Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

No one was hurt in an accident involving a Mack truck, a pickup truck and a car at 11 o'clock Friday night on Route 219 about 3 miles north of Johnsonburg. State police say the Mack truck driven by Drew Ferguson of Wilcox was following the car, driven by Dora Morales of Mission, Texas, when the truck hit the car. The truck then went out of control and traveled on the south berm for about 170 feet before going back onto the road and hitting the pickup truck driven by Scott Lowe of Wilcox. The Mack truck then spun around and traveled down an embankment. Both trucks had to be towed from the scene. faxed from Ridgway-based state police

A James City man was hurt in an accident early Friday morning on Pennsylvania Avenue, about a quarter of a mile west of Route 66 in Highland Township. State police say a car driven by 23-year-old Colin Cunningham left the road and hit tree. The car kept going and hit a second tree, then rolled onto its passenger side. Cunningham was taken to Kane Community Hospital by private vehicle. Police say he'll be charged with careless driving. faxed from Ridgway-based state police

Three Sheffield residents are facing a number of charges after a traffic stop on Route 60 in the Town of Pomfret. Chautauqua County Sheriff's deputies say they stopped 43-year-old John Filiatrault for speeding, and discovered that he had a suspended New York driver's license. They say he also had more than 50 pills that are controlled substances. One passenger, 35-year-old William Free was found to have active warrants in the City of Jamestown and was also allegedly in possession of a controlled substance. Another passenger, 20-year-old Kristina Appling allegedly had 30 pills that are controlled substances. She and Filiatrault also allegedly had brass knuckles. All three were sent to Chautauqua County Jail on $500 cash bail each. e-mailed from Chautauqua County Sheriff's Department

Harrisburg – Governor Edward G. Rendell signed legislation today to enact a $27.799 billion state General Fund budget for 2009-10 that increases education funding while reducing overall spending. It contains no new broad-based taxes. State-dollar spending is $1.9 billion lower than in 2008-09. When $2.6 billion in federal stimulus dollars are included, the new budget still spends $524 million less than last year. "While the budget I have signed today is late, it’s a responsible budget, given the economic condition of the nation and the state," Governor Rendell said. "This budget is a half billion dollars smaller than the budget we enacted last year. In fact, it is only the third budget in the past 50 years that is lower than the previous year’s." Despite a national recession that caused a dramatic decline in state revenues, Pennsylvania balanced its budget without any broad-based tax increases. During the past year, 11 other states increased their personal income ta...

HARRISBURG - More than 100 days after the July 1 deadline, a state budget bill is finally on the governor's desk, awaiting his signature, Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) said today. ( note: it has since been signed ) "This year's budget process was, by far, the most frustrating I have experienced in my seven years in the state House," Causer said. "A $3.2 billion deficit, along with a governor bent on increasing people's taxes in a recession, made it very difficult to come to an agreement." While Causer is pleased to see the budget finally getting done, he ultimately voted against the proposal. "This budget could have been much worse, but it also could have been much better," Causer said. "There are always good points and bad points in every budget, but a major drawback of this spending plan is that it fails to plan for the future. "I am deeply concerned that Pennsylvanians will be facing significant tax hikes in the next couple ye...

By George Nianiatus, senior writer Communications Department With unwavering community support and a well-organized campaign of volunteers and staff, Bradford Hospital Foundation’s “Building The Future” Capital Campaign has exceeded its $6 million goal in less than five years, announced Francie Ambuske, the Foundation’s director. Just over $6.2 million has been committed to financially support Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC) and its array of healthcare services in the new Outpatient Services Center. To highlight the fundraising milestone, a celebration for campaign organizers and volunteers was held Thursday in BRMC’s Same-Day Surgery waiting room. Sandra McKinley, chairman of the Foundation and its Capital Campaign, said, “We raised this amount in less than 4 ½ years. Understand that I use the term ‘we’ loosely because it really was all of you who accomplished this and I can’t begin to express my deepest gratitude.” The campaign vice chairmen were Mrs. Ambuske; Edwin O. Pecht,...

