When: Saturday, May 25, 10am – 11am
Where: Erie Cemetery, 2116 Chestnut Street, Erie

After the Battle of Lake Erie in September 1813, wounded soldiers and sailors – both American and British/Canadian – were brought to Erie to be treated. Those who died were buried near the foot of French Street. In 1859, when railroad lines were laid in the area, the graves were relocated to the Erie Cemetery. For the past 154 years, an unmarked, common grave at Erie Cemetery has been the final resting place for Unknown Soldiers and Sailors from the Battle of Lake Erie. During the commemoration, the Erie Cemetery Association Board of Corporators committed to placing a monument at the grave, and making its location known to the Erie community. Join them as they recognize their sacrifice by dedicating a monument in their honor at the gravesite.

In June 2012 the Erie City Council passed ordinances recognizing the accomplishments of Harry T. Burleigh and the Lawrence family in shaping the history of Erie and Erie County. On Thursday May 16th at 10:00 a.m. in the Bagnoni Council Chamber at City Hall the Harry T. Burleigh Society will present a short program denoting the contributions of both families. Following the ceremony there will be a ribbon cutting ceremony at East 3rd Street from French to Holland Streets commemorating Harry T. Burleigh, and then at West Front Street from Sassafras to Myrtle Streets commemorating the Lawrence family. The ceremony is opened to the public.

To learn more about the Harry T. Burleigh Society and the Lawrence family, visit the following websites:

http://erie-african-americans.wikispaces.com/
http://burleighsociety.org/

Nonprofit organizations, community groups and individuals are eligible to apply, and grant funds may be used for any new project inspired by the spirit of Perry 200. Priority will be given to projects that:

•    are open to the public,
•    beautify a neighborhood or community,
•    celebrate ethnic heritage, and/or
•    inspire community or neighborhood pride and unity.

All projects must be in place or completed by September 8, 2013. The committee encourages projects that are on-going and will remain in place for years to come, without additional funding from Perry 200, which concludes in September.

The deadline has been extended. Completed applications must be received no later than 5:00 p.m., Friday, May 31, 2013.  Applications may be submitted electronically to egan@jeserie.org or may be delivered to the Perry 200 at the Jefferson Educational Society, 3207 State Street, in care of Corrine Egan.

“Highmark has a strong commitment to helping individuals develop and maintain healthy lifestyles,” said Neil Parham, Highmark senior community affairs specialist. “Through our support of this program, we hope to encourage individuals to use the trails in our local parks as a place where they can exercise while enjoying the beautiful scenery of our community.”

With the support of Highmark, the LMO! Passport launched in 2012 with ten Erie County walking/biking trails, including rural trails in Union City Area School District, Fairview Township, Washington Township, Asbury Woods Nature Center and Harborcreek Township and urban trails in the City of Erie, North East, Corry, Waterford and Girard. The LMO! passport has trail maps, trail information, local history content and other interesting things to see and do within each trail community, and will be available at locations throughout Erie County during the summer. During that first year, more than 700 participants registered online and over 8,000 passport booklets distributed.

The second year of the program is scheduled for May 24 – October 20, 2013, and five new recreational trails have been added to the program, bringing the total number of LMO! Passport trails to fifteen. These new trails are located in Lawrence Park, Albion, Lowville, Greenfield Township and McKean.

A trail marker placed near the middle of each trail serves two purposes: to identify the trail as a passport trail and present necessary program information. Once again, local artist Tom Ferraro designed and constructed five public art pieces which will serve as the LMO! trail markers for the five new trails. Using methods he learned as a residency artist, Mr. Ferraro engaged youth from each of the new trail communities in the design process. Markers are scheduled for installation in May.

Why? In 2010, First Lady Obama launched Let’s Move!, a national campaign encouraging counties, cities and communities to use local resources such as museums, parks, trails and schools to help children and adults be more active. Erie County offers many opportunities for recreation and fitness with more than 140 parks and trails, dozens of annual walks, runs and outdoor clubs, and many cultural sites and attractions to explore. Despite these great opportunities for physical activity and outdoor fun, Erie County joins communities throughout the nation in the “battle of the bulge.” The 2009 Erie County Adult Profile found that 65% of all Erie County adults are overweight or obese. Recent data from the Pennsylvania Department of Health Growth Screens 2007-2008 shows that the City of Erie has some of the lowest percentages of healthy body weight among school-aged children.

