Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

HARRISBURG – The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) has named Senator Joe Scarnati (R-25) a “Guardian of Small Business” for his strong legislative support of local, small and independent businesses. Scarnati was given a perfect 100 percent record by the NFIB for his voting record on key issues affecting job-creators during the 2013-2014 legislative session. “I am pleased to receive this award and to be an advocate for job creation and economic growth across our Commonwealth,” Scarnati said. “Local manufacturers, retailers, service providers and agriculture businesses play a vital role in Pennsylvania’s economy and are an essential part of our region.” Scarnati explained that NFIB is America’s leading small business association, which promotes and protects the right of individuals to own, operate and grow their businesses. The Guardian of Small Business Awards are given to Senators and Representatives who voted favorably on key small-business issues duri...

PORTVILLE, N.Y. - Have you been pining for something to do to get in the holiday spirit? Well, look no further than the Pfeiffer Nature Center. The Pfeiffer Nature Center is asking all decorators to hit the great outdoors and collect items from nature for its annual holiday wreath sale. These all-natural wreaths are now on sale until Nov. 21 and can be ordered online at www.pfeiffernaturecenter.org. The Center will also have a booth at Portville’s Art & Antique Show where you can see a sample of these beautifully finished works of art. This two-day indoor show is held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, at the Portville Central School. If interested in getting into the action of actually helping to make the wreaths, mark Nov. 20-22 on your calendar and go to the Pleasant Valley Greenhouse. Volunteers can help for the entire day or a few hours. Come anytime between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. And that is not all. Call the office if you ca...

On Sunday, November 9th at 10 am Mass, St. Bernard’s Church will celebrate the Living and Deceased Veterans of the United States Armed Services. All veterans and their families are invited to attend. Mass will be followed by a small luncheon with soups, sandwiches and pies in the Parish social center. Parishioners are encouraged to attend this mass in appreciation of all that Veterans have done to preserve our freedom in this country and our freedom to worship our loving God. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Kevin L. Frederico, 56, of 4 Bayberry Ct., passed away, Thursday, November 6, 2014, at The Pavilion at BRMC. Born October 27, 1958, in Bradford, he was a son of the late Joseph N. and Helen Ginger (Jamison) Frederico. He was a 1977 graduate of Bradford High School. On April 5, 2003 in St. Bernard Church, he married Julie (Vecellio) Frederico who survives. He had been employed by The Window Men, a family owned business. In 1986 he went to work for the Thomas Bromeley family and during that time opened and operated the Bradford Window Company. He was a member of St. Bernard Church, the Italian Club and the Eagles Club. He was an avid Bill's fan and golfer. In addition to his wife he is survived by two sons, Nate (Amber) Frederico, of Bradford, and Justin (Katie Faulkner) Frederico, of Tallahassee, FL, three brothers, Joe (Donna) Frederico, of Draper, VA , Tim (Wyn Hoang) Frederico, and Mike Frederico, both of Lynchburg, VA, two sisters, Lecia (Carl) Paulson of ...

A man has been picked up by the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force for selling heroin. The task force says 19-year-old Brian Doner of Randolph sold the drug earlier this year on two separate occasions in the village. Doner is charged with two felony counts each of criminal possession of and criminal sale of a controlled substance. He was sent to Cattaraugus County Jail in lieu of $5,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Police are investigating incidents in Shinglehouse involving an adult and inappropriate pictures of teenage girls. They say between December 1 and September 20 an adult asked for and received inappropriate photos of a 16-year-old Ulysses girl. Last Friday, an adult disseminated inappropriate photos of a 15-year-old Shinglehouse girl. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