The work of Kong Ho, associate professor of art at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, is on display in the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg. “Reverberation: An Invitational Exhibit of the Work of Four Artists with Disabilities” is being sponsored by House Speaker Keith R. McCall, D-Carbon. The work of four artists with disabilities is on display this month in the Capitol’s East Wing Rotunda. The exhibition is being co-sponsored in honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month by the Governor’s Cabinet and Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities and the Pennsylvania Association of Rehabilitation Facilities. “I am proud to serve as the sponsor of the exhibit of these very talented artists,” McCall said. “I hope many people will be able to see the exhibit and appreciate the gifted and distinguished artists that created these pieces.” Before moving to the Capitol, “Reverberations” was on display at the Pennsylvania Association...

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. – Tops Friendly Markets, the leading full-service grocery retailer in Western New York, Central New York, including Rochester, and Northwestern Pennsylvania, has been selected to receive an award from the New York State Education Department’s Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities for hiring persons with disabilities. This award is being given to Tops in conjunction with National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM.) Tops Markets was selected as a local employer who has enabled persons with disabilities to become members of the local community workforce. Tops’ East Aurora store, located at 65 Gray Street was specifically selected to accept the award. “Each of our associates has something unique to contribute to our team, regardless of any special needs one might have,” said Jack Barrett, Tops’ sr. vice president if human resources. “In hiring individuals with special needs we often find that they are hard-working, l...

WARREN--The State Senate today passed and sent to the House of Representatives a proposed state budget package that cuts state spending below last year’s levels and maintains funding for core state services and programs, according to Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson), who worked to negotiate the final compromise. Most importantly, Scarnati mentioned, the budget compromise is a win for state taxpayers because it includes no broad-based tax increases that had been proposed earlier by the Administration, and it will be sustainable over the coming year. “This budget is a win for state taxpayers because it does not include an increase in the personal income tax or higher spending,” Scarnati said. “It will not mortgage our state’s future through higher taxes and spending and it will help us to live within our means – just like working families have to do.” He added that while spending was reduced over last year, the budget does include increases in education funding, ...

Anyone wishing to received Christmas gifts from the Era’s Less Fortunate Fund this year must apply Oct. 20, 21 and 22 at the Bradford Area Public Library on West Washington Street. Applications will be taken from noon-4 p.m. each day. Since the ELF Fund is run completely by volunteers, these three dates are the only application sign-ups for anyone who has received ELF assistance in the past. As always, new applications will be accepted through November. Two groups of residents are eligible to receive help: Less fortunate senior citizens from age 60 on, and families with children age 15 and under. All applicants must reside in the Bradford Area School District. Eligibility is based on income guidelines used for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) government program. Those applying must bring with them identification for every person in the family for whom assistance is sought, including Social Security numbers. Also required are positive proof of income for everyone living in the hom...

The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today approved a land exchange with the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) that is designed to enable the two agencies to better meet their respective public missions. The exchange, which now must go through a series of public meetings hosted by DCNR and receive approval from the state Legislature and Governor Edward G. Rendell before taking effect, has been in the development stages for over a year. “For years, the Game Commission and DCNR – two of the largest landowners in the Commonwealth – have acquired lands for public use, but have differing primary objectives and uses for these lands,” said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. “As land has been acquired, situations have arisen in which contrasting land use policies and regulations have caused confusion for the general public and a decreased ability for each agency to meet its management and public recreational goals. “In response to this situa...

Just a reminder that entries for the Bradford Oil 150 Committee Open Writing Contest are due by November 2. Entry forms are still available at the Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce, Bradford Landmark Society, Bradford Area Public Library and the Main Street Mercantile. Mail completed entries to Rick Benton, Director of Community Affiars, Dallas-Morris Drilling Inc., 29 MOrris Lane, Bradford, PA, 16701; or drop them off at the chamber office at 125 Main Street. For more information on the contest, please see our previous entry HERE .

Scott Douglas will be broadcasting LIVE on 100.1 The HERO from noon to 2:30 p.m. For tickets, contact The United Way or Byllye Lanes.

