Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

BOLIVAR, NY –Boatswain’s Mate (BM), Third Class Daniel Little is proud of his decision to volunteer for service in the U.S. Navy, and considers the medals he earned as chapters in a story that he will never forget. During a special meeting at Heritage Aflame on Friday, Senator Catharine Young (R,C,I – 57th District) presented Petty Officer Little with the United States Navy “E” Ribbon, United States Navy Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze service stars, New York State Medal for Merit, and the New York State Conspicuous Service Star. “There is no greater honor than to present our veterans with long-overdue medals, which they earned by serving our country. Petty Officer Little was the first in his family to join the military, and he came to the decision on his own. I am inspired by his conviction, dedication and courage, as I am grateful for the opportunity to recognize Petty Officer Little,” said Senator Young. Pe...

Dr. John J. Watson, 45, professor of marketing in the School of Business at St. Bonaventure University, died unexpectedly Friday, May 18. His passing comes just 13 months after the death of his father, Dr. John G. Watson, dean of the School of Business and a beloved member of the St. Bonaventure faculty for 35 years. A Funeral Mass will take place at 4 p.m. Monday at St. Bonaventure Parish in Allegany, followed by a funeral supper at the Magnano Centre (Hickey Dining Hall) on campus. Since parking around the parish is limited, guests are invited to park on campus and pick up a shuttle by the statue of Mary next to Hickey Dining Hall starting at 2:45 p.m. “Our community is just heartbroken by this news,” said Sr. Margaret Carney, O.S.F., S.T.D., university president. “After the loss of his father last year, this is almost impossible to comprehend. John was such a rising star in our School of Business, much like his dad was 30 years ago. We will do everything we can to support his family...

The state House returns to Harrisburg next week and, on Wednesday, the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee will take up Representative Marty Causer’s bill that would require the Environmental Quality Board to establish procedures to remove flood-related hazards by people owning adjacent property, or municipalities where the flood-related hazards are located. The bill has statewide and bipartisan support. Tuesday, the House State Government Committee will consider Senator Joe Scarnati’s bill that would prohibit the enactment of any law that requires person buy health insurance coverage, and prohibits the imposition of any fines or penalties on a person who doesn’t buy it. The bill passed the Senate in March after a lengthy debate – part of which centered on whether it was proper to call the federal health care act “Obamacare.” On the same day Scarnati’s bill passed the Senate, the US Supreme Court concluded a marathon debate on healthcare issues, one of which is whether p...

The St. Bonaventure University community extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Dr. John J. Watson, professor of marketing, who died unexpectedly this morning. He was 45. Dr. Watson is the son of the late Dr. John G. Watson, former dean of the School of Business, and Dr. Suzanne Watson, retired faculty member of the Computer Science department; and the brother of Steve Watson, SBU's athletics director. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Leslie Raymore Watson, and four children: John, Noah, Stephen, and Elizabeth. Dr. Watson served as the primary color commentator for SBU-TV broadcasts of men's basketball games. The family has extended an invitation to the St. Bonaventure and Greater Olean communities to attend a previously scheduled basketball game involving their oldest son, John (who goes by "Buzz"), at 6:30 p.m. today at the Archbishop Walsh gymnasium. It was young John's desire to play. The university will announce funeral arrang...

The Bradford Area School District has received the governor’s Education Workforce Leadership Award for its collaborative efforts with the local petroleum and natural gas industry. State Education Secretary Ron Tomalis says the collaboration is an excellent example of a public-private partnership in action. He added the district is meeting the needs of a critical industry for Pennsylvania’s growth by providing students with career skills that will benefit them well into the future. "This working relationship ensures that graduates can meet the region’s workforce demands, as well as provides high-paying jobs in one of the fastest growing career areas in Pennsylvania. This partnership is to be applauded,” Tomalis added. Tomalis was represented at the awards ceremony Thursday by Lee Burket, director of the Bureau of Career and Technical Education. Metaldyne Sintered Components of St. Marys and Ridgway received a Governor’s Workforce Development Award for outstanding hiring and workfor...

ST. MARYS, Pa. – The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will introduce its new plan to offer its associate of arts degree in liberal studies in St. Marys at an open house next week. Pitt-Bradford will hold an open house from 6 to 8 p.m. May 22 at the Community Education Council of Elk and Cameron Counties, 4 Erie Ave., St. Marys, for those who are interested in the two-year degree. A second open house for the same time will be held June 20. Students will have the option to pursue either a course of general studies or include a series of criminal justice courses. The courses will be delivered either in person, online or through interactive television instruction. All of the courses scheduled for the fall semester take place after 4 p.m., with most starting at 6 p.m., noted Bob Dilks Jr., director of transfer and nontraditional student recruitment, making them more available to students who work during the day. The criminal justice course...

