Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Beauty and style expert Jenn Falik gives us some fiscally responsible beauty tips. Listen here . For more tips, and for more about Jenn, go to JennFalik.com .

Sheriff’s deputies are looking for the driver who hit a house in Ellicottville this morning and then left the area. Deputies got a call at 4:17 a.m. reporting the incident. The house was heavily damaged, but no one was home at the time and no one was hurt. The vehicle that hit the house has not been identified and deputies are continuing their investigation.

Two people have been charged in connection to a stabbing two weeks ago on Main Street. 32-year-old Joseph Henton is charged with felony counts of aggravated assault and misdemeanor counts of simple assault and tampering with evidence. 20-year-old Deng Deng of Pittsburgh, who is a Pitt-Bradford student, is charged with misdemeanor counts of attempted simple assault and disorderly conduct as well as a summary offense of harassment, according to court records. In the early morning hours of October 7 Henton, Deng and a group of other people were involved in a fight on Main Street when Henton allegedly used a racial slur toward Deng and allegedly stabbed him and Esteban Santiago, another Pitt-Bradford student. Henton is also charged with recklessly endangering another person and disorderly conduct. He is free on $10,000 bail. Deng has not been arraigned yet. That has been scheduled for October 31.

HARRISBURG – The state House has unanimously approved a resolution honoring an Emporium native who was killed in action in the Vietnam War more than 40 years ago, said Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint). The remains of Air Force Maj. Thomas Edward Clark were recently identified and will be buried in the family plot with Clark’s mother and father, Josephine and Otto Clark, on Saturday, Oct. 22 in Emporium. “It is an honor to pay tribute to this fallen soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country,” said Causer. “It is important that we bring all of our soldiers home, both to ensure proper burial and give closure to their families.” Gov. Tom Corbett has ordered the U.S. and Pennsylvania flags at the Capitol Complex and in Cameron County to be lowered to half-staff on Saturday in honor of Clark’s service. Clark was flying a Vietnam combat mission over Laos on Feb. 8, 1969, when his plane was hit by anti-aircraft artillery, burst into flames and crashed. The U.S. Air Force determ...

Someone broke into a Glenn O. Hawbaker office trailer in Turtlepoint sometime between 5 o’clock Thursday afternoon and 6 o’clock this morning. State police say the person or people kicked in the door and, once inside, rummaged through desk drawers before fleeing the scene.

HARRISBURG—Representative Mark Mustio’s (R-Allegheny) HIV-Related Testing for Sexual Offenders Act was adopted today by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives by a near unanimous margin of 197 to 1. House Bill 1794 would require that any defendant being detained for trial on sexual assault charges be tested for the human immune deficiency virus (HIV) within 48 hours, and that victims of sexual assault receive rapid notification if they have been exposed to HIV. “I am once again sponsoring this legislation for three important reasons,” said Mustio. “First and foremost, victims of sexual assault have every right to know if they have been exposed to HIV so immediate quality-of-life preserving medical attention can be administered. Second, and especially in light of Pennsylvania’s ever-growing revenue shortfall, the federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) stipulates any state that fails to enact this type of legislation will be ‘locked out’ of the last 5 percent of grant funding award...

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Buffalo Field Office, is reporting on a false claim to U.S. citizenship arrest and the seizure and arrest of nearly five pounds of ecstasy taped to a traveler’s body. A significant arrest and seizure took place yesterday, October 20th, at the Peace Bridge when CBP Officers discovered close to five pounds of MDMA-ecstasy strapped to a man’s body. John Stasinski, a 33-year-old U.S. citizen from Manhattan, NY was encountered as a traveler on a commercial bus. The narcotics were discovered when Stasinski was selected for additional enforcement checks after showing signs of nervousness during his initial interview. After noticing an unusually “bulky” look to his mid section, CBP Officers subsequently discovered two pouches of illegal narcotics in a tightly wrapped body package around the small of his back. The substance discovered was a powder form of ecstasy. Stasinski was arrested and turned over to the custody of Homeland ...

From CNN: "After nearly nine years, America's war in Iraq will be over," President Obama said Friday, announcing full withdrawal of U.S. troops by year's end. "Today I can say that our troops in Iraq will definitely be home for the holidays," he said. Obama said the United States will continue its interest in a strong, stable Iraq after U.S. troops leave.

