Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Two Ohio residents are facing weapons and other charges after a traffic stop on I-86 in Cattaraugus County. State police say they stopped a vehicle in the Town of Red House because it had an obstructed plate. They soon learned 46-year-old Angie Koscielak of Hicksville had methamphetamine and a stun gun. 53-year-old Jeffery Koscielak, also of Hicksville, had a dagger. They were each charged with criminal possession of a weapon. Angie was also charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance. She was sent to Cattaraugus County Jail. Jeffrey was scheduled to appear in Town of Red House Court and then released. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

An 84-year-old man is in jail for trying to rape a 16-year-old girl in his Brockport home. Police say Junior D. Senior held the girl against a kitchen table, groped her, and tried to have sex with her. Senior is charged with attempted rape, indecent assault and unlawful restraint. His bail is set at $50,000. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Bradford woman is accused of assaulting a Bradford City Police officer early Saturday morning. Court records say 24-year-old Kayla Gifford punched Officer Butch Bartlett twice in the face while another person was being arrested by a Bradford Township police officer outside Players Downtown in Bradford, where a fight was going on. Bartlett was trying to clear the crowd when he was assaulted. Gifford is charged with felony aggravated assault, resisting arrest disorderly conduct and public drunkenness. She was sent to McKean County Jail on $50,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

More students than ever before want to live on campus this fall at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. With the addition this fall of Lester and Barbara Rice House, which can house109 students, Pitt-Bradford now can accommodate 1,028 students on campus. However, there are around 20 additional students who want to live on campus this fall. Instead of turning those students away, university officials have partnered with the Best Western to provide rooms so all of those students who want housing will be accommodated. “We are pleased that so many more students want to live on campus,” said Dr. Livingston Alexander, Pitt-Bradford’s president. “We attribute that increased desire, in part, to our comfortable residence halls and the vibrant campus life we offer our students. We know this to be true because more students living in the region, who could commute, are opting to live on campus instead.” Another reason for the increase in on-campus li...

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced it has fined Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. of Pittsburgh $76,546 for a January well control incident at the company’s Huston well pad in Brooklyn Township, Susquehanna County. “Cabot lost control of the Huston J1 gas well for 27 hours, to which the department responded to promptly to ensure there were no significant environmental impacts,” DEP Director of District Oil and Gas Operations John Ryder said. “In this incident, mostly gas was released, which dissipated quickly to background levels within 100 feet from the well.” The incident began the morning of Jan. 5 when a Cabot subcontractor was replacing equipment on the wellhead. The subcontractor did not follow standard operating procedures for the process by failing to first warm the wellhead prior to conducting any work in the freezing temperature. This resulted in damage to a wing valve. A subsequent analysis of the damaged wing valve indicated that it was in the ...

Adrianne R. Magnella, 61, of 145 Looker Mountain Trail, formerly of 129 Williams St. passed away Monday, August 18, 2014 after a courageous battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig's Disease at the family residence in the arms of her mother and her uncle. Born May 24, 1953 in Bradford, she was the daughter of the late Anthony Magnella and Gisele (Meissner) Magnella, who survives. She was a 1971 graduate of Bradford Central Christian High School. She received an Associate's Degree from Edinboro College and also attended The Wilma Boyd School of Air Travel. Adrianne worked for the Combined Airline Travel Office (CATO) in Washington, D.C. making travel arrangements for the U.S. Senate and U.S. Government officials. Prior to her move to Washington, D.C., she worked in various capacities for the J.C. Penney Company in Bradford. Upon returning to Bradford, she owned and operated Cin-Cin Biscotti, a pastry catering business. She wa...

A tip led Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s deputies to a large scale methamphetamine operation in Little Valley on Monday. The Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force and State Police Contaminated Crime Scene Emergency Response Team spent hours at a home on South Court Street, where they seized numerous pieces of evidence including lab equipment, meth precursors, reagents, solvents, and surveillance equipment. Deputies also found 14.8 ounces of meth. 32-year-old Lucas Leclerc is being held without bail pending arraignment in Buffalo Federal Court. The DEA Office in Buffalo has taken over the case, and the case will be prosecuted on the federal level. The investigation is continuing and more arrests are expected. The Little Valley Fire Department and Cattaraugus County Emergency Services also helped with the hazardous materials clean up. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A St. Bonaventure alum took home the top prize at Monday’s Blaisdell Pro Am Invitational at the Pennhills Club in Bradford. Chris Stoddard was awarded the $6,000 cash prize and trophy by Zippo owner and Chairman of the Board George B. Duke at the banquet following the tournament. Stoddard’s team, composed of amateur golfers Mike Tarbox, Scott Tanabe, and Paul Kessel, each took home a $400 cash prize for their winning team score of 115. The Blaisdell Pro Am, sponsored by Zippo, drew 26 PGA pros from the Western New York Professional Golf Association, along with 78 amateurs, competing for the $20,000 in prize money available. “The day was perfect and the Pennhills course is outstanding,” said WNY PGA Executive Director Joe Bertino. “Our pros were really excited to get out here, and all the teams played exceptionally well.” The Blaisdell Pro Am was held to honor Zippo founder George G. Blaisdell, who loved the game of golf and the club he helped found, the Pennhills Club...

