Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Listen to founder Shari Arison talk about Good Deeds Day here . Find out more at Good-Deeds-Day.org or Shari Arison.com The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

City of Bradford Police on Friday investigated a report of an assault on Jackson Avenue, and credit card fraud from a downtown business. They got calls about disturbances on South Avenue and Avenue B, harassment on Interstate Parkway and disorderly conduct on Interstate Parkway as well as at Kennedy and Amm streets. Officers were called about a traffic problem on West Washington Street, a hit and run on Jefferson Street and suspicious activity on Belleview Avenue. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A 4-year-old girl suffered minor injuries in a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of routes 219 and 6, Lantz Corners, Friday evening. Police say at just after 6 p.m. 20-year-old Shane Duckworth of Ridgeley, West Virginia, didn’t stop at a stop sign at the four-way intersection and hit a vehicle driven by 56-year-old Seena Housler of Mount Jewett. The 4-year-old from Cumberland, Maryland, was a passenger in Duckworth’s vehicle, and was taken by Mount Jewett Ambulance to Kane Community Hospital. Duckworth was cited for not stopping for a stop sign. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Coudersport man is in jail after allegedly pointing a rifle at woman Thursday night during an argument. State police say 53-year-old Brent Cole threatened to harm himself and a 51-year-old woman, then pointed the rifle at her. He also allegedly pushed and shoved her. Cole is charged with terroristic threats, recklessly endangering another person, simple assault and harassment. Another Coudersport man is facing charges for a domestic incident in a vehicle early last Saturday morning. Police say at around 4:30 a.m. in the area of Burrows Road and North Hollow Road 33-year-old Drew Watson got into a fight with a woman. He was charged with simple assault and was sent to jail on $10,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A bus driver for the Randolph Central School District is accused of sexually abusing a boy. 66-year-old John Hitchcock allegedly had sexual conduct with the child, who is younger than 13, on multiple occasions. He is charged with seven counts of first-degree sexual abuse and one count of endangering the welfare of a child. The alleged incidents happened in September and October of last year between Randolph and Ashville. Hitchcock is in the Chautauqua County Jail and has been placed on administrative leave by the school district. The Chautauqua and Cattaraugus county sheriff’s offices and DA’s office, as well as child advocacy centers, worked on the investigation together. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Clayton E. Troutman, 76, a loving father, grandfather, brother, and friend to all, of 591 South Ave. Bradford, passed away, Thursday, March 7, 2013, surrounded by his loving family and friends. Born October 15, 1936, in Bradford, he was a son of the late Clayton H. and Lucy (Chiodo) Troutman. Mr. Troutman was a 1954 graduate of Bradford High School. He owned and operated Clayt's Body Shop for 40 years. He loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing, kayaking and mountain biking. He participated in the Keystone Games, and the Master's Olympics, medaling in the discus. In 2009 he was awarded the "National Towman Award" in Baltimore MD. Surviving are his long time companion Stacy Sapko, two daughters, Debra (Donald) Cummins, of Bradford, and Jennifer Beers of St. College, 4 grandchildren, Tiffany (Dean) Campbell, Jake (Ashlee) Cummins, Mike Cummins and Curt Cummins, 4 great grandchildren; Brister, Boston, Marshall and Sailor Campbell, a brother, Joseph Troutma...

A Salamanca man is facing a number of charges after he took police on a chase when they were trying to stop him for having no working lights on his car. Police say 23-year-old Joseph Duhan ran a stop sign, hit a police car and then drove away. They chased him through the city before he finally pulled over. They say neither the headlights nor taillights were working, and besides that, he wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