State police have released the names of the two men involved in last week’s fatal crash on Million Dollar Highway in St. Marys. 29-year-old Michael Hanley of Baltimore, Maryland, the driver of the box truck, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the tractor trailer, who crossed over into Hanley’s lane and hit his truck head-on, was 42-year-old Shawn Bloom of DuBois. He is still being treated at UPMC Mercy in Pittsburgh. Police say they still aren’t sure what caused the crash. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A 55-year-old Kane man is accused of having sexual contact with his girlfriend’s underage relative in 2012. The victim told McKean County Children and Youth Services that Steven Rolfe performed the sex acts on her without her consent when she was left alone with him, according to papers filed in District Judge David Engman’s office. Police say the victim’s friend saw through a window that Rolfe was “messing with” her. Rolfe was arraigned this afternoon on charges of sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault and corruption of minors, and indecent assault. He is in jail on a quarter of a million dollars bail. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Thursday. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A woman had to be freed from her car after she crashed while because she was distracted by her sick dog. Police say 63-year-old Barbara Allen of Genesee was on Andrew Settlement Road in Potter County Wednesday morning when her dog got sick and started vomiting in the car. She got distracted, the car went out of control, went off the road, hit a culvert and flipped onto the passenger side. After being freed from the car, Allen was taken by ambulance to Charles Cole Memorial Hospital for treatment of moderate injuries. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A man who was found with a gun that had been reported stolen is in McKean County Jail. 25-year-old Gene Meacham of Bradford had the Browning .22 caliber handgun at his Jefferson Street home on Sunday. Police verified with the Johnsonburg resident who owns the gun, and the Johnsonburg Police Department, that it had been stolen. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A 73-year-old man got lost in the Hearts Content Campground last Friday night, and it took search crews about two hours to find him and get him safely to his family. Warren County Sheriff’s deputies got a call at about 11 p.m. say Lawrence Jena of Wampum was missing. Volunteers from the Cherry Grove, Sheffield and Pleasant fire departments as well as Allegheny National Forest personnel searched for Jena, who was eventually found sitting under a tree, just off a trail about 7/10 of a mile from the campground. He told police he went into the woods at around 4 that afternoon. He didn’t find the trail back out of the woods until about 6:45 and, by that time, it was dark and he decided to find shelter under the tree and wait until someone came to find him. Police say Jena appeared to be in good health when they reunited him with his son. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A presentation by Sherri Geary, Director of Economic Development for McKean County, will be held at the Mount Jewett fire hall, 2 Gallup Ave. Mt. Jewett Pa on Friday November 21st, 2014, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Geary will provide participants with the opportunity to explore a strategy to develop a series of organized small scale aesthetic design and economic improvements that will make downtown Mount Jewett distinctive and attractive to entrepreneurs, businesses, residents and visitors. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Two Cattaraugus County women have pleaded guilty to using stolen credit cards in separate cases. Kimberly Levergood of Machias used a credit card that did not belong to her and stole more than $1,000 worth of property back in May. She is scheduled for sentencing on February 2. Doris Ortega of Olean stole a credit card on March 22 in Allegany and forged a name. She is scheduled for sentencing on January 12. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Two men have pleaded not guilty to running a meth lab in Olean. The Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force says 44-year-old Richard Wall Olean and 37-year-old Carey Peden of Harrsiburg, Arkansas, were operating the lab in a house on Riverside Drive, which the task force raided back in September. They are each charged with manufacturing meth. Peden is also charged with possession of a hypodermic instrument, resisting arrest and false personation. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Several people pleaded guilty to drug charges in Cattaraugus County Court this week. Frank Chase of Olean and Joshua Small of Buffalo had heroin; Laurie Lawall and Brad Smith, both of Olean, and Katie Stebbins of Salamanca, all had prescription pills; Pierre Morgan of Buffalo had cocaine; Samantha Perkins of Cuba had crack cocaine. Stebbins and Morgan are scheduled for sentencing on February 2; the rest are scheduled for January 12. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Two Bradford men have pleaded not guilty in Cattaraugus County Court to having heroin and cocaine. George Cabisca and William Cabisca are accused of having the drugs on June 11 in the Town of Coldspring. William is also charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Both cases have been adjourned for motions. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Two men charged with simple assault and harassment in separate cases have waived their preliminary hearings. Court papers say on September 26 on Bushnell Street a woman who was distributing medication to her patients came upon Steven Smith fighting with one of the patients. She asked him to leave and, outside the apartment, he hit her in the back of the head. He later told police he “put her in her place” for trying to intervene. Robert Erickson is accused of pushing is wife down steps at the back of their house, hitting her several times, pushing her against a wall and choking her. The alleged incident happened on October 1. Both men are free on unsecured bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A man accused of carrying a domestic incident from his estranged wife’s home to her workplace – and threatening to kill heer and three other people – has waived his preliminary hearing. Court papers say Anthony Hornung II of Lewis Run dragged the woman through the house by her arm, and said if he can’t have her no one can. He left the house when her roommates came home, but showed up later outside her workplace on Main Street in Bradford, threatening her boss and others. When police arrived, he ran to Players Bar, but police caught up with him. Hornung is in McKean County Jail on $50,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The 20-year-old Bradford man accused of raping a 14-year-old, and having sex with another teenager, has waived his preliminary hearing. Garrett Evan had sexual intercourse with the girl after she repeatedly told him she didn’t want to. At one point, according to court papers, he said, “Just let me keep going.” He also had sex with a 15-year-old old. Both incidents happened in October. Court papers say the meetings were set up on Facebook. Evan remains in McKean County Jail on $15,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Change to Parade Route Announced Area businesses, non-profit organizations, school bands, classic car owners, dance teams, and fire departments are asked to please submit their registration forms for Bradford’s annual Cruisin’ into Christmas Parade as soon as possible, but no later than the November 14th deadline. Forms may be picked up at and returned to the Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce office located at 121 Main Street Monday through Friday from 10am-4pm, or will be emailed by request to those interested in participating. The Street Dreams Car Club, Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce and signature sponsor CNB Bank are moving forward with plans to improve the Sixth Annual Cruisin’ into Christmas parade, which will be held on Friday, November 21st at 6 pm on Historic Main Street in downtown Bradford. One significant change to this year’s parade is the reversal of the parade route – instead of lining up in the high-traffic area around Davis and Main Street, participants will r...

