Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Chuck Charnisky is the Summer Survivor and the winner of a Kymco ATV from Charlie's Cycle Center. Igor and Scott More pictures will be available soon from the incomparable Shawn Murray. http://photos.reflectingmemories.net/

A Forestville man is hospitalized after he was burned in an accident with an acetylene tank Friday morning. Chautauqua County Sheriff’s deputies say the 28-year-old, who they didn’t identify, was working on a vehicle when the tank started to tip over. He grabbed the tank and something ignited, causing a burst of flame to hit him in the face. He was taken by Star Flight to ECMC in Buffalo.

A Bemus Point man is in jail after fighting with two people early this morning in North Harmony. Sheriff’s deputies say 29-year-old Joshua Danielson entered a home and fought with the people, injuring one of them. That person was taken to WCA Hospital in Jamestown for treatment of facial injuries. Danielson is charged with burglary, assault, criminal contempt, harassment and endangering the welfare of a child.

A Port Allegany woman wasn’t hurt when her car hit a bear Friday afternoon on Route 155 in Liberty Township. In a fax sent to WESB and the HERO, police say 42-year-old Mary Lashway was traveling north when the bear entered the road and was hit by the right, front of the car. The car had to be towed from the scene. Police didn’t give the bear’s condition.

A Fredonia man is in jail after taking police on a high-speed chase Friday night. Sheriff’s deputies say that at just before 10:30 on Route 20 in the Town of Portland they attempted to stop a vehicle driven by 23-year-old Andrew Seelbinder for a traffic violation. The vehicle sped away, passing multiple vehicles through the Village of Brocton. The chase went on for about 10 minutes through Brocton, Portland and Pomfret and did manage to elude police. But, deputies did find the vehicle, and later learned Seelbinder was driving it. His bail is set at $2,000.

Two residents of the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation are facing charges for allegedly lying to FBI agents in an investigation about ties placed on railroad tracks in early July. 44-year-old Christine Seneca and 48-year-old James Phillips pleaded not guilty to making false statements to authorities, and hindering communication between law enforcement relating to a federal offense. According to the criminal complaint, Seneca and Phillips had been at a party with four men who are considered persons of interest in the case. The complaint says Seneca and Phillips lied to investigators about who was at the party. They also allegedly tried to convince another person who had attended the party to lie about the four men being there. Police believe the crime is related to the PACT Act, which prevents sending tobacco products through the mail. A sign reading “No Mail – No Rail” was found near the tracks.

Judge Richard Arcara will not rule today on a request by the Seneca Nation of Indians for a restraining order that would temporarily block New York State from enforcing new tax laws on the tribe's cigarette sales. Lawyers for the Seneca Nation and the State of New York argued their cases in federal court in Buffalo this afternoon. The state plans to start collecting taxes from wholesalers who sell to the Senecas on Wednesday.

Williamsville, NY – Tops Friendly Markets announced today that shell eggs sold at all Tops, P&C and BiLo locations remain unaffected by the recent nation recall of millions of shell eggs. Eggs sold at Tops are locally sourced from Kreher’s Farm, located in western New York. On August 13, 2010, Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa, conducted a nationwide voluntary recall of shell eggs that it had shipped since May 19, 2010 to food wholesalers, distribution centers and foodservice companies in California, Illinois, Missouri, Colorado, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. These foodservice companies do not ship eggs to Tops Markets and Tops has confirmed that this recall does not apply to any shell eggs carried at Tops Markets stores, including P&C and BiLo locations. State and local partners are also investigating human Salmonella infections in Arizona, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, Neva...

The Hamot Health Foundation of Erie has signed a letter of intent to negotiate an affiliation with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. In a news release, Hamot officials say the non-binding letter "signifies the beginning of a due diligence period between the two organizations" while they continue to get feedback from community leaders, doctors and employees.