Mayville, NY -- County Executive Gregory J. Edwards announced that his administration has used the methane gas at the County landfill to generate another $1.8 Million for Chautauqua County. "I am proud to let the 130,000 residents of Chautauqua County know as part of the landfill gas project at the County landfill, and the hard work of my financial team, an additional $1.8 Million is now going to be received by our County," Edwards proclaimed. A variety of new financial markets have emerged to address CO2 and other pollutants in recent years. This offers businesses key incentives — aside from taxes and other punitive measures — to slow down overall emissions growth and, ideally, global warming itself. A key feature of these markets is emissions trading, which allow companies to buy or sell “credits” that collectively bind all participating companies to an overall emissions limit. "We used this business technique, applied it to County operations, and generated $1.8 Milli...

The first of two Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce Call-in Auctions is from 7 to 9 a.m. Friday on The Morning Buzz. Here are the packages that are up for grabs: Package 1 - Total Value: $475 20 ft. Stainless Steel Flag Pole - Allegheny Bradford Corporation ($450) Standard American Flag - Representative Martin Causer ($25) Package 2 -Total Value $190 Weekday Green Fees for Two - Holiday Valley Resort ($80) Shuttle King Golf Club Travel Cover – Anonymous Donor ($100) 2 Sleeves Golf Balls – Bradford Regional Medical Center ($10) Package 3 – Total Value: Unknown Sit on the bench January 22nd at 6pm plus 2 tickets - University of Pittsburgh Bradford Women’s Basketball vs. Hilbert College University of Pittsburgh Bradford T-shirt Basketball signed by University of Pittsburgh Bradford Men’s and Women’s Basketball Teams Package 4 - Total Value $ 232 Two certificates for continuing education courses- Bradford Area School District ($95) Use of W. Washington Street Library Sign for one week -...

Drivers will encounter a street closure and a detour next week as crews from the Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad work in Johnsonburg. West Center Street will be closed from October 12 through 19 as crews work to remove the existing Center Street crossing and build two, new adjacent railroad crossings. Work will also include paving of the approaches and new signals. Traffic will be detoured around West Center Street and will use Main Street. Work is expected to finish Friday, October 19 but all work is weather dependent. The new Johnsonburg crossings will create a connection between the Allegheny Eastern Railroad and the Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad. e-mailed from PennDOT

FInd out how you could a $100 gift card from Tops Friendly Market in Bradford -- just by having a party! Go to WBRRFM.com for all the details.

Bradford Area High School has received an honorable mention in The Harrisburg Patriot-News high school football rankings for this week. Thomas Jefferson is the top-ranked AAA School. Cameron County received an honorable mention in Class A.

A Cattaraugus, New York, man was hurt in an accident Saturday night on Bells Run Road in Ceres Township. Police say a car driven by 23-year-old Kyle Shultz left the road, hit an embankment, crossed the centerline, left the road again, hit a fence, entered a field and flipped onto its roof. Shultz was taken by Mercy Flight to ECMC in Buffalo for treatment of unspecified injuries. Police say he'll be charged with DUI.

WARREN — While this budget impasse has gone on for far too long, Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) is pleased that they will be able to get it right, and property owners will end up being the big winners. “The amount of state and federal dollars that school districts could receive under the 2009/2010 budget proposal currently in front of the legislature is tremendous and should offset the need for any property tax increases in the foreseeable future,” Scarnati stated. “This budget will not only be a win for our children and schools, but a huge win for property owners.” According to Scarnati, schools in the 25th Senatorial District will receive anywhere from a 6% to a 15.5% increase in their overall subsidies. Pennsylvania has increased funding to our school districts by approximately 31% over the past seven years. “The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has shown significant support for education while, at the same time, not taking more money out of taxpayers’ payc...

