get out of the heat for a few [...]

Read the full post

Scores of people in the Erie area have called off work with symptoms of the flu and other illnesses. Most will head to Presque Isle State Park for ‘treatment.’ The forcast for today is sunny with a high temperature approaching the record of 95 degrees.
The Community Blood Bank is air conditioned and can take some [...]

Read the full post

Measuring Up was founded by Tony and Tammy Craig, a husband and wife team with a combined 30 plus years in the rent to own industry. Measuring Up does customer satisfaction surveys, analysis and employee training. The company recently produced a report for the US Congress, documenting the fact that rent-to-own has the highest level [...]

Read the full post

All around great guy Jack Tirak passed away last night. Jack was a partner at Erie ad firm Engel and Tirak and many of us knew him through his blog, Erie Media Go Round. We’ll fill you in on the funeral details when they become available. Condolences to his family.
Casting call for you actor types. [...]

Read the full post

WICU reported that the Erie County Employee Picnic has been canceled due “to too much scrutiny.” The food was going to come from DiVecchio’s Catering, the business owned by Erie County Executive Mark DiVecchio. This is one the numerous reasons Erie County Controller Sue Weber is planning an Ethics Workshop on July 1.
The blood shortage [...]

Read the full post

Jack Sundberg passed away on Sunday morning. Jack had an inoperable brain tumor. As they say on his web site Jack’s Battle, he won his battle and now is in a better place. The Sundberg Family – Craig, Megan and Robin – would appreciate your thoughts and prayers. Hopefully, they can get some peace in [...]

Read the full post

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine will hold commencement ceremonies for its largest medical and pharmacy classes, along with the school’s second class of master’s degree candidates. Today at 2 pm at the Louis J Tullio Arena, 218 medical students, 123 pharmacy students and six Master of Science in Medical Education students will receive degrees. [...]

Read the full post

Lisa Maas was murdered in her Pittsburgh apartment. Maas was a 2006 graduate of Harbor Creek High School near Erie. She was attending school at the Pennsylvania Culinary Institute. Terrence Andrews, who occupied an apartment in the same building as Maas, stabbed her with a pair of scissors. Andrews admitted to police he did it. [...]

Read the full post

Erie County middle and high school students are reporting a higher incidence of alcohol use than their national peers, but much lower levels of participation in antisocial behaviors such as “being arrested” or “bringing a weapon to school,” according to the newly released 2007 Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS), conducted locally by the Mercyhurst College Civic [...]

Read the full post

In November 2007 just before her new son was born, Tia Peterson, soon to be a new single mother, made the decision that she would stay home to raise her son. She began freelancing as a virtual assistant and has never looked back. Instead, she has moved on to form a virtual assistance firm called [...]

Read the full post

An arrest warrant was issued by University of Iowa campus police for Abe Satterfield of Erie and another man for charges involving sexual abuse. The incident allegedly occurred on October 14 at Satterfield’s on campus apartment. Satterfield and other person, Cedric Everson, were both members of the Iowa football team. They were both suspended from [...]

Read the full post

Railpower Technologies announced that it will build an assembly plant in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, creating some 125 new jobs, mainly in manufacturing and development. I thought Erie had a good shot at landing the plant. The company is headquartered in Quebec while their US operations are located in Erie. Railpower produces rail yard switching locomotives and [...]

Read the full post

Please take a moment today to remember and honor those Americans who died while defending our Nation and its values. They are responsible for the freedoms you enjoy today.
To help re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the “National Moment of Remembrance” resolution was passed in December, 2000 which asks that [...]

Read the full post

One person died in their home last night of an apparent natural gas leak or by carbon monoxide poisoning. The home is on Page Street in SE Erie. An official from the Erie County Coroners Office was called to scene as crews from National Fuel worked to repair the leak. Natural gas does not have [...]

Read the full post

Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong spent another day at a mental competency hearing. It could be months for a judge to decide if she’s competent to stand trial. Of course she’s nut but she’s well enough to know what’s going on. Normal people don’t kill their boyfriend and stick them in a freezer nor are involved in some [...]

Read the full post

Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong spent 9 hours in court in the first day of two in a mental competency hearing. What a wast of time. Expert witnesses differed in their opinion according to who was paying them, the prosecution or the defense. I think everyone agrees she nuts, ie a wacked out bi__. The question is, does [...]

