Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

This week's guest is Kate White, editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine, who is also a novelist. We're talking about her newest book, "Hush," and much more. Listen here . For more information, go here .

An Olean man is facing charges after his Jeep Cherokee crashed into the front porch of a vacant house on Jackson Avenue at about 11 o'clock Friday night. Bradford City Police tell WESB and The HERO that 19-year-old Victor Farr III was traveling at a high rate of speed, illegally passed another vehicle, couldn't negotiate a sharp turn and lost control of the vehicle. The owner of the house at 8 Jackson Avenue is Arthur Goodman of Bradford. Farr had four passengers in the vehicle -- three female juveniles and an adult male. Bradford City Ambulance personnel treated four of the five people for mild to moderate injuries and transported them to BRMC. Farr is charged with DUI, corruption of minors, reckless endangerment, reckless driving, illegal passing and underage drinking. He was arraigned in front of District Judge Bill Todd and sent to McKean County Jail.

A Smethport man is facing charges following a crash this morning on Route 46 a mile north of Route 146 in Norwich Township. Police tell WESB and The HERO that at 12:23 a.m. an SUV driven by Frank DeBlaso crossed the center line and continued to travel off the berm and up an embankment, where it rolled over. Police say DeBlaso was determined to be driving under the influence and arrested. He wasn't hurt. The vehicle was towed from the scene.

Lake Worth, FL, resident Paul DiPrima had originally gone to Zippo.com looking to buy lighter fluid. He’s coming away - make that riding away - with a lot more than that. On Friday at Palm Beach Harley-Davidson®, Paul DiPrima was handed the keys to his brand new 2010 Harley-Davidson Iron 883 motorcycle, top prize in the “Red Hot and Ridin’ Sweepstakes” on Zippo’s music website, ZippoEncore.com . His name was chosen at random from thousands that entered the contest. DiPrima is a motorcycle rider but doesn’t currently own a Harley-Davidson. He bought a Zippo lighter at the Zippo-sponsored Cruzan Amphitheater in West Palm Beach during a Toby Keith concert. He was going to give the lighter to a friend and needed to buy fuel for it so he went to Zippo.com , where he ordered his fuel and entered the contest. “I never thought twice about the contest after that,” admitted DiPrima. His wife and riding buddies thought he was crazy when he told them he had won. One of his first stops will ...

More than 130 special athletes from McKean, Warren, Elk and Cameron counties gathered at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Sport and Fitness Center pool today for the annual Special Olympics Swimming Invitational, Sponsored by Dallas-Morris. The invitational is the culmination of the swimming season for most of the athletes, who have been in training for several months for this event. Seven swimmers, whose names will be announced, will advance to the Pennsylvania Special Olympics Summer Games at Penn State, June 10-12. Gold medal winners were: 15yd Walk:Adam Rakieski, Cody Pellerito, Matt Rounds, Kyle Fortman, Elizabeth Meyerink 10yd Assisted:Derek Hottel, Devin Guras, Zack Frontera, Aleana Swanson 15yd Unassisted:Devin Guras, Ron Decker, Robert Marshall, Matt Latshaw, Aleana Swanson, Jean Zumstein 15yd Adapted: Tina Whitford 15yd Float: John Sandlin, Zach Hussey, Matt Latshaw, Steph Heffner 25yd Float: Devin Guras, Zack Frontera, Charlie Black, Aleana Swanson, George Burton...

Congressman Eric Massa is resigning, effective Monday. Massa announced earlier this week that he wouldn't be seeking re-election because of a recurrence of cancer, but the House ethics panel is reviewing a complaint by a male staff member who reportedly felt uncomfortable in a situation with Massa that had sexual overtones. Massa represents most of the Southern Tier of New York, including Cattaraugus County. You can read an open letter from Massa here .

University of Pittsburgh at Bradford student Andrew Hwang, a business management major from Horsham, is the first recipient of the NEXT STEP Business Grant Competition. Sponsored by the Pitt-Bradford entrepreneurship program, the grant awarded $1991 to Hwang for enhancements to his business, LPX (Land Party Extreme) Gaming, located on South Avenue in Bradford. Hwang was one of four students who made presentations before judges Jill Foys of North Central Regional Planning and Development Commission, Brian Jadlowiec of Northwest Savings Bank and Students in Free Enterprise student Alyssa Smith. “Andrew’s grant request for his LPX Gaming business was distinguished by the fact that Andrew has already started this fledgling business and has put sweat equity and his own money into it,” said Laura Megill, director of the entrepreneurship program. “He talked to his early customers about what they wanted, and his grant was to provide these items. Andrew has d...

