Nick Scott is quoted in todays Cleveland Plain Dealer saying that plans are in the works for another expansion of Splash Lagoon Indoor Water Park in Erie. Why? To keep the large crowds coming back they want to keep the place fresh. Just last year two new slides, another hot tub, another restaurant and more meeting space was added. Scott and family, Scott Enterprises, own 8 hotels and 5 restaurants surrounding the park so he’s getting richer every day.

Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy took first place in the United States Academic Decathlon state competition. Fairview High School placed 7th. Ironic that the state organizers and the schools involved were too stupid and ignorant to put out a press release about the academic competition. Maybe the telegraph wire was down or it was too windy for smoke signals.

The Julie Ruth Studio and Gallery in Waterbury Vermont will exhibit works of Misty Mawn formerly of Erie PA in an exhibit called “Thirtysomething.” Mawn will display 30 new mixed media collages. “Thirtysomething” is on view from March 9 to April 29.

Tom Ridge of Erie has been selected for the John F Kennedy Award by the St Patrick’s Parade Committee of Springfield Mass. DJ O’Connor, the parade committee president, will present the award to Ridge. Normally the award is presented by the Catholic bishop of Springfield but once they found out that Ridge was pro-choice, the presenter was changed. Oops.

Today is the birthday of Sir Casimir (Kazimierz) Gzowski who was born March 5, 1813. He took part in the Polish Revolt of 1830 and was exiled to America by the Russian rulers. He studied law in American and passed the bar exam in Massachusetts. He left the legal field to return to his first love, engineering. Gzowski was an engineer in Erie PA from around 1837 to 1842 and while here married an Erie girl. Gzowski went to Toronto looking for a contract and was hired in the Department of Public Works. In 1846, Gzowski became a Canadian citizen. He directed works ranging from rail lines, highways and bridges to harbors and the Welland Canal. He built the International Bridge for rail traffic over the Niagara River between Fort Erie and Buffalo.

The 24th annual Erie Outdoor Sport and Travel Expo finishes up today at the Family First Sports Park, 8155 Oliver Road in Erie (I-90 at Peach Street, Exit 24). Click here for a printable $1 off coupon.

The theater group All An Act Productions is performing the comedy “The Middle Ages” by AR Gurney. The final is today show at 3 pm at East High School, located at 1001 Atkins Street, Erie, Pa 16503. General Admission is $5.

The Erie Playhouse Youtheatre is presenting the musical ‘Treasure Island’ today and March 10-12, 2006. For info and tickets call (814) 454-2852.

The Woman’s Club of Erie presents the 4th annual Erie’s Famous Food Event to be held at Porters Restaurant and Tap Room on Sunday, March 5. Dozens of Erie’s best restaurants have been invited to participate and display their best dishes. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door, children under 10 are free. Call 838-9036 or 864-8306, or visit Porters for tickets. All proceeds benefit Erie County CASA, SafeNet, and Mission Activities of the Women’s Club.

Election petitions are due by Tuesday March 7th for the May primary.

The National Christian Invitational Tournament on March 9-11 at Family First Sports Park.

Curtis Ingram hit a free throw with no time remaining on the clock to give Edinboro a 52-51 over Shippensburg. With the win, Edinboro claims the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference men’s basketball and an automatic bid into the NCAA Division II playoffs, its fifth appearance under Walcavich.

California (PA) edged the Edinboro U of P womens’ basketball team 63-59 to win the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship. With just seconds remaining and the score tied, an Edinboro player pulled a Chris Webber and called a time out when the team had none. Cal made the two technical free throws and two more when the Boro was forced to foul. The Scots should still receive a bid to the NCAA’s with their record of 21-9.

Sophomore Ben Cottreau’s early third period power play goal snapped a 1-1 tie as Mercyhurst defeated Canisius 4-2 Saturday night in the regular season finale for both teams. The victory advanced the Lakers to second in Atlantic Hockey (AH). Canisius will return to Erie next weekend for a conference quarterfinal game with the Hurst.

A freshman took charge on “Senior Day”. Center Valerie Chouinard scored a pair of early first period goals and 7th ranked Mercyhurst went on from there to turn back valiant College Hockey America (CHA)-rival Robert Morris 5-0 Saturday at the Ice Center in the regular season finale for both teams. Mercyhurst ended the regular season 21-7-6 overall and unbeaten in CHA (10-0-2).

Dave Lefebre of Erie finished 8th at the Wal-Mart FLW Tour at Pickwick Lake and won $15,000. The next Wal-Mart FLW Tour event, the fourth of the season, is the Wal-Mart Open scheduled for Beaver Lake near Rogers, Ark., April 5-8.

The Eastern Wrestling League will hold its 2006 Hall of Fame induction ceremonies today at 4 pm at McComb Fieldhouse, just prior to the finals of the 2006 EWL Tournament. All five inductees have ties with Edinboro University, with four former Fighting Scot All-Americans, and the fifth the man responsible for taking Edinboro wrestling to the Division I level. Former Director of Athletics Jim McDonald will join wrestling greats Josh Koscheck, Tony Robie, Jason Robison, and Tom Shifflet in the Hall of Fame.

Sean O’Connor capped a career night with the deciding goal in the shootout as the Erie Otters came-from-behind to take down the Sarnia Sting 7-6 in an Ontario Hockey League game played tonight in front of 4,263 at the Tullio Arena. O’Connor scored one goal and set up three others in regulation time for his first career four-point game. Nick Palmieri, Vince Scott, Patrick Lee, Derrick Bagshaw and Andrew Hotham also scored for the Otters, who trailed 4-0 early in the second and 5-2 heading into the third. The next Otters home game is Friday vs Plymouth.

The University of New Hampshire Bob Demers 12th Player Award was presented to senior offensive lineman David Sundberg (Erie Pa/Fairview) as he became a true leader and a top player in the trenches for the offense. According to UNH head coach Sean McDonnell near the end of last season, Sundberg had emerged as one of the top lineman in the Atlantic 10.