Local radio alive and well

If you read Erie Media-Go-Round regularly, you know that many people aren't happy about the corporate takeover of local radio—fewer live DJs, tired playlists, and too many national talk shows.

The Erie Times-News reported a few days ago that Cambridge Springs community radio station WXCS—92.9 on your FM dial—is bucking that trend. The non-commericial station is run by volunteers and provides local artists with an outlet to share their music. Here's the most important paragraph in the article, if you ask me:

The station's concern for local radio access does not end with local musicians. WXCS is open to those in the community who would like to try their hand at the mic.

It would be cool to have a weekly hour-long local news/politics show, if one or two people were willing to invest the time in preparing for it (maybe going to school board/government meetings, talking with elected officials, etc.) I'm not sure if WXCS offers anything like that right now. It looks like the station's website is currently down, so I couldn't check the schedule.

By the way, WXCS officials, if you need a place to host your site, I've got plenty of space and bandwidth that's yours for the taking—just leave a comment or send an email.

Party follow up

Last week's post on the rumored underage drinking party in town generated a record (for CambridgeSprings.net) four comments. Thanks to community members for their involvement and for providing additional information about the situation. I read in the Erie Times-News last week that Cambridge Springs police did charge six juveniles with underage drinking after receiving a tip about a drinking party. There was no mention in the police blotter about drugs being involved.

One comment noted that I needed to get out of my basement, walk around town, and talk to my neighbors more. It's worth noting that I look at this blog as an easy way to talk with my neighbors. For example, I could have walked up to someone in town and said: "Did you hear the rumor that there was an underage drinking and pot party?" and maybe they would have said, "That's not true, there wasn't any pot there." Or, I could do what I did and post the information on this blog, and let people chime in with their comments.

Really, what's the difference?

Disappearing story?

The Meadville Tribune reported on Wednesday night that child rape suspect Christopher P. Cote was on suicide watch at the Crawford County Clink. But the story seems to have been removed from the newspaper's site (dead link here.)

I'm not sure if the removal was intentional or not, but thanks to Google's cache of the page, you can still read it here.

Apparently, Cote told a corrections officer that he was going to kill himself--which I guess isn't a surprise given the charges he's facing.

Suspected child predator likely facing more charges

Tim Hahn reports in the Erie Times-News that former Cambridge Springs resident Christopher P. Cote—charged in July with raping a 3-month-old girl in the borough—could be charged with a similar crime involving another child. Cote was out on $35,000 bail but is now back in the Crawford County Correctional Facility after violating the terms of his bail by hanging out unsupervised with a 17-year-old girl. (Although the article doesn't mention this, apparently someone tipped off Cambridge Springs Police that Cote was with the girl.)

I think it goes without saying that this a disgusting situation, and it's certainly questionable, given the nature of Cote's alleged crime, that he was even allowed out on bail in the first place. But I guess we still have to live by innocent until proven guilty...

Rumor has it

Word on the street is that police broke up an underage drinking/pot party this weekend somewhere on or near Center Street in Cambridge Springs. Since I spend most of my time in my basement and not interacting with people, I have no additional information. But it's fun to pass along an unsubstantiated rumor every now and again. Please free to post a comment if you know anything more about this bust.

Caught in the act

I take an (almost) nightly walk through Cambridge Springs, and it's pretty common for me to see borough police officers pull someone over for what I assume to be some sort of traffic violation, which, after all, is their job. And everyone knows that you shouldn't be speeding or driving drunk.

What's amazing to me, though, is that people continue to be pulled over even though everyone pretty much knows where the police hang out looking for speeders:

1. The Church of God parking lot across from the high school.
2. The Jehovah's Witnesses church parking lot on McLellan Street.
3. The intersection of Center Street and Church Street/Route 408
4. Brink Drive, across from the Dollar General.

In summary, the police will pull you over if you're doing something wrong. Don't speed. Use your turn signals. Respect the police. And refer to this Google Map for places you should be especially vigilant about not breaking the law:


View Larger Map

Rep. Roae to hold town hall meeting

State Rep. Brad Roae (R-6th District) will hold a town hall meeting on Monday, Sept. 17, at the Cambridge Springs Borough Building, 161 Carringer St. Roae encourages residents to come and ask questions about any issue dealt with at the state level. You may recall that Roae upset eight-term incumbent (and Venango-area resident) Teresa Forcier in the May 2006 Republican primary and then defeated Democrat Keith Abbott in the general election in November. Roae got off to a good start in his political career by turning down the automatic cost-of-living pay increase that state legislators received for 2007.

A staffer at Roae's office said 900 postcards were sent out to promote the event--and I hope turnout is good. We're still waiting for some sort of substantive effort at property tax relief by the legislature, and it will be interesting to hear what Roae has to say on that subject.

News and commentary

A few odds & ends from the past weeks:

1. Most people, I'm sure, have heard by now that Finney's Pumpkinville won't be opening this year. I've never understood why the place doesn't charge a buck or two for admission. My sense is that people would pay it (I know i would) because they really like to take their kids there. Or charge more and include a pumpkin in the price--that way you don't have people freeloading by just looking at the exhibits and leaving without making a purchase. School field trips could be another good source of revenue (100 kids X $2=$200 in income you didn't have before).

2. Local rocket scientist Lynn Oscar Willey has been charged by state police with disorderly conduct for bringing a pipe bomb-like object his kid found to Cambridge Springs Elementary School (more details here). Possible penalties for Willey include a $300 fine and 90 days in jail--but, really, shouldn't he be reimbursing the taxpayers for all of the time state and local emergency crews spent responding to the pipe bomb scare? That makes total sense to me, since I am a taxpayer and all.

3. The First Church of God in Cambridge has someone creative working on the sign in front of the church. I think the phrase promoting last week's service was "Burned out? Get lit."

New hot dog shop on the way

The building at 146 N. Main St (across from the Kwik Fill) in Cambridge Springs is undergoing extensive renovations and will house the BigSkinny Hot Dog Shoppe. This Web site has more details about the shop as well as photographs of the construction. Plans for the shop include big screen TVs for watching sporting events, a coffee bar, a full menu, take out service, local delivery, and a family friendly atmosphere (no smoking or alcohol).

It's impressive that someone is revitalizing what was a rundown building and trying to make a go of it with a small business in Cambridge Springs. A legal notice posted on the building indicates that Scott McKissock is the business's owner. There's a science teacher and basketball coach at Cambridge Springs Jr. Sr. High School with the same name. (You can view the PA corporation filing here.) With the fairly limited dining options in town, this business has a great chance of succeeding. Bring on the hot dogs!