The Eldred Borough Fire Department is receiving $27,389 from the federal government. Federal funds are awarded through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, administered by FEMA under the Department of Homeland Security. Senator Bob Casey announced the grant today.

U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) has introduced legislation that seeks to help domestic manufacturers by enforcing trade remedy laws. The Unfair Foreign Competition Act of 2010 provides a private right of action for domestic manufacturers injured by illegal subsidization or dumping of foreign products into U.S. markets. Senator Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) are cosponsors. The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Finance. “Job creation and job retention in this country depend, in large part, on our ability to enforce existing trade laws,” Senator Specter said. “This legislation would give an injured industry the opportunity to seek reliable enforcement in federal court so that we can stop anticompetitive, predatory trade practices which steal jobs from our workers, profits from our companies, and growth from our economy.” “Unfair trade practices have shipped Pennsylvania jobs oversees and increased our trade deficit," said Senator Casey. “...

Red Stick Ramblers, a Cajun, country, string and swing band with a music video aired on Country Music Television, will perform March 20 at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. in the Bromeley Family Theater of Blaisdell Hall. Tickets are $26 or $22 for the public and $11 or $9 for all students,. The show is a part of Pitt-Bradford’s Prism Series. “This definitely isn't your grandfather’s Cajun band,” said Randy Mayes, director of arts programming at Pitt-Bradford. “This is addictive, toe-tapping music that washes over you and makes you move to the beat whether you want to or not.” Drawing on Louisiana culture, the band combines Cajun, country, stringband and swing. The Red Stick Ramblers’ shows are reminiscent of all-night dances, laid-back campfire sessions, dusty honky-tonks and raucous family reunions. Now a five-member band, Red Stick Ramblers formed in 1999 in Baton Rouge, La., and released its self-titled debut in 2002. Since then, the ban...

The Visiting Scholars program at St. Bonaventure University is sponsoring a lecture March 16 by Dr. Robert Jewett titled “Jesus, Captain America, and Barack Obama: The Superhero Myth in Contemporary American Culture.” The talk will look at the various ways in which popular images of superheroes have influenced American thinking about both religion and politics, often to our collective detriment. It will take place in the auditorium of the William F. Walsh Science Center at 7:30 p.m. Dr. Jewett is one of the leading New Testament scholars in the world. Since his retirement in 2000 from his longtime position as professor of New Testament Interpretation at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Ill., he has served as visiting professor of New Testament at the University of Heidelberg, Germany. Dr. Jewett has published 20 books and nearly 150 academic articles covering a wide range of topics across the discipline of New Testament studies, including “Paul's Anthropologi...

A Salamanca woman has been indicted on theft charges for stealing more than $50,000 from a business over a period of eight years. The Cattaraugus County District Attorney's office tells WESB and The HERO that 24-year-old Elizabeth Smith took the money from NAFCO on Broad Street in Salamanca from May of 2000 to November of 2008. She's charged with second-degree grand larceny, tampering with physical evidence and falsifying business records. Also, 39-year-old Demont Ramseuree of Buffalo has been charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal sale of a controlled substance for incidents in the City of Olean in August. They will both be arraigned on March 15.

A Kill Buck man is facing charges following an incident Tuesday on Kill Buck Road. Sheriff's Deputies tell WESB and The HERO that they responded to a domestic in progress but, upon their arrival the suspect, Michael Stephan Jr., had left the scene. He was arrested the next day for allegedly slapping, pushing and choking the victim in front of their 12-year-old daughter. Stephan was arraigned on charges of attempt to commit assault and endangering the welfare of a child. He's scheduled to appear in Town of Great Valley Court on March 17.

