Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

The pink pig on the window of the United Way office on Main Street has a name. Campaign co-chairman MaryAnn Quinn made the announcement on today’s LiveLine. And the name is: Spamela Anderson. Nancy Tingley submitted the winning name in the annual name-the-pig contest that precedes the Pig Roast and Clam Bake, which is being held Thursday at the West Branch Community Club. For more information, you can go to http://uwbanews.org

“Special Olympics Thunder Run,” a motorcycle dice run sponsored by God’s Country A.B.A.T.E. and the McKean County American Legion Riders, will be held on September 18 beginning at noon. Proceeds will benefit the McKean County Special Olympics. Registration will be held from 10:00 a.m. to noon at Futures Rehabilitation Center. Cost is $10 per participant, which includes a buffet dinner and door prizes. The run will begin and end at Futures. “We are excited to be working with the Legion Riders to raise funds for the Special Olympics athletes,” said Stevee McGarvey, vice-president of God’s Country A.B.A.T.E. “This is our third year for the Thunder Run and we are expecting over 100 bikes to participate.” Motorcycles and all street legal vehicles are welcome to participate. For more information contact Stevee McGarvey at 642-2138 or Gerry Ford at 887-5439. McKean County Special Olympics is a year-round program of sports training and competition for over 360 mentally and physically chall...

Tougher penalties for poachers went into effect today, and the game commission says they hope this will reverse the state’s reputation as a haven for chronic poachers. Under the new rules, poachers face heavier fines and the possibility of jail time. Game Commission Director Carl Roe says the state used to consider big game poaching the legal equivalent of a traffic ticket. Now they could face criminal court. Roe says the poaching of a single dear now carries a minimum fine of $1,000 and could result up to 90 days in jail and a five-year hunting license revocation. Heavier penalties including jail terms up to three years are possible for repeat offenders. For more information, go here .

A second person has died from injuries she suffered in a crash on the Thruway between the Jamestown and Dunkrik/Fredonia exits on Monday afternoon. 36-year-old Hanh Nguyen of Cleveland died this morning in Hamot Medical Center. 64-year-old Hang Phan, also of Cleveland, died of her injuries on Monday. Nine people in the same family were inside a van when it slammed into a tree after 39-year-old Hung Tran apparently fell asleep at the wheel. Tran is being treated for chest injuries. A two-year-old and an adult are hospitalized in critical condition. A 5-year-old is being treated for facial injuries. 48-year-old Michael Phan is being treated for spinal injuries. A 6-year-old boy has been released from the hospital. An 8-year-old was treated at the scene.

Two Emporium residents were hurt in an accident caused by three deer crossing the road in front of their SUV Saturday morning on Route 155. State police say the SUV driven by 29-year-old Cody Greene swerved to avoid hitting the deer, but hit one of them causing the vehicle to fishtail, and eventually roll over. Green and his passenger, 32-year-old Trisha Bauer, were taken to Elk Regional Health Center for treatment of moderate injuries.

An Eldred man was not hurt when his car hit a utility pole Thursday night on Route 120 in Cameron County. State police say 21-year-old Jeffrey Baker was traveling too fast for conditions when his car left the road and hit the pole, then hit an embankment. Baker will be cited for not traveling at a safe speed.

One woman is dead and several people are hospitalized following an accident on the Thruway in the town of Westfield on Monday. Police say a van driven by 37-year-old Hung Tran of Cleveland, Ohio, drifted into the median then crossed both westbound lanes before going down an embankment and crashing into a tree at just before 5 p.m. Police believe he fell asleep behind the wheel. Four helicopters flew 5 of the injured people to hospitals in Buffalo and Erie. Three people were taken to Westfield Memorial Hospital. One child was treated at the scene. 64-year-old Hang Phan was taken to Hamot Medical Center were she was pronounced dead as a result of her injuries. Police say all of the victims are from the Cleveland area, and are related. That area of the Thruway was closed for about an hour and a half.

Two people were hurt in an accident Friday evening when a deer ran in front of their motorcycle on Route 449 in Genesee Township. Police say 46-year-old Scott Weller of Oakville lost control of the bike after hitting the deer. The bike fell onto its side and slid several hundred feet onto the shoulder of the road. Weller suffered minor abrasions from contact with the pavement. His passenger, 46-year-old Shelley Sheppard, also of Oakville, was taken to Jones Memorial Hospital for treatment of multiple abrasions to her head, leg and knee.

A Jamestown man is facing a number of charges following a domestic dispute when he threw a small sword at the front door and smashed the full length window. Police say Roger Lampman assaulted his wife then broke items in the house. He left before police arrived, but returned a couple of hours later to change his clothes because he knew police were looking for him. They say he slapped his wife before leaving the second time. Police found Lampman and charged him with assalt and three counts of endangering the weflare of a child because the couple’s four children, ages 6 to 18, were home during the indicent. He was later charged with three more counts of endangering the welfare of a child because of the filthy living conditions of the house.

A 13-year-old girl was hurt after she rode her bicycle into the path of a car on Route 6 at just before 10 o’clock Friday night. Police say 57-year-old Veronica Hill of Kane was not able to stop in time to avoid hitting the girl, who was taken to Warren General Hospital for treatment of moderate injuries. Hill was able to drive her car from the scene.

A Galeton man was hurt when his vehicle rolled over a 15-foot embankment and turned onto his roof early last week just east of Route 144. State police say 82-year-old Herman Gilbert was behind a slow moving excavator and traveled onto the edge of the road, where his pickup truck left the road and went down the embankment. Gilbert was flown by Life Net helicopter to Robert Pakcer Hospital for treatment of his injuries.

A Wilcox man is accused of hitting a woman in the back with a wooden baseball bat. Police say 24-year-old Brandon Dilley and 26-year-old Abby O’Rourke were in an argument that turned physical on Sunday morning when Dilley hit O’Rourke with the bat. Dilley is charged with simple assault and harassment.

Two Coudersport men are in jail after being accused of burglarizing a warehouse in Shinglehouse in August. State police say 36-year-old Randy Aglira and 25-year-old Anthony Duell broke into the Friendly Core Company warehouse on Route 44 and removed a surveillance system, and an unknown number of catalytic converters. They are both charged with burglary, theft by unlawful taking, criminal conspiracy and criminal mischief. They are in jail on $25,000 bail each.

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will dedicate its newest residence hall, Sarah B. Dorn House, at 4 p.m. Sept. 10. After an introduction by Dr. Livingston Alexander, president, the program for the day will feature remarks by Craig A. Hartburg, chairman of the Pitt-Bradford Advisory Board; Joseph W. Fink, associate vice chancellor for facilities management, University of Pittsburgh; Howard L. Fesenmyer, a close friend of Dorn’s and executive secretary of the Blaisdell Foundation; and Jacob Loree, president of the Student Government Association and a chemistry major from Warren. Following a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony, tours of the residence hall will be given and light refreshments will be served. The 103-bed Dorn House is the third residence hall to open on campus in five years. Located across the loop road from Fisher Hall, the $5.45-million residence hall is being named in honor of Sarah B. Dorn, co-owner of Zippo Man...

A Limestone man and an Olean man have been incidted by a Cattaraugus County grand jury for separate sex crimes. 28-year-old Jeremy Little is charged with criminal sexual act, sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child younger than 11. The alleged incident happened March 7 in Limestone. Little will be arraigned Tuesday. 33-year-old Ronald Scott of Olean is charged wth rape, sexual abuse and endangeringn the welfare of a child. The alleged incident involving young children happened in Olean in 2009. Scott will be arraigned September 13.

State police and US Border Protection agents confiscated 176 marijuana plants spotted growing in a wooded area of Sheridan Thursday morning. The plants had a street value of about $352,000. No arrests have been made yet, and police are continuing their investigation.

