Family First Sports Park is now home to a co-ed boarding school called Family First Academy.
Family First Academy has grades 8-12. Students attend classes at Erie First Christian Academy. The total enrollment is 245 students. The cost for boarding students is $26,000 at year while day students pay $3,300.

GE (NYSE: GE) reported earnings. Fourth quarter earnings were $6.8 billion, up 15 percent from 2006 Q4. Yearly earnings were $22.5 billion, up 16 percent from 2006.
Erie PA based GE Transportation earnings were even more impressive. GETS Q4 earnings were $252 million, up 21 percent. Yearly earnings were $774 million, up the same 21 percent. They shipped 907 locomotives in 2007. The order backlog is over 1,500 units – over $4 billion in future revenue.

The owner of the popular Dock of the Bay restaurant in Hamburg, NY has purchased the property that was formerly leased. The WillLink Hotel was built on the property in 1806. The WillLink Hotel has a famous place in Erie, PA and navel history.
James Byrd served under Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry during and after the Battle of Lake Erie. One day, Byrd left his ship to rendezvous with his girlfriend at the WillLink Hotel. Byrd was charged with dereliction of duty and court-martialed. He was executed by firing squad in Erie, Pa.

Justin Hodgman scored two goals and added three assists as the Erie Otters pounded the Windsor Spitfires 9-5 in an Ontario Hockey League game played last night in front of 2,914 at the Tullio Arena. Zack Torquato supplied a career-high five-point night with a goal and four assists while Kelly Geoffrey collected two goals and two assists. Nick Palmieri chipped in a pair of goals while single scores went to Josh Kidd and Jordan Skellett. Tyler Hostetter and Ryan O’Reilly registered three assists each for the Otters, who broke out of a three-game losing streak with the win. Erie improved to 10-30-2-1. The Otters return to action tonight when the Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds pay a visit the Tullio Arena for a 7:30 pm start. The first 2,500 fans into the game receive a free taco coupon courtesy of Taco Bell. It’s also JetRadio 1400 Coats for Kid’s Night. Donate a coat and receive two tickets to a future Otters game (limit two tickets per person).

The Edinboro wheelchair basketball team concluded the first day of the Collegiate Tournament 3 at McComb Fieldhouse with a 58-45 loss to Illinois. The loss dropped the Edinboro Rolling Scots to 10-6.

The Gannon University swimming teams played host to local rival Edinboro University for men’s and women’s swimming duals action Friday evening. In men’s action, the Golden Knights defeated the Fighting Scots 109-91. Edinboro bested the Lady Knights with a 105-99 victory. Gannon will face Edinboro and Clarion in a tri-meet hosted by Edinboro University today. Gannon and Clarion’s diving teams will compete at a separate competition at Gannon University on the same day. Both events are scheduled to begin at 1 pm.

Edinboro opened its Eastern Wrestling League season with a 34-7 win at Clarion on Friday night in front of 1,500 fans at Tippin Gymnasium. The Fighting Scots, ranked 14th in the latest USA Today/NWCA/InterMat Top 25, won eight of ten matches to improve to 5-2 overall. Clarion fell to 6-8 and 0-1 in the EWL, as Edinboro defeated the Golden Eagles for the tenth straight time.

Mike Krahe was hired as an assistant defensive football coach at Lake Erie College. Krahe comes from Mercyhurst College, where he was the team’s strength and conditioning coach. He was also a three-year starter at Mercyhurst as a player and was named team captain during his final season.

The Roadhouse Theatre production of “Wake Up and Smell the Coffee” is two weekends only. THere will be performances at 8 pm today and January 25-26. General seating $8 with no reservation required and tickets will be available at the door. VIP seating $12, Lounge VIP seating $15. All VIP seating must be pre-paid reservation only. Phone (814) 459-8215. Come early and enjoy the newly renovated coffeehouse. BYOB with proper ID.