General surgeon Jasmine E. Malcolm, M.D., has joined Bradford Regional Medical Center’s medical staff. The announcement was made by David Kobis, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Bradford Regional Medical Center. Dr. Malcolm is board-certified with the American Board of Surgery. “As part of our ongoing strategy to recruit more physicians to the Bradford area, I’m extremely pleased to announce Dr. Malcolm has joined BRMC's surgical staff,” Mr. Kobis said. “Dr. Malcolm has exceptional surgical skills and will be a wonderful addition to medical services in the region.” Dr. Malcolm just completed a one-year trauma fellowship at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Fairfax, Va. From 2005 to 2009, she was a general surgeon at Milton Cato Memorial Hospital of St. Vincent in the Caribbean. She also was at Milton Cato Memorial Hospital for a year, starting in 2003. Dr. Malcolm was a research fellow from 2004 to 2005 for the Department of Colon and Rectal Surgery at the Oschner Clini...

(CNN) -- Two Pentagon police officers and a suspect are believed to have been shot Thursday outside the Pentagon Metro station, a public affairs officer for the Pentagon Force Protection Agency said. For video and more, go to CNN.com .

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Bradford Mayor Tom Riel has always been vocal in his belief that the city's code enforcement program is a failure. This afternoon, he told WESB and The HERO that he believes code enforcement should be taken out of the fire department and possibly moved to the Office of Economic and Community Development. "My hope is that the City of Bradford Fire Department would do the right thing and vote to let code enforcement go so we can move on and try to build a better Bradford," Riel said. "Code enforcement's been operated this way out of the city's fire department for 15 years, and you'd think after 15 years they'd have it figured out -- there wouldn't be such a problem, there wouldn't be so much confusion and it wouldn't seem so dysfunctional." Riel said one of the advantages of moving code enforcement to the OECD is that the code enforcement officers wouldn't be getting the salary and medical be...

Seneca Nation Executives, Councilors and community members gathered today to hold a ribbon cutting ceremony commemorating the opening of a brand new $30 million administration building on the Allegany territory. The construction project, which began in October 2008, is a three-story 90,000 square-foot structure that was designed by a Native American owned firm, Two Row Architects from Six Nations, Ontario and Buffalo-based firm Kideney Architects. The facility will house the Nation’s governmental offices and meeting rooms and features a Grand Hall and state of the art high tech Council Chambers. Leaders of the Seneca Nation remarked upon the significance of the new building. “In many ways, today is a day of new beginnings for the Seneca Nation,” said President Barry Snyder. “With the opening of this beautiful new administrative complex, we take another step forward in the history of the Seneca Nation. This building is more than just a new home for our government, or a place where impor...

A New York appeals court has upheld the conviction of Ralph "Bucky" Phillips, who killed a state trooper in 2006 during the largest manhunt in New York state history. The unanimous ruling from the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court in Albany rejected Phillips' claims that his guilty plea was coerced and that he'd gotten bad advice from a court-appointed lawyer. Phillips is serving a life sentence without possibility of parole after telling a judge in 2006 that he was "guilty as hell." Phillips admitted fatally shooting Trooper Joseph Longobardo and wounding troopers Donald Baker Jr. and Sean Brown after escaping from the Alden Correctional Facility. He spent five months on the run and was captured by Pennsylvania State Police in a Warren County cornfield.

The communications director for New York Governor David Paterson has quit as an ethics scandal continues to unfold around the governor. Peter Kauffmann handed in his resignation earlier today. He is the third person to quit since questions were raised into how Paterson received a set of Yankees World Series tickets and how he handled an aide's alleged domestic abuse case. As the lead spokesman for the governor, Kauffmann handled media inquires about both incidents. For more on this story, go to CNN.com .

The New York State Senate has passed legislation that would allow blood drug and alcohol content evidence taken from the scene of accidents to be used to prosecute potentially impaired drivers. This bill would remove the requirement that a physician supervise the withdrawl of blood from an intoxicated driver allowing blood evidence to be used in a court of law. “A simple conflict between current medical practice and a statutory requirement in the Vehicle and Traffic Law should not be a loophole for drunk drivers to get a free pass,” said Senator William Stachowski (D-Lake View). “This legislation would close that loophole to allow drunk drivers to be prosecuted and get them off our roads.”