A Gowanda man has pleaded guilty in to possession of child pornography. 19-year-old Kenneth Fisher will be sentenced December 7 in federal court in Buffalo. The US Attorney’s office says on March 9 Fisher’s laptop was confiscated, and he admitted to downloading videos of child pornography and using the Internet sharing program LimeWire. A forensic analysis of the laptop revealed that six videos depicting child pornography were stored on the computer.

Portville Police have learned the identity of a man who couldn't remember his name or where he was from. Police haven't released the man's name, but did say he is from Johnsonburg. Police say they spoke with family members who identified him and will pick him up in Olean. WIVB-TV is reporting that the family member saw the man's picture at WIVB.com , and then contacted police.

New sheriff in town takes over cross-country - Sports This is an article in The Bona Venture about Bob Macfarlane.

Today marks 4 years since New York State Trooper Joseph Longbardo died after being shot by Ralph “Bucky” Phillips during the largest manhunt in state history. Phillips shot Longobardo and Trooper Donald Baker on August 31, 2006, while they were staking out the home of Phillips’ girlfriend in Chautauqua County. Baker recovered and returned to work. Every year, he also attends a memorial run named for Longobardo in Sarasota Springs. Proceeds from the run go toward a scholarship for a student at Amsterdam High School who plans to study criminal justice in college. Phillips was captured in Pennsylvania on September 8, 2006, and is serving a life sentence at the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York.

Megan Konopka’s daughter has been adopted by a couple from Kane, although the little girl’s grandparents had wanted custody of her. Konopka and her unborn son were murdered last September at the Riddell House. Her daughter Michell, who will turn 2 this month, has been a foster child of Scott and Laura Lorenzo since she was 3 months old. McKean County Children and Youth Services placed Michell with the Lorenzos after discovering that Konopka was mentally challenged and unable to care for her daughter. Her parents didn’t know about Michell until after Konopka’s death. Greggory Theobald is serving two consecutive life sentences without the chance of parole for killing Konopka and the unborn baby. Thomas Haggie has pleaded not guilty to his part in the crime and is undergoing a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation while awaiting trial.

Warren, Pa. – On Friday, September 3rd, the Allegheny National Forest will present an illustrated evening program on the American black bear. The program will explore and discuss the various ways North American generations have identified with black bears. Topics will also include folklore, history, biology, and safety in bear country. The program will take place at 8:00 p.m. near the Kinzua Beach bath house. There is no charge for attendance or parking. Please bring your own chairs, blankets, and flashlights.

Another radio personality at Froggy 100.3 in Meadville has died. The station announced this morning that 49-year-old Ron Smith died today of heart failure. Smith hosted the 2 to 7 p.m. show and was known to his listeners as James Pond. Smith’s death follows the May 3 death of 41-year-old Kerri Shields, who hosted a midday show and was known on the air as Crickett.

The Community Blood Bank is still experiencing a moderate blood shortage that has lingered for most of August. Labor Day Weekend is traditionally one of the three worst weekends of the year (July 4th is first and Memorial Day is second), and AAA is predicting a 10 percent increase in holiday travel. The Community Blood Bank will be taking blood donors this Saturday morning at Union Square in Bradford from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. "Labor Day is always tough for us," Says Dan Desrochers Director of Marketing at the Community Blood Bank. "People enjoy the last bit of summer and usually delay giving blood." The Community Blood Bank is the exclusive supplier of blood products to all the hospitals in Erie, Mc Kean, Warren, Elk and Potter counties, and now supplies Tioga County at over 50 percent. The CBB supplies 98 percent of all blood used in Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, & Allegany Counties in WNY. Only blood donated with the Community Blood Bank will alleviate the shortage i...

