Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

  Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on Monday announced the launch of NY PopsUp - an unprecedented and expansive festival featuring hundreds of pop-up performances, many of which are free of charge and all open to the public — that will intersect with the daily lives of New Yorkers. This series of events, intended to revitalize the spirit and emotional well-being of New York citizens with the energy of live performance while jumpstarting New York's struggling live entertainment sector, is a private/public partnership overseen by producers Scott Rudin and Jane Rosenthal, in coordination with the New York State Council on the Arts and Empire State Development. The Festival will serve as a "pilot program," creating the state's first large-scale model for how to bring live performance back safely after this prolonged COVID-related shutdown. The programming for NY PopsUp will be curated by the interdisciplinary artist Zack Winokur, in partnership with a council of artistic advisors...

St. Bonaventure University will save an estimated $100,000 or more a year on its electric bill thanks to a new solar electric project being developed in Olean. BQ Energy of Poughkeepsie, a leader in developing renewable energy on brownfields and landfills, will construct a pair of 2.7-megawatt solar arrays on a 24-acre portion (Parcel 3) of the Olean Gateway Site off Buffalo Road near Interstate 86. The longtime industrial site has been undergoing a massive cleanup over the past several years to make the land usable again for development. The project, called Solean, is among eight projects in Western New York and 141 in the state receiving support through Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s NY-Sun initiative. “It couldn’t be more of a win-win situation for us,” said Brenda McGee, senior vice president for finance and administration at St. Bonaventure. “We’re thrilled to be partnering with BQ on this clean-energy initiative, which reaffirms our commitment to sustainability and the redu...

Read more at CNN.com .

No fracking in New York State. That’s the decision from Governor Andrew Cuomo after the state’s acting health commissioner and the head of the department of environmental conservation said they couldn’t support fracking because of possible public health risks. During his entire time in office, Cuomo had been waiting for a report from the health commissioner before making a decision a whether to lift the moratorium on fracking in New York. Karen Moreau, executive director of the New York State Petroleum Council says, “This is the wrong direction for New York,” adding that Pennsylvania has gotten $2.1 billion in state and local taxes from fracking, which has gone toward improvements to roads, bridges and public works systems. Congressman Tom Reed says the decision is devastating for the Southern Tier economy. "I am extremely disappointed in today’s announcement from Governor Cuomo which bans hydraulic fracturing. This move effectively blocks the development of natural gas and...

A Lake Effect Snow Advisory will go into effect late this afternoon and go through Friday afternoon. The National Weather Service in State College says we can expect the snow to start at around 5 o’clock and end at around 3 o’clock tomorrow afternoon, but the heaviest snow is likely between 8 o’clock tonight and 10 o’clock tomorrow morning. The northwest part of McKean County – including Bradford, Lewis Run and Ludlow – could see between 4 and 7 inches of snow. The southeastern part of the county will see 2 or 3 inches. A Lake Effect Snow Warning will be in effect in Warren County during the same time period. Parts of that county could get up to 10 inches of snow. The warning remains in effect in Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties until noon tomorrow. In Lake Effect Snow storms the weather can vary from locally heavy snow in narrow bands to clear skies just a few miles away. If you’re traveling across the region, be prepared for quick changes in road conditions, as well as visibil...

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

Governor Tom Corbett and his Democratic challenger Tom Wolf are putting in a full day of campaigning the day before tomorrow’s election. Corbett will be attending rallies in every media market in the state today, ending in his hometown of Pittsburgh. Wolf will also be in Pittsburgh, and also Lancaster. He spent the weekend in southeastern Pennsylvania, and was joined by President Barack Obama at a rally at Temple University in Philadelphia. Corbett’s running mate is current lieutenant governor Jim Cawley. Wolf’s running mate is current state Senator Mike Stack of Philadelphia. In New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo is being challenged by Rob Astorino. In race for the Twin Tiers’ representatives in Washington – the incumbent Republican men in both Pennsylvania and New York are up against Democratic women. In PA, Kerith Strano Taylor is challenging Glenn Thompson. In New York, Martha Robertson is challenging Tom Reed. In Salamanca, Mayor Carmen Vechhiarella is pitted against Ronald ...

Two hospitals in Buffalo are among 10 in New York State designated to treat Ebola patients. ECMC and Women and Children’s Hospital have agreed to care for potential Ebola patients, according to Governor Andrew Cuomo. New York State’s Ebola plan calls for designated hospitals statewide, which are equipped for the isolation, identification, and treatment of Ebola patients, to handle all Ebola cases. Cuomo’s office said the designation of Ebola treatment centers does not lessen the need for all hospitals to be able to appropriately and rapidly identify, isolate, diagnose and stabilize suspect Ebola patients. Additional hospitals are expected to be designated soon. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

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...

Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Allegany and 8 other New York counties have been approved for a federal major disaster declaration following severe storms and flooding in May that caused serious damage. Governor Andrew Cuomo says he’s pleased that President Obama has responded to his request, and that the declaration will bring much needed federal financial aid to communities that saw some of the worst flooding they’ve seen in decades. More than 6,500 homes and businesses were without power and more than 130 families experience significant property damage during the storms that started May 12. A state of emergency was declared the Village of Gowanda. FEMA’s preliminary damage estimate shows that the state and counties spent more than $28 million in response and recovery efforts. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Ralph Wilson Jr., the founder and owner of the Buffalo Bills, has died. He was 95. Team president Russ Brandon made the announcement at the NFL Annual Meeting today. Wilson was one of the original founders of the American Football League and was instrumental in the early days of the league. He was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009. Governor Andrew Cuomo: “Today we lost a legendary member of the New York family. Ralph Wilson Jr., the last remaining original team owner of an AFL franchise, member of the NFL Hall of Fame, and founder of the Buffalo Bills, gave us a team that has been the pride of Western New York for the past 54 years. The Bills remain, to this day, an economic engine for the region, generating revenue and providing jobs at a stadium that will bear Mr. Wilson’s name for years to come. From his military service during World War II, to his ownership of the Bills, Mr. Wilson left a legacy of leadership that helped keep the team in Buffalo for mo...

Former Buffalo Bill Thurman Thomas has been appointed vice chairman of the New York State Tourism Advisory Council. Governor Andrew Cuomo made the appointment earlier today, saying Thomas has shown a commitment to New York on and off the field, and will be using his experience to help make upstate New York a premier destination for visitors from around the globe. The Hall of Fame running back said he knows how important it is to Cuomo that Buffalo and Western New York receive the proper representation and promotion, and he’s looking forward to making that happen. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

(News Release) ALBANY, NY – The Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY) today issued the following statement on Governor Cuomo’s veto of a bill which would have legalized fireworks: “The Governor has made the right choice by vetoing this bill, which we feel was not in the best interest of public safety, especially as it relates to our youngest New Yorkers, said FASNY President James Burns. “Many of the fires and emergencies our first responders encounter each year are preventable tragedies caused by the possession and use of illegal fireworks, and we thank the Governor for ensuring this bill did not become law.” The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Cattaraugus and Allegany county district attorney’s offices are among 29 in New York State getting grant money to buy or upgrade video interrogation systems. Cattaraugus County will get nearly $40,000 to be divided between the Allegany, Ellicottville, Franklinville, Gowanda, Portville and Salamanca police departments, as well the DA’s and sheriff’s office. Allegany County’s $25,000 will be divided between the Alfred, Andover, Angelica, Friendship, Independence and Wellsville police departments. “With these grants, New York State is giving local law enforcement the resources they need to enhance the integrity, fairness and effectiveness of our criminal justice system,” Governor Cuomo said in a news release. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A cheese manufacturing plant is moving to Chautauqua County, and bringing a couple hundred new jobs with it. Empire Specialty Cheese Company will take over the former AFA Foods Plant in Ashville. The $6 million project that includes renovating the building and buying new machinery and equipment is expected to create 204 jobs over five years after the project is finished next year. The project is also expected to create new demand for local milk production and potentially re-employ workers at the facility that were terminated less than two years ago. “In Chautauqua County and Western New York, local businesses like Empire Specialty Cheese are expanding, investing in their community and creating new jobs for New Yorkers,” said Governor Andrew Cuomo. “This company’s choice to invest in economic improvements in Western New York is another example of what can happen when state government partners with businesses to help them succeed.” Empire State Development, the state’s economic de...

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo was in Salamanca today present a check for $34.5 million as part of the agreement that resolved a multi-year dispute between the state and the Seneca Nation of Indians over casinos. Seneca President Barry Snyder Sr. said the nation appreciates that Cuomo understands the importance of Seneca Gaming to the region, and continued to work on a compromise. As part of the agreement reached in June, the state recognized and reconfirmed the compact that gives the Seneca Nation exclusive rights to operate casinos in Western New York, while the nation agreed to resume payments, and make up for payments, that they stopped when then-Governor David Paterson allowed non-Indian gaming in the region. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Governor Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders have agreed to authorize four upstate New York casinos. They will be near Binghamton; in the Hudson Valley-Catskills area; and in the Albany area. The fourth is also likely to be in the Catskills, which has a tradition of resort development. Voters will have the final say this fall when they’re asked to pass a referendum that would allow up to seven non-Indian casinos across the state over the next several years. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

If you get caught texting and driving in New York the penalty will now be five points off your driver’s license instead of three. During a news conference today, Governor Andrew Cuomo said the penalty applies to any kind of cellphone activity while driving. The change goes into effect Saturday. Cuomo is also proposing legislation that would impose tougher sanctions against probationary and junior drivers for texting. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Seneca Nation President Barry Snyder Sr. says Governor Andrew Cuomo is a bully. Snyder released a statement today saying Cuomo is engaging in playground bully tactics regarding the stalemate over revenue sharing from the nation’s casinos. After signing an agreement with the Oneida Indian Nation on Thursday, Cuomo said the state could force the Senecas to stop operating their casinos after their compact expires in 2016. At issue is the more than $500 million in payments the Senecas have withheld from the state because they say New York violated a contract by allowing gambling in the nation’s exclusive territory. Cuomo wants to expand gambling in New York and said last week that unless the Seneca, Oneida and Mohawk nations came to agreements with the state, new casinos could possibly be built in their territory. You can read Snyder's news release here . The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

New York’s Assembly has voted to extend the moratorium on fracking in the state to 2015. Wednesday’s vote follows a bill introduced in the Senate which would put off the decision by Governor Andrew Cuomo on whether to allow the controversial drilling method in New York. Cuomo has said he will wait for recommendations from his health and environmental conservation departments, as well as the Geisinger health study from Pennsylvania, before making a decision. He has not set a deadline. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947