Outside Erie

Ray Grabowski, Jr. of the Lake Shore Railway Historical Society recently penned the following about his organization’s latest acquisition — and its desire to get GE Transportation more involved in preserving Erie’s locomotive history.
I’ve maintained in the past that Erie has the ability to capitalize more on its railroading history — a sentiment that has […]

It’s hard to imagine that any Erie native had a bigger impact on the world in 2008 than Harry Markopolous.
After all, it was Markopolous — a 1974 Cathedral Prep grad — who blew the lid on the Bernard L. Madoff scheme.
While many others were turning a blind eye to an investment scheme that bilked many […]

U.S. Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper has been sworn in as the newest Congressional representative for northwestern Pennsylvania.
For more on what she plans to accomplish, check out my recent interview.

Successful economies aren’t built by luring existing businesses to set up shop in one’s borders.
Instead, they are built from within — one strong business at a time.
And those strong businesses almost always start with a single entrepreneur and an idea.
During Erie’s heyday, entrepreneurs found fertile ground for their ventures.
In recent decades, the conditions have been […]

Happy New Year, sports fans.
This is perhaps the best video example of what it feels like to watch Erie’s leadership at work on key economic issues.

Hat tip to William M. Hartnett’s journalism blog.

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 […]

In Erie (and in many cities, actually) the same handful of people tend to get all of the accolades.
That’s why I was gratified to see some new names among those who offered nominations for our second-annual GlobalErie Person of the Year award.
Some well-known names such as Millcreek cancer researcher John Kanzius and Erie Redevelopment Authority […]

I want to wish everyone a safe, healthy, and happy Christmas.
Peace.

I’d like to suggest another “Globie” award category — a wild card of sorts that doesn’t fit into any of our regular categories.
It could be an issue, a concept, a debate, an event.
But I’d like to leave it up to your imagination.
You could suggest an “Erie Event of the Year,” an “Erie gaffe of the […]

Our final “Globie” category is Erie Expatriate of the Year.
So many former Erieites are now living in other parts of the world doing interesting and — in some cases — spectacular things.
This award will recognize a person with Erie lineage who is making an important mark from another address.
As before, I invite you to […]