The McKean County Historical Society will host its annual fall dinner meeting on Thursday, September 16 in the East Smethport United Christian Church hall at 6 p.m. Attorney Anthony Alfieri will be the speaker for the evening and will share information regarding the life of Pennsylvania’s war governor, Andrew Gregg Curtin. Tickets are $13.00 for society members and $15.00 for non-members. They may be purchased at the Old Jail Museum and at Lindgren’s in Smethport.

Friday, October 8 is Lee National Denim Day – a day when the nation comes together to put on their jeans in exchange for a $5 contribution to the fight against breast cancer, with the goal of raising millions of dollars in a single day. The power of the idea lies in its simplicity – just start a team with co-workers, clubs, organizations, friends or family and wear jeans for a $5 donation to the Women’s Cancer Programs of the Entertainment Industry Foundation.

Temple Beth El will hold services for the Jewish High Holiday services beginning next week at the temple at 144-146 Clarence St. Services will be conducted by a rabbi. Erev Rosh Hashanah services for the New Year will begin at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 8. Rosh Hashanah services will continue at 10 a.m. Sept. 9. Yom Kippur services begin with Kol Nidre at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 17 and Yom Kippur morning services at 10 a.m. Sept. 18. Yizkor will be held at 4 p.m., followed by a potluck break fast at 5:30 p.m.

From RadioPA's Matt Paul: A south central Pennsylvania middle schooler has collected over two-million soda-can tabs, and she's just getting started. Kayla Speelman's an Adams County 8th grader with a goal of collecting 10-million of those little aluminum tabs by the time she graduates. She's turning the collection over to the Hershey Ronald McDonald House, which raises money by recycling them. It's all in memory of a friend who died of a brain tumor several years ago. Kayla can't drink millions of sodas herself though; she's already received support both near and far. We can provide information if you'd like to help Kayla collect the tabs.

LEWISTON, N.Y. – Seneca Hickory Stick Golf Course recently played host to Hank Haney, one of the nation’s premier golf instructors, TV personality and former coach for Tiger Woods. Haney was specially contracted to conduct a private two-day invitation-only teaching opportunity for VIP members of the Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel in Niagara Falls, N.Y. In late August, more than 30 VIP guests had the opportunity to perfect their golf game with Haney on Seneca Hickory Stick’s driving range during a special warm-up clinic. Each day’s group of golfers then enjoyed a lunch before playing a full round of golf on the course, where Haney rotated between foursomes. Guests also received copies of Haney’s latest book, Essentials of the Swing, during an evening cocktail hour. “It was an amazing experience for everyone at Seneca Hickory Stick to be in the presence of such a skilled and respected teacher as Haney,” said Fran Roach, general manager, Seneca Hickory Stick Golf Course. “The guests an...

A Johnsonburg resident and a Wilcox resident are accused of stealing several firearms from a Wilcox man’s home and selling them at a local gun store. Police say the firearms were stolen from the home of 64-year-old James Zilcoski between January 15 and Tuesday. Charges will be filed in District Judge Tony King’s office.

A Port Allegany man suffered major injuries in a motorcycle accident Wednesday morning on Route 46, just north of Spring Run Road in Norwich Township. State Police say 62-year-old Herbert Witter Jr. was traveling south when a deer ran into his path. Witter couldn’t avoid the collision and the bike hit the deer, causing the motorcycle to go out of control and slide onto the berm. Witter was taken by ambulance to Charles Cole Memorial Hospital.

By SANDRA RHODES One Book Bradford’s next selection is sure to be worth every cent – or so the author’s name implies. “Still Life” by Louise Penny of Quebec, Canada, has been chosen for the upcoming One Book Bradford season. In its fourth year, One Book Bradford is a community-wide reading initiative in which a book is picked and the community is encouraged to read it. Several activities are held throughout the season, which culminates with a visit from the author. “I was so pleased and so humbled that you would choose my books,” Penny said. “You know, Emily Dickenson called novels, 'frigates' that allowed us to travel to places we wouldn't normally go. “Bradford has taken it that glorious extra step, by not only choosing to 'travel' to Quebec, but in spending months reading the series and considering it, you are bridging the considerable divide between Bradford and Quebec. And I am most grateful for that.” This year, the committee also wanted to challenge the reade...