Federal environmental regulators say they will develop national standards for the disposal of polluted wastewaters generated by fracking. The Environmental Protection Agency announced today that it will draft standards for fracking wastewater that drillers would have to meet before sending it to treatment plants. The industry already recycles much of the wastewater or injects it deep underground, but some of it is sent to treatment plants that are often not equipped to handle it. http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/1e5ab1124055f3b28525781f0042ed40/91e7fadb4b114c4a8525792f00542001!OpenDocument

SILVER CREEK, NY -- Today officials from Chautauqua County, Remtronics Inc., Excelco/ Newbrook, Inc., Village of Silver Creek, and the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA), met in Silver Creek for a major business event. "Today's announcement is the culmination of excellent economic development work done by our CCIDA. We always look for success stories, but in this case, we truly have wins for all involved. Excelco/Newbrook, Inc. is taking what was the old Remtronics facility for their corporate uses. This shows how cooperation among business and government entities can work well," stated County Executive Greg Edwards. Remtronics Inc., moved from the Village of Silver Creek to its new facility in the City of Dunkirk. Since that time, their employment has gone from 59 to over 70 employees. Michael Kadis, the owner of Remtronics, could have moved the business to Cleveland, OH. The conditions of his staying in Chautauqua County were that he find a qua...

For the third year in a row, Pitt-Bradford has been named a Military Friendly School by G.I. Jobs Magazine. The 2012 Military Friendly Schools list honors the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members and veterans as students. “The Military Friendly School designation is a reflection of the hard work and dedication made by so many different offices and people at Pitt-Bradford who actively help returning veterans and their dependents to be successful in their pursuit of higher education,” said James Baldwin, assistant dean of academic affairs and director of enrollment services. “We are very proud of this recognition, but we are even prouder of the accomplishments of our students.” In its effort to help student-veterans find the right school, G.I. Jobs incorporated a survey of student-veterans for the first time. This feedback provides prospective military students with insight into the student-vetera...

St. Bonaventure University and Jamestown Community College officials have sealed the deal on 18 articulation agreements, thus paving the way for JCC students to earn a bachelor’s degree at St. Bonaventure. “We’re thrilled to build on our longstanding relationships with JCC,” said Sr. Margaret Carney, O.S.F., president of St. Bonaventure University. “With these agreements, students at JCC can have a clear understanding of what they need to do at JCC to ensure a smooth transition to the university and also ensuring they graduate on time.” The articulation agreements spell out the policies by which St. Bonaventure awards transfer credits and are specific about course equivalencies. Students who follow the articulation agreements should be able to complete undergraduate degrees in four semesters, assuming they enroll full time and take normal course loads. “Part of the ‘JCC Promise’ is connecting students to their goals,” said JCC President Gregory T. DeCinque. “Our strong articulation agr...

A jury has found 36-year-old Lawrence Donachy Jr. guilty of 2nd degree murder, rape, burglary and aggravated assault in connection to the 1999 killing of Irene Challingsworth in her St. Marys home.

WASHINGTON, DC— U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today released the following statement after the Social Security Administration announced an annual cost-of-living adjustment of 3.6 percent to put more money in the pockets of beneficiaries in Pennsylvania: “The Social Security COLA will provide a needed boost to older Pennsylvanians who have gone two years without an increase. This increase will help older Pennsylvanian’s make ends meet and afford essential everyday items like food and medicine. Cost of living increases are essential to helping older Pennsylvanians living on fixed incomes support themselves and their families.” A county-by-county breakdown of beneficiaries in Pennsylvania is available by clicking here . Following news last year that there would be no COLA adjustment for 2011, Senator Casey called for a Senate vote on legislation to provide a one-time payment of $250 to Social Security recipients to help alleviate the fiscal strain the economic downturn placed on old...

By PARISH BRADEN Communications Director for Rep. Thompson Students from high schools throughout the Western part of the 5th Congressional District today attended a government seminar, “Government Outreach 2011,” at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. “Government Outreach 2011” – hosted by U.S. Representative Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, R-Howard,” and sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh – offered students insight into the role of the federal government and future career and education opportunities. Hundreds of students from over 16 areas high schools were in attendance. The Seminar’s activities included a welcome from Dr. Livingston Alexander, President of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, remarks from numerous motivational speakers, and career opportunity presentations from several event sponsors, including Ms. Amy Oswald, of Joy Mining Machinery. “It’s a tremendous opportunity to have students from schools from all over the congressional district here at the University ...

Jurors in the case of a man accused of raping and murdering a St. Marys hairdresser have ended their first full day of deliberations without a verdict. Jurors got the case in the Lawrence Donachy trial at about noon on Tuesday and deliberated for about 5 ½ hours before the judge sent them back to their hotel. They returned to the courthouse at 9 o’clock this morning and deliberated until just before 6 o’clock. Donachy is charged with raping and murdering Irene Challingsworth in her home after breaking in to steal a lottery ticket in 1999. Police charged Donachy nearly 10 years after the murder when DNA evidence at the scene was linked to him. Jurors will continue their deliberations at 9 a.m. Thursday.

