Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Lynne Comilla Hinton of Wendell, NC, passed away peacefully at home on December 6, 2014. Lynne fought a courageous battle with cancer. She was born February 24, 1960 in Bradford, PA. She is the daughter of Margaret "Peggy" Comilla of Raleigh, NC and the late Carmen Anthony Comilla. She was a 1978 graduate of Bradford Central Christian High School and attended Wendell Christian Church. She served as fiscal administrator for the Wake County Public School System and was a devoted employee for over 23 years. Lynne is survived by her devoted husband and best friend Bruce Hinton; her loving daughter Allison Williams Pearce (Steven) of Knightdale, NC; her loving son Ronald "Rusty" A. Williams III (Ashley) of Knightdale, NC; sisters Lisa Comilla Farina (Richard) of Fuquay-Varina, NC, Jennifer Comilla Salada (Gregory) of Jacksonville, FL, and a special sister Sheri Womack (Quinton) of Wake Forest, NC; brothers Carmen A. "Chip" Comilla Jr. and Michael Sturm Com...

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...

City taxpayers will not see a tax increase, according to the 2014 budget unveiled by Bradford City Council Tuesday night. Councilman Jim Evans, who oversees accounts and finances, thanked all city employees, especially City Clerk John Peterson, Deputy City Clerk Teri Cannon, Chief Financial Officer Mike Shanks and all the department heads for their work on this budget, and for keeping costs in line for 2013. Specifically, he thanked them for “continuing to live within our budget, looking for new sources of revenue, making sure we leave no stone unturned” in terms of spending and looking for new revenue sources, and watching spending. Evans said the city is “in a very enviable position,” noting that while the city is not “flush with money” it is “running in a very sound manner financially.” After Evans read his letter to the city that declared no property tax increase, Mayor Tom Riel said, “... in the next couple of weeks, as numbers continue to come in, maybe we can lower them a li...

In an effort to make it easier for the city’s new financial officer to do his job properly, Bradford City Council has approved on first reading changes to several tax ordinances. During its meeting Tuesday night council OK’d changes to the Local Taxpayer Bill of Rights, Mercantile License Tax, Business Privilege Tax, Local Services Tax and Public Utility Tax Ordinance. City Solicitor Mark Hollenbeck explained the changes give Michael Shanks “the ability to monitor the ordinances, enforce them as part of his duties with the city.” Mayor Tom Riel stressed that council is not raising taxes or creating new taxes. In other matters, council authorized the filing of a Keystone Communities Façade and Public Improvement Grant for the Second Ward Neighborhood Partnership Program. The $400,000 grant would go toward the NPP façade program, streetscape improvements and new construction. The city is also seeking a Home Program grant from the state’s Department of Community and Economic Develo...

The next phase of the city’s paving project is scheduled to start Thursday. The streets included are Summer Street, upper Pearl Street, Prendergast Avenue, Spring Street, Blaisdell Avenue, Leland Avenue, Lowell Avenue and Euclid Avenue between North Kendall and East Main. City public works director Chip Comilla says the contractor hasn’t told him yet where they’re going to start, but he will pass that information on to us as soon as he gets it. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Smile, you’re on “Candid Camera.” Well, you will be after the much-talked-about security cameras are installed in downtown Bradford. City Council on Tuesday opened three bids for the cameras. Police Chief Chris Lucco will review the bids and council is expected to award the contract during its June 11 meeting. The cameras are being paid for with private donations, not tax dollars. An East Washington Street business owner asked if businesses not on Main Street and its side streets will be able to hook into the city’s system once it’s installed. Mayor Tom Riel said other business owners and church leaders have asked the same question and the answer is, yes, they will be able to connect to the system. On the other end of the spectrum, city resident Ben Palagonia asked if there has been an increase in crime in the city to make the cameras necessary. “I haven’t felt unsafe,” he said of walking in Bradford at night. “I feel more unsafe walki...

