Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

State Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk) is back in the United States after spending most of the month of May in France on military orders with the 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania Army National Guard. Following nearly 3 weeks of training with multinational partners, his division staff took a staff ride Memorial Day weekend to trace the steps of their “Iron Division” predecessors from World War I. He is pictured here at the Pennsylvania Memorial in Varennes-en-Argonne, France, where a ceremony was conducted to pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Photo provided by Gabler's office The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Wednesday was National Guard Day at the state Capitol in Harrisburg. The occasion served as an opportunity for state Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk), a captain and medical logistics officer with the Headquarters, 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, to meet with many of his fellow servicemen and servicewomen. Pictured, from left, Gabler, Assistant Adjutant General, Brig. Gen. Carol A. Eggert; Staff Sgt. James P. Austin Jr.; and Sgt. 1st Class Vincinios Occhiena. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) announced that he has weighed in with the Department of Defense about proposed budget cuts which could impact members of the National Guard across Pennsylvania. Casey released a letter that was joined by a bipartisan group of 12 Senators that expressed concern about the impact that budget cuts would have on our national security and readiness. Currently the Department of Defense is considering a plan that would move assets like Apache helicopters away from the National Guard to the Active component. Casey also spoke to Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense Christine Fox to emphasize the importance that the National Guard has across Pennsylvania and the critical need to maintain a robust role for the National Guard in the nation’s defenses. “The women and men of Pennsylvania’s National Guard have made incredible sacrifices on behalf of our nation and contributed to keeping our country safe,” Senator Casey said. “As we drawdown in Afghanistan and ...

DUBOIS - State Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk) has accepted a request to lead a delegation of U.S. military veterans on an international exchange trip to Japan later this month. He was selected to serve as delegation escort by the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL), an organization based in Washington, D.C., that works in cooperation with the United States Department of State. “It is an honor to be chosen to lead a delegation of distinguished military veterans representing the United States overseas,” Gabler said. “I look forward to the lessons I will learn from this experience that can help me better serve my constituents in Elk and Clearfield counties. With our local economy’s strong manufacturing sector, a better understanding of the people we are trading with on the world stage will be exceptionally valuable.” ACYPL is a nonpartisan, non-governmental organization which is internationally recognized as the pre-eminent catalyst for introducing rising po...

A Smethport man escaped injury when his Mack truck crashed on Route 59 at just after noon on Wednesday, and he got some help from some Good Samaritans in uniform. Police say the truck driven by 51-year-old John Baker left the road, hit a guardrail and then went down a steep embankment and hit a tree. US Army National Guard soldiers Specialists Beau Gross and Sean Davis and Privates First Class Robert Harper and Robert Micale travelling in a US Army vehicle stopped and rendered aid. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Pat Toomey co-sponsored the bipartisan National Guard Empowerment and State-National Defense Integration Act (S. 1025) today. Sponsored by Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), this important legislation builds upon earlier reforms proposed by the National Guard Caucus of which Sen. Toomey is a member. It will empower the 450,000 member National Guard, by giving the Guard a seat at the Pentagon’s budget and policymaking tables. The legislation seeks to do this in several ways: · It will make the Chief of the National Guard Bureau a statutory member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to make sure military leaders consider Guard forces when making recommendations to the Secretary of Defense. · It will reestablish the Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau at the three star level, giving the National Guard Bureau greater clout within the Pentagon. · It will direct the Administrator of FEMA to coordinate with the Chief ...

Rain didn't stop hundreds of people from showing up in Kane for the funeral services for US Army Staff Sergeant Ken VanGiesen, who was killed July 18 while serving in Afghanistan. WESB and The HERO's Stefan Arlington was there and took these pictures that show some of the ways Kane honored their Hometown Hero. Connie Magnuson Hall shared the photos taken outside the Ronald McDonald II Funeral Home and the school. Ruth Gentilman Peterson shared the photo from inside the school. (Thank you so much, ladies!)

