Obituary: Ella Cashman

Ella H. Cashman, formerly of Warren, died December 7, 2009 at Springhill Retirement Community in Erie, PA. She was two months short of her 100th birthday. Prior to moving to Erie 15 years ago she had spent most of her life in Warren.

She was the wife of the late Warren physician, Dr. William Cashman, who passed away in 1989. She was preceded in death by her parents Thomas and Anna Munson Harrington, her brother William Harrington and sister Alice Harrington Johnson. Surviving siblings are Dr. John Harrington and Anne Harrington Gay, both of Warren. She is also survived by five children: Dr. John Cashman and wife, Diane of Wilmington, N.C., Anne Cashman of Erie, PA., Michael Cashman and wife, Kathy of Bedford, MA., Mary Cashman Dahl of Warren, Pa. and Jane Cashman McComas and husband Jeff of Salt Lake City, UT. Mrs. Cashman leaves a legacy of 12 grandchildren and 13 greatgrandchildren. Also surviving are many of her beloved nieces and nephews. She was a former registered nurse graduating from the Warren General Hospital School of Nursing in 1932 and practiced at the hospital until her marriage to Dr. Cashman in 1937. During her life when she was not raising and caring for her family she was involved in the Warren Women's Club, the Warren County Medical Society Auxiliary, The Red Cross, Girl Scouts, the Warren Art League and the Warren County Historical Society. She was also a member of the Conewango Valley Country Club and St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church.

Developers bringing new life to Springfield apartment buildings

Link to December 12 Springfield Republican article.

Excerpt: If 76 Mill St. seems like it has a way to go before it is habitable again, one needs to consider how it looked before Bernal and his partner, Salvatore F. Cangialosi, purchased it and four others at auction in September.

Bernal said a fourth-floor apartment had been gutted by fire, there was trash and garbage everywhere, and the rooftop skylight had a crack in it, allowing two years worth of rain and snow to drip through to the interior.

It was in tough shape, Bernal recalled.

The five buildings Bernal and Cangialosi purchased at the auction belonged to Anthony Ping Zuo, of Weston, the absentee landlord who ran afoul of the city failing to pay his taxes and to maintain his property.

Like 76 Mill St., work is ongoing at the other four sites, and Bernal said they should be made habitable with the next month or so.

Obituary: Thomas Schorman

Thomas R. Schorman, 85, of 15 Weatherbee St., N. Warren, Pa. died Wednesday morning, December 2, 2009 at Hamot Medical Center, Erie, Pa. after a brief illness. He was born October 1, 1924 in Bradford, Pa. to the late Robert C. and Mildred Crooks Schorman. Tom has been a Warren resident for the past 75 years, and was a 1943 graduate of Warren High School. He was employed with the United Refinery Company as laboratory technician retiring in 1988 after 46 years service. He was a member of Grace United Methodist Church where he was chairman of the Church Endowment Committee, a member of the Pilot Koinonia Group and was involved in numerous other church responsibilities throughout the years. He was a longtime member of the Warren Kiwanis Club, Warren Shakespeare club and was a generous, caring person, loving husband, father, and grandfather.

His family and his faith were the center of Tom Schorman's life.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mary Roos Schorman whom he married September 18, 1948 in Warren, Pa.; 3 Children Robert R. Schorman and wife, Judi of Oxford, Ohio, Deborah California of Meadville, Pa., Barbara Mintzer and husband, Thomas of Warren, Pa.; 2 Brothers Jack and Jim Schorman both of Warren, Pa.; 6 Grandchildren Ryan California of York, Pa., Elizabeth Saylor of Coraopolis, Pa., Kate California of McKees Rocks, Pa., Rachel California of Erie, Pa., Emily Steves of S. Dayton, N.Y., Adam Mintzer of Warren, Pa.; 4 Great Grandchildren Jordan Arthur, Alyssa Steves, Grant and Amelia California, several nieces and nephews also survive.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his soninlaw, Ronald California; and 1 Grandson Ronald California, Jr.

Lafayette Hotel, AM&A's plans move forward

Link to November 4 Buffalo News article.

Excerpt: Ambitious plans to revitalize the old AM&A's department store downtown and the Lafayette Hotel took preliminary steps forward today when a city agency agreed to oversee environmental reviews in the initial study phases.

Some members of the Planning Board acknowledged that it's too soon to say whether developer Rocco R. Termini's visions for the two downtown icons will pan out. But they said the fact that he has submitted requests asking the board to serve as the lead agency to review the big-ticket proposals are hopeful signs.

"I've spent 30 years longing for someone to come along and [renovate] the Lafayette Hotel," said board member Cynthia A. Schwartz, adding that the current owners have done little work in the Washington Street structure.

Leveling Blight: East Side building razed to finish section of block

Link to October 29 Warren Times Observer article.

Excerpt: A demolition crew spent most of Wednesday tearing down the brick building at 301-303 Pennsylvania Ave. E., which formerly housed a movie rental store and martial arts studio, and years ago was Lewis' Market.

Obituary

Jeffery L. Munksgard, 59, a resident of Huntersville, N.C. and formerly of Warren, Pa. died Saturday morning, September 19, 2009 after a long and courageous battle with Multiple Sclerosis.

He was born March 4, 1950 in Warren, to Chester H. Munksgard of Warren, and the late Mary Wenzel Munksgard. He resided in Warren most of his life, moving to North Carolina in 2000. He was a 1968 graduate of Warren High School.

He had served as a sergeant with the U.S. Army, serving in Germany as a Helicopter Crew Chief and Door Gunner during the Vietnam War. Jeff was employed with Loranger Manufacturing as a automation engineer from 1977 until his retirement in 1998 due to illness. He along with his father had owned Munksgard Towing Co.

He was a former member of St. Joseph Church, the Warren Knights of Columbus. Jeff was a lover of classic cars, enjoyed golf, waterskiing, and was instrumental in initiating the first Warren Multiple Sclerosis Walk. He was known by his family as a great father and grandfather. His family was his whole world.

In addition to his father, he is survived by two sons, M. Lance Munksgard and his wife Haley and J. Scott Munksgard and his wife Barb, both of Mooresville, N.C.; his former wife and friend, Jeri Book Munksgard of Charlotte, N.C.; four brothers, Chester E. Munksgard and wife Jan, Jon M. Munksgard and wife Cindy, James Munksgard and companion Tina Lauffenburger, Dennis M. Munksgard and wife LouAnn, all of Warren; three grandchildren, Larissa, Colton and Georgia Munksgard, all of Mooresville, N.C.; stepmother Shirley Schmatz Munksgard of Warren; several nieces and nephews also survive.

In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by one brother, Gregory Munksgard.

Friends may call at the Donald E. Lewis Funeral Home, Inc., 304 East Street, Warren, Pa. on Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m., where a vigil service will be conducted at 7:45 p.m. A memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted Thursday at 10 a.m. at Holy Redeemer R.C. Church, with Msgr. John Lucas, pastor, officiating. Interment will be in St. Joseph R.C. Cemetery, where full military honors will be conducted by members of the John Gertsch Vietnam Memorial Post Funeral Detail and the U.S. Army personnel.

September 10, 2009

A PennDOT bridge project completed last week will provide smoother travel for drivers.

According to Civil Engineer Supervisor Adam Hoisington, the project included seven bridges.

Five of the bridges received deck rehabilitation and two bridges were demolished and rebuilt due to structural deficiency, Hoisington said.

Hoisington said the replaced bridges were on Route 62 and Route 3022, which both cross over Route 6.

The project began in March 2008 and was completed Sept. 3.