The 25th annual McDonald’s High School Basketball Classic will be held in Erie PA today at the Gannon University Hammermill Center. St Edward of Lakewood Ohio, Rice High School of NYC, Saint Patrick of Elizabeth NJ and Erie Cathedral Prep are in the powerful field. Adult General Admission tickets are $7 and Student General Admission are tickets are $5.

The Erie Playhouse Youtheatre presents “Narnia” on Sat Jan 19 at 2 pm and 7 pm and Sun Jan 20 at 2 pm. From the excitement of the opening song to the soaring finale, the unique enchanted world of Narnia comes alive in an astonishing production filled with creatures and spirits of myth and fable.

The Mercyhurst College chapter of Kappa Gamma Pi education honor society will host the Third Annual Teaching and Learning Expo on Saturday, Jan 19, from 9 am to 1:30 pm in the Audrey Hirt Academic Center. About 100 area education students and teachers are expected to attend the event, at which they’ll be able to choose three workshops from 17 offerings. The cost of the program is $5, including a catered lunch. Act 48 credits are available for the morning workshops. For more information, email Dr Ruth Auld or call (814) 824-3370.

Cross-Country Skiing 101 will be held Saturday, January 19 at 10 am at Presque Isle State Park. Weather permitting, meet at the cross-country ski concession (located at the picnic shelter area) to check out cross-country skiing. Get basic technique and skills for this exhilarating sport. Bring your own skis or rent. FREE. Rental fee only. Registration appreciated, (814) 833-7424.

For beginners and more experienced skiers wanting to know more about the winter world around them, enjoy Guided Cross-Country Skiing on Saturday, January 19 at 1 pm at Presque Isle State Park. If there is no sufficient snow, a hike will take place instead. Bring your own skis or rent. FREE, rental fee only. Meet at the cross-country ski concession located at the picnic shelter area. For more info call (814) 833-7424.

The Erie County Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania is holding their monthly meeting at the Plymouth Tavern on Saturday, January 19 at 1 pm.

There will be an Open Musician Audition for ‘Hank Williams – Lost Highway’ on Sunday, Jan 20 at 2 pm and Monday, Jan 21 at 7:00 pm at the Meadville Community Theater, 400 N Main St, Meadville, PA. Cast Needed: Hank Williams – age 20′s to 30′s, be able to sing and play guitar, and The Band – 4 band members, any age. Must play one of the following: lead guitar, bass, steel guitar, and fiddle,1 male African American blues guitarist, any age. Performers should come prepared to perform “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.” Auditions for speaking parts of the show will be held at a later date. Show opens May 2, 2008. For more information call Director Tom Hall at (814) 336-6273.

Three new exhibits with the theme of art and technology will be presented in Bowman, Penelec and Megahan Galleries at Allegheny College Tuesday, Jan 22 through Wednesday, March 5. The exhibits include one-person exhibits by Carlos Rosas and Doug Loewen and the group exhibit “Big Food Pictures.” In conjunction with the opening, on Tuesday, Jan 22 at 7 pm in the lecture room adjoining the Art Galleries, Carlos Rosas, associate professor of art at Pennsylvania State University’s main campus, will present a lecture, illustrated with slides, discussing projects in which he has integrated art and technology in a variety of ways. A reception will follow. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday, 12:30-5 pm; Saturday, 1:30-5 pm; and Sunday, 2-4 pm. All events are FREE and open to the public. The Art Galleries are wheelchair accessible. Please call ahead to verify; programs are subject to change. The Art Galleries are located in Doane Hall of Art, east of North Main Street, between College and John Streets. For more information, call (814) 332-4365.

Daniel S Mead, president of Verizon Services Corp, will discuss how creation of a centralized business services unit saved the telecommunications giant $562 million in one year during an upcoming presentation for the Sam and Irene Black School of Business at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. Mead, a Warren native and member of the college’s Council of Fellows, will speak at 6 pm on Tuesday, January 22, in the Samuel P “Pat” Black III Conference Center in the college’s Research and Economic Development Center. Admission to his talk is free and open to the public.

