Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Zippo President and CEO Greg Booth will be one of the speakers during a meeting Wednesday concerning the future of Route 219. The meeting will be hosted by the Cattaraugus County Legislature’s Route 219 Corridor Development Committee, and will feature leaders from industry, tourism, health and education. Representatives of state and federal legislators will also be attending the meeting. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss how completion of the Route 219 highway will create sustainable jobs, and promote development in the region. Representatives from Dresser-Rand, St. Bonaventure University and Olean General Hospital have also been confirmed as speakers for the meeting. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Dresser-Rand in Olean is building a new research and development facility that will help the company retain 787 jobs and create 50 new jobs. Dresser-Rand has received a half-million dollar grant from the Empire State Development Board that will go toward the cost of construct, machinery and equipment. The total cost of the project is $9.6 million. The development board awarded $3.3 million in grants throughout the state and says it will help to create 168 new jobs and retain more than 1,400. http://www.esd.ny.gov/ The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will present a “Bits of Bygone Bradford” lecture series in February and March. The series of historical lectures was developed by the Bradford Landmark Society for the Pitt-Bradford Division of Continuing Education and Regional Development. Sessions are from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursdays Feb. 16 through March 22. The cost for the lectures is $15 per class or $75 for all six. Classes take place in Room 200 of the Seneca Building at 2 Main St. in Bradford. The first week’s topic is “Bootleggers, Bullets and Blood” about the 1920s moonshine feud between Olean, N.Y., and Bradford. On Feb. 23, the subject is “Build a Better Bradford with Bricks.” At one time, Bradford had five brick plants manufacturing bricks that were used all over the east coast. Participants will learn the story of the brick works, the significance of the Italian immigration to the area and the history behind the “Bradford Reds.” ...

Dresser-Rand plans to buy a Virginia company for about $50 million. The transaction between Dresser-Rand and Synchrony is expected to close next month. Synchrony is a technology development company with a portfolio of world-class technologies and products including active magnetic bearings, high speed motors and generators, and power electronics for clean, efficient, and reliable rotating machinery. http://investor.dresser-rand.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=631503 The original news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Senator Catharine Young will be hosting a roundtable discussion this Thursday with key transportation, tourism, labor, logistics, education, banking and health care officials from around the region to discuss the importance of completing the NY Route 219/Continental 1 expansion project in New York. The “Route 219: Road to Our Future” forum will focus on finding ways to improve the state, local and regional efforts for reviving the north-south expressway project that is hoped to open the region to new trade markets that will bring new jobs and economic development opportunities. A completed Route 219/Continental 1 will provide Western New York with a nationally significant trade corridor connection from Toronto to Miami using 1,300 miles of completed interstate highways. Completing approximately 20 miles of Route 219 is the essential connection for the New York State portion of the route. Senator Young, joined by members of the Western New York Legislative Delegation, will host Thursday...

Police have released the name of the man who died Friday afternoon in an industrial accident at Dresser-Rand in Wellsville. Donald Gadley of Friendship was taken to Jones Memorial Hospital after the 2 p.m. accident, and was pronounced dead there. Police say they will release more information after OSHA completes its investigation.

By SANDRA RHODES The Sixth Annual Willow Creek Triathlon is one for the record books. There was a record number of participants as well as a record number of dollars donated to the Disabled American Veterans of McKean and Warren counties. The pouring rain did not dampen the spirits of the participants in Saturday's triathlon. More than 360 - over 100 more people than last year - either swam, rode a bicycle or ran - or did all three. But the number that really counted - $22,192.57, the amount donated to the DAV - dwarfed last year's amount of just over $11,000. The money goes towards funding the transportation network for veterans, which ensures veterans transportation to and from appointments at VA hospitals and clinics. Dan Pierce and Sandy Trocki, overall male and female winners, were awarded the Master Sgt. Thom Maholic Award. Maholic, a Bradford native, died in 2006 while fighting with the Special Forces in Afghanistan. The awards are custom made knives from W.R. Case &...

