Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Seven schools in the 25th Senatorial District have been selected by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to receive Pennsylvania school safety grants, according to Senator Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson). The grants being awarded today are for the Safe School Initiatives Program. The funding will be used by educational institutions to establish and implement plans to prevent and reduce incidents of violence. Each of the schools selected in the 25th Senatorial District will receive the maximum grant award of $25,000. “Ensuring that students and teachers feel safe in their learning environments is a crucial part of helping children to learn and succeed,” Scarnati stated. “I am very pleased that seven area schools have been selected to receive this grant funding. Across Pennsylvania each school’s safety needs are unique, which this program recognizes by allowing local school officials to determine how best to use the grants to protect our children.” Scarnati explained that ...

Gov. Tom Corbett has signed a death warrant ordering a man be executed for the rape and murder of a 2-year-old Clearfield County girl in 1988. 55-year-old Stephen Rex Edmiston has maintained his innocence since he was convicted in 1989 in the abduction of Bobbi Jo Matthew from her home. The death warrant sets the execution for April 16, but more appeals are likely and that would push the date back. News Details The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

In bringing greater attention to the issue of pet overpopulation, Rep. Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Sullivan/Susquehanna) is reminding pet owners about World Spay Day on Tuesday, Feb. 25. “Spaying and neutering pets has proven to be an effective means to control the pet population,” said Pickett. “The costs of managing the pet overpopulation have risen for both local governments and animal welfare organizations. The more we can raise awareness of making sure our pets are spayed or neutered will help control this population in the longer term.” The House is expected to formally recognize the day with House Resolution 650, which was introduced in the chamber on Feb. 18. World Spay Day is an effort by veterinarians, animal care and control organizations, national and local animal welfare organizations, and private individuals to raise awareness and encourage pet owners to have their pets spayed or neutered and/or to support programs in the community to offer accessible services. ...

The Bradford man charged with the burglaries at St. Bernard’s Church and The Farm Family Restaurant is behind bars. On Monday city police released 19-year-old Derek Steck’s name and picture, after filing burglary and other charges against him for those burglaries, as well as break-ins at the First Presbyterian Church and The Learning Center Steck was arraigned late this afternoon and sent to McKean County Jail on a total of $150,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

By Susan Anderson Charles and Lorraine Joyce embodied the meaning of commitment. Married for nearly 64 years until Charles’ passing in June 2013, they worked hard and helped countless others. Now their strong legacy will live on at St. Bonaventure University through a newly established scholarship that bears their names. Beginning this fall, the Charles H. and Lorraine Hyland Joyce Endowed Scholarship will be awarded annually to a deserving student from an Allegany County school district. The Joyce family has donated the funds to establish the endowed scholarship. They are committed to continuing their parents’ tradition of offering a helping hand where needed and giving back to the place the couple loved most — Allegany County. “We are all very emotionally connected to, strongly grounded in, and committed to Allegany County and want to help others who grew up there,” said daughter Teresa Joyce, who is a 1981 graduate of St. Bonaventure and a former faculty member in the...

Senior Judge John M. Cleland, who has earned a reputation in the region and throughout Pennsylvania for his unwavering fairness and strong commitment to juvenile justice during his 30 years on bench, will address the graduating class at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford in April. Cleland, who is also a member and past chairman of the university’s Advisory Board and a Kane native, will deliver the keynote address during commencement exercises Sunday, April 27, in the KOA Arena in the Richard E. and Ruth McDowell Sport and Fitness Center. “It is a distinct honor for our university to have John Cleland address our graduates, particularly during this milestone year as we celebrate our 50th anniversary,” said Dr. Livingston Alexander, Pitt-Bradford’s president. “Though he is well-respected throughout Pennsylvania, he has never forgotten his small-town roots, which will enable him to offer practical and valuable advice to our graduates and their families.” ...

