Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

A federal judge has refused to dismiss charges of conspiracy and tax evasion against Adelphia Founder John Rigas and his son Timothy Rigas. The charges are separate from the fraud charges on which they were prosecuted in New York. "In the New York action, the Rigases were charged with agreeing to conceal from investors, analysts and lenders the failing financial condition of Adelphia," District Judge John E. Jones III wrote. "In this action, the Rigases are charged with agreeing to avoid paying income taxes. These two different objectives mark two different conspiracies." John Rigas is serving 12 years in prison and Timothy Rigas, once Adelphia's chief financial officer, is serving 17 years following their 2004 New York convictions on charges including conspiracy, bank fraud and securities fraud. The Rigases argued that their acquittal on wire fraud and conspiracy charges in New York means they did not scheme to defraud the company by diverting funds for persona...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Our meteorologist and Betty Jane Monjar were right. Saturday was the annual Betty Jane Monjar Garden Walk and, according to tour committee member Becky Ryan, Monjar said the second weekend July is the least likely to rain and gardens are at their most beautiful. Ryan said Monjar kept track of the Bradford weather for many years, so when she, Janet Detweiler and Debbie Lowrey decided to start the garden tour, they picked the second weekend in July. "We've never been rained out," Ryan said. "Ever." Even the koi in Dan and Sandy O'Brien's garden pond seemed to enjoy the weather. The O'Brien's backyard "sanctuary" was one of three stops on the annual garden walk. Before the walk, people enjoyed lunch and a mini-symposium at the First Presbyterian Church. The speaker was Tom Parsons of Pittsburgh. As for the scientific forecast, News 4 Meteorologist Mike Cejka said Saturday would be mostly sunny with ...

Three men face charges in relation to an illegal gambling ring in Jefferson and Cambria counties. Police say thousands of dollars were involved, with bets on the lottery and various sporting events. Jefferson County officials received permission in March to wiretap the phone lines of Robert Juliette, of Punxsutawney. Over the next few weeks, they said Juliette worked on the operation with two other men, Robert Boast of Johnstown and Jeff Papalia of North Carolina. Police raided Juliette's home in April and took several notebooks, including a list of his alleged clients. Police say more arrests are possible.

Former White House press secretary Tony Snow has died at the age of 53 after a second battle with cancer. Snow, who had been undergoing chemotherapy treatments for a recurrence of the disease, left his White House job September. 14, 2007, and joined CNN as a conservative commentator. More from CNN

A dog died, but no people were hurt, in a fire Friday afternoon on Parkside Drive in Limestone. Two rooms in the home of Don and Grace Weaver were severely damaged by fire. The rest of the house had smoke and water damage. Twenty-five firefighters were on the scene for about an hour and a half. The fire has been ruled accidental.

Governor Ed Rendell has named a 30-year Pennsylvania State Police veteran to serve as the acting state police commissioner. Rendell said Friday that Lt. Col. Frank Pawlowski would temporarily assume the post being vacated by Col. Jeffrey Miller. The appointment takes effect August 9. Palowski enlisted in the state police in 1978 and has served as the agency's deputy commissioner of operations since March 2007. Miller is leaving his post next month to become the NFL's director of strategic security. The job is a new position that will cover all aspects of stadium security from fan behavior to signal stealing.

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director If you were wondering who stopped the rain Friday, the answer is CCR. Creedence Clearwater Revisited lead singer John Tristao made a reference to the classic Creedence Clearwater Revival song "Who'll Stop the Rain" during the band's performance Friday night as part of the Seneca Allegany Casino free outdoor concert series. That wasn't the only classic the band played during the hour and a half long show. They rocked the crowd with "Suzie Q," and "Midnight Special," and also played "Lodi," "Down on the Corner" and "There's a Bathroom on the Right." What? You say it's "Bad Moon Rising?" Yeah. Right. Anyway, name a favorite CCR song and they probably played it. From people in their 80s to babies in strollers, everyone seemed to enjoy the show on a night that turned out to be perfect – complete with a spectacular sunset -- for an outdoor concert. Toddlers dan...