HARRISBURG -- More than half of the natural gas drillers operating in the Marcellus Shale missed the deadline to report the production levels of their wells in violation of state law, according to the Department of Environmental Protection. DEP Secretary John Hanger said today that 41 of the 74 oil and gas companies operating in the Marcellus Shale, or 55 percent, failed to submit reports on the past 12 months of production by the Aug. 15 deadline. "When the General Assembly approved this law and the Governor signed it, they did so because they believed this requirement provided much-needed transparency into the industry's operations," said Hanger. "The fact that so many companies failed to meet the deadline for providing this information is troubling. We plan to follow-up with each non-compliant firm and pursue whatever enforcement action is necessary to get them to follow the law." The public can track a Marcellus operator's compliance with Act 15 producti...

CARE for Children was again an agency chosen to be “adopted” by the Bradford Chapter #330 Women of the Moose as part of their annual community projects. The Women of the Moose purchased school supplies which were distributed to 25 school-aged children with special health care needs during CARE’s annual family picnic on Wednesday. Supplies were also donated to the Rainbow Corner Preschool. This is the fourth year for the collaboration between the two community organizations. Pictured from left to right are: Vickie Cromley, Recorder; Sandy Roulo; Kimberly Engstrom, Rainbow Corner Preschool Director; Josie Taylor, Senior Regent; Dorothy McAndrew, Secretary; Virginia Ross. Missing from the photo was Anita Wolcott, Project Coordinator. Photo provided by CARE for Children

Wellsboro – Communities in the heart of the booming Marcellus Shale drilling region are struggling to protect the environment and groundwater supplies while facing growing social service needs, Governor Edward G. Rendell said today when he visited Tioga County. “The Marcellus Shale gas industry is just getting started in Pennsylvania, so we have the opportunity now to ensure that adequate resources are available for local and state government to meeting growing demand for services and protect the environment,” the Governor said. “To accomplish these goals, the gas companies profiting from this rapidly growing industry should be willing to pay a fair share levy. “I share the view of the eight out of 10 Pennsylvanians who, in a recent poll, said that they favor a tax on gas companies to fund programs that will protect our environment and help local governments handled increased demand on their services,” Governor Rendell said. Pennsylvania is the only major energy-producing state that do...

The Seneca Nation will be able to intervene in a pending court case that dates back to 2006. State Supreme Court Justice Donna M. Siwek granted permission earlier today for the Senecas to intervene in the case of Day Wholesale V. the State of New York. The purpose of the Nation's intervention is to challenge the procedure the state used to issue new emergency regulations that would tax Native American-sold tobacco products at the wholesale level. Enforcement of the regulations is scheduled to start on Wednesday.

A Bradford woman has been sentenced to state prison for biting off her boyfriend's ear during a domestic dispute. 27-year-old Erin Moore will spend 19½ to 51 months in state prison for the incident that happened in May at Kiwanis Court. District Attorney Ray Learn says the stiff sentence was prompted by Moore's history, which includes an incident when she attacked an ex-boyfriend with a baseball bat. Learn also says a child was present when she bit off her Roger Kline’s ear. http://1490newsblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/accused-ear-biter-waives-hearing.html

Two men were seriously injured in a two-vehicle crash on Route 16 in Ishua Thursday night. Sheriff’s deputies say an SUV driven by 52-year-old Eric Bartholomew of Ishua crossed the center line and hit a car driven by 23-year-old Nathan Hebdon, also of Ishua. Both drivers were taken by Mercy Flight to ECMC in Buffalo. The accident is still under investigation.

SALAMANCA, N.Y. – The Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel is pleased to announce that Western New York’s own, the Goo Goo Dolls, will perform at the Seneca Allegany Events Center on Saturday, October 30 at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $65 and will go on sale to the public on Friday, September 3 at noon. The Goo Goo Dolls have sold 9 million albums in the U.S. alone and have notched 17 “Top 10” singles since forming in 1986. The Grammy Award-winning rock band is touring in support of its new album, Something for the Rest of Us. Tickets may be purchased at all Seneca Casino box offices, Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, or by phone at 716-852-5000 (USA) or 416-870-8000 (Canada). The Seneca Allegany Events Center holds up to 2,400 guests and seats are no further than 75 feet from the stage. The venue is located at 777 Seneca Allegany Boulevard, directly off Exit 20 of the Interstate 86 and near U.S. Route 219. For more information, please visit www.senecaalleganycasino.com .

