Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

City Parks Director Chip Comilla (center) cuts the ribbon on the Born Learning Trail, installed by volunteers for the United Way of the Bradford Area. The signs along the trail at Callahan Park direct young children and their parents through a variety of activities, including hopscotch, making up songs & stories and looking for wildlife. Comilla says the trail is a great addition to the park. Also pictured are, board members Debbie Curtin and Steve Williams and UWBA Executive Director Mandi Wilton Davis. The project was funded by American Refining Group, the Blaisdell Foundation and the United Way, with several businesses providing in-kind contributions. About two dozen volunteers helped install the trail on Saturday. Davis said Comilla, Mayor Tom Riel and Bradford City Council members have been supporting the project since she first approached them with it. The trail starts at the Bradford High-area entrance to the park, loops around the splash pad, goes past the basketball co...

The longest day of the year will be an impactful one as well, with the United Way of the Bradford Area’s 4th Annual Live United Day of Action scheduled for Saturday, June 21st. The event, sponsored by American Refining Group and the Philo and Sarah Blaisdell Foundation, will focus on providing an interactive learning experience for young children by installing a Born Learning trail at Callahan Park. The trail will consist of 10 (12” by 24”) aluminum signs, placed throughout the park, and printed with engaging, early learning activities. Shapes, letters, and a 12’ hopscotch court will adorn the park’s sidewalks, which correspond with the signs’ activities. Although geared toward children up to age five, the trail also serves as a tool to help parents and caregivers find simple, yet clever ways, to incorporate education into a child’s daily life, beginning at the earliest possible stages. “I am excited for our organization to be able to offer this to our local community,” said Execut...

The annual Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by Bradford City Firefighters Local 655 will be held at Callahan Park Saturday April 19 starting at 11 a.m. Rain or shine. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

the renovated Callahan Park ice rink. Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce photo The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Temple Beth El in Bradford will hold services for the Jewish High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Services will be conducted by Rabbi Susan Stone of Cleveland, Ohio, with music provided by Charles Stone. Evening services will begin at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 4 at the temple, which is located at 144 Clarence St. in Bradford. Morning services will be held at 10 a.m. Sept. 5 at the temple, followed by taschlich in Callahan Park and the dedication of a Holocaust memorial at the Hebrew Cemetery in Bradford. Yom Kippur services will begin with Kol Nidre at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 13 and continue with morning services at 10 a.m. Sept. 14 at the temple. Yizkor and concluding services will begin at 4 p.m. Sept. 14, followed by a break-the-fast meal. For more information, contact Kimberly Marcott Weinberg at 814-331-5664. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

About 600 plants -- including evergreens -- will be added to Pine Street in the ongoing renovation project. Bradford City Council on Tuesday accepted quotes of $16,000 and $7,000 from Hoffman Landscape and Nursery and Johnson's Evergreen Nursery, respectively, to add the areas in and around the Pine Street parking lot and Pine Street pedestrian bridge. The larger payment will come from a recreational grant from the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission and local funds; the other from 2012 CDBG money and local funds. Council also accepted a quote of $15,500 from Silvis Electric to provide labor and materials needed to connect and light 39 light poles in the Elm Street Neighborhood Project. Also, council authorized a change order with Kessel Construction for the Callahan Park Ice Rink renovation project. Kessel has asked for a time extension with a new completion date expected to be September 27. You can listen to the meeting here . The new...

UPDATE: Due to an unexpected issue that popped up, the pour will not start until 4 a.m. Wednesday. People in the Brook Street and Bon Air Avenue areas, as well as motorists on Interstate Parkway, will experience increased truck traffic and noise starting at 3 a.m. Tuesday while concrete floor is being poured for the new ice skating rink surface at the Callahan Park rink. This will be a continuous pour once the project starts, and means numerous cement trucks will be traveling back and forth from the cement plant to the skating rink. The City of Bradford is asking that motorists used caution when traveling in the area between 3 a.m. and noon Tuesday, and thanks everyone for their cooperation and understanding. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Bradford Area School District is sponsoring a bookmobile that will be in the community through August 8. It will be going around the community to various parks. The schedule is: Monday-Callahan Park Tuesday-Hanley Park Wednesday-Brookline Court Park Thursday-Kendall Ave Park The book mobile will be set up at the parks from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.. There is no charge, and students are allowed to check out two books each time. Also, there are picture books available for toddlers and younger children. There will be a variety of books for all ages. The students will get a certificate for a treat when they return their books. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Bradford City Council on Tuesday awarded the $1.8 million contract for renovations to the Callahan Park ice rink to Kessel Construction. Councilman Brad Mangel said he is glad the contract went to a local company. The project will paid for with $500,000 in grant money and through the refinancing of a general obligation bond, which council also approved last night. City Clerk John Peterson explained that $1.8 million for the renovation was included in this year’s city budget. Listen to the entire meeting here . The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Bids were opened during Tuesday’s Bradford City Council for the Callahan Park Ice Rink renovation project. They ranged from $1.8 million to $2.1 million. The project engineer is looking over the bids and council expects to award the contract during its next meeting. Council also authorized the advertisement of bids for the Pine Street Parking Lot Improvement Project, and approved the placement of additional temporary directional signs for the Holiday Inn Express. The signs must be approved by DPW Director Chip Comilla. Also, a Rockland Avenue couple who rent several properties in the city expressed their displeasure with the NewBury Commons housing project, saying “it’s a constant struggle” to find good tenants and there are “only so many decent people to rent to.” They feel that approving the project “literally takes food off our table.” Council observed a moment of silence for former councilman Frederick Proper, who died earlier this month. Mayor Tom Riel also read a certificate o...

