Today is Saint Valentines Day.  For all you guys out there–quick, run to Pulokos and grab some chocolate for your significant other.  If you’re thinking about going out to dinner we hope you’ve made reservations.  Otherwise it’s going to be a romantic dinner at home.   Weather for today: high of 32 degrees with a light snowfall. Opening this weekend at the movies: Confessions of a Shopaholic, The International, Friday the 13th, Two Lovers, and Gomorra.  Check out our Events section below for more ideas on what to do this weekend.

A number of people in Erie County still do not have power.  Penelec believes it will have power restored to almost all of its customer by midnight tonight.

Ice build up is being looked at as the reason why the Continental commuter plane crashed just outside of Buffalo on Thursday night. A number of Mercyhurst College grad students along with forensic anthropologists Dennis Dirkmaat and Steven Symes are assisting at the site of the crash.

PETA held another protest at the KFC on Parade Street yesterday.  We have to wonder how many people stop at the restaurant just to spite the protesters.

Jermaine Vaughn’s preliminary hearing for the beating and subsequent death of Brent Carey will be held on March 6th. Vaughn practically admitted to police that he killed Carey when he said he couldn’t help beating Carey unconscious because he “hit[s] hard.”

Senator Arlen Specter has peeved his fellow Republican state party members by voting in favor of the $789 billion economic stimulus package this past Thursday. No doubt they are even more upset that he voted for it again last night.

Pennsylvania judges Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan are accused of taking more than $2 million in bribes for sending youth offenders to privately run detention centers. Ciavarella and Conahan are from Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in the north eastern part of the state. A lawsuit has been filed in federal court.

Sports

The Erie Otters lost to the London Knights 4-3 in an away game last night.  Tonight the Ottersare back in Erie to host the Kingston Frontenacs. Get your tickets here.

The Erie BayHawks are off until Saturday, February 21 whe they play an away game against the Sioux Falls SkyForce. The ‘Hawks play another away game on Monday, February 23 against the Iowa Energy before returning to Erie on Thursday, February 26 to play the Dakota Wizards. Get your tickets here.

The Mercyhurst mens hockey team plays UConn this weekend.

Events

Gannon University’s Schuster Theatre’s next show, “The Trachinae,” a fiery Greek tragedy, will be shown Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Feb. 12-14, and Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Feb. 19-22. All Thursday-Saturday performances begin at 8 p.m., Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m. Gannon’s Schuster Theatre is located at 620 Sassafras Street. Ticket prices for the general public are $5. For more information, contact the Theatre at 814-871-7493 or 814-871-7720.

The McDowell Center for Performing Arts will present Arthur Miller’s Tony Award winning play The Crucible on February 12-13-14, 2009 in the Little Theatre (3320 Caughey Road). The play, praised as “A Powerful Drama” by the New York Times, deals with the Puritan purge of witchcraft in old Salem. Yet, the play is more then a story of witchcraft. It is really a statement of bigotry and deceit, which can cripple society and cause chaos among citizens. Directed by Ken Falkenhagen and assisted by Michael Malthaner, The Crucible stars Marie Glaser, Dominic Barbaro, Kristie Bauman, Ryley Nesbella, Alexandra Schwartz, Sean Weese, and Brett Niethamer. Tickets are just $5.00 and will be sold at the door prior to each performance.

If you’re looking for something different to do in celebration of Valentine’s day, you should consider the Erie Planetarium’s Valentines Dinner Under the Stars. There will be two shows with dinner from 5 – 9 on February 14. For more information call (814) 454-1813, ext. 0.

Erie Celebrates the 200th Anniversary of President Lincolns Birth at the Battles Museum of Rural Life in Girard on Saturday, February 14, 2009 from 12 – 2 p.m. The Erie County Historical Society, Girard Borough and the Civil War Consortium present a rededication of the Civil War Monument in downtown Girard. Dedicated on November 25, 1865, the monument is considered one of the first to honor fallen Civil War soldiers. President and Mrs. Lincoln, Dan Rice and members of the 11th, 83rd and 145th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry are included in the rededication ceremony at the monument site in downtown Girard. Three students from the Girard Elementary School will be selected to read their winning essays about why President Lincoln is one of our country\’s most memorable presidents. A reception at the Girard Methodist Church will immediately follow the ceremony.

The Erie Philharmonic presents The Piano Man – A Tribute to Billy Joel on February 14, at 8 p.m. For more information call (814) 455-1375 or visit the website.

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.

Environmentalist, activist and attorney Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will speak on “Our Environmental Destiny” at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15 in Ford Chapel at Allegheny College. Kennedy will discuss the role that our natural surroundings play in our work, our health and our identity as Americans. Using examples gathered from relevant art, history, litigation and literature, he will remind listeners of their responsibility to protect and preserve the environment for future generations.

Upcoming Erie Concerts and Shows:

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.