Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

(CNN) -- Singer Amy Winehouse, infamous for erratic public behavior, arrests and drug problems, was found dead at her apartment in London Saturday, police and her publicist confirmed. She was 27. For more information go to CNN.com .

From the Ronald McDonald II Funeral Home : TENTATIVELY, we believe that the service will be held at the Kane Area High School on Wednesday or Thursday. The day and time will be announced. Afterwards, the funeral cortege will leave the high school, turn onto Hemlock Avenue, then onto South Fraley Street and process thru "Uptown Kane" on its way to Gibbs Hill Cemetery for interment. THE CEMETERY SERVICE IS PRIVATE, but well-wishers my line the streets to pay homage to Ken's family en route.

A caller to this morning's "Around the Home with Bob Harris" asked how to keep raccoons away from his plum tree. He sent us pictures of the cute critters, who may be a little surprised if Nick uses the cayenne peppper method to keep them away. If you missed today's "Around the Home," or any other show from this season, go here to listen on demand. Nick also sent us a picture of one of the bears that's been visiting his neighborhood.

Bradford City Police investigated reports of a theft on Homestead Avenue, a fight on West Washington Street and a minor motor vehicle accident on Main Street, according to the complaint report and request sheet. Officers also got reports of open burning on High Street, harassment on Roberts Street and Futures Way, and a suspicious vehicle at Pearl and Summer streets.

OLEAN – Petty Officer James Dyche of Cuba, NY, a U.S. Navy combat veteran of the Persian Gulf, never expected to be honored for his service when he visited Senator Catharine Young’s (R,I,C – Olean) office in October of 2010 to get information regarding his veteran health care benefits. On Friday, however, almost a year after his visit, he was presented the New York State Medal for Merit and the New York State Conspicuous Service Star at a special ceremony in front of friends and family at the American Legion Post in Cuba. “I didn’t even know I was eligible for them at all. When you serve you don’t expect to get awards -- it is not something you dwell on or seek out. But it is very nice to be recognized in this way and I really appreciate Senator Young going out of her way to honor me in this way,” said Petty Officer Dyche. “As soon as we discovered he was eligible for these medals, I had my office start the application process. There are a number of veterans like Petty Officer Dyche wh...

HARRISBURG – State Reps. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk) and Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin) and U.S. Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-25th District) are congratulating the Philipsburg Rod and Gun Club on the 10-year lease agreement signed with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) that will allow the club to re-open its shooting range at Black Moshannon State Park. The club, which has been operating on its current site since prior to the establishment of the state park, has been without a lease and unable to operate since 2005. At that time, concerns were raised about the effects of accumulated lead shot on the ground. The club contracted with skilled professionals in the shooting range management field to propose an effective means of mitigating the lead and responsibly managing the local environment for future generations. The members issued the following statement in reaction to the signing: “The return of trap shooting to the range in Black Moshanno...

The tour bus driver involved in a fatal crash on the New York State Thruway early Friday morning was driving with a suspended license. 60-year-old Rene Bisson of Welland, Ontario, has his driving privileges in New York suspended after receiving two speeding tickets in less than 3 years, one of them in Cattaraugus County. Bisson faces a charge of aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. State Police Major Mark Koss says additional charges will depend on the results of their investigation. 59-year-old Timothy Hume from Dyrden, Michigan, died in the crash.

A Silver Creek man is facing charges of sexual misconduct and endangering the welfare of a child following an alleged incident early Monday morning in the Town of Sheridan. Sheriff’s deputies arrested 18-year-old Dylan Snickles after investigating an incident at a party. Deputies did not say how old the alleged victim is. Snickles will appear in court at a later date.

A Clarendon man who was found naked in someone else’s house will spend up to two yeas in jail. 18-year-old William Levi Mott was found naked inside a Chapman Dam Road home by the homeowner earlier this year. The homeowner chased him from the house, but he and his wife identified him a short time later. Mott was originally charged with corruption of minors because there was a 14-year-old girl in the house at the time, but that charge was not prosecuted. Besides jail time, Mott must do 100 hours of community service and undergo a sexual offender evaluation.

