It wasn’t that long ago that downtown Erie had less activity than a cemetery. Now it’s becoming the place to work and live.
Yesterday, Jim Berlin, CEO of Logistics Plus, wrote in his blog Berlin’s Wall that two businesses are moving into Union Station. Great news. Berlin also said that Logistics Plus has added 20 employees to their payroll. A block away the Mercantile Building is being transformed into condos and commercial space.
And there seems to be plans to put condos in the WSEE building on Peach St. Berlin’s mention of this was the third time I’ve heard rumors of this in the past couple of weeks. I’d almost bet they’d be sold before the first swing of a hammer.

Jason Owen, a Millcreek attorney, announced his is running for state representative for the 3rd District as a Republican. His father was Erie Police Corporal Robert Owen who was killed on duty in December of 1980. There was never even a suspect in his murder.
The seat is currently held by Democrat John Hornaman. Joe Pfadt will face Hornaman in the primary. The 3rd District includes Franklin, McKean, Waterford, McKean, Waterford, and parts of Millcreek and Fairview.

An international honor society with its roots at Allegheny College now has its headquarters on campus. Founded at Allegheny in 1922, Phi Sigma Iota confers the highest academic honor in the field of foreign language. From its regional beginnings in Pennsylvania and Ohio, the society has grown into an international organization with 254 chapters in the United States, Mexico and France. This January the society moved its headquarters to Ruter Hall, which houses Allegheny College’s Department of Modern and Classical Languages. “This is a big step for us as a department and for the college as a whole,” said department chair Peter Ensberg. “It enhances Allegheny’s status as a preeminent national institution. Internationalism is at the root of a liberal arts education, and the department is gratified to see its efforts recognized nationally.” Roz Macken, who has been with the college for 18 years, serves as Phi Sigma Iota’s administrative director. Phillip Wolfe, professor of modern and classical languages at Allegheny College, is the society’s treasurer.

Christopher L Short, DO, a family medicine physician, has been appointed to the Central Maine Medical Center Medical Staff. A graduate of Gannon University in Erie, PA, he earned his doctor of osteopathy degree at the University of New England, College of Osteopathic Medicine. He served an internship at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Utica, NY, and completed family practice residency training at Millcreek Community Hospital and Peninsula Family Practice Center, both in Erie, PA.

Bobby Sanguinetti scored three times to lead the Brampton Battalion to a 7-3 lead over the Erie Otters in an Ontario Hockey League game played Sunday afternoon at the Powerade Centre. Zack Torquato and Nick Palmieri each had a goal and an assist in a losing effort. Tyler Hostetter, with the first of his career, rounded out the Otters scoring. Erie lost for the second straight time and are now 11-37-2-1 on the season. The next Otters home game takes place Friday (February 8th) when the Battalion visit the Tullio Arena in a 7:30 pm start presented by Gannon University. Saturday (February 9th) join the Otters and Troyer Farms and help set a new world record for chip eating.

Chris McDonald has been a trainer in the Detroit Tigers organization for eight years including three years with the Erie SeaWolves. McDonald doesn’t get much of an off season as for the past four years he has gone to winter ball and been the trainer for the Licey in the Dominican League. The seasone ends next Thursday and on Saturday he’ll be in Lakeland, FL putting equipment away for Spring Training.

The Mid-Atlantic Championship Series 12th season includes the “Lake Erie 50″ at Bobby Rohrer’s Eriez Speedway on June 22. The 50 lap dirt track race is $5,000 to win. Tickets to Eriez Speedway are $8 for adults and $5 for students and seniors.

Gannon University on Monday, Feb 4 will host a showing of a popular documentary film examining the genocide in Darfur. The film, “Darfur Now,” will be shown at 7 pm in room 104 of the Zurn Science Center, 143 West Seventh Street. The showing is FREE and open to the public and is part of the university’s events to celebrate Black History Month. “Darfur Now,” released last year, focuses on six people who each have worked from a different perspective to help stop genocide in Darfur, a region of far western Sudan bordering the Central African Republic, Libya, and Chad. The film is intended to be a call for action to people worldwide to help stop the crisis in the region. Following the showing of the film, Richard Moodey, PhD, assistant professor of sociology at Gannon, will lead a brief discussion. The event is sponsored by Gannon University’s Center for Social Concerns, Office of Service-Learning, Activities Programming Board, Sociology Program, Campus Ministry, Office of the University Chaplain, and International Student Office. For more information, call (814) 871-7433.

Broadway Today, an evening of songs and composers currently lighting up the Great White Way, takes place at the Erie Playhouse at 7:30 pm on Monday Feb 4 and Tuesday Feb 5. Tickets are $12.

The Erie Playhouse production of Crowns will be performed Wed Feb 6 at 7:30 pm, Thu Feb 7 at 7:30 pm, Fri Feb 8 at 7:30 pm, Sat Feb 9 at 7:30 pm and Sun Feb 10 at 2 pm.

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.