How does it work? STEP #1: Register on the program website www.letsmoveoutside.org. Registration allows you to document your progress and work your way toward qualifying for the grand prize drawing in November. STEP #2: Walk, run or bike the passport’s 15 trails and find the single artist-designed marker located along each trail. A unique 10-digit pass key is displayed on each trail marker. Once you find a marker, record the pass key in your passport booklet. (Remember to take a pen or pencil with you!) You can log in to the program website at any time and enter the pass key. After entering all 15 pass keys, you are automatically entered into the grand prize drawing. You could win a mountain bike or one of several other great prizes.

The program runs May 24 through October 20, 2013. Grand prize winners will be drawn and awarded by November 30. The program is supported by Highmark and many other local businesses and community partners, such as ArtsErie, The Erie Community Foundation, Erie Reader, Eriez Magnetics, Lilly Broadcasting, and EnjoyErie.com.

Behind the Scenes
The LMO! planning team is now working with fifteen community teams which are providing content for both the printed passport and the LMO! website, assisting with distributing passports and other print materials, and offering general support to the project. Each team consists of 3-4 members, many of whom are historical society/museum volunteers, borough managers, township supervisors, community leaders, and art teachers.

Organizational partners, such as the American Heart Association, YMCA of Greater Erie, Erie County Public Library System, Tom Ridge Environmental Center, the French Creek Council (BSA), and Girl Scouts of Western PA are committed to engaging the broader community in the LMO! program and making Erie County a Let’s Move! community.

*Erie County was recently awarded four bronze medals, one silver medal and one gold medal for their work as an official “Let’s Move! County.” To learn more about Erie County’s progress, visit the Healthy Communities for a Healthy Future website at http://www.healthycommunitieshealthyfuture.org/places/#Erie%20County,%20PA.

NORTH EAST, Pa. – The Lake Shore Railway Historical Society in North East will soon be the recipient of a historic diesel engine thought scrapped decades ago.

In 1954 General Electric produced a four-unit, 6,000-horsepower experimental locomotive that was leased to the Erie Railroad. It had a streamlined car painted black and yellow as Erie Railroad No. 750A-750D. The four spent half-a-decade testing in road service on the Erie, accumulating over one million miles of operating data. This data led to electrical refinements that culminated in the introduction of the GE U25B in 1959. The Universal Series was amajor step forward for GE that eventually led to its overcoming General Motors as the world’s No. 1 diesel locomotive manufacturer.

The locomotives had Cooper-Bessemer-designed power plants that were presumed to have been scrapped, but through a remarkable series of circumstances, one survives. Ray Grabowski Jr., president of the Lake Shore Railway Historical Society, recounted the story: “The locos were re-powered and sold to power-hungry Union Pacific. The original prototype engines, removed from the locomotives, were subjected to further testing. One engine was sent to Cooper-Bessemer’s factory in Mt. Vernon, Ohio for testing and disposal there.Well, it wasn’t disposed of, as was reported to GE. Instead, shop forces adapted and installed it inside the Mt. Vernon plant as power for air compressors. It ran faithfully up until just a couple months before Rolls Royce bought the C-B plant in 1996.

“The gentleman in charge of plant maintenance was originally involved in the GE test bed project. He contacted Lake Shore Railway Historical Society to see if there was interest in saving this ‘engine that no longer existed.’ The rest is history and the engine is in storage in a warehouse in Erie, Pa., waiting to come to North East to be added to the museum’s collection.”

The survivor is a 1,200 H.P. Cooper-Bessemer FVBL-8T. Cooper-Bessemer sold the rights to General Electric in 1953 for the development of larger versions of its engines for locomotive propulsion. Today the new locomotives that depart GE’s Erie, Pa. plant can trace their lineage back 59 years to this preserved engine. The museum hopes the engine will attract more visitors, perhaps even from overseas.

For more information on the museum go to www.grape-track.org.

The PR Boot Camp, which is Saturday, April 27th 9 am – 2 pm, is a great opportunity for organizations to begin making connections to local media outlets and get to know our local media people. Here’s the schedule for the day.

9:00-9:50 am
A Guide to Writing Newsworthy PR for Print (Two Mini Sessions)
Amber Wellington will teach you how to think like a journalist and discover stories within your organization, prepare and write press releases, focusing on community newspapers and niche publications.

Kevin Cuneo and Lindsey Poisson will go over all the information you need to know about your regional newspaper, The Erie Times-News. Learn how to submit event information to the Erie Times-News, Showcase, GoErie.com and Go Crawford. Receive a list of contacts, and find out about projects they’re currently working on.