Governor Tom Corbett has ordered all U.S. and Pennsylvania flags in the Capitol Complex and at commonwealth facilities in McKean County to fly at half-staff on Thursday in honor of Staff Sgt. Kenneth VanGiesen of Kane. VanGiesen was one of three Pennsylvania Army National Guard members killed on July 18 when an improvised explosive device detonated on their convoy in Afghanistan. The other men killed were Sgt. Edward Koehler of Lebanon and Sgt. Brian Mower of Halifax. VanGiesen's memorial service will be held Thursday at Kane Area High School. He was a 1999 graduate of the school.

Kenneth R. VanGiesen, 30, of Gorman Drive, Erie, formerly of Kane, died Monday, July 18, 2011 as the result of injuries sustained while serving in the U.S. Army in Afghanistan. Born August 3, 1980 in Kane, he was the son of Thomas A. and Susan J. Proashas VanGiesen. A 1999 graduate of Kane Area High School, he was a three year letterman in football and played in the Don Raabe Big 30 Classic. Later that year he joined the Army National Guard as a Technical Mechanic. Ken served four tours in twelve years, having served in Germany, twice in Iraq and later in Afghanistan. He served 1400 mobilized days in overseas deployment, being one of only 16 Pennsylvania National Guardsmen serving that level of active duty. He attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was a member of the American Legion and the Loyal Order of Moose, both in Millcreek, the American Legion Riders and various VFW posts. He also was a member of the Kane Fish & Game Club. Surviving in addition to his parents of Kane are h...

From the Ronald McDonald II Funeral Home : TENTATIVELY, we believe that the service will be held at the Kane Area High School on Wednesday or Thursday. The day and time will be announced. Afterwards, the funeral cortege will leave the high school, turn onto Hemlock Avenue, then onto South Fraley Street and process thru "Uptown Kane" on its way to Gibbs Hill Cemetery for interment. THE CEMETERY SERVICE IS PRIVATE, but well-wishers my line the streets to pay homage to Ken's family en route.

A National Guard soldier from Kane has died in Afghanistan. 30-year-old Staff Sergeant Ken VanGiesen and two other members of his unit were killed Monday when their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device. The National Guard says the others who died are 47-year-old Sgt. Edward Koehler of Lebanon and 49-year-old Sgt, Brian Mowery of Hailfax. Five others were wounded, but their injuries are non-life-threatening. They were all serving with the 131st Transportation Company, 213th Area Support Group, which is primarily in charge of convoys and convoy security. VanGiesen was a 1999 graduate of Kane Area High School. He was on his fourth active-duty tour. He previously served in Germany from 2002 to 2003, Iraq from 2005 to 2006 with the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team and 2009 with the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team. His parents went to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware today to pick up their son’s body. The Ronald McDonald Funeral Home in Kane is handling the arrangements. http://pa.ng....

A National Guard soldier from Kane has died in Afghanistan. 30-year-old Ken VanGiesen and two other members of his unit were killed Monday when their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device. The National Guard and the Defense Department have not released any further details yet. The Ronald McDonald Funeral Home in Kane is handling the arrangements, which will be announced. http://kanerepublican.com/content/ken-vangiesen-kane-soldier-killed-afghanistan http://www.ronaldmcdonaldfuneralhome.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=1213160&fh_id=12423

One of the people who robbed a National Guard soldier who was working as a pizza deliveryman has been sentenced to four years in prison. 19-year-old Hilario Maldonado Waskiewicz Jr. was convicted of second degree attempted robbery for robbing Matthew Balcerzak in Allegany back in March. He got $28. Waskiewicz’s sentence will run consecutively with a one to three year sentence for a third degree burglary conviction, according to the district attorney's office. Waskiewicz entered a home in Olean six days earlier and threatened the homeowner with a weapon while robbing him.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) announced that he has proudly joined the Senate National Guard Caucus, joining his Senate colleagues in advancing the needs of our country’s National Guard men and women. In Pennsylvania specifically, the National Guard has a strong presence. The Pennsylvania National Guard’s 19,000 Air and Army Guard members have had more than 25,000 individual deployments since Sept. 11, making it one of the largest and most-deployed Guard forces in the nation. The Pennsylvania National Guard currently has more than 600 soldiers and airmen serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and supporting NATO operations in Libya, as well as many other locations around the world. “We appreciate Senator Toomey's interest in joining the National Guard Caucus of the U.S. Senate,” said Maj. Gen. Wesley Craig, commander of the Pennsylvania National Guard. “The senator's support is invaluable and recognizes the fact that the National Guard is the most cost-effectiv...

