An American Black Bear has been spotted on Presque Isle State Park. This isn’t Winnie the Pooh or Yogi Bear so don’t feed it. It’s believed to be a young male weighing about 200 lbs. Adult black bears usually are between 250 and 600 lbs. There are an estimated 15,000 black bears in Pennsylvania and 800,000 in North America.

It’s Valentine’s Day. A box of chocolates from a drug store won’t do. Erie has three great chocolate companies: Pulakos 926 Chocolates, Romolo Chocolates and Stefanellis Candies. And if you live out of town, all three offer online shopping. And don’t forget about Cocoa Tree Chocolates in North East, PA.

Police are trying to identify a man they say was killed after being hit by a train in Owego, NY. He was wearing jeans and a blue sweatshirt with “Presque Isle – Erie, PA” on the front.

Human bones were found were found in late January in Bald Eagle State Park. Authorities thought it might have been a couple of missing persons. The remains were sent to forensic anthropologist Dr Dennis Dirkmaat of the Mercyhurst Archaeological Institute at Mercyhurst College in Erie PA for analysis. The bones were determined to be those of persons which had died between 100 and 700 years ago with one and possibly both being Native American.

The emergency supply of type O Negative blood is almost exhausted and the Community Blood Bank is looking for donors to bring the levels back up. O Negative is the “Universal Donor” meaning anyone, regardless of their own blood type can receive O Neg without a reaction. This is extremely important when a patient is bleeding to death and there is no time to determine their blood type. Only 8 percent of the population is type O Neg, but 100 percent of the population relies on having a safe supply of O Neg blood. Several recent traumas have reduced the local to supply to near empty. Less than one day of this precious blood is available and one serious accident could use the remaining supply. “The regular supply is doing alright,” says Director of Marketing, Dan Desrochers, “The O Negative is just so important. Lives literally depend on our ability to attract these life saving donors.” All donors are strongly encouraged to donate at the Community Blood Bank, 2646 Peach Street. Community Blood Bank is open from 9-6 Monday through Friday and until 7:30 pm Tuesday night and Saturday 9 am – 12:30 pm. Photo ID required.

Country musician Neal McCoy has been booked to perform at Celebrate Erie on Aug 17.

Hanging Together: Millcreek Art Faculty is now on view at the Erie Art Museum Frame Shop Gallery, 423 State Street through February 29. A special reception with the artists will be held Friday, Feb 29, 2008 from 7-9 pm. For almost 25 years, the art faculty of the Millcreek Township School District has created collective shows of their work. They’ve been featured in exhibits at the Millcreek Education Center, Kada Gallery, Mercyhurst College’s Cummings Gallery, the Stonewall Gallery at Campbell Pottery, and at Gannon University’s Schuster Gallery. Like their college counterparts, the Millcreek art faculty are not only committed to being high-quality educators, they are also dedicated to their development as visual artists. It is the only group of professional artists in the area, employed by a public school system, that regularly exhibits its artwork. The Erie Art Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 1 to 5 pm. Admission is free for members, free on Wednesdays, $4 for adults, $3 for senior citizens and students and $2 for children under 12.

North East’s Bella Salon and Day Spa owned by Darlene Youngs, Cheryl Phillips and Stephanie Hamels recently was named one of the 200 fastest-growing salons in North America by Salon Today magazine, a top business publication for salon and spa owners. The 200 salons were selected from applications submitted by Salon Today readers, who represent the 25,000 top-producing salons and spas in the country. The magazine honored the applicants who posted the highest increases in gross sales between 2005 and 2006, and who were on track to increase sales significantly in 2007.

VisitErie Director of Tourism Development, Emily Beck returned from a successful trip to the American Bus Association (ABA) Marketplace held February 2 – 7 in Virginia Beach, VA. ABA’s annual Marketplace centers on seven-minute prescheduled appointments where Motorcoach and Tour Operator Buyers obtain information and create business relationships with travel industry and service suppliers. Beck attended on behalf of Pennsylvania’s Great Lakes Region (PGLR), a four-county marketing partnership of Erie, Crawford, Mercer and Venango counties. Other Erie County tourism representatives at ABA included Scott Enterprises, Wingate Inn, Hampton Inn and Presque Isle Downs and Casino. Combined, a total of 132 prescheduled appointments were made with various motorcoach and tour operators including companies in Illinois, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Indiana, Pennsylvania and New York. Many of the appointments currently bring their groups to the area; however, many were not aware of the wide variety of touring opportunities available throughout the region. PGLR promotes the region as a hub and spoke destination offering plenty to do within a 2-hour drive. Hub and spoke tours are designed to encourage longer stays.

VisitErie Director of Convention Sales and Services Joe Holody, returned from a successful trip at the 36th annual 2008 Religious Conference Management Association (RCMA) World Conference and Expo February 5 – 8 held at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, FL. The RCMA conference consists of seminars, exhibitors and networking events with the purpose of assisting and educating religious market meeting planners. Tourism industry partners and VisitErie members Scott Enterprises and the Bayfront Convention Center joined VisitErie in promoting Erie as an ideal meetings and conventions destination. This is the fourth year VisitErie has participated and exhibited at RCMA.