Read the full post

Scott Enterprises has obtained $81 million as they mortgaged 10 properties. They will use $6 million to expand Splash Lagoon Indoor Water Park. I think this will be the third expansion of the park that draws huge numbers of people. In a very smart move they will use $49 million to refi existing debt. A [...]

Read the full post

Port Erie Boat Works has gone out of business. Just recently their web site stated that “Port Erie Boat Works has been sold to an elite group of boat builders and investors.” Now it says they’re gone.
 
The Erie International Airport received a $5.1 million check from the FAA to acquire a few homes for the [...]

Read the full post

The Commonwealth Court upheld a ruling that Erie County can use the hotel tax to fund the building and operations of a hotel. Eighty percent of the 5 percent hotel tax goes to the Erie County Convention Center Authority for the Erie Bayfront Convention Center and the Bayfront Sheraton Hotel as well as Jerrry [...]

Read the full post

 
Shares of Erie Indemnity Company (ERIE), Erie Insurance, yesterday skyrocketed $2.82 to 59.40, a jump of 5 percent. On Friday July 27 the stock closed at 50.96. The company now is worth $3.75 billion.
 
The Northwest Regional Planning and Development Commission is sponsoring meetings with18 overseas trade representatives September 12-13 in Erie. One-on-one appointments on September [...]

Read the full post

No wonder Brian Wells was named an unindicted co-conspirator in the bank robbery that led to his death. Court documents unsealed on Wednesday said that Wells had his neck measured for the collar bomb placed around his neck. Excellent job by reporters at the ETN including Ed Palattella that must had had to dig through [...]

Read the full post

Erie County Judge Stephanie Domitrovich ruled against lifting a deed restriction on the Erie Golf Course property. It must remain a golf course or a public park. The city wanted the restriction lifted so they could sell the property to developers. The city has about a $2 million debt from recent renovations at the course. [...]

Read the full post

WJET-TV ran a story on the 26 laid-off Erie Firefighters returning to work. Erie didn’t find a bundle of money to re-hire them, they are taking the place of firefighters retiring.
 
Erie PA native Anthony David Adams is the owner of CreditCovers. The company makes plastic skins that consumers can use to personalize their plastic [...]

Read the full post

 
The Nina, a hand built replica of Christopher Columbus’ ship, arrived in Erie yesterday. It will be in Erie until Sunday June 10. It will be open for tours with a cost of $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $3 for students.
 
A fight inside Peccadillos spilled out onto the streets. Police made a number [...]

Read the full post

Jenna Walker and Maggie Kovski died tragically when they drowned in a pond. I thought it was heartless that police were investigating the babysitter. I thought they should just put the poor 19 year old babysitter on suicide watch. I was wrong. Police charged Brittany Steward with two counts each of involuntary manslaughter, endangering the [...]

Read the full post

There are a lot of deer in Pennsylvania and in the other states Erie Insurance serves. One in every 100 drivers nationally is likely to have a collision with a deer. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimates that deer-vehicle crashes rack up $1.1 billion in property damages, tens of thousands of injuries, and [...]

Read the full post

The US Marshals have added Ralph “Bucky” Phillips, the main suspect in the sniper-style shooting of two NY troopers, to their top 15 list. Police are searching from him in Chautauqua County and Cattaraugus County in NY and Warren County in Pennsylvania. The case will be featured on America’s Most Wanted this Saturday night at [...]

Read the full post

Erie County Council, the elected group who spend money less responsibly than a crack whore with a welfare check, approved four new positions for the new $14 million 911 dispatch center and public safety suburban campus. The center and operations are paid out of your pocket with a monthly $1.25 tax added on to [...]

Read the full post

Ralph “Bucky” Phillips is still on the loose. Phillips was convicted of burglary and drug charges. He broke out of jail in April and has had the help of the fine, outstanding citizens of Western NY in staying one step ahead of law enforecement since then. Phillips is the main suspect in the shootings of [...]

Read the full post

“Money, guns and lawyers. Once you have that, you have everything. It’s all you need in life.” That’s a quote from MTR Gaming CEO Ted Arneault in today’s Cleveland Plain Dealer. The paper interviewed him about Presque Isle Downs in Erie and his other tracks and casinos. Presque Isle Downs, now under construction at a [...]

