Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (CNN) -- Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin abused her power as Alaska's governor and violated state ethics law by trying to get her ex-brother-in-law fired from the state police, a state investigator's report concluded Friday. The investigator's report states Palin's efforts to get Wooten fired broke a state ethics law that bars public officials from pursuing personal interest through official action. Read the full story at CNN.com

I wish I wasn't so busy this afternoon so I could have gotten out to take a better picture of the blimp flying over the Bradford refinery today. The remote-controlled blimp was taking aerial photos of American Group's facilities because that hasn't been done for several years. The hills look pretty, though, don't they?

State Representative Marty Causer serves up lunch at the Roulette Fire Hall during his 6th Annual Senior Expo today. Causer says the expo was "very well-attended" and he's looking forward to doing it again next year. For more photos of the event, taken by James Jones, visit Solomon's Words .

A man checks out the work being done on the new Foster Brook Crosby Mart/Tim Horton's. The project is expected to be finished by the end of the year. Also by the end of the year, Tops Markets will have Tim Horton's. (No offense to Tim Horton's, or any other donut maker but ... John Williams European Pastry Shop rules! We always remember to give Joe props. )

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati has sent a letter to the four legislative caucus leaders asking for a meeting regarding Pennsylvania's financial situation. He says Pennsylvania is beginning to feel the effects of the national economic slowdown, and this is being seen in the state's revenues. "The issue has to be addressed now," Scarnati says. "We cannot wait until May or June of next year when we get to our next budget and find that the problem is one that we cannot solve." "We need to move forward," he says. "We need to make sure we're being prudent in our expenditures. It's time now that we make some tough decisions to save Pennsylvanians from any tax increase next year." Scarnati's office will set up a meeting with Senate leaders Dominic Pileggi and Bob Mellow, and House leaders Bill DeWeese and Sam Smith. Scarnati's Letter PDF

MAYVILLE, NY -- Chautauqua County Executive Gregory J. Edwards announced Friday that the County will be hosting a 2-day conference November 14th and 15th that will deal with a wide variety of topics focused on energy. The First Chautauqua County Energy Conference and Expo will take place at Chautauqua Suites, 215 West Lake Road, Mayville, NY. "Chautauqua County is taking the lead in developing programs and products that will allow for energy conservation to become an integral part of every home and business," Edwards said. Doug Champ, Chair and Coordinator of the Chautauqua County Energy Conference, has been working alongside Edwards and Bill Daly, Administrative Director/CEO of the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) in organizing the event. Exhibits begin Friday afternoon at Noon with opening remarks from Edwards and Champ. Panel discussions will take place throughout the afternoon, and conclude at 6:30 PM with a Dinner at Webb's Captain Table wi...

Bills signed by Governor Ed Rendell change parts of both the Main Street and Elm Street programs by giving them options on how they can use grant money. House Bill 420 amends the Main Street Act to allow grants made under that act to be used for marketing and promoting residential opportunities within the Main Street area. House Bill 2233 amends the Elm Street Program Act to allow basic grants under the program to be extended for an additional five years, and to allow grants to be used for promoting the development of traditional consumer goods and services, like banks, grocery stores and pharmacies.

ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. (AP) — This stretch of rolling dairy country has long been Milton Hershey's turf, where he first found success making chocolate more than a century ago and earned a name synonymous with chocolate in America. But M&M-making rival Mars has crept up on Hershey's dominance of U.S. chocolate buyers. And now, Mars has delivered a chocolate-coated slap in the face, setting up shop in south-central Pennsylvania, just 10 miles from Hershey's flagship factory on Chocolate Avenue. For the full story, go to pennlive.com .

In a thread on Talk About Bradford , Josh Hatcher wrote: "I would LOVE to see all the apartments and offices on the second and third floors above main street be remodeled and rented out at affordable rates... When that happens, I think it will help main street come back to life again!" Well Josh, ask and you shall receive. Governor Ed Rendell has signed House Bill 420 which amends the Main Street Act to allow grants made under that act to be used for marketing and promoting residential opportunities within the Main Street area. I'm sure Anita Dolan will be all over that!

A Williamsport radio station is operating on reduced power because a suspected joy-rider crashed a logging vehicle into the station's transmitter building. General manager Dan Farr says someone drove a skidder into WILQ-FM's transmitter building at about 4 a.m. Thursday. The station is now broadcasting at about one-tenth its normal power. WILQ serves listeners in a six-county area, and Farr says many won't be able to pick up the signal until repairs are made. That's expected to take about a month. Officials say if the skidder had hit the transmitter, the rider could have been electrocuted.

Friends of Good Music, in association with the Regina A. Quick Center for The Arts, will present a concert performance of Act I of Richard Wagner’s opera “Die Walkűre” at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17, in The Quick Center’s Rigas Family Theater. The performance features soprano Meaghan Joynt, tenor Erik Nelson Werner and bass Erik Kroncke, winners of The Quick Center for the Arts Performance Prize of the 2008 Liederkranz Competition in New York City. They will be accompanied by pianist Elizabeth M. Hastings. In a Quick Center performance first, supertitles will be projected above the stage so the audience can follow the plot with an English translation. Joynt, in the role of Sieglinde, Werner as Siegmund, and Kroncke, who plays the evil Hunding, are the top prize winners of the 2008 Liederkranz Competition’s Wagner Division. They are among today’s most exciting Wagnerian singers, said Joseph A. LoSchiavo, associate vice president and executive director of The Quick Center and a longtime...

