Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Playwright Sam Kelley, author of the nationally acclaimed play “Pill Hill,” will kick off the spring term Spectrum Series at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Spectrum events are free unless otherwise noted. Kelley will read from “Pill Hill” and two new works at noon Jan. 12 in the KOA Speer Electronics Lobby of Blaisdell Hall. “Pill Hill” is a play about African-American steel workers in Chicago, where it has been staged three times, most recently last summer. The visit by Kelley, a distinguished service professor in the departments of Africana Studies and Communication Studies at the State University of New York Cortland, is the first of 10 days of events to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. The King celebration will culminate in “Ain’t Got Long to Stay Here,” a one-man play written and performed by Barry Scott based on the life of Dr. King at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 22 in the Bromeley Family Theater in Blaisdell Hall. Dur...

“Recently, I had the opportunity to ring the bell for the Salvation Army. As passersby dropped money in the kettle, it was a great time to reflect about the wonderful district that I am so fortunate to represent. I passionately believe that our area is the best part of New York State -- we have neighbors who reach out helping hands in times of need, people who work hard everyday, and communities that are wonderful places to raise a family. The people who live in my district inspire me, and renew my resolve to work to turn our state around. Our focus should be on growing our economy, which in turn will solve the state's fiscal woes, and also will mean more career opportunities so that our families and young people won't have to leave to find jobs. It is going to be a challenging year ahead, but I believe with all my heart that we are worth the fight. I truly hope that your holiday season is filled with warmth, joy and laughter, and that the new year brings yo...

Thirteen residents of the region graduated Dec. 12 from the master of social work program at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Dr. Livingston Alexander, president, greeted the graduates and their guests, recognizing the continued need of master’s-prepared social workers in the area. Similarly, Dr. Larry Davis, dean of the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work, congratulated the students on their accomplishments and discussed expanding social problems across the country. Two graduates, Lacy Thompson of Erie and Cheryl Tingley of Bradford, shared reflections during the ceremony. During her remarks, Thompson said, “As social workers, we need to be empathetic and patient, be comfortable with ourselves and others, be strengths-based and be an advocate.” Tingley said, “I encourage all of us to constantly challenge ourselves and not to become complacent with the status quo. Be an advocate for what you believe in and advocate for equal rights for others.” Stephanie Eckstrom, P...

Santa took time out of his very busy schedule to visit his friends at ARG. He wanted to make sure they knew they were on the nice list. (L-R) Susie Lerch, Yvonne Cattoni, Santa Claus, Kay Soble, and Devon Hayden. ( Photo courtesy of American Refining Group )

Bradford-based motorcycle club The Wanderers made good on its promise for another Christmas holiday by giving presents Wednesday to Bradford Regional Medical Center's Healthy Beginnings Plus at 222 W. Washington St. in Bradford. The club holds fundraisers throughout the year so it can purchase presents. Club members say they've been donating presents to Healthy Beginning Plus for nearly two decades. In the photo, one-year-old Destani Herbstritt holds up her arms in excitement at the vision of the presents and plush toys. Holding her is her father, Robert Herbstritt. With them are club members (standing, from left) David Farr, Steve Hartzell and Rudolph Scholtz. ( Photo courtesy of BRMC )

Merry Christmas!

Even if your children get a little confused when thinking about who runs the North Pole and who runs the Bradford City Police Department, you can tell them they don't need to worry. Santa's helpers at WESB always make sure the letters get to the right place. (Having Santa come to the radio station everyday makes it easy for us ... and pretty much ensures that we won't be getting coal in our stockings.)

Technically, I've been on vacation since Sunday. But now I'm really going . I'll be back on Tuesday (but a couple of posts might pop up here between now and then).

Bob Onuffer and Bob Tingley attended their last Bradford City Council meeting as councilmen Tuesday. Mayor Tom Riel, councilmen Rick Benton and Ross Neidich, City Clerk John Peterson and resident Brad Mangel all thanked them for their service to the city. Peterson said both men have done an exemplary job. He added that preceding his tenure on council, Onuffer was always concerned about the city's budget. "For all the years we had to have major tax increases and everything else, it was kind of like water off a duck's back (to other people)," Peterson said. "(Onuffer) is the only person in the city of Bradford that ever came in to city hall to look at a budget," Peterson said. "I think that speaks volumes of Bob as a person and his commitment to the city." Neidich said to Onuffer, "You always had the best interests of the city at heart." Riel said Onuffer is "one of the most active members of council the city has seen in many years. I...

