This week, a few well deserved Thank You's!
First, thank you to Channellock for their continued investment in new technology and equipment to maintain their status as the makers of the best pliers on the planet!
And thank you to Northwestern REC for providing access to low cost financing for Channellock even though they are not located in your service territory. Mike Tirpak and the Board of Directors at the NW REC are to be commended for recognizing that support for non- member employers such as Channellock benefit the entire regional community, including Northwestern REC and its members.
Thank you to Vantage Heath Network and to the Meadville Redevelopment Authority for their considerable efforts to support the rehabilitation and reutilization of the former Talon Plant #7 facility as the site of Vantage’s new corporate headquarters. The eventual development of this blighted and underutilized site is eagerly anticipated and is a great example of the high level of commitment and collaboration present in our community.
Thank you to Meadville Medical Center for its substantial investment and commitment to cancer care in our community. While we always get excited to see the development of new facilities, of course, the real impact of the new Oncology Wellness Institute under construction on Route 322 in Vernon will be the provision of state-of-the-art care and treatment available to patients and families in the region.
And finally (and only because I pledge to be brief in this column), thank you to all those local governments engaged in the multi-municipal planning process. Like all those organizations and institutions mentioned above, local governments from Meadville to Conneaut Lake are demonstrating their understanding of and commitment to regionalism, and the benefits of working in collaboration for the common good of all residents of Crawford County.
I suppose I might be accused of sporting rose colored glasses but these examples, and many more that immediately come to mind, provide considerable evidence that our community has the collective wherewithal to address current and future challenges, and to sustain our position as a community of choice for employers and residents alike.
Until next time..
Mark Turner
Channellock will be featured on the series premiere of Cool Tools on the DIY Network, airing at 8:30 p.m. EST on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 22, 2007. A film crew spent an entire day at Channellock last November documenting the production process and filming a product application which has been incorporated in the "Classic Update" segment of Cool Tools.
In addition to the Thanksgiving Day broadcast, the show will air at various times through four other dates in November and December. In our area, the DIY Network can be found on Armstrong Channel 443 and Dish Network Channel 111.
From the makers of HGTV and the Food Network, Cool Tools is produced by High Noon Entertainment based in Denver, Colorado. The DIY Network is the television source for do-it-yourself projects covering a broad range of categories. It is one of the fastest growing digital networks, reaching over 40 million homes.
Channellock has a long and rich history with our region. Founded in 1886 when blacksmith George B. DeArment began improving farriers' tools, hand forging them in a small two-story factory and traveling from town to town selling them from his wagon, the company has grown to be a worldwide leader in the manufacture of high-quality pliers and assorted hand tools.
Americans are noted for their generosity in times of need and to those less fortunate. Always ready to lend a hand, this spirit of giving to others is especially prevalent during holidays. In this spirit of the holidays, numerous area organizations have organized events that will benefit many local residents:
Allegheny College's Habitat for Humanity Hut-A-Thon starts today, Friday, at 12 noon and runs 48 consecutive hours through the weekend. Donations will be collected on North Main Street across from the Tippie Alumni Center. The hut-a-thon gives students some idea of what being homeless feels like and funds collected will be used to sponsor Habitat's educational programs for local students and aid the group in providing decent and affordable housing for those in need.
The Meadville Tribune and WICU-TV of Erie are again teaming up for the annual Drive-Thru Food Drive. Non-perishable and canned foods, and cash donations will be collected on Wednesday, November 14th, from 6:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. at the Tribune parking lot on Arch Street. Donations can also be dropped off at the Tribune during regular working hours through the week. Donations to this drive will benefit the Center for Family Services, St. John Missionary Baptist Church, Associated Charities, the Titusville Area Food Bank and the Salvation Army of Meadville.
The Meadville Owner-operated Business Association along with the Chamber of Commerce will hold their second annual Shop & Drop in downtown Meadville on November 16th and 17th. Various locations throughout downtown will receive dropped gently used coats for the Center for Family Services. On December 7th and 8th, the Downtown Can Do will be held and downtown locations to collect canned food for the Food Pantry.
These are only a few of the events being held by concerned groups in our area to help fellow residents, as we all try to do what we can especially during this time of Thanksgiving.
Colonists used pumpkin as an ingredient in the crust of pie, not the filling.
Pennsylvania ranks third nationally in pumpkins, producing 136 million pounds of the fruit ranging in size from less than one pound to more than 1,000 pounds.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is conducting eight public meeting throughout the state regarding the I-80 toll conversion project. The closest meeting place for our area is Grove City on November 19, 2007. The meeting location will be Grove City College, 100 Campus Drive. Directions to locations and meeting materials may be found online.
The public meetings will address transportation funding needs in Pennsylvania, summarize Act 44 provisions, explain the I-80 tolling project, and provide an opportunity to ask questions and provide input to the I-80 project team. Open house displays and information will be available any time from 4-8 p.m.. Presentations will occur at 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
It doesn't seem possible that we are already coming into the holiday season again. To celebrate the season, the Meadville Area Chamber of Commerce will be holding two annual events in the coming weeks.
Light-Up Night in Meadville will be held Friday, November 23, 2007. Festivities will begin in Diamond Park at 6:30 p.m. with singing of carols around the gazebo, hot chocolate provided by Windstream, lighting of the trees and the arrival of Santa at 7:00 p.m. Activities will continue with a march down Chestnut Street with Santa to @ the Bank on Park Avenue for refreshments and visits with Santa.
The Chamber Christmas Party will be held Tuesday, December 4, 2007 @ the Bank, 940 Park Avenue from 4:30-7:30 p.m. for an evening of socializing, entertainment and refreshments. Please make reservations to rsvp@meadvillechamber.com .
For further information about these events or any other Chamber activity, contact the Meadville-Western Crawford County Chamber of Commerce at 814-337-8030.
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Economic Progress Alliance of Crawford County
764 Bessemer Street, Suite 101
Meadville PA 16335
814-333-2299
12/21/2007