Charles Cole Memorial Hospital held its annual corporation meeting October 9 at the hospital’s Wellness Center. The program, “Celebrating Community Champions and Partnerships,” featured an annual report to the community by Ed Pitchford, president and chief executive officer at CCMH, and a report of the recent board of directors’ election by board chairman Charles Updegraff, Jr. Updates were also provided on topics including new providers, patient centered care, quality and safety, integration of medicine and technology, employee development and recognition, and community presence and partnerships. “Your regional hospital continues to be a leader in rural health care and is proactively responding to the changing environment in which it operates,” Pitchford said. “The hospital has also recruited several new providers and is embracing new technologies and partnerships. I am pleased to report that the conversion to the Medicare Critical Access Hospital program, that we announced last year,...

Scott Douglas listens as Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Diane Sheeley announces the winning bids for the first of this year's two call-in auctions on The Morning Buzz. The second call-in auction is next Friday, and one of the packages includes an airplane ride to Cleveland and a visit to the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. The Chamber's annual public auction is October 22 at the Masonic Center on South Avenue and, so far, includes about 40 packages, and more. Keep checking back for more details!

Vote for the CNN Hero of the Year HERE .

I usually don't use entire posts from Talk About Bradford , but this post from Dr. Brian J. MacNamara is so good that I'm using the whole thing. "I took a walk down Main Street tonight to take advantage of the warm weather before Frosty arrives. What a great town! I never become used to the classic set up. Some store fronts are pumpkinized and I like the witch at the butcher. I still look at Bradford as I did when I first came to town. Instantly, I wanted to live here. If only I could get the building at Main and Kennedy- Schonblom, is it? It reminds me of the artwork depicting Marilyn, Elvis and Bogey sitting at a coffee counter. Although, I think it would make a great Ice Cream Soda Shop. Things are happening all over and I tend to bark a bit, but it is due to what I view the potential of our town to be. Every person I passed greeted me in some way. It may seem like a trivial point- but, it's not. It's a special trait like smelling Hallowe'en in the air. Ther...

POTTSVILLE, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania teenager charged with killing a Mexican man claims his school is failing to provide him with an adequate education. Brandon Piekarsky faces third-degree murder charges in the July 12 beating death of 24-year-old illegal immigrant Luis Ramirez in Shenandoah. For the full story, go to pennlive.com

The National Debt Clock in New York City has run out of digits to record the growing figure. http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/10/09/national.debt.clock.ap/index.html

HARRISBURG - Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced that the Attorney General's Office is in the final stages of negotiations with Countrywide Financial to obtain monetary relief and cash assistance for thousands of Pennsylvania residents with loans through Countrywide. Corbett said his office has been investigating Countrywide for several months and the investigation has centered on the subprime mortgages that were sold through Countrywide. More than 10,000 Pennsylvania home owners obtained loans from Countrywide and may be eligible for loan modification, cash assistance and mortgage foreclosure relief as part of the negotiated settlement. The settlement negotiations are taking place with Bank of America, which acquired Countrywide in July of this year. Corbett said he expects the terms of the settlement agreement to be finalized in the next several weeks

Governor Ed Rendell is expected to sign legislation co-sponsored by state Rep. Dan Surra, D-Elk/Clearfield, that would allow the state to raise funds for the improvement of elk habitats by holding an annual auction for an elk hunting license in Pennsylvania. "The demand for elk hunting licenses far outstrips the 40 elk licenses that are currently made available each year," Surra said. "Holding an auction to offer an additional license could raise a significant amount of funding for the Game Commission's efforts to maintain and improve the elk range." Surra said the auction would be held by an organization independent of the Game Commission, such as the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. The organization could keep a portion of the proceeds for running the auction, but at least 80 percent of the proceeds would be directed toward improving the elk range. The auction would be open to both residents and non-residents of Pennsylvania. The legislation authorizes the aucti...

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Imagine there's no Heaven It's easy if you try No hell below us Above us only sky Imagine all the people Living for today Imagine there's no countries It isn't hard to do Nothing to kill or die for And no religion too Imagine all the people Living life in peace You may say that I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us And the world will be as one Imagine no possessions I wonder if you can No need for greed or hunger A brotherhood of man Imagine all the people Sharing all the world You may say that I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us And the world will live as one John Lennon would have been 68 years old today.

NAME: Ricky Espinal White/Hispanic Male DOB: 04/29/88 AGE: 20 years HEIGHT: 5'6" WEIGHT: 142 lbs. HAIR: Black EYES: Brown PENNSYLVANIA CRIME STOPPERS IS OFFERING A CASH REWARD FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE ARREST OF RICKY ESPINAL. The Pennsylvania State Police, Troop C, Clearfield continues its search for Ricky Espinal. On August 4, 2008, Ricky Espinal was released from Quehanna Boot Camp, 4395 Quehanna Highway, Karthaus Township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. Upon his release from Quehanna Boot Camp, Mr. Espinal was to report directly to the Luzerne Treatment Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mr. Espinal failed to report to the Luzerne Treatment Center and has been charged with Escape. The last known address for Ricky Espinal was 3237 North 15th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

One business in Bradford, one in Warren and two in Potter County are receiving loans through the state's First Industries Fund. Togi's Family Restaurant will receive a $53,000 tourism loan to renovate the restaurant. In Potter County, God's Country Creamery is getting $50,000 to build a 600-square foot building and buy new machinery and equipment. Riss-Dale Farm will receive a $200,000 agriculture loan to buy equipment and livestock. In Warren County, J. McGraw LLC will receive a $200,000 tourism loan to build a 69-room hotel.

