Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Sustainability Committee will sponsor a series of free workshops on indoor gardening with master gardener Bob Harris during January and February. All three workshops will be held beginning at 10 a.m. in the Harriett B. Wick Chapel on campus. The series begins January 25 with terrariums. Participants can bring their own clear glass or plastic containers and purchase plants for the terrarium for $3 each at the workshop, which will also include learning the old art of terrarium sand painting. The second event will be Indoor Gardening for Your Health on Feb. 8. Learn how to use indoor plants to improve your indoor environment, health and well-being. On Feb. 22, Harris will teach another make-and-take workshop on Zen sand gardens. Participants can bring any favorite colored sand or rocks they may have. Harris is a certified master gardener through Penn State Cooperative Extension, the p...

While you're preparing for the "Frankenstorm," remember your trees! Master Gardner Bob Harris talked about that on today's season finale of "Around the Home." Listen here . The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

We saw this woolly bear caterpillar outside -- and inside -- our studios earlier this week. So, what do the stripes tells us about the impending winter season? Master Gardener Bob Harris has the answer: Listen here . If you'd like to ask Bob a question, give him a call today at 368-9372 during "Around the Home with Bob Harris" at 8:30 a.m. on 1490 WESB and at WESB.com . The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Have a question about late blight (tomato blight), when or how to prune your Rhododendron, something you heard on the Farmer's Almanac Report or anything lawn and garden related? Master Gardener Bob Harris is the man with the answers. You can call Bob and have him answer your question live at 8:30 Saturday mornings on 1490 WESB or email us with your question at news@wesb.com and we'll pass it along. If you can't listen to "Around the Home with Bob Harris" at 8:30 Saturday morning on 1490 WESB, you can listen on demand: http://wesb.com/onair/aroundthehome/index.php Happy gardening! The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

By Kimberly Marcott Weinberg Assistant Director of Communications and Marketing Artists Monet, Van Gogh and Georgia O’Keeffe were inspired by flowers, but Bob Harris, facilities worker and gardener at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, is inspired by the artists. This year, Harris has designed the flower beds at Pitt-Bradford with an artistic influence in mind. Each major planting is inspired by the work of an artist: Monet, Van Gogh, Titian (he wanted to throw in a Renaissance painter), Georgia O’Keeffe and Picasso. It’s not the first year his beds have had a scholarly theme. They’ve been based on the colors of ancient Egypt (complete with plexiglass pyramid), mimicked Victorian carpet patterns and reproduced the Minotaur’s Labyrinth on the Greek island of Crete. This theme, he said, reflects his interest in and envy of painters. Plus, he’s got art in the family – a wife who loves art history and a daughter who’s a mixed media artist in New M...

United Way of the Bradford Area, Inc. will host the 2nd Annual Spring Arts Gala on Thursday, April 19th at the Bradford Club. The event will feature over 30 pieces of artwork donated from local artists, including paintings, framed photographs, wood carvings, glass sculpture, jewelry, and hand crafted furniture. Tim Asinger will act as head auctioneer for the event, with a guest auctioneer appearance by Woody Woodruff. When we planned the Spring Art Gala last year, we had a vision of creating an event that showcased the local talent of the Bradford community, in a festive networking atmosphere. This year, we have been overwhelmed with the scope of talent and variety of artists that have agreed to donate hand crafted items for the auction. From students with the Bradford Area High School art club, to inmates with FCI McKean, to area artists such as Denise Drummond, Sean Huntington, Alan Hancock, Jay Monti, and Gina Zetts, among others, we know that this year’s gala will well represent t...

Nick Distrola of Bradford sent us these pictures from his yard this morning. Regular listeners to 1490 WESB's "Around the Home" may remember the racoon family that raided Nick's plum tree this summer. In the middle of the picture is that very tree. By the way, if you missed any broadcasts of "Around the Home" you can still listen to any or all of them by going to http://wesb.com/bob/index.php

A caller to this morning's "Around the Home with Bob Harris" asked how to keep raccoons away from his plum tree. He sent us pictures of the cute critters, who may be a little surprised if Nick uses the cayenne peppper method to keep them away. If you missed today's "Around the Home," or any other show from this season, go here to listen on demand. Nick also sent us a picture of one of the bears that's been visiting his neighborhood.

Earlier this week we told you about the return of the giant hogweed plant. This morning on "Around the Home," Master Gardner Bob Harris talked more about the plant and also wanted to make sure people know that it can live for quite a long time before growing the large umbrella-sized leaves it's known for. Listen to Around the Home by clicking here , then clicking on the "Giant Hogweed" show. Photos provided by the New York Invasive Species Clearinghouse .

