Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

A tractor-trailer jack-knifed on Route 155 in Liberty Township at 11:20 Saturday morning. State police say the rig driven by 40-year-old Randy Elwell of Troupsburg, New York, lost traction as it was going around a curve, then started to rotate. The trailer kept going straight, causing the jack-knife. The vehicle left the road, crossed the east berm and hit the guardrail as the right side of the sleeper contacted the trailer. The vehicle then went back onto the road and came to rest blocking both lanes. Elwell was not hurt.

Oscar-nominated actress Jill Clayburgh has died at the age of 66. Her Oscar-nominated role was in the 1978 movie “An Unmarried Woman,” in which she played a divorcee exploring life after marriage. In a statement, her husband, Tony Award-winning playwright David Rabe, said Clayburgh died at her Connecticut home after a 21-year-battle with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

The Navy's newest guided missile destroyer, the USS Jason Dunham, has arrived at Port Everglades, Florida. The vessel arrived this morning from Bath, Maine, where it was built and christened. The 510-foot ship was named after Marine Corporal Jason Dunham, a native of Scio, New York. Dunham threw himself on a live grenade in April 2004 during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He died eight days later at the age of 22. He, was honored posthumously with the Medal of Honor in 2006. Dunham was the first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor in the Iraq war and the first Marine to receive the medal since the Vietnam War. Dunham played in the Don Raabe Big 30 Charities Classic football game and, during halftime of the 2007 game, his jersey number was retired.

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford has received a $350,000 gift from George Duke in honor of his mother, Sarah B. Dorn, for a 17-rank pipe organ in the campus’s new chapel. “The exquisite Schantz organ was the missing element in an otherwise perfectly designed and beautifully built chapel,” said Dr. Livingston Alexander, president of Pitt-Bradford. “We’re deeply grateful to Mr. Duke for enabling us to acquire the instrument and name it in honor of Mrs. Sarah Dorn.” Flue voicers Stephen Leslie and Jeffrey Herr of Schantz Organ Co. spent several weeks on campus doing the final voicing and tuning for the instrument, which was installed late last month. Each of the organ’s 1,020 pipes is an individual instrument that must be voiced and tuned on site. The pipes can produce notes from 32 cycles per second to 16,000 cycles per second, a range of eight octaves, essentially allowing one person to reproduce an orchestra. Different ranks of pipes are crea...

Gulfstream International Group has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, but the company says this will not affect operations and all tickets and reservations will be honored. Under its Continental Connection brand, Gulfstream flies from Cleveland to Bradford Regional Airport, Jamestown and four other airports through the federal Essential Air Service program. In a prepared statement Gulfstream said it has arranged up to $5 million in financing, subject to court approval. The financing will be a first step in securing long-term financing to allow Gulfstream to buy the 23-plane fleet it now leases, and position the company for growth, according to President and Chief Executive David Hackett. Hackett said the combination of borrowing in recent years to cope with high fuel costs plus declining traffic made it too difficult for Gulfstream to meet its debt obligations.

The vocal ensemble Calmus will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 12, at St. Bonaventure University’s Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. It is the third concert of the 2010-11 Friends of Good Music season. Founded in Germany in 1999, Calmus is an a cappella quintet that embodies the unique combination of a pure soprano voice with four male voices ranging from bass to countertenor. All are members of Leipzig’s renowned St. Thomas Church Choir School. This program, titled “Emotions,” includes pieces ranging from sacred music of Bach to Italian madrigals by Gesualdo to arrangements of popular melodies by Sting and Freddie Mercury. Also featured is the New York premiere of Psalm 104 “Lobe den Herrn” (Praise the Lord) by Wolfram Buchenberg, a contemporary composer from Bavaria. Calmus was the First Prize Winner of the 2009 Concert Artists Guild International Competition, and the group recently garnered first prizes at the International Competition for Vocal Ensembles in Finland and the 37t...

Dr. Richard Frederick, professor of history at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, has written a new biography of President William H. Taft. The book, “William H. Taft,” is part of Nova Science Publishers’ First Men, America’s Presidents series. Taft was the 27th President and 10th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Frederick was asked by the publisher to write a book for the series, which is designed for purchase by high school, public and university libraries, although individuals can purchase it also through local and national retailers. “I had done a lot of research on the Progressive movement of the early 20th Century and on issues of that era,” Frederick said. “I felt really comfortable with the issues of the Taft administration.” Frederick conducted his research over several summers poring over the Library of Congress’s collection of Taft papers available on microfilm at Penn State University. He also made several trips to the Library of Congress in Washington...