The world famous Zippo Car is celebrating its 10th Anniversary on Saturday, July 19 beginning at 3 p.m. at the Zippo/Case Visitors Center. Highlighting the celebration will be the release of the 10th Anniversary Zippo Car Collectible. This limited edition lighter commemorates the 10th Anniversary of the unveiling of the Zippo Car, with a double sided surface imprint of the Zippo Car on a high polish chrome Zippo windproof lighter. Only 1,500 of these consecutively numbered commemorative lighters were produced. Also making its Bradford debut will be the new Zippo Mobile Exhibit. The Mobile Exhibit is equipped with video screens and over 2,000 historical and current lighters. This is definitely something to see! Everyone is invited to come join in the celebration and pick up their piece of history! Pictures of the Zippo Car Collectible

ST. BONAVENTURE, July 11, 2008 - Sr. Margaret Carney, O.S.F., S.T.D., St. Bonaventure University president, and Fr. Michael F. Cusato, O.F.M., director of the Franciscan Institute and dean of the School of Franciscan Studies, invite the public to attend a series of public events highlighting The Feast of St. Bonaventure, commencing on July 13. The dates, times, and events of the celebration are: Sunday, July 13: * 5 p.m. - Evening prayer service, University Chapel, Doyle Hall * 5:30 - 7 p.m. - An Academic Roundtable, Robert R. Jones Board of Trustees Room, Doyle Hall A presentation of former Doino Visiting Professor of Franciscan Studies, Dr. Jacques Dalarun's, latest book, "Towards a Resolution of the Franciscan Question: The Umbrian Legend of Thomas of Celano." Monday, July 14: * 4:30 p.m. - First Walk-Through of the Rare Books Wing of the Friedsam Memorial Library Brief presentations by Sr. Margaret Carney, O.S.F., and Dr. Paul Spaeth, director of Friedsam Memorial L...

A state senator has been acquitted of perjury, reckless endangerment and gun counts. A jury cleared Republican state Sen. Robert Regola of any wrongdoing in the death of a 14-year-old neighbor. The freshman lawmaker is running for re-election. He had been charged with perjury, reckless endangerment and allowing a minor to illegally possess a gun. Prosecutors had said Regola should be held accountable for lies he told during a coroner's inquest. They also claimed the 9 mm handgun essentially belonged to son Bobby Regola. The neighbor used Regola's gun to shoot himself in July 2006. A coroner ruled the death a suicide. Senate President Pro Tem Joe Scarnati released the following statement: “This is welcome news and quite frankly news I fully expected all along,” Scarnati stated. “From the get go, this has been nothing more than a political vendetta against Bob Regola and I am pleased the jury saw it for what it was. Now that the verdict is in, I am hopeful that the Regola famil...

These cancer survivors sit on their float during Kane's Relay for Life parade Thursday. In the following pictures, relay teams and others get ready to march in the parade. Moments before the largest parade to hit Kane in years, teams gathered, survivors mounted a float decorated in the colors of cancer, Miss Relay contestants, Kane's Prince and Princess, and other dignitaries got in their convertibles, fire trucks, motocylists, ice cream and winery trucks fell in line to launch the 8th annual Kane Area Relay. The survivor and luminary ceremonies and kickoff are Friday night at the Kane Area High School Track. 18 teams are participating this year. The 24 hour relay event is a celebration after a year of fundraising which ends Saturday morning. This year's fundraising goal for Kane is $40K. Barry and Shirley Morgan of Kane planned the well received parade. They also championed community wide fundraising efforts raising well over $5K for the overall Kane Area Relay. They...

Work continues Friday afternoon on the Kennedy Street portion of the Bradford Streetscape Project. Although the street is closed, all the buisnesses are still opened.

Navy Seaman Recruit Reno P. Mitchell, a 2006 graduate of Smethport High School, Smethport, Pa., recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill. During the eight-week program, Mitchell completed a variety of training which included classroom study and practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety. An emphasis was also placed on physical fitness. The capstone event of boot camp is "Battle Stations". This exercise gives recruits the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the fleet. "Battle Stations" is designed to galvanize the basic warrior attributes of sacrifice, dedication, teamwork and endurance in each recruit through the practical application of basic Navy skills and the core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment. Its distinctly ''Navy'' flavor was designed to take into account what it means to be a Sailor.

A Jefferson County woman got a shock last night – literally. Mary Kay Thompson was opening a refrigerator door when a bolt of lightening shattered a tree in her yard, sent a current of electricity through the refrigerator and her. She says she could feel the electricity coming out of her toes, and she was numb for several hours. Thompson suffered only a small burn on her arm.