CATTARAUGUS TERRITORY, Seneca Nation -- New York voters strongly support Indian treaties which prevent taxation of Native American-sold goods, according to a new Zogby International poll conducted on behalf of the Seneca Nation of Indians. The poll, conducted the week of August 23, 2010, found 68.4 percent of those surveyed think state and federal governments should honor Indian treaties – specifically the Treaty of 1842 – which bars state taxation of Seneca businesses. "Once again the people of New York State have voiced their support of our rights as a sovereign nation. This is especially heart-warming for all Haudenosaunee Nations as the state is poised to enforce its illegal sales tax scheme on September 1," said Seneca Nation of Indians President Barry E. Snyder Sr. The statewide Zogby telephone survey found overwhelming support for honoring Indian treaty rights regardless of geographic regions, political affiliation, gender, race, age or religion. "New York State...

Kendall Avenue will be paved on Tuesday as part of the Route 219/Bradford Bypass project. Crews will also continue trucking in material for paving and will be pulling into the closed “dead lane” from the northbound “live lane.” Traffic may be slow moving on Route 219 as this work takes place. In Johnsonburg, PennDOT will temporarily open the new Route 219 alignment Saturday afternoon during the borough’s Bicentennial Parade. The road will be opened from 3 to 6 p.m. to allow traffic to travel around Johnsonburg during the parade. Local police will be controlling traffic. Johnsonburg’s Bicentennial celebration gets underway Friday evening. Besides the parade it includes a carnival, live entertainment, a car show, a dice run and vendor booths. The parade will feature more than 80 units including marching bands from Johnsonburg, Smethport, Kane, Port Allegany, St. Marys, Elk Catholic, Ridgway, DuBois, Brockway, Clearfield, Cameron County, and Marion Center high schools. http://johnsonburg2...

Governor David Paterson mislead investigators and could face criminal charges following an investigation into his receipt of free Yankees World Series tickets last year, according to a report by the independent counsel to the state attorney general's office. Retired Judge Judith Kaye released her report on the investigation this afternoon. It says the decision whether charges should be brought against Paterson is up to the Albany County district attorney. The report says checks to pay for the tickets and a letter prepared by an aide to the governor were both backdated to make them look as if the payment was made before the game. You can read the report here . (PDF)

Governor David Paterson is promising to start collecting state taxes next week on cigarettes sold by American Indian retail businesses to most smokers in New York. Paterson says taxes will be collected from wholesalers sending cigarettes to the tribes starting on Wednesday. The tax is expected to generate about $200 million a year in revenues for the state. The Seneca and Mohawk tribes are seeking federal court orders to stop the collection, claiming it would violate their rights.

US Senator Bob Casey has a post on his blog about his visit to Zippo on Tuesday. The title of the post is "Protecting an American Icon." You can read the post here . Casey has also blogged about his visits to Potter, Warren and Jefferson counties. You can find his blog at http://casey.senate.gov/ . Just click on the "blog" link. Pictured, Zippo attorney Jeff Duke talks to Casey about counterfeit lighters.

A Buffalo man is in jail after Bradford police found him with drugs during a traffic stop early this morning on East Main Street. Assistant Police Chief Mike Ward says 26-year-old Justin Jenkins was stopped at 2:10 a.m., when they found that he was in possession of marijuana, crack cocaine and a large amount of money. He was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of crack cocaine and possession with intent to deliver crack cocaine. Jenkins was arraigned by on-call District Judge Rich Luther and sent to McKean County Jail on $50,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 8 in front of District Judge Dominic Cercone.

There are still a couple more weeks of summer and the Allegheny National Forest region – located just 90 miles south of Buffalo, N.Y., is the perfect place to spend them. For mountain bikers, Willow Creek Trail, located along Route 346 west of Bradford, offers 10 miles of more difficult terrain for the experienced enthusiast. Indian Pipe Trail, with access just south of the Allegany State Park in New York State, is a 7.4-mile trail that crosses 4,000 acres of Allegheny Northern Hardwood forest, and the nearby Marilla Springs Trail is a 3.6-mile trail that features progressive changes in direction and elevation. Families looking for a last minute getaway, Mystic Waters Resort in Limestone, N.Y., offers fun for the entire family as well as a place to rest their head at night. Log cabins are situated on a private 20-acre lake and provide the comforts of home, including a fully equipped kitchen and bath, two bedrooms, a living room and a private porch. There is a championship 18-hole minia...