By Sandra Rhodes Visitor & Member Services Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau A touch of Hollywood glamour will be in Bradford, Pennsylvania, for two-night run for the opening of the new movie “Unstoppable.” The 20th Century movie, which features some scenes filmed on locations within McKean County in northcentral Pennsylvania, will open worldwide Friday, Nov. 12. Bradford will be the place to be with the movie shown on one end of Main Street and one of the actors on hand to greet guests on the other end. The movie features Academy Award-winner Denzel Washington, Chris Pine and Rosario Dawson. Inspired by actual events, the movie is an adrenaline rush fueled by director Tony Scott’s signature mark of propulsive action. It’s a story about ordinary people placed in extraordinary circumstances, according to information released by 20th Century Fox. A veteran train engineer and a young conductor, played by Washington and Pine, respectively, race the clock to stop an unmanned run...

Three Dunkirk men are accused of selling cocaine to undercover agents with the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force. 36-year-old Jason Williams, 22-year-old Draoon Richardson-Copeland and 25-year-old Jessie Melendez are each charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance. These arrests are part of an ongoing investigation into drug trafficking in the Dunkirk-Fredonia area by the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force.

A Salamanca man has been indicted for transporting minors across state lines with the intent to have sex. 45-year-old Kevin Donaldson is a former truck driver who is accused of taking two young girls across state lines while making deliveries. He also allegedly had sex with the girls. The alleged incidents happened in April and May of 2006 and April of 2007. Donaldson faces up to life in prison and a$250,000 fine, if convicted.

Bradford City Police were as busy as polling place workers on Tuesday. They were called to reports of terroristic threats at a Chestnut Street store and both a disturbance and stolen property at a Main Street establishment, according to the complaint report and request sheet faxed to WESB and The HERO by the police department. Officers also looked into reports of criminal mischief on Interstate Parkway, a retail theft on Boylston Street, a neighbor dispute on West Washington Street and a hit and run on West Corydon street. Police served some subpoenas, were called to a couple of domestic disputes and received several requests to speak with an officer. Officers also received a report of prostitution on Main Street.

The man who killed his girlfriend’s husband in 1994 has been sentenced to 24 years in prison. 56-year-old Randall Knight of Akron, Ohio, was involved in a murder-for-hire plot with the wife of his victim, Andie Gasper. Knight pleaded guilty in July to crossing state lines to commit the crime, and admitted to fatally stabbing Gasper. Knight was acquitted of murder by a Cattaraugus County Court jury in 1995, but was arrested earlier this year on the new federal charge after investigators reopened the case. Investigators say Knight and the victim's wife, Cheryl Gasper, were former lovers. They plotted Gasper's death so that they could share his $100,000 life insurance policy. Cheryl Gasper pleaded guilty last month to second-degree murder and will be sentenced in county court on November 13.

A Salamanca, New York, man waived preliminary hearings on charges that he sold fake cocaine. 22-year-old Darrin Whitcomb met undercover state troopers in the Togi’s parking lot in Bradford twice on December 15 to sell what he said was cocaine, according to papers filed in District Judge Dominic Cercone’s office. The first sale was half an ounce for $650; the second was an ounce for $1,000. Tests at a state police crime lab showed the substance was aspirin, and did not contain cocaine. Whitcomb is free on bail.

Charges against an Allegany, New York, man accused of selling a stolen handgun have been bound to McKean County Court. According to papers filed in District Judge Dom Cercone’s office, 28-year-old Brian App met an undercover state trooper at Hanley Park on the morning of July 1 and sold him a Smith & Wesson revolver with the serial number ground off for $250. App also allegedly told the trooper he had an AK 47 for sale and “could get some good coke if he was interested.” App is jailed on $10,000 bail.

A cashier at Tops Market in Bradford has been fired and charged with theft for stealing from a cash drawer. 19-year-old Tyler Thomas confessed to stealing $550 since April, according to papers filed in District Judge Dom Cercone’s office. The Tops Loss Prevention Team started investigating after shortages in Thomas’ cash drawer “sparked the attention of all managers.” He confessed during a meeting with managers and a union representative. He told police he thought he was being discreet, that the video surveillance camera wouldn’t see him, and that he wouldn’t get caught. He added that he is remorseful. He waived his preliminary hearing and is free on his own recognizance.