BonaResponds, a St. Bonaventure University community volunteer organization, is inviting the public to help prepare boxes of food for children affected by the earthquake in Haiti. The food will be packaged during a daylong work session Saturday, Sept. 11, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Reilly Center on campus. The organization, under the direction of Dr. Jim Mahar, associate professor of finance, will be working with a group called Feed My Starving Children to pack enough boxes of food to feed 100,000 children. They will also be looking for new volunteers to continue fundraising efforts for Haiti. “We really want and need community groups to get involved, including churches, Scout groups, school classes, etc.,” says Mahar. Volunteers will work in shifts of two hours, and may work one or multiple shifts. According to Feed My Starving Children, the meals to be packed are called MannaPack-Rice. They consist of rice, dehydrated vegetables and chicken flavored vitamins, can be cooked with boi...

PennDOT has removed weight postings on the Rixford Bridge on Route 246 near the village of Rixford in Otto Township, McKean County. In 2009, PennDOT posted the bridge for a 30-ton weight limit for single vehicles and a 38-ton weight limit for combination vehicles. With bridge repairs complete, PennDOT has been able to remove the weight restriction posting. The Rixford Bridge, which spans Baker Run was built in 1925 and is 41 feet long. The bridge carries an average of 1,159 vehicles per day.

John Robinson, VP Business Development for American Refining Group, Inc. (ARG) recently met with Yoshinobu Iwasaki, President of Iwasaki Corp located in Kobe, Japan. Mr. Iwasaki and his family were in Bradford for a brief visit to the refinery. Iwasaki Corp has been purchasing lubricants from the refinery since 1949 making them the oldest distributor for ARG. Iwasaki Corp was originally named Kendall Japan and was started by Mr. Iwasaki’s father. He began by importing motor oil and lubricants for the American made cars that began arriving in Japan after World War II. In 1997, when the Kendall brand was sold from the refinery to a 3rd party, Kendall Japan was renamed Iwasaki Corp and has continued purchasing lubricants from the refinery. Since then they have branched out into industrial products supplying the metal working, industrial segments and grease markets in Japan. Photo and information provided by ARG

Faulty wiring is being blamed for a fire that damaged a Potter County home on Sunday. The fire damaged a mobile home with a metal garage attached to one side and a wood-framed structure on the other side. The entire residence owned by Dennis Furman of Austin was severely damaged. The damage estimate is $133,000. State police say the fire started in the mobile home area, and a fault in electrical wiring was found where a utility light was plugged into a wall outlet.

New York State didn’t start collecting taxes from Native American retailers today after all. A state appellate court judge issued an order today stopping the collections. State Supreme Court Judge Donna Siwek had lifted an earlier order Monday. The Seneca and Cayuga nations appealed that decision. Those tribes won a federal court order Tuesday temporarily barring collections against them. But the state said it would start imposing the $4.35 per pack tax on cigarettes shipped by wholesalers to other reservation retailers starting today. There is no end date for the restraining order. Governor David Paterson says the state will continue its court battle and believes New York will prevail.

Today marks 4 years since New York State Trooper Joseph Longbardo died after being shot by Ralph “Bucky” Phillips during the largest manhunt in state history. Phillips shot Longobardo and Trooper Donald Baker on August 31, 2006, while they were staking out the home of Phillips’ girlfriend in Chautauqua County. Baker recovered and returned to work. Every year, he also attends a memorial run named for Longobardo in Sarasota Springs. Proceeds from the run go toward a scholarship for a student at Amsterdam High School who plans to study criminal justice in college. Phillips was captured in Pennsylvania on September 8, 2006, and is serving a life sentence at the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York.