Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history's most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps. Read it all at Newseum.org/YesVirginia or, better yet, read along with Chris Mackowski. Listen here . The original news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The First Wesleyan Church of Bradford handed out $1,000 in cash in increments of $10 each to area residents this Christmas Season. On Thursday members of the church handed out $500 in cash at the Save-A-Lot grocery store in Bradford. On Friday church members concluded their giving at the Big Lots store at the Bradford Mall. The $1,000 in cash is being given away by the First Wesleyan Church’s Positive Thinking Connection Group as part of their continuing efforts to bring Christ, Community, and Church together. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Olean residents will get a chance to share their opinions about water and sewer rates during a public hearing of the Olean Common Council at 6 p.m. Tuesday in council chambers at the municipal building. Council wants to gain citizens' views and allow them to voice their concerns regarding the proposed amendment to the water and sewer rates, pursuant to sections 27-22(1) and 27-167(a), as follows: water rates - service fee of $5.00 per month and $0.0061 per gallon; sewer rates – service fee of $5.00 per month and $0.0061 per gallon for residential customers. The Committee of the Whole and council meetings will follow at 6:30 p.m. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released the following statement in response to his appointment to the payroll tax cut conference committee by Majority Leader Harry Reid: "At a time when almost 500,000 Pennsylvanians are out of work, I am grateful for the opportunity to continue my work to reach a bipartisan compromise that protects working families and provides more take-home pay for 160 million Americans by ensuring a full year extension of the payroll tax cut. I thank Majority Leader Reid for the appointment and his leadership on this issue, and I look forward to working with Democrats and Republicans on an agreement that is in the best interest of Pennsylvania and the American people." The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The National Weather Service in Buffalo says there’s a potential for icing on roads in Cattaraugus, Chautauqua and Allegany counties today. Wet roads combined with temperatures falling below freezing by early afternoon will create the potential for icing on untreated roads. Motorists are advised to use caution, especially on bridges and overpasses. The threat should diminish by this evening as roads dry out. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

1490 WESB presents Chris Mackowski's annual reading of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" by Dr. Seuss at 12:35 this afternoon. You can also hear it online at WESB.com . Click on the "Listen Live" link. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Harrisburg – Governor Tom Corbett on Thursday signed into law the following bills: House Bill 210 – This bill amends the Act of Dec. 19, 1990 (P.L.1234, No. 204), known as the Family Caregiver Support Act. It changes the name of the Act to the Pennsylvania Caregiver Support Act, addresses approved out-of-pocket expenses incurred by caregivers, allows reimbursement of non-relative caregivers and adult family members, and makes other changes. House Bill 242 – This bill amends the Act of April 12, 1951 (P.L.90, No. 21), known as The Liquor Code, to expand Sunday sales hours for alcoholic beverages, addresses “happy hour” sales and makes other changes. House Bill 639 – This bill amends Title 53 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to allow the City of Philadelphia to adjust its affordable housing program fee for recording deeds, mortgages and other related documents. House Bill 715 – This bill amends the Act of May 25, 1945 (P.L. 1050, No. 394), known as the Local Tax Collection Law, ...

Open Arms Community Church will hold its 8th Annual "Christmas Eve's Eve" service today. The event will feature traditional Christmas music in a rock music arrangement, drama, videos, and fun for the whole family. The church will host two services, at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Open Arms Pastor Mike McAvoy says, "This is our 8th annual Eve's Eve Service. We chose the non-Traditional Eve's Eve (December 23rd) for two reasons, 1) because we are typically "out-of-the-box" in our approach to ministry and 2) because we wanted people to be able to both celebrate together, but have Christmas Eve's to spend with their family. There is enough craziness that society has added to this season, we want to do our part to simplify and keep the focus on Faith and Family." McAvoy promises the event will be fun for the whole family. "I'm really excited about this years Eve's Eve Service! Every year we try to do it bigger and keep it fresh. This year i...

