Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Several Elk County companies have received Governor’s ImPAct Awards. GKN Sinter Metals, which has facilities in St. Marys and Kersey, as well as Emporium in Cameron County, received a Community Impact Award. Penn Pallet in St. Marys received an Entrepreneur Award. Metco Industries of St. Marys received a Jobs First Award. St. Marys Carbon received a Small Business Impact Award. American Refining Group, Kessel Construction, Luminite and B&T Contractors in Bradford, as well as Zook Motors and Flickerwood Wine Cellars in Kane were finalists for the awards. Governor Tom Corbett today recognized 50 outstanding Pennsylvania companies and entrepreneurs for creating jobs, developing ideas, reaching new markets and making positive contributions in local communities. The awardees were chosen by an independent judging panel selected by the state’s partners, Team Pennsylvania Foundation (Team PA) and Journal Multimedia. For more information, visit www.newPA.com/impact-awards The news ...

the renovated Callahan Park ice rink. Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce photo 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...

Dr. Livingston Alexander, president of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, second from right, chats with, from left, state Rep. Marty Causer, R-Turtlepoint; state Sen. Joe Scarnati, R-Brockway, and Dr. K. James Evans, deputy mayor of Bradford, before taking the field for the rededication of the Kessel Athletic Complex. The complex was rededicated following a $2.68 million renovation that occurred during the summers of 2011 and 2012 and made significant improvements to the baseball, soccer and softball fields. The rededication was held prior to the first semi-final game between Keystone and Lionsville in the Pennsylvania Little League Championship being held at the complex this week. Alan Hancock photo The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

On today's LiveLine Frank Williams spoke with Barry Bacha and Jim Newhouse of the Bradford Regional Little League about the Boys Pennsylvania Little League State Finals being played at Pitt-Bradford's Kessel Athletic Complex all next week. Video streaming by Ustream The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will host eight teams from throughout Pennsylvania next week that are competing for the state Little League Championship. Teams will arrive July 20 and begin four days of pool play beginning July 21 with games scheduled at 1, 4 and 7 p.m. daily at the softball field at the Kessel Athletic Complex. Semi-final games are scheduled for 4 and 7 p.m. July 25, with the championship game scheduled to take place at 5:30 p.m. July 26. Rain dates will be July 27 and 28. Those planning on attending or driving in the area during the week should know that Campus Drive will be closed from Nelson Avenue to Onofrio Street. Parking will be available at the Richard E. and Ruth McDowell Sport and Fitness Center, Blaisdell Hall and other areas on campus. A free Area Transportation Authority trolley will run a continuous loop, making stops at the softball field, sport and fitness center, Dorn House and Campus Police...

