One Book Bradford:
Committee Wants Sod House

By ANNE HOLLIDAY
WESB/WBRR News Director


The One Book Bradford Committee is kicking up a storm for this year's selection.

They've chosen "The Children's Blizzard" by David Laskin as the Community Read Project for 2008-2009. Activities will culminate with a visit by Laskin on February 9.

Among the planned activities are a presentation by Bradford Little Theatre in January, knitters "knitting up a storm" of mittens, quilters "quilting up a storm," and "Talking Up a Storm," a program featuring presentations by a weather expert, a doctor and a member of the local Mennonite community.

Pat Shinaberger told Bradford City Council on Tuesday that the committee would like to build a temporary sod house on the old Third Ward School property. The house would be taken down in the spring.

The people in "The Children's Blizzard" lived in sod houses in the midwestern prairie in the late 1800s. Committee member Marilyn Richards read from the cover of the book, that says the temperature during the blizzard dropped 18 degrees in 3 minutes and kept dropping. More than 100 children died on the Dakota/Nebraska prairie in 1888.

Richards told council Terry Sturm is in charge of the project, and would like to involve high school students in building the house.

Richards said last year's One Book Bradford project – "City of Light" – was very successful, and the committee is hoping to get the schools more involved this year.

She explained that "The Children's Blizzard" is a work of creative non-fiction and added "It will be worthy – especially with our climate."

Mayor Tom Riel said council will take the request under advisement

Also during Tuesday's meeting, council authorized the Office of Economic and Community Development to apply for a $15,000 grant for new signs, plantings and traffic island improvements near the Elm Street gateway entrance and exit near the Route 219 bypass.

Also, after a Jefferson Street resident raised concerns about the condition of some of the buildings on his street, Riel mentioned that meetings have been held concerning code enforcement to "make it tighter (and) go after some of these landlords."

Riel also mentioned that council will hold a work session prior to the next council meeting concerning a proposed graffiti ordinance. The work session is scheduled for 6:15 September 9.

After a couple of audience members made comments related to the recently enacted pooper-scooper ordinance, Riel said the problem isn't as bad as it used to be.

He did say, however, "We've warned some people, I think now it's time to start fining people."

Helen Burfield noted that she is afraid to go to Las Vegas because of the "bad people" who congregate near her downton Bradford apartment.

"You'll be fine in Las Vegas," Riel said. "When you get to Vegas, send us a postcard."

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