An Olean couple is facing drug charges following a raid of their West Henley Street home late last night. The city police Street Crimes Unit found cocaine, prescription pills, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and cash when they executed a search warrant at 11 p.m. at the home rented by 29-year-old Thomas Stanczykowkski and his wife, 25-year-old Andrea Stanczykowski. Thomas is charged with two counts criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal possession of marijuana, all felonies. Andrea is charged with a misdemeanor count of criminal possession of a controlled substance. One police officer suffered a wrist injury when entering the house, and is expected to be off work for about a week. The Stanczykowskis will appear in Olean City Court at a later date. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Marienville woman suffered minor injuries in an accident this morning in Elk County. State police say 49-year-old Sheryl Armstrong was on Route 948 just west of Forest Road at around 9:30 this morning when her minivan went out of control on the snow-covered road, left the road, hit an embankment and ended up in a ditch. Armstrong was taken by Ridgway ambulance to Kane Community Hospital. She was cited for driving at an unsafe speed. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Rep. Tom Reed joined more than 50 colleagues today in the House of Representatives to send a letter to the White House urging the Administration to reconsider its decision to suspend its free, self-guided White House tours. According to the Administration, the decision to cancel tours was made in response to the sequester that went into effect March 1st. “At a time when all Americans are being asked to do more with less, the same should be asked of the White House,” Reed said. “We have cut our office budget by more than eight percent but remain committed to providing constituents with the same level of service, including public tours. “Following a campaign-style tour around the country using firemen, nurses and teachers as political props, the President is now using constituents to make a political point and denying them access to the Washington landmark,” Reed continued. “According to the New York Times, a $500,000 donation grants donors access to the White House and yet the ...

The man who threatened to blow up the ARG Refinery after he was fired by a subcontractor has been sentenced to 45 days to 18 months in McKean County Jail. 40-year-old John Rose was given credit for 81 days of time served. Back in December Rose tried to force his way into the front entrance of ARG on Kendall Avenue by kicking the door and throwing rocks at the glass. Before police got to ARG, Rose drove away and, when police caught up with him near the intersection of Williams Street and Rosedale Avenue, they had to order him at gunpoint to get onto the ground. He pleaded guilty last week. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Olean woman accused of selling a stolen iPhone is now charged with failing to appear in court to answer of the charge of criminal possession of stolen property. Sheriff’s deputies say 21-year-old Stephanie Cossairt sold the iPhone to the Game Stop store in the Town of Allegany on December 1. The iPhone was stolen from a vehicle in the City of Olean. She was arrested on the new charge late Wednesday afternoon, and sent to jail to await her next court appearance. Her sister, 20-year-old Samantha, is the woman accused of stealing from the Foster Brook Wal-Mart. She was picked up on a warrant from McKean County after allegedly stealing from the Allegany Wal-Mart. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

An Allegany man is facing charges in connection to an incident on Tuesday. Sheriff’s deputies charged 52-year-old Kenney Myles with harassment, endangering the welfare of a child, criminal obstruction of breathing and criminal mischief. They didn’t give any details about the incident. He is free on his own recognizance. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A 26-year-old Mount Jewett man who had a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl will spend the next 21 months to four years in prison. Justin Cornelius started having sex with the girl in March of last year, but had been kissing and hugging her since September of 2011. In July, the girl’s mother contacted police when she found graphic text messages describing a sexual relationship between her daughter and Cornelius. He pleaded guilty in November. Cornelius will also have to register as a sex offender under Megan’s law for the rest of his life. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

City of Bradford Police on Thursday looked into disturbances on West Corydon, West Washington, East Main, Clarence and Rochester streets, and at Kiwanis Court. They got reports of harassment from Holley Avenue and Chautauqua Place, criminal mischief on West Washington Street and a theft at Kiwanis Court. Officers were called to a domestic incident on School Street; investigated a person possibly driving under the influence of drugs on East Corydon Street; and looked into suspicious activity on Brookline Court. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Pennsylvania is going to do something this spring it has not done since 2009: spray for gypsy moths. The pests have stripped trees in at least 8 counties. Gypsy moth numbers are high enough in parts of Cameron, Clarion, Forest, Jefferson, Lycoming, Potter, Tioga and Venango Counties to warrant the spraying of more than 43 thousand acres of state forest, park and game lands, along with some private property. For more on this story go to PA Matters.com The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

By Tom Missel Director of Media Relations/Marketing ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. (March 7, 2013) -- For all the students and scholars who’ve opened the heavy wooden doors to enter Friedsam Memorial Library since 1938, an Allegany man who never attended the college crystallized in a few words the importance of the St. Bonaventure University landmark. “‘You know, Sister, have you ever looked at the steps of the library? They’re worn away. Think of the thousands of people who have crossed on those steps and all that they have done in this world,’” said Sr. Margaret Carney, O.S.F., now the university’s president but then just a faculty member as she recalled the encounter with her landlord. “‘Think of how many people have entered this place and all that they’ve learned.’ I never crossed the threshold of the library again without thinking of those words,” she said. She told several tales about the library’s significance during the 75th anniversary celebration held Thursday mornin...