OLEAN -- The Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce will honor the contributions of Paul Brown Motors with the 2011 Enterprising Business award given by Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce. The award honors those who exemplify the enterprising spirit of community and commercial growth in the greater Olean community and will be presented at the GOACC 106th Annual Dinner scheduled for Thursday, November 2, at Premier Banquet Center. Napoleon Engineering Services will also be recognized at the 2011 Annual Dinner with the Enterprising Business award, and Tom Buffamante with the 2011 L.O.U.I.E. Award (information on these two awards out later this week). Paul Brown Motors was incorporated in 1952 as a Dodge car and truck dealer. The business was sold by Mr. Paul Brown to John Brairton in 1984. John was formerly a Chevrolet dealer in Honeoye Falls, NY but knew Olean well as a graduate of St Bonaventure University. Terry Brairton joins the family business in 1994. Business grows steadi...

A Bradford man accused of stabbing another man in the eye with a screwdriver waived his preliminary hearing today. 23-year-old Herbert Wheeler is charged with burglary, aggravated assault, simple assault, disorderly conduct, harassment and public drunkenness. At 2:17 a.m. on October 2 police were called to King Street for a reported assault and found the victim bleeding from his eye, according to papers filed in District Judge Dominic Cercone’s office. The victim told police Wheeler kicked open the front door and stabbed him with a flathead screwdriver. Police found Wheeler in the driveway of another King Street house, passed out in an empty vehicle. They say he was highly intoxicated and had blood on his clothes. Wheeler is jailed on $100,000 bail.

A Rochester man has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for his role in the contract killing of a Jamestown man in 2008. 23-year-old Diego Correa-Castro and his co-defendants traveled from Rochester to Jamestown to look for 31-year-old Quincy Turner, who was gunned down outside his racecar shop in the Town of Ellicott on May 30, 2008. Correa-Castro was convicted of possession of firearm used in a violent crime. “The significant sentence in this case – imposed upon someone who did not pull the trigger but who nevertheless assisted in finding the intended victim – sends a strong message that our Office will not tolerate such a brutal, violent crime,” said U.S. Attorney William Hochul in a news release. “All of us in federal law enforcement pledge to continue to work with our local and County law enforcement partners to bring the most dangerous members of society to justice.” The other defendants were indicted in August of last year for Turner's murder. In September of last ...

Senator Catharine Young will be hosting a roundtable discussion this Thursday with key transportation, tourism, labor, logistics, education, banking and health care officials from around the region to discuss the importance of completing the NY Route 219/Continental 1 expansion project in New York. The “Route 219: Road to Our Future” forum will focus on finding ways to improve the state, local and regional efforts for reviving the north-south expressway project that is hoped to open the region to new trade markets that will bring new jobs and economic development opportunities. A completed Route 219/Continental 1 will provide Western New York with a nationally significant trade corridor connection from Toronto to Miami using 1,300 miles of completed interstate highways. Completing approximately 20 miles of Route 219 is the essential connection for the New York State portion of the route. Senator Young, joined by members of the Western New York Legislative Delegation, will host Thursday...

Chaz Kellem, manager of diversity initiatives for the Pittsburgh Pirates, will speak at a celebration of Disability Awareness Month at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Kellem’s talk, which is free and open to the public, will take place at 5 p.m. Oct. 24 in Harriett B. Wick Chapel. Refreshments will be served. Kellem manages the Pirates’ interaction with a variety of regional minority communities in order to identify, network, and cultivate positive mutually beneficial relationships with community and business leaders. These communities include African Americans, Latinos, Asians, persons with disabilities, and the underserved and uninsured. His focus is to develop and engage the minority communities in sales, community and business opportunities that will increase minority participation within the Pirates organization. Kellem graduated from Edinboro University with a degree in sports administration. While at Edinboro, he served as the vice president of ...

For stories and statements on the death of Buffalo Bills great Kent Hull, go to BuffaloBills.com .

First Lady Susan Corbett listens to 4th grader Caleb Bargo describe growing the giant pumpkin he and his sister 6th grader Rachel Bargo (center) donated to the Governor's Residence. Courtesy of Commonwealth Media Services The 270-pound pumpkin donated by the Bargo Family, of Port Royal, Juniata County, was grown by 11-year-old Rachel and 7-year-old Caleb. It started out as a seedling in the family's kitchen in March and was moved outdoors once the weather got warmer. The children say they used a little bit of fertilizer, but mostly watered it regularly to help it grow so large. The kids say they have grown pumpkins in the past, but never one quite this large.

The Chautauqua County Fire Investigation Team has determined that two house fires over the weekend were accidental. The first was at around 7:15 a.m. Saturday in Cassadaga, where a fire started in gargage. Investigators say a light had been left on and was too close to combustible material. The second fire was at about 12:30 a.m. Sunday in Westfield. The investigation revealed a problem with the electric service cable going to the house, which caused the electricity to be improperly grounded, which started an electrical fire inside. No one was hurt in either fire.

