VisitErie has released a new video about Erie. They say “The fast-paced three and a half minute video features a pop-up theme, similar to VH1’s “Pop-Up Videos” highlighting fun and interesting factoids people may or may not know about Erie, Pennsylvania. The goal is to reach a more diverse and Internet savvy audience. ”

Despite the fact that Pop-Up Video hasn’t run on TV since 2002, we still think this video is kind of neat. It’s a good introduction to our area.

Gannon University’s Board of Trustees recognizes that today’s difficult economic times require the University to provide more financial assistance to college students than perhaps ever before. That is why the Trustees have authorized up to $2.6 million more this year for financial aid as part of the Gannon Stimulus Initiative. Additional financial aid will be available to current and prospective students, particularly those whose economic circumstances have adversely affected their ability to pay tuition. Students who may be eligible for a portion of the Gannon Stimulus Initiative could include, but not be limited to, those whose parents have lost their jobs or are experiencing unusual circumstances, and self-paying students who have become unemployed.

Last year, Gannon budgeted $24 million for financial aid. Due to the economic uncertainty many current and prospective students are facing, the Board of Trustees and the University administration believed that more financial aid money would be needed to support students who may not otherwise be able to afford college at this time. To that end, the Gannon Stimulus Initiative was created, increasing Gannon’s total financial aid to $26.6 million for the 2009-10 Academic Year.

Logistics Plus and their blogging CEO Jim Berlin are featured in the March issue of Inc. magazine, now on newsstands. It’s a great story about their redevelopment of Union Station. Congrats to Jim and LP.

9 Erie-ites will be heading to Iraq tomorrow. They serve with the 542nd Quartermaster Company. They will spend 400 days in Iraq after training in Indiana. Good luck and God Speed.

Mining.com has a brief article on Eriez Magnetics discussing the Eriez Technical Center here in Erie.  The center has more than 100 types of permanent magnetic, electromagnetic, vibratory, screening, electronic metal detecting, hydraulic and flotation equipment that can handle a wide variety of materials.

Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced the investment of more than $21.5 million in 144 Growing Greener projects to reduce pollution from stormwater runoff and farms, treat acid mine drainage, reduce flooding and improve water quality across the commonwealth. Locally, the Erie County Conservation District will receive $150,000 to implement nutrient and sediment loading reductions to improve water quality in the Trout Run watershed.

Accuride has formally notified the state of Ohio that they will be closing their plant in Cuyohoga Falls. They’ve already begun moving equipment to Erie, and will bring along new jobs for our area.

The new LECOM John M. and Silvia Ferretti Medical Fitness and Wellness Center will open to the public on March 1. LECOM students get to start using the facility this Monday. The 82,000 square foot facility will have something for everyone. You can visit their website here.

Here is a great pic of a rusted out steam shovel with the stamp Bucyrus-Erie that we found on Flickr:

Bucyrus-Erie was the result of a merger in 1927 between Bucyrus and the Erie Steam Shovel Company (modern incarnation is Bucyrus International located in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin).  Erie Steam Shovel was originally called the Ball Engine Company which was founded in Erie in 1883.  In 1931, Bucyrus-Erie changed it’s name to Bucyrus-Monighan so it’s possible the rusty old bucket pictured above was made sometime around the Great Depression.  (Photo credit catchesthelight.)

If you haven’t had enough zebra mussels in your life lately, you might want to check out a webcast on February 25 entitled “Quagga/Zebra Mussel Control.” Paul Vojtek, CEO of the Erie Water Works will be a speaker.

The Academy Awards will be held Sunday evening, and The Movies at Meadville is holding a Guess the Oscars contest. There are a bunch of prizes so put in your guesses and you can win movie tickets, snacks and more. This will be helpful when you want to check out the Jonas Brothers concert movie in 3D. We’re going to start camping out for that one on Wednesday.

Sports

The Erie Otters fell to the Saginaw Spirit last night, 6-4.  Tonight they play the Plymouth Whalers in another away game.  The Otters won’t be back in Erie until Saturday, February 28.

The Erie BayHawks play an away game against the Sioux Falls SkyForce on  Saturday, February 21. 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 Gannon men’s basketball team continues an important three-game homestand Saturday, February 21 against Indiana (Pa.) at the Hammermill Center. Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m. Gannon is ranked No. 8 in NCAA Division II and No. 3 in the latest NCAA Division II Atlantic regional rankings. Indiana (Pa.) enters the battle No. 2 in the latest regional rankings. Both teams are tied for first place in the PSAC West with two games remaining next week. The PSAC West’s top seed will have home-court advantage throughout the PSAC Tournament.

Kent State senior and gymnast Rachel Stuck of Erie tied for top spot on floor with a score of 9.875 during a triangular meet with Central Michigan and Maryland.

Events

Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, will host the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) Region 10 competition all day today. The daylong event begins at 7:30 a.m. and utilizes most of campus. This marks the third year that the college has hosted the competition.

The kick off the re-election campaign for Lynn Case Craker, Millcreek Tax Collector, will be held at the Ringside Restaurant, 32nd and Sterrettania Rd on March 8, 2009. Brunch will be served from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. along with a basket raffle. Cost is $10 per person. For more information, call Lynn at (814) 873-6607 or (814) 838-8666 or email.

Allegheny College will host a presentation, titled “Fixing America’s Economy,” by representatives of the Coalition for a Prosperous America on Thursday, Feb. 26 at 2 p.m. in Ford Chapel. Steve Onyeiwu, associate professor of economics at Allegheny College and co-director of the college’s managerial economics program, will open the program with a brief analysis of the state of manufacturing in the United States and in northwestern Pennsylvania, putting the current situation into a historical context.

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.