Most students attending the University of Pittsburgh will pay a little bit more for tuition next year. The university's trustees today approved tuition increases of between 2 and 6 percent as part of the school's $1.7 billion budget for next year. In-state students attending Pitt's main campus will pay 6 percent more, while out-of-state students will see a 4 percent increase. In-state students at the school's four regional campuses will pay 4 percent more, while out-of-state students at those campuses will pay 2 percent more. Besides Bradford, the regional campuses are in Johnstown, Titusville and Greensburg.

Ridgway/Cyclone Pa. (July 11, 2008) PENNDOT ELK / MCKEAN County Has announced work for the week of July 14, 2008 through July 18, 2008. Maintenance work planned by McKean County employees includes: Ø REPAIR DRAINAGE – SR 6, Port Allegany to Smethport, Clermont Ø CRAFCOING – SR 59, Tack Inn to Bingham Road – SR 1006, Bells Run Ø SHOULDER CUTTING – SR 6, Mount Jewett to Smethport Ø BRIDGE REPAIRS – SR 246, Rixford Area Ø CUT BRIDGE – SR 6, Warren County Line to Kane Ø SIGN REPAIRS – Various Routes, County wide Ø INSTALL CROSSPIPES – SR 6, Port Allegany to Smethport Ø REPAIR GUIDE RAILS – Various Routes, County Wide Maintenance work planned by Elk County employees includes: Ø CRACK SEALING – SR 948, Kersey Area – SR 949, Ridgway Area – SR 4002, Evergreen Drive – SR 4001, Grant Road Ø SHOULDER CUTTING – SR 948, Kersey ...

On May 5, 1933, Governor Pinchot signed a law that made Mountain-Laurel the state flower. The mountain-laurel’s stunning, but short, display of beauty is worthy of becoming the Keystone state’s flower. Over the last month, we’ve all admired the beauty of the mountain-laurel, but it has other values within the Allegheny ecosystem that deserve our recognition, too. Animals that associate with mountain-laurel include white-tailed deer, eastern screech owl, black bear, ruffed grouse, turkeys, snowshoe hare, and song birds. Black bears are known to den in "ground nests" in mountain-laurel thickets. Snowshoe hare, ruffed grouse, and warblers hide in the dense thickets. Many a hunter has waited in anticipation just outside a clearing in the laurel for a tom turkey to ‘spit and drum’ close enough for a shot. Mountain-laurel's leaves, buds, flowers, and fruits are poisonous, and may be lethal to livestock and humans. However, white-tailed deer, eastern cottontails, black ...

Washington, DC – U.S. Representatives Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) and John Peterson (R-Pa.), have joined forces to develop and promote a comprehensive energy plan that will fuel the American economy rather than fueling partisan debate. The two representatives will announce a bipartisan working group of House Members on Tuesday, July 15. The working group will include a diverse group of rank-and-file Republican and Democratic Members from across the nation who share one interest: A comprehensive, environmentally responsible energy plan for the American people. Abercrombie and Peterson have worked together for years addressing our energy crisis and have promoted responsible domestic energy production, conservation, and investment in renewable and alternatives energy sources – all components of becoming energy independent. They issued the following statement: “If we remain locked in opposing political positions instead of working together to find real solutions, it will be a death struggl...

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The head of the state Department of Environmental Protection plans to step down next week. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Kathleen McGinty has resigned and will leave office July 18. Gov. Ed Rendell's office won't comment on the report, saying it will have an announcement about McGinty later. Her representatives didn't immediately return a message left by The Associated Press. McGinty has led the department for five years. She has pushed for energy conservation and renewable energy sources, and worked to attract green businesses to the state. McGinty's resignation letter does not indicate her future plans. The environmental group Penn Future praises McGinty for helping the state pass a $625 million bond for environmental cleanup.

Mr. Yuk now has his own biographer. Tim Ziaukas, associate professor of public relations at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, presented a paper titled “Mr. Yuk is Mean … The Biography of an American Icon” at the Visual Communications Conference last month in Lake Tahoe, Nev. In the 1970s, children in Pittsburgh were inadvertently ingesting poison at a rate higher than the national average, Ziaukas explained. Health officials eventually determined that this tragedy was occurring, at least in part, because of confusion caused by the beloved logo of the hometown baseball team, the Pittsburgh Pirates, which used the skull and crossbones – a centuries-old image for danger or poison. The Jolly Roger, as the skull and crossbones is called, progressed from being the calling card of pirates to a symbol meaning “poison.” But to the minds of children in Pittsburgh, the frightening symbol meant one thing – baseball, Ziaukas said. In the early 1970s, medical and communication professionals ...