By ANNE HOLLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Get ready for another traffic change in downtown Bradford. An ordinance to make Kennedy Street one-way from Boylston Street to Main Street was approved on first reading by city council Tuesday night. Traffic would flow toward Main Street. Mayor Tom Riel explained that a parking space would be removed from Main Street so people turning onto Main from Kennedy would have a better view. Also, council approved on first reading an ordinance that would allow parking on both side of Kennedy Street from Boylston to Main. The measures are in response to concerns from Kennedy Street business owners. If approved on second reading, both ordinances would go into effect on October 4. Councilman Rick Benton voted against the proposed ordinances because of the “terrible sight problem.” “I hope one parking space will take care of it,” he said. Also Tuesday, council agreed to execute an agreement with Rudy Gobin to buy 19-23 Pine Street for $50,000, pending appro...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Code enforcement has a new plan. During Tuesday’s Bradford City Council meeting, code enforcement officer George Corignani said he and Merle Silvis want to use the two firemen who are in training at the code enforcement office to find problem properties throughout the city. The plan is to have them go ward to ward throughout the city, take pictures and notes, and report back to Corginani and Silvis, who would act on the problems. Once the First Ward is done, they’ll move to the Second Ward, and so on. Corginani and Silvis would continue to do inspections and answer health-related complaints. “We’ve been jumping around from ward to ward … trying to answer this and answer that. … If we started at one ward and did that ward with the two extra guys, that would give us some relief for us to do the stuff we have to do,” Corignani said. The plan is to pay them with money code enforcement collects from fines and fees. Mayor Tom Riel and Councilman Rick ...

A former Rixford resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury for sexually exploiting children. 43-year-old Jack Lee Johnson is accused of receiving, distributing and possessing computer images depicting minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. If convicted, Johnson faces 30 years in prison, a fine of $500,000 or both. http://www.justice.gov/usao/paw/pr/2010_august/2010_08_24_01.html

Pennsylvania is not one of the winners in the second round of Race to the Top money for education, but New York is one of the states chosen to get the federal grant money. New York will get about $700 million. The other winners are Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island and the District of Columbia. Pennsylvania was one of 19 finalists chosen from 36 applicants in the second round. Education Secretary Arne Duncan says he hopes there will be a third round. The Obama administration has requested $1.35 billion in next year's budget for Race to the Top.

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director US Senator Bob Casey visited Zippo today and, after taking a tour of the plant, he talked with employees about taking steps to protect companies like Zippo. He says passing the small business jobs bill is critically important, as is keeping companies like Zippo from continuing to be victims of international piracy, most of which is in China. He said foreign competition and trade issues have hit Pennsylvania hard. He said since 2001, 95,000 jobs have been lost in Pennsylvania because illegal activities in China. Before the tour of the plant, Zippo president and CEO Greg Booth told Casey the company spends more money than it should have to in order to protect itself from piracy. “We are a billion dollar brand, if you will. We’re not a billion dollar company,” Booth said. “So in order to protect this huge brand that’s well known across the globe. We spend an inordinate amount of money to do that.” “We’re a smaller company so it’s a bigger percentag...

Tim Van Horn of Zippo Manufacturing Company explains part of the production process to US Senator Bob Casey as Zippo President and CEO Greg Booth looks on. Casey visited Zippo as part of his tour of the northern part of the state. Earlier today he was in Warren, and was headed to Potter County this afternoon.

Nushawn Williams was in State Supreme Court earlier today asking to have the current case against him dismissed. The state wants Williams to remain in confinement, although he finished serving his sentence for knowingly infecting more than a dozen Chautauqua County residents with HIV in the late 1990s. After the motion to dismiss was denied, Williams asked the court if he could have a new lawyer because he and his current attorney have a “conflict of interest.” The judge denied that request, too.