Louis Joseph "Joe" Tantalo 59 of Wildwood Ave., Bradford, passed away, Thursday August 7, 2014. Private services will be held at a later date at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are under the direction of the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes Inc. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Two people posing as Humane Society workers from New Jersey are facing charges in Chautauqua County. State police got a report saying two people were trespassing on private property, and looking at a horse inside a barn. 44-year-old Kelly Shumaker and 34-year-old Robert Shumaker, both of Silver Creek, told troopers they were with the Humane Society and were there to remove the horse or help the owner take care of it. Further investigation showed that the Shumakers had been on the property before, and a neighbor told them to leave. Also, troopers learned they have no connection to the Humane Society in New Jersey, or anywhere else. The Shumakers are charged with trespassing and are scheduled to appear in court on Thursday. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The historic home once owned by the Wetmore family was destroyed by fire early Sunday morning. Barley House in North Warren was built for the Wetmores in the 1830s. Firefighters from nine departments were on the scene for several hours, with some not leaving until this morning to check for hot spots. A state police fire marshal was on the scene, but has not released any information yet on the cause of the blaze. The building was used as a nursing home from the early 1960s until 2011. Barley House was listed in a Warren County Sheriff’s sale on July 31. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A home health care assistant is accused of stealing a bag of gold jewelry from a home at Chautauqua Institution where she was working. Sheriff’s deputies say 33-year-old Sheryl Barton of Fredonia took the bag containing rings, earrings and other pieces of jewelry about a month ago. Deputies along with Institution police investigated and found Barton with two pieces of the jewelry. She is charged with felony grand larceny, and is awaiting further court proceedings. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Besides Zippo lighters, Case knives and Brad Penn Oil it’s one of the things Bradford is known for. That thing is: Being the coldest spot in the 48 contiguous United States. It happened again on Saturday when the temperature at Bradford Regional Airport dipped to 38 degrees, and many national TV newscasts mentioned it. The record low for Bradford on August 16 is 37 degrees. That happened in 1964. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Adrianne R. Magnella, 61, of 145 Looker Mountain Trail, passed away Monday, August 18, 2014 at her residence. Funeral arrangements are incomplete, and will be announced by the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes, Inc., with a full obituary. Online condolences can be expressed at www.hollenbeckcahill.com The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Bradford Regional Airport is getting $125,000 in state grant money to rehabilitate four hangars. Governor Tom Corbett announced today that 20 airports will share $3.4 million in grant money. St. Marys Municipal Airport will receive $262,500 to build a parking lot. This news comes on the heels of an order from the US Department of Transports ion to Silver Airways saying it must provide service at Bradford Regional for 30 more days. In February, Silver Airways filed a 90-day notice of its plans to terminate air service at Bradford and four other small airports. In early June, The DOT stopped Silver from suspending service and asked for proposals from airlines interested in providing service to Bradford. In late June, DOT said the federal subsidy at Bradford would be terminated at the end of September because the average number of passengers at the airport is lower than 10, and because Bradford is within 175 miles of a larger airport. Airport director Tom Frungillo has filed a reques...

Ca$h Mob Bradford made it's first "hit" on Saturday at Timeless Treasures on Chestnut Street. 28 mobsters – including 26 adults and 2 children - met at the Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce office, where Timeless Treasures was announced as the first Ca$h Mob Bradford target, and then the group headed to the Chestnut Street store to do their shopping. The new Ca$h Mob Bradford program is organized by the Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce as a way to stimulate the economy and support locally owned businesses. The idea was put into action after a local resident shared information about the Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce’s successful cash mob program with Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce staff. Ca$h Mob Bradford will target a different BACC member business each month, with mobsters each spending $20 or more in cash at the target--which is not announced until the day of the event. On Saturday, the Ca$h Mob Bradford participants generated $701.13 in sales for Tim...

The founders of the Buffalo Bills fan support group Bills Fan Thunder will be delivering 13,000 letters to the team from fans pledging strong support for an ownership group committed to keeping the Bills in Buffalo, but vowing to never support the team again if it’s moved to Toronto. Bills Fan Thunder will deliver a dozen U.S mailbags with letters at 2 o’clock tomorrow afternoon during Bills training camp at St. John Fisher College in Rochester. When Jon Bon Jovi announced he wanted to buy the team and suggested he may move it to Toronto, the group's Bon Jovi Boycott was written up in Sports Illustrated, USA Today, the New York Times and 300 other media outlets. Also on hand will be Bills Superfans featured in the article “Jon Bon Jovi is the Most Hated Man in Buffalo” that appeared in the July issue of New York magazine. Photo provided by Bills Fan Thunder The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A court in Germany has said a company cannot use the “blu” brand name for its e-cigarettes because Zippo already owns the BLU® trademark. The preliminary injunction against Cygnet UK Trading Ltd. prevents the company, which is a subsidiary of cigarette maker Lorillard, from using the brand name for e-cigarettes sold in Germany. Zippo has started proceedings to oppose applications to register, or cancel trademark registrations, for the blu e-cigarette brand in Canada, Mexico and the European Union. Sweden already rejected Lorillard’s application. In May Zippo sued Lorillard subsidiary LOEC for trademark infringement in the United States. A trial is scheduled for April of next year. Zippo President and CEO Greg Booth says he is very pleased that the German Court affirmed the company’s legal rights to their intellectual property. He adds that Zippo is working vigorously to protect all of its trademarks – worldwide – from any misuse. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947 ...

An Eldred Township project is one of 39 that will get a total of $36 million in grant money. $448,000 has been earmarked for the Western New York PA Railroad Company to repair a railroad bridge including timber repairs and replacements, as well track approach repairs. The Farmers Valley Branch Line serves the International Waxes plant. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Mo’Ne Davis needed only 70 pitches to shut out Tennessee in the opening round of the Little League World Series – and get herself into the record books in the process. The 13-year-old became the first girl to pitch a winning game in series. She allowed two hits, struck out eight and didn’t walk anyone in the six-inning complete game victory. Her phenomenal play is getting some attention from big leaguers – including the Pirates’ Andrew McCutcheon who tweeted to her that he was pulling for her and her teammates on the Taney Dragons from the Philadelphia area. The Dragons play again Sunday evening. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947