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania state representative, a former lawmaker and 10 others have been indicted in a probe of nearly $4 million in secret legislative bonuses. The defendants named in Thursday's indictment include Rep. Sean Ramaley, a Beaver County Democrat; former Rep. Mike Veon, who served as Democratic whip; and Michael Manzo, a former chief of staff to Democratic Majority Leader Bill DeWeese. The investigation centered on whether some of the bonuses paid to legislative staffers in 2005 and 2006 were illegal rewards for campaign work. Veon was voted out of office in 2006 by the backlash over the 2005 legislative pay raises. Attorney General Tom Corbett says he expects more arrests to follow. AG's News Release

Legislation sponsored by Senator Tommy Tomlinson (R-Bucks) that would encourage the use of energy efficient alternative fuels was signed into law today. Special Session Senate Bill 22 will improve and expand the state's Alternative Fuels Incentive Fund, which is aimed at reducing both air pollution and providing the Commonwealth with the independence to manufacture its own fuel source. Tomlinson said the law authorizes an additional 75 cents per gallon subsidy for biodiesel producers who produce more than 25,000 gallons per month, up to a total of $5.3 million annually. Individual producers could receive no more than $1.9 million. The law will also increase the reimbursement to producers of alternative fuels from 5 cents to 10 cents per gallon up to 12.5 million gallons annually. "At a time when fuel costs are rising and we are looking for more energy efficient fuels, this law will create incentives to move away from gasoline and traditional diesel," Tomlinson said. ...

Nearly a year after Joey Lynn Offutt disappeared, her family is hoping more reward money will lead to more information on her whereabouts. Offut has been missing since July 12 of last year, the day the remains of an infant were found in her burned-out Sykesville home. The remains of the infant hadn't been positively identified until recently. Offutt's nephew, Jason Hungerford, says police told the family within the last couple months that the body is Offutt's 6-week-old son. A cause of death has not been determined. The family plans to increase the reward money for information leading to Offut's whereabouts from $10,000 to $15,000. For more information visit findjoey.org

The new Pennsylvania law mandating insurance coverage for autism spectrum disorders also requires that insurance companies cover colon cancer screenings. It also outlines statutory requirements for the proposed merger of Highmark Blue Shield and Independence Blue Cross. Autism Insurance Coverage Mandate The law requires insurance coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders for individuals under twenty-one years of age, including any medically necessary pharmacy care, psychiatric care, psychological care, rehabilitative care and therapeutic care. Coverage will be capped at 36 thousand dollars per year, and there are no limits on the number of treatments. In 2012, the cap will be adjusted to match the Consumer Price Index. Insurers have to accept as a participating provider any autism service provider within its service area. Colon Cancer Coverage Mandate The law requires insurance coverage for colorectal cancer screening for individuals who are fifty years ...

W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company is a small-town competitor in an ever-swelling global economy. Situated in Bradford, Pennsylvania, a town of fewer than 10,000 people in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains, the company is owned by Zippo Manufacturing Company, another Bradford-based icon, makers of the world famous Zippo lighter. A visit to their Zippo/Case Visitors Center and Museum will convince you that Bradford is to knife and lighter collecting what Nashville is to country music. The Case Company began in 1889 in Little Valley, New York, located just across Pennsylvania’s northern border, the center of a turn-of-the-century boom in pocket knives that spawned dozens of America’s very first companies to market knives to consumers. Now, more than 119 years later, only W.R. Case & Sons is left standing, a testament to its products’ enduring quality and all-American workmanship. To celebrate the phenomenon that is Case, the company will be holding a Case Collector Appreciat...