Read more at Solomon's Words .

City of Bradford Police on Wednesday investigated reports of trespassing on Merrow Avenue and vandalism on Main Street. They also looked into a disturbance involving a juvenile on Chautauqua Place and a report of harassment by communication on Barbour Street. Officers were called about a hit and run on Forman Street, a possible DUI on Main Street and a public drunk on East Main Street. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A New York State trooper taking a dinner break came across a woman he eventually charged with driving while intoxicated. The trooper was pulling into the parking lot of a pizza shop when he noticed a car with its turn signal on stopped in the middle of Collins Road near the intersection with Route 62. After picking up his order from the pizza shop and talking to the owner, the trooper went back to his patrol car and noticed the other car was still in the middle of the road. He went to check on the driver, 54-year-old Cheryl Lamoreaux of Hamburg, and noticed a strong odor of alcohol in the car. He said Lamoreaux appeared lost and was having trouble answering simple questions. A breath test showed her blood alcohol content was .20 percent. She was charged with aggravated DWI and scheduled to appear in Collins Town Court. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The preliminary hearings for the Bradford couple who told police they turned to drug dealing to make ends meet have been continued. 42-year-old Michael Byerly and 40-year-old Susan Byerly were scheduled for hearings for today in Central Court, but those hearings have been moved to March 21. The Byerlys were arrested on drug charges after a search of their Burnside Avenue home turned up cocaine and marijuana packaged for sale, as well as a number of weapons, including an AK-47 style assault rifle. At the time of her arrest, Susan Byerly told police she and her husband were unemployed and turned to drug dealing to supplement their income. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

New York’s Assembly has voted to extend the moratorium on fracking in the state to 2015. Wednesday’s vote follows a bill introduced in the Senate which would put off the decision by Governor Andrew Cuomo on whether to allow the controversial drilling method in New York. Cuomo has said he will wait for recommendations from his health and environmental conservation departments, as well as the Geisinger health study from Pennsylvania, before making a decision. He has not set a deadline. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

UPDATE: The New York State Assessor's Office says Senator Young in fact did not "double dip" STAR tax relief. The North Greenbush home exemption was registered prior to her purchase. The Assessor's Office says it was an honest mistake by both parties. She has already paid the money back, with interest. It came to about $2,000. In a statement to the media, Young said she appreciates that assessor John Harkin came forward and verified the mistake. She also said she appreciates the support and encouragement she has received over the past couple of days, and added that she has tried to let this incident be too much of a distraction as she and other lawmakers work on the state budget. State Senator Cathy Young says she was unaware until over the weekend that she had been “double-dipping” into the STAR property tax exemption and she said it was her husband’s mistake. In a statement to the media Young said, "Like many families, my husband handles all of our fina...

A Kane woman who has battled various forms of cancer for the past 16 years is now fighting liver and brain cancer – and she has one wish besides getting well: She wants to be on the Ellen DeGeneres show. Brenda Emer's friends have started a Facebook page called “Let’s Get Brenda on the Ellen DeGeneres Show,” and they are hoping it gets enough attention to make that wish come true. You can find and like the page at www.facebook.com/getbrendaonellen . Brenda’s friends say her optimism shines through even after getting discouraging news for more than 16 years. She is a single mother to two teenagers, and desperately wants to share her story of survival with the world. Once again, you can go to www.facebook.com/getbrendaonellen . The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Glenn 'GT' Thompson, R-Howard, is one of two recipients, announced at this week’s Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) conference in Washington, of the National Policymaker of the Year Award. The award is presented annually by the ACTE Board of Directors to federal lawmakers who have made a significant impact on policy related to career and technical education programs. Thompson serves on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, which handles legislation affecting education and job training. Thompson is also currently serving his second term as the co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Career and Technical Education (CTE) Caucus where he has been active in numerous efforts to raise awareness of career and technical education in Congress. His fellow caucus co-chair, Representative Jim Langevin (D-RI), was the other honoree. “Representatives Langevin and Thompson have been outspoken supporters of Car...