Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Members of the "Will's Warriors" Relay for Life team are some of the hundreds of people raising money for the American Cancer Society today during the annual relay at Pitt-Bradford. Anyone can stop by to partake of the food court, enter to win prizes or just support the participants. As for Will's Warriors -- They are relaying for 10-year-old Will Cross Jr., who is battling cancer. A benefit for Will and his family starts at noon Sunday at the American Legion in Limestone. It includes a chicken barbecue dinner with baked beans, salad, roll, salt potatoes for $8. Take outs are available. They will also have live bands all day, drawings and more. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

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The stepmother of one of the Backstreet Boys is in Chautauqua County Jail, charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs. 39-year-old Ginger Carter of Mayville was stopped at just before 7 o’clock last night in Chautauqua when police were responding to another incident and saw that she failed to use a turn signal. During the traffic stop they discovered she was impaired by drugs. Because she was convicted of a DWI-related offense within the past 10 years, this is a felony. Carter, who married Robert Carter in 2004, appeared on "House of Carters" in 2006 with her stepson Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Cattaraugus County man trying to keep his son out of trouble got himself into it. State police say they stopped Chad Perrington for speeding on McKinstry Road Yorkshire and learned he had a suspended driver’s license. During the traffic stop Perrington’s father 45-year-old Scott Perrington of Delevan showed up and attempted to stop the trooper from completing the investigation. The father was warned numerous times, but still chose to interfere. Scott Perrington was charged with obstruction of governmental administration and sent to Cattaraugus County Jail on $500 cash bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A new book coedited by Marietta Frank, director of Hanley Library at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, explores how internationalism is presented in children’s series. The book, “Internationalism in Children’s Series,” includes chapters on stories about children’s “grand tour” of Europe, girls’ culture and depictions of the British Empire in Victorian girls’ magazines, 20th-century children’s literature series and modern favorites such as J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. The book is part of the Critical Approaches to Children’s Literature series published by Palgrave Macmillan of interest to those who teach and study children’s literature. Frank co-edited with Karen Sands-O’Connor, a professor of English at SUNY Buffalo State College. Frank contributed a chapter comparing two authors who sought to advance the cause of world friendship by writing books about children living in countries outside of the United States in the first half of ...

Anne Gingerich, Pennsylvania Association of NonProfit Organizations (PANO) New Executive Director, visited with Leaders from Local-Nonprofit Organizations on Wednesday at the Ashley Booth Griffin CARE for Children Center in Bradford. When Gingerich became the new Executive Director for the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO) in December of 2013, she immediately started reaching out to people in communities around Pennsylvania to listen and learn about their strengths, resources and needs. The event was hosted by The Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce, CARE for Children and The United Way of the Bradford Area, Inc; and also attended by representatives from the YMCA of the Twin Tiers, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services, Evergreen Elm, The Bradford Area Public Library, McKean County Department of Human Services, The Nonprofit Partnership of Erie, PA and board members from area non-profits. According to PANO officials, the event was part of PANO’s Listening Tour, wh...

One of the alleged bath salt sellers who was picked up last week after the car she was in broke down in Kane has waived her preliminary hearing. Lori Lee Grotzinger of St. Marys is facing dozens of drug charges after police found drugs and paraphernalia in the car. She’s free on unsecured bail. The hearing for her co-defendant Scott Yanak has been moved to next Thursday in McKean County Central Court. Besides the drug charges, he is also charged with flight to avoid apprehension, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct for running from police while they were doing field sobriety tests on Grotzinger. Yanak is jailed on $40,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The man charged in a fatal Memorial Day weekend crash near Port Allegany was scheduled to be in McKean County Central Court today, but his preliminary hearing has been moved to next month. 31-year-old Jerver Fernandez of Luzerne County is charged with homicide by vehicle and homicide by vehicle white DUI for the May 24 crash on Route 6 about two miles east of Port Allegany. Police say his pickup truck crossed the center line and hit a car driven by 27-year-old Robert Bowes head-on. Bowes was pronounced dead at the scene. Fernandez is free on $25,000 unsecured bail. The new hearing date is July 28. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Police are investigating what appears to be an attempted murder and suicide in Chautauqua County. Sheriff’s deputies got a 9-1-1 call saying a woman with a gunshot wound to the head showed up at a home on Route 5 in Westfield. Deputies learned that a man was involved in the incident and was still in the area. While searching the area of Barcelona Beach and Marina police heard a gunshot from the area of the break wall and shore of Lake Erie, and then found 38-year-old Sam Reynolds of Lancaster, New York, dead from a single gunshot to the head. The woman, 29-year-old Nichole Sheehan, also of Lancaster, is currently in critical condition at UPMC Hamot. Deputies say the couple was in Barcelona to celebrate Sheehan’s birthday. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

