Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

“Seussical,” a musical based on the works of Dr. Seuss, will be staged with three performances Friday, Jan. 14, at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Performed by Theatreworks USA, the school matinee series version will take place at 7 p.m. for students and the public. Tickets for the 75-minute program are $8 for adults and $7 for students. Showings at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. for kindergarten through fourth grade students, as part of the university’s Kaleidoscope Series, have been sold out. “This is the first time a Kaleidoscope school matinee production has been held over for an evening family show,” said Randy Mayes, director of art programming at Pitt-Bradford. “If successful we may look at developing a small family series of shows that parents can take their children to at inexpensive prices similar to buying a movie ticket. ‘Seussical’ is a perfect show to experiment with.” “Seussical” features 12 actors who portray the Cat in the Hat, a Who named JoJo, Miss Gertrude McFuzz,...

There’s no better way to celebrate the holidays than a first-class ticket to the New Year. Buttons for First Night Bradford are now on sale. This button is a pass to get into any of the venues. This includes local entertainment as well as Bob Teesdale, a singer from Nashville, Fieldstone and Moscow Nights. There are also the First Night Firsts at the Callahan Park Ice Skating Rink and Byllye Lanes, to name just a few. The buttons are available at the Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce, Tops Supermarket, The Grocery Stretcher and Tina’s Hallmark. They can also be purchased at any entertainment site the night of the event. The buttons are $5 if purchased by Dec. 30. They are $6 if purchased on Dec. 31. An information card will accompany the buttons with a list of all the venues and acts. There’s also time to get in on the act. The First Night Bradford committee is holding auditions for the First Night’s Got Talent competition. The last audition session will be held Monday, Dec. 20, at th...

Charles Cole Memorial Hospital’s Heart of Cole Community Connections employee giving club donated $200 to senior centers throughout CCMH’s service area in Potter, McKean, Cameron and northwestern Tioga counties this holiday season. Pictured for the check presentation to the Potter County Senior Centers are, from left, Jennifer Rossman, HOC committee member; Anna Fair, HOC committee member; Sue Smith, Coudersport Senior Center; Betty Kurtz, Galeton Senior Center; and Patrice Levavasseur, HOC committee member. Ginny Steadman from Ulysses and Kathy Anders from Oswayo Valley senior centers were not available for the photo. The HOC Community Connections fund also donated to Meals on Wheels programs in Potter, McKean and Cameron counties. Photo courtesy of CCMH

The drought watch has been lifted for McKean, Warren, Jefferson, Elk and 17 other Pennsylvania counties. DEP Secretary John Hanger said today that the recent snow and rain has had a large impact on the region and recovery is underway. After a hot and dry summer, drought watches or warnings were issued in September for all 67 counties. By Nov. 10, conditions had returned to normal for 46 eastern and central counties. However, the remaining 21 counties continued to experience 90-day precipitation deficits as high as four inches. http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/newsroom/14287?id=15634&typeid=1

Navy Seaman Recruit Paul Michael A. Lehrer, son of Harmony J. Leonard of Bradford, Pa., recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill. During the eight-week program, Lehrer completed a variety of training which included classroom study and practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety. An emphasis was also placed on physical fitness. The capstone event of boot camp is "Battle Stations". This exercise gives recruits the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the fleet. "Battle Stations" is designed to galvanize the basic warrior attributes of sacrifice, dedication, teamwork and endurance in each recruit through the practical application of basic Navy skills and the core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment. Its distinctly ''Navy'' flavor was designed to take into account what it means to be a Sailor.

Washington, D.C.—U.S. Representative Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson today learned he has been reappointed to the House Agriculture Committee and the Education and Labor Committee. In addition, he will serve on the Natural Resources Committee, which has jurisdiction over natural resource development, such as the Marcellus Shale natural gas play. “These three committees will enable me to represent the Fifth Congressional District in the most effective way,” said Thompson. “For instance, I will have joint jurisdiction on the Allegheny National Forest, as the Forest itself comes under the Agriculture Committee, and the mineral resources on public lands, like the ANF, falls under the Natural Resources Committee.” “On Resources, I will have the opportunity to share my perspective and insights on the Marcellus natural gas play with its potential to create jobs, economic development and energy independence through responsible development,” said Thompson. The further jurisdiction of the Natural Resourc...

A Johnsonburg teenager who broke into Kane Area High School while he was drunk, and then passed out on the floor has been sentenced to a year of probation. 18-year-old Jonathan Card was found sleeping inside the cafeteria at Kane Area High School at 6:14 a.m. on Saturday, August 7. Police later determined that Card had thrown a cement block through the glass portion of a back door, reached through the broken part of the door and opened it from the inside.