In addition to their primary mission of working with local communities to ensure that increased wilderness protection is a priority of the stewardship of the Allegheny National Forest, Friends of Allegheny Wilderness over the years has also made significant volunteer investments in the stewardship of the Hickory Creek Wilderness trail, ecological restoration of sites within the Hickory Creek Wilderness, and removal of refuse from the Allegheny Islands Wilderness. FAW's next major wilderness stewardship project will be a trail clearing backpacking trip along the 12-mile Hickory Creek Wilderness trail from Thursday, May 24th through Saturday May 26th. This is a great, rewarding way to intimately experience the natural beauty of the wildly popular Hickory Creek Wilderness first-hand! The group will be leaving from the Hickory Creek Wilderness trailhead on Hearts Content Road Thursday evening, May 24th, spending two nights in the wilderness, and hiking out on Saturday, May 26th. Minimu...

By SANDRA RHODES If a benefit on Saturday makes enough money, it will be music to the ears of the McKean Memorial Park Restoration Committee. Why? Because the money is going to the restoration of the Singing Tower at McKean Memorial Park. The Singing Tower, which has sat silent for decades, was built at the hands of Walter Hall, the same architect and builder of Frank Lloyd Wright's famous Fallingwater and Lynn Hall near Port Allegany. The benefit includes an optional poker run with the sign up from 9:30 to 11 AM at the administration building of McKean Memorial Park. Other activities will take place at Tack's Inn at the corner of Route 59 and 219. This includes a chicken barbecue and DJ from 2 to 5 PM and live entertainment from 6 to 10 p.m. There will also be a silent auction. Built in the late 1930s the Singing Tower was constructed of a native stone to reflect the architecture of the gateways and administration building. SPA centerpiece of the cemetery, the tower included a...

St. Bonaventure head men's basketball coach Mark Schmidt and head women's basketball coach Jim Crowley were named the Basketball Coaches Association of New York Men's and Women's Division I Coaches of the Year by the BCANY selection committee on Friday. Schmidt, who was named the Sports News' Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year, guided the Bonnies this past season to their first A-10 Championship and first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2000. Crowley, who was named ESPN.com's National Coach of the Year and A-10 Coach of the Year, led Bonaventure to the best season in program history as SBU became the smallest active Division I school to ever advance to the Sweet 16. It marks just the third time in the award's history that both the men's and women's winners have come from the same institution, and the first time since Niagara swept the awards in 1993. The BCANY is comprised of basketball coaches of all scholastic and collegiate levels throughout New Yo...

The Army is investigating the death of a Fort Riley soldier from Cattaraugus County. Officials at the northeastern Kansas post say 21-year-old Pvt. Thomas Lavrey was pronounced dead after being found unresponsive in his living quarters on Sunday. The cause of death remained under investigation today. Lavrey was a native of Machias. He joined the Army in March 2010 and was assigned to Fort Riley in September of that year. He was a utilities equipment repairman assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Special Troops Battalion, 1st Sustainment Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. photo taken from Facebook

WASHINGTON, DC- U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) unveiled a comprehensive plan to respond to those like Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin, who recently unleashed a scheme to renounce his U.S. citizenship in order to dodge taxes on profits he is expected to collect when the social-networking company goes public. Saverin, a partial owner of Facebook, has lived in Singapore since 2009 and renounced his U.S. citizenship in September. The avoidance scheme could help him duck a reported $67 million in taxes since Singapore, unlike the U.S., has no capital gains tax. That amount could increase even further as Facebook’s stock price rises. The senators called Saverin’s move an outrage and described a plan to re-impose taxes on expatriates like Saverin even after they flee the United States and take up residence in a foreign country. Their plan would also bar individuals like Saverin from reentering the country so long as they continued to a...