The City of Bradford has scheduled a second Spring cleanup for next week. Councilman Fred Proper explained that because of weather and other issues last month "we felt that there wasn't enough time for people to properly clean up." The extra items will be picked up on regular trash pickup days. "Basically, if it's under 40 pounds and not hazardous and neatly stacked at the curb, we can pick it up," Proper said. Electronics and tires are two exceptions. A tire cleanup will be held in August, according to DPW and Parks Director Chip Comilla. The third exception is lawn waste, which will be picked up on the day after regular trash pickup. Listen to the entire meeting here . 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...

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By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director In what Mayor Tom Riel called a rare occurrence, Bradford City Council was presented with a resolution for a change order to reduce the cost of a construction project. OECD Executive Director Sara Andrews explained during Tuesday’s council meeting that they knew going into the Pine Street Pedestrian Bridge project that they could reduce costs and, with the help of contractor Bob Cummins, they were able to lower it by more than $17,000. One of the biggest ways they reduced cost was getting boulders from the Bradford City Water Authority instead of going to Marienville to buy them and transport them. The water authority said the city could have boulders on their property, and would just have to pay the cost to transport them. That saved about $10,000, she said. Cummins also suggested building the entrance steps on-site instead of having pre-fabricated steps brought in. They also scrapped the plan to have lights on the railings. “We felt that was ...

Bradford’s road resurfacing project will begin at 7 o’clock Tuesday morning and will continue throughout the month. The roads being resurfaced are Congress, Bushnell, Barbour, Orchard Place, Burnside, Cornen, High and Rochester. Residents in the affected areas are asked to comply with the reminders that will be placed on their doors the day before the paving begins, and to not park in these areas until resurfacing is finished. Flaggers will be directing traffic in the affected areas. The project dates are weather dependent. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Questions about the sale of the Main Street Mercantile were raised during Tuesday’s Bradford City Council meeting. Calvin Court resident Patricia Demjan posed the questions. The Downtown Bradford Revitalization Corporation owned and operated the mercantile, but recently sold it to local businessman Todd Hennard. OECD Executive Director Sara Andrews, who is also treasurer of the non-profit DBRC, said Hennard approached them about the mercantile when he bought the building at 45 Main Street. “We felt it was time that the business be moved into the private sector,” Andrews said. “I think it will continue to grow and be an economic driver in our downtown community.” “It looks really nice,” Demjan said, then asked about the sale price. Andrews said the money the DBRC received went toward paying the old landlord and other expenses. The rest of the money will go toward promoting downtown activities. Demjan also asked why the it wasn’t put out to bid. A...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Delta Development Group is recommending something many people in Bradford have been suggesting for years: Taking code enforcement out of the fire department. That was one of the many recommendations the consultants made during a presentation Wednesday night concerning their work with the city in the Early Intervention Program for financially troubled cities in the state. “(Code enforcement) does not belong in the fire department,” said Deborah Grass of Delta. “We don’t think it makes a whole lot of sense for trained firefighters to be looking for high grass and weeds and garbage and junk cars and those kinds of things.” Grass made it clear that Delta was not doing performance reviews of personnel or departments; they were concentrating on the financial aspects of all city departments. Before the presentation Mayor Tom Riel stressed that while some recommendations in Delta’s report have already been implemented, not every one will be. “Just becau...

A day without rain (finally!) allowed city workers to get started on filling potholes.

Chip Comilla is now head of city parks as well as public works. Bradford City Council approved the appointment during its meeting Tuesday night. Comilla replaces Gary Alcock, who retired at the end of last year. Councilman Fred Proper, who oversees the Department of Public Works, praised Jim Copeland and Greg Taylor who ran the department for the last few months. "They're both to be commended for that," Proper said. "Going through what, I think what everyone would agree, was one of the worst winters we've had in years, Jim's been faced with some pretty heavy snowplowing issues -- at least trying to keep the streets drivable over the last few months. A big thank you out to both of those people." "They did a tremendous job," added Mayor Tom Riel. You can listen to last night's meeting here .

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...