One of the men charged in the burglary at Pizza Napoli early Sunday morning has waived his preliminary hearing; the hearing for the other has been moved to April 9. 20-year-old Kyle Foster Colosimo of Bradford, who waived his hearing, was allegedly found hiding inside the building. 20-year-old Alexander Pfeifer of Saylorsburg was allegedly acting as a lookout. Both men are charged with burglary, criminal trespass, criminal mischief and underage drinking. They are free after posting bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A burglary investigation spanning two counties has led to weapons charges against seven people. State police say they recovered seven guns that were stolen as part of this investigation that started after a burglar in the Town of Alma is September. They also found two more guns from other crimes. They also recovered some electronics that were stolen. The total value of the stolen property is estimated at $3,000. 26-year-old Jamie Clark and 19-year-old Bryent Scotchmer, both of Wellsville, and 18-year-old Sara Morse of Andover, are each charged with burglary and criminal possession of stolen property for breaking into a house and stealing the guns and electronics. Clark is also charged with criminal possession of a weapon because a previous conviction precludes him from having a weapon. 25-year-old Casey Reynolds is charged with criminal possession of stolen property for selling a stolen gun to another person. 38-year-old Russell Irvin of Alma is charged with criminal possession of s...

A Lewis Run man is accused of going into a 69-year-old man’s apartment and punching her. State police say 29-year-old Brian Wedge was drunk at 10:30 last night when he went into the man’s apartment without permission and punched him, causing lumps on the back of his head and other small cuts and abrasions. The assault ended in the public hallway/common area of the apartment complex when a neighbor intervened. Wedge is charged with burglary, criminal trespass and simple assault. He’s free on $10,000 unsecured bail and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on March 6. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

State police have recovered what appear to be the remains of a man who was working at a natural gas pad in southwestern Pennsylvania when it caught on fire. 27-year-old Ian McKee, who is originally from Warren, had been missing since the fire and explosion last week in Greene County. The remains have been taken to the county coroner’s office for positive identification. McKee had been living in Morgantown, West Virginia. He leaves behind a fiancé who is pregnant with their child. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Police say a Bradford man has confessed to setting two fires on December 17 and is charged in connection to two more fires last month. 21-year-old Harvey Rose, who is also facing charges after his two-week-old baby was burned by bath water earlier this month, told police he started fires at 8 Thompson Avenue and 10 Congress Place, according to papers filed in District Judge Dominic Cercone’s office. Rose is also accused of setting a fire at 125 West Washington Street on January 8 because he was upset with a resident he says owed him money and wanted to scare her. Surveillance video from Oxley’s Service Center captured Rose riding a bicycle to and from the scene. He is also charged in connection to a fire at an apartment building at 338 East Main Street on January 11. 25-year-old Jeremiah Smith of Bradford is also charged in connection to that fire. Smith and Rose each told police that the other man started the fire. Surveillance video from the nearby Kwik Fill gas station shows the...

Jo "Tootsie" Nuzzo, 75, a loving mother and grandmother, of 468 West Washington St. Bradford, passed away Tuesday, February 18, 2014, suddenly, in Bradford Regional Medical Center. Born October 19, 1938, in Bradford, she was the only child of the late Louis and Marian (Bizzaro) Luzzi. She was a 1956 graduate of St. Bernard School. On April 30, 195,9 in St. Bernard Church she married Louis Nuzzo who preceded her in death. She was employed as a tax preparer at H&R Block for 40 years. She was a lifetime member of St. Bernard Church, a longtime member and recorder of TOPS Local #10, Jo was very involved for the last 15 years in the American Cancer Society and was the Relay for Life Team Captain for the team "A Bunch of Friends". She enjoyed knitting and crafts. Surviving are four children, Lucy Nuzzo, of Bradford, Al (Stephanie) Nuzzo, of Waldorf MD, and twins Louis (Barb) Nuzzo of Olean and Mary Ann (Mark) Anderson of Bradford, four grandchild...

PITTSBURGH -- The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is fining Halliburton Energy Services $1.8 million for 255 violations of the Solid Waste Management Act between 1999 and 2011. DEP became aware of the violations in 2011 during an inspection of the facility, and further investigation revealed violations dating back to 1999. “Our regulations are in place to protect the health and safety of our residents and to preserve our environmental resources,” DEP Secretary Chris Abruzzo said. “Halliburton’s repeated disregard of these regulations is unacceptable.” The violations occurred when the company, at its Homer City facility in Indiana County, stored, treated and transported waste hydrochloric acid without obtaining proper permits from DEP. During the 12-year time period, Halliburton transported acidic waste, which had originated from various gas well sites, without identifying the waste as “hazardous waste,” without proper hazardous waste trucking records, and without usin...