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

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will host a dinner on stage in the Bromeley Family Theater for its Arts Endowment Gala in September. “An Evening on Stage – and You’re the Star” will take place at 6 p.m. Sept. 17 in Blaisdell Hall and includes cocktails, dinner, a live auction, dessert and live entertainment throughout the evening. Valet parking will be available. Tickets are $80 and can be purchased by Sept. 6 by calling Patty Colosimo, assistant director of arts programming at (814)362-5155. No tickets will be sold at the door. Terri Leven, chairwoman of the gala, said that each year the committee works to create an “inspiring” experience for those attending the event. “This year’s event will spotlight a theatrical evening,” she said. “We’re taking our guests into a deeper part of the theater – on stage and behind the scenes -- than they usually get to experience.” Performers during the evening will be...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Luminte officials have made their decision about moving their company -- and they're coming to McKean County. Luminite has been working out of the former St. Patrick's School in Salamanca since the May 2010 fire at the former Fancher Furniture plant destroyed the company offices on Rochester Street. They had been considering a move to either Cattaraugus County or McKean County. Bradford Office of Economic and Community Development Executive Director Sara Andrews confirmed Tuesday evening that the company will be relocating to the Lafferty Hollow Industrial Park. "We're absolutely thrilled to have them come to our community," Andrews said. They will be building a 45,000 square foot facility within the next few months. Kessel Construction of Bradford will be the general contractor. When the company is up and running at the Lafferty Hollow site, they will be bringing 60 new employees to McKean County. Andrews said she believes...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director The Bradford Zoning Hearing Board on Tuesday granted variances to two businesses, which could mean a pick-me-up for the local economy. The first variance will allow Bradford Fairway Sales & Leasing to build an auto showroom for its Ford Lincoln Mercury and Chrysler Dodge Jeep business at 215 Euclid Avenue. The current car lot there will remain, and the building will be added onto it. Ben Shearman, general manager of Bradford Fairway Sales & Leasing, explained that the current building on East Main Street “can’t support the needs of two additional franchises.” Board member Jeff Carson said he had concerns about traffic because that’s “a rotten intersection,” but Shearman said he doesn’t anticipate a huge or significant increase in traffic. “The nerve center of the whole unit in its totality will still be operating” from the East Main Street location. He said he anticipates at least another 40 vehicles being sold per month, and 35 percent ...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director During a meeting that lasted about six minutes, Bradford City Council approved sales of two properties currently in the McKean County Tax Claim Repository. Council approved the sale of 31 South Kendall Avenue to Russell and Wendy Persing, and the sale of 437 South Avenue to Marvin Race. Also Tuesday, Council accepted a bid from Stryker EMS Equipment for ambulance equipment. Stryker’s bid was $42,069.97. The other bid was from Boundtree Medical LLC at $58,276.25. The money comes from an Assistance to Firefighters Grant from the Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency, and will go toward the purchase of three cots and one stair chair. Council also accepted a bid of $19,167 from CILS Incorporated to buy a washer and dryer for firefighter turn out gear. This money is also from a federal grant. Council rejected all bids received for ventilator/respirators because the bid packets they received did not have the required docu...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director A local contractor has concerns about the way the Office of Community and Economic Development conducts business regarding home rehabilitation projects, and he brought those concerns to Bradford City Council Tuesday night. Bob Baker of Baker General Contracting had questions about why he wasn’t getting bid announcements for projects, and also about how the projects are advertised and awarded. The questions led to heated exchanges between Baker and OECD Executive Director Sara Andrews, and even prompted Mayor Tom Riel to bang his gavel and ask for order, and Councilman Rick Benton to scold people about being polite. Andrews and City Solicitor Mark Hollenbeck explained that OECD is simply a conduit between the homeowners and the contractors and, therefore, the same rules that apply to bids for city-related projects do not apply to the home rehabilitation projects. Eventually, Andrews said she would make sure bid announcements are sent to Baker, an...

Two McKean County projects are getting nearly $1 million from the state. The Kessel Athletic Complex will receive $500,000 while the McKean County Multi-Tenant Facility will receive $400,000. Senator Joe Scarnati said the funding is being made available through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, which is intended to assist in the immediate creation of quality, family-sustaining jobs. To date, $1.5 million has been released for the Kessel project, bringing the total amount of state assistance secured to $2 million. Scarnati says the Kessel project will create construction jobs and ultimately provide new opportunities for recreation. He adds that even in a tight budget year, economic development and job creation must remain a top priority. The money for the Kessel project is being released to the Bradford Office of Economic and Community Development. The money for the multi-tenant center is being released to the McKean County Industrial Development Authority.

When Ann Kessel of Bradford wanted to get her husband, Dick, an extra special birthday gift, it didn’t take long for her to come up with a solution – a scholarship at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. “We’re very interested in education and want to help students pay for a quality education,” Ann Kessel said. It turned out to be the perfect present. When Dick Kessel needed a present for his wife’s birthday, he added her name to the scholarship. The Kessels gift was matched by the Agnes L. and Lewis Lyle Thomas Scholarship Challenge. This fall, the first Ann and Dick Kessel Scholarship was awarded to Grace Chuhinka, a sophomore nursing major from Marysville. Preference for the scholarship goes to students enrolled in the business management, sports medicine, nursing and pre-medicine programs. Ann Kessel said those programs reflect the family’s interests. The Kessels are the owners of Kessel Construction Inc., a respected Brad...