The American Lung Association of Pennsylvania (ALAPA) is once again helping people protect their health and their family's health. In addition to their nationally recognized smoking cessation and asthma education programs, the American Lung Association announced today that they would be providing free radon test kits to the public when you visit their website, www.lunginfo.org/freeradonkit , while supplies last. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas. It is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, and it is the second leading cause of lung cancer, after cigarette smoking. The only way to know the level of radon inside the home is to test for it. The U. S. Surgeon General and the American Lung Association recommend that all homes be tested for radon. The American Lung Association is conducting this program under a recent grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). "The American Lung Association is using the program as a way to help the...

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett planned to file criminal charges Thursday against at least two people in his investigation of the possible misuse of bonuses for legislative staff members. Corbett scheduled a 2 p.m. news conference in Harrisburg to announce the results of the grand jury probe. His office has spent 17 months looking into whether any of the millions of dollars in bonuses handed out to legislative staffers in 2005-06 were illegal rewards for work the aides performed for political campaigns. A spokesman for the attorney general said he cannot release names of the defendants yet because the charges had not been filed. The Dauphin County Common Pleas Court clerk's office had no new public records in the case Thursday morning. For the full story, go to pennlive.com .

Charles Cole Memorial Hospital has announced the addition of Coudersport native Terry Foust, D.O. to its medical staff, effective July 14. Dr. Foust, specializing in orthopedic surgery with emphasis on spine and trauma procedures, will become a member of the Champion Orthopedics & Sports Medicine team, joining Dr. Bradley Giannotti and Dr. Seth Shifrin at their offices in Coudersport and Olean, NY. He will also serve patients at CCMH’s satellite offices in Westfield, Port Allegany, and Emporium. Dr. Foust graduated from Central PA College, Pennsylvania State University, and the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his internship and residency at Pinnacle Health System in Harrisburg where he most recently served as chief resident. Before going to medical school, he worked as a physical therapist assistant. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Osteopathic Association, American Osteopathic Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons,...

I've been meaning to point out this site for a couple of weeks, but I keep forgetting. Now, I remembered. It's the Bradford Township Volunteer Fire Department . Great pictures. Interesting information.

With Pennsylvania facing nearly $20 billion in unmet needs for its water and wastewater facilities, as well as inadequate flood control measures and unsafe, high-hazard dams, Governor Edward G. Rendell today signed into law a historic investment in the state’s infrastructure that will provide up to $1.2 billion in new investments to ensure safe, clean water and safer communities. “A sustainable infrastructure that is capable of protecting its citizens and providing quality, dependable services is paramount to the public’s health and well-being,” said Governor Rendell as he signed Senate bills 2 and 1341 at the Mechanicsburg Wastewater Treatment Plant in Cumberland County. “Our water-related infrastructure—our drinking water and wastewater plants, our dams and our flood protection projects—are aging and deteriorating after decades of neglect and underinvestment. These bills provide new investments not just for capital improvements, which are increasingly expensive but, as in the case ...

A state prison inmate won’t be serving additonal time for helping convicted murderer Malcolm Kysor escape from the State Correctional Institution at Albion last fall. 26-year-old John Gromer was sentenced today in Erie County Court to two and a half to five years in state prison for conspiring to help Kysor break out of prison on Nov. 25. But the judge ordered Gromer, to serve the sentence at the same time he serves his current five-to-10 year sentence for drugs and weapons charges. That sentence began in 2006. Kysor was picked up in Bakersfield, California, in April and brought back to Pennsylvania.

BENSALEM, Pa. (AP) — The head of struggling women's clothing retailer Charming Shoppes Inc. stepped down Wednesday after recent turmoil that included a first-quarter loss and a bitter proxy fight. President and chief executive Dorrit J. Bern's resignation takes effect immediately, the company said in a statement. The parent of Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug and Catherines stores said board chairman Alan Rosskamm will serve as CEO until a replacement for Bern is found. For more on this story, go to pennlive.com .

Dr. Yong-Zhuo Chen, University of Pittsburgh at Bradford professor of mathematics, presented a paper at the World Congress of Nonlinear Analysts last week in Orlando, Fla. “A Presic Type Contractive Condition and Its Applications,” was a theoretical paper dealing with discrete dynamics, the study of quantities that change at discrete points in time. The congress is held every four years to bring together scholars from around the world in the various disciplines that attempt to understand nonlinear phenomena. Chen was born in China. He obtained his master of science degree in mathematics from Shanghai Normal University and taught there as an instructor for a couple of years. He came to the United States at the end of 1983 to attend the University of Pittsburgh, where he received his doctorate in mathematics in 1988. Chen’s Ph.D. work was in the field of harmonic analysis and he, together with his advisor, initiated the study of several new classes of Hardy spaces, which have been devel...