Nine people have been arrested for illegally selling drugs following investigations by the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force. Those arrested are 42-year-old Dolores Redeye of Salamanca; 25-year-old Brian Williams of Ishua; 27-year-old Dwayne Smith of Little Valley; 35-year-old Jason Dille of Great Valley; 18-year-old Timothy Reese of Gowanda; 57-year-old Claudia Cleveland of Randolph; 26-year-old Duane Dearmyer of Ashford; and 24-year-old Shauna Lewis and 46-year-old Kip Lewis, both of Perrysburg. Four K-9 teams and more than 40 officers took part in the raids and the warrant executions. Among the law enforcement agencies involved were the Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Department, New York State Police, Salamanca and Gowanda police, Seneca Marshals and the state Community Narcotics Enforcement Team.

Two Elk County men will be cited following a crash at 4 o'clock this morning on Route 219 in Ridgway Township. Police say a car driven by 46-year-old Gregory Roach of Kersey went out of control, left the road and hit a snow bank. Roach and his passenger, 24-year-old Michael VanDyne of Ridgway, then left the scene. Police say Roach will be cited for not immediately reporting an accident and driving at an unsafe speed. Both men will be cited for not wearing a seat belt. Neither man was hurt in the crash. The car had minor damage.

A Bradford man escaped injury when his pickup truck hit a utility pole in Sullivan County. Police say 26-year-old Sean Cantu was on Route 220 in Cherry Township when his pickup went out of control while rounding a curve, left the road and hit the pole. Police say Cantu will be cited for traveling too fast for road conditions.

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s Office of Outreach Services will offer a floral design class next week in the Seneca Building, downtown Bradford. The class will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. March 10 and March 11 in the sixth-floor conference room. Cost is $15 per person. Patti Prosser, a state-certified master wedding designer with more than 20 years’ experience, will show participants how to create arrangements and centerpieces along with the tools and materials needed for a professional look. “We are very excited about offering this new class to the public,” said Barb Burkhouse, assistant director of professional and workforce education at Pitt-Bradford. “Patti’s enthusiasm and willingness to share her designs and expertise with others will make this class very interesting.” Participants will learn the basics and watch demonstrations on how various arrangements come together. The class will make a corsage of silk flowers along with a small bud vase arrangement to take home. No...

An Allegany woman is facing charges for allegedly trying to give fireworks to a minor. Sheriff's deputies say 38-year-old Deanna Tarbox took the illegal fireworks to Allegany-Limestone Middle School with the intent of giving them to a student. Deputies say office staff and administration took quick action, along with school resource officer Deupty Daniel Gonska, to ensure that none of the fireworks reached any minors. Tarbox is charged with endangering the welfare of a child and unlawfully dealing with dangerous fireworks. She's scheduled to appear in Town of Allegany Court on Monday.

A Humphrey, New York, man is dead following a crash at 4:10 this morning. Sheriff's deputies say a car driven by 45-year-old Thomas Ginnery left the road at a high rate of speed and hit a tree. Ginnery died at the scene. The accident remains under investigation.

William L."Bill" Wells, 85, of 213 Jackson Ave., passed away, Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 at his residence after a lengthy illness. Born July 4, 1924, in Bradford, he was a son of the Charles D. and Madeline B. (Burt) Wells. On June 2, 1954 at St. Raphel's Church in Eldred, he married Anna H. (Hahn) Wells who survives. Mr. Wells was a 1942 graduate of Bradford High School. On May 17, 1943 he enlisted in the United States Army and served during WW II in Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes, Central Europe. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, American Campaign Medal, and the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with five Bronze Stars. He was honorably discharged on November 25, 1945. After returning from the service Mr. Wells worked for Taylor Upholstering. On July 30, 1951 he began his employment as a professional Fire Fighter for the City of Bradford Fire Department. He was promoted on January 1, 1985, to Engineer, then on December 6, 1988, he was appointed Lie...

The Bradford Family YMCA Flames will host the Level 3 and 4 Championships of the Western Pennsylvania YMCA Gymnastics League Sunday at the Olean (N.Y.) YMCA. Nearly 100 girls age 5 to 14 from throughout Western Pennsylvania and New York will compete in the uneven bars, floor, balance beam and vault. The meet, which is being sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Bradford, is open to the public. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students 18 years old and younger.