Joe Scarnati and other Senate leaders are suing outgoing Governor Tom Corbett over his vetoes of spending bills as the state budget was enacted this summer. The lawsuit argues that Corbett did not follow rules for providing public notice of vetoes, he used the line-item veto on the wrong type of legislation and he put the money in an unlawful reserve. Scarnati, Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi and Minority Leader Jay Costa want Commonwealth Court to invalidate the vetoes and the use of the reserve. Corbett's spokesman and legal office say the lawsuit is being reviewed. He vetoed $72 million for a variety of purposes. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Investigators have identified the woman who died in a house fire Sunday in Salamanca. 83-year-old Mary Dolecki was found that afternoon in her home that had flames and heavy smoke coming it from it when firefighters arrived. She was taken to Olean General Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Cattaraugus County investigators are still trying to figure what caused the fire. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

United Way of the Bradford Area's Board President, Sam Johnson (right), accepts a $5,000corporate donation from PNC Bank-Bradford's Manager Dan Minich, and staff. The contribution is towards the UWBA's 2014 campaign, which is currently at 70% of the $345,000 fundraising goal. United Way photo The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

State Rep. Kathy Rapp defeated her challenger, Toby Anderson, 65 percent to 35 percent. Because of redistricting, Rapp will no longer serve any part of McKean County. Those parts of the 65th District have been moved to the 67th District, served by Marty Causer. State Rep. Matt Gabler beat his challenger John Donahue 74 percent to 26 percent. State Rep. Matt Baker, who takes over Galeton in Potter County because of redistricting, defeated challenger Jonathan Ruth 82 percent to 18 percent. In New York’s Congressional race, incumbent Tom Reed defeated challenger Martha Robertson 62 percent to 38 percent. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

City of Bradford Police on Tuesday were called to disturbances on West Corydon Street and Interstate Parkway, and harassment complaints on Lorana Avenue and High Street. They also checked out suspicious activity on Chestnut Street. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The biggest news in McKean County’s election results is the voter turnout: 34 percent. In May’s primary election, it was less than 13 percent. As for the governor’s race, McKean County went exactly opposite from the majority of the state with 65 percent voting for Tom Corbett and 35 percent for Tom Wolf. Incumbent Glenn “GT” Thompson defeated challenger Kerith Strano Taylor 74 percent to 26 percent in McKean County. In the rest of the district, so far it’s 64 percent to 36 percent in favor of Thompson. State Rep. Marty Causer, who ran unopposed, received 6,867 of the 8,040 votes cast. One precinct in McKean County has yet to report. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

In New York, incumbent Democrat Andrew Cuomo has defeated his challenger Rob Astorino. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947