The National Weather Service in State College says hot and muggy conditions will prevail over the upcoming weekend and into next week, as a weak cold front stalls near the Pennsylvania, Maryland border. Temperatures in this area will be in the mid- to upper 80s through Thursday with only a 20 percent chance of rain. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

These kids were among the dozens of youngsters keeping cool Thursday night at Callahan Park's splash pad. The Barcroft Pool was packed, too, with kids of all ages. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Former NFL player Seth Payne poses for a picture with Voice of the Owls Frank Williams during the Big 30 Banquet Thursday at Pitt-Bradford. Payne played 5 years with the Jacksonville Jaguars and 5 years with the Houston Texanas, and is now an assistant coach with the Portivlle Panthers, The annual Don Raabe Big 30 Charities Classic is at 7 p.m. Saturday at Parkway Field. You can hear the game on 1490 WESB, 100.1 The HERO and live online at WESB.com . The parade starts at 2 p.m. on Main Street. A tailgate party follows at Callahan Park.

This young lady gets ready to hunt for some Easter eggs at the Callahan Park ice rink Saturday morning. The Bradford City Firefighters Local 655 annual egg hunt had to be held inside because of the weather, but no one seemed to mind.

Better late than never -- here are some First Night pictures: These skaters practice their skills at the Callahan Park Ice Rink ... while these people start rolling in the new year at Byllye Lanes. The ever-popular First Night Art Show included pieces by Rick Minard, Nancy Crissman, Dee Smith, Rocky Holland, Jesse Nuzzo, Wade Aiken, Cassie Brandow, Nancy Pascarella and more.

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Bradford City Council passed on first reading a budget that, as is, would mean a tax increase of about 4 mils. But Mayor Tom Riel and all four councilmen said they would not pass it on final reading next month unless significant changes are made. “I’ll never vote for this sort of tax increase,” said Councilman Jim Evans during Tuesday's council meeting. “The tax increase that’s proposed by this (budget) is way out of line with what our citizens can afford,” said Councilman Fred Proper. Proper also noted that the last page of the ordinance says it “shall be effective upon final passage,” which would be December 28. Riel reminded everyone that, just like last year, the first reading of the budget doesn’t look good and, last year, it looked as if a huge millage increase would be necessary, “but we shaved that down to almost nothing.” The anticipated total general fund expenditures for this year are $8,219,233. The submitted expenditures for 201...

Bradford City Police Chief Christopher Lucco, Lisa Keck and the Bradford National Night Out Committee members encourage residents to spend the evening of August 3, 2010 out and about with your fellow neighbors in recognition of the 27th annual National Night Out. Sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW), National Night Out (NNO) was conceived with the aim of empowering community residents, and as a unique tool against criminal and drug activity. Along with traditional displays of outdoor lights and front porch vigils celebrations of National Night Out also features activities such as block parties, cookouts, parades, flashlight walks, exhibits, contests, youth programs and visits from local police departments. Goals of National Night Out include creating a heightened awareness of crime and drug prevention efforts, as well strengthening neighborhood spirit. NNO 2009 involved over 36 million people in 15,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cit...

These little ones cool off in the spray park at Callahan Park Sunday afternoon. At the time they were enjoying the park (just before 4 p.m.), the thermometer at the high school message board around the corner read 91 degrees.

Just a reminder that the Bradford City Firefighters' annual Easter Egg hunt is scheduled for tomorrow at Callahan Park. The hunt starts at 11 a.m., and we should have good weather for it -- sunny with a high in the mid- to upper 40s. Every participant from age 2 through 10 will get an Easter basket in a bag.

Judy Rose and Kelly Platko of Roseart were among the vendors at the Callahan Park ice rink Saturday afternoon. Fratelli's restaurant got into the Oil 150 spirit with their chocolate derrick. Even the Bradford Owls got in on the Oil 150 action by scrimmaging ...