Sixteen residents of the region graduated Dec. 10 from the Master of Social Work program at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Dr. Livingston Alexander, president, greeted the graduates and their guests, recognizing the continuing social challenges for the region and praising the students’ commitment to attaining a post-baccalaureate degree while working and raising families. Also speaking were Dr. Lambert Maguire, professor and associate dean of academic affairs in the School of Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh, and Lynn Coghill, director of the MSW program at the University of Pittsburgh. Two graduates, Karen A. Emerson and Oxana A. Panol, both of Bradford, shared reflections during the ceremony. “Our heroes are not famous,” Emerson told her fellow graduates. “Our heroes are the social workers who paved the way before us and caused us to be taken seriously by our profession.” Panol related stories of learning English as a child in Russia, of finding a place to belon...

Two men are in Chautauqua County Jail after allegedly taking about $20,000 from a work site in Ellington, New York. State Police say 38-year-old Charles Legg of Leon and 49-year-old Joseph Goodwill of Falconer bought a $2,000 truck, and buried $9,000 of it in Leon. Police were also able to recover another $5,500. Their bail is set at $5,000, and they are scheduled to appear in court at a later date. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Buffalo man convicted on drug charges in McKean and Cattaraugus counties has been picked up on a warrant in Allegany County. 27-year-old Demerio Watts allegedly sold cocaine in June of 2007 to agents of the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force and was indicted by an AlleganyCounty grand jury. Watts had been sent to SCI-Smithfield for selling drugs in Bradford. He’s now in jail in Belmont awaiting further court action. The McKean County charges were from 2009, and Cattaraugus County from 2005. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

No people were hurt but two pet birds died in a fire early this morning on High Street in Bradford. At 3:02 a.m. Bradford City firefighters got a call about smoke in the house at 15 High Street. Captain Matt Rettger says the smoke was getting worse when they got there and, when he sent a crew in, the house “burst into flames and pushed them back out the front door … We had a house fire.” The occupants, Terry Short and Leilie Howard, were out of the house before firefighters arrived. Rettger told WESB and The HERO that the cause of the fire was improper use of an extension cord that overheated. Damage is estimated at $60,000. 22 firefighters from the city and Bradford Township were on the scene for about three hours. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The United Way of the Bradford Area, Inc. announced today that the organization has reached 100 percent of its $325,000 goal. The local staff, campaign volunteers and board of directors are extremely grateful to the Bradford community. “We are so excited to have reached goal right before Christmas. This is a fantastic gift to the Bradford community and its agencies that rely on United Way funding, says Megan Minich, Executive Director. “We put out a plea for help to the community, and have been overwhelmed with the generosity of so many individuals and corporations that stepped in to meet our need.” Although the organization accepts contributions throughout the year, donations received by January 5, 2012 will count towards this year’s campaign. The Bradford community can expect the final announcement regarding the campaign in early January. For questions regarding campaign 2011, “Live United and Lend a Helping Hand,” or to make a financial donation, please contact the United Way office...

WILLIAMSPORT -- The Department of Environmental Protection has fined Appalachia Midstream Services LLC of Horseheads, N.Y., Chesapeake Energy’s pipeline division, $19,510 for numerous erosion- and sediment-control violations originally found last winter at its compressor station in Albany Township, Bradford County. “Appalachia Midstream did not correct the violations documented in February by the Bradford County Conservation District until August, which is far longer than needed,” DEP North-central Regional Director Nels Taber said. “We continue to work to ensure that the companies DEP regulates take their compliance obligations seriously.” Inspections by the conservation district and DEP’s Oil and Gas staff in February and May found that Appalachia Midstream had failed to implement and maintain effective best-management practices to control erosion and sediment runoff during excavation for construction of a compressor station. Best-management practices are measures used to minimize so...

The New York State Oil Producers Association has created the Karney Cochran Scholarship at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, in memory of a prominent Wellsville, N.Y., oil producer. Stephen D. Plants, secretary of the association, said that it has scholarships at several local colleges and wanted to create one at Pitt-Bradford because of its contributions to the area oil industry through its petroleum technology programs, first in the 1970s and ’80s and again today. The $1,500 annual scholarship will be awarded to a student from Cattaraugus, Allegany or Steuben counties in New York, or McKean or Potter counties in Pennsylvania. Cochran, Plants said, was a natural choice for an honoree. “He was a pretty impressive guy,” Plants said, “a brilliant man who had traveled the world.” Cochran grew up in Tulsa, Okla., and attended Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State), where he earned a degree in engineering. After moving to th...