10:00-10:50 am
Raising Your Media Profile: A Freelance Writer’s Perspective with Paulette Dinniny
Tips on how to raise or improve your group’s chances of receiving media coverage, including what makes a good article, hints on establishing a relationship with media outlets, publications to target, how to use your website effectively, and ways to grab the attention of writers, editors and readers.

11:00-11:50 am
Making Sense of Digital Media with Michael Haas
Digital Media cannot be ignored. The rapid growth of platforms online have made digital adoption a necessity, rather than a luxury. In this presentation, Michael will walk through the various types of digital media and guide you through the process of how to choose the best strategy for your organization.

12:30-2:00 pm
Media Experts Panel
The panel provides tactics for successfully working with television and radio stations. Attendees will learn how to develop long-term relationships with journalists, become a trusted source, and think like a journalist to anticipate their needs. Panelists include Lisa Adams, a news reporter and anchor for WICU and WSEE who has worked in the Erie television market for 35 years, Ben Speggen, managing editor of Erie Reader, Larry Wheaton, producer for WJET TV’s flagship shows, the 6 and 11 newscasts, and Jim Riley, Erie Market Manager for Cumulus Media.

And best of all…the boot camp is free to members of The Nonprofit Partnership, ArtsErie and Erie Yesterday and includes lunch! The boot camp will be held in the Jordan Room at the Knowledge Center, Knowledge Park.

Space is limited, so register soon. Register through The Nonprofit Partnership by calling (814) 454-8800 or e-mail TNP@thenonprofitpartnership.org. Download the registration brochure.

When: April 27, 2013, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Where: 945 Mead Ave., Corry, PA 16407
Cost: $25.00 Registration Fee (If payment is not received by April 22nd, cost is $30 at the door. Payment is to be mailed to P.O. Box 107, Corry PA 16407.)

Register online. Space is limited and the day is BYOD – bring your own device (if you wish). Wireless access is available for guests. Registration fee includes class, information packets, lunch and an assistant researcher for the day.

For additional information, email secretary@corryareahistoricalsociety.org or call 814.664.4749 or 814.462.4462 (cell). Or visit the Society’s website at www.corryareahistoricalsociety.org.

The new markers, selected from 47 applications, will be added to the nearly 2,200 familiar blue-with-gold-lettering signs along roads and streets throughout Pennsylvania.

Since 1946, PHMC’s historical markers have chronicled the people, places and events that have affected the lives of Pennsylvanians over the centuries. The signs feature subjects such as Native Americans and settlers, government and politics, athletes, entertainers, artists, struggles for freedom and equality, factories and businesses, and a multitude of other notable topics.

Nominations for historical markers may be submitted by any individual or organization and are evaluated by a panel of independent experts from across the state and approved by PHMC commissioners.

More information on the Historical Marker Program, including application information, is available online at www.PAHistoricalMarkers.com. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission is the official history agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Editor’s Note: The following is a list of the newly approved state historical markers with the name of the marker, location and a brief description:

The Atkinson Family, Maple Glen, Montgomery County
This Quaker abolitionist family was active in the Underground Railroad.  They harbored many fugitive slaves in their barn and attic. Son, Wilmer, founded the Farm Journal magazine in 1877. The publication attained national distribution and remains an influential resource for American farmers and ranchers today.

Baltimore Mine Tunnel Disaster, Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County
The second worst industrial disaster in Pennsylvania history, this incident in 1919 led to changes in enforcement of regulations at state mines. A team of state and national experts were assembled to investigate the incident which resulted in an order against the practice of transporting explosive powder and miners on the same railcar. National leaders of the United Mine Workers intervened to advocate for reforms and provide relief to victims’ families.

Banana Split, Latrobe, Westmoreland County
This unique ice cream sundae was created by David E. Strickler, an apprentice pharmacist from Latrobe, in 1904.  Although two other American towns make the claim of first, documentation supports 1904 as the earliest recorded date for the concoction. Strickler also created a glass dish specially designed to accommodate the unusual shape of the dessert.

Battle of the Clouds, Frazer, Chester County
A skirmish took place at the site of the White Horse Tavern shortly after the American defeat at the Battle of Brandywine in 1777. A deluge of rain prevented a true battle which may have had dire consequences for the Continental Army. About to be outflanked by British and Hessian forces, the sudden storm enabled the Americans to retreat and resupply their rain-soaked ammunition and prevented the British from crossing the flooded Schuylkill River to move on Philadelphia. Another defeat on the heels of Brandywine could have turned the tide of the war.