Peter J Pearson has been named regional CEO of the new central region for Student Transportation of America (STA). Pearson will be responsible for overseeing STA-owned school bus companies in Pennsylvania, Illinois and Minnesota. A graduate of Gannon University, Pearson holds a BS in business administration.

The Behrend Lions men’s basketball team (18-4, 12-3) stopped the Medaille Mavericks 71-61 Wednesday night in the Junker Center to remain undefeated at home on the season (11-0). Kevin Buczynski (Erie/Villa Maria) led all scorer’s with 24 points and also grabbed nine boards.

The Behrend Lions women’s basketball team (11-11, 9-6) lost to the AMCC leading Medaille Mavericks 59-44 on Wednesday night in the Junker Center. Senior Julia Andrus (Corry/Corry) led Behrend with nine points.

The Gannon University men’s basketball team (21-2) remained third for the third consecutive week in the latest NCAA Division II Great Lakes regional rankings released Wednesday afternoon. The regional rankings are important due to the fact that they represent how teams qualify for the NCAA Division II Tournament. The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) and Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) post-season champions receive automatic bids. The top six remaining teams in the regional rankings receive at-large bids to the NCAA Great Lakes Regional.

Gannon University volleyball recruit Kara Cullen was named to the prepvolleyball.com All-American team. Cullen was the Boston Globe’s Division 1 Player of the Year. Her team, Barnstable High School, won the state championship all four years she played.

Gannon officials have announced a ticket pre-sale for the Gannon-Mercyhurst basketball doubleheader scheduled for Saturday, February 23 at the Hammermill Center. The women’s game kicks off the doubleheader at 5:30 pm. The men’s contest follows at 7:30 pm. Tickets will be available Monday, February 18 through Friday, February 22 at Gannon Athletic Offices, located through the 3rd and Peach Streets entrance of the Carneval Athletic Pavilion. The pre-sale is available from 8:30 am – 4 pm each day or until the doubleheader sells out. Tickets are scaled at $5 for adults and $3 for senior citizens and students.

A group of Mercyhurst North East actors, under the direction of Michael Weiss, will present Agatha Christie’s classic thriller “The Mouse Trap,” on Feb 14, 15, and 16 at 8 pm, and Feb. 17 at 2 pm, in Alex Theater on the MNE campus, 16 West Division Street, North East PA. This murder mystery follows a group of people that gather together in a remote part of the countryside and then discover that there is a murderer in their midst. All performances are free and open to the public.

Valentine’s Dinner Under the Stars will be held February 14 at the Erie Planetarium, 356 West Street in Erie. Enjoy a romantic dinner under the stars at the Erie Planetarium. The meal includes your choice of chicken cordon bleu, beef marsala, or creamy artichoke and spinach cod. Dinner starts at 6:30 and seating is limited. For more information or reservations, call (814) 454-1813 ext 0.

Engaged students…Learning without bells…Field trips without buses (or fuel)…New ways to provide learning opportunities for professional development and students… Classrooms that reach beyond the school walls…Sound interesting? Then come to the Northwest Pennsylvania Association of Educational Communications and Technology meeting on Tuesday Feb 19 at 5:30 pm at the Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Unit at 252 Waterford St in Edinboro. A light meal will be provided before the presentations begin. Cost is FREE for current members of NPAECT, $15 for new members which includes a year membership to NPAECT. Register here by February 15.

Join The Ophelia Project for a Girls Night Out on February 15, 2007 from 5:30-8:30 pm at Grace Church. Girls in 6, 7 or 8th grade and the special woman in their lives are invited to a night out where they will learn how to keep their heart happy and healthy by promoting a positive self-image and discussing issues facing girls today, such as friendships, cliques and bullies. Participants will also be treated to a special self defense lesson from Rachel Cheeseman, owner of Street Smart Defense, a hip hop dance instruction and a healthy snack. The cost is $10 per couple and check-in starts at 5:15 pm. For more information and to register call The Ophelia Project office at (814) 456-5437. Grace Church is located at 7300 Grubb Road in McKean. The Ophelia Project is a national nonprofit organization headquartered in Erie, Pa. Recognized as a leader in assessing social conditions and advocating healthy, safe relationships, the organization partners with educational, civic and community leaders to educate and empower kids and adults across North America.

The Ethnic Heritage Ensemble will perform in concert on Sunday Feb 17 at 3 pm at the Erie Art Museum Annex, 423 State Street in downtown Erie. FREE Admission, suggested donation $10. This all-star group includes Kahil El’Zabar, drums, earth drum, kalimba; Corey Wilkes, trumpet, flugelhorn, percussion; Ernest Dawkins, alto and tenor saxophones, percussion; and Fareed Haque, electric and acoustic guitar.

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.