A Bradford man accused of assaulting a nursing home resident has waived his preliminary hearing. 18-year-old Robert Work is accused of hitting a resident in the groin several times while he and another worker were getting the man ready for bed, according to papers filed in District Judge Dominic Cercone’s office. The nursing home resident can’t talk but the other worker told police the man was groaning with pain and making faces indicating severe pain. Work is free on unsecured bail.

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford has named 10 new members to its Advisory Board and reappointed 15 members. Newly elected to the board are Gregory P. Bauer, JoAnne Ryan, Stacy Sorokes Wallace, Max Brady, Timothy J. Asinger, Stephen P. Grillo, Douglas E. Kuntz, Julie A. Marasco, James M. McDonough and John W. Seltzer. Christopher Luke, president of the Pitt-Bradford Alumni Association, was appointed an ex officio member of the board. All of the appointments were made by University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Mark Nordenberg upon recommendation by Dr. Livingston Alexander, president of Pitt-Bradford. Asinger is vice president of Kessel Construction Inc. in Bradford. His early professional background was spent in the food industry, and he became involved with Kessel in 1997 in Erie. He has been with the Bradford corporate office since 2007 and is very involved in the community with social, cultural, civic and fundraising efforts. Bauer is the president and chief executive officer of ...

State Senator Cathy Young is going back to Albany after defeating her Democratic challenger Mike McCormick. Young got 85 percent of the total vote.

The Republican takeover of the House of Representatives extended to the 29th Congressional District seat in New York, vacated by Eric Massa. Former Corning mayor Tom Reed beat out Democrat Matt Zeller. Massa held the seat until he resigned March 8 under allegations of sexual harassment. The seat remained empty through the year, with Gov. David Paterson choosing not to hold a special election until Tuesday. The 29th District occupies much of the Southern Tier, including Cattaraugus and Allegany counties.

A section of Route 120 in Cameron County was closed for several hours Tuesday afternoon when a vehicle hit and broke a utility pole, which then hit another utility pole. State police closed the road because the poles and their power lines had fallen onto the road. The accident happened when 31-year-old Jay Ball of Sinnemahoning got distracted by his passenger’s backpack falling onto the floor and onto the transfer case handle. In trying to retrieve the backpack, Ball lost control of the vehicle, causing it to travel into the opposite lane of travel and hit the first utility pole, breaking it in half. That pole hit the second pole, which also broke in half. No one was hurt.

Republican Pat Toomey has won a close to replace Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter by narrowly defeating Democrat Joe Sestak in Tuesday's election. The margin of victory is 2 percentage points. Toomey is a conservative former congressman and a former investment banker and businessman. Sestak is a U.S. Congressman and a former Navy vice admiral who defeated Specter in the Democratic primary. In a news release, US Senator BOb Casey said, “Any help that I or my office can provide will be available to Senator-elect Toomey to ensure that the needs of Pennsylvanians, especially those with constituency advocacy case work, are met during the transition. “I look forward to meeting with Senator-elect Toomey soon to further discuss how we can work together for the people of Pennsylvania. “As election results continue to be tallied in Pennsylvania and around the country, we move close to the end of a long campaign season. We must all come together to fix the problems facing Pennsylvania and ...

Today, New Yorkers issued a powerful statement: It’s time to make our state great again. Your time, energy and incredible support are what got us here. And thanks to you, our effort to create a New NY can now get underway. The people of New York are looking for solutions that will create jobs, clean up Albany and fix our economic crisis. But, the only way we can make it happen is if you stay involved and stay active. I made a pledge at the start of this campaign that I would always work for you. Now, as we begin to move NY forward, let’s keep working together to create a better future for our state. Thanks again for your support. Let's get started building a New NY. Andrew Cuomo e-mail from Cuomo campaign

The Republican Governors Association congratulates Governor-elect Tom Corbett on his election as the next governor of Pennsylvania. The Republican Governors Association was the single largest donor to Tom Corbett’s campaign, investing more than $8 million. “Tom Corbett ran an outstanding campaign that won the hearts and minds of Pennsylvania voters,” said RGA chairman Haley Barbour. “Pennsylvania was a key battleground for Democrats, so Tom Corbett’s victory has both statewide and national significance. By electing Tom, voters in Pennsylvania showed that they’ve had enough of Democrats’ higher taxes and reckless spending.” The Republican Governors Association was the single largest donor to Tom Corbett’s campaign, investing more than $8 million in the overall effort. In addition to helping Corbett maintain a spending advantage on television throughout much of September and October, the RGA invested nearly $2 million in the Pennsylvania Republican Party’s critically important and hig...