Camp Elder Civil War Paroled P.O.W. Camp, Westtown Township, Chester County
Camp established to hold Union soldiers that had been captured by the Confederate Army during the Battle of Gettysburg. Retreating armies often issued battlefield paroles to captured enemy soldiers, rather than transport them to prison camps. A Union commandant and guards oversaw such parolees at Camp Elder while they awaited exchange for Confederate prisoners.

Gen. Jesse L. Reno (1823-1862), Franklin, Venango County
A Union Civil War general who spent his boyhood in Franklin, Reno led his troops during the Maryland Campaign at the battles of Second Bull Run and Chantilly before being shot and killed at South Mountain, Maryland, in 1862. Prior to the Civil War, Reno had a distinguished military career in the Mexican War and led peacetime assignments such as building military roads, conducting surveys of several western states, and overseeing arsenals in Alabama and Kansas.

Little Lithuania, USA, Shenandoah, Schuylkill County
Schuylkill County has the highest percentage of residents with Lithuanian ancestry in the entire United States. The town of Shenandoah has the highest percentage within the county. To preserve ethnic heritage, local Knights of Lithuania administer an active Lithuanian museum and cultural center and sponsor the annual Lithuanian Days celebration. Celebrating 100 years in 2014, Lithuanian Days is one of the longest running consecutive ethnic festivals in the nation. Shenandoah was also the site of one the nation’s earliest Lithuanian parishes led by one of the first Lithuanian priests in the United States.

Old St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Philadelphia County
Established in1763, it was a very early American Roman Catholic Church and Pennsylvania’s first Catholic Cathedral. The Continental Congress attended services here several times out of respect for the alliances with the Catholic countries of France and Spain. It was also the site of the first public religious commemoration of the Declaration of Independence in 1779.

Pennepack Baptist Church, Philadelphia County
The first permanent Baptist Church in Pennsylvania and the “mother” church of the American Baptist Association. Founded in 1688, the existing building dates to 1805 and was constructed on a 1707 foundation. The church spawned subsequent churches in New York, Delaware, and Maryland.  In colonial America, Baptist influence emanated from Philadelphia.

Scotland School for Veterans’ Children, Scotland, Franklin County
The last state-run school for veteran’s children in the nation, it operated for 114 years before closing in 2009. It consolidated several soldiers’ orphan schools from across the state into one residential campus, which served all of Pennsylvania and included an industrial training program. Excelling in athletics and academics, it provided superior education to more than 10,000 Pennsylvania boys and girls.

Walter M. Golaski (1913-1996), Philadelphia County
A mechanical-bio-medical engineer, Golaski developed a knitted arterial prosthesis which was the first practical artificial blood vessel replacement. Originally rebuilding hosiery machines to enable the switch from silk to nylon in the knitting industry, he reapplied his knowledge to the medical field to produce a specialized machine to produce tightly knit Dacron arteries which revolutionized vascular replacement surgery.

Wood Street Riverbank Steps, Philadelphia County
The staircase has been in the same location since the 1680’s. It is the last remaining set of steps that were established under land warrant by William Penn and represents the establishment of Philadelphia’s original waterfront.  Originally connecting the waterfront to the commercial and residential sections of the city, they served to stimulate the economy and balance public and private interests.  They facilitated transportation and commerce and promoted westward settlement in Pennsylvania.

The Erie Local Arrangements and Program Committees invite you to join us in “ERIE-sistable” Erie, Pennsylvania on April 25-27, 2013 for Charting the Waters: The Future and Priorities of Archives. The twenty-first century has brought archivists challenges and opportunities in many forms, yet we often focus on the difficulties which lie before us. We struggle to stay abreast of developments in the field brought about by new technologies, we strive to meet the demands of our researchers, and we endeavor to demonstrate our relevance to users and funders, all while contending with limited resources. In such circumstances, archivists must make hard choices and adapt our programs and services accordingly. Faced with these competing demands, we must learn to swim in new waters. Innovation, collaboration, technology, ongoing professional development, and advocacy and outreach are key factors in advancing our existing work and developing new initiatives.

The sessions offered in Erie are designed to address the multitude of issues that affect both new and experienced archives professionals, offering strategies and discussing outcomes as we negotiate these important professional issues. Several sessions will discuss the incorporation of technologies into our professional routines, while others which focus on advocacy, donor relations, and management issues will aid attendees as they evaluate their own repository’s programs. In light of the recent natural disasters that hit the MARAC region, there will be two sessions which address disaster planning, relief, and recovery. In honor of Erie, our home port for this meeting, we will also feature sessions on local history, the War of 1812, and other aspects of Erie’s and Western Pennsylvania’s industrial, social, and cultural past.

For additional information, visit the MARAC website at http://www.marac.info/.