U.S. Rep. John E. Peterson, R-Pa., discusses offshore energy production on Fox Business Channel: “The American public owns this energy. It’s not owned by Presidnet Bush, it’s not owned by Speaker Pelosi, it’s not owned by the environmental groups…” “Everyday we wait [to produce more energy domestically], we become more OPEC dependent…” Click HERE for the video.

New DNA evidence in the JonBenet Ramsey murder case does not match that of anyone in her family, a prosecutor says. For the full story, go to CNN .

An Olean man has been charged with assault after allegedly breaking another man's nose Tuesday night in a convenience store parking lot. 22-year-old Franklin Chase is accused of punching Robert Gilbert in the face and breaking his nose while two other men hit Gilbert with a baseball bat and golf club. Chase is also accused of throwing a metal pipe at Gilbert's car, denting it and smashing a side-view mirror. Police say more arrests are pending. An Olean man has been charged with assault and possession of a controlled substance. 22-year-old Gary Maull is accused of kicking Greg Eaton in the head and ribs while they were at Younger's Bar. He also allegedly violated a court order by contacting an Olean woman, and allegedly possessed and sold crack cocaine.

The Seneca Nation has no plans to stop building the new Buffalo Creek Casino in Buffalo. Yesterday, a federal judge vacated approval of gaming on the property. Seneca President Mo John addressed the issue during a news conference this afternoon at the Seneca-Niagara Casino, and said it'll be business as usual at the site while the matter makes its way through the court system. The Senecas are appealing the court decision. Erie County Executive Chris Collins and Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown are in favor of building the casino.

Bradford City Police are investigating a robbery at the Interstate Parkway Crosby Mart Tuesday night. A clerk reported that a man entered the store at about 10:15, brandishing a knife and demanding cash. The clerk gave him an undetermined amount of money. The man then fled on foot through the back door of the building. The clerk was not hurt. Anyone with pertinent information is asked to call Bradford City Police or use the confidential tip line at cityofbradfordpolice.com .

WASHINGTON, DC –U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and Congressman Jason Altmire (D-PA) today introduced legislation to help volunteer fire companies cover the rising cost of fuel prices. The Supporting America’s Volunteer Emergency Services Act of 2008 (SAVES Act) would establish a grant program under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to be distributed to volunteer fire companies to help them pay to fuel fire trucks and emergency response vehicles. “High gas and diesel prices have put a strain on millions of Americans, particularly those operating on razor-thin budgets like our volunteer fire companies,” said Senator Casey. “Many companies are finding it difficult to cope with the added strain, making it impossible for them to respond to emergencies with enough equipment and vehicles. Volunteer companies save Pennsylvania taxpayers and towns millions of dollars every year, so this is an investment in their future and ours. We must help our firefighters so they a...

The Rainbow Corner Preschool will be holding a week-long Summer Fun Camp for children age 3-5 years old. Camp will run from Monday, August 4th through Friday August 8th, 2008 from 9:00am to 12:00pm at 20 Russell Boulevard in Bradford. Children do not have to be enrolled at Rainbow Corner to attend. The Summer Fun Camp will focus on the outside world, nature, and outdoor play. Tuesday and Thursday of camp will focus on water activities and water play. Friday’s activities will be held at Callahan Park. The Summer Fun Camp will provide structured play and socialization opportunities as well as school readiness activities for preschool age children and children entering Kindergarten. The cost for summer camp is $50.00 for the first child and $30.00 for each additional child from the same family. Deadline for register is Friday, July 25, 2008. To register please contact CARE for Children.

Governor Ed Rendell hands signed copies of House Bill 1150 to Senators Jane Orie and Don White following a July 9 ceremony. The new law provides for coverage of autism services, colorectal cancer screening and state oversight of the proposed merger of Highmark Inc. and Independence Blue Cross. ( Photo Courtesy of Senate Republican Communications ) Governor Ed Rendell today signed House Bill 1150 into law, groundbreaking legislation that will provide unprecedented new protections for children and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. By requiring private insurers to cover medically necessary treatments for individuals with autism up to age 21, the new law will improve access to essential services and treatments by building a stronger provider network for thousands of children and their families. Insurers will be responsible for the cost of treatment up to $36,000 per year. Advocates praise Pennsylvania’s new law as being among the nation’s best. “This is a major victory for Pennsy...

