Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Dorothy J. Chirillo, 77, of 130 Kennedy Street, Bradford, passed away on Thursday, October 9, 2014 at UPMC Hamot, Erie surrounded by her loving family. She was born on November 28, 1936, in Emporium, a daughter of the late Anthony and Mabel Striech Gennocro. She was a graduate of the Cameron County High School, Emporium. On June 28, 1958, she married Egidio D. “Gino” Chirillo who preceded her in death on January 11, 2001. She was a member of the St. Bernard Catholic Church. She loved spending time with her family and she also enjoyed cooking. Mrs. Chirillo and her husband were the former co-owners of the Colonial Hotel, Smethport. In Bradford they were the former co-owners of various restaurants including: The Brook Club, Togi’s Drive-in (which they started), Togi’s Old Barn, Dante’s at the Bradford Mall, Gino’s at the former Howard Johnsons, Gino’s Steakhouse and Gino’s at the DeSoto Motel. She is survived by one son, Anthony Chirillo of Bradford; three daug...

Olean General Hospital (OGH) and Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC), member hospitals of Upper Allegheny Health System (UAHS), are following the protocols recommended by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the New York State Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The potential for seeing an Ebola patient here in our region is very small, but our first obligation is to protect the public and make any and all preparations. Since early August, all CDC information regarding Ebola has been shared with medical staff and Emergency Department staff, including online educational programs for clinical staff. Since the confirmation of the first Ebola patient in the United States on September 30, hospitals across the country, including OGH and BRMC, have been working closely with public health officials, including CDC, and have been providing important information to physicians and clinical staff. UAHS recognizes that the health threat posed b...

The Pennsylvania Game Commission has lifted the temporary prohibition on hunting and trapping within some portions of Pike County that previously were closed due to the ongoing search for a fugitive wanted in the shooting death of a state police trooper. Game Commission Executive Director R. Matthew Hough today amended the executive order he issued last week, providing for the immediate reopening of all hunting and trapping seasons in all of Lehman Township, and the eastern portions of Blooming Grove and Porter townships, all of which are in Pike County. The amended order also reopens to public use most of the previously closed portion of State Game Lands 180 within Pike County. The State Game Lands 183 shooting range in Palmyra Township, Pike County, also has been reopened to public use. Meanwhile, hunting and trapping remains closed within all of Greene Township, Pike County, as well as all of Price, Barrett and Paradise townships in Monroe County. Portions of State Game Lands 18...

A man who punched another man in the head and then fired a gun into his truck has pleaded guilty to assault and criminal mischief in McKean County Court. 40-year-old Damin Parris of Smethport punched the man after he had been joking around with Parris’ dog. When the man said he was going to leave, Parris yelled, and then fired two shots into the man’s truck. The man ran into the woods. Parris then walked toward a woman’s car and, when she asked him to give her the gun, he started to point it toward her. She grabbed it, drove away in her car and met state police in the parking lot of District Judge Bill Todd’s office. Parris is scheduled for sentencing on October 30. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Representatives from CASA of McKean County have launched a fundraising campaign to raise money to provide much-needed stability and support for neglected and abused children in the county. Officials with CASA of McKean County, which stands for court-appointed special advocates, hope to raise $150,000, which will be used for the next three years to operate the program. CASA of McKean County representatives will be sending letters and making personal contacts to raise the funds in the hopes of reaching their goal by the end of November. While a CASA program is new to McKean County, it’s not new to other counties in Pennsylvania or other states in the nation. CASA programs are comprised of trained community volunteer members who are appointed by a judge to represent the best interests of abused and neglected children during a dependency case. Children in placement often experience significant and potentially disruptive changes. They may...

HARRISBURG – Legislation that now includes an increase to penalties for impersonating a physician in Pennsylvania, was unanimously passed by the Pennsylvania Senate on Wednesday, according to Senator Joe Scarnati (R-25). Scarnati explained that House Bill 1357 was originally introduced to increase the penalties for impersonating public officials. Scarnati then offered an amendment to the bill to also increase violations for impersonating a physician. “Impersonating a physician can have dire consequences for individuals who unknowingly place their healthcare in the hands of someone who is not properly trained,” Scarnati said. “My amendment was aimed at helping to protect those seeking medical advice and treatment.” According to Scarnati, his amendment increased the offense from a second degree misdemeanor to a misdemeanor of the first degree. A measure to make this change was also introduced in the House of Representatives by Representative Matt Baker. “I commend...

UPDATE from our listeners/readers: I-86 eastbound (toward Bradford/Limestone) is open, but westbound (to Salamanca) is still closed . Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and Seneca Nation President Barry E. Snyder, Sr. today announced the re-opening of Interstate 86, the Southern Tier Expressway, between Exits 20 and 23 on the Allegany Territory of the Seneca Nation in Cattaraugus County. Interstate 86 had been closed to traffic since early May as part of a $21 million reconstruction project. “Interstate 86 reopens today a more resilient roadway that will better serve residents and facilitate commercial activity in the Southern Tier," Governor Cuomo said. “This administration is committed to improving the quality of life for New Yorkers, and making smart investments in our infrastructure is absolutely critical.” The Interstate 86 improvement project included the major rehabilitation of approximately seven miles of road surface between Exit 20 and three miles west of Exit 23, and minor r...

