Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

The longest day of the year will be an impactful one as well, with the United Way of the Bradford Area’s 4th Annual Live United Day of Action scheduled for Saturday, June 21st. The event, sponsored by American Refining Group and the Philo and Sarah Blaisdell Foundation, will focus on providing an interactive learning experience for young children by installing a Born Learning trail at Callahan Park. The trail will consist of 10 (12” by 24”) aluminum signs, placed throughout the park, and printed with engaging, early learning activities. Shapes, letters, and a 12’ hopscotch court will adorn the park’s sidewalks, which correspond with the signs’ activities. Although geared toward children up to age five, the trail also serves as a tool to help parents and caregivers find simple, yet clever ways, to incorporate education into a child’s daily life, beginning at the earliest possible stages. “I am excited for our organization to be able to offer this to our local community,” said Execut...

A man who threatened nurses at Bradford Manor and spit in the mouth of a police officer who was trying to take him into custody is headed to state prison. 44-year-old Shannon Shroyer of Eldred waved a pocket knife at nurses and inappropriately touched one of the nurses last August while he was a patient at the manor. Shroyer has hepatitis C, so the police officer had to be tested to see if he contracted it. He was sentenced to one to two years in prison but given credit for 264 days of time served. He has also been ordered to register as a sex offender. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The hemlock woolly adelgid has made its way to Allegany State Park. The NYS Parks Office says the invasive insect that kills hemlock trees was found by trained citizen scientist volunteers at two locations while performing area searches within the park. The find was confirmed by the State Department of Agriculture and Markets. The State Parks Office says it has taken steps to eliminate the hemlock woolly adelgid and will step up efforts to find additional infestations. The insect was on the Allegheny National Forest last year in the Tionesta Research Natural Area, Cook Forest and Clear Creek state parks this past spring, and near the Clarion and Allegheny rivers as well as Webbs Ferry. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

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The Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force found $8,500 worth of cocaine and $5,000 in cash during a search at an Allegany man’s house Thursday night. 30-year-old Thomas Stanczykowski is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance. Police also found scales and paraphernalia, a large quantity of pills and weapons. They say the arrest came after investigation of several months into the sale and trafficking of illegal drugs in the Allegany, Olean and Salamanca areas. They say more arrests are expected. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Two Port Allegany men are facing charges for breaking into Port Beverage early Wednesday morning and stealing a money bag. Police say 22-year-old David Hurd and 22-year-old Alexander Morris were identified through surveillance video posted on Facebook. They are in McKean County Jail on $20,000 bail each. The money bag had nearly $13,000 in cash and checks in it. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Smethport man who robbed Buchanan Brothers Pharmacy in Eldred in September will spend the next two to eight years in state prison. 30-year-old Adam Bachman stole 151 Oxycontin pills during the robbery. His co-defendant, 23-year-old Chase Lotter of Eldred, has already been sentenced for his part in the robbery. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Port Allegany woman who was driving the car during a crash that killed her best friend will spend 11 to 23 months in jail. 23-year-old Emily Schultz pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and DUI charges last month, and was sentenced Thursday in McKean County Court. In January of last year Schultz was driving on Fogels Crossing Road when she crashed the car that ended up on its roof in the Lower Portage Creek. Emily Schena of Port Allegany drowned in the creek after the crash. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A man is accused of breaking into a Bradford doctor’s house Wednesday night, watching him and a woman sleep and later threatening to kill them. Court papers say 28-year-old Lachlan Ross went to the home of Dr. Peter Vaccaro while he and Lindsay Shine were sleeping. Later, he said he watched them sleep and also moved Vaccaro’s pistol. He also sent a text message to Shine saying that if she and Vaccaro stayed together he would kill them both. Ross went back to the house later and told Vaccaro what he had done and where he moved the pistol. Vaccaro later told police that Ross had been in his house multiple times without invitation, according to court papers. Ross is in McKean County Jail on $40,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in McKean County Central Court next week. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Someone took money from the Borough of Emporium earlier this year, but no charges will be field. State police say the person took money from the borough building between January 16 and February 11 for personal use, but has since made restitution. The state police criminal investigation unit looked into the theft, but charges will not be filed because borough officials declined to prosecute. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Debbie Lunden will receive the Member of the Year Award during next week’s Pennsylvania Wilds awards dinner. Lunden has been on the Pennsylvania Wilds planning team since it was established in 2005, and retired earlier this year, but is still a team partner and remains involved with the team. Lunden served as McKean County Planning Director for 26 years, retiring in March. Besides her work with the Pennsylvania Wilds, she also volunteers with the Kinzua Bridge Foundation. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A 27-year-old Busti, New York, man is accused of having sex with a 16-year-old girl last summer. State police charged Michael Clark with rape following a lengthy investigation into the incident that happened in the Town of Kiantone. Clark is jailed on $25,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Police are looking into a case of forgery that happened at Charles Cole Memorial Hospital. They say between December 21 and April 30 a woman, who they did not identify, forged a document with the name of 19-year-old William Schoonover of Bradford. No further information was released. Troopers are continuing their investigation. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Two convicted sex offenders from Wellsville have been charged for not registering with state police. 28-year-old Timothy Lewis was convicted of rape for having sex with a 15-year-old girl in 2008. 55-year-old Richard Foster was convicted of sodomy for having sexual contact with a 14-year-old in May of 2000. Both men are awaiting further court action. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Port Allegany man is facing charges for hitting a woman early this morning. Police say 21-year-old Steven Crabb Jr. was arguing with the 22-year-old woman on North Brooklynside Road in the borough when he pushed her and hit her in the arm. Police say harassment charges are pending. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A dead body was found Tuesday in Cattaraugus County Creek in the Town of Perrysburg, and authorities believe it is a Gowanda woman who has been missing since December. The body has been tentatively identified as 58-year-old Kimberly Millitello, who was last seen by her husband on December 22 in their home. State police say a fisherman found the body, and then called Seneca Nation Marshals. Due to the location of the body, the state police SCUBA and aviation units were called to remove the body from the fast-moving creek. The body has been taken to the Erie County Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy. NY State Police photo The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A former Bradford man is facing charges for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl he met online. 25-year-old Robert Magee, who now lives in Hinsdale, New York, met the girl on the social networking site MeetMe.com in November and arranged a meeting, according to papers filed in District Judge Dominic Cercone’s office. Magee picked the girl up and took her to his South Center Street home, where he had sex with her. He is charged with statutory sexual assault and indecent assault of a person younger than 16. He’s free on unsecured bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

