Erie School District Superintendent James Barker had his contract extended for 5 years by the Erie School Board. He`ll get a 3 percent salary increase each year plus cost of living adjustments. He’ll be making about a quarter million dollars a year by the end of the contract. Barker doesn’t live in Erie so he doesn’t pay any taxes to the district which employs him.

CPA Campaigns is an Erie PA based internet marketing company which runs affiliate programs and interactive advertising campaigns. They’re located on West Ridge Road in Millcreek. You might not have heard of them in Erie because they aren’t an industrial company. They are just a hi tech company with good paying jobs.

There’s a good story in today’s Erie newspaper by George Miller on a proposed tire-to-energy plant at the SB3 Industrial Park, the former IP / Hammermill plant property. Caletta Renewable Energy of Boston is the majority partner of Erie Renewable Energy which will run the plant. I could find zero information on Caletta Renewable Energy so I’m wondering if it an actual viable company. Before the company starts getting economic development grants, do background checks.

Congratulations to Tammy and her husband who closed on refinancing their home yesterday. They had an ARM (adjustable rate mortgage) and got a fixed rate loan through Sky Bank with no closing costs.

The West Virginia Legislature gave final approval yesterday to a bill that would permit casino table games, if voters authorize it by referendum in the host counties. Gov Joe Manchin is expected to sign the measure.

Jessica is looking for information on her grandfather. His name was Carl Moore and he worked Erie Steam Shovel Company / Bucyrus-Erie in Erie PA back in the 1920′s.

Mary Humenay, the Ithaca College’s Catholic chaplain, will retire in July and return to her native Erie PA. She spent 10 years at Ithaca and also has spent time at Villa Maria College in Erie and Edinboro University.

OTO Development is advertising for a GM for their 117 room Springhill Suites property under construction in Erie, PA.

DB Levonne Rowan of Erie PA will be playing for the Frankfurt Galaxy during this NFL Europa season as a cornerback. He recorded 86 tackles and two interceptions at the University of Wisconsin and was also a member of the track team where he ran the 100 meters. Rowan went to Erie Mercyhurst Prep.

Duquesne mens’ basketball coach Ron Everhart arrived in Erie last night. It will be interesting to see if any local player signs with the Division I school.

Tom Straughn of Perry (Oh) High School near Canton will wrestle next year at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. He won the Ohio 152-pound championship and placed all four years at states.

The Gannon university women’s basketball team will open their quest for the school’s first-ever Great Lakes Region Championship Friday, March 9 against defending national champion Grand Valley State. The game will be played at Lewis (Ill) University in Romeoville, Illinois. Game time is scheduled for noon Central/1 pm. Eastern. The game can be heard live on 90.5 WERG.

The Mercyhurst College women’s hockey team hosts Minnesota Duluth in the NCAA Regionals Friday night at 7 pm at the Ice Center. The game is sold out. I think the game will be aired on radio on WMCE.

The Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League return to action Friday night in the first of back-to-back home games at the Tullio Arena. Friday at 7:30 pm it’s the Otters and the Plymouth Whalers. Saturday the Otters take on the Saginaw Spirit at 7:30 pm.

National Christian School Invitational basketball tournament will be held March 8-10 at Family First Sports Park in Erie PA. Most area hotel rooms are booked. Expect delays at Peach Street restaurants.

The Roadhouse Theater production of “Glengarry Glen Ross” is scheduled for Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm through March 31. Admission: Regular seating $12, Riser seating $15, VIP table seating $20. Reservations can be made by phone at (814) 456-5656.

The Erie Art Museum’s annual end-of-winter bash is heading for Motown, or at least Motown is heading for Just My Imagination, Saturday, March 10 at the Bel-Aire Clarion Hotel, 2800 West 8th Street. Just My Imagination will replace the Museum’s very popular mARTi Gras Bash, but organizers say it will truly be one night to boogie down. “Live Motown music from Cleveland’s Tony Quarles and the Discovery Band, great food, elaborate decorations and costume prizes are all planned for this event,” said event Chairwoman Rebecca Styn. Tickets are $45 and all proceeds benefit the Erie Art Museum. For tickets call (814) 459-5477.

Food and fun both will be in abundance when Gannon University hosts its annual International Night on Saturday, March 10. The event will feature an “International Food Bazaar” with culinary delights from more than 20 countries, including Hong Kong, Sweden, Bahamas, France, Poland, Spain, Greece, Panama, Peru, India, Turkey, Japan, China, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. The dinner will start at 6 pm. The entertainment portion of the event will begin at 7:30 pm and will feature numerous cultural performances including Filipino folk dancing, Indian dancing, Greek dancing, Polish dancing, Celtic soft shoe and tap dancing, and traditional Turkish dancing. Music also will be offered, including South Korean violin and Bosnian flute. International Night will be held in Gannon’s Hammermill Center, Peach Street and South Park Row. Tickets can be purchased at the information desk of the Waldron Campus Center, 124 West Seventh Street. Tickets are $15 for adults; $10 for senior citizens, military, and children 10 and over; and $5 for children under 10.