Under new morgage licensing laws, mortgage brokers must be licensed by the state and undergo training on mortgage laws. The five bills Gov. Ed Rendell signed into law Tuesday will: ● Require anyone selling mortgages to pass a state background check and be licensed. Previously, mortgage companies, rather than individuals, had to be licensed. ● Forbid mortgage companies from imposing prepayment penalties on mortgages up to $217,000, when a borrower tries to refinance with another company. ● Impose fines up to $10,000 on appraisers who inflate home values to get buyers to borrow more money than the house is worth. ● Require mortgage lenders to report foreclosures to the state Housing Finance Agency, which will track them and recommend changes, publish a list of approved credit counseling agencies and notify borrowers threatened with foreclosure of counseling options. ● Require the state Banking Department to make public all enforcement action against mortgage brokers, pawns...

ALBANY – Legislation that clarifies the law allowing farmers to rightfully manage and harvest woodland lots in conjunction with their overall farm management plan, has passed both houses of the legislature and awaits consideration by Governor Paterson, Senator Catharine Young (R,I,C – Olean)has announced. Senator Young’s initiative further defines that farm operations shall also include the production, management and harvesting of farm woodlands. “Farmers across New York need the flexibility to diversify their agricultural activities in order to remain profitable and productive,” said Senator Young. “This legislation will help provide access to additional financial resources to ensure viable farm operations.” Under current law, the first fifty acres of a timber plot on a farm operation is eligible for the agricultural assessment farm tax relief program, but the operation is not protected under law by the Department of Agriculture and Markets. Senator Young’s bill extends these full ...

A Port Allegany man was arrested Tuesday and charged with raping a boy and several miniature horses over a period of several years. Court records show that 41 year-old Eddie Graham is facing numerous charges including rape, indecent assault and sexual intercourse with an animal. He also tried to force the boy to have sex with the horses. The incidents happened over a period of time between 2004 and 2006. Graham is jailed on $150,000 dollars bail.

Listeners have heard about Bradford's Community Garden on the LiveLine and also on Around the Home with Bob Harris. I've also done several news stories on the air, and on the blog, about the project being coordinated by Elm Street interns Kara Smith and Rachel Ense. Now, you can see everything we've been talking about -- and more. Kara has started the Community Garden Blog . Go check it out and see why everyone involved is so excited about it.

The Third Annual Kessel Klassic Golf Outing to benefit the Jeffrey Brian Kessel Memorial Scholarship at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford is scheduled for Friday, July 18. The event will take place at the Pennhills Club in Bradford. A continental breakfast runs from 9 to 10:45 a.m., with a shotgun start to the golf outing set to begin at 11 a.m. An awards dinner is scheduled for 5 p.m. with a cocktail hour prior to that. The Jeffrey Brian Kessel Memorial Scholarship was established at Pitt-Bradford by Ann and Dick Kessel. Jeff Kessel died of cancer in 2001 at the age of 41. Kessel graduated from Pitt-Bradford in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree in social studies. He was a cousin of Dick Kessel and worked for his business Kessel Construction Inc. for 12 years, the last six as general manager. Kessel was a dedicated community volunteer and leader, serving as mayor of Limestone, N.Y., from 1989 until 1999, when he was named Limestone’s Man of the Decade. Also in 1999, he received the ...

Penny Oyler, Bradford Regional Medical Center’s director of Cardiopulmonary Services, and Jason Nuzzo, exercise physiologist at the Upbeat Wellness/Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, review data of a rehab patient when active and at rest. Upbeat can now monitor patients more completely with a new telemetry unit. ( Photo Courtesy of BRMC ) By George Nianiatus, senior writer Communications Department Up to eight cardiac patients undergoing rehabilitation can now have their exercise activities simultaneously monitored and the data fully summarized for diagnostic trending purposes at Bradford Regional Medical Center’s (BRMC) Upbeat Wellness/Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. This new capability is due to BRMC’s acquisition of a state-of-the-art telemetry unit, TeleRehab Advantage, a uniquely designed monitoring system for heart patients developed by ScottCare Corp. The telemetry unit provides continuous monitoring of heart patients, measuring heart rhythm and other vital signs such as blood pres...