The jury in the case of a man accused of raping and murdering a St. Marys hairdresser in 1999 continued its deliberations this morning. Closing arguments in the murder trial of Lawrence Donachy wrapped up Tuesday morning, followed by more than five hours of deliberation. A judge sent the jury back to its hotel at around 5 p.m. on Tuesday. They returned to the courthouse to continue deliberations at 9 o’clock this morning. The jury was brought in from Butler County due to pre-trial publicity. Donachy is charged with raping and murdering Irene Challingsworth in her home after breaking in to steal a lottery ticket. Police charged Donachy nearly ten years after Challingsworth was killed when scientists linked DNA evidence at the scene to him. A state police expert testified the odds were 720 trillion to one that the DNA found that the scene belonged to anyone but Donachy. Pictured, Irene Challingsworth

Congressman GT Thompson is holding his annual Government Outreach program for high school students today at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Thompson told the students he gets called a lot names, but one of them is the reason he holds the outreach event. "Most of (the names) are pretty favorable, like Congressman ... But the key title is 'representative,'" Thompson said. "You can't represent people if you don't make an effort to meet them, talk with them and find out what's on their minds." Students from McKean, Cameron, Elk, Potter, Clarion, Forest and Jefferson counties are attending the event.

For the second time in three days the SPCA has been asked to take care of a wounded bird. Duck hunters found the blue heron near Tuna Crossroads and took it to the SPCA. The SPCA’s Tony Danias is taking the bird to Mark Baker of Eagle’s Dream Bird Rehabilitation in Olean, where the bald eagle that was found Monday is still living. Baker thought the bird would have to be euthanized, but they are still treating its shattered wing. By the way, Tony tells us he's glad he's not in Ohio today looking for lions, tigers, bears, cheetahs and the other animals that are on the loose.

Community and university leaders integral to the project gathered Tuesday morning to dedicate the completion of the St. Bonaventure loop of the Allegheny River Valley Trail. Calling the trail addition a “wonderful milestone in our relationship with Allegany and Olean,” Brenda McGee, senior vice president for finance and administration at SBU, thanked Allegany and county officials and project consultants, and concluded with a “special thanks to Phil Winger, who expertly managed this complex project.” Winger is the associate vice president for facilities at the university. The roughly three-quarter-mile addition was completed earlier this month — six years after U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton helped secure federal funding for the trail expansion and campus road improvements. Federal and state roadblocks slowed distribution of the money until this year; project work finally began in April. University President Sr. Margaret Carney, O.S.F., expressed her gratitude to Schu...

Former fugitive and convicted cop killer Ralph "Bucky" Phillips may have been trying to escape from prison again. Prison officials at the Clinton County Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York, say Phillips engaged in activity on Monday that could have resulted in an attempted escape. Peter Cutler of the New York State Department of Corrections would not elaborate on what the activity was, but did say it was the 30th incident since December 22, 2006, that Phillips engaged in that violated prison rules. He adds that Phillips is in a single bed cell, where he spends 23 hours a day, because he is considered an escape risk. Phillips was sentenced to life in prison for shooting and killing Trooper Joseph Longobardo, and wounding Troopers Donald Baker Jr. and Sean Brown in the summer of 2006. He led police on a five-month manhunt after breaking out of the Alden Correctional Facility in April of that year.

Two more people who firebombed an Allegany apartment where several St. Bonaventure students were living have been sentenced. 23-year-old Donald Phearsdorf has been sentenced to three years’ probation and 22-year-old Adam Peterson has been sentenced to 5 years’ probation. They both pleaded guilty. In the early morning hours of October 17 of last year, a fight prompted seven men to conspire to throw a Molotov cocktail into the Allegany apartment. Another person who pleaded guilty to assault in the incident, 21-year-old Mark Braithwaite of Olean, is scheduled for sentencing November 14.

Three Monaca, PA, residents were hurt in a one-vehicle crash at just after 10 o’clock this morning on Route 120 in Cameron County. State police say an SUV driven by 23-year-old Ronald Hogue drifted off the road while rounding a curve and hit an embankment. The SUV then spun around, crossed both lanes and hit the guiderails. Hogue and his passengers, 22-year-old Alexis Frioni and 19-year-old David Ball, all suffered minor injuries. Police issued Hogue a traffic citation.

The fate of a St. Marys man accused of raping and murdering a hairdresser in 1999 is now in the hands of a jury. Closing arguments in the murder trial of Lawrence Donachy wrapped up this morning, and the jury got the case at around noon. Donachy is also accused of setting Irene Challingsworth’s bed on fire when he broke into her home to steal a lottery ticket. Police charged Donachy nearly 10 years after the murder when DNA evidence at the scene was linked to him. A state police expert testified the odds were 720 trillion to one that the DNA found at the scene belonged to anyone but Donachy.