Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Yesterday we told you on the air that the United Way of the Bradford Area was at 53 percent of its campaign goal. Well, that news is outdated already. Bradford Area School District, Zippo Manufacturing Co., American Refining Group Inc. and Northwest Savings Bank have so far been the champions of the United Way of the Bradford Area’s latest campaign. Officials announced Friday that, just more than a month into its 2014 Be a Champion campaign, they have already raised 60 percent of the $345,000 goal. School district staff members increased their contributions by nearly 50 percent, while both Zippo and ARG also recorded significant increases in their employee campaigns. The campaign has been structured differently this year under the leadership of co-chairs Lisa Minich and Jeannine Schoenecker, who have stressed the importance of having plenty of volunteers and making more-personal appeals. “Our goal with this year’s campaign was to re-energize the volunteer base and bring bac...

A hoax bomb threat evacuated Fretz Middle School for a short time this morning. Bradford Area School District Assistant Superintendent Sam Johnson tells WESB someone called the FBI’s new reporting system saying he or she saw a bomb threat on Twitter. The school was evacuated while police and school district personnel did a sweep of the building. Police visited the home of the person purported to have called the FBI but learned it was not only a hoax but that the person had been “spoofed” – meaning another person used a program to make it look as if the call to the FBI came from the first person’s phone number, Johnson said. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Dr. Elmer C. Myers, Jr., 74, of Gifford, passed away Monday, July 21, 2014, at his residence. Born July 1, 1940, in Altoona, he was the son of the late Elmer C. and Twila (Aber) Myers, Sr. Dr. Myers was a graduate of Bellwood-Antis High School in Blair County. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Science from Lock Haven University and his Masters Degree in Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He pursued doctoral studies at Penn State University and completed his PhD in Educational Administration at the University of Pennsylvania. Elmer taught in the elementary grades in Bellwood-Antis. He served as Elementary Supervisor in the Northern York County School District, Director of Elementary Education in DuBois, and Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education in Corry. He was Director of Curriculum and Instruction and later Superintendent of Schools in the Pocono Mountain School District. Dr. Myers served the Bradford community as Superintendent of Schools fr...

Another downtown Bradford building may be getting a facelift. The Loyal Order of Moose building at 14 Pine Street is currently in the county repository, but the Bradford School Board during its meeting tonight is expected to give its consent to the Tax Claim Bureau to sell the property to the Downtown Bradford Revitalization Corporation for $500. Lee Minter has also made an offer -- $1,000 – and says he has two prospective tenants. Minter bought the former Archer’s building at the corner of Main and Congress streets two years ago. The item on the school board’s agenda says the DBRC is making the offer because it is “concerned with the preservation of one of our most significant buildings in the city’s historic district.” The DBRC plans to restore the building using grant money and/or by working with private investors who having a building restoration plan and resources to implement it. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Leadership McKean honored the graduates of its 2013-14 class on Friday at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Throughout the year, program participants focused on issues affecting McKean County in areas like health and human services, economic development, education and tourism. To end the year, participants developed presentations that were inspired by the year’s topics and presenters. This year’s class developed the following presentations, many of which will be implemented in the future: Bradford Ecumenical Home, Inc.—Residents on the Go! Financial Literacy Volunteer McKean Facebook Site Mobile Library Bradford Area High School Career Awareness and Workplace Readiness Program Mike Glesk, a member of the Leadership McKean Steering Committee said that with 24 graduates, this is the largest Leadership McKean class in the program's eight-year history. To date, 142 participants completed the program. During the graduation ceremony, Dan Minich a...

The Bradford Area School Board is expected to approve the resignation of one of the district’s principals during its meeting tonight. GGB Elementary School Principal David Jones plants to retire at the end of the day on June 30, according to the school board agenda for tonight’s meeting. He has been with the school district for 33 years. No replacement has been named yet. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Bob Esch, the Bradford Area School District and Lisa Minich were among the people honored this morning during the annual Bradford Family YMCA Community Awards breakfast. Minich was named Volunteer of the Year. Hannah Schutz was recognized as Youth Volunteer of the Year. Esch and the school district received community service awards. Also, five high school students received Ray C. Uhler Outstanding Youth Awards. They are Allyson Marasco from Bradford, Brittany Kowatch from Kane, Margaret Decker from Otto-Eldred, Logan Hutton from Port Allegany and Emily Housler from Smethport. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Bradford Area High School will be hosting the IU9 Elementary ChorusFest at 7 p.m. Thursday. This choir includes 114 5th and 6th grade students from around the Intermediate Unit stretching from Northern Potter to St. Marys. The students rehearse many hours during the day to culminate in a spectacular evening performance. The host director and guest conductor for the day are Andrew Dutko, choral teacher at Fretz Middle School, and Gina Lupini. Lupini is a teacher at Valley View School District, the recipient of many awards for her choirs and holds an MA in Choral Conducting Mansfield University. The Fretz Middle School Show Choir will open the concert with tunes like "Drive My Car" and "One Moment in Time," and the 114-member choir will perform pieces like "I've Got the World on a String" and "Old Dan Tucker." Tickets for the event are $3 for adults and $2 for students. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

By Kiara Catanzaro SBU ’15 St. Bonaventure University will host its 28th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29. Local high school girls and their coaches will participate in sporting event programs throughout the day with St. Bonaventure’s female student-athletes and staff. The event, sponsored by the School of Education, the Department of Physical Education, the Department of Athletics, the Department of Military Science and the Visiting Scholars Program, will host 15 school districts including 400 women student-athletes along with their coaches and teachers. Students from the following school districts will attend: Allegany-Limestone, Archbishop Walsh, Austin Area Schools, Bath, Bolivar-Richburg, Bradford, Cuba-Rushford, Fillmore, Franklinville, Jamestown-Lutheran, Portville, Randolph, Seneca Nation, South Park and Southwestern. After 9 a.m. registration, students will listen to a keynote address from alumnus Amy Mo...

The Port Allegany Marching Gators were one of the bands that performed during the 34th annual Autumn Classic Saturday at Parkway Field. To see more pictures go to our Facebook page facebook.com/1490