Representative Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson today introduced H.R. 1832, the Servicemembers’ Telemedicine & E-Health Portability (STEP) Act. The STEP Act will expand the current Department of Defense (DOD) state licensure exemption to allow credentialed health care professionals to work across state borders without having to obtain a new state license. “Members of our military should receive 21st century care and access to treatment regardless of the circumstances and Congress needs to make good on that commitment,” said Thompson. “This legislation removes out-dated requirements under current law so that geographic location is no longer an obstacle to the delivery of care for our Servicemembers.” Currently, the Department of Defense has limited ability to allow its health care professionals to provide care when the patient is in a different state. As a result, many who rely on military care are required to travel long distances to receive treatment, presenting increased financial burdens an...

The teenager who helped rob a National Guard solider who was working as a pizza deliveryman has pleaded guilty. 17-year-old Jordan Plaud of Olean entered the plea today in Cattaraugus County Court. He also agreed to cooperate with authorities in their prosecution of 19-year-old Hilario Maldonado Waskiewicz Jr. and 18-year-old Travis Satterfield, who are accused of robbing Matthew Balcerzak in Allegany last month.

The third suspect in the robbery of a pizza deliveryman, who is also a National Guard solider, is now in custody. Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s deputies and Olean Police found 18-year-old Travis Satterfield hiding in an attic in Olean at noon today. Satterfield, along with 19-year-old Hilario Maldonado Waskiewicz, Jr. and a 17-year-old, are charged with robbing Matthew Balcerzak Tuesday on Smith Hollow Road in Allegany. They got $28.

An Army National Guard soldier from Erie has pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally bringing guns into the United States. 42-year-old James Bindeman is charged with of entry of goods into the United States by means of false statements. Prosecutors say Bindeman built a crate with a false bottom and hid 11 guns in it when he returned from duty in Iraq. He said the crate had power tools and golf clubs in it. The guns were discovered when the crate was unpacked at a guard readiness center in Cambridge Springs. Bindeman faces two years a prison, a fine of $250,000 or both when he’s sentenced on October 22. http://www.justice.gov/usao/paw/pr/2010_june/2010_06_21_03.html

A Crawford County man is one of two members of the Pennsylvania National Guard killed in a suicide bomb attack in Afghanistan Friday. Sgt. 1st Class Robert Fike of Conneautville and Staff Sgt. Bryan Hoover, of West Elizabeth in Allegheny County, were on a foot patrol in the Bullard Bazaar in Zabul province of southeastern Afghanistan when they were killed, according to guard spokesman Major Cory Angell. PFC Anthony Spangler of Howard in Centre County was wounded but has returned to duty after the blast. The three were with the guard's Company C, 1st Battalion, 110th Infantry, based in Connellsville, and were providing security with a provincial reconstruction team in the province. http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=13603

Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren/Forest/McKean), a member of the Pennsylvania House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, was honored to welcome 120 soldiers from Company C of the elite 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team to the new, state-of-the-art Bradford Readiness Center during Thursday's official ribbon cutting ceremony. "With approximately 15,000 members of the Pennsylvania National Guard and Reserve proudly serving in extremely dangerous conditions both at home and around the globe, it is now more important than ever that we provide them with the best possible training facilities," said Rapp. "With a proud history dating back 260 years to Benjamin Franklin, the brave men and women that we are truly privileged to welcome to McKean County today continue to perform above and beyond the call of duty in America's ongoing war and peace time reconstruction efforts. Whether they're serving in a combat zone or delivering emergency relief for natural dis...