Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

                                                 Street Scene in Naples by Paul Gustave Fischer You can buy the painting here: https://www.artrenewal.org/artworks/street-scene-in-naples/paul-gustave-fischer/79122

Dopesick intrigued me, but I knew I needed to be in the right frame of mind to start watching it. I was the news director of a small radio station in Appalachia and reported on the increase in overdose deaths, crime, child abuse and everything else that went along with the opioid crisis. There were more drug store break-ins and robberies during that time than in the two other decades I was a journalist combined. And all they took was Oxycontin. The incidents in which toddlers were found wandering the streets alone in just diapers became common. Domestic violence incidents rose dramatically. And if you think reporting on these things daily doesn't do a number on you, you'd be wrong, More important and impactful that any of that, however, was the death of a friend and co-worker at the age of 30. I still think of him every time I hear a Beatles song. The Sackler Family – who ran Purdue Pharma, creators of Oxycontin – is the villain in this story, as in real life, and th...

                            The Quays Pub Galway is a painting by TOMAS O'Maoldomhnaigh You can purchase the painting here:  https://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-quays-pub-galway-tomas-omaoldomhnaigh.html

  NEW YORK (AP) — Ronnie Spector, the cat-eyed, bee-hived rock ‘n’ roll siren who sang such 1960s hits as “Be My Baby,” “Baby I Love You” and “Walking in the Rain” as the leader of the girl group The Ronettes, has died. She was 78. Spector died Wednesday after a brief battle with cancer, her family said. “Ronnie lived her life with a twinkle in her eye, a spunky attitude, a wicked sense of humor and a smile on her face. She was filled with love and gratitude,” a statement said. No other details were revealed. Tributes flooded social media , from Stevie Van Zandt saying it was an honor to produce her, to Brian Wilson, who wrote on Twitter: “I loved her voice so much and she was a very special person and a dear friend.” Diane Warren called her “The voice of a million teenage dreams including mine.”   Read the rest of the story here:  https://apnews.com/article/ronnie-spector-dead-84c905db02a01ffa43a6052c3ce66920

   Some of us are still reeling from the death of Betty White. Add to that Sidney Poitier and Bob Saget, and you have hundreds of thousands of people who have been been very upset for two weeks straight.  Now, Ronnie Spector. C'mon. Enough is enough.  

  Scott Canfield of Erie, Pennsylvania, will share his research and train model depicting the horrific train wreck that occurred on January 15, 1884, just outside Bradford, Pennsylvania. Hear personal stories of the victims and survivors, as well as the details that contributed to this devastating accident. This in-person program will take place on Saturday, January 22 at 11 AM at the Bradford Area Public Library.

  Friday, January 21, 2022 at 7:30 PM Merz Trio       Regina A Quick Center for the Arts 3261 West State Road St. Bonaventure University  St. Bonaventure , NY 14778 Phone: 716-375-2494 https://www.friendsofgoodmusic.com/performances   Winner of the 2019 Concert Artists Guild International Competition Formed during a snow storm in New York City in 2017, the Trio has made a sweep of top US competitions, taking Gold Medals at the 2018 Chesapeake and the 2019 Fischoff Competitions, in addition to the 2019 Concert Artists Guild International Competition. The Merz Trio has performed at major concert venues in New York, Boston, and Chicago, as well as in Australia and the UK.

  Winter Trek is a celebration of the beautiful trails of the Marilla Watershed. Come join us for a day of outdoor recreation and camaraderie in the winter wonderland of Marilla.  Guided hike, xc ski, and fat bike trips for experienced outdoor enthusiasts or an easy hike around the reservoir for casual enjoyment. Bonfire and refreshments provided free to the public. Shuttles to the top of Marilla Springs via Stickney Road will give adventurers a thrilling four-mile descent back to the bonfire, hotdogs, s'mores, and hot drinks at the Gazebo.   Send in your donation via PayPal and chose Winter Trek to enter the raffle for a new set of XC skis.  $5/1 chance $20/5 chances $50/15 chances   Chances will also be available for purchase the day of event at the gazebo cash only.   A new cross-country ski package will be raffled off at 3pm at the Gazebo. Those that donate online need not be present to win

Kinzua Bridge State Park -Winter Day Walk. Sat. Jan 15, 2022 at 10 am. Join in the fun with a short walk around the main parking area to take in the beautiful scenery. Dress for the weather and meet in front of the Kinzua Bridge Visitors Center. Then enjoy visiting the Kinzua Bridge State Park Visitors Center to learn the history of the Kinzua Viaduct-Kinzua Sky Walk, 296 Viaduct Road, Mt. Jewett, PA. #visitanf #anfvisitorsbureau #pastateparks #kinzua  

  Hot spots in the Village of Ellicottville will feature free live music January 21 - 23. For more information on this event please visit https://www.ellicottvilleny.com/events/2022/01/winter-blues-weekend

  Friday and Saturday at 7:30, and Sunday at 2:00. https://embed.showclix.com/event/cclaantn

  Take a 'plain Jane' mug and transform it with Sharpie permanent markers! Create a unique mug for yourself or personalize it for a friend. We'll show you how easy it is! #bradfordareapubliclibrary #diycraft Thursday, January 13, 7 p.m.  https://www.facebook.com/events/1228079847601748

  I read several reviews of “The Tender Bar” after I watched it and, honestly, I'm wondering if these people watched the same movie I watched. I loved it. Maybe it's because the main character, JR, is about the same age I am so I could relate to many of the situations that were portrayed in the film. Maybe it's because the settings, the cars, the clothes, etc. brought back some good memories of my youth. Maybe it's because there's a radio element to it, and I like radio. Spoiler alert: The DJ is a jerk. Watch it to find out how and why. George Clooney directing Ben Affleck is what drew me to “The Tender Bar,” I'll admit, but almost immediately after I started watching I had a feeling I was going to like it no matter who was directing. As for Ben Affleck? Give the man an Oscar nomination! This could be my favorite Affleck role, and I've like him in almost everything he's done with a couple of notable exceptions that I'm sure most people can gue...

  I started this book after seeing a suggestion on my library's Facebook page. All I knew about it was one of the characters is a librarian. After listening to it, I understand why the post couldn't divulge much more than that. The Good Sister has so many interesting twists and turns I wasn't even sure until the very end what the true story was about the events that transpired. That's a good thing. The story centers on a set of twins who are as different as night and day. Several events from their childhood are brought to light in flashbacks, although they "remember" the events quite differently. As adults, one of the sisters learns she can't get pregnant. The other decides she will carry a baby for her twin to repay her for everything she did for her when they were growing up. Some of the most poignant scenes involve the birth mother and how she feels about the baby. Even before I knew which wa...

 Well, that break lasted much longer than I expected. I don't know how long I'll be sticking around this time, but I hope it's a long time.