The US Marine Corps this morning named a building at the Marine Corps Ground Training Center in Twentynine Palms, California, the Corporal Jason L. Dunham Memorial Mess Hall, for the Scio, New York, native who died after saving the lives of his fellow Marines in Iraq back in 2004. Dunham was on patrol when his unit was attacked by insurgents, one of whom released a hand grenade. Dunham covered the grenade with his helmet and body, saving several other men. He died eight days later. A post office and a guided missile destroyer have also been named for Dunham and, in 2007, his number was retired by the Don Raabe Big 30 All-Star Charities Classic Committee. He played in the game after his senior year of high school. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

UPDATE: Hearing moved to April 9. Dr. Abaz Sosic was arraigned this morning on charges of indecent assault and harassment. Sosic is accused of inappropriately touching an intern in his office last month and a patient in 2012. He is also accused of making inappropriate comments to them. Although members of an online group supporting Sosic had planned on showing their support in person this morning in front of District Judge Dominic Cercone’s office, none of them showed up, mostly because of the weather. Sosic is free after posting $15,000 bail for each case. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for 9:30 Thursday in McKean County Central Court. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

City police believe they know who broke into at least two Bradford churches, The Learning Center and The Farm Family Restaurant last month. Warrants have been issued for 19-year-old Derek Steck, who is about 5 feet four inches tall with a thin build and weighs about 160 pounds. You can see pictures of him on our Facebook page and blog. The burglary spree started with The Learning Center, where $200 and some personal checks were taken. At St. Bernard’s Church between $20 and $50 was missing from a donation box. At the First Presbyterian Church nothing was taken but a screen was pulled away from a small window, which was pushed open. About $700 was taken from The Farm. Fingerprints taken from The Learning Center and The Farm matched Steck’s. During their investigation two people told police Steck had told them about the break-ins and had “wads” of cash on him. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Penn State’s board of trustees has picked a new president. 62-year-old Eric Barron will replace Rodney Erickson, who announced his plans to retire. Barron’s contract starts May 12 and runs through June 30, 2019. His salary will be $800,000 a year. Baron comes from Florida State, where he spent four years. But he had previously been at Penn State from 1986 to 2006 and headed the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences for four years. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Richard P. “Zink” Gigliotti, 85, of Olean, passed away on Friday, February 14, 2014 at the Olean General Hospital. He was born on October 22, 1928 in Bradford, a son of the late Peter and Catherine Brown Gigliotti. He attended St. Bonaventure Catholic Church. He was a United States Army veteran stationed in Germany during the Korean War. He was employed by St. Bonaventure University as an athletic trainer for twenty five years; while working for the university Mr. Gigliotti attended various sports training clinics around the country. In 1994 he was voted into the St. Bonaventure University Hall of Fame. He is survived by one sister, Betty (Don) Comilla of Duke Center and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents he was also preceded in death by two brothers and five sisters. Visitation will be held on Monday, February 17, 2014 at the Mascho Funeral Home, Inc. from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:...

State police are looking for more victims of a burglary and theft ring operating in and around McKean County. The men accused of operating the ring are Trevor Elder, Adam Bachman, Cameron Causer, Mark Schneider, Nathan Hoy, Garrett Hoy and Austin Tankersley. Police are asking anyone who bought items from any of these to contact them because there’s a possibility the items were stolen. Among the items stolen were chainsaws, ATVs and dirt bikes, and they were taken from the Borough of Smethport as well as Keating, Liberty, Norwich and Annin townships. Arrests have been made in some of the crimes are more arrests are pending. Anyone who has had business transactions with one or more of the suspects is asked to contact Trooper Mary Gausman at 814-778-5555. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Two men are in jail for a burglary at Pizza Napoli at just after midnight on Sunday. City police were called for a burglary in progress and found a broken window in back of the building and 20-year-old Alexander Pfeifer of Saylorsburg acting as a lookout. He ran away, but police caught up with him a few blocks away. 20-year-old Kyle F. Colosimo of Bradford was hiding inside the building, and was taken into custody as well. Police learned the pair broke the window with a cinder block and, once inside the budding, move a safe in attempt to steal the money inside of it. Both men are charged with felony charges of burglary and criminal trespass, as well as criminal mischief and underage drinking. Their bail was set at $10,000 each. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947