A Jamestown woman was sent to jail after allegedly being found with nearly half an ounce of cocaine in her car. The Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force says 36-year-old Cristy Stutzman was stopped Thursday on I-86 in the Town of Poland, and that’s when they found the coke. Stutzman is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance. Sheriff’s deputies say more charges are possible.

Operator error led to the death of James Hackemer, an Iraq war veteran and an amputee, who was was thrown of the Ride of Steel at Darien Lake two weeks ago. The New York State Labor Department cited Darien Lake for failing to properly train roller coaster operators, and having operators that didn't know the safety requirements, which include not letting anyone without both legs on the roller coaster. The Labor Department determined that those violations were not intentional, so Darien Lake won't have to pay any fines. The Ride of Steel had been closed since the accident, but reopened Friday.

The supply of type O Positive blood dropped suddenly with very heavy use in the past 24 hours. There is still a moderate shortage of other types of blood but type O Positive is quickly dropping to critically low levels. Everyone regardless of blood type is encouraged to come and give blood. One lucky donor at Thursday's blood drive at the BRMC lab in Union Square from 3:30 to 7:30pm will win a $100 Country Fair Gas Card. No appointment is needed to save a life. Tasta Pizza will be supplying food too. There is still a serious blood shortage affecting the region. The national heat wave is affecting blood supplies all across the country; at this point there is no blood to 'borrow' if things turned critical locally. "We need lots of donors Thursday," said Dan Desrochers, Director of Marketing at the Community Blood Bank. "There's a lot of summer left for us to cover." The Community Blood Bank is located at 24 Davis Street in Union Square across from the ...

Two Chautauqua County teenagers are facing theft and other charges following incidents early this morning. Sheriff’s deputies say they got a call at about 12:40 a.m. reporting a vehicle in a ditch in the Town of Pomfret. They determined that the 1 17-year-old boy from Stockton and a 19-year-old from Clymer were fleeing from a building where they had just stolen several gas cans. Deputies say the boys, whose names they did not release, fled once they realized the victim was attempting to catch up to them. They boys will appear in court at a later date.

A Kill Buck woman is in jail for allegedly endangering the welfare of a six-month-old baby early Wednesday morning. Sheriff’s deputies say Judy Redeye, who just turned 18 last weekend, was drunk and out of control at 1:40 a.m. when she was throwing items in her home, some of them in the area of the baby. Redeye was sent to jail on $250 bail.

A Salamanca child is facing charges for allegedly stealing booze from a house Monday night. Sheriff’s deputies didn’t give the name or age of the child but say the youthful offender stole a bottle of whiskey and a 30-pack of beer from a Breed Run Road home at 10 o’clock Monday night. The suspect was taken to jail on $250 bail and will appear in Town of Salamanca Court at a later date.

An Allegany man is accused of exposing himself in public last week. 53-year-old Fred VanDeusen allegedly exposed himself on West Main Street in the village at 11:42 a.m. last Wednesday. VanDeusen is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.

A heat advisory is in effect until 8 o’clock tonight for the entire region. While the actual temperature is expected to be in the mid-90s, the heat index will make it feel as if it’s 104. People who spend time outside are urged to take extra precautions, wear light weight clothing and drink plenty of water. Remember to never leave children and pets in an unattended vehicle, where temperatures can reach lethal levels in a matter of minutes. The SPCA is asking for donations of ice to help keep the shelter animals cool. You can drop off the ice from 8:30 to noon today and tomorrow at 80 Glenwood Avenue.

UPDATE: A Bradford man accused of trying to run over City Police Chief Chris Lucco Wednesday afternoon is in jail. 43-year-old Jeffrey Frampton allegedly tried to hit Lucco with his Jeep while they were in front of the police station. He then took police on a high-speed chase, which you read about here just minutes after it happened. The incident started with a domestic dispute in front of the police station and ended when Frampton’s vehicle broke down as he was trying to drive into the woods above Cornen Street. No was hurt during the chase. Frampton is charged with two counts of aggravated assault and fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer (felonies), recklessly endangering another person and DUI (misdemeanors) and several summary offensesHis bail is set at $75,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday in front of District Judge Dominic Cercone. I don't know where or why the chase started but at around 2:20 p.m. a tannish colored Jeep Cherokee-like vehicle tr...

Investment and production in the Marcellus Shale natural gas field is growing faster than expected, according to a report released today by the Marcellus Shale Coalition. The report says production increased over four-fold from 300 million cubic feet per day in 2009 to 1.3 billion in 2010, while the number of wells in production increased from 595 in 2009 to 1,055 in 2010. The report estimates that production this year will be more than two-and-a-half times last year's. You can read the report here PDF

Due to the current heat wave, the Office of Human Services, Area Agency on Aging, is making senior centers in McKean, Cameron and Elk counties available for seniors to access for temporary relief from the heat. The senior centers are air conditioned and may be offering extended hours to assist in heat relief. Please call your local senior center to verify the days andhours the centers will be available. The McKean County Emergency Managment Agency has passed along these Heat Wave Safey Tips: •Slow Down–Limit strenuous activity, or reschedule for cooler times of the day •Dress for Summer–Wear light-colored clothing •Limit some types of Foods–Foods (like proteins) increase metabolic heat production and increase water loss •Drink plenty of Water or other Non-alcoholic Fluids–Your body needs water to stay cool •Do Not drink Alcoholic Beverages •Do Not take Salt Tablets–Unless specified by a physician •Spend more time in air-conditioned places •Never leave your child or pet unattended in a ...

Three people were hurt when a tanker truck and another vehicle collided in Westfield, New York, this morning. Sheriff’s deputies say a vehicle driven by 50-year-old Ronald Saxton of Celeron didn’t stop at a stop sign and hit the tanker truck operated by 60-year-old Lee Tarr of Galeton. The tanker rolled onto its side. Tarr, Saxton and Saxton’s passenger, 53-year-old Jeff Eimers of Ripley, were taken to Westfield Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A HAZMAT team assisted at the scene. Deputies are continuing their investigation and say charges are pending.

A National Guard soldier from Kane has died in Afghanistan. 30-year-old Staff Sergeant Ken VanGiesen and two other members of his unit were killed Monday when their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device. The National Guard says the others who died are 47-year-old Sgt. Edward Koehler of Lebanon and 49-year-old Sgt, Brian Mowery of Hailfax. Five others were wounded, but their injuries are non-life-threatening. They were all serving with the 131st Transportation Company, 213th Area Support Group, which is primarily in charge of convoys and convoy security. VanGiesen was a 1999 graduate of Kane Area High School. He was on his fourth active-duty tour. He previously served in Germany from 2002 to 2003, Iraq from 2005 to 2006 with the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team and 2009 with the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team. His parents went to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware today to pick up their son’s body. The Ronald McDonald Funeral Home in Kane is handling the arrangements. http://pa.ng....

A Kersey woman was hurt when she fell asleep at the wheel Monday morning on Toby Road in Fox Township and hit a utility pole. Police say a vehicle driven by 19-year-old Ashley McCandless went off thre road, hit a guide rail, went up an embankment, hit a mailbox, then traveled across the road and hit the pole. The vehicle then rolled down an embankment and ended up on its driver’s side. McCandless was taken to Elk Regional Health Center for treatment of minor injuries.

Police are investigating a burglary at the Galeton Drug Store on Monday. They say they arrived on the scene at 20 West State Street to find the audible alarm sounding and the glass of the front door smashed, where the burglar attempted to get in. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact Galeton Police at 814-435-2600.

A National Guard soldier from Kane has died in Afghanistan. 30-year-old Ken VanGiesen and two other members of his unit were killed Monday when their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device. The National Guard and the Defense Department have not released any further details yet. The Ronald McDonald Funeral Home in Kane is handling the arrangements, which will be announced. http://kanerepublican.com/content/ken-vangiesen-kane-soldier-killed-afghanistan http://www.ronaldmcdonaldfuneralhome.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=1213160&fh_id=12423

Bradford City Police on Monday investigated a possible burglary on East Main Street, and an attempted robbery on Main Street, according to the complaint report and request sheet. They also looked into a report of a theft on Mechanic Street. Officers were called to disturbances on Congress and Main streets and on Osborne Place, and a report of harassment on Congress Street.

