Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

The Shults Auto Group launched their Heroes program earlier this year in an effort to strengthen their commitment to the communities where they have dealerships. Donation objectives were established at all dealerships who would retain a portion of each vehicle sale to support the various local charities and organizations in their community. Customers purchasing a vehicle were given a choice of several organizations that they could support and their donations were accumulated for the various organizations during the four month long program. As a result, twenty one different organizations and charities, as selected by Shults dealerships, will share a portion of a substantial amount in donations. Shults Toyota, Edmond Chevrolet and their customers have enjoyed participating in the Shults Heroes program. Pictured is Steve Hopkins, General Manager, presenting checks to Kurt Wallace, Bradford Rotary Club; Shane Launer, American Cancer Society; Dorie Meabon, American Cancer Society;...

Bradford City Council hopes to appoint a new council member at its next meeting on July 10. The new member would serve out the term of Rick Benton, who died June 16. Council will be accepting applications until 3 p.m. Friday. As Tuesday's council meeting starated, Mayor Tom Riel asked for a moment of silence in honor of Benton but, before that, he talked about Benton coming to him about filling the council seat Riel was vacating to become mayor. “I asked him to be able to agree to disagree and move onto the next issue without holding a grudge; and if he had something to say to me to say it to my face and then he could tell the whole world. He honored both of those very well,” Riel said, then added with a chuckle, “And he very often did not agree with me.” “He was a great councilman,” Riel said, adding that Benton would arrive for most council meetings half an hour early in case he had any questions he could ask city clerk John Peterson and get them cleared up. “He was definitely a ...

For the eleventh year, the Pitt-Bradford Lady Panthers basketball team has collaborated with CARE for Children to provide the opportunity for both boys and girls with motor and learning deficiencies to learn to play basketball. The annual camp began in 2001, and has remained one of the most popular of CARE’s therapeutic recreation events. Each year, between 40 and 60 children throughout McKean County participate. The event remains unique in that it focuses on basketball skills that campers may not have experienced because of perceived limitations. CARE’s physical and occupational therapists are on hand to help the Lady Panthers players adapt components of the game and to work with the kids as an extension of traditional school based therapy. In 2011, the University’s athletic department received the Jostens Community Service Overall Winner Award from the National Association of Division III Athletics, in part for its long-standing relationship with CARE for Children. Since the ince...

CARE kid, Damien, age 7, gets some last-minute instruction before hitting the slopes at Holiday Valley in Ellicottville, New York on Monday during CARE for Children’s ski outing for children of all abilities. Damien is pictured with Lounsbury Adaptive Ski Program volunteer ski instructors Patty Jordan-Smith (l) and Eric Marasco (r). A total of 12 children from ages six through 17 took part in the afternoon of instruction, including two children that were sit-down skiers using mono and bi ski equipment. The event, including transportation, lift tickets and lunch, was sponsored by the Port Allegany Rotary Club. Through the Lounsbury program, a chapter of Disable Sport/USA, certified, volunteer ski instructors provide expert coaching and instruction to children of varying abilities. The program also provides a wide-range of adaptive equipment to meet the needs of each individual participant. This is the ninth year that CARE for Children has offered the program. The adaptive ski outing is ...

J. Gary Rhodes, Vice President of UPMC Hamot and CEO of Kane Community Hospital (KCH) presented the annual state of the hospital at the weekly meeting of Kane Rotary last week. At the conclusion of the 2011 fiscal year, that ended June 30, 2011, the bottom line was a net income of $1,353,181, a turn-around of $1.56 million from the previous fiscal year that ended with a loss of $209K. “This is the best year our hospital has ever had since I’ve been here,” stated Rhodes, who came to KCH in 1987 and become its CEO in 1996. In November of 2009 KCH became the first controlled affiliate of the Hamot Health Foundation. In February of this year, KCH became affiliated with UPMC by virtue of Hamot’s integration with the UPMC Health System. UPMC, with home base in Pittsburgh, is the largest employer in Western Pennsylvania. Hamot is the largest medical facility to link with UPMC. Regarding KCH Rhodes stated, “We’re a UPMC hospital like any other UPMC hospital. The only difference is that we ke...

Brenden Stidd, age 8, is receiving instruction from PGA Professional Kirk Stauffer at CARE for Children's 8th annual adaptive golf outing for children of all abilities held Wednesday evening at Pine Acres Golf Course. Brenden is the son of Christy Keck and Bob Stidd of Bradford. Eighteen children hit balls on the driving range, sank short shots on the putting green, and played a hole on the course. Children and family members were treated to dinner on the patio after the outing, which was sponsored by the Bradford Rotary Club. The adaptive golf outing is one of several free therapeutic recreation events that CARE holds each year for local children. CARE for Children is a non-profit organization that provides community outreach services; early learning programs; and pediatric health and therapy services in McKean County and the surrounding region.

The Lady Panther Basketball Team hosted its 10th annual camp for children of all abilities on Saturday. Since its inception the Lady Panther Mini Camp has provided the opportunity for both boys and girls with motor and learning deficiencies to play ball. In the fall of 2001, former Lady Panthers Head Coach Daly Ann Fuller approached CARE for Children about the possibility of doing an adaptive basketball camp for children with special health care needs. She liked that the camp would give the players the opportunity to step outside themselves to appreciate the ability to play college level ball, and give back to the community. After Coach Fuller left Pitt Bradford, each subsequent coach, adopted the camp and made it their own. “The camp gives the athletes an opportunity to spend some time with local children,” said Lady Panther Coach Molly Brennan. “This event has been going on for 10 years and I think it is important that it continues, our student- athletes need to be involved in the c...

The Rotary Club of Kane, PA, has redesigned its website and created a Facebook page to attract attention in today’s society. The new website is up to date and provides accurate information about the club, its members, and its activities. The Kane Rotary Club is an organization of business and professional leaders who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. A listing of service projects performed by the Kane Rotary Club can be found on the new website. The club meets every Monday at the Presbyterian Church on the corner of Greeves and Chase Street in Kane, PA, at noon. The website was redesigned by Tyler D. Morris through the “Summer Youth Way to Work Program” funded through the Workforce Investment Act, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and the Department of Public Welfare. The Rotary Club of Kane, PA, website can be found at: http://www.kanerotaryclub.com/ .

The Bradford Rotary Club held its annual Firefighter of the Year awards dinner Saturday. In recognition of the 25th anniversary of the event, all area volunteer firefighters were honored. McKean County Judge John Pavlock was the keynote speaker and commended the firefighters for volunteering to do a dangerous, and potentially life-threatening, job.