When our Erie Shriners Hospital was in danger of closing, Representative Hornaman immediately offered help. It was a personal matter for John because his youngest daughter had been treated at Shriners. He introduced a resolution in the state house immediately, calling on his fellow lawmakers to make every effort to help keep the hospital open.
He also sent a personal letter to Ralph Semb, national president of Shriners Hospitals for Children, asking him to do everything in his power to keep the Shriners Hospital in Erie.
John also asked the public to send hand-written letters to Mr. Semb about their personal experiences with the hospital and how much it would mean to keep it open.
To the relief of all Erie county, our Shriners hospital remains open.
When the Brig Niagara lost funding and its sailing future was at risk, John went to work to have our voice heard in Harrisburg.
Hornaman took part in an open public meeting which was held here in Erie between Harrisburg officials and our local , state and county officials. Many people had the opportunity to voice their support for the Niagara.
Representative Hornaman understands the value the Niagara has to this community and its importance to our tourism industry.
For several months, the walls in his district office displayed the “Niagara” drawings of young school children. Every one that came to the office saw the displayed art work and the message… “ SAVE OUR SHIP.”
It appears at this point that the future of the Niagara is secure, and its sails will be filled with Lake Erie wind this year.
Representative Hornaman has a special place in his heart for Senior citizens. He has held an annual Fair for Seniors at the Tom Ridge Center since he first took office, drawing more than 1,300 attendees each year. Seniors come to enjoy the free handouts, muffins, and coffee, but they also learn about staying fit, senior living centers and municipality services from the 60-plus vendors who set up booths there. And John is always there himself to give an ear to citizens’ concerns.
As we all know, Presque Isle (the Peninsula) is the core of our tourist economy, drawing 3 ½ to 4 million visitors every year. In 2007, during serious budget negotiations, the Governor laid off non-essential employees, resulting in the closure of the State Parks, including Presque Isle. John realized the potential economic disaster that would befall this area if tourists cancelled their stays because of the park closures. So every year since, he has introduced and re-introduced legislation that would provide emergency funding for the peninsula if needed during a budget stalemate. This economic asset must be protected.
This year, John volunteered to be the referee in the main event for Knock Out Homelessness. Hunger and homelessness have increased during this recession, and John was happy to give his time to help the City Mission continue their wonderful work on behalf of the people they serve. John was in the ring with Lou Bizzarro and Jack Denari, and the Mission raised approximately $40,000 because of that incredible event.
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