Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Futures Rehabilitation Center clients Tom Miller, Ashley Peterson and Mike Walter have been selected as the United Way of the Bradford Area’s 2014 Excellence in Representation honorees. The trio were part of the Speaker’s Bureau for the 2013 campaign, but have long-been volunteers and advocates for the local United Way. “I am so happy to be able to recognize my three friends with this honor,” said Executive Director Mandi Wilton Davis. “Between them, they spoke at 25% of our workplace presentations, and were able to tell their personal stories to more than 300 people. “Everyone to whom they spoke walked away with a better understanding of not only the relationship between Futures and the United Way, but the importance of continuing to give to the annual campaign to ensure that they and their peers could continue their jobs at the workshop.” Tom, who is a Bradford native, has been at Futures for 44 years, and has been a member of the Speaker’s Bureau for the past five. “A favorite...

The United Way of the Bradford Area will honor Lisa Minich with the Red Feather volunteer award at a luncheon on Thursday, May 1, officials announced today. “Lisa is the perfect example of ‘once they’re in, they’re in for life,’ said Executive Director Mandi Wilton Davis. “She began her volunteer efforts as a member of the campaign cabinet back in the mid-1980’s, and when family and work obligations required her to step back from her campaign involvement, she remained a constant advocate. She re-joined the campaign cabinet in 2011 as co-chair of the Leadership Division, which this year saw a 17% increase in contributions,” said Davis. The Red Feather award was implemented to honor outstanding individuals and/or businesses who have made an impact on United Way, and the local community as a whole, through their day-to-day selfless attitude and commitment to exemplify the organization’s mission of enhancing the quality of life in the greater Bradford area. Minich, a Bradford native, ...

Indecent assault and harassment charges against Dr. Abaz Sosic have been bound to McKean County Court following a preliminary hearing this morning. The hearing was originally scheduled for next Wednesday, but was held at 10 a.m. today in front of District Judge Dominic Cercone, according to information obtained by WESB. Sosic is accused of inappropriately touching an intern in his office in January and a patient in 2012. He is also accused of making inappropriate comments to them. Sosic is free after posting $15,000 bail for each case. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Moments to Remember, CARE for Children and Jeannine Schoenecker were recognized during Thursday's annual Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting. Moments to Remember received the Exemplary Business Award, CARE for Children received the Community & Spirit Award. Schoenecker received the Director's Award and talked about the importance of paying it forward. Pictured, from left, BACC Executive Director Ron Orris, Chamber President Ann Robinson, Moments to Remember owner Laurie Pritz Lindstrom, American Refining Group President Jeannine Schoenecker, CARE for Children Executive Director Tina Martin and Chamber First Vice President Tim Asinger. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A new program at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will offer $1,000 scholarships to qualifying high school students currently enrolled in its College in the High School courses. The $1,000 award is in addition to other merit awards that a student may receive and is renewable for up to four years. Qualifying students must have a 2.5 grade point average in the Pitt-Bradford courses they’ve taken through College in the High School in order to qualify. “With college costs rising across the nation, we know that affordability and quality are of prime concern to students and their families,” said Dr. Livingston Alexander, president. “At Pitt-Bradford, we’ve partnered with local schools in our College in the High School program to ensure that students across our region have access to the best in higher education.” College in the High School courses through Pitt-Bradford are offered in 18 school districts in north central and northwestern Pennsylva...

St. Bonaventure University will observe Holocaust Remembrance Day with a memorial service at 7 p.m. Monday, April 7, in the University Chapel, Doyle Hall. The public is invited. Guest speaker at the Holocaust Remembrance Service will be Dr. Robert Reginio, an associate professor of English at Alfred University. Reginio received his doctorate from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, under the direction of Holocaust scholar James E. Young and has published and presented research on representations of the Holocaust in film and literature. He teaches a popular course on the Holocaust and Literature at Alfred and is working with a student there on a documentary film, incorporating the audio testimony of a Holocaust survivor from Mielec, Poland, and photographs of pre-war Jewish life salvaged and originating from the town. Also during the service, St. Bonaventure senior Makeda Loney will be presenting a poem that she is writing for this occasion, and music selections will be...