National City Corp. isn't talking about a report that it's looking for a buyer. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the Cleveland bank is in talks with PNC Bank of Pittsburgh and the Bank of Nova Scotia. PNC has not commented either. After the Wall Street Journal report, National City stock was up between 10 and 15 percent in midday trading. Sale speculation heated up 10 days ago when the company's share price dropped to a low of $1.25. It's staying in the $2.45 range today.

Former Buffalo Sabres goalie Clint Malarchuk accidentally shot himself in the chin Tuesday with a .22-caliber rifle at his Nevada home, according to the Record-Courier of Nevada. The 47-year-old Malarchuk was taken by helicopter to a hospital. Malarchuk's wife said when she arrived home from work her husband was in the backyard, and said he had been shooting rabbits with a .22 rifle. She said Malarchuk stood and placed the rifle butt on the ground between his legs and the rifle discharged, hitting him in the chin. Douglas County sheriff's deputies were investigating the incident to determine if the shooting was accidental, the paper said. Malarchuk is the goaltending coach for the National Hockey League Columbus Blue Jackets.

Lil Miss Street Dreams Danielle Abbott stopped by the studio today with Polly Mills of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Gary Hoy of the Street Dreams Car Club and Olivia "Barbie" Brown. The Lil Miss Street Dreams contest raised enough money this year to provide two full wishes, plus a littel more, for Make-A-Wish. Danielle brought in $1,500 of the more than $7,700 the 12 contestants raised.

In the last 7 days the Origami Bank has folded, the Sumo Bank has gone belly up and the Bonsai Bank announced plans to cut some of its branches. Yesterday, it was announced that the Karaoke Bank is up for sale and will likely go for a song, while today shares in the Kamikaze Bank were suspended after they nose-dived. While the Samurai Bank is soldiering on following sharp cutbacks, the Ninja Bank is reported to have taken a hit, but they remain in the black. Furthermore, 500 staff at the Karate Bank got the chop and analysts report that there is something fishy going on at the Sushi Bank where it is feared that staff may get a raw deal.

Many people in the region – and across the country – knew Spider in a variety of ways, so I'm not going to try to write about him as publisher of Bradford-Online, administrator of Talk About Bradford, one of Bradford's best advocates or even as a friend, although I did consider him a friend. I'm going to write about Spider the News Guy. During the past few months we learned that we had similar visions not only for Bradford and the surrounding communities, but also for the way news is presented to those communities. When this blog started taking off, he was one of the first people to encourage me to keep it going – and growing. A big part of our vision was community involvement, which TAB and comments on this blog welcome. Our feelings were/are that there's more to news than just reading it or hearing it. Being able to voice your unfiltered (for the most part) opinions on the news as it's happening is a big part of news in the 21st century. That's why he put link...

A crew from the television show "America's Most Wanted" is in Sykesville this week filming for a story on Joey Lynn Offutt, who has been missing for more than a year. A fire destroyed Offutt's home in July of last year, and the remains of her infant son were found inside the house. Her car was found several days later in State College, but investigators have not turned up any other clues that may lead to her whereabouts. Her family is offering a $10,000 reward to anyone who provides information leading to Joey's whereabouts. For more information go to findjoey.org .

Apparently these people have changed their minds about supporting John McCain and Sarah Palin, and moved their yard sign to the trash pile. For the record, they do not have an Obama sign in their yard.

HARRISBURG -- Governor Edward G. Rendell hailed the approval of bills today by the General Assembly to help consumers cut their energy bills through conservation, reform Pennsylvania’s inadequate dog law, prevent mandatory overtime for nurses, and measures to strengthen penalties against those peddling illegal guns were important accomplishments. The Governor praised legislation that imposes at least a 20-year prison sentence against criminals who attempt to or inflict bodily injury upon police officers by discharging a firearm. He also hailed approval of House Bill 2200 as an important tool consumers can use to reduce their electricity bill by $500 million over the next five years. Governor Rendell also praised the passage of House Bill 2525, which, he said, will allow Pennsylvania to rid its reputation as the ‘Puppy Mill Capitol of the East.’ He also welcomed approval of a bill to bar hospitals and other health-care facilities from forcing nurses and other direct patient care worker...

A Cattaraugus man has pleaded not guilty to vehicle manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in connection with an accident that killed an Otto, New York, man. Court records indicate that 41-year-old Michael Andrews was driving while intoxicated on January 2 in the Town of Mansfield when an accident caused the death of 46-year-old Joseph Sebastiani. Although the Cattaraugus County District Attorney's office asked for bail to be set at $100,000, Andrews was released on his own recognizance. Three Buffalo residents waived their preliminary hearings on charges they sold crack cocaine from a room at the Best Western Bradford Inn. Thomas Charles Patton III, Kesha Burney and Sophia Patton were all charged with possession of crack cocaine with intent to deliver. Police executed a search warrant on room 108 at the motel after confidential informants bought crack cocaine there twice. Officers had to force their way into the room through a window because the suspects dead-bolted the st...

The Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce, local and regional businesses and organizations, and the pubic announce the first of three public events promoting the products and services available in our area. The Chamber’s 2008 annual public auctions will include two popular morning live radio call in auctions on the Friday mornings before the main event on Wednesday, October 22. The first call in auction on Friday, October 10, features five packages including a variety of items from dinner for two at Glendorn to two tickets to a Buffalo Bills game seating in the Paul McGuire Club. Revenue from the auctions generates the second largest income item on the Chamber’s annual budget following membership income. This primary fundraiser expanded from a one evening event to include call-in live radio auctions four years ago. The call-in auctions reach a wide audience and provide an opportunity for many more to recognize and benefit from the donations made to the Chamber. To date, more than 150 pr...

House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese released the following statement following allegations that he knew about illegal bonuses being paid to legislative aides. "This matter is before the courts. Normally, I would not comment, but because of the seriousness of this situation, let me say this: "Mike Manzo's speculation that I knew about his criminal acts is absolutely false and there is no evidence to support his opinion. In fact, the grand jury described in detail the steps that those now charged took to keep their scheme secret. "Manzo is a desperate, disgruntled former employee whom I fired last year for dishonesty and self-dealing. At the time that I fired him and with witnesses in the room, he apologized for letting me down. "Now he and his wife are confronted with serious criminal charges and long prison sentences, and he is telling a story that conflicts with the evidence and findings of a yearlong grand jury investigation. "He has lied to his wife, to h...

Energy legislation that was sent to the governor today to be signed into law includes provisions advocated by state Rep. Dan Surra, D-Elk/Clearfield, that will help to preserve hundreds of local jobs at Domtar Corp.'s Johnsonburg paper mill. The comprehensive energy bill (H.B. 2200) includes language that would boost the market for an alternative energy source generated by the Johnsonburg mill's paper-making process. Similar provisions are also included in another bill (Special Session S.B. 25) that was passed by the House today. "Paper mills that want to stay in business have to remain competitive," Surra said. "This legislation will help preserve jobs at Pennsylvania's two paper mills – including the 400 jobs at the mill in Johnsonburg -- by ensuring that the byproduct of the paper-making process, which paper plants have been using as a power source for years, is a significant part of Pennsylvania's overall alternative energy strategy." Surra sai...

By Tom Missel Director of Media Relations/Marketing Clarence Picard is still ticked. Late in St. Bonaventure’s season-opening men’s rugby game with Hobart, sloppy SBU passing and tackling allowed Hobart to score in the second half. “Yeah, that still kind of bothers me,” admitted Picard, the Outlaws third-year coach. Not that the score cost St. Bonaventure the game; the Outlaws managed to hold on, 42-5. What the Hobart score prevented — so far anyway — is a perfectly perfect season. In four games, the defending New York state champs have outscored their opponents, 280-5. “We’ve gotten much better, much more consistent over the last four weeks,” Picard said. Talk about an understatement. The Outlaws, 4-0 and ranked 10th in Division II in the latest eRugbynews.com national poll, have beaten their last three opponents by an average score of 79-0, including a 92-0 win over the University of Rochester on Sept. 28. “We actually scored more tries (touchdowns) against Fredonia, but we couldn’t ...

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The former chief of staff to House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese testified Wednesday that DeWeese knew bonuses were paid to reward legislative employees for their help on political campaigns. Michael Manzo made the accusation during a preliminary hearing for two people charged with using state workers and equipment for campaigns. It was the first time anyone has publicly accused DeWeese of knowing about the bonuses and why they were being given out. DeWeese, D-Greene, on Wednesday declined to answer reporters' questions but said he would hold a news conference later in the day, after a House session. For the full story, go to pennlive.com .

One of the men accused of intentionally spilling thousands of gallons of crude oil onto the Allegheny National Forest has waived his preliminary hearing. Andrew Horton is charged with causing or risking a catastrophe for allegedly taking his son, Christopher, to a lease on the forest owned by Kittanning-based oil and gas producer Snyder Brothers. Christopher Horton is accused of actually opening valves on the tanks and letting about 45,000 gallons of oil spill onto the forest. Andrew Horton is in jail on $500,000 bail. His son's preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 5. He's in jail on $550,000 bail.

WASHINGTON, DC- U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) applauds the decision announced by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to keep campgrounds open in the Allegheny National Forest. “I am pleased that, after hearing from concerned Pennsylvanians, the Forest Service has decided not to close any of the slated recreation facilities in the Allegheny National Forest,” said Senator Casey. “This is the right decision due to the popularity of these campgrounds and parks. I plan to work with the Forest Service on both their budget and potential partnerships with non-government organizations to repair the facilities so that Pennsylvanians can continue to enjoy them for generations to come.” The USFS announced that the campgrounds in the Allegheny National Forest will remain open for at least the next three to five years. The USFS had previously announced its intention to decommission and reduce services to many facilities, including the campgrounds at Twin Lakes Park, Loleta Recreation Facility and Kias...