A Kersey woman is accused of threatening a man with a rifle Wednesday night. Police say 47-year-old Nancy Chicola and a 57-year-old man were in an argument at their home on Brandy Camp Road at just before 10 p.m. when Chicola pointed a .22 caliber rifle at the man and threatened him. She was charged with terroristic threats, reckless endangerment and harassment, and was sent to jail on $5,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Chautauqua County man is accused of taking state police on a 7-mile chase in the Town of Harmony early this morning. Police say they got a report at around midnight about a car racing near Hoag Road. A patrol car attempted to pull over 33-year-old Matthew Harrison of Kiantone, but he sped off. Harrison is charged with felony drunken driving, reckless driving, fleeing from police, resisting arrest and aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Someone stole more than a dozen spools of copper wire from the Red Hill Stone Quarry on Route 255 in Jay Township earlier this week. Police say sometime between 4 o’clock Monday afternoon and 7 o’clock Tuesday morning burglars forced their way through the front door of the office trailer and took 18 spools of red plastic coated copper wire. The burglars also took two hand pumps from 55-gallon barrels that were outside the trailer. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Wellsville woman who caused an accident that killed an 11-year-old girl will spend the next 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison. 55-year-old Robin Drouin was sentenced today in Allegany County Court. Earlier this month a jury found her guilty of vehicular manslaughter in connection to the crash that killed Cheyenne Wolfer of Rushford. Drouin was under the influence of prescription drugs when her pickup truck hit a van on Route 417 in November of 2010. Cheyenne was a passenger in the van, and died of her injuries at Jones Memorial Hospital in Wellsville. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Salamanca man has been sentenced to five years’ probation and must pay restitution for breaking into a Great Valley house last year. 22-year-old Joseph Duhan broke into the house on April 28 and stole several items. His co-defendant, 23-year-old Travis Gilbert, also of Salamanca, was sentenced on Monday to 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

An inmate in the Chautauqua County Jail is accused of assaulting another inmate – during a church service. Sheriff’s deputies say at about 7:45 last night Jayson Rodriguez-Inzarry and Alejandro Navarro-Gonzalez were attending a Spanish church service when Rodriguez-Inzarry assaulted Navarro-Gonzalez, causing injuries to his nose and face. Rodriguez-Inzarry was arrested for assault and will appear in the Town of Chautauqua Court at a later date. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Disco legend Donna Summer has died at the age of 63. The five-time Grammy Award winner was the first music artist to have three double albums hit number one on Billboard charts. Read more at MSNBC.com The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Beginning at 7 o'clock Monday morning Allegany Contracting will be doing gas line repairs on behalf of Columbia Gas on the south side of West Corydon Street from South Avenue to the Bradford City limits. During the construction, the city will allow parking on the north side of West Corydon until the project is finished. Please begin parking on the north side of West Corydon Street on Sunday evening. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 17, 2012 – Today, Zippo®, maker of the world famous windproof lighter with the lifetime guarantee, was presented with the President’s prestigious “E Star” Award by U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson. Zippo owner and chairman of the board, George Duke, received the award on behalf of the company at a ceremony which took place at the White House in Washington, D.C. First established in 1961, the President’s “E” Awards are the highest recognition any U.S. entity may receive for making a significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports. Ena Garay, Zippo's Director of International Business Development, also attended the ceremony "We are deeply honored to have been recognized by the United States government for our continued expansion efforts, especially as we celebrate our 80th anniversary and approach the manufacture of our 500 Millionth windproof lighter,” said Duke. “While we strengthen our international presence and create jobs domestically, it...

A Coudersport man has pleaded not guilty to his role in the attempted robbery of a Bradford man at the Olean Center Mall in February. 27-year-old Ivan Williams is accused of restraining the man in the mall parking lot on February 10 while 23-year-old Thomas Washington of Olean hit and robbed him. Washington has also pleaded not guilty. Both cases have been adjourned for motions. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Kane man is dead following an accident Tuesday night in the parking lot of Kane Community Hospital. Police say 52-year-old Dale Ostrander was taken to UPMC Hamot after the accident, and died there unexpectedly. The cause of death has not been released. Ostrander worked as a respiratory therapist for Kane Community Hospital. He was a 1978 graduate of Bradford Area High School. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Lycoming County man was charged today by agents from the Attorney General's Environmental Crimes Protection Section with illegally dumping well production water - commonly known as brine. Attorney General Linda Kelly identified the defendant as John Elwood Marsh, 47, 6 Drake Lane, Jersey Shore, Lycoming County. Marsh is a tanker truck driver for Gas Field Specialists, Inc., which is a subcontractor to Anadarko Petroleum Corporation. Kelly said that Marsh is responsible for hauling "gas buster tanks," which are tanks used to hold gas well production water (brine) after it is extracted from wells. According to the criminal complaint, on Feb. 1, 2012 Marsh's truck became caught in the mud along a rural road in Clinton County causing his gas buster tank to become stuck in a ditch. In order to lighten the tanks and try and move the trailer from the ditch Marsh allegedly opened a discharge valve on the back of the trailer. The charges state that the valve, which was open ...