Read the full post

Knox Mclaughlin Gornall And Sennett is buying the former United Way of Erie County building on the 100 block of West 10th Street. I heard on the news Knox will tear down the building for parking. The building has an asesed value of $600,100. The United Way is exempt from paying property taxes. Knox isn’t. [...]

Read the full post

WJET-TV reported that there was a deadly crash early this morning on Route 18 in the Cranesville area. Tow people died when their vehicle crashed and burst into flames. A passerby dragged another person out of the vehicle.
A motorcycle apparently ran a red light at 26 and Brandes and crashed into the side of a [...]

Read the full post

Rent-A-Center announced they are buying Rent-Way for $10.65 in cash per share of Rent-Way common stock. The transaction is valued at approximately $567 million. Bill Morgenstern founded the company in Erie in 1981 and built it into a 784 store chain in 34 states. Last year William Short was named President and CEO of [...]

Read the full post

WJET-TV reported that Nick Scott will drop two lawsuits and pay Erie`s Convention Center Authority $1 million in exchange for managing the Erie Bayfront Sheraton Hotel and gaining naming rights for the Erie Bayfront Convention Center. My advise – don’t do it. The Erie Convention Center Authority has spent close to a million dollars defending [...]

Read the full post

Erie County Councilwoman Carol Loll and Unclue John’s Campground owner John Puline are proposing building a safe harbor and marina at the mouth of the Elk Creek Access. There is no dock or marina between Erie and Conneaut, Ohio. Loll will ask the governor to return taxpayer money for the project. The state set [...]

Read the full post

Erie Indemnity Company (Nasdaq: ERIE) announced financial results for the second quarter 2006:
Net income decreased by 26.1 percent to $56.3 million, from $76.2 million at June 30, 2005.
Net income per share decreased by 21.8 percent to $0.86 per share, compared to $1.10 per share in the comparable quarter for 2005.
Net revenue from investment operations decreased [...]

Read the full post

The “Beach Boys” will be the headlining act at Celebrate Erie on Friday August 18. The free concert takes place at 8:30 pm on the stage at 4th and State streets.
Of course you already knew that if you’re a regular reader of this blog. I announced the band on Sunday thanks to a tip I [...]

Read the full post

Willie Brown of Erie was released from a New York jail when his attorney presented a letter from Alabama authorities saying they would not prosecute him as a fugitive for his 1961 escape from a prison work camp. There is still some doubt that Brown is the same person that escaped 45 years ago. His [...]

Read the full post

Erie PA native Jonalee White is one of 100 finalists on Star Tomorrow which airs tonight at 8 pm on NBC. Most of the musicians and singers can be seen online with only the highlights appearing on the network show. Jonalee currently sings with HWY 32, an original and cover song group performing in the [...]

Read the full post

Congrats to Pennsylvania Sate Police Troop E commander Kevin Dugan. Dugan was off-duty and driving over 12th Street when he heard an alarm going off. After calling in the alarm, he asked the witness of a break-in for a description of the suspect. The quickly found the guy who was making his getaway on foot [...]

Read the full post

David McHenry was charged with the murder of Joshua DiBello. Police also recovered the murder weapon yesterday. Tips and details by the public along with good police work solved this crime in less than a week.
I received the following:
Jared Smith is an American citizen, born in Erie, PA, he is 25 years old and he [...]

Read the full post

The review of 74 cases from the Erie County Office of Children and Youth was turned over to the county. Retired Erie County Judges Michael Palmisano and Fred Anthony conducted the review and wrote the report. It would be a shock if many of these cases weren’t repoened due to mishandling by the Office of [...]

Read the full post

The search for Fran Medwick of Washington Township has been called off. Medwick apparently fell off his boat and drowned while fishing in Lake Erie in the area between Elk Creek and Trout Run.
Avoid West 12th Street for the next two days. Demolition work on the former Gunite plant at 12th and Cherry is taking [...]

Read the full post

The young girl that abandoned her baby on Tuesday evening has turned herself in. It’s up to the DA to decide if any charges will be filed. The Erie County Office of Children and Youth has custody of the baby for now. With their track record that’s a scary thought. The baby is still at [...]

Read the full post

Yesterday evening around 8 pm a young woman abandoned a newborn baby at the corner of Maryland Ave and South Shore Drive. The umbilical cord was still attached. The birth giver, the term “mother” is not appropriate, faces a number of charges.
Under the Safe Haven program, you can give up a baby at any hospital [...]