Joseph C. Warner, 48, of 166 Davis St., passed away Tuesday, October 7, 2008, in his residence. Born June 13, 1960, he was a son of Clyde J. Martin and Estelle Faye Kelso Warner. Mr. Warner was a 1978 graduate of Warren High school. He was a veteran of the US Navy. After he was discharged, he lived and worked in Maine at Bath Iron Works and Arrowhart Industries. He returned to the Bradford area and attended the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. He was later employed in the computer technology services department at Pitt-Bradford. He then established Warner Computer Services, and was the publisher of Bradford's first Web site, Bradford-Online . Surviving are two children, a daughter, Casey M. Warner and a son, Jeffrey M. Warner, both of Bradford; their mother, Laura Feely Warner; three step nieces; and several cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and half sister, Endora "Snooky" Quinn, who died February 7, 2008. Family will be receiving friends at the Holle...

A staff worker in former House Minority Whip Mike Veon's district office testified today that she dedicated large amounts of time to campaign work instead of doing work as a legislative and constituent aide. Melissa Lewis talked about the widespread illegal activity while testifying during the preliminary hearings of state Rep. Sean Ramaley and House aide Anna Marie Perretta-Rosepink. Ramaley and Perretta-Rosepink were the only two defendants of the 12 charged in connection with Bonugate who didn't waive their preliminary hearings. Lewis gave detailed accounts of the campaign work she was asked to do in Veon's district office at the direction of Perretta-Rosepink, often alleging her boss blatantly ignored legislative work while assigning her to work on campaigns. She said the campaign work was strenuous, especially when working to remove third-party presidential candidate Ralph Nader from the ballot in 2004.

Lawmakers are voicing concern over the details of legislation under consideration by the state House designed to offer non-resident military veterans an "in-state" tuition break at Pennsylvania's state related colleges and universities. Rep. Kathy Rapp supports a tuition break for veterans, but is disturbed by a provision written into the bill. "There's an appalling statement in this bill that says our veterans and their dependents must participate in community service," she said. "This is a slap in the face to any veteran who has served this country," she said. They've done their duty. They've done their community service." She said the "community service" language needs to be removed from the bill.

Police say a Pittsburgh-area teenager tried to kill five family members by placing homemade chemical bottle bombs near their heads while they slept. 16-year-old Christopher Janney has been charged with attempted homicide for leaving what police described as "chlorine compression bombs" near the family members. The bottles did not explode and no one was injured. Janney had also been using a peppermill to grind up rat poison, according to a criminal complaint. The one-page complaint spelled out some details of what family members told police, but did not explain Janney's motive or whether he tried to use the rat poison on his family.

WILLIAMSPORT – The Department of Environmental Protection today fined Shop Vac Corp. $6,300 for hazardous waste violations discovered in May at its Williamsport plant. “DEP staff observed a number of used fluorescent lamps that were stored and labeled improperly, which is a violation,” said Northcentral Regional Director Robert Yowell. “Used fluorescent lamps are classified as a universal hazardous waste because they contain mercury. Federal and state hazardous waste regulations are in place to ensure these items are properly stored and labeled so they don’t present a danger to employees or the public.” DEP routinely inspects facilities inspections where universal hazardous wastes are stored. Such materials can also include some types of batteries, pesticides, mercury-containing devices and various lamps. Shop Vac officials corrected all of the violations during the inspection and paid the fine to the Solid Waste Abatement Fund, which is used to help pay for cleanup activities across t...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Satterlee & Sons won't be building a card lock and bulk fueling station on South Kendall Avenue after all. They had planned on building a card lock fueling system – similar to Pacific Pride on Davis Street – but with the addition of a bulk fueling station at 123 South Kendall. City Zoning Officer John Peterson denied the request for a variance of the zoning code, and the company appealed to the Zoning Hearing Board, which met Tuesday night. The card lock station would have been in operation, and lighted, 24 hours a day. The bulk fueling station would have been open from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with limited use on the weekends. Peterson denied the request because the bulk fueling station does not meet requirements of the zoning code. Before making their decision, board members heard from several Chelsea Lane and South Kendall Avenue residents who were opposed to the proposal. Chelsea Lane resident Nick Cummins told the ...

Todd Peine was installed as the 74th president of the Kiwanis Club of Bradford at the annual installation of officers meeting held Tuesday night at the Bradford Club. Kiwanis Lt. Gov. John White presided over the ceremony. Other officers installed include Michele McCann, president-elect; Nellie Wallace, vice president; Ron Yeager, secretary; Al Vanderpoel, treasurer; and Kimberly Weinberg, immediate past-president. New directors for the Kiwanis Club were also installed and include Rick Benton, Candy Tingley, Dave Downs, Steve Cottillion and Paula Vecellio. Recognized for their service to the club were outgoing directors Nancy Fuhrman, Fred Miller and Diane Sheeley.

