Dennis Weed

The Greater Erie Board of Realtors released the Erie County real estate sales for February 2009. The figures include all Erie County residential, commercial, investment properties as well as land in which a transfer tax was paid. The Erie County sales for February 2009 were 179 properties sold for $13,948,492, a steep decline as compared to February 2009 when 340 properties sold for $26,990,459. The February 2007 sales were 334 properties were sold for $27,822,866 and the February 2006 figures were 366 properties were sold for $31,231,977.

The Experience Erie Children's Museum Kids Expo 2009 will be held today Saturday, February 14 and Sunday, February 15, 10-4 pm each day, at the Ambassador Conference Center on upper Peach St in Erie, PA. Over 30 hands-on activities for kids and entertainment. All day fun for the whole family. $5 per person, Under 2 FREE.

The 8th annual Spirit Against Cancer Dance and Cheer Competition will be held today Saturday, Feb 14, from 10 am to 4 pm, in the Junker Center at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. Proceeds from this year's regional competition will be donated to the John Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation in memory of Becky Hubler Decker. Fifty dance and cheerleading teams from Pennsylvania and New York, including middle school, junior high, junior varsity, high school varsity, college, and all-star squads, plus private dance studios, will participate in Saturday's competition.

Enjoy the most romantic place in town for Valentines Day as The Erie Planetarium offers dinner under the dazzling night sky. This four course dinner and show is being offered today Saturday, February 14, 5 pm - 7:30 pm. Seating is limited. Call (814) 454-1813 ext 53 for reservations.

Gannon University’s Schuster Theatre’s show, "The Trachinae," a fiery Greek tragedy, will be shown today Saturday, Feb 14, and Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Feb 19-22. All Thursday-Saturday performances begin at 8 pm, Sunday matinees are at 2 pm. 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 Erie Playhouse Presents "Cats" today though Sunday, February 15. Show times are 7:30 pm Thursday through Saturday with a special 2 pm matinee on Sunday. Tickets.

Mercyhurst North East presents Tennessee Williams' "Suddenly, Last Summer" today though Sunday, February 15 at the Mercyhurst North East Alex Theater. Performances at 8 pm Thursday through Saturday with a 2 pm matinee show on Sunday. FREE and open to the public. For more information, call (814) 725-6277.

The 2nd Annual Oil Country Bluegrass Festival will be held today through Sunday, February 15 at the Arlington Hotel in Oil City, PA with different Bluegrass Band performing every half-hour on Friday evening, Saturday afternoon and evening and Sunday morning. Admission is FREE. They will play both contemporary and traditional music that will include Bluegrass, Appalachian and Gospel music popular in the late 1800's during the Oil Boom. This year’s festival will feature an Oil Heritage songwriting competition among participating bands. The songs will be featured at the festival. Contacts: Ron Shoup, (814) 676-3465 or Bob Flath, (814) 797-1504. Also, an Oil History Workshop will be held in Oil City, PA at the Oil City Library on Central Ave at 1 pm today Saturday, February 14. Speaker is oil historian and author Neil McElwee. FREE admission. For more info contact the Oil Region Alliance (814) 677-3152 ext 110.

All An Act Theatre Productions presents Neil Simon's The Prisoner Of Second Avenue Directed by Larry Lewis and Starring Chris Bucci playing today through March 1. Show times are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 3 pm. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors.

Erie Philharmonic presents The Piano Man - A Tribute to Billy Joel, featuring Jeans 'n Classics, at the Warner Theatre today Saturday, Feb 14 at 8 pm. Tickets.

The Erie SeaWolves baseball club is looking for enthusiastic, outgoing individuals of ALL ages to join their team. The ‘Wolves will be hosting their second annual Job Expo today Saturday, February 14 at the Erie Civic Center Tullio Areana from 10 am until 2 pm. They are filling positions for the "Wolf Pack" promotional team, ushers, concession stands, mascots and other 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.

The Erie Otters return home tonight when the Kingston Frontenacs visit the Tullio Arena for a 7 pm start presented by Kali's. The first 500 fans into the game will receive heart-shaped fudge in honor of Valentine's Day. Buy Erie Otters tickets.

The Greater Erie Board of Realtors released the January 2009 real estate sales figures for Erie County. Sales figures include all Erie County properties in which a transfer tax was paid including residential, commercial, investment and land. The real estate sales for January 2009 were $19,136,514 with 171 transactions. This compares to January 2008 when sales were $41,202,807 with 243 transactions, January 2007 when 280 properties sold for $44,849,368 and January 2006 when 254 changed hands for $26,951,813.

The Greater Erie Board of Realtors released the November 2008 real estate sales figures for Erie County. Sales figures include all Erie County properties in which a transfer tax was paid including residential, commercial, investment and land. The sales total for November was $34,794,495 with 298 transactions. This is down from November 2007 when the sales were $36,371,765 with 376 transactions and November 2006 with sales of $41,771,797 with 411 transactions.