In the Seneca Nation, attorney Robert Odawi Porter handily defeated former president Maurice John Sr. Porter garnered 1,671 votes to John’s 500. The 47-year-old Porter, who is a graduate of Harvard Law School, says he hopes to use his legal skills to help the Senecas deal with a wide range of problems and challenges over the next two years.

Both NBC and Fox News are reporting that Republican Tom Corbett has defeated Democrat Dan Onorato in the Pennsylvania governor's race. This keeps the "eight-year cycle" in tact. Since 1954, the governor's office has changed political hands every eight years. The cycle has withstood 14-gubernatorial elections and a change to allow governor's to serve two consecutive four-year terms.

Today, the voters of Pennsylvania’s 5th Congressional district have re-elected Congressman Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson. Thompson, who was awaiting results of the election with his family, supporters, and Centre County Republican Candidates for the Pennsylvania General Assembly said, “This is a truly historic election for the Commonwealth and the entire country. I am very blessed to continue to have the privilege and honor to represent the people of the 5th Congressional district in Washington for the upcoming 112th Congress.” “I have worked alongside of my Republican colleagues to earn the trust of the American people. I am very grateful for the opportunity to represent my friends and neighbors in Washington. But, this is only a start and the heavy lifting is still ahead. We must get the wheels back on this economy,” added Thompson. Since opposing the early adjournment of the U.S. House of Representatives, Thompson has campaigned tirelessly in all 17 counties that comprise the 5th Congressiona...

National news organizations have projected that Democrat Andrew Cuomo will win the governor's race in New York. US Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsetn Gillibrand are also projected to cruise to victory in their races. In Pennsylvania, with 41 percent of the vote in, the governor's race is still too close to call. Democrat Dan Onorato and Republican Tom Corbett are tied with 50 percent of the vote. In the US Senate race, Democrat Joe Sestak has 54 percent of the vote to Republican Pat Toomey's 46 percent.

The section of Kennedy Street from Boylston Street to Main Street will officially become one-way at 8 a.m. on Monday, November 8, according to a news release from City Clerk John Peterson. Traffic will flow toward Main Street. Two-hour meters have been installed on the west side of Kennedy Street. The east side of the street has 30-minute meters, which will remain.

Digital photography will be showcased for the first time in the eighth annual student exhibition beginning Friday, Nov. 5, at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. “Affairs of the Art,” part of the university’s Spectrum Series, will run through Friday, Dec. 3, in the KOA Art Gallery in Blaisdell Hall. An opening reception will take place at noon Nov. 5 in the KOA Speer Electronics Lobby. “Photography has been a popular art form and activity on our campus,” said Kong Ho, director of the interdisciplinary arts and the art programs and associate professor of art. “We have several student photography competition activities organized by our Art Club and displayed in the Frame-Westerberg Commons in the past two years. “However, it will be the first time for displaying some excellent photographs in our KOA Art Gallery. I hope this year's exhibition will offer visitors the opportunity to leisurely savor and enjoy a broad spectrum of artistic, creative and visually exciting works of art...

Charges against accused kidnapper and rapist Mike Beaulieu have been dropped by Pennsylvania State Police because of the federal indictment against him. The alleged crimes happened in August on the Allegheny National Forest, which is federal jurisdiction and supercedes the state charges. It also takes the financial burden off Warren County and state taxpayers. He was indicted in September. Beaulieu, a former resident of Anson, Maine, is accused of kidnapping a woman at the Kinzua Point Information Center, then taking her to McKean County and raping her at gunpoint. He was captured August 10 in New Brunswick, Canada. On October 27, he was sentenced to three years in a Canadian prison after pleading guilty to charges of illegally possessing a weapon and illegally entering Canada. Canadian prosecutor Pierre Roussel says the extradition process is underway, but he’s not sure how long it will take.