A panic alarm in a Warren woman’s house helped police catch a man who is now charged with attempted rape. They say the alarm went off at 3:30 Tuesday morning and, when they got to the woman’s house they heard her screaming and found 41-year-old Martin Chambers of Warren inside. Police say he had been lying in wait and forced his way into the back of the house. Besides attempted rape he is charged with aggravated indecent assault, burglary and related offenses. He is in Warren County Jail on $100,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

State police are investigating an incident where a man videotaped a woman in a shower at Allegany State Park. In an email to several media outlets, a woman says she was showering in a bathhouse in the Quaker Area of the state park early on the morning of September 21 when she looked up and saw a man in the stall next to her filming her. Park police later told her they had a similar report from 2010, and that suspect matched the description she gave them. The man is described as white, in his mid- to late 30's, 6' 2” tall and weighing 220 pounds. The suspect is believed to be driving a maroon/burgundy colored Dodge Intrepid with a yellow license plate. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A level three sex offender is back behind bars after allegedly being too close to a school in Dunkirk Wednesday afternoon. Police say 66-year-old Richard Conti was on a street corner watching students leave Dunkirk Middle School when there is a valid order of protection against him, saying he is not allowed within 150 feet of any school. Back in 2002 he was convicted of sexually abusing three children – ages 5, 6 and 8 – in 2001. He’s being held without bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

This weekend promises to be practically perfect for leaf peeping and all the other planned festivals and activities. To find out what's happening in the Twin Tiers go to: http://www.wesb.com/news/comcal/ The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Was L. Frank Baum, the author of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” a Bradfordian? Did Bradford’s oil boom of the 1870s and ‘80s inspire Baum’s vivid imagination? Many people think so. One Pitt-Bradford professor claims to have the answers and will share them in a presentation titled “Case Closed: L. Frank Baum in Bradford,” at 7 p.m. Oct. 28 in the Mukaiyama University Room of the Frame-Westerberg Commons. The event is sponsored by Pitt-Bradford’s Friends of Hanley Library and is free. For decades, scores of Bradfordians have debated whether Baum lived and worked in their northwestern Pennsylvania town before he published his iconic work. Some speculate that he wrote for -- even founded – The Bradford Era. But was Baum really in Bradford circa 1879, starting or writing for a newspaper, before he went on to produce America’s greatest fairy tale? Tim Ziaukas, professor of public relations, claims to have tracked down the evidence. He published his results this summer ...

St. Bonaventure will kick off the 2014-15 basketball season with a new event, Bona Fan Jam, on Saturday, Oct. 25. The event, which will be free, will begin at 5 p.m. with an outdoor fan fest on the basketball courts between the Reilly Center and Richter Center. The fan fest portion will include local food vendors who will offer sample dishes priced between $1 and $5, meet-and-greets with the Bonnies basketball players and coaches, sports contests run by the St. Bonaventure teams and games and activities for kids of all ages. Local band Diggin’ Roots will play from 5-7. At 7:00, the action will shift inside the Reilly Center where the Bonnies will be introduced during a midnight madness-style event. The Bonnies cheerleaders and dance team will perform, and there will be a student dunk contest to benefit the Brian Moretti Scholarship Fund. Finally, both the men’s and women’s teams will play 15-minute scrimmages and compete in 3-point shooting contests. There will be a number of giveawa...

City of Bradford Police on Wednesday investigated an assault on Bolivar Drive and a motor vehicle accident on East Main Street. They also looked into reports of harassment on Williams and Davis streets, and criminal mischief, also on Williams Street. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A woman suffered neck and back injuries after her car flipped over several times Tuesday afternoon on Route 59. Police say 21-year-old Vanessa Kelly was south of Eagle at about 3 p.m. when her car went out of control while rounding a curve, hit an embankment, flipped over and came to rest on its roof in the opposite lane of travel. Kelly was taken by ambulance to Warren General Hospital, and cited for not staying in her lane. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

HARRISBURG - Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane and New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the creation of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Heroin Task Force (NEMA-HTF), a multi-state heroin task force that will marshal the resources of top law enforcement officers across Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states. In addition to New York and Pennsylvania, which will co-chair the effort, New Jersey and Massachusetts have also joined the coalition; additional states are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. NEMA HTF will bring together state attorneys general in an unprecedented law-enforcement collaboration to combat the growing problem of heroin distribution and abuse in communities throughout the region. In the last two years, over 98% of the large-scale heroin trafficking cases prosecuted by the New York Attorney General’s Office have involved heroin flowing between New York and either Pennsylvania, New Jersey or Massachusetts. “For too long, drug organizat...

