Erie revamps bayfront
by Kevin Otteni
stuff writer
A bayfront library, a maritime mu
seum, and tiossibly riverboat gam
bling on Lake Erie: these are all things
that were suggested almost a decade
ago and now are completed, almost
finished, or still controversial. The
original plan for a bayfront library
was unfavorable to 88% of those Erie
residents telephoned in a 1991 Times-
News poll. Residents claimed it was
too far from the center of the Erie
County population, the bayfront prop
erty was too valuable, and it was too
dangerous for the elderly and children
to get to.
Seven years later, seven blocks
north of the original main library on
land donated by Penelec, the
Raymond M. Blasco M.D. Memorial
Library stands in the Bayview Com
mons, with four bus routes that make
routine stops there throughout the day.
This complex also houses a Friends
Shop and Coffee Bar, the Auditorium,
the Public Meeting Room, and Erie
Maritime Museum. Such a change in
a city's image is nothing new to the
Winter made its last appearance in Wintergreen Gorge last weekend. Spring has begun!
tri-state area
Cleveland did a great job with its
downtown make over and Pittsburgh
is laying out its plans to acquire the
same look. Local Erie resident Nicole
"Erie is doing a good job
with its downtown plans
and the library is a prime
example of how good the
city will look."
Master said "Erie is doing a good job
with its downtown plans and the li
brary is a prime example of how good
the city will look."
With a host of volunteers, the li
brary accommodates around 1700
people per day, double the visitors the
old library had. The library is always
looking for additional volunteer help
in the Internet access area, There are
35 computers that residents can ac
cess the Internet with free of charge,
although when it is busy, residents are
IMIEB
limited to one hour of usage. "Hav
ing a computer and Internet access at
the library makes it easier to do more
thorough research," says local resi
dent and McDowell senior Megan
Stiller. Erie county residents also
have access to 250,000 books and
50,000 audiotapes and videotapes.
The library houses around 300 seats
(270 more than the old library) and
provides library patrons with a beau
tiful view of Lake Erie and the U.S.
Brig Niagara.
The centerpiece for the Erie Mari
time Museum is scheduled to return
from its voyage by May 21st, in time
for the Memorial Day weekend grand
opening of the museum.
Nicole Master
Erie resident
A more controversial idea for ad
ditions to the bayfront is the idea of
bringing gambling to the lake. This is
more of a political issue and its seems
that local residents can only sit and
wait to see if the riverboat gambling
plan will be completed like the
bay front makeover project has. How
ever, the residents and tourists of Erie
can enjoy the Maritime Museum and
the Raymond M. Blasco, M.D. Me
morial Library.
ERIESEI
Features
" s ''•;Ohdtbs r by Jason Blake
The back of the Raymond M. Blasco M.D. Memorial Library and Erie Maritime Museum
located off the Bayfront Highway next to a piece of land soon to be developed.
ACROSS
1 Young boy
4 Belgian diamonl„
center
11 Question
14 Exist
15 Small Spanish
ship
16 Caustic solution
17 Affirmative vote
18 Tidal wave
19 "Sliver" author
Levin
20 Not lifted up
22 Serviette
24 Warhead of a
missile
25 Dramatic scene
26 Plains antelope
27 Virile
28 Donates
31 Picture border
32 Schuss
35 Smell
36 Fathers
37 Adolescent
38 Outlaw
39 Natural talent
40 Practical joke
41 Domesticated
guanaco
42 Forty Thieves'
leader
43 Italian dish
46 Small carpet
50 Combination
punch
51 Intensify
52 Links org.
53 Earhart and
Bloomer
55 Expected
56 Building
extension
57 Pertinent
58 Tax grp.
59 Mayday!
60 "Lou Grant" star
61 Single
DOWN
1 One-handed
basketball shot
2 Type of stage
3 Sweetie
4 Exploits
5 Long Island
county
6 Lined up
The Behrend College Collegian Thursday, March 26, 1998 - Page 9
MUSIC
THE LOGAN WINTERGARDEN SERIES
C 1996 Tribune Media Services, Inc
All rights reserved.
Magic stick
Marie Saint
Leftover pieces
Easily shaped
The same
Assad's country
Actor Reeves
Infamous Hiss
Double over
Potato
"West Side
Story" song
Gooey mass
Cider-sweet
woman
Erich
Stroheim
Florida city
Salton
Writer Kesey
Squid's defense
Skied a zigzag
course
Court action
Floodgate
volume
Happiness
bringer
CLEVELAND DUO
MONDAY, MARCH 30
BRING YOUR LUNCH TO THE
PENN STATE-BEHREND WINTERGARDEN
AND ENJOY WORLD CLASS PERFORMANCES
IN AN INFORMAL SETTING. ADMISSION IS FREE.
PENNSTATE
Illuminated
Esoteric
Uses a lasso
-Saxon
Calf meats
Thai or Korean,
e.g.
photo by Jason Blake
Erie The
Behrend
Col
Wireless
Vehicular 180
V-formation
flyers
"Desire Under
the "
47
48
49
Historic period