Ok, seriously, it’s not funny anymore. We’re getting a little tired of the snow and cold. Just think, we’ve only got about 6 more months of it. Fail. Several schools in the area are closed, have delays or are “parents discretion.” Seriously? My mom would have sent me to school in a heartbeat, despite my pleas to stay home.

Well, we were warned it was coming, but we’re a little surprised it happened so quickly. 230 workers were laid off at GE yesterday and the company has instituted a “temporary lack of work order” that will last from January 19 through the end of March. For now, the cuts are temporary, but a GE spokesman said there was a high probability they’d be permanent.

We’ve added a few new members to our Erie Twitter Guide today, including the Behrend Alumni Office and the GE Federal Credit Union. Great to see more people and businesses trying out Twitter and dipping their toes in social media. Here’s a great article by David Pogue in the New York Times about Twitter tips for beginners.

If you haven’t noticed, ErieBlogs has a feedback button that appears on the right-side of the page.  Feel free to let us know if you have any suggestions or comments about the site.

Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper has received her committee and caucus appointments. She will serve on the Committee on Agriculture. She will also serve on the Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy & Research, the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition & Forestry, the House Committee on Small Business and the House Committee on Science & Technology. She will serve on 18 caucus groups, including the Congressional Bike Caucus and the Great Lakes Task Force. We had to look up to see if the Congressional Bike Caucus was real, and yes, it is. Here’s Wikipedia’s description:

The Congressional Bike Caucus (CBC) is a bipartisan caucus of the United States House of Representatives launched by Oregon representative Earl Blumenauer. It is officially registered with the Committee on House Administration, the house committee responsible for regulating caucuses. The caucus aims to promote cycling by improving infrastructure and increasing awareness of cyclists. As of 2008 the caucus claims 182 members from 43 states plus the District of Columbia, including 127 Democrats and 55 Republicans. The caucus lists Democrat Blumenauer as chair.

The Gamma Rho chapter of Delta Sigma Phi fraternity is returning to Gannon University, effective with the current spring 2009 semester. This month, the fraternity will begin recruiting male students after being welcomed back to campus by the university’s administration and student Interfraternity Council (IFC). Gannon now will have six fraternities. Delta Sigma Phi was chartered at Gannon in 1954, but closed its campus chapter in the early 1990s due to declining membership.

Lakeshore Community Services of Erie is in the process of building a group home for mentally disabled adults in Russell, Pa., just north of Warren.  Following the usual script, neighbors in the area are upset, providing the excuse that the property isn’t zoned for a group home.  Right now only 2 individuals will be living there (conceivably up to four) so we’re not sure how that is any different than a home with a couple or a family of four.   Remember, it’s o.k. if mentally disabled people live normal lives in homes like the rest of us, just as long as it isn’t in our backyards.

Judge Michael Dunlavey sentenced Terry Sherlock, of Corry, 21 to 42 years in prison for the murder of Ken Himrod. Sherlock shot Himrod who was accused of molesting Sherlock’s son who was 10 years old at the time. Sherlock was found guilty of third-degree murder and not the voluntary manslaughter asked for by his attorney.

Malcolm Kysor pled guilty yesterday to escaping the Albion prison in November 25, 2007 and will be sentenced in March. Kysor, who was convicted of murder, was eventually found in April of 2008 in California and now enjoys his days at the State Correctional Institution at Mercer.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a nice break down of the status of fishing on Lake Erie yesterday:

The steelhead tributaries were frozen yesterday. Ice anglers were fishing in Presque Isle Bay. The bay’s Horseshoe Pond was yielding bluegills, sunfish, crappies and small perch; Misery Bay anglers were catching sunfish, bluegills and crappies. A couple of anglers ice-fished the head of the bay (around the second parking lot) yesterday and caught a few nice perch. One angler iced steelhead in Walnut Creek basin. Yesterday, a freighter scheduled to come through the channel into the bay was expected to break up ice.

An unnamed trucker who blogs at Truckin’ Around: Seville, OH is not looking forward to his drive through Erie tomorrow where he expects 6-12 inches of snow.  Can you blame the poor guy?

Jerry Seinfeld will play the Warner Theatre on February 19. Tickets go on sale January 23.

Sports

Tonight the Otters play the Niagara IceDogs and Saturday the Sarnia Sting — both at the Tullio.   Get your tickets here.

Tonight and Sunday the Erie BayHawks will play against the Dakota Wizards in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Gannon University has named Don Sherman interim director of athletics. There will be a national search for a new AD.

Despite dropping from 15th to 16th in the latest USA Today/InterMat/NWCA Division I Team Rankings, for the first time in school history Edinboro has a pair of wrestler’s ranked number one. Senior Gregor Gillespie has resided in InterMat’s top spot at 157 lbs. for several weeks now. Paul Donahoe, a transfer from Nebraska who just recently became eligible, moved into second place in the rankings after one week, and this week took over the top spot at 125 lbs. in both polls.

Events

The drum and bugle corps, Lake Erie Thunder, will hold its first rehearsal on Sunday, January 25th at East High School from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Brass players and percussionists are invited to attend. Camp fee is $15. Click here for more information.

The Erie Chamber Orchestra will hold its annual tribute concert to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., celebrating the life and dreams of a special American. The concert will be held tonight at 7:30 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Church, 130 East 4th Street. For more information call (814) 871-7755.

The annual McDonald’s High School Basketball Classic will be held at the Hammermill Center for two days from January 16-17. Tickets can be purchased through the Prep athletic office. The McDonald’s Classic is a four team boys basketball tournament featuring some of the best talent the United States has to offer. This is the 26th year the classic has been held since 1983.

Willy Wonka will be at the Erie Playhouse January 16-18. This play is adapted from the 1971 film, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, which starred Gene Wilder in the title role. All of your favorite characters and songs (including “The Candy Man” and “Pure Imagination”) are featured in this show that overflows with music, comedy and heart. All seats $12.00 with special Saturday matinees. For more information visit the Erie Playhouse website.

Erie Playhouse will begin its Youtheatre classes beginning January 17th and concluding February 28th, 2009. Classes meet once a week, on Saturday, and are limited to 15 students per class. Each class will focus on the students needs, building a positive self-image, while students learn to work with their peers through the art of theatre. Classes are designed for specific age groups.

The SeaWolves are looking for enthusiastic, outgoing individuals of ALL ages to join their team.  The ‘Wolves will be hosting their second annual Job Expo on Saturday, February 14, 2009 at the Erie Civic Center from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. We are filling positions for our “Wolf Pack” promotional team, ushers, concession stands, mascots and other exciting game day jobs. The job expo will be located in the Civic Center suites and interested parties can enter at entrance B near the southeast corner of the arena. Perspective game day employees will fill out applications and interview for positions on the spot. For more information about the 2009 Erie SeaWolves Job Expo, contact (814) 456-1300 or visit www.seawolves.com.

View this past Sunday’s comprehensive events list to see a list of events for the week and months ahead. If you would like your event posted here, please contact us via our online form.