WARREN — William J. Wagner, president and CEO of Northwest, and Steven G. Fisher, executive vice president of Banking Services of Northwest, accepted a trophy on behalf of the bank to commemorate the 2014 J.D. Power Award for highest in customer satisfaction in retail banking in the Mid-Atlantic Region. This is the fourth trophy presented to Northwest in the last five years. The bank received the award in 2010, 2011 and 2012. Congratulating the crowd, Mr. Fisher said, “I am very proud of our company. This award is a testament to our talented team and our desire to provide quality and value to the customers we serve. Our goal is to continue to push for excellence in consistent, superior service.” J.D. Power Director of Financial Services Daniel Murphy said, “I’m happy to bring the J.D. Power Award back to its rightful place in Warren, PA. Once again, Northwest proved its commitment to the customer. This award confirms that Northwest is the bank where people make the d...

Charges against the Bradford man who was driving a car that crashed on Euclid Avenue in March injuring six people, three seriously, have been bound to McKean County Court following a preliminary hearing in front of District Judge Rich Luther. 22-year-old Matthew Herbstritt is charged with aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, recklessly endangering another person, corruption of minors, DUI and possession of drug paraphernalia. On the afternoon of March 9 Herbstritt was allegedly speeding on Euclid when his car went out of control and hit a tree. The charges were filed in May. Herbstritt is in McKean County Jail on $30,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

City of Bradford Police are investigating a sexual assault that was reported this morning on Clinton Street. Police also investigating an assault on Davis Street, a theft from an automobile on High Street, criminal mischief on Hobson Place and trespassing on Cornen Street. Officers were called to motor vehicle accidents at North Center and Barbour streets and on East Main Street. They also received reports about disturbances on Bushnell and West Washington streets and suspicious activity on Forman and Congress streets and on Rockland Avenue. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Kane – Work to rehabilitate a section of Route 321 in McKean County will feature a detour, starting Tuesday. The detour is necessary so that full depth reclamation work can take place on the roadway without traffic disruptions. Route 321 will be closed from Route 59 south to Red Bridge Campground for this work. PennDOT’s official detour will use Routes 59, 219, 6, and 321, with Route 321 remaining open between Kane and Red Bridge Campground. The official detour is approximately 37 miles long. Drivers familiar with the area may choose to use alternate routes. Access for local property owners will be provided along this closed section on an as needed basis. The reclamation work in this phase is concentrated on a Route 321 project in Hamilton and Corydon Townships made possible by National Forest Finding. PennDOT expects this section of Route 321 to be closed until early August. A second closure affecting Route 321 from Kane Borough northeast through Wetmore Township and Hamilton To...

A woman is facing a number of charges after she 13-month-old daughter was taken to a hospital with a blood-alcohol content more than three times the legal limit. 26-year-old Jessica Bachmaier of Erie is accused of giving her daughter a sippy cup containing alcohol on May 14. The baby was taken to Saint Vincent Hospital and later flown to Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh for treatment. Bachmair is charged with endangering the welfare of children, recklessly endangering another person and furnishing alcohol to minors. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The investigation is continuing into the disappearance of a Jamestown man who hasn't been seen since May 14, and is wanted for corruption of minors in Warren County. 25-year-old Tyler Chase was last on the afternoon of May 14, and his vehicle was found near his parents’ home in Charlotte, New York. Besides the five counts of corruption of minors, Chase is charged with five counts each of interfering with the custody of a minor, which is a felony, providing alcohol to a minor and endangering the welfare of a child. The incidents involve teenage girls. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Leadership McKean honored the graduates of its 2013-14 class on Friday at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Throughout the year, program participants focused on issues affecting McKean County in areas like health and human services, economic development, education and tourism. To end the year, participants developed presentations that were inspired by the year’s topics and presenters. This year’s class developed the following presentations, many of which will be implemented in the future: Bradford Ecumenical Home, Inc.—Residents on the Go! Financial Literacy Volunteer McKean Facebook Site Mobile Library Bradford Area High School Career Awareness and Workplace Readiness Program Mike Glesk, a member of the Leadership McKean Steering Committee said that with 24 graduates, this is the largest Leadership McKean class in the program's eight-year history. To date, 142 participants completed the program. During the graduation ceremony, Dan Minich a...

HARRISBURG – The State Senate has unanimously approved legislation to offer more disabled Pennsylvania veterans reduced-fee hunting and fishing licenses, according to Senators Joe Scarnati (R-25), Lisa Baker (R-20) and Scott Hutchinson (R-21). Senate Bill 1102, authored by Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, would reduce the cost of fishing licenses for disabled veterans to $1 for an annual license. Senate Bill 1090, authored by Senate Labor & Industry Committee Chairwoman Lisa Baker and Senate Communications & Technology Committee Chairman Scott Hutchinson would reduce the cost of hunting licenses for disabled veterans to $1 for an annual license. “These bills are a small way to honor those who have helped to protect our freedoms and will ensure that more disabled veterans have access to enjoy our Commonwealth’s great outdoors,” Senator Scarnati said. “Pennsylvania’s disabled veterans have made a tremendous sacrifice for our country and face many challen...