An early morning fire has destroyed the historic Cottage House restaurant in Smethport. Firefighters got the call at 2 a.m., and say the building was fully engulfed in flames when they arrived. There’s no word on the cause of the blaze yet, but firefighters say they expect to release more information this afternoon. The Cottage House Restaurant is listed on the Smethport Historic Registry, and had been in operation since 1899.

Thomas Haggie has pleaded guilty to killing Megan Konopka and her unborn baby in September of 2009 at the Riddell House, and is expected to be sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison without the possibility of parole. Sentencing is scheduled for January 13 in McKean County Court. District Attorney Ray Learn had said he was going to seek the death penalty for Haggie and his co-defendant Greggory Theobald. When the men agreed to plead guilty, Learn took the death penalty off the table. Theobald pleaded guilty in July and is serving his time at the State Correctional Institution at Fayette.

Dozens and dozens of web domain names have been registered in the name of Santa Claus, offering children and their parents a wide range of opportunities to e-mail, watch or track St. Nick. Before children are allowed to share personal information for a “Letter to Santa” or create a personal message from a web site, the Better Business Bureau and Children's Advertising Review Unit (CARU) recommend that adults carefully review the site to determine who is seeking the information, how it will be used and whether it will be shared with third parties. “Parents looking to add a wide-eyed experience for their child could be surprised by the trouble they cause for themselves if they enter personal information on the wrong holiday site,” said David Polino, Better Business Bureau President. “Parents should know that even Santa is required to protect personal information and comply with the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.” The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act req...

McKean County will be getting a new area code. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission voted today to split the 814 area code to avoid running out of phone numbers by 2013. The new area code will be applied to McKean, Jefferson and Elk counties and west. The Commission decided the geographic split was the most practical solution. The actual new number for the new area code will be determined in the coming weeks by the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA), which is the neutral third party area code relief planner for Pennsylvania. The new area code will be implemented Feb. 1, 2012. http://www.puc.state.pa.us/general/press_releases/press_releases.aspx?ShowPR=2675

Following the House of Representatives’ vote to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, Senator-Elect Pat Toomey issued the following statement supporting repeal and supporting a Senate vote at the appropriate opportunity on the Senate calendar. “As I’ve said previously, my highest priority is to have the policy that best enables our armed services to do their job,” Senator-Elect Toomey said. “Our civilian and professional military leadership have now spoken and said we should repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. I would support a free-standing measure to do so.”

Cabot Oil & Gas will pay $4.1 million to Susquehanna County residents whose drinking water was contaminated by natural gas from its wells. The agreement also allows the Houston-based company to start drilling again around Dimock Township, where the contamination occurred. The company expects to start drilling again in the first part of next year. The Department of Environmental Protection announced the agreement this morning. Cabot also must continue to work to prevent gas from migrating from its wells, according to DEP Secretary John Hanger. The 19 Dimock families affected by the contamination will receive amounts equal to twice the value of the homes. Cabot also will provide water treatment systems to the families. http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/newsroom/14287?id=15595&typeid=1

With only a couple of loose ends to tie up, the United Way of the Bradford Area is at 90% of its $325,000 goal, and the local staff remains very optimistic that they will soon close out the 2010 campaign at 100%. “Last year at this time, the appeal was at 83%,” says Megan R. Mangini, Community Relations & Marketing Specialist. “As it stands right now, there are a couple of outstanding accounts that are annual contributors, but we are reaching out to new community contributors to help us raise the last $32,000.” The United Way is extremely pleased to say they have realized over 50 new donors during the 2010 campaign. “I can honestly say that gratitude is truly a gift. No one has to donate, they choose to,” says campaign co-chair Mary Ann Quinn. “We greatly appreciate the hard-earned dollars that this community chooses to contribute.” The campaign appeal process ended yesterday, however the United Way accepts pledges for the 2010 campaign until January 5, 2011. “If the campaign falls...

WASHINGTON, DC—U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today called on the United States Forest Service to continue seeking solutions to a right-of-way dispute that will leave a 23 mile section of the Allegheny Snowmobile Loop (ASL) off limits when the trails open on December 17. “My constituents have expressed concern that businesses in the affected area which depend upon the patronage of snowmobile enthusiasts will suffer due to this closure,” Senator Casey wrote in a letter to the United States Forest Service. “Due to these potential negative effects, I request that the Forest Service examine other possible route alternatives that might currently exist and continue such alternative-seeking efforts in the future.” In the letter sent today to Allegheny National Forest Supervisor Leanne Marten, Senator Casey thanks the Forest Service for their efforts to resolve the issue, which is expected to keep the section of the ASL, known as the Marshburg trail, closed. Senator Casey noted that the trail c...