On January 28, 2008, asteroid 2007 TU24 came within 300,000 miles of Earth–a safe distance, but one that reminds us that ours is not the only chunk of rock hurtling around the sun. Nearly 1,000 potentially hazardous asteroids, or PHAs, orbit the sun in the vicinity of Earth; one, Apophis, will be the subject of the next Open House Night in Astronomy at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. Darren Williams, an associate professor of physics and astronomy at the college, will present the one-hour program “Asteroid Apophis: Will it Hit the Earth?” at 7:30 pm on Thursday, February 21, in 101 Otto Behrend Science Building. His FREE lecture is intended for a non-technical audience and suitable for children at least 8 years of age; astronomical observing at the college’s Mehalso Observatory will follow, weather permitting.

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 Erie Broadway Series presents Dirty Rotten Scoundrels on Friday Feb 22 at 7:30 pm at the Warner Theatre. Tickets: $51.75, $41.75, $31.75.

The Erie Playhouse presents the innovative and endearing Broadway hit musical Little Women, based on Louisa May Alcott’s novel premieres at the Playhouse, as it embodies the complete theatrical experience, guaranteeing a night filled with laughter, tears, and a lifting of the spirit. Performances are scheduled Fri Feb 22 through Sun Mar 9.

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.

The American Heart Association’s 2008 Erie Heart Gala will take place 6 pm to Midnight on Feb 23 at the Ambassador Banquet and Conference Center in Erie, PA. In addition to providing an exciting night of glitz and glamour, the Heart Gala has become Erie Division’s largest fundraising event. Contributions received support cardiovascular research, professional and community education, and advocacy efforts. The affair also promotes the American Heart Association’s mission to reduce disability and death due to this nation’s leading cause of death….cardiovascular disease. The festivities will begin with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at 6 pm, followed by dinner and dancing as well as both live and silent auctions. For info email Gina Klofft or call her at (814) 836-0013.

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 SafeNet Chill-E Cook-off will be held 2-5 pm on Feb 24 at The Brewerie at Union Station in downtown Erie. Tickets priced at $10 can be purchased at the door or at participating restaurants. Participating restaurants: Brewerie At Union Station, Latino’s, Alto Cuncia, Calamari’s, East Erie Turners, Make it Fabulous, plus many more. All proceeds will benefit SafeNet, the domestic violence safety network.

Rabbi Sydney Schwarz, named by Newsweek magazine in 2007 as one of the 50 most influential rabbis in America, will present the annual Samuel Schick Lecture at Allegheny College on Tuesday, Feb 26 at 7 pm in the Tillotson Room of the Tippie Alumni Center at Cochran Hall. Schwarz will speak on “Religion, Social Justice and the Common Good: A Jewish Perspective.” The presentation is FREE and open to the public.

Documentary filmmaker Christopher Quinn and John Bul Dau, one of three Lost Boys of Sudan profiled in Quinn’s prize-winning feature film God Grew Tired of Us, will visit Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, in February as part of the college’s Speaker Series. Quinn and Dau will speak at 7:30 pm on Thursday, February 28, in the Reed Union Building’s McGarvey Commons. Additionally, the film God Grew Tired of Us will be shown at 7 pm on Wednesday, February 27, in 117 Reed Union Building, and at noon on Friday, February 29, in the Samuel P “Pat” Black III Conference Center in the college’s Research and Economic Development Center. Admission to all three events is FREE and open to the public.

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.

The Aspen Ensemble, a mixed quintet of flute, piano and strings drawn from the famed Aspen Music Festival, will perform at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, on Thursday, March 6. Aspen Ensemble appears at the college as part of Music at Noon: The Logan Series. The performance will begin at noon in the McGarvey Commons of the Reed Union Building; admission is FREE and open to the public.

Melanie Rae Thon, once named a Best Young American Novelist by Granta magazine, will give a public reading from her works on Thursday, March 6, as part of the Creative Writer’s Speaker Series at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. Thon will read at 6 pm in the Larry and Kathryn Smith Chapel; a reception for her will begin at 4:30 pm in the chapel’s ground-floor meeting room. Both events are free and open to the public.

Gannon University’s Small Business Development Center is presenting the first annual WILD Conference on Thursday, March 13 from 8 am to 2 pm. The Conference will be held at the Ambassador Conference Center located at 7792 Peach Street, Erie, PA 16509. The Conference will involve “women presenting to women” and focus on the areas of: wellness, leadership and personal development. It is anticipated that 150-300 women from Northwestern Pennsylvania will attend this unique event. The nationally prominent Keynote speakers highlighting the day are: Soni Dimond, Publicist, Speaker, author of Life’s A PITCH! As well as CEO of Soni Dimond Media; Jean Gatz, author of Mama Said There’d be Days Like This: Stories and Strategies for Less Stressed Life. The First Annual WILD Conference Chairwoman is Leah Elizabeth Humphries, Owner and President of the following companies: Apple Creative Group, Leah Elizabeth Jewelry, and My Heart Ties. In addition, women businesses will exhibit their products and services throughout the day and there will be several opportunities to learn from seminars, panelists and individual speakers focusing on the knowledge, passion and energy of women helping women. Limited seating. Tickets $75 (includes breakfast, lunch and gift bag). Make your reservations now. Call (814) 871-SBDC (7232) or toll-free (877) 258-6648.

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.