Bradford resident Martha Palumbo, who’s also a Bradford Regional Medical Center volunteer, and Roger Laroche, M.D., medical director of Bradford Recovery Systems, look through a scrapbook that details the 20 years of achievements at the hospital’s Mentally Ill Chemically Addicted (MICA) Unit, which was the first of its kind in the state. The MICA Unit held an open house Tuesday to mark its 20th anniversary. (Photo courtesy of BRMC)

Partly because of public comment, recreational areas on the Allegheny National Forest that were targeted for closure, will remain open for the time being. Forest Supervisor Leanne Marten announced today that the Recreation Facility Analysis for developed sites has been approved by the Regional Forester's Office in Milwaukee. But some of the initial recommendations – including the closings – were revised. A five-year program of work has been developed to move forward with these recommendations. The Allegheny NF is currently putting together a new campground concession package to replace the one scheduled to expire this December. This package will include the operation and maintenance of sites including Dewdrop, Tracy Ridge, Kiasutha, Red Bridge, Willow Bay and Twin Lakes. All other sites are still under a current concessionaire permit or are operated and maintained by the Forest Service.

A bill that limits mandatory overtime for nurses has been unanimously approved by the state senate. The bill, introduced by Representative Dan Surra of Elk County, prohibits a health care facility from requiring nurses and other health care employees "to work in excess of agreed to, predetermined and regularly scheduled daily work shifts.'' After completing a 12-hour shift, health care employees can still voluntarily work overtime shifts but they can't be fired for refusing overtime. There are still three exceptions when overtime can be required: An unforeseeable, declared national, state or municipal emergency; a highly unpredictable and extraordinary event, such as the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks; or when a health care facility has a large number of unforeseen absences by workers or last-minute calloffs.

Representative Kathy Rapp (R-Warren/Forest/McKean) (bottom right) welcomes Scout Master Kevin Bonner (top left), scout leaders and current members of the Chief Cornplanter Council of the Boys Scouts of America to the House floor—moments after Rapp’s resolution commemorating the council’s 95th anniversary unanimously passed the state House on Monday. Founded in 1913, the Chief Cornplanter Council holds the distinction of America’s oldest continuously existing Boy Scouts council and presently serves roughly 1,000 Boy Scouts throughout both Warren and McKean counties. ( Photo Courtesy of House Republican Public Relations )

Pennsylvania needs to build on successful efforts to prevent domestic violence and to make the public aware of the signs of abuse, according to Sen. Jane Orie, Majority Whip (R-40), who today led a rally at the state capitol to focus greater attention on the issue. Orie joined legislators, health care professionals, law enforcement officials and domestic violence organizations across the state to mark October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Pennsylvania. The numerous elected officials and organizations who participated in the event today did so to focus public attention on a crime that often goes undetected and unreported. Orie is Senate sponsor of a resolution setting the month of October as "Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Pennsylvania." The senator has been a leader in state efforts to prevent domestic abuse and provide more protections to victims. She is author of the "Domestic Violence Heath Care Response Act" – which makes Pennsylvania the first ...

The Olean City School District Foundation hosted its fifth annual Book and Game Drive on Saturday, October 4, at the Olean Middle School. The Book Drive was a part of Global Volunteer Day, an annual initiative where more than 40,000 volunteers led by Prudential Financial employees donate hundreds of thousands of hours on projects designed to better our local communities. Steve Pancio, OCSDF Board President stated, “All Olean Schools donated books and games to the book drive - more than 1,000 games and more than 60 games were collected. Most of the games and a great number of books were swapped back out. We have redistributed the books back to all Olean elementary schools, the Olean Middle School, Southern Tier Catholic School, the New Life Christian School, YMCA Day Care Center, the City/St. John’s Rec Center, Olean Child Development Center, Immanual Christian Child Center, and the John J. Ash Community Center. The challenge to all Olean elementary schools was won by the Washington We...

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati announced today that he has secured $750,000 in state funds to aid in the development of Brockway Clay Plant in Brockway, Pennsylvania. The project will create approximately 60 new jobs. “I am pleased to have been able to secure this funding to bring much needed family-sustaining jobs back to this area,” Scarnati said. “This is a tremendous boost to the Jefferson County region and I am proud to have been a part in seeking this opportunity.” Scarnati mentioned that the state assistance is made up of a grant and loan and will be used by North Central Enterprise for site preparation, including water, sewage, as well as road access. “This is a wonderful example of what can be accomplished when state and local leaders work together for the betterment of an entire region,” Scarnati added. “Without question, this will be a shot in the arm to communities struggling during these difficult economic times.” The grant and loan were approved by the C...

Local Extension Educator, Jim Clark, has recently offered classes on Natural Gas Well Drilling and Private Water Supplies. These classes educate local residents about what strategies they can take to protect their water supply from gas well drilling activities. Clark has now produced a CD containing the entire class. Local residents who could not attend the meetings and would like the information can purchase the CD from Clark for 10.00. The CD, which is formatted for a PC only, contains ten presentations including an explanation of the Marcellus Shale, how a gas well is drilled, how a gas well is hydro-fraced, the rules and regulations related to water and gas drilling and what strategies a homeowner can implement to protect their water supply. There are also five extension publications on the disk in the form of pdf files. Two worksheets on the disk allow the participant to interact with extension educators and ask individual questions about their own resources or situation. The disk...