All An Act Productions presents Ray Cooney’s classic farce “Funny Money” at their space in Columbus Square on Friday February 8 and running , Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm through March 1 (no show Friday Feb 15) and Sundays at 4 pm February 10, 17, and March 2.

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 Chautauqua-Lake Erie Wine Trail Wine and Chocolate Weekend will take place 10 am to 5 pm, Feb 9-10. Tickets, which can be purchased online or by phone, are $21 a person. None will be sold after Friday Feb 8. If you are unable to get tickets to the event, you can still visit the wineries for wine tastings, but you won’t get to sample the goodies and get the recipe cards.

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.

Mark your calendars for Sunday, February 17 from 12:30-3:30 pm and/or 8-11 pm and get ready to “rock and bowl” with the Erie Playhouse Family at Eastway Lanes, 4110 Buffalo Road. The cost for a Family/Team (4 or 5 bowlers) for one session is $80. Individual bowlers are welcome – Adults $20 and $15 for children 12 and under. Teams registering by Feb 14 will recieve a $10 discount. The cost includes 3 games, shoes (no discount if you bring your own) and unlimited pop and pizza. A cash bar and additional food will be available. Contests and games of chance throughout each bowling session.

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.

On Friday, February 22, the Penn State Behrend RFID Center of Excellence and the RFID Project of the NWPA Technology Industry Partnership will host Eric Domski for a talk on Auto ID Technologies with SAP. Eric is the Auto ID Solution Director for SAP Labs. Eric will speak from 10-11am at the Research and Economic Development Center, Room 180 on the campus of Penn State Behrend in the new Black School of Business Auditorium. Although the talk with be centered around SAP, the concepts will also apply to other ERP and enterprise applications and will be a great source for solution ideas to anyone using, or considering use of AutoID. Eric will be available for questions after the talk. An early lunch is planned, so attendees must RSVP email Brian Zentis or call him at (814) 898-6704. This event counts as participation in the Technology Industry Partnership of Northwest PA, a partnership of the Technology Council, eBizITPA, Ben Franklin Partners CNP and Penn State Behrend’s RFID Center of Excellence. Why is that important? Participation allows your business access to grant dollars to offset training costs. The training dollars come from the PA Department of Labor and Industry in conjunction with the Workforce Investment Board of Northwest PA.

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.

Want a cure for the winter blahs? Got cabin fever? Come to the Community Board Game Night at Community United Church on Saturday Feb 23. Doors open at 7 pm, Games begin at 7:30 and end at 10 PM. Admission Donation: $2. Snacks and beverages will be provided. Under 18 years old must have guardian. This is an alcohol and smoke free event. Open to the public. We will play board games for groups such as Scruples, Pictionary, etc. Want to save on the admission? Bring grocery bags of empty recyclable aluminum beverage cans. For each bag, the admission will be reduced by 25 cents.

There will a fund raiser for Marine Sergeant Art Fuller on Saturday Feb 23 from 6 pm to 1 am at the North East Vet’s Club at 28 Vine Street in North East, PA. SGT Fuller suffered a stroke and is unable to return to work. The cost is $6 at the door which will cover food (chili, hot dogs and macaroni salad) from 6-9 pm. There will be a Chinese auction and cash bar available and the band Black Diamond will be playing from 9 pm – 1 am. SGT Fuller, an Iraq veteran, is from Corry Pa.

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.

Erie CareerLink is hosting Crystal Reports Training in both introductory and advanced sessions on March 3-6. Info and Registration form. Crystal Reports is a business intelligence application used to design and generate reports from a wide range of data sources. Several other applications, such as Microsoft Visual Studio, bundle an OEM version of Crystal Reports as a general purpose reporting tool. Crystal Reports became THE report writer when Microsoft released it with Visual Basic.

Pennsylvania Sea Grant is sponsoring a FREE one and a half day workshop March 13-14 at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center in Erie. The workshop will provide an update and overview of current ballast water policy, legislation and research as it applies to the Great Lakes. Scientists, legal experts, legislators, industry personnel and agency staff will discuss the current state of ballast water policy, pending legislation, proposed ballast water treatment methods and evaluating the current risk of introduction and spread of AIS to Great Lakes ports by foreign and domestic ships. For Registration form email Karla Kaczmarek, or Marti Martz.

As the signature event for Young Erie Professionals (yep!), the Generation-E Leadership Awards recognize young professionals who are paving the way to the future of Erie, Pennsylvania. Yep! has honored 34 individuals over the past three years who not only have chosen to live, work, and play in the Erie area, but who have made a lasting impact on our region. The 2008 winners will be recognized the evening of Friday, March 28 at the Ambassador Banquet and Conference Center.

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.

The Manufacturers’ Association and Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority annual Roar on the Shore motorcycle rally will be held July 17-20, 2008. While downtown Erie serves as the hub of the rally, related events take place throughout the city and region. Most notably, two outdoor concerts featuring major artists will be held Friday and Saturday, July 18 and 19, at Liberty Park along Presque Isle Bay.