The National Council on Teacher Quality has given the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s secondary education program “Top Ranked” status – a distinction awarded to only 81 secondary programs nationwide – in its second annual Teacher Prep Review. The council surveyed 1,668 programs at 836 institutions before awarding top-ranked status to 26 elementary programs and 81 secondary programs. The council ranked secondary programs primarily on their selectivity, content knowledge for middle school and high school, and student teaching experience. Other considerations were instruction in classroom planning, secondary methods and assessing outcomes. Nationwide, Pitt-Bradford’s secondary program was one of 21 tied for the 57th place ranking. It was one of six Pennsylvania schools given top-ranked status. “We are proud of how our secondary education prepares students to be effective leaders in middle and secondary schools,” said Dr. Wayne Bri...

HARRISBURG – Legislation to bring fairness and accountability to the collection and distribution of funds for ATV- and snowmobile-riding opportunities in the Commonwealth was the subject of a public hearing at the state Capitol on Wednesday, said Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint), prime sponsor of the measure. House Bill 2047 would direct the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to maintain separate ATV management and snowmobile management accounts to ensure an equitable distribution of those funds. “DCNR is currently unable to identify how much it spends on ATV trails versus snowmobile trails, but considering the number of trail miles on public lands for snowmobiles outnumbers those for ATVs by a 10-to-1 ratio, it sure looks as if there are some inequities,” Causer said. He pointed to the situation in Cameron County, 60 percent of which is state forest land owned by the Commonwealth. “People in Cameron County pay their ATV registration fees, yet...

A man has pleaded not guilty in connection to a police chase and crash that seriously injured him and his two passengers. 30-year-old Matthew Redeye of Salamanca is accused of speeding past a line of cars, including a police cruiser, last July on Broad Street in Salamanca. He was driving at about 70 mph when he crash into a metal utility pole. His passengers were thrown into the windshield and both suffered facial injuries. One also had internal injuries. Redeye was trapped in the vehicle and, after being freed, spent a couple of days in ECMC in Buffalo for treatment of injuries to his lower extremities. After being released from the hospital he was sent to Cattaraugus County Jail, where he remains. His case has been adjourned for motions. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Bradford man has pleaded guilty in Cattaraugus County Court to having sex with a child. 27-year-old Anival Otero Jr. had sexual contact with a child younger than 17 between August 16 and 29 of last year in Allegany. Otero is scheduled for sentencing on September 8. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A motorcycle accident Tuesday afternoon landed an Olean man in the hospital with serious injuries. State police say Scott Mataya was north on Route 16 at around 12:45 p.m. when his bike went out of control and hit two D-O-T curve-warning signs. Mataya was first taken to Olean General Hospital, but later transferred to ECMC in Buffalo. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Charges against one of the Buffalo men convicted of dealing drugs in McKean County a couple of years ago were bound to court following a preliminary hearing this morning. 52-year-old Donald Gadley was charged with flight to avoid apprehension for allegedly absconding from parole in May of last year. In February of this year, he was found in the Hotel Holley in Bradford with suspected drugs and paraphernalia after police were called for a domestic disturbance. Gadley also gave police the name of his brother when they asked for identification, even after they told him he’d be charged when they confirmed who he was, according to court papers. Gadley remains jailed on $10,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A woman who didn’t have enough money to pay a toll on the Thruway in Chautauqua County now has more problems than not having any spare change. State police say they got a report that a woman at the toll plaza of Exit 60 in Westfield didn’t have enough money, and didn’t have any identification with her. When troopers got there, she signed the necessary paperwork for the unpaid toll but gave police her sister’s name instead of her own. Later, troopers learned 22-year-old Destiny Love of Buffalo had a suspended driver’s license. She was charged with unlicensed operation, forgery and criminal impersonation and sent to Chautauqua County Jail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Local police departments being able to use radar was the topic of a Senate Transportation Committee hearing this morning in Harrisburg Currently, only state police are allowed to use radar. Police Commissioner Frank Noonan says he wants that to change, and also said the issue of where the money from fines would go is irrelevant at this point. Noonan says the bottom line is radar saves lives. Pennsylvania is third in the country -- behind California and Texas -- in the number of automobile fatalities related to speeding. He says fee structures can be worked on and changed, if needed. Committee Chairman John Rafferty said the bill likely will not come up for a vote during this session because lawmakers will be concentrating on budget issues until the budget is finalized. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Lafayette Township firefighters were called to Bradford Regional Airport at about 4:45 this afternoon for an “aircraft emergency.” The McKean County 911 Center tells WESB an airplane was malfunctioning, but everything is OK. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947