The Cleveland Indians Caravan will be rolling into Erie January 23, 2008 at the Dr Gertrude A Barber National Institute, 136 East Avenue. Doors open at 5 pm with a trivia contest and plenty of food and beverage. Cleveland Indians’ players, coaches and media staff will arrive at 6:30 pm to entertain Erie’s Tribe faithful, to answer fan’s questions and present a highlight film from last year’s baseball season. A donation of $8 per ticket will benefit programs at the Dr Gertrude A Barber National Institute. Tickets are available now through January 23rd at the Dr Gertrude A Barber National Institute (Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm) or at Hector’s Cafe, W 18th and Liberty Streets. Tickets will also be available at the door the night of January 23, if available.

The 2008 Erie RV, Camping and Powersport Expo will be held January 23-27 at the Erie Bayfront Convention Center. Hours: Wed 4-9 pm, Thurs Noon-9 pm, Fri 10 an to 8 pm and Sun 10 am to 5 pm. Free admission and free parking.

The Mercyhurst Preparatory School Performing Arts Department presents Our Town Thursday Jan 24 at 8 pm, Friday Jan 25 at 8 pm, Saturday Jan 26 at 8 pm and Sunday Jan 27 at 3 pm.

The Erie Broadway Series presents Chicago at the Warner Theater on Thurs Jan 24 at 7:30 pm.

Glass Growers Gallery at 10 East Fifth St in Erie will be hosting an exhibit called ‘Spirital Thresholds’ by Annoel Krider. Color and design blend with tradition and balance in the southwestern inspired weavings of this fiber artist who also creates mixes-media objects and sculptures to further refine her vision. There will be an artists reception on Friday Jan 25 from 6-9 pm. The exhibit will be on display Jan 25 to March 11.

Exhibition opening receptions and other gallery activities are planned for Gallery Night on Friday, Jan 25 from 7-10 pm at the Erie Art Museum, Glass Growers Gallery, Urraro Gallery, Cummings Gallery at the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center at Mercyhurst College, Schuster Gallery at Gannon University, Allen Stoneware Gallery, Kuhn’s Framing and Gift Gallery, and ClaySpace. EMTA will provide FREE Bayliner trolley transportation, courtesy of the galleries, from 7-10:30 pm. Service will be provided every 45-minutes; a route map is available in advance at all participating galleries. “We’ve been organizing a Gallery Night for one year now. And with each evening, we gain attendance – particularly from new patrons – and new galleries join us. This effort continues to be tremendously successful,” said John Vanco, director of the Erie Art Museum. Galleries will also offer $50 gift certificates as incentives for patrons visiting as many galleries as they can in the evening. Gallery Night is organized by the Erie Art Museum.

The 25th annual Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Quad Games 5-mile Cross-Country Ski Race or 2.5-mile Snowshoe is now scheduled to take place Jan 27, 2008, at 1 pm at the Peek n’ Peak Upper Golf Course, in Clymer, NY.

Your Day In Court: An Internet Security Workshop features William Shore of the Pittsburgh FBI office. The workshop will be held Noon-3 pm on Thursday, Jan 31 at the Ambassador Hotel and Conference Center; 7792 Peach Street in Erie. After a security breach, it is often too late to back track, recreate and document the environment in which the security breach occurred. From a strategic management viewpoint, this pitfall is often fatal. In court proceedings, the lack of defendable evidence can impact the success of litigation and create liability issues for your organization. This workshop is specifically designed to explain what steps should be taken following a security breach. Click here to register. This event is sponsored by: Software Technology Concepts, eBizITPA, the FBI and the Technology Council of Northwestern Pennsylvania.

