There is no way this winter is ever going to end as long as that groundhog keeps seeing his shadow. I don’t see any way out of it. He’s got to be stopped. And I have to stop him.

~ Bill Murray as Phil Connors in the 1993 movie Groundhog Day.

And so it is with great dismay we announce that Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this cold February morning.  But here among the people of Erie and basking in the warmth of their hearths and hearts, we couldn’t imagine a better fate than a long and lustrous winter — just as long as it isn’t too cold.

Speaking of weather, yesterday was about as great a first day of February as you could ask for. We hope you were able to get outside and get some Vitamin D. We cleaned the car out and played outside with the kids. With all the snow we’ve received, the going was a little tough, but they had fun.

We still haven’t recovered from yesterday’s game, but looking at this graphic from the CareerBuilder commercial cracks us up every time. What commercial was your favorite?

A bit of sad newsthis weekend as a McKean man was killed in a snowmobile accident. Timothy Oakes, 41, was driving the snow machine on Old Route 99 and was struck by a car.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources announced that Lake Erie anglers should experience another year of great fishing in 2009, especially walleye and yellow perch anglers. Other fish expected to be bountiful includes smallmouth bass, white bass, and steelhead fish.

Fargo, ND, publication Inforum.com has an article on the first president of the University of North Dakota. William Blackburn, who among other things, wrote the “History of the Christian Church” and notably first became a minister in Erie in 1856 before traveling to a number of cities and eventually settling in North Dakota.

Sports

If you’re a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, chances are you still haven’t come down from yesterday’s Super Bowl. Man, what a game. We were excited when the team was up 20-7 and heartbroken when the team was down 23-20. Despite the offense stinking from the second quarter until 2 minutes left in the game, they got it done when it counted and won their 6th Super Bowl, 27-24. They have now won the most Super Bowls of any NFL team.

The Erie Otters beat the Guelph Storm 5-2 Saturday night in front of almost 4,000 cheering fans at the Tullio.  The Otters play again this Friday against the Sault St Marie Greyhounds and on Saturday against the Saginaw Spirit. Get your tickets here.

The next Erie Otters fan club meeting will be held tomorrow, February 3, at 6:30 p.m. The monthly meeting is located at the First United Methodist Church at 707 Sassafras. Use south side door for entrance. Parking available behind the church or across the street in the small lot.

The Erie BayHawks won against host Bakersfield Jam 91-84 Saturday night. The BayHawks return to Erie this Wednesday, February 4th to play the Idaho Stampede with another home game next week against the Utah Flash. Get your tickets here.

Mercyhurst won over the Air Force 3-2 in an Atlantic Hockey Association game Saturday.

Events

Terrence Cavanaugh, CEO of Erie Insurance, will be the guest speaker at the Manufacturer and Business Association’s monthly Eggs ‘n’ Issues breakfast on February 24. Registration is at 7:45 a.m. and admission is $30 for members and $60 for nonmembers. For more info call (814) 833-3200.

ArtsErie will hold a public kick-off for its annual ArtsErie United Fund on Mon., Feb. 2 at the Erie Playhouse, 13 West 10th Street. Doors will open at 5:00 p.m.; a brief press conference will begin at 5:15 p.m. The ArtsErie United Fund, previously known as the United Arts Fund Drive, has provided support to Erie’s arts community for over 40 years. In 2009, ArtsErie aims to raise $350,000 through the ArtsErie United Fund.

The Harlem Globetrotters are bringing their 2009 “Spinning the Globe” World Tour to Erie on Tuesday, February 3, 2009 with their basketball wizardry, hilarious antics and fan interaction. Tickets start at $16.00.

Pennsylvania Senior Deputy Attorney General Darrel Vandeveld, J.D., of Erie, who resigned his appointment as a U.S. military prosecutor at Guantanamo Bay over ethical concerns last fall, will bring his unique perspective to Mercyhurst College on Tuesday, Feb. 3, during a panel discussion on “The Intersection of Traditional Notions of Justice and International Prosecutions in the Age of Terrorism.” The event, which is free and open to the public, begins at 6 p.m. in Mercy Heritage Room of Sullivan Hall.

Upcoming Erie Concerts and Shows:

Feb. 3: Harlem Globetrotters (tickets)
Feb. 13: The Temptations, Warner Theatre (tickets)
Feb. 19: Jerry Seinfeld, Warner Theatre (tickets)
Feb. 22: Rain (Beatles Cover Band), Warner Theatre (tickets)
March 7: Motley Crue w/ Hinder, Last Vegas, Theory of a Deadman, Tullio Arena (tickets)
March 22: New Kids on the Block, Tullio Arena (tickets on sale 1/24)
March 29: Comedian Lewis Black, Warner Theatre (tickets)

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