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will hold several events to mark Sexual Assault Awareness Month. On April 8, “Not for Sale,” which addresses human trafficking, will be held from 11 a.m. to noon in the Harriett B. Wick Chapel. The event is being organized by Nicolette Kellogg, a criminal justice major from Cuba, N.Y., who will also make an educational presentation. Participants can also sign a banner to end slavery and take part in a march around campus to raise awareness of human trafficking and slavery. The public is invited. In addition to her studies as part of the criminal justice program, Kellogg traveled to Denmark last summer to study human trafficking as a Vira I. Heinz scholar. According to the Polaris Project, there are 27 million people in modern-day slavery across the world, and one million children are exploited by the global commercial sex trade each year. In the United States, the average age of entry into pro...

City of Bradford Police on Thursday investigated an assault on Main Street, as well as a theft and a hit and run, both on West Washington Street. Officers were also called about a public drunk on Davis Street and a Disturbance on Lorana Avenue. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

In response to the thousands of messages received from forlorn owners of lost Zippo lighters, the eponymous maker of iconic windproof lighters today announces the launch of www.ShareThePain.com . Through this new online community consumers can interact with the brand and share the sadness of having to live without their Zippo lighters. Losing a Zippo lighter is exceedingly common, and it takes an emotional toll. A recent survey by Zippo found that 68 percent of Zippo lighter owners in the United States have lost their lighter. Complete details can be found here: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/7161251-zippo-launches-online-community-for-owners-of-lost-lighters-sharethepain The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

State College – Pennsylvania’s transportation plan, Act 89, is helping clear the way for the start of 51 projects in PennDOT’s North Central and South Central regions, District Executives Kevin Kline and Thomas A. Prestash said today. PennDOT Districts 2 and 9 hosted a briefing to outline details of regional projects made possible by Act 89, signed into law in November. Governor Tom Corbett announced today that statewide, more than $2.1 billion in highway and bridge projects will begin in 2014, $600 million more than what would have been available without Act 89. More than 250 of roughly 900 projects are beginning this year due to Act 89. Kline noted that with Act 89, 51 additional projects will start this year across the 15 counties in Districts 2 and 9 and said “We can make significant progress on our regional bridge, highway and transit needs with these new resources. We are excited to move these projects forward in 2014.” Those projects include: • Complete roadway resurfacing ...

Members of what police are calling a burglary ring in McKean County may have also stolen items from Warren County and pawned them in the Jamestown area. Police say 20-year-old Garrett Hoy of Smethport is the ringleader of the group that also includes 20-year-oldTrevor Elder, 29-year-old Adam Bachman, 24-year-old Nathan Hoy and 20-year-old Austin Tankersley, all of Smethport, 19-year-old Cameron Causer of Crosby and 19-year-old Mark Schneider of Port Allegany. In February, we reported that 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. Police now believe a dirt bike that was stolen in McKean County on December 28 was traded to someone in Conewango Township in Warren County who didn’t know it was stolen. They also believe they sold or traded items in the Jamestown area. Anyone who bought items from any of these men is asked to contact Trooper Mary Gausman a...

Someone kidnapped a dog from inside a Turtlepoint barn over the weekend. State police say someone went into Wayne Stambaugh’s barn on Long Hollow Road sometime between Friday and Sunday and took a Walker Coon Hound named Sally, who has a white rectangle on her back. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact Kane-based state police. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A nurse who worked with pediatric patients at Olean General Hospital has pleaded guilty to child pornography charges. Willie Reid was charged after his home computer was seized in May of 2013. He had more than 600 images and videos of children involved in sex acts, some younger than 12. Some of the acts depicted violence as well. Reid was suspended from his job after charges were filed. He faces 10 years in prison when he’s sentenced in August. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A State police fire marshal is investigating a fire at a camp in Elk County Wednesday afternoon. The fire destroyed the single story camp on Camp Road in Jones Township, owned by Robert Wenner of St. Marys. Damage is estimated at $100,000. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