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Some people think Foster Township residents are paying too much for their sewer tap-in fees, and that should change. Others agree the fee is too high, but think it should stay where it is. The $2,000 tap-in fee was one of the topics of Monday’s Foster Township supervisors meeting. Bradford Township residents pay $1,000. City residents pay $500. The issue arose, in part, because residents are concerned about what would happen if the three municipalities consolidate sewer services. Supervisor Jim Connelly, who believes the tap-in fee is too high, is hoping to find ways to cut costs – including being more diligent in collecting from delinquent customers – to lower the fee. “I think that’s ($2,000) a lot of money to ask somebody to pay,” Connelly said. He added that there are $30,000 in delinquent bills. “It’s not fair that some of us have to pay our sewer bills and some of us don’t,” Connelly said. East Main Street resident Don Pistner wanted to kn...

Someone broke into a Cyclone home and stole a Hi Point handgun sometime between October 11 and Monday afternoon. State police say the burglar broke into the home of Ralph Banks on North Bingham road. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact Kane-based state police.

Three people have been arrested for stealing copper wire on railroad property off Larabee Road and Route 446 in Eldred Township and Eldred Borough. 25-year-old Aaron Nazario of Bradford, 20-year-old Jeffrey Gould of Delevan, New York, and 26-year-old Johnathan Cook of Hinsdale, New York, are each charged with theft. They were arraigned by District Judge Bill Todd and sent to McKean County Jail on $10,000 bail each. State Police and Port Allegany Police responded to a report of a copper theft at 11:20 Monday morning and, when they arrived, found the trio removing copper wire from utility poles owned by the Western New York/Pennsylvania Railroad.

Tom Munn is the new chief of the Foster Township Police Department. Supervisors unanimously approved the appointment during their meeting Monday night. The appointment was effective immediately. Munn replaces Jeff Wolbert who retired. His last day was October 20. Supervisor Chris Wolcott said Munn is a hard-working and dedicated police officer and is a great asset to the township. Supervisor Chairman Bob Slike asked township secretary Jennifer Gorrel to send a letter to Wolcott thanking him for his 33 years of service to the township, adding that he was dedicated at the township will miss him. “Amen,” Wolcott added.

Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong has been convicted on charges of criminal conspiracy, bank robbery and using a weapon during a crime of violence. The 61-year-old was on trial in connection with the Erie bank robbery and collar bombing that ended in the death of pizza deliveryman Brian Wells in August of 2003. The jury of seven women and five men deliberated for more than 11 hours over two days before announcing the verdict shortly before 2 o’clock this afternoon. Diehl-Armstrong is expected is to be sentenced to the mandatory life in prison plus 30 years on February 28. http://www.justice.gov/usao/paw/pr/2010_november/2010_11_01_01.html

Bradford City Police apparently did not have a treat-filled Halloween. They were called to fights on Mechanic and Barbour streets and to a neighbor dispute on Summer Street, according to the complaint report and request sheet faxed to WESB and The HERO by the police department. They were also called to several domestic disputes. Officers also looked into reports of a theft on Jackson Avenue, stolen items on South Center Street, and criminal mischief at a school. They got a report of a suspicious person on Amm Street, assisted a citizen on Interstate Parkway and received numerous requests to speak with an officer. Police also received a report of a bear on Lincoln Avenue and a complaint about an unspecified animal on Barbour Street.

The McKean County Drug Task Force and Bradford City Police made a drug bust Saturday night at 56 Amm Street. They arrested Harold Green of Buffalo, Bryant Battle and Louis Edwards of Olean and Jayson Foster and Ben Denning of Bradford. They were arraigned on multiple drug charges by District Judge Rich Luther. Battle is free on bail. The other four are in McKean County Jail. Officers seized cocaine; numerous pills; drug paraphernalia, including syringes, packaging material, scales and crack cocaine manufacturing ingredients. They also discovered numerous items they believe are from a string of burglaries in the city of Bradford. Bradford Police Chief Chris Lucco says in a news release sent to WESB and The HERO that recent drug arrests are sending a message that area police "are not going to sit back and watch our communities be taken over by drug peddling thugs that set up shop and feel we are easy prey due to our lack of resources." "This raid in particular showed how c...

Halloween is a holiday associated with lots of creepy wildlife. But are they really so creepy? Celebrity Naturalist David Mizejewski tells us the truth about a few of them -- bats, spiders and owls. Listen here For more information go the National Wildlife Federation . Photo provided by the Pennsylvania Game Commission