A Mercy Flight helicopter on its way from Port Allegany to Buffalo made an unplanned landing in Olean this morning. A spokeswoman for Mercy Flight says the helicopter was flying to ECMC when the pilot felt something unusual at the controls and landed at the Olean Airport. Area fire departments were called as a precaution, but the helicopter landed without a problem. Another helicopter was brought in to take the patient to Buffalo. The person was reportedly injured during a fall. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A man who ran from police during a traffic stop because he had crack cocaine with him waived his preliminary hearing in front of District Judge Dominic Cercone. Court papers say police stopped 20-year-old Tate Hallock of Bradford on August 28 for not having taillights and not using a turn signal. While he was getting out of his car Hallock shoved a police officer, trying to escape. The officer was able to maintain his grip and took Hallock to the ground, although Hallock continued to fight and struggle while the officer was trying to put handcuffs on him. Hallock is in McKean County Jail on $50,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A drunk driver who hit a parked car while on his way to do last-minute shopping on Christmas Eve has waived his preliminary hearing. 40-year-old Timothy McCormick of Bradford is accused of hitting an SUV that was parked on Chambers Street as it owner was picking up his family after services at the First United Methodist Church. He also almost hit children on a sidewalk near Congress and West Corydon streets. During the traffic stop McCormick first told Officer Matthew Guthrie he loved him, but then said, “I am going to kick your f***ing ass.” Papers filed in District Judge Dominic Cercone’s office say downtown surveillance cameras caught the hit and run. McCormick is free on unsecured bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

NFL Owners today have approved the bid from the Terry and Kim Pegula to buy the Buffalo Bills. Read more at WGRZ TV.com . The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Pfeiffer Nature Center to host music workshop PORTVILLE, N.Y. - The next workshop at the Pfeiffer Nature Center is music to our ears - and yours. Muses of the Forest: Music will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at the American Chestnut cabin on the Lillibridge Road property, 1974 Lillibridge Road. Aron Cole will be the facilitator and will show participants how to play a dulcimer, a fretted string instrument with origins in the Appalachian region of the U.S. The cost to attend is $5 per person thanks to a New York State Arts Grant. A box lunch will be provided. Registrations must be made by 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, by logging onto www.pfeiffernaturecenter.org. The event will take place rain or shine. The Nature Center offers interpretative opportunities in science, nature, and art through programs and events throughout the year. Get to know Pfeiffer Nature Center – find a spot in our woods to enjoy peace and quiet, come to our programs, become a member, volu...

Gino Lucchetti, a graduate of Smethport Area HighSchool, is an environmental scientist by day and a professional singer by night. He is an avid sportsman with much musical ability. The McKean County Historical Society proudly presents Gino Lucchetti in an afternoon of songs, “Gino Sings!” The event is Sunday, Nov. 2, at 3:00 PM at the Court of Angels, Main Street, Smethport, Pa. $25.00 per person includes appetizers, punch, coffee, tea, and the performance. BYOB if you would like. Call 814-887-5142 to purchase your tickets. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Scarnati to Assume Role of Caucus Chair & Oversee Garden in 2015 HARRISBURG -- The Chairmen of the Legislative Hunger Caucus and various hunger advocates joined together today for a public event to mark five successful years of the Capitol Hunger Garden and to recognize the efforts of those who have made this initiative possible. Additionally, they announced a change in leadership of the caucus beginning in 2015. During a closing ceremony, Legislative Hunger Caucus Chairs Senator Mike Brubaker (R-36) and Representative Jake Wheatley (D-19) acknowledged the five successful years served by the Hunger Garden, an approximately 1,000 square-foot area of land adjacent to the State Capitol Building. They also praised the work of the master gardeners from the Penn State Cooperative Extension and local volunteers, as well as the support from the Department of General Services, Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, Feeding Pennsylvania, Hunger-Free Pennsylvania and the Pennsylv...

Read the full DCNR report here . New York's weekly report will be issued tomorrow. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Salamanca woman has pleaded not guilty in Cattaraugus County Court to burglary and theft charges. 20-year-old Laurie Hathaway is accused of breaking into the Salamanca home a year ago, damaging property and stealing more than $1,000 worth of property. Her case has been adjourned for motions. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Two men accused of taking part in a gang assault in Salamanca have pleaded not guilty. Yancy Dowdy and Jacob White, both of Salamanca, are charged with assault, reckless endangerment and gang assault in connection to the January 25 incident. Prosecutors didn’t provide further information on the assault other than to say someone was hurt. Dowdy and White are both in Cattaraugus County Jail. Their cases have been adjourned for motions. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A man who broke into a Franklinville building and stole items has pleaded guilty to attempted burglary and petit larceny. Kevin Milks and his co-defendants broke into the building on June 1. He is scheduled for sentencing on December 8 in Cattaraugus County Court. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947