The Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League announced at a press conference that Ron Sertz has decided to step down as the club’s Director of Operations. “I’ve enjoyed 12 great years with the Otters in my position as Director of Operations,” Sertz said. “I’m very proud of the organization that we have built and the involvement we have had with the Erie community. “After a great deal of consideration, I feel it is a great time for both myself personally and the organization to step down from my role and transition my duties to our highly qualified staff. I’m extremely lucky to have assembled a talented and veteran staff that will continue to move the Erie Otters in a positive direction and I know they won’t miss a beat in this transition. I’m confident in the future. “I’ll continue to be involved as a minority owner at the local level, and assist the ownership group (Erie Hockey Club, Ltd) in their oversight of the organization. I am not retiring and will be seeking new challenges and opportunities to utilize my experience and talents in Erie, but I will stay involved in the transition process and as a resource for the organization. The Otters are in great hands. “Finally, I will be eternally grateful to my friend and partner, Sherry Bassin, for providing me with this opportunity to build a high quality organization in my hometown. It was a rare opportunity that he provided me and my wife, Emily, and we have together enjoyed both the successes and challenges of building the organization that has become part of the fabric of Erie.”

Erie City Councilwoman Rubye Jenkins Husband wants x-ray machines at Erie City Hall. The real danger coming into city hall comes from council members themselves and their out of control spending habits. The issue has been put on the Erie City Council agenda for tonight. Husband said grants would pay for the equipment. The x-ray machines would not keep people from Harrisburg out if Erie is declared a distressed city and the state takes over under Act 47.

NewsBlues reported (registration required) that Nexstar Broadcasting Group has eliminated overtime and part-timers and has implemented a 10 percent across-the-board cutback at WJET-24-ABC in Erie and other Nexstar outlets.

Tore Johnny Bratveit from Bergen, Norway received a verification that he picked up WFNN 1330 AM in Erie, PA on Oct 13. Ole Forr from Sor-Fron, Norway also picked up the same station in October.

The Saint Vincent Health Center stroke program has been honored once again for excellence in improving quality of patient care by earning the American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines-Stroke (GWTG-Stroke) Bronze Performance Achievement Award. This award recognizes the continuing commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of stroke care by ensuring that stroke patients receive treatment according to nationally accepted standards and recommendations. GWTG-Stroke is a voluntary initiative designed to improve patient outcomes and save lives by promoting the latest evidence-based guidelines for the care and overall treatment for stroke patients. To receive the GWTG-Stroke Bronze Performance Achievement Award, Saint Vincent consistently followed the treatment guidelines in the GWTG-Stroke program for 90 days. These include aggressive use of medications like tPA, antithrombotics, anticoagulation therapy, DVT prophylaxis, cholesterol-reducing drugs and smoking cessation. The Saint Vincent Stroke Center features the latest 3-D imaging technology and a 24/7 Stroke Alert Team that will provide interventional treatment that can not only stop some strokes as they’re happening, but can also reverse the effects of some strokes. Saint Vincent remains one of a select few hospitals in the country to install the Philip’s Flat Panel Digital Biplane Technology for Neurosciences. This technology lengthens the so-called ‘window of opportunity’ for stroke patients to receive innovative procedures that can stop a stroke in its tracks, making this advanced level of stroke care available not only to local patients, but to patients throughout the region. Saint Vincent’s Get With The Guidelines Performance Achievement Award is yet another national recognition for the Saint Vincent Stroke Center. Recently, the hospital’s stroke program also received the Gold Seal of Approva from The Joint Commission.

Nearly 600 students from 38 schools will display their aptitude for the sciences on Saturday, February 23, as Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, hosts the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) region 10 competition. The contest moved to Penn State Behrend last year. Students who earned first place in their respective school competitions will present individual science research in a variety of topic areas. More than 150 volunteers, including 35 from Penn State Behrend will judge the presentations. The judges are graduate students, college professors and industry scientists. All student presenters will receive an award and some will be eligible for multiple honors. In addition, students who receive first-place awards at both the regional and state levels are eligible for awards of excellence. Region 10 expects to award more than $4,000 in special awards for students in grades 7 through 12 this year. The sponsoring schools include Blessed Sacrament, Cathedral Center, Cathedral Prep, Corry Area middle and high schools, Jefferson, Joanna Connell, Fairview middle and high schools, General McLane High School, Grover Cleveland, Harbor Creek junior and senior high schools, Harding, JS Wilson, JW Parker, Roosevelt, McDowell intermediate and senior high schools, North East middle and high schools, Perry, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Our Lady of Peace, Our Lady’s Christian, Seton, St Boniface, St George, St James, St John/Holy Rosary Eastside, St Luke, Strong Vincent Villa Maria Elementary and Academy, Walnut Creek, Wayne, Westlake, and Woodrow Wilson. PJAS holds its state meet at the Penn State University Park campus annually. Students who earn first place at regionals will present their research at the state competition in May.