BUFFALO, NY — Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) has again been ranked among the top cancer hospitals in the nation in U.S. News & World Report's 2011-12 Best Hospitals, published online at http://www.usnews.com/besthospitals . RPCI jumped six spots, to 27, on the publication’s annual roster of Top-Ranked Hospitals for Cancer — the only New York State institution outside Manhattan in the top 50 cancer centers. In addition to its national ranking, RPCI captured the top spot as the best hospital in the Buffalo metro region, and was recognized as “high-performing” in the medical specialties of Gynecology, Urology and Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases. The rankings will be featured in the U.S. News Best Hospitals guidebook, which will go on sale August 30. “Once again, our inclusion on the U.S. News list reflects the trajectory of growth and the outstanding quality of research, education and care at RPCI,” said Donald L. Trump, MD, FACP, President and CEO of RPCI. “The teams of indiv...

A Yorkshire man has pleaded guilty to assaulting another person with a knife. 20-year-old Marshal Gilcrease violated an order of protection on May 16 when he cut a 24-year-old with the knife. He will be sentenced on September 26 in Cattaraugus County Court.

Families of the people who died on Flight 3407 will be able to sue for unlimited punitive damages. A federal judge had to decide whether Virginia law or New York State law should apply. Colgan Air was based in Virginia at the time of the crash, and that state caps punitive damages at $350,000. The crash happened just outside Buffalo, and New York has no cap. The judge ruled that New York law should apply. All 49 people aboard the airplane, including a woman from Bradford, were killed when it crashed into a Clarence home. The homeowner also died.

A Cattaraugus County teenager has been charged with arson for allegedly trying to set a car on fire. State police say17-year-old Dylan Nephew of Perrysburg admitted to entering a car on July 10, taking items out of the car, damaging the outside of the vehilce and trying to start a fire inside the car. Nephew is also charged with criminal mischief and petit larceny.

A Cash 5 lottery ticket worth $225,000 was sold at the St. Marys Pharmacy in Elk County. The ticket matched all five winning numbers in Saturday’s drawing, and was the only jackpot winner. Lottery officials cannot confirm the identity of the winner until the prize is claimed and the ticket is validated. http://state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=18&objID=1093226&mode=2

A Johnsonburg man wasn’t hurt, but he is facing charges, after hitting a utility pole and a couple of parked cars. Police say 50-year-old David Dragone was on Route 219 near Ridgway Road when his car went off the road and hit a parked car. Dragone kept going and hit a mailbox and another parked car. His car then went into the front lawn of a house and hit a utility pole. When he backed away from the pole he hit one of the other cars again, and debris from that crash hit a pickup truck. Dragone is charged with careless driving.

A jury has found two men guilty of stealing more than $3,000 worth of property from a Town of Conewango building after they had to ask for directions to get there. Michael Cruz and Adam Ford, both of Buffalo, stole the items in the early morning hours of September 13 and were both found guilty of grand larceny. Ford was also found guilty of burglary, but Cruz was found not guilty of that charge. They will both be sentenced on October 24 in Cattaraugus County Court. Their co-defendant, 21-year-old Brett Giambelluca, also of Buffalo has already been sentenced to 5 years’ probation after pleading guilty. Before committing the crimes, the men asked plain clothes detectives for directions to the building. The detectives were doing surveillance in the area because it had been targeted by burglars.

S.J. Watson's debut novel has been getting rave reviews all around the world and -- after reading just a few pages -- you'll understand why. Although it doesn't have crazed zombies or a serial ax murderer it's a very scary book -- a psychological thriller that will really get under your skin. And, there's at least one part that I'm betting will make most of you gasp. Listen to my chat with S.J. Watson here Next week: Heather Graham