Students at School Street Elementary were in the giving spirit on Thursday as Mrs. Karen Roulo’s fourth grade students presented CARE for Children with toys that will be given to patients at the Shriners Orthopedic Clinic, which is held monthly at the CARE offices. 10 year-old Skylar Adams, daughter of Fawna Adams of Bradford, gives CARE Community Relations Coordinator, Kim Murphey, a stack of toys and games. CARE is a rural outreach clinic site for Shriners Hospital of Erie. A team of orthopedic specialists from provide free examinations, consultation and treatment to more than 200 children annually. Provided by CARE for Children

Tops Friendly Markets said today that the company does not carry the potentially affected 12.5-ounce cans of Enfamil Newborn Powder with the lot number ZP1K7G recently recalled by Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart announced that the company pulled the product off of store shelves after a newborn Missouri boy who was fed the formula died from what preliminary tests indicate was a rare bacterial infection. “We want to reassure customers that Tops Markets does not carry the potentially affected Enfamil product,” said James DiMartino, Tops senior manager of regulatory, environmental services and food safety. “We understand that any recall, whether Tops is affected or not, has the potential to cause much concern and we are committed to protecting the health of our customers.” The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Someone stole thousands of dollars worth of construction equipment from a storage facility in Ridgway Township earlier this month. Police say the known adult male suspect entered the facility owned by Thomas Mertz of St. Marys and removed several thousand dollars worth of miscellaneous equipment sometime between December 3 and December 8. The investigation is continuing. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

An Ashville woman wasn’t hurt but is facing charges following an accident at about 1 o’clock this morning on I-86 in the Town of Ellery. Sheriff’s deputies say 25-year-old Andrea Spas lost control of her vehicle and it hit a guiderail on the north side of the road. Although she wasn’t hurt, Spas was taken to WCA Hospital in Jamestown for precautionary treatment. She was charged with driving while intoxicated, and deputies say other charges are pending. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce will have a new logo in 2012. And, speaking of the Chamber, if you're still trying to think of last minute Christmas or Hanukkah gifts -- why not pick up a few BACC gift certificates? They are good at 110 businesses and all the money stays in the area. "Keep the Cheer Here!" The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Police in Emporium are looking for someone who committed a Grinch-like crime. They say sometime between 2:45 Wednesday afternoon and 1 o’clock this morning someone kicked in the back door of Jamie Schatz’s house on North Broad Street in the borough, then stole a number of items including $1,600 in cash and Christmas presents. The thief then left through the back door. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Tortuga's Restaurant will be serving free Christmas meals from 1 to 5 p.m. on Christmas Day. The Christmas dinner will be prepared by Mike Dolan of Ott & McHenry Pharmacy and Jeremy Callinan of Tortuga's. It includes appetizers, main course and soft drinks. (Alcoholic beverages are not included.) Anyone who wants a hot Christmas meal is welcome. http://tortugasrestaurant.com The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

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Several well supplies were removed from a site in Jones Township in Elk County last week, during a dispute between business partners of the September Corporation of Titusville. Police say through the course of their investigation they learned the business partners owned each other money. Police told the victim and the suspect, who is from Kane, to handle the case through civil court. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Where will Santa be headed when he leaves WESB Friday after doing his Santa's Mailbag show? NORAD is once again tracking him for us. http://www.noradsanta.org/en/ You can also track Santa on Facebook, Twitter and on your cell phone by going to that website. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office, along with several federal and local law enforcement agencies, took nearly a dozen sex offenders into custody earlier this month after a check in November. The Sheriff's Office, along with the U.S. Marshals Service, Olean Police Department and Salamanca Police Department, conducted the operation on Nov. 8-10, targeting the address verification of registered sex offenders. Eleven people were not living at the addresses they reported to the New York State Sex Offender Registry, and nine were taken into custody and sent to jail. The nine taken into custody were Mark Veasley, 49, a Level 3 sex offender found in Buffalo; Darryl Myers, 40, a Level 3 sex offender found in Limestone; Donald Yocum, 48, a Level 2 sex offender found in Holland; Robert Marvin, 32, a Level 2 sex offender found in Weston Mills; John Gagner, 40, a Level 2 sex offender found in Hinsdale; Lawrence Vancuran, 32, a Level 2 sex offender found in Buffalo; and Max Reyes, 40, ...

A federal grand jury has indicted a Dunkirk man on child pornography charges. 31-year-old Roger “Scotti” Luczkowiak is accused of producing two videos at his home with a 6-year-old victim. Investigators say he also had multiple images of child pornography on a computer in his home. He was arrested in August and has been in custody since then. His arraignment is scheduled for next Thursday. If convicted, he faces 15 to 30 years in prison. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A HazMat Team was called to an accident in Warren Tuesday afternoon when a truck crashed on Jackson Run Road. Police say Jameson Curtis of Sugar Grove leaned over to pick up a water bottle on the passenger side floor, and his truck went off the road and hit a large stump. The accident caused a large oil and fuel leak. Curtis was charged with careless driving. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Bradford man was involved in a two-vehicle crash Wednesday afternoon in Cameron County. State police say 48-year-old Steven Borowski was making a right turn on Route 120 at Tunnel Hill when his car went out of control, traveled into the oncoming lane of traffic and hit an SUV driven by 53-year-old Darlene Langelier of Emporium. Police didn’t say whether the drivers were hurt, or how much damage was done to their vehicles. ~~~~ No one was hurt in a one-vehicle crash on Route 120 in Elk County Wednesday morning. Police say a vehicle driven by 74-year-old Thomas Heatherdale Jr. went out of control on the wet road, spun around and hit a guide rail. The vehicle had to be towed from the scene. Heatherdale was cited for driving at an unsafe speed. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

More than 6,000 National Grid and NYSEG customers were without power in the Southern Tier last night, and a handful of customers are still waiting for their power to be restored. Heavy winds in Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties are believed to be the cause of the outages. The outages started at around 6 p.m., and most power was restored by 11 p.m. The Seneca Allegany Casino in Salamanca was running on back-up generators all night. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Jamestown man and South Valley teenager arrested last week for burglary and now facing more charges in connection to other burglaries in the area. 36-year-old James Baran Jr. and the 17-year-old boy had already been charged for a burglary that happened on December 15, and upon further investigation Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s deputies learned the pair had been involved in other burglaries in South Valley. They are now each charged with two more counts of burglary, along with grand larceny and criminal mischief. They are in Cattaraugus County Jail on $25,000 bail each. Deputies say additional charges and arrests are pending. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Governor Tom Corbett spoke before helping to the light the first candle in the Capitol menorah on the first day of Hanukkah. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Spring Spectrum series at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will include uniquely American voices from the suburbs, Gospel music, poetry and classic Edgar Allen Poe. The Spectrum series, which supports the arts curriculum at Pitt-Bradford, will open with the annual literary magazine celebration for Baily’s Beads at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 25 in the Mukaiyama University Room of the Frame-Westerberg Commons. The event is free and open to the public. The 2007 and 2005 issues of Baily’s Beads were each named one of the top 12 student magazines in the country by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, which has also consistently awarded gold medals to the magazine’s annual issues. The magazine has also won first-place awards with several marks of distinction from the American Scholastic Press Association every year for the last several years. A sculpture and drawing exhibition by Drake Gomez, “America Unsettled,” will run from Jan. 27 to Feb. 24 in the KOA Art Gallery of Blaisdell Hall...

Thanks to the folks at COPS ! The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Harrisburg - Governor Tom Corbett on Tuesday signed into law the "Adam Walsh Bill,'' also known as Senate Bill 1183, which will strengthen the state's rule on convicted sex offenders, by imposing tougher reporting standards. The bill also closes loopholes in Pennsylvania's current Megan's Law that in the past allowed transient and certain out-of-state offenders to evade criminal prosecution by ignoring requirements for registering their home, school and work addresses with police. Photo provided by Commonwealth Media Services The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947