The holiday spirit swept the Pitt Bradford campus this month when the Resident Adviser Staff organized a collection of toys, food, books and clothing for local organization, CARE for Children. This is the second year that the campus community has participated in a holiday drive for the agency. Pictured from left to right are Mandi Wilton Davis of CARE; Resident Advisors, Jason Peters(Sr.); Zach Carson (Sophomore); Erika Davis (Jr.); and Lyndon Orinion (Sr.); and Matthew Whelan, Rainbow Corner Preschool Student; and Kim Murphey, from CARE. Each year CARE for Children provides services for hundreds of children of all abilities throughout McKean County and the surrounding region. Photo courtesy of CARE for Children

A Bradford woman accused of trying to get about 60 more prescription pills than her prescrption was written for has waived her preliminary hearing. 25-year-old Corrie Nortum went to Ott & McHenry Pharmacy on August 3 with a prescription for 76 Tylenol 3 pills, but pharmacist Betsy Dolan Eschrich called police because she thought it had been changed from 16 or 18. Nortum told Police Officer Dave Feely she didn’t know how the prescription got changed. Feely called physicians assistant Christian McMongial, who said the amount on the prescription was “definitley not 76,” and that he doesn’t issue more than 20 pills at a time. Nortum is free on her own recognizance.

The man accused of driving under the influence of prescription drugs when his vehicle hit and killed a PennDOT worker will remain jailed on half a million dollars bail. 42-year-old Donald Blocher of Salamanca is charged with homicide by vehicle in connection to the death of 51-year-old Jack Griffin in October in Foster Township. A bail hearing was held today in front of District Judge Rich Luther, who decided Blocher’s bail will remain at $500,000 PennDOT worker James Burrows of Eldred was severely injured when Blocher’s vehicle hit him.

A Potter County student is one of 13 from across the state whose artwork will appear on the state Attorney General’s Drug Free Calendar. The artwork of Julian, a 5th grader from Austin Area Elementary School, is the drawing chosen for November. More than 500 students entered the contest. During a ceremony, each of the winners was presented with certificates of achievement and savings bonds. The Grand Prize winner received a $500 U.S. Savings Bond and each of the other 12 winners received a $200 U.S. Savings Bond. http://attorneygeneral.gov/press.aspx?id=5892

WASHINGTON, DC—Following Senate passage of the tax cut and unemployment insurance compromise, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released the following statement: “In this time of economic uncertainty, we can’t risk additional uncertainty for Pennsylvania families and the economy by further delaying passage of the tax cut and unemployment insurance extension package. This bill is not perfect. However, it does address my top priorities of economic growth, job creation and providing tax relief to millions of Americans in a fragile economy. “I urge the House to quickly pass this legislation so it can be signed into law and end the uncertainty for the economy, middle-income workers and the 140,000 Pennsylvanians who will lose their unemployment insurance benefits this month."

Pennsylvanians back the idea of selling the state's liquor stores to help balance the state budget, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today, and one local lawmaker says he’s willing to look into the plan. State Representative Marty Causer says the selling of the liquor stores is a policy issue he thinks the House has to consider. “I am very willing to take a look at it,” Causer said. “I think with the budget situation we have, and under our current climate, it might be just the right time to consider it.” Selling state-owned liquor stores has the most support among various ideas tested by Quinnipiac, with support pretty much across party lines. The idea is backed by 68 percent of Republicans, 70 percent of independents and 63 percent of Democrats. Given four choices on how to solve the state’s budget problem, 54 percent of the people polled supported selling the liquor stores; 17 percent favor leasing the Pennsylvania turnpike; 14 percent say lay off state workers;...

No one was hurt in a three-vehicle accident at just before 7 o’clock this morning on Route 219 at its intersection with Elk County Control Road. Police say a car driven by 54-year-old Roseanna Ehrensberger of St. Marys was slowing to make a turn while an SUV driven by 41-year-old David Feldbauer was edging around the car. A third car, driven by 22-year-old Keith Armagost came upon the first two vehicles and tried to avoid hitting them, but hit the SUV, spun around and hit the other car. No one was hurt but Armagost is facing charges of driving at an unsafe speed. ~~ No one was hurt in a two-vehicle accident at 9 o’clock this morning on Route 44 in Hebron Township. Police say a vehicle driven by 69-year-old Shirley Gleason of Coudersport was going around curve when it went out of control and into the path of a pickup truck driven by 41-year-old Marion Hanchett of Coudersport. No one was hurt but Gleason will be cited for driving at an unsafe speed.

