New green space in front of UPMC Park should appeal to fans

The area at the corner of East Tenth and French streets has been cleared, paving the way for what promises to be a handsome green space in front of UPMC Park.

The baseball park, which opened in 1995, has been almost completely rebuilt in the past few years and it looks great.

Erie SeaWolves management began interviewing employees who will work at the park this summer, and I hear some who have had jobs there for years were not too thrilled about having to submit to another interview.

● When Tim McCarver, the former all-star baseball catcher who later spent four decades in the broadcaster’s booth, appeared in Erie at Art Arkelian’s sports banquet in 1969, he wore an impressive tuxedo. After the banquet, he visited a local club where a band was playing, and he belted out a few hit songs.

More: Former All-Star catcher and Hall of Fame broadcaster Tim McCarver dies at 81

McCarver, who died Feb. 16 at 81, was always a big crowd pleaser. His singing was so good that he once cut an album of American favorites.

● Erie native Steve Scully circulated a classic photo of Jimmy Carter during a 1976 campaign stop at Erie International Airport. Carter was greeted by the giant Mister Peanut character that used to appear at local parades and events. Carter, a peanut farmer, seemed pleased by the greeting.

Pam Parker posted an old 1976 newspaper clipping online of local chocolate maker Gus Pulakos, who had received warm personal notes from Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter after he presented her with a chocolate statue of a Southern belle with a wide, hooped skirt and adorned with chocolate roses.

● Frank Lloyd Wright’s San Francisco office, which is now located at Erie’s Hagen History Center, will be the topic of discussion at a Jefferson Educational Society presentation on March 15 at 7 p.m. Paul Turner, Ph.D., an architect and art historian who taught the history of architecture for years at Stanford University, will give the presentation.

Related: Frank Lloyd Wright's California office has new address: Erie's Hagen History Center

Specifically, Turner will show the route that Wright’s office, which was established in 1951, took before it ended up in Erie courtesy of Erie's Thomas Hagen.

The Wright exhibit has become a real crowd-pleaser in Erie, and it’s part of the trail Wright admirers take from Fallingwater, in Mill Run, to Erie and then on to Buffalo, where at least two of the most famous and best restored homes designed by Wright are located.

If you haven’t seen the Wright office at the Hagen Center, don’t delay. It’s well worth your time.

Related: Hagen History Center is Erie attraction with a new national and even international reach

● His longtime Erie Times-News colleagues are mourning the death of longtime pressman Danny Nulph, who died Feb. 16 at the age of 68. You couldn’t find a motorcyclist more enthusiastic than Danny. He took several cross-country trips on his Harley.

Danny had a true gift of gab and he lit up every room he entered.

● Elroy Face, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ brilliant relief pitcher from the 1950s and ‘60s, celebrated his 95th birthday Feb. 20. Craig Latimer brought Face to Erie some years ago and Face told great stories about the Pirates’ 1960 World Series-winning team.

● Her many friends were saddened by the death on Feb. 17 of Virginia Smith. Virginia, as part of the Chuck & Ginny’s Restaurant family, fed the people of Erie for generations. She was a beloved, mother, sister, aunt and grandmother, not to mention a great Italian cook.

2022: Mary Ellen Smith, daughter of Chuck & Ginny, was heart, soul of iconic Erie family

● Harry Hiestand, the longtime college and NFL offensive line coach, gave one more shout-out to the late Joe Moore when he recently retired from Notre Dame. Hiestand said when he decided he wanted to learn how to coach offensive linemen, he was advised to visit Moore. The former McDowell High School football coach had become one of college football’s finest coaches during long runs at Pitt and Notre Dame.

Hiestand said Moore gave him a warm welcome and taught him so much about line play. “He was more than just a mentor, Joe became a great friend,” Hiestand said. “They picked the right man when they named the top award for line play in college the Joe Moore Award.”

2015: National offensive line award named after Joe Moore

● Cleveland Guardians fans who have gotten used to watching their favorite team on the Bally Sports are worried about what might happen if Bally's parent company, Diamond Sports, declares bankruptcy. Guardians management is also concerned because Bally will owe the club a payment in the tens of millions of dollars. Major League Baseball officials told the Cleveland owners not to worry ― MLB will cover the payment. But does MLB have that much cash on hand? And, if so, why does it have so much?

● Check out all the Friday fish fries at local churches during Lent. My favorites are the ones that serve fish and pierogis.

More: Where to get fish, pierogis, mac & cheese and fun during Lenten fasting in the Erie region

● Presque Isle Downs & Casino will hold a job fair Thursday from 2-6 p.m. I hope the Downs hires some clerks to work the ground floor during the horse racing season. Those lines last year, because there were so few clerks, were murder.

Kevin Cuneo can be reached at kevin.cuneo1844@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Rebuilt UPMC Park in Erie PA adds fan-friendly green space