The Red Mill bridges in Jefferson County have been named in honor of a solider who died last year in Iraq. The bridges are now the "SFC Michael J. Tully Memorial Bridges." Tully, who was serving his second tour of duty, died Aug. 23, 2007, when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device southeast of Baghdad. Tully grew up in Falls Creek and was a 1992 graduate of Brockway High School, where he played football and was a member of the National Honor Society.

Charges against former Potter County Mental Health/Mental Retardation Services director James Boothby have been dismissed. Boothby had been charged with felony counts of risking a catastrophe and making terroristic threats after a device resembling a pipe bomb was found in his office on September 5. Boothby told the court he made the simulated bomb as part of his duties on the Safety Committee about four years ago for a drill, and it's been on a filing cabinet in his office since then. Boothby had been suspended from his job in August on an unrelated charge of animal cruelty. He later resigned.

A 37-year-old Erie-area woman is dead after she walked into the path of a freight train Monday afternoon in Harborcreek Township. Authorities said they have identified the victim, but are withholding her identity until her family is notified. Police say their investigation indicated the woman intentionally stepped into the path of the 52-car train, which was traveling 45 mph. This is the fourth fatal incident involving trains and pedestrians in the Erie area in less than two months, according to Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook.

Former House Democratic Whip Mike Veon and three other people have waived their preliminary hearings on charges that they helped divert millions of taxpayer dollars and other public resources to run campaigns. Of the 12 people charged in the "Bonusgate" scandal, two still await preliminary hearings to begin later this morning: state Rep. Sean Ramaley, the only sitting legislator who has been charged, and Anna Marie Perretta-Rosepink, a former legislative assistant in Veon's district office. In a 74-page report issued in July, a grand jury charged that taxpayer-financed bonuses were doled out as rewards for campaign activity, state-owned computers and other equipment were commandeered for political purposes and government contracts were awarded to firms to provide electioneering services. Republican Attorney General Tom Corbett has been criticized for only bringing charges against Democrats so far. Corbett, however, has said Democratic and Republican caucuses in both the H...

Foster Township Police are looking for the person who robbed the Foster Brook Crosby Mart at 3:48 this morning. They say a white male, 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and red and black bandana over his face walked into the store with a semi-automatic handgun and demanded money. He left the store on foot with an undisclosed amount of money. Anyone who may have seen someone walking in that area between 3:30 and 4 a.m. is asked to contact Foster Township police. Police were assisted by City of Bradford, University of Pittsburgh and state police, as well as the McKean County Sheriff's Department. Foster Township Police Chief Jeff Wolbert was also on the scene. This is the second convenience store robbery in two days in the Bradford area. At 1:21 a.m. Monday, an armed man robbed the Chestnut Street Uni-Mart.

Tops Friendly Markets and Tim Horton's are expected to announce an agreement this morning to bring the popular doughnut and coffee shops to all Tops stores by the end of the year. Tim Horton's will have either full-service restaurants or self-serve kiosks in all 82 Tops supermarkets and Tops Express locations. Tim Horton's is also opening a restaurant in the Foster Brook Crosby Mart later this year. For the full story, go to Canadian Press . This does include Bradford .

Patricia Kennealy-Morrison, former journalism student and widow of musician Jim Morrison, will be the keynote speaker at the annual Communications Day at St. Bonaventure University. Kennealy-Morrison will speak at 12:20 p.m. in Dresser Auditorium of the John J. Murphy Professional Building on Oct. 17. The talk is open to the public and sponsored by the Russell J. Jandoli School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Communications Day aims to unveil the possibilities of a journalism profession to high school students and teachers who may have a budding interest in magazines, radio/television, public relations, newspapers or advertising. The Communications Day speakers who are well established and successful in an area of the media, will hold sessions varying from feature writing to conducting interviews, hoping to garner high schoolers’ interests in their respective fields. Kennealy-Morrison, author of her memoir “Strange Days: My life without Jim Morrison” and “The Keltiad,” a series o...

Nat Piscitelli isn't an ideal subject for a senior longevity study because he was still doing woodwork for his kitchen at 85, spent four years caring for his wife, Frances, until she passed away in January, or because last week, at age 88, he was cutting the pieces of baseboard for his neighbor to install in his family room. The long-time Stockton carpenter is a part of the Long Life Family Study because energy, health and undi-minished mental faculties run in his family. For the full story, go to The Stockton Record . I wish I'd known there were Piscitellis in the San Joaquin Valley when I lived there.

A Delevan man has been arrested for impersonating a doctor. Police say 23-year-old Thomas Conklin called a prescription for OxyContin into a pharmacy, identifying himself as "Jeff" from a local doctor's office. The pharmacy manager got suspicious and called the doctor's office, learned that there was no employee named Jeff, and called state troopers. When Conklin saw the troopers in the store, he left without the prescription, but was arrested when he tried to pick up the pills at the pharmacy's drive-through window.

Sen. Joe Scarnati, the chamber's president pro tempore, was at the rostrum of the Senate again today, as Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll continues her treatment for neuroendocrine cancer. She was diagnosed in early July and revealed in August that she had been undergoing radiation and chemotherapy treatments. Knoll's duties include serving as Senate president.

