Remedial Offshore, headquartered in Limassol, Cyprus, announced the purchase of V228 medium speed diesel engines from GE Marine in Erie, Pa. The engines will be used to power the new Remedial Offshore Elevating Support Vessels (ESVs). As the world’s first self propelled, 325 foot/100 meter nominal water depth rated jack up well intervention vessel, Remedial Offhore’s ESV design provides a hybrid between a jack up drilling rig and a marine vessel. The new ESV concept offers tremendous versatility and operational functionality, ranging from an incorporated electric well workover package to a large open deck for offshore support functions. Each vessel is uniquely outfitted to provide a stable work environment for deploying today’s most advanced well intervention or production enhancement technologies. ESV abilities include well workovers, sidetracking, well abandonment, facility upgrades, brownfield rejuvenation projects and small field developments, as well as providing complete services for well intervention.
Each ESV will employ four GE diesels – one 8 cylinder V228 and three 16 cylinder engines. Two Remedial Offshore ESVs are under construction in China, one at the Yantai Raffles Shipyard Ltd in Shandong, and the second at the COSCO Shipyard Group’s facility in Nantong. GE has already delivered to the shipyards two 8V228 and six 16V228 engines, manufactured at the company’s Grove City, Pa facility. The GE engines meet Remedial Offshore’s design and operational criteria, such as the ability to have sufficient power available with a minimal number of engines in the existing space, while ensuring adequate redundancy. With over 15,000 engines operating worldwide, working in some of the most challenging environments, GE’s engines offered specific maintenance advantages for ESV operations, where an engine might run for extended periods of time under little or no load. In addition, Remedial Offshore will have access to GE’s worldwide parts and service supply network. Finally, each ESV will benefit from the engines’ fuel efficiency and performance that carries US Environmental Protection Agency Tier II emissions compliance certification.
Altman added, “We knew this would not be an easy task to fulfill and stay within a reasonable budget. We are extremely satisfied with having made this decision and we look forward to future opportunities and joint cooperation with GE. We will definitely draw on our relationship to refine performance and address any future operating environmental regulations that come our way.” “We are delighted to work with Remedial Offshore to provide engines for this novel application,” said John Manison, manager of GE Marine, Erie. “We are confident that, coupled with our outstanding service and support network, our engines will reliably meet the operating requirements for this new generation vessel.”

Congratulations to the nation of Kosovo today, their Independence Day.

Forgot about this yesterday. Feb 16, 1861: Abraham Lincoln on the way to his inauguration in Washington, D.C. stopped in Lake City (then known as Miles Grove) to talk to Horace Greeley. Lincoln then stopped at the Erie Depot and had lunch and also made a stop in North East, PA.

New York Times Crossword Puzzle on Friday, Feb 15 – 5 down, Pennsylvania’s Flagship City. Erie.

Abby Wilson and Sarah Szurpicki of GLUE (Great Lakes Urban Exchange) wrote that will the presidential primaries coming up that we should get the candidates to develop an agenda for the urban revitalization of the post-industrial cities of the nation’s freshwater basin, and to make that agenda public as soon as possible.

Milk bottle from the long gone Golden Glow Dairy in Erie, PA.

Three Erie area schools – The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), Gannon University and Mercyhurst College were named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll at the American Council on Education’s Annual Meeting in San Diego on earlier this week. Launched in 2006, the President’s Honor Roll recognizes institutions of higher education that support innovative, effective, and exemplary community service programs. Honorees for the various award levels, including the Presidential Award, were selected based on a series of factors, including scope and innovation of service projects, percentage of student participation in service activities, incentives for service, and the extent to which the school offers service learning courses.

The Mercyhurst College women’s hockey team got goals from five different players to trim Niagara 5-1 Saturday at the Ice Center and sweep the weekend series. The Lakers improved to 21-6-3 overall and 6-1-1 in College Hockey America (CHA).

Seventh ranked Findlay (22-3, 12-3) crushed 8th ranked Gannon (22-3, 14-2) 90-61. Gannon must win on Saturday against Mercyhurst to win the southern division of the GLIAC.

The Mercyhurst men’s basketball team set a new school record Saturday by hitting 17 3-pointers and Terry Smith turned in a record-breaking performance with a career-high 37 points and nine threes in an 81-69 victory over Ashland.

The Edinboro men’s basketball team clinched a berth in the PSAC Playoffs for the eighth straight year on Saturday night with a 74-65 win at IUP. The victory boosted Edinboro’s record to 18-5 overall and 8-1 in the PSAC West.

The Gannon women’s basketball team (15-10, 9-7) beat Findlay 85-80. Kristina Freeman had 30 points and 8 rebounds for Gannon.

The Mercyhurst Lakers women’s basketball team suffered a 95-69 loss Saturday to the Ashland Eagles. Mara Dreiser scored a career high 19 points and three other Lakers recorded points in the double digits.

Ninth ranked IUP dealt Edinboro a blow in its pursuit of a PSAC Playoff berth with a 67-53 win over the Fighting Scots on Saturday night at Thomas Field House. Edinboro saw its three-game winning streak come to an end as the Fighting Scots fell to 14-9 overall and 4-5 in PSAC West action. IUP is now 22-2 and 7-1, respectively.

The Behrend Lions women’s basketball team (12-11, 10-6) took on the La Roche Redhawks on Saturday on the Junker Center Court with AMCC seeding implications on the line. Behrend snagged a 53-48 win to move a game up on the Redhawks. Jenn Emberg’s (Cowansville/ Kittanning) was the high scorer for the blue and white with 13 points and five rebounds.

Sacred Heart scored four third period goals Saturday night to overcome Mercyhurst 6-3 and gain a split of their weekend series. The Lakers dropped to 11-16-5 overall and 11-8-5 in Atlantic Hockey.

The 15th ranked Laker wrestlers bounced back from Friday’s loss at Findlay with a 18-15 dual win over No 19 Limestone at the Hammermill Center Saturday afternoon.

Ashley Petrone of Albert Gallatin High School announced she will attend Gannon University to play softball. Petrone will be a pre-med major and wants to become an anesthesiologist.

All An Act Productions presents Ray Cooney’s classic farce “Funny Money” at their space in Columbus Square on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm through March 1 and Sundays at 4 pm February 10, 17, and March 2.

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 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.

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.

Today, 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. 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.

Arts and Drafts will be held March 27-29 at the Brewerie at Union Station. Over 30 artists will have their works exhibited, a number of local bands will perform in the 3 day arts celebration, and you’ll have the chance to enjoy excellent drafts from the Erie microbrewery. Admission is FREE. Hours are 12 noon to close each day.

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.