Bradford Mayor Tom Riel reads a proclamation before presenting businessman John Kohler with a key to the city during Tuesday night's council meeting. By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director One person can make a difference. That was the title of a PowerPoint presentation highlighting the accomplishments of Bradford businessman John Kohler. The presentation was prior to Tuesday's city council meeting, in which Kohler received a key to the city. Office of Economic and Community Development Executive Director Sara Andrews said ten years ago no one was investing in Main Street. She said the city was buying buildings with the intention of renovating them to try to encourage other people to do the same. She said Kohler "really stepped forward with the number of buildings he's now acquired and has renovated. And they're viable buildings. They're not just buildings that were renovated and you hope someone moves in. He actually went out and recruited people to come int...

A federal judge has issued a decision that gives a partial victory to both the Seneca Nation and the group that's opposing the construction of the Buffalo Creek Casino. The judge says that while the land in downtown Buffalo is sovereign, he was vacating approval from the federal government allowing gaming on the land. Construction on the new casino and gambling in the temporary casino continued this afternoon, but Richard Lippes, the lawyer for the casino opponents says that must stop. Seneca president Mo John says they will fight the ruling.

A Clearfield County man who police say taught undercover officers how to make homemade grenades has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating federal firearms laws. Sixty-year-old Bradley Kahle was among several people arrested by federal authorities in a weapons raid last month. Authorities say Kahle told undercover agents he hoped Sen. Hillary Clinton or Sen. Barack Obama would be killed if they were elected president, and that he would shoot judicial and law enforcement officials if he became terminally ill. The indictment says that on June 8 Kahle was in possession of bombs. He is in jail, pending trial. If convicted, Kahle could be sentenced to 10 years in prison, fine $250,000 or both.

Two people have been arrested after police found more than 1,000 marijuana plants at their house in a sophisticated growing operation. 70-year-old Joseph Tigano and 44-year-old Joseph Tigano III were picked p after a federal search warrant was issued for their home on Mill Street in the Village of Cattaraugus. The plants would have a street value of $3,000,000. Police also found about $25,000 in cash and several guns at the house. They also found more than 80 pounds of packaged marijuana with an estimated street value of $400,000. The Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Department says this was one of the most highly sophisticated operations in Western New York. The Tiganos were taken to federal court in Buffalo for arraignment and are in the custody of US Marshals. The FBI, US Drug Enforcement Administration, IRS, New York State Police, Erie County Sheriff's Aviation Unit and Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force helped in the investigation, which started in February.

GrassrootsPA has posted this at the top of the Web site: HB is abuzz as rumors of a House Democrat 'sex room' scandal spreads... Rumored to have been exposed in the Bonusgate investigation... . *sigh* I'm glad Marty's a Republican.

The state’s new budget for fiscal year 2008-2009 includes good news for area schools and taxpayers, according to Senator Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson), who played a key role in budget negotiations. “This budget increases education funding by 5.5 percent – or nearly $275,000 -- without raising taxes,” Scarnati said. “This will help ensure our children get the best possible education and help to ease the property tax burden on our residents.” Scarnati said the budget sets a lot of goals to help ensure that all students have adequate resources. “This is very important in establishing a fair and predictable funding system for our schools, so that school districts can plan ahead,” Scarnati said. “By increasing the state’s share of school funding, school districts will not have to rely so heavily on property taxes to make up the difference.” Scarnati said the funding formula is also fairer to rural areas of the state, which have been underfunded compared to more urban areas. “The governor init...

Officials at Bradford Regional Medical Center’s satellite health care office in Smethport are announcing the start of a new phone system designed to expedite patient requests and scheduling. Rhonda Chilson, BRMC’s Director of Practice Management, said the change at Smethport Family Practice has been implemented to aid callers in obtaining quick assistance with their most routine needs. "We wanted to give our patients a way to call at their convenience to leave information when they need routine prescription refills, or to leave the staff a non-emergency message," she said. All callers will use the general office number at 887-5655 and then hear a series of four prompts to choose from. "The prompts explain in clear, simple terms which of your phone buttons to press if you need your prescription refilled, if you want to leave a message for a nurse, or for other calls," Mrs. Chilson said. One of the prompts offers callers the opportunity to make an appointment or sp...