Another Change in the Police Department By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Taxes in the City of Bradford won't be going up as high as officials thought they would two weeks ago, and they say that's because of the cooperation all city departments displayed. During the first reading of the millage ordinance during the last council meeting, officials announced a .8 increase. Tuesday, they announced that's been reduced to .5. Two weeks ago, Mayor Tom Riel said they would continue to work on the budget and had hoped they would be able to cut expenses even further. Bob Onuffer, who oversees accounts and finances for the city, read a letter introducing the final reading of the budget. "The spirit of cooperation that was and still is being exercised went over and above what I expected," he said, adding that with four unions and non-union personnel involved, "the budget process could have been a disaster." He said the city was looking at millage increase of...

David Kobis, previously Vice President of Operations at Olean General Hospital in Olean, N.Y., has been named Chief Operating Officer of Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC), announced Timothy J. Finan, President and CEO of Upper Allegheny Health System, the parent company of BRMC and Olean General. "Given his proven track record at Olean General and elsewhere, David is clearly someone who has both the credentials and experience to assume this important position," Mr. Finan said. BRMC and Olean General integrated Nov. 5, 2009, under a new parent company, Upper Allegheny Health System, to improve the stability of regional hospital services. Prior to Mr. Kobis’ post at Olean General, he was the Director of Operations Improvement for ECG, a national healthcare consulting firm based in Seattle. Prior to that, he was Director of Operations for Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Lakeland, Fla. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Ric...

Poems by Judy Hopkins, an adjunct writing instructor at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, have been accepted for publication in two literary journals. Her poem titled “How We Once Moved” appears in the current issue of California Quarterly, a poetry journal sponsored by the California State Poetry Society. “This poem is a contemporary take on the concept of ekphrasis, or the ‘stilled movement’ of art objects,” Hopkins explained. The other poem titled “The Over-Ripe Imagination of Buckle-Up Country” will appear in an upcoming issue of Timber Creek Review, a quarterly journal. “‘Buckle-Up Country’ is a term I made up about this area of the map,” Hopkins said. “It’s not flyover country but not the destination either. It’s about how ‘place’ can spark imagination.” Hopkins holds a bachelor of arts degree in English from Dickinson College in Carlisle and a master’s degree in English from Arizona State University in Tempe, Ar...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director US Senator Bob Casey says he wants rural northwestern Pennsylvania to get the money it needs to spur economic development and job growth. “The worst thing we could do is have a recovery and get out of the hole, and move down the road … and then go back into the ditch because we didn't invest, we didn't build a strong foundation or we made other mistakes,” Casey told a panel of local leaders via video conference Monday morning at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Casey said the main focus of the gathering was to hear the concerns of local industries and governments, but he also wants to see “what’s in the pipeline now that we can move more quickly.” He said that although Pennsylvania's unemployment rate is improving "numbers don't mean a heck of a lot to real people." It doesn't matter to unemployed people in Pennsylvania that Michigan's jobless numbers are double what Pennsylvania's are, he said. But...

Holding the ceremonial grant check are (from left): U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson (PA-5th District); Timothy J. Finan, President and CEO of Upper Allegheny Health System, the parent company of Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC); Robert Schoenfeldt, Area Director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development; and Kathy Pascarella, Director of BRMC’s McKean County VNA and Hospice. ( Photo courtesy of BRMC )

Dr. Jesse Steinberg, assistant professor of philosophy, has been named the new director of the environmental studies program at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. He takes the place of Dr. Stephen Robar, associate professor of political science, who resigned the post to make more time for his new position as chairman of the Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences. “I am very happy to have Dr. Steinberg accept the leadership role of the environmental studies program,” Robar said. “He has the full confidence and support of the entire environmental studies faculty, and with a growing program Dr. Steinberg will have a good group of students to work with as well. Few first-year faculty members are given such a leadership position.” Steinberg earned his doctoral degree in philosophy at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Before coming to Pitt-Bradford, he taught at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; University of California, Riverside; Victoria University of Well...

Representatives from the Cameron County Family Center’s Share the Love program visited Charles Cole Memorial Hospital’s Long Term Care residents to deliver holiday cards this week. Program organizers Kris Fapore and Sissy Miller deliver holiday cards throughout the year and also visit residents at the Guy and Mary Felt Manor, Grove House, and Elk Regional Medical Center. Pictured, from left, are Pearl Coyle, Sissy Miller and Janice Green. ( Photo courtesy of Charles Cole Memorial Hospital )

Today is the beginning of a new series: Sunday Book Talk Our first book is "why dogs are better than cats" by New York Times Best-Selling Author Bradley Trevor Greive, with photographs by Rachael Hale. Listen here . Get more information here: