Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Big Brothers Big Sisters of McKean County would like to thank the businesses and individuals who participated and donated in Bowl For Kids’ Sake 2013. Bowl For Kids’ Sake is our largest annual fundraiser that took place on March 23, 2013 at Byllye Lanes in Bradford. Funds raised will support ongoing professional match support for one on one matches between adult volunteers and youth in need of an additional positive adult role model throughout McKean County. Big Brothers Big Sisters is an evidence-based mentoring program shown to prevent substance abuse and anti-social behavior among youth. Served youth show significant improvements in school attendance, academic performance, involvement with positive school and community activities, self-esteem, interpersonal and problem solving skills, and future planning and goal setting. Served youth are also much more likely to develop friendships with positive peers and have improved relationships with family members. It costs approximately $1,...

Hershey – Ryan Devlin, a teacher in the Brockway Area School District, Jefferson County, today was named Pennsylvania’s 2013 Teacher of the Year at the Keystone Awards of Excellence banquet in Hershey. “On behalf of Governor Tom Corbett and the citizens of Pennsylvania, I congratulate Ryan for achieving this well-deserved, prestigious award,” Secretary of Education Ron Tomalis said in announcing the award. “As a dedicated professional, Ryan’s commitment to both the teaching profession and his students demonstrates that Pennsylvania is home to quality individuals who are in the classroom educating our children.” Devlin, currently in his fifth year at Brockway Area High School, teaches 11th-grade British literature, 8th-grade computer science and two senior-high electives: creative writing and digital media. He also serves as chairman of the high school’s English department. His teaching methods include extensive use of technology in the classroom for which he received the Keystones...

A contingent from WESB and The Hero participated in the anuual Bowl for Kids Sake Saturday at Byllye Lanes. Above, Igor celebrates his strike. Below, The Chicken Dance and (not pictured) The Limbo were also part of the fun. Igor, in his signature red cape, got a prize from Big Brothers/Big Sisters for being a Hero for the agency. Pictured with Igor are Erin Vassallo and Annie Wolfe of Big Brothers/Big Sisters. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Erin Fero of Family Group Decision Making welcomes people to her booth at the McKean County Collaborative Resource Fair at the old Ames Store in the Bradford Mall. The event goes on until 6 p.m. today. Other organizations at the fair include the YWCA, Career Link, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, The Friendship Table, McKean County Family Centers, Bradford Regional Medical Center and Futures. Catholic Charities Adoption Services, Life and Independence for Today and the BOCES Practical Nursing Program also have free information for people who attend the fair.

A total of $16,711 in funding to support mentoring in McKean County was raised by bowlers and local businesses during the 2011 Bowl for Kids’ Sake event, held April 2, 2011 at Byllye Lanes in Bradford. 181 people bowled during the event, which is held annually to raise funds for Big Brothers Big Sisters of McKean County. Funds are used to support local matched pairs, children waiting to be matched, and for program promotion and development. Many ‘veteran’ teams returned to bowl in support of the program and there were also many new teams who came to the event to raise money for a good cause. Children and Youth Services of McKean County brought eight teams consisting of staff, youth, and participants in the Independent Living Program. The group was led by Breanne Abbott, Independent Living supervisor, and assisted by members of Alpha Phi Omega, a service fraternity from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Participants donned bright orange T-shirts, and showed off their team s...