New York Congressman Eric Massa has announced he's not running for re-election because of a third cancer scare. Massa, who represents most of the Southern Tier of New York, including Cattaraugus County, battled non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the 1990s. In December when he had the third scare, his doctors told him he can't continue working at the pace he's been working. In a conference call with reporters, Massa also denied rumors that he's not seeking re-election because of allegations of harassment in his office. He's says the allegations are not true. You think no one pays attention to our local elected officials? This story just made the CNN news at 5.

More than half of Pennsylvania residents oppose Governor Ed Rendell's plan to change the state sales tax. That's according to a new poll released today by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. 53 percent of the more than 1,400 people surveyed don't like the plan that would decrease the tax from 6 percent to 4 percent but would tax more items and services. The Governor's Budget Office projects the sales tax reform would raise more than $530 million in the new fiscal year. Under current plans, all of that money would be set aside in what's being called the "Stimulus Transition Reserve Fund." For more on the poll, go here .

Two Johnsonburg women have been cited for stealing nearly $300 worth of merchandise from the St. Marys Wal-Mart. Police say on Monday 24-year-old Amber Haupright took $60.89 from the store without paying for it. On Tuesday, She took Crest Whitestrips and an AC adapter out of their packaging and concealed it on her person. The value of the items is $46.93. 41-year-old Diana Lechien, who was with Haupright, removed a necklace and ring valued at $10 from a display rack, removed the tags and concealed them on her person. After Haupright and Lechien went through the checkout line, employees discovered that several items concealed in their cart weren't paid for. Those items are valued at $69.74. Back in January, police say Lechien stole an Internet router valued at $109 from the store.

A new poll shows New Yorkers don't want Governor David Paterson to quit. The Quinnipiac University poll finds that 61 percent of voters don't want Paterson to resign because of the current scandal. He's accused of trying to persuade a woman to drop accusations of domestic violence against one of his aides. The poll released today showed even most women don't want Paterson to quit. The National Organization for Women on Tuesday called for Paterson's resignation. Also, most New Yorkers don't want state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to investigate the scandal, with 61 percent saying they would prefer an investigation by an independent prosecutor rather than Cuomo. For more results from the poll, go here .

The New York State Senate has passed bills that will allow honey and maple producers to run their operations more efficiently and more profitably. Expanding the definition of agricultural buildings to include maple production facilities and sugarhouses, one bill will enable maple producers to avoid unnecessary administrative barriers they currently face when building those facilities. The legislation will also allow for public access as an agritourism activity by allowing maple producers to open their establishments to tourists in order to promote their products. Removing 2007 provisions requiring beekeepers to allow the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Markets to make surveys of their apiary (bee) yards is the focus of the other bill. The current provisions allow the commissioner to open and inspect any hive, colony, or package that he or she has reason to believe is containing bees or other objects relating to beekeeping. Senate Democratic spokesmen say regardless o...

Olean native and University of Georgia scientist John E.Vena, Ph.D., will visit St. Bonaventure University this month to share insights into how individual rights must be balanced with public health protections. At 7 p.m. Thursday, March 11, Vena will give a public lecture, “Health Disparities and Challenges to You for Global Health,” in Dresser Auditorium of the John J. Murphy Professional Building at St. Bonaventure. The greater Olean area community is welcome to attend as Vena addresses questions such as: · What is public heath and how can we address the disturbing health disparities in the U.S. and globally? · What are the threats from global warming? · What paths can you take, following the Franciscan traditions, to meet the challenges ahead? Steps to self-renewal and personal and career strategies will be highlighted. Vena will also lead discussions on public health issues during a forum with faculty and staff on Friday, March 12, and with SBU’s health care students on S...

These Fretz Middle School students lucked out by having a nice, sunny day to have a physical education class outside. The temperature was 43 degees when they came off the hill behind our studios. News 4 Meteorologist Mike Cejka says we can expect more sunshine this week and, on Saturday, another day like today.

East Resources has signed an agreement with Penn State's Cooperative Extension Service to create a new 4-H endowment fund for Tioga County. East created the endowment with an initial principal investment of $50,000. The fund will be used to supplement financial support for the Tioga County 4-H program and may include education awards for 4-H members. "East Resources has a major stake in Tioga County's future through its oil and gas interests, and our contribution to this endowment reflects East's commitment to help sustain that future," says Bob Long, the company's executive vice president. "Tioga County's young men and women are the key to the long-term health of our communities, and we appreciate the significant role that the county 4-H program play in helping them grown into productive, self-directed citizens." Dennis Calvin, interim director of Penn State Cooperative Extension, says the endowment will help assure that generations of youth hav...