Read the full post

A couple of kids, 13 and 14, attempted a hold up with a gun last night at the Wendy’s on Buffalo Road. State police troopers quickly caught them as their cars went faster than the kids making their getaway peddling their bicycles.
The Bayfront Center for Maritime Studies in Erie will be given a wind turbine [...]

Read the full post

Jack Tirak has started a new blog called Erie Media-Go-Round. Tirak is ‘THE’ expert on Erie media. He seems to have agnered a couple of people at WSEE. The blog, including the comments, is a must read.
Who at Case Management Support Services pissed off a Erie County Council member? County Council council voted 5-2 [...]

Read the full post

Goverment officials from the County announced that a grant of $46,000 for the Erie County Fair. The fair will be held August 27 through September 2 at the fairgounds in Wattsburg.
David M Gottschling of Erie, Pa has been arrested for attempted robbery and armed robbery of 2 convience stores in the Jamestown, NY area.
The Northwest [...]

Read the full post

Cara Spadacene of Millcreek entered a guilty plea that she ripped of the taxpayers of Erie County of $36,000. Spadacene was ‘reimbursed’ for driving over 71,000 miles while working for the Office of Children and Youth. She would have had to average nearly 40 miles per hour worked to put those kind of miles on [...]

Read the full post

An Amish family of a father and his two sons were fishing at the Union City Reservoir when their boat overturned. The father, Joas Troyer, was rescued by someone on the shore. Stephen and Matthew of Spartansburg drowned. None of the victims wore life jackets.
Last August, the Erie SeaWolves distributed team pictures with the picture [...]

Read the full post

Mike Lueck ran into his Lake City neighbors burning home and pulled Pat Dunn to safety. Dunn, who is elderly, suffered severe burns and is in a Pittsburgh hospital. The only person who doesn’t think Mike Lueck is a hero is Mike Lueck.
On sunday afternoon, Indiana state police says the driver of a mini-van drifted [...]

Read the full post

Officials with Presque Isle Downs held a press conference and released some construction photos and had a number of artist images of what the facilities will look like. They are finally almost done pushing dirt around and are now pouring concrete. They plan on having live racing and the slots going by Fall 2007. [...]

Read the full post

In November 2004, Snow Contractor John Allin sold his Erie, Pa based Snow Management Group, one of the nation’s largest snow-removal firms at the time, to Symbiot. Symbiot has been a mess ever since. Allin stayed on with the company as corporate vice president of operations until December 2005, when he left to start his [...]

Read the full post

Scott Wludyga is leaving WJET-TV and Fox 66. Booo. Scott is taking a teaching position at Pymatuning Valley High School. He’s keeping his home in Erie and driving the 60 miles to Andover, OH each day. That’s going to get old quick. Luke Simons is taking over the weekday sports duties. No word on who [...]

Read the full post

Yesterday evening, a young woman was hit and killed by an SUV at East 8th and the Bayfront Connector. She and her friends were attempting to cross against the traffic light.
The Tom Ridge Environmental Center at Presque Isle State Park won the top prize in the 2006 Commonwealth Design Awards. The interior is divided into [...]

Read the full post

The Erie newspaper did a story the other day on the pay phones in front of Bradley’s Shur-Fine Food Mart on West 8th Street. Nobody knows who owns them so they could tell them they are in such disrepair – broken glass, graffiti. I went past them yesterday and there are now stickers on them [...]

Read the full post

Motorcycle riders don’t have to wear a helmet in Pennsylvania. Yesterdays accident involving Ben Roehthlisberger showed it might be a good idea to wear one even if you aren’t forced to.
Thanks to Lou Baxter, Brian and and the crew at WJET-TV for the story on Erie Redevopment Authority plans to improve central Erie. In [...]

Read the full post

A neighbor near the Pennsylvania National Guard Armory at 6th and Parade Streets in Erie said that officials with the School District of the City of Erie toured the property. They could be interested in buying it. The 1st Battalion of the 112th Infantry will be moving from the facility in Erie in a couple [...]

Read the full post

Former Alaska Commissioner of Fish and Game Jim Brooks recently passed away. Brooks was a native of Erie PA. During his life he was a B-24 Liberator bomber pilot during WWII, Ketchikan dishwasher, Southeast Alaska commercial salmon troller, Alaska Railroad gandy dancer, Willow gold miner, Nenana grease monkey, Kantishna dog musher and a trapper.
Portland swept [...]