An employee at Dresser-Rand in Wellsville is dead after an industrial accident Friday afternoon. Wellsville Village Police say the accident happened at around 1:55 p.m. The man was taken by ambulance to Jones Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police have not released the man’s name yet. They will be issuing a news release Monday after OSHA completes its investigation.

Robert M. Macfarlane Sr., 85, formerly of 40 Main Street, Lewis Run, passed away, Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011 at The Pavilion at BRMC. Born September 3, 1925, in Oil City, he was a son of the late William and Margaret (Carlson) Macfarlane. On June 28, 1947 in Our Mother of Perpetual Help Church in Lewis Run he married Olga M. (Pelino) Macfarlane who died on July 15, 2003. Mr. Macfarlane was a 1951 graduate of St. Bonaventure University with a bachelors degree in chemistry. He attended the Atomic Energy Commission School at Oak Ridge Tennessee in 1957 where he studied nuclear radiation. He joined the United States Navy on March 26,1943, served on the USS Cod during WWII in the submarine service. He and his unit were awarded the Presidential Citation of Honor with three combat stars, and he was honorably discharged on April 6, 1946. In 1950, Mr. Macfarlane accepted a position with the Pennsylvania Grade Crude Oil Association Research Laboratory, located in Bradford, PA. In 1955 he was e...

Dresser Incorporated has agreed to be acquired by General Electric for $3 billion. The sale includes Dresser Piping Specialties in Bradford. Company officials say it’s too early to discuss staff or location changes. The sale does not affect Dresser-Rand in Olean, Wellsville and Painted Post.

Dresser-Rand will invest $9.6 million in its research and development operation in Olean. The investment is expected to retain 787 jobs at the manufacturing plant, and add another 50 jobs by early 2014. Dennis Mullen, chairman and chief executive officer of Empire State Development, says the project is important because commercialization of products often occurs where R&D is located. http://www.empire.state.ny.us/

Dresser® and CAR-BER® announce they have entered into an exclusive global alliance agreement to provide a full line of hot tapping and line stopping products and services. Dresser has developed a full line of hot tapping and line stopping equipment and accessories to enhance its Blackhawk® intervention solutions product line. CAR-BER is a leader in industrial specialty services with a focus on highly trained and skilled field technicians. Together Dresser and CAR-BER offer customers quality fittings combined with specialized installation services. Dresser, founded in Bradford, has locations in over 150 countries, and CAR-BER has 27 service centers worldwide. This new global alliance is uniquely positioned to respond quickly to the needs of the global energy market. “This alliance provides our customers a viable option in sourcing their fittings and service solutions,” stated Deak Harris, Vice President of Dresser Pipeline Solutions. “Dresser’s experience and reputation in the natural g...

Dresser-Rand has announced plans to build new technology research and development facilities in Olean, and expects to create 120 new jobs. The Empire State Development Corporation approved a $2 million grant on Wednesday that will go toward the $14 million project. Dresser-Rand currently employs about 550 people.

Vince Volpe, president and CEO of Dresser-Rand Group Inc., will discuss business strategy in a talk at 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, at St. Bonaventure University. The 90-minute presentation by Volpe, a member of the St. Bonaventure University Board of Trustees, will be held in Dresser Auditorium of the John J. Murphy Professional Building on campus. The talk is part of the School of Business’s Visiting Executives Series and is free and open to the public. “Mr. Volpe will talk about Dresser-Rand’s business strategy through these tumultuous economic times,” said Dr. John Watson, dean of the School of Business. “The company has weathered the storm very well.” Dresser-Rand is among the largest global suppliers of rotating equipment solutions, designing, manufacturing and servicing a wide range of technologically advanced centrifugal and reciprocating compressors, steam and gas turbines, and other equipment and control systems used in the oil and gas industry. Dresser-Rand, headquartered in ...