This Luna Moth was on the back door at WESB and The HERO this morning. Master Gardner Bob Harris says you don’t see them a whole lot but there are a few around here. He says it's called a "luna" moth -- as in lunar -- because it does most of its work in the evening -- going to flowers to collect nectar, and pollinating. If you'd like to listen to "Around the Home with Master Gardner Bob Harris -- today's show or any from this season -- go to http://wesb.com/bob/index.php

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will hold its annual Alumni and Family Weekend Oct. 1-3 with several events open to the general public. Those include a career networking luncheon, nursing seminar and annual block party and vendor fair. The weekend gets underway Friday, Oct. 1, with a nursing seminar presented by Tamra Minnier ’81, chief quality officer for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. For more information on the seminar, which will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Bromeley Family Theater, contact the Division of Continuing Education and Regional Development at (814)362-5078 or e-mail reach@pitt.edu . Also on Friday, a career networking luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Mukaiyama University Room in the Frame-Westerberg Commons, where a panel of professionals who are Pitt-Bradford alumni will share insights and advice on successful careers. Panel members are Lorenzo Newsome ’84, president and chief investment officer for Xavier C...

Last Saturday, a gentleman asked Master Gardener Bob Harris when, and how, to harvest sunflowers for their seeds. (He was talking about "mammoth" sunflowers, not the variety pictured here.) That question prompted Bob to do this week's show on when to harvest vegetables from your garden. Tune in to 1490 WESB and 8:30 a.m. today for the information and/or to ask Bob a question.

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will roll out the red carpet for its second annual gala art auction to benefit the Pitt-Bradford Arts Endowment. The Hollywood-themed evening begins at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 18 in Blaisdell Hall at the university and includes a live and silent auction, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and entertainment both before and after the auction. “The auction committee has outdone itself in putting together a Hollywood-venue event that will ‘wow’ everyone,” said Gail McDonough, chairwoman of the committee. “While last year’s event was extremely successful, this year’s promises to be even better.” Tickets for the auction are $65 and may be purchased by calling Patty Colosimo, assistant director of arts programming, at 814-362-5155. Tickets will not be available the night of the auction. A pair of musicians from the Southern Tier Symphony will play classical music and movie themes with Emily Tunstall-Frack on cello and Julia Tunsta...

Master Gardner Bob Harris passed along more information about Goat's Rue, the noxious weed that's been found in Smethport. One of the pieces of information is that Goat's Rue is two words, not one as we reported yesterday. Listen to Bob here .

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director We’re under attack by caterpillars. Well, at least some of our trees are. Master Gardner Bob Harris says the infestation is due to the late frost, which weakened the trees and forced them to make more leaves. “We’re getting attacked by the forest tent caterpillar and Eastern tent caterpillar,” Harris said. “They’re going to chew on a lot of leaves.” “A lot of (the trees) can’t afford to have the caterpillars eat up the second set of leaves,” Harris said. “That will do them in.” He said just about every ornamental tree will be affected as will crab apple, cherry, beech and oak trees. Some trees it won’t touch are the horse chestnut and red maple, although they do like sugar maple. Harris said there are several things people can do to protect their trees. The first is putting a belt of grease around the trunk. “That’s very, very helpful because these caterpillars go up and down the tree every day,” Harris said. “They like to go up in the evening w...

The Ninth Annual Kinzua Outdoor and Travel Show, February 26th and 27th, offers a broad range of speakers and children’s programs with a wide variety of interests that appeal to all ages. The Show, held at the Bradford Mall, is scheduled for 4 pm to 9 pm Friday the 26th, and 10 am to 6 pm Saturday the 27th. “The 2010 speaker series and youth activity lineup will compel you to attend the event,” stated John Sullivan, event chair. “It is impossible to select just one to attend in either our main speaker area or the youth activity area.” The Speaker Series kicks off on Friday the 26th at 6:30 pm with Rick Esch and John Shinaberger of the Tuna Valley Trail Association to discuss Tuna Valley Trail Association: Past, Present, and Future. At 7:15 pm, Kirk Johnson of the Friends of Allegheny Wilderness – Warren will present Preserving Wilderness Areas in the Allegheny National Forest. Both programs appeal to all ages interested in exploring and protecting the abundant natural resources thro...

Video clips at Ustream Streaming online this morning: 8:30 -- Around the Home with Bob Harris 9:00 -- CNN News followed by local news and sports with Kevin Clark; and Lindsay's weather 9:15 -- Weekend Wrap -- Congressman Joe Sestak talks about the "public option" 9:30 -- AdLine

Video clips at Ustream Stayed tuned for the news, sports, The Weekend Wrap and Ad Line.

See? I told you I was growing some. Remember, if you have questions about tomatoes, or anything else lawn and garden related, you can call 1490 WESB's "Around the Home with Bob Harris" at 8:30 a.m. today. If you don't want to be on the air, you can also leave your question here, or send us an instant message from WESB.com . Bob answers questions about tomato blight HERE .

if I really do have a garden (because I talk about it on Saturday mornings) ... I do. And, as evidenced by the yellow blossom (and several more that I didn't photograph), I'll have tomatoes soon. If you have questions about your tomaotes, or anything else you're growing, call Master Gardner Bob Harris during "Around the Home" at 8:30 a.m. Saturday on 1490 WESB. Or, you can send us an instant message (from WESB.com ) and I'll ask him for you.