Read the full post

State Represenative Linda Bebko-Jones of Erie introduced a bill that would provide health insurance for all state residents. It would be funded with a 10 percent payroll tax on businesses and a 3 percent personal income tax. Bebko-Jones didnot run for reelection as representative for the 1st District.
The City of Easton paid $3,559 to a [...]

Read the full post

Yesterday marked the first direct flight from Erie International Airport Tom Ridge Field to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Delta is offering one daily flight to and from Atlanta. While this is great for the pleasure traveller, this is huge for the business community.
The Erie Art Museum announced a $9 million expansion and a renovation of [...]

Read the full post

The Invest Erie Community Development Corporation was founded for one mission. To build a grocery store at 19th and Parade Streets. So far they have failed and wasted over $400,000 in your tax dollars doing so. They also have a stack of unpaid bills. In a more perfect world, this would be illegal and those [...]

Read the full post

Someone broke into the North East PA Wine and Spirits Store, the state run liquor store with overpaid union workers, and waled out with thousands of dollars of booze. The break-in happend between late Sunday to early Monday morning. Anyone out there planning a big party?
The Erie Art Museum has a press conference scheduled for [...]

Read the full post

Congrats to Jenny and Mike on the birth of their son Grady Matthew. Grady was 7 pounds, 9 ounces. Both mother and son are healthy and doing great.
Me: When is the Erie Management Group going to start the move to the former Hammermill/ IP plant and have their groundbreaking?
Boss man: They have already begun to [...]

Read the full post

An Erie man drowned in Presque Isle Bay in an apparent suicide. Gerald Michalski of West 8th Street, walked into the water near the foot of Virginia Ave and Ravine Drive near the Erie Yacht Club. Witnesses at Ferncliff Beach said he left some personal items on shore and simply walked in over his head. [...]

Read the full post

Two kids from Harborcreek Youth Services carjacked a van from their counselor on Saturday. Police caught them shortly afterwards. The pair faces of long list of charges.
The Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) has named Kasandra Botti, DO, an emergency physician at Mount Nittany Medical Center in State College, as 2006 [...]

Read the full post

Welch’s has begun accepting Niagara grapes from growers. Niagara are the known as the white grapes, even though the color is more of a light green or yellow. The air along the North Coast smells great with the sweet smell of grapes. You can see people taking deep breathes, like in the Febreze commercials.
And in [...]

Read the full post

The City of Erie’s Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs has joined with the Erie-Western PA Port Authority to host a benefit concert for the victims of Hurricane Katrina on tonight September 7, 6:30-9 pm at the Liberty Park Pepsi Amphitheater. Visitors will be asked to make a $5 donation per person upon entry to Liberty [...]

Read the full post

RailPower Technologies Corp and Ocean Tug and Barge Engineering Corp announced a supply and licensing agreement whereby RailPower will license its technologies to OTB for marine applications and supply, through OTB, its hybrid power systems to tug and barge operating companies, tug and towboat builders and shipyards involved in the construction of a wide range [...]

Read the full post

Laura Ridge, the mother of Tom Ridge, died on Tuesday at 82. Ridge passed away at Saint Mary’s Home of Erie after a long illness.
The East Erie Turners (no web site) have put their building at 9th and Parade up for sale. It can be yours for $349,000. The private club was founded in 1880 [...]

Read the full post

The Erie PA area unemployment rate for July 2005 rose to 5.8 percent from the June figure of 5.4 percent. The number of people in the labor force for July stood at 145,600 which was up from the June figure of 142,500. That’s a huge jump and a good sign. The number of people employed [...]

Read the full post

WJET-TV reported that MTR Gaming will most likely build Presque Isle Downs racetrack and slots only casino in Summit Township and that ground breaking will be in late September. Recently I’ve noticed quite a few people looking to buy or sell property in that area of Summit. We have a listing about 2 miles away [...]

Read the full post

Lindsey Myers and Kevin Jesteadt were identified as the victims as the victims of the Friday plane crash that claimed 3 lives. There has been no recovery yet but debris and an oil slick have been spotted in Lake Erie. Myers was a graduate of Edinboro University and Jesteadt was a senior at the school. [...]

Read the full post