HARRISBURG – Working to ensure the survival of the state’s conventional oil and gas industries, Reps. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint), Kathy Rapp (R-Warren) and Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk) will soon introduce legislation requiring separate regulations for conventional and unconventional drilling operations. “Conventional drilling is, without question, far different than drilling in the Marcellus Shale, and it simply makes no sense to apply the same standards to these operations,” Causer said. “Regulations being proposed because of Marcellus drilling could easily put the state’s smaller producers out of business, and that would be devastating to our rural areas where these businesses provide good, family-sustaining jobs.” Rapp agreed. “The bureaucrats who write these regulations have demonstrated a serious lack of understanding about how shallow well drilling differs from drilling in the Marcellus, and that could have dire consequences for our local producers and the thousands ...

CARE for Children was honored for achieving the Seal of Excellence by successfully completing the Standards for Excellence® recertification program through the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO) during a special recognition ceremony at PANO’s Annual Conference. Standards certification represents that CARE has demonstrated a deep commitment to organizational wellness and a high standard of accountability throughout their operations and governance. Executive Director Tina M. Martin and Pediatric Therapy Services Director Ashley Carlson, MOT, OTR/L, accepted the certificate, where CARE was honored in a lunchtime ceremony along with five other Pennsylvania Community Benefit Organizations achieving the Seal of Excellence. Allen Kukovich, Chair of Smart Growth, served as Master of Ceremonies. Allen also served in the PA General Assembly for 27 years representing Westmoreland County. Ms. Martin served as the peer speaker during the luncheon at the conference, a...

NIAGARA FALLS and SALAMANCA, N.Y. – The area’s best summer entertainment series keeps getting better. New additions to the all-star Summer Rush 2014 lineup for Seneca Casinos include an outdoor concert by ZZ Top with Jeff Beck at Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel on Labor Day weekend, Survivor at Seneca Allegany Events Center on Independence Day weekend, and Air Supply in August at Seneca Niagara Events Center. Two new shows – Scott Stapp: The Voice of Creed and Los Lobos – also come to the intimate Bear’s Den Showroom this summer. Finally, Seneca Casinos is already thinking ahead to fall with September bookings of country singer-songwriter Kellie Pickler and comedian Brian Regan. ZZ Top with Jeff Beck to Perform Outdoors in Salamanca During its 10 years of success, Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel regularly hosted outdoor concerts until the opening of Seneca Allegany Events Center in March 2008. This summer, the spirit of the past returns in full force with an outdoor perfo...

The fire at International Waxes (Petrowax) on Sunday has been ruled accidental, but a monetary damage estimate has not been determined yet. State Police Fire Marshal Greg Agosti says the explosion and resulting fire started in the filter house, which was significantly damaged. A smaller building was destroyed and five other buildings on the property now have moderate structural damage. One employee was hurt in the explosion. He was treated for his injuries and then released. No emergency responders were hurt. A team of five state police fire marshals and four agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Pittsburgh completed the investigation and say there are no suspicious circumstances. Agosti adds that there is not a threat to the environment or area surrounding the facility as a result of the incident. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Tune in to 1490 WESB at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday to hear Tom & Susan tell their story. By SANDY RHODES There’s something about Matthew Whelan. The now 8-year-old sprite from Bradford was born with spina bifida and although he has been in a wheelchair, he commanded the attention of those in any room he entered. He reached out to people and could make them smile. “Matthew wanted people to see him for who he was inside despite his disability,” said his mother, Susan Whelan- Bruno. “Matthew understood what the most important thing in life is and that is people are here to spread love to one another and he knew that.” And that was just what Matthew did, whether it was a trip to Dairy Queen, attending church or his involvement in midget football or the Boys Youth Basketball League. “Matthew was full of so much energy. He absolutely loves people,” his father, Tom Whelan said. “He loved to play catch with a ball and had a really strong arm. “He had so many friends I had no idea wh...