For the second straight year, Young Erie Professionals will be taking a coach bus to Holiday Valley in nearby Ellicottville, NY for a full day of skiing, snowboarding, tubing, or shopping on Saturday, March 1, 2008. All levels of skiers and snowboarders are welcome, and there are special rates for rentals and lessons. Non-skiers can also join this winter excursion.
yep!’s chartered coach bus will begin loading at the corner of 14th and State Streets at 7:30 am, depart Erie at 8 am, and arrive at Holiday Valley at 10 am. The bus will then stop in Ellicottville to drop off anyone who would like to spend the day shopping at the many boutiques, strolling around the town, or having a bite at the famous Ellicottville Brewery.
For the return trip, the bus will begin loading at 3:30 pm, depart Holiday Valley and pick-up non-skiers in Ellicottville at 4 pm, and arrive in Erie at 6 pm, when yep! will host an after-party at Calamari’s Squid Row.
The cost for transportation, lift ticket, and the after-party is $80; and $35 for just the bus ride and after-party. Discounts are available for paid yep! members.
Holiday Valley also offers snow tubing at its new tubing park. A free shuttle from the main lodge takes tubers to the tubing hill and then back to the main lodge before departure. Additional tubing rates of $12 per 2-hour block or $14 per 3-hour block apply.
Seating is limited and advance registration is required. To learn more or sign up, please log onto www.yeperie.org and click on ski trip or email Andrew Lincoln.

Hamilton Bulldogs General Manager Julien BriseBois announced that the club has signed former Mercyhurst College blueliner Conrad Martin to a two-year AHL contract (2007-2008, 2008-2009). Hamilton is the defending Calder Cup Champions and the top affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Montreal Canadiens.

Edinboro University’s Ryan McLemore (Cleveland, OH/St Peter Chanel) has been named the PSAC West Player of the Week. It marked the fourth time he has been recognized by the conference. McLemore led the Fighting Scots to wins over Slippery Rock (80-62) and IUP (74-65) as Edinboro improved to 18-5.

Edinboro University’s Gregor Gillespie (Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder) has been named the Eastern Wrestling League Wrestler of the Week. The junior picked up a pair of wins this past week to become the 20th Fighting Scot to reach 100 career wins. It marked the third time Gillespie has captured the honor.

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 Allegheny College Playshop Theatre continues its 2007-2008 season with Diana Son’s deeply moving play “Stop Kiss” under the direction of Assistant Professor of Theatre Mark Cosdon. “Stop Kiss” will be performed at 8 pm on Thursday, Feb 28, through Saturday, March 1, and at 2:30 pm on Sunday, March 2, in the Playshop Theatre, which is located in Arter Hall on the Allegheny College campus. Terri Clark, master’s degree of public health, will lead a discussion following Friday’s performance. “Stop Kiss” is a contemporary love story centered on two young women. Their deep, intimate friendship moves tentatively toward love, when suddenly the two are the victims of a particularly heinous hate crime. In the maelstrom of ensuing media scrutiny, the two women are forced to reevaluate their commitment to each other. “Stop Kiss” features a talented ensemble of Allegheny performers, including Lizzy Pecora (Pittsburgh, Pa) as Callie; Carrie Miller (Pittsburgh, Pa) as Sara; Shaun Hayden (Wilmette, Ill) as George; Brian Henderson (Wilmington, Del) as Peter; Katy Grant (Pittsburgh, Pa) as Mrs. Winsley/Nurse; and Corey O’Connor (Pittsburgh, Pa) as Detective Cole. Marianne Broome (Pittsburgh, Pa) serves as the production’s stage manager. Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre Ellen E Jones designed sets and lights. The costume designer is Gail Kralj. Jim Sumerfield is the sound designer. Tickets for “Stop Kiss” are $7.50 for adults; $5 for non-Allegheny students, senior citizens and Allegheny employees. Admission is free for Allegheny students with identification. Audiences should note that “Stop Kiss” contains language and situations some may find offensive. For more information or to order tickets, contact the Playshop Theatre Box Office at (814) 332-3414.

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.

Erie County Judge Michael Dunlavey will speak about international and Middle Eastern relations on Thursday, March 6, at 7:30 pm, in Mercyhurst North East’s Alex Theater, 16 W Division St, North East. Dunlavey is a retired two-star general in the U.S. Army Reserve and a Vietnam veteran with 30 years of military intelligence experience. He was put in charge of global anti-terrorism operations by US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld after the Sept 11 terrorist attacks, and oversaw interrogations at Naval Base Guantanamo Bay in Cuba from March to November 2002. The presentation is free and open to the public. Call (814) 725-6277 for more information.

Get into the Irish spirit at the “Patti Sullivan and Friends Irish Concert,” Sunday, March 9, at 2 pm, in St Mary’s Chapel on the Mercyhurst North East campus, 16 W Division St., North East. Sullivan, MNE’s music director, will be joined by barbershop chorus Lake Erie Sound, the Rev Bill Sutherland, and Irish step dancers Rince Na Tiarna for an afternoon of entertainment. The performance is free and open to the public, and refreshments will follow. Call (814) 725-6277 for more information.

Learn how to create Old World Easter eggs at “Easter Eggstravaganza!” a hands-on workshop, on Wednesday, March 12, at 7:30 pm, in Miller Hall 116 on the Mercyhurst North East campus, 16 W Division St, North East. Larry Kozlowski, director of student life at MNE, will share his expertise and talent in this ancient, beautiful art form. The workshop is free and open to the public. Call (814) 725-6277 for more information.

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.