The Young Erie Professionals (yep!) Professional Leadership Development committee will host an Etiquette Dinner on Thursday, January 31 from 5:45 pm – 8:00 pm at the Colony Banquet and Catering facility, 3014 West 12th Street. Cathy Mester, senior lecturer in speech communication at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, will discuss dinner etiquette and appropriate conversation. A three-course meal will be provided by the Colony Pub and Grille. Dinner choices are Prime Rib, Apricot Chicken, and Broiled Sole. The dress code is business casual. Seating is limited and advance registration is required. The charge for the presentation, meal, and gratuity is $25 for yep! members and $35 for non-members, payable by credit card, cash, or check made payable to Young Erie Professionals. Contact Phil Gallagher for additional information or to make a reservation.

Darkwood Consort, the world’s only touring viola and bass clarinet duo, brings an impressive repertoire spanning 10 centuries of music to its February performance at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. Darkwood’s concert takes place at noon on Thursday, February 7, in the McGarvey Commons of the college’s Reed Union Building. The performance is sponsored by Music at Noon: The Logan Series and admission is FREE to the public.

The 14th annual Sarah Backstrom Memorial Women’s and Girl’s Hockey Tournament will be held in Erie February 8-10, 2008. Admission is FREE to all games. About 1,000 young ladies plus family and friends will be in town for the weekend. Hotel rooms will be hard to come by and expect delays at restaurants. Who was Sarah Backstrom? She was a feisty red headed defensewoman who gave all off her love of the game and passion to play it to the Erie Lady Lions. Sarah fought every battle to the end, with passion and determination. The Erie Lady Lions lost Sarah to Leukemia but have never lost her spirit.

The 6th annual “Spirit Against Cancer” Dance and Cheerleading Competition is scheduled for February 9 at 10 am in the Junker Center. “Spirit Against Cancer” was created in memory of Becky Hubler Decker. Her commitment to the community included serving as dance coach at Penn State Behrend, cheerleading coach at Edinboro University, she was captain of the Invaderettes dance team, and a member of the Buffalo Bills (Jills) dance team. All proceeds from this special event will benefit the American Cancer Society. For more information, please contact Assistant to the Director of Athletics, Stacy Pondo at (814) 898-6240 or by email at slp15@psu.edu.

The Association of Program Members (APM) of General Electric Transportation in Erie PA announced that it will be sponsoring the 13th Annual Winter Wishes Benefit Gala for the Foundation of Western Pennsylvania on February 16, 2008. Each year, the members of APM reach out to the community to collect donations for the silent auctions, live auctions and raffles that are held at the event. They also solicit “table sponsors” from local businesses. As a table sponsor, the business’ name appears on the centerpiece showing their support for this wonderful event as well as in any promotional materials that they put together for the function. The money raised with the auctioned items donated by local businesses will help provide funding for Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. Community support of this event is recognition of the importance of this cause are greatly appreciated. Along with your assistance, GE will be able to make an impact on the day-to-day life of children whose lives are threatened.

The 2008 Erie Home and Garden Expo will be held February 21-24 at the Erie Bayfront Convention Center. Hours: Thursday 4-9 pm, Friday 2-9 pm, Sat 10 am – 8:30 pm and Sun 11 am to 5 pm.

The 10th annual MECA Bar Stool Open will be held on Saturday February 23, 2008 in downtown Erie, PA. Entry fee is $100 per team of 4 golfers, $25 per person. Must be 21 years of age or older to participate. Click here to for the registration form.

The 2008 Erie Outdoor Sport and Travel Expo will be held February 29 – March 2 at the Erie Bayfront Convention Center. Hours: Noon-9 pm Friday, 10 am-8 pm Saturday and 10 am-5 pm Sunday.

The GE (NYSE: GE) 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held on April 23, 2008 in Erie, Pennsylvania at the Erie Bayfront Convention Center.

There will be a Rust Belt Bloggers Summit on July 11-12 in Erie. People from Youngstown, Buffalo, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and other area cities will be attendance to discuss economic development issues in the region.