McLane Church in Edinboro, PA will present its annual “PowerZone Weekend” Children’s Ministry worship services on Saturday, March 10 and Sunday, March 11, 2007 at the church, 12511 Edinboro Road, Edinboro. “PowerZone Weekend” is a weekend of worship services at McLane Church when the pre-school and elementary school aged students ‘take over’ the regular adult worship service and infuse it with high-energy music, motion and a message. Nearly 100 children along with their adult leaders will lead the worship service, presenting upbeat songs, funny skits, and an inspirational lesson designed to encourage everyone in attendance. The children of McLane Church prepare for weeks prior to this very popular worship service, learning songs and accompanying motions. Last year’s “PowerZone Weekend” prompted the greatest weekend worship attendance of the 2005-2006 ministry year. As always, a complementary meal will accompany each of the three worship services: Saturday at 6 PM, and Sunday at 9 and 11 AM. For more information on the PowerZone children’s ministry and directions to McLane Church, call (814) 734-1907 or go to www.mclanechurch.org.

The Gem City Concert Band will provide entertainment during the Millcreek Mall’s “Spring Bridal Show” event at the Millcreek Mall this Sunday, March 11, from 12 noon until 1:30 on the Center Stage. The performance is free and open to the public.

You won’t want to miss one of Mercyhurst North East’s favorite annual events: the “Patti Sullivan and Friends Irish Concert” on Sunday, March 11, at 2 pm in St Mary’s Chapel. The performance is free and open to the public, and a reception will follow. Sullivan, MNE’s music director, has invited barbershop chorus Lake Erie Sound and quartet the Lighthouse Gang, as well as the popular Irish step dancers Rince Na Tiarna, to join her at St Mary’s Chapel for an afternoon of entertainment that is sure to get everyone in the Irish spirit.

The Northwest PA Maple Association 2007 Northwest PA Maple Taste and Tour Weekend will be held March 17-18, 10 am to 4 pm daily. Ten sugar houses in Crawford, Erie, Mercer, Warren and Venango counties open their doors during the height of maple sugaring time.

Meadowmount Trio, a frequent contributor to National Public Radio hailed as “an ensemble of seamless rapport” by The Strad magazine, will perform at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, on Wednesday, March 21. Meadowmount Trio appears as part of Music at Noon: The Logan Series. Its performance, which is free and open to the public, will be held at noon in the Reed Union Building’s McGarvey Commons.

The Classic Rock Dance, a fund raiser for the family of Erie soldier Katie Beckwith, with the Bryan Burton Band will be held on March 24 at the Millcreek American Legion, 4109 West 12th Street in Erie (next to the Airport) starting at 8 pm. Tickets can be purchased at the door for a donation of $5 per person. Katie was injured when a roadside bomb detonated beside her Humvee in Iraq. She is presently being hospitalized at Fort Knox. The benefit is to raise money for travel expenses for her family to visit her.

Think you have what it takes to sing the National Anthem at a Double-A baseball game? Well here is your chance. The Erie SeaWolves announced their National Anthem tryouts to be held Sunday, March 25 at the Millcreek Mall. Tryouts will be held on the main stage located at the center of the mall. Registration begins at 1:30 pm and tryouts begin at 2 pm. Those interested in auditioning will perform the National Anthem for a panel of judges. Auditions must be performed a capella. For more information about the National Anthem tryouts, please contact Carol Trumbo at (814) 456-1300 or via email at ctrumbo(at)seawolves.com. SeaWolves Opening Day for the 2007 season is April 5 against the Altoona Curve. First pitch is set for 6:35 pm.

The Erie Micro Brew Festival presented by WQLN will be held April 21 at Union Station at 14th and French Streets. There will be 2 sampling sessions 1-4 pm and 5-8 pm. All proceeds support public broadcasting and all PLCB laws apply. Attendees must be 21. Tickets will be available soon at many Erie area locations. Scheduled to attend are: The BrewErie at Union Station, The Erie Brewing Company, Southern Tier Brewing, Pennsylvania Brewery, Voodoo Brewery, The Flying Bison, Ellicottville Brewing Company, North Country Brewing Company, Hereford and Hops, Sprague Farm and Brew Works, The Buffalo Brew Pub, Magic Hat Brewing and the East End Brewing Company.