An Allegany native and graduate of St. Bonaventure University was one of 16 people injured in a shooting at Fort Hood in Texas on Wednesday that left four people dead, including the gunman. US Army Major Patrick Miller, a two-time combat veteran had surgery Wednesday night. During a news conference late this morning, doctors at the hospital where the injured people are being treated said three are in critical condition; five are in fair condition; the rest are in good condition and some may be released today. They didn't give the names of the people when talking about their conditions. Miller was in the ROTC at St. Bonaventure and graduated in 2003. He graduated from Allegany-Limestone High School in 1999. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Portville man is in jail for breaking into a home, and then pushing and choking his ex-girlfriend. State Police say 29-year-old Timothy Hammond went into the home at Route 417 at about 6 o’clock Tuesday night, had a physical confrontation with the resident and attacked his ex-girlfriend. She wasn’t hurt, but the other person was treated for a nasal injury at Olean General Hospital and then released. Hammond was sent to Cattaraugus County Jail on $5,000 bail. He’s scheduled to appear in Town of Portville Court tomorrow. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Bradford woman is in jail for selling 720 painkillers to an informant with the McKean County Drug Task Force. 53-year-old Kim Giordano is accused of selling the pills for $6,000 in a parking lot at the intersection of Route 346 and Stickney Trail. She was sent to the McKean County Jail on $150,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Bradford man is accused of making threats to employees at Tasta Pizza in a dispute over an order, and charging at a police officer who tried to arrest him. 44-year-old Gerard Young called the restaurant at least 37 times and yelled and swore at the person who answered the phone, according to court papers. This also prevented them from taking orders over the phone. When police tried to arrest Young, he struggled, screamed and swore, and then charged at an officer, with his hand moving toward the officer’s face. Young was sent to McKean County Jail on $10,000 bail. He is scheduled to appear in Central Court on April 10. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

He talked about a number of issues including the local community college initiative, game commission concerns -- including deer management -- Payment in Lieu of Taxes, and more. Listen here . The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

By Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter) A high school graduate who just barely made it through, or one who wants to go to a state university and can’t afford it. A working parent who wants to learn the skills needed to obtain a better paying job. A displaced worker or veteran in need of retraining to get back into the workforce. A small employer looking for skilled workers to support an expansion of his or her business. Community colleges are a great option for all of these people…unless, of course, they live in rural Pennsylvania. A 2011 study by the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee found community college services lacking in 25 of the state’s 26 rural counties. Nearly every other state in the nation provides statewide coverage by community colleges, no doubt because their leaders understand the vital role these institutions play in helping to meet the demand for increasing and ever-changing workforce skills. When Pennsylvania’s community ...

A federal judge has dismissed a Wellsville man’s claims that he owns half of Facebook. Late last week Judge Richard Arcara granted the motions of Facebook and its founder Mark Zuckerberg to dismiss claims by Paul Ceglia. In 2010 Ceglia claimed he had a contract with Zuckerberg that gave him half ownership in the multi-billion dollar company. Zuckerberg had said all along he had a contract with Ceglia but it had nothing to do with Facebook. Two years ago federal authorities charged Ceglia for altering and fabricating documents, and destroying evidence, in an attempt to defraud Facebook and Zuckerberg. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

One of the men charged in the New Year’s Eve sweep by the McKean County Drug Task Force is facing another drug charge. 35-year-old Justin Jones was arraigned Tuesday afternoon for having 13 Percocet pills he didn’t have a prescription for back on December 17. Police found the pills in a cigarette pack during a traffic stop for an expired registration after Jones consented to a search. In the drug task force case, Jones is accused of selling Suboxone from his Hedgehog Lane home. On the new charge, he’s jailed on $10,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A man who sold heroin in Olean has been sentenced to 5 years’ probation. 46-year-old Phillip Boudreaux, who has no known address, sold the heroin on January 11 of last year. A Buffalo man has pleaded not guilty in Cattaraugus County Court to selling a narcotic drug. Prosecutors say Lawrence Smith sold the drugs on May 9 and July 10 in Olean. His case has been adjourned for motions, according to information provided to WESB by the Cattaraugus County DA's office. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Little Valley man has pleaded not guilty to rape and other charges. 45-year-old Robert Case is accused of breaking into a Town of New Albion building on January 31 and raping a person. Case is also charged with burglary, assault, strangulation and unlawful imprisonment. His case has been adjourned for motions, according to information sent to WESB by the Cattaraugus County DA's office. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947