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford had named 269 students to the dean’s list for the fall 2009 semester. Dean’s list status is awarded to full-time students who have earned a grade point average of 3.5 or higher for the semester. Students earning a 4.0 average from Bradford were John Lonzi, a senior accounting and business management major; Lauren Lawson, a junior elementary education major; Diana Lawton, a junior elementary education major; James Kinney, a senior environmental education K-12 major; Kaitlin Zapel, a sophomore human relations major; and Leslie Shallop, a sophomore nursing major; From Kane, Nathaniel Robbins, a senior biology major; Kathy Long, a senior elementary education major; and Keith Anderson, a junior social studies education 7-12 major; Other students earning a 4.0 were Katlin Barrile, a freshman broadcast communications major from Albion, N.Y.; Brian McCann, a senior accounting and business management major, from Allega...

Charles Cole Memorial Hospital announced its official clinical affiliation with Hamot Medical Center which will enhance local healthcare in the region. The partnership will allow expanded opportunities for Charles Cole such as trauma/emergency services, regional transportation, homecare/durable medical equipment, after hours pharmacy coverage, education and peer relationships, professional recruitment/retention, and medical office joint ventures. Patients will retain choice for tertiary care and local control of CCMH will not be affected. CCMH has had a long-standing affiliation with Hamot through the availability of Hamot-affiliated cardiologists, neurologists, and most recently through the inception of telemedicine which allows patients to see a specialists from a tertiary center close to home. CCMH’s board of directors explored options over the past year and found Hamot to be a logical choice due to their successful working relationship and similar philosophies and missions. “We are...

City of Bradford Police responded to fight calls at Bradford Regional Medical Center and Togi's Sub Station. 61-year-old Chera Richardson of South Center Street is being charged for harassment for her involvement in the altercation at BRMC. Police also responded to harassment complaints on West Corydon and Kennedy streets. Calvin Teeter was picked up on a bench warrant and later released by McKean County Probation.

Another top official in New York State government is resigning amid the domestic violence scandal in Albany. New York State Police Superintendent Harry Corbitt is expected to resign Wednesday. Corbitt is the second state law enforcement official to leave after the latest scandal. Corbitt has acknowledged that a police official had contact with a woman who had accused a top aide to Governor David Paterson of roughing her up. After that, the woman dropped the case. Corbitt's boss, Deputy Secretary for Public Safety Denise O'Donnell, resigned last week. She said direct contact by the governor and troopers with the woman was unacceptable.

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Lt. Governor and Senator Joe Scarnati says he had hoped House Democrats and Governor Ed Rendell learned last year that Senate Republicans won't go along with a tax increase but, instead, it looks as if another tough budget season is ahead. Rendell has proposed lowering the state sales tax from 6 percent to 4 percent, but taking tax exemptions off dozens of items. "He has some really neat words he uses to make you feel good, but it's over a billion dollar tax increase," Scarnati said. Scarnati said he's willing to debate what should be taxed and what shouldn't, "but the point of the matter is it's a $1.2 billion tax increase." "You may not see it as well as you see property tax or (tax) coming out of your paycheck, but that's still a massive tax increase," he said. He said would be willing to debate Rendell in a public forum on several issues. One of those issues is a tax on plumbing services...

The Keating Township Roadmaster has issued a road closure for Reed Run Road from the Roulette Township LIne to the intersection of Odin Road. The closure is due to excessive ice buildup throughout the winter. "Road Closed" signs have been posted. This closure will most likely be in effect until the spring thaw. Motorists are advised to stay off this section of Reed Run Road until penalty of law.

University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Mark Nordenberg has selected Patricia M. Colosimo of Bradford as a recipient of the 2010 Chancellor’s Award for Staff Excellence in Service to the University. Colosimo is assistant director of arts programming at Pitt-Bradford. She is one of four staff members university-wide to receive the award, which was created to recognize staff members who make a significant impact on the university through their commitment and performance. The Chancellor’s Award for Staff Excellence is the highest honor a staff member can receive. Colosimo and the other recipients were honored at Pitt’s honors convocation Friday. In his letter of congratulations, Nordenberg said Colosimo was recommended by the selection committee for her “unending dedication to the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. “Your supporters for this award cited your willingness to undertake any task asked of you, even those which are no lo...

