If you see someone walking around today with black soot on their foreheads its because it is Ash Wednesday.

Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper released this statement following last night’s address to Congress by President Obama:

Just moments ago, I joined my colleagues in the House of Representatives to listen to President Barack Obama’s address to the joint session of Congress. When I decided to run for United States Congress, it was with a deep commitment to create jobs and spur economic growth throughout Pennsylvania’s 3rd District, reduce the cost of healthcare for all, invest in our education system, and end the war in Iraq.

You can read her full statement dahlkemper-budget-response.

VisitErie has fixed the incorrect dates in their YouTube video we blogged about last week. You can see the newly updated version right here.

Erie Renewable Energy saw their request for a zoning variance denied yesterday by the Erie Zoning Board. The height of the smokestacks continues to be a sticking point. The zoning board meets again on Feb. 26 and it’s expected ERE will challenge the ruling on the height.

This past weekend, we blogged about an article featuring Logistics Plus and Jim Berlin is now online at Inc. magazine’s site. It’s an interesting read chronicling the growth of the company from humble beginnings at an office on site at General Electric to the current location at Union Station.  Jim has his own blog Berlin’s Wall.

Marjorie and Spencer Krull will celebrate not their 50th, not their 60th — but their 72nd wedding anniversary in Napa, California with family and friends. What makes this marriage and anniversary even more special is that the couple was married in Erie in 1937.  Congratulations to the Krulls!

We mentioned yesterday how Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong is back in town enjoying the sights and sounds of the Erie County Prison. Her mental competency hearing is scheduled for March 11.

Verizon has activated a new cell site near Interstate 79 and West Grandview Boulevard. The site will improve coverage to the Millcreek Mall and surrounding areas bounded by West 26th Street (Highway 20) in the north, Interchange Road (Highway 99) in the south, Peach Street (Highway 19) in the east and Sterrettania Road (Highway 832) in the west.

Rubin Swift, 34, a community activist who once ran for mayor of Erie must be treated to determine if he’s mentally competent for trial on charges he raped an 11-year-old girl.

Erie County Council has approved money to move the transfer or the Erie Golf Course along. The Airport Authority and Millcreek supervisors still need to approve the transfer.

Sports

The Erie BayHawks return to Erie tomorrow, Thursday, February 26 to play the Dakota Wizards. Get your tickets here.

The Erie Otters play an away game this Friday night against the London Knights and return to Erie on Saturday to play the Ottawa 67s . Get your tickets here.

The Gannon women’s basketball team has entered the national top 25 for the second time this season, being ranked 24th in the latest USA Today ESPN Division II Top 25 released Tuesday afternoon. The Gannon men’s basketball team jumped two spots and is ranked sixth in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC)/Division II Top 25 poll released Tuesday afternoon, extending the streak of consecutive polls in the top 10 to a school-record 13.

Events

Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, and LORD Corporation will host an information session for the LORD Scholarship Program—a unique program for students enrolled, or planning to enroll, in engineering, technical and science disciplines at Penn State Behrend. The information session will be held today at 7 p.m. in the Samuel P. “Pat” Black III Conference Center located in the Research and Economic Development Center (REDC) at Penn State Behrend. Parking will be available in the REDC deck located on Technology Drive, off Jordan Road.

State Representatives Michele Brooks (R – Crawford, Lawrence and Mercer), Pat Harkins (D – Erie), John Hornaman (D – Erie), Brad Roae (R – Crawford) and Flo Fabrizio (D – Erie) will address area business and community leaders during a legislative luncheon starting at noon today at the Association’s Conference Center, 2171 West 38th Street. Registration begins at 11:45 a.m. The legislative panel will provide insight on issues such as health-care reforms, business taxes, labor laws and tort reform, and the 2009-10 state budget. Following their discussion, they will take part in a question-and-answer session. To register for this briefing, contact Tracy Shepard at 814/833-3200 or 800/815-2660. Cost is $30 for members; $60 for nonmembers; and includes lunch.

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.

Science journalist Dava Sobel, the award-winning author of the best-sellers Galileo’s Daughter and Longitude, will speak at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, at 7:30 pm on Thursday, February 26, in the Samuel P “Pat” Black III Conference Center in the college’s Research and Economic Development Center (REDC). Admission is FREE and open to the public; parking will be available in the REDC deck located on Technology Drive, off Jordan Road.

Erie’s favorite event is right around the corner. The 18th Annual Erie Trivia Night Challenge will be held on Thursday, February 26 at the Avalon Hotel, 16 West Tenth Street, Erie. The event will benefit children in the Achievement Center’s Physical Rehabilitation programs. Participants in the event will be treated to an evening of lavish raffles, a silent auction; dinner fit for a king, and of course, the coveted Achiever’s Title. “Captain Dan” Geary will be returning as our master of ceremonies. “Captain Dan” will be navigating participants through three rounds of rip-roaring, mind-teasing Erie trivia questions to arrive at the infamous, “final question.” Registration starts at 5:30 p.m. Dinner is at 6 p.m. with the trivia to start at 7 p.m. Cost is $50 per person or $400 per table of eight. Dinner and game play included. For more information, call Susan A. Smith at 814-459-2755, Ext. 1115.

February 27 will be the Erie Art Museum’s Nouveau, a party serioes for 20-40 somethings. African safari theme features African textiles, drumming circle, tie dye workshop, donation bar…and a dose of new. Sponsored by PNC Bank, Erie Times News, Bob FM, Molly Brannigans, Bud American Ale

Shawn Driscoll, a vice president of T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., will discuss the investment management firm’s stock selection process in the Finance Speaker Series at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. Driscoll’s presentation is free and open to the public. It will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3, in the Samuel P. “Pat” Black III Conference Center on the first floor of the college’s Research and Economic Development Center (REDC). Parking is available in the REDC deck on Technology Drive, off Jordan Road.

Upcoming Erie Concerts and Shows:

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.