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Some Interstate Parkway residents are concerned about oil and gas drilling and what it's going to do to their water. Joe Piganelli told Foster Township Supervisors during their meeting Monday night that US Energy said they would test a water sample and give them the results in a couple of weeks. That was about four months ago, he said. Supervisor Chris Wolcott mentioned that he heard a "bunch" more wells are scheduled to be drilled, and suggested that residents get water samples themselves. Piganelli's wife said some testing costs as much as $350, which people can't afford. "You shouldn't have to live in that kind of fear" that your water is contaminated, she said. Wolcott and Supervisor Cary Kaber said it's a possibility that township residents could be hooked up to the city water system, but a majority of residents in a certain area would have to agree. Supervisors said they will look into the situation ...

During Monday's Senate session, Senate Democratic Leader Bob Mellow of Lackawanna County announced that he had just received information that the Commonwealth Medical School's accreditation had been approved by the federal government through the Liason Committee on Medical Education. Construction has begun on the headquarters for The Commonwealth Medical College, which is scheduled to welcome it’s inaugural class of students in August, 2009. The future Medical Sciences Building is expected to be completed in 2011, serving more than 500 medical and Master of Biomedical Sciences students and 175 full-time equivalent faculty members and support personnel. The site will also include 185,000 square feet of space for classrooms, student support space and research facilities. At a groundbreaking ceremony in August, it was announced that in addition to the $35 million dollars in state funding secured by Senator Mellow, Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania will add $45 million to ...

Several area students were recently awarded scholarship funds from Charles Cole Memorial Hospital. Funds are awarded to students pursuing nursing and allied health careers. Upon graduation, scholarship recipients agree to work at CCMH for a minimum of two years. “The hospital looks to its scholarship program to help with recruiting the next generation of heath care workers. Today, we have over 40 past recipients working at Charles Cole,” said Tom Noe, executive director, corporate support services at CCMH. Noe said that $75,000 in scholarship funds will be awarded this year Those receiving scholarship funds include: Bernadine G. Boyd of Genesee is pursuing an associate’s degree at Jamestown Community College. Kristin J. Clower of Shinglehouse plans to earn an associate’s degree at Alfred State College. Her parents are Carol and Gilbert Stewart of Wellsville, NY. Meagan Culver of Port Allegany is working toward a bachelor’s degree at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. She is the ...

Jeff and Joan Guterman of Allegany, N.Y., have endowed a scholarship to benefit the students in the program Guterman directs at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, where he is an associate professor of communications. The Jeffrey and Joan Guterman Broadcast Communications Scholarship will provide scholarships to deserving undergraduate students who have a grade point average of at least 3.0 and are enrolled at or planning to enroll at Pitt-Bradford in broadcast communications. Jeff Guterman came to Pitt-Bradford in 1985 to start the university’s communications program, which officially began in January 1989. Guterman, now an associate professor of communications and director of the communications program, said he wanted to endow the scholarship now in part to coincide with the program’s 20thanniversary. “I’ve been thinking of starting a scholarship like this for a long time,” Guterman said. Joan Guterman is a substitute teacher at Allegany (N....

Red Cross Board Chair Stacy Sorokes Wallace Esq., (left) delivers fresh, donated vegetables from her garden, and Virginia Wallace’s garden, to Meals on Wheels coordinator Iris Ervin (right). The “Grow a Row to Go!” program was a great success this season harvesting over 300 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables for the McKean-Potter Counties American Red Cross Meals on Wheels program. The staff and meals recipients would like to thank all those who shared their gardens this season and remind everyone to “Grow a Row to Go!” next season. ( Photo Courtesy of the Red Cross )

WASHINGTON, DC- U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) applauded final passage of landmark mental health parity legislation on Friday by the U.S. House of Representatives. The measure was passed in the Senate earlier last week. The Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 provides parity between health insurance coverage of mental health benefits and benefits for medical and surgical services. “It is so important that people get the treatment they need for both mental illnesses and physical illnesses, yet millions of Americans who need mental health treatment can’t get help, many times because their health insurance doesn’t provide adequate coverage,” said Senator Casey. “At long last, individuals suffering from mental illness and addictions have access to the help they need and deserve. I want to thank Senator Ted Kennedy who has championed this bill for years; it was through his hard work along with the efforts of the late Senator Paul Wellsto...

The Borough of Elkland's manager died Sunday morning after a one-car accident on U.S. Route 6 in Smethport. State Police say 70 year-old Donald Carman died at BRMC an hour after the crash. Police say Carman's vehicle went out of control and hit a utility pole. Smethport Volunteer Firefighters had to extricate him from his vehicle. Carman was also president of the state's Association of Boroughs.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. John Peterson just gave notice that he’ll move out of his Washington apartment later this month. In his Capitol Hill office, he and his staff have begun emptying bookshelves and filling cardboard boxes. “I have a lot of mixed emotions,” Peterson said last week in an interview with the Centre Daily Times in his office. For the full story, go to the Centre Daily Times

Bradford City Police are investigating an armed robbery at the Chestnut Street Uni-Mart early this morning. At about 1:20 a.m. a white male wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and black mask and carrying a black handgun robbed the store of an undisclosed amount of money. The suspect is described as 5 feet 5 inches to 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing no more than 150 pounds. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call Bradford City Police or use the confidential tip line at City of Bradford Police.com