The St. Bonaventure community looks to benefit from the newest Lenna Visiting Professor Dr. William M. Shea. Shea’s career has focused on the intersection of the Catholic intellectual tradition with modern culture. He has held academic positions at the Catholic University of America, the University of South Florida, St. Louis University and the College of the Holy Cross. Additionally, Shea has been a fellow at Harvard, Yale, and the Smithsonian Institution. Shea has authored two books, “The Naturalist and the Supernatural: A Study in Horizon and an American Philosophy of Religion” and “The Lion and the Lamb: Evangelicals and Catholics in America.” He has also written more than 50 articles in scholarly and professional papers and edited three volumes of academic essays on American religion. Dr. John Apczynski and the Department of Theology at St. Bonaventure nominated Shea, a Columbia graduate, for the Lenna Visiting Professorship. “This work directly addresses what the community ...

Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter leads Democratic primary challenger, U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak 53 - 29 percent and has pushed ahead of Republican Pat Toomey 49 - 42 percent in a general election matchup, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today, up from a 44 - 44 percent tie December 18. In a battle of the unknowns, Toomey leads Sestak 39 - 36 percent with 24 percent undecided. President Barack Obama's job approval rating in Pennsylvania remains below 50 percent, at 49 - 46 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Fewer than one in five Pennsylvanians think the federal government in Washington, or the state government in Harrisburg, does the right thing almost all or most of the time. "Sen. Arlen Specter seems to be having a good winter politically. He is back ahead of Republican Pat Toomey after having been essentially tied with him since last summer, and there remains no evidence that his primary challenger, Congressman J...

The National Organization for Women is urging Governor David Paterson to resign. In the past, NOW has backed Paterson and his efforts to fight domestic violence. The call for Paterson's resignation comes in the wake of allegations the governor directed two staff members to contact a woman involved in a domestic violence dispute with one of the governor's top aides. NOW's New York State President Marcia Pappas says, despite Paterson's excellent record with women's issues, it's time for him to step down.

Brass Roots Trio will perform its popular “American Impressions” program at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 12, in the seventh concert of the Friends of Good Music season at St. Bonaventure University’s Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. “American Impressions” is a lively program that captures vignettes of the many aspects of American culture with music ranging from Aaron Copland’s “Rodeo” to Billy Joel’s “Root Beer Rag.” Brass Roots Trio brings to life memories of Mississippi River boats and the musical legends they carried from New Orleans, Southern gospel revivals, and the haunting beauty of Appalachian melodies. With three musicians and a multitude of instruments – piano, horn, trumpet, flugelhorn, cornet and violin – Brass Roots Trio dazzles audiences with pyrotechnic virtuosity and exquisite sounds. Its members, Rosetta Senkus Bacon, Travis Heath and Christina Ciraulo, infuse their music with passion and exuberant energy, and their spontaneity and presentation establish an immediate c...

Two Olean residents have pleaded guilty for attacking a man outside a convenience store and stealing 30 dollars from him. 20-year-old Jamie Crawford and 23-year-old and Joshua Slawson were each charged with robbery and assault for the incident that happened November 14 in Olean. They're scheduled for sentencing on June 6.

The Southern Tier Symphony, regarded as “one of the treasures of our region,” will perform next week at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford as part of the university’s annual Spectrum Series. The pops concert, titled “Music Tells a Story,” will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 7, in Bromeley Family Theater in Blaisdell Hall. Tickets are $20 for the public and free for Pitt-Bradford students, and are available on the day of the performance at the Bromeley Family Theater. Musical selections include “The Thrill of the Orchestra” by Russell Peck, “Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham” by Robert Kapilow and “Peter and the Wolf” by Serge Prokofiev. Peck’s “The Thrill of the Orchestra” is an illustration of the various instruments and how they are played. The piece will be narrated by Father Greg Dobson, parish priest of St. Mary of the Angels Church, Olean. “Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham” was hailed by Denise Bolger Kovnat of the Rochester Review as, “colorful...quoting everything from ‘Heart a...