Outside Erie

The choice for Erie’s 2008 Business of the Year is not an easy one.
After all, 2008 was far from a good year for many companies. The economic meltdown might not be quite as severe in Erie as it is in some other parts of the country. But it is nonetheless putting the squeeze on […]

We continue to get some great nominations for our “Globie Awards” — GlobalErie’s attempt to recognize the best in Erie in 2008.
Thus far, we’ve asked for your nominations for Erie’s Person of the Year and Business of the Year.
Today, we ask for your suggestions for Erie’s “New Development of the Year”.
The rules are the same […]

Gotta love it when Erie makes the fake news.
According to The Onion:
ERIE, PA—Local fast food consumer and occasional motorist Don Turnbee announced his decision Wednesday to bypass I-79’s Greenville exit in hopes that the following turnoff would lead to more appealing fast food options. …
While holding out for a superior option, Turnbee has passed on […]

Could Erie market itself more effectively as a winter sports destination?
Chris, a commenter on this blog, thinks so.

How about developing an extreme sports industry on the bay in the winter? Snowmobile races and kite-skiing in addition to ice-fishing and a naked polar bear club. Though I remember hearing the casino was going to have snowmobile […]

Lost amid the Election Day hubbub in Erie was news that voters in Maryland approved a ballot initiative that will soon pave the way for gamblers to play slots in the land of crabcakes.
This undoubtedly provides competition for casino operators in Pennsylvania.
And that competition could be coming quickly. Reports the Washington Post:
The governor was basking […]

I received a pair of phone calls on behalf of one of the major-party candidates encouraging me to vote on Tuesday at my former polling place in Millcreek Township.
Never mind that I’ve lived in Maryland for more than two years and voted here as recently as this year’s primary.
If I were to show up at […]

We’re continuing our closing arguments series by focusing on the race for the Pennsylvania 3rd State House district between John Hornaman and Jason Owen.
Hornaman is a Democrat. Owen is a Republican. Both hail from Millcreek.
If you are a supporter of either candidate, you are invited to state your case. But keep your comments focused on […]

Lots of anger today over City Council’s decision last night to table a plan that would give the city $250,000 in upfront state money and up to $2 million more to help revitalize downtown.
Fellow GlobalErie blogger Jim Berlin (who has invested heavily in the redevelopment of Union Station) has a rant over on Berlin’s Wall.
And […]

An anonymous commenter has floated a pretty grandiose idea as a potential new development at the vacant GAF site on the bayfront.
Here’s what he had to say about it:
I made a proposal about a year and a half ago to build a indoor white sand beach with palm trees, aquarium and restaurant complex on the […]

As Erie County, Pa., takes steps to boost its tourism and convention business, so, too, is Erie County, N.Y.
The Buffalo News reports today that Buffalo is seeing quite a healthy increase in tourism business this year.
The reasons are many — most notably the strong Canadian dollar, which is prompting more Canadians to cross the border […]