Just 10 days before Christmas, a Baptist Church in Friendship, New York, has burned to the ground. The fire started at arouond 4 o’clock this morning and destroyed the Bible Baptist Church, which is across the street from Friendship Central School. Investigators are currently on the scene.

A man from Mississauga, Ontario, facing charges for an incident at the Peace Bridge has been picked up in Chautauqua County. 22-year-old Mohammed Sabbagh is accused of stealing a pickup truck from a dealership in Mississauga, speeding through the Peace Bridge border crossing without stopping and then getting into an accident in the Town of Hanover. Sheriff’s deputies responded to an accident Tuesday morning in a business parking lot, when they learned the pickup was stolen. It had left that scene but was found later in a drainage ditch. At 8 o’clock last night, a concerned citizen called deputies to report a man acting suspicious in the area of the accident. Sabbagh was arrested and is facing federal charges for the incident at the Peace Bridge. Peel Regional Police Service in Canada is in the process of filing charges for the vehicle theft. He is in Chautauqua County Jail without bail.

We’ve heard it before: The Kennedy Street Bridge is one step closer to being replaced. This time, however, a company has been hired to do the work. The L.C. Whitford Company Inc. of Wellsville, N.Y., submitted the lowest of five bids for the job at $444,436. PennDOT opened the bids on December 2, and Bradford City Council authorized execution of the contract on Tuesday. Also during Tuesday’s meeting, council authorized a contract with E & M Engineers for $100,644 for design of the School Street Elementary Safe Routes to School project. Council also agreed to execute an agreement with Habiterra Architecture to provide design and related enhancements to the Kessel Athletic Complex for $152,000. The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will reimburse the city for the cost of the engineering services. Council also authorized the filing of an application for Transportation Enhancement Funding through the North Central Regional Planning and Development Commission for the Elm Street/Davis...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Last month Bradford City Council was looking at 4.5 millage rate and a hefty tax increase. Tuesday, they learned the rate has been cut by more than half and they’re not finished cutting yet. Earlier in the afternoon it had been cut to 2.58 but City Clerk John Peterson said that thanks to a diligent insurance agent and the efforts of the city’s employee safety committees, another $60,000 was cut out of the budget, bringing the millage rate to 2.21. Peterson commended Sundahl Insurance and Fred Hilzinger for finding a better rate than the city had been getting for their workman’s compensation insurance. It been $213,959 and is now $151,911 for a rate reduction of 29 percent. He thanked Hilzinger for “going the extra mile for the City of Bradford.” Peterson added that city employees deserve a round of applause because the reduction can be directly attributed to the safety committee, headed by former Councilman Bob Onuffer, who brought safety issues...

A Bradford man is in an Erie hospital after being pinned between a box truck and a pickup truck Monday afternoon on Abbott Road. 52-year-old Mike Luciano was getting a delivery and standing between the box truck and his pickup truck when the box truck slid on the ice and pinned Luciano between the two vehicles. He was first taken to BRMC, then taken to Erie, where he had surgery to repair a broken leg.

New York Governor David Paterson has signed an executive order to stop hydraulic fracturing until July 1. The governor’s order prohibits fracking until the state Department of Environmental Conservation completes a comprehensive review of the fracking process. But, Paterson also vetoed legislation that would have placed a moratorium on high-volume, horizontal hydraulic drilling and more conventional vertical drilling. http://www.state.ny.us/governor/press/121110PatersonExecutiveO-HydraulicFracturing.html

Chautauqua County Sheriff’s deputies say an observant Portland resident helped them capture two people who they think are responsible for several burglaries at seasonal homes along Lake Erie. Deputies say the resident called them after seeing a person with a backpack walking toward a home. The resident knew no one was living there, and that several burglaries had occurred in the area. Deputies found one of the suspects in the area of the homes, and another inside a home. 37-year-old Jason Wasson and 36-year-old David Rowe, both of the Jamestown area, are both charged with burglary and are being held in the county jail.

A Bradford man is facing several charges after being accused of breaking into the Price Right store on Main street and trying to break into Rollie’s Tobacco Shop early Thursday morning. Police say 21-year-old Gregory Farr used a hammer to break a window at Price Right, then stole an Xbox gaming system, Xbox games and an assortment of other gaming items. Farr then allegedly used a hammer to break a window at Rollies, then left the scene. He came back, and made a second attempt to break the glass, then left again. Police executed a search warrant at Farr’s home on Saturday and found all the stolen items. Farr is free on $25,000 bail and his preliminary hearing has been scheduled for December 29.