Two Ridgway teenagers are accused of vandalizing the Maxwell Run Cemetery in Spring Creek Township in June and July. Police say as a result of an investigation into continuing vandalism at the cemetery 18-year-old Brandon Ecklund and 19-year-old Timothy Bender were charged with a felony count of institutional vandalism, along with desecration of venerated objects and criminal mischief. Police say their investigation is continuing. faxed by Ridgway-based state police

An Allegany teenager is facing charges for allegedly breaking into a country club and stealing liquor in July. Cattaraugus County Sheriff's deputies say 19-year-old Ryan Whitney broke into the Birch Run Country Club on Birch Run Road and stole six bottles of liquor. Whitney was charged Monday with burglary and petit larceny. He's scheduled to appear in Allegany Town Court on October 19. faxed by Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Department

A Shinglehouse man is in jail for allegedly breaking into a camp in Pleasant Valley Township and stealing a rifle and a number of other items valued at more than $900. Police say 23-year-old Nicholas Brown broke a window on a door of a camp owned by Kevin Arnold of Richfield, PA, then went inside and stole several items. Besides the rifle, he allegedly stole ammunition for the rifle, a compound bow, arrows, arrowheads, hunting boots and paper towels. Brown was arraigned today by District Judge Barbara Easton, who set bail at $15,000. faxed by Coudersport-based state police

Motorists traveling through Ridgway Wednesday, and possibly Thursday, will encounter delays as crews work on the Elk Creek Bridge. The bridge is on Route 219 near the Pennsy Restaurant. Crews will be placing temporary shoring on the bridge in preparation for beam delivery to the Johnsonburg Bypass Project. Flaggers and an alternating traffic pattern will be in place. Beam delivery to the Johnsonburg project will begin on Friday and will also cause delays, some of which may be lengthy. from PennDOT

A Bradford man is in jail for allegedly threatening to kill employees at a store who wouldn't sell him cigarettes. Bradford City police say Donald Lindemuth walked into the police station at 1:35 a.m. today and said he was angry with employees at a nearby store because they wouldn't sell him cigarettes when he couldn't show them identification. Police say Lindemuth told the officer manning the desk that he planned to go home, get a gun and some friends and go back to the store and kill the employees. The officer detained Lindemuth and was assisted by other officers when Lindemuth resisted arrest. He was charged with terroristic threats, public drunkenness and disorderly conduct, along with resisting arrest.

The human remains found on the Allegheny Reservoir on September 26 are not those of Lori Bova. In a news release issued today, Cattaraugus County Sheriff's deputies say forensic examinations performed by the Erie County Medical Examiner's Office and forensic anthropology at Mercyhurst College have ruled out Bova. Bova was last seen in Lakewood, New York, in 1997. Last week, authorities ruled out Corrie Anderson, a Jamestown-area woman who has been missing for nearly a year. Deputies say the remains are that of a female between the ages of 25 to 45 with a stature of 5' 1" to 5' 8". Race has not been determined yet. Although not mentioned in the news release, this also rules out Warren resident Damien Sharp, who has been missing since Memorial Day weekend of 2002. Although police have not released names of any other missing persons being considered in the investigation, other notable missing person cases include Josephine Cottone-Despard, who was last seen at th...

HARRISBURG — State Sen. Mike Stack will soon introduce legislation that would dock pay from state legislators, the governor and cabinet secretaries if a state budget is not resolved by the annual June 30 deadline. “If the General Assembly was a private business, employees would be expected to do their job in a timely manner and would be reprimanded if they missed a deadline. It should be no different at the Capitol,” said Stack, who is the Democratic vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “We are expected to do our jobs efficiently. When we don’t, it’s only fair that we pay for our inaction on the budget.” As of today, the 2009-10 Pennsylvania budget is 96 days late. Although Pennsylvania is faced with the difficult task of filling a $3.2 billion deficit during a historic worldwide economic downturn, legislators have been at odds over details over cutting programs and generating revenue. “Democrats and Republicans often have different views on how to spend money in Penns...

Michael A. Sweeney, 51, of Bradford, died Friday (Oct. 2, 2009) at Hamot Medical Center in Erie. For the complete obituary go to Mascho Funeral Home . RIP Mike. You'll be missed!

A Bradford man won the 27th annual world Pumpkin Confederation competition at the Clarence Fall Festival Saturday. Mike Matto's pumpkin weighed in at 1,040 ½ pounds, beating it closest competitor by 75 pounds. Matto and his pumpkin won $1,000.