An Allegany woman is accused of pulling a fire alarm at St. Bonaventure University when there was no fire. Sheriff’s deputies say 21-year-old Caitlin Murtagh pulled the alarm at the Rathskeller at 6:20 Friday night. She is charged with falsely reporting an incident, and is free on her own recognizance. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

She challenges others to blaze their own trails Bradford YWCA Executive Director Amy Pierce says some of her favorite women are known to many by just one name: Oprah, Beyonce, Hillary and (her daughter) Bird – and Harrijane. Harrijane Hannon Moore was presented with the YWCA’s first-ever Trailblazer Award during the agency’s annual Leader Luncheon this afternoon. Moore said receiving the award from the YWCA is particulary special to her because the organization – both locally and nationally – has left us with a rich legacy. The legacy, she said, “is not simply that we can vote, or own property or work outside of the home. Their legacy is that women can change their communities, their countries, their worlds. “Trailblazing,” she added, “happens when you do what is right; when you do what needs to be done.” Moore challenged the women who attended the luncheon– especially the young women – to blaze their own trails. Also honored this afternoon were Kelly Zurat Case and Marlene Kijowski as...

ALBANY – In times of emergency, you want someone like Norma Cummings on your side. Whether it’s her family, friends or a stranger in need, she commits her time to helping others with kindness and compassion. In honor of her years of dedication, Senator Catharine Young (R,C,I –Olean) named Mrs. Cummings as the 2012 Woman of Distinction for the 57th New York Senate District. “I was very surprised when I learned I had been named this year’s Woman of Distinction. I do what I do to help – and I do the best I can for a lot of people. When I stop and look at 25 years in the fire service, the years at the Office of Emergency Medical Services for Chautauqua County, and all the things we have done to help people, I hope that our impact is something that lasts. I am grateful for all Senator Young does for our county, and I am happy to be here,” Mrs. Cummings said. At a ceremony Tuesday evening in Albany, Senator Young recognized Mrs. Cummings for her achievements and service to ...

Sue Spears, 83, of 310 Congress St. passed away, Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at St. Vincents Hospital in Erie with her daughter and son-in-law at her side. Born in Bradford on September 2, 1928, she was a daughter of the late William P. and Viola (Clyde) Fairbanks. On September 26, 1947, at Hammondsport she married E. Robert Spears who preceded her in death on April 28, 2007. She attended Bradford Area Schools and was a member of the Salvation Army, where she participated in the Ladies Home League and volunteered in the Salvation Army Food Bank. She is survived by two daughters, Judy (David) Morrison of Millhall, Linda (Jeff) Whiteman, of Bradford; two sons Carl (E. Ann) Spears, of Aurora, Co., Dennis Spears, of Erie, a sister, Rachael Grove, of Bradford, and a brother, Wesley (Akiko) Fairbanks of Colorado, eight grandchildren, seven great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by one sister, Violet Fairbanks and one brother, Paul Fairbanks. Family and frie...

One person is charged with arson and two others are facing felony charges in connection to a fire at the Prospect Park Playground in Cameron County back in March. 20-year-old Joshua Burger of St. Mayrs is charged with four counts of arson, along with felony counts of burglary, criminal mischief and criminal trespass. 19-year-old Charles Goff and 20-year-old Erica Goff, both of Austin, are each charged criminal trespass. Burger is jailed on $50,000 bail. Erica Goff is free on $2,500 bail. Charles Goff is in Potter County Jail on unrelated charges. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A former county legislator is the third person in three days to die in a crash in Chautauqua County. 73-year-old John Dillenburg died Tuesday afternoon when his van and a tractor-trailer collided in Sheridan. Dillenburg served eight years in the Chautauqua County Legislature. He also was an Arkwright town supervisor and had served as the mayor of Forestville. Sheriff’s deputies say the crash happened on Route 20 when Dillenburg did not yield the right-of-way to a tractor-trailer driven by 41-year-old Mario Estrada-Solis of Ontario, Canada, and the vehicle collided. Dillenburg was pronounced dead at the scene. Estrada-Solis was not hurt. Witnesses told deputies that speed was not a factor in the crash. On Sunday, a Stow man died in motorcycle crash. On Monday, a Forestville man died in another motorcycle crash. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Seneca Nation President Robert Odawi Porter on Tuesday called on the U.S. Senate Finance Committee to recognize Indian nations’ sovereign immunity from all forms of taxation and make tax reforms in Indian Country sensible and simple. He suggested to the senators that several dozen Tribal Empowerment Zones could attract a manufacturing company to locate to Indian Country instead of overseas while obtaining many of the same cost and regulatory benefits. This is the second time in six months Porter has testified before a Senate panel. In October he testified in front of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs about including Indian nations in e-commerce ventures. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

You may have heard that the City of Bradford is charging the people putting on the annual Memorial Day parade and program in Bradford $650 this year. That’s simply not true. City Clerk John Peterson says the misinformation has been spreading like wildfire, and he called us this afternoon to clear it up. He says the basic charge for any organization to put on an event is $25. That includes the firefighter's union for their Easter Egg Hunt in Callahan Park and The Downtown Bradford Business District Authority for Lunch in the Square in Veterans Square. Peterson added that an anonymous donor has paid the fee this year for the Memorial Day program. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Today is National Peace Officers Memorial Day to honor the memory of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. Among those taking part in ceremonies today at Bradford Area High School were Phillip Hoh, retired, of the St. Marys Police Department; BAHS criminal justice students Natalie Munn, Jordan Graffius and Jacob Sirline; and Officer Butch Bartlett, Bradford City Police Department. Back row,Officer Jeff Shade, Bradford Township Police Department; State Representative Marty Causer; criminal justice students Carrygan Jordan, Justin Reams and Shane Acton; and McKean County District Attorney Ray Learn. Pennsylvania officers killed in the line of duty during 2011 included Deputy Sheriff Kyle D. Pagerly of the Berks County Sheriff’s Department; Police Officer Robert A. Lasso of Freemansburg Borough Police Department; Police Officer Derek Kotecki of City of Lower Burrell Police Department; and Police Officer John David Dryer of East Washington Borough Police Department. Photo pr...

Virginia M. Sylvester, 100, of 9 Nookside Lane, passed away, Tuesday, May 15th, at her residence, surrounded by her loving family. Born in Lewis Run, on September 23, 1911, she was a daughter of the late Humbert and Anna (Carrara) Piscitelli. On November 22, 1934 in St. Bernard Church she married Michael Sylvester who died June 18, 1965. Mrs. Sylvester attended Lewis Run Schools. She worked at the Silk Mill in East Bradford and as a housekeeper for 17 years for the J. W. Bird family and several other local families. She had also worked as a waitress at The Johnson Restaurant, Cavallero's, and Suds & Spuds. She was a member of St. Bernard Church, the LaStella Lodge Auxiliary, 50 + Group at St. Francis Church, the Italian American Progressive Club and the Bradford Stroke Group. She had volunteered at the Bradford Regional Medical Center, the Bradford Nursing Pavilion, and the Senior Center. Surviving are two daughters, Phyllis A. Sylvester and Kathleen M. Sylvester, one son, Samu...

NEWPORT NEWS, Va.—The Atlantic 10 Conference Council of Presidents has formally accepted Virginia Commonwealth University for membership, the league announced Tuesday. VCU, which combines outstanding academics with successful athletic programs, will join the A-10 on July 1, 2012 and begin competition during the 2012-13 academic year. The immediate addition will bring the total number of Atlantic 10 members to 15 for the 2012-13 season. VCU fields 16 of the A-10’s 21 championship sports. “The addition of Virginia Commonwealth University to the Atlantic 10 further strengthens us as the nation’s premier basketball-driven conference,” said Father Michael J. Graham, Xavier University President and Chair of the Atlantic 10 Council of Presidents. “Accepting VCU’s application makes sense on two important levels -- its emphasis on the quality of the student experience of its student-athletes, especially in the classroom, and its commitment to the highest levels of competition. Both ideals squar...

Two people were hurt after a car spun out of control and hit two other cars and a utility pole Monday morning on Route 5 Sheridan. Sheriff’s deputies say a car driven by 31-year-old Rosalia Jimenez-Jose of Dunkirk was trying to pass several cars, but didn’t have time to complete the pass safely and cut in front of a car driven by 54-year-old Jane Solares of Silver Creek, and hit the Solares vehicle. Jimemez-Jose’s vehicle then spun out of control, hit the back of a car driven by Jason Guziec of Dunkirk, then hit the utility pole. Jimenez-Jones and Solares were both taken to Brooks Memorial Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Jimenez-Jones was cited for a number of traffic violations. Solares was charged for driving without a license. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The state attorney general’s office wants to be able to review any reports or other evidence Jerry Sandusky’s defense team presents before the trial starts. Prosecutors filed the motion today with Judge John Cleland and said they want to see any results of physical or mental examinations, or results or reports from any scientific tests or experiments made in connection to the child sex abuse case. The A-G’s office says they want the information because testimony regarding the results of those tests “could affect the jury’s perception of the facts of the case … thereby affecting the final outcome of the trial.” The 68-year-old former Penn State assistant football coach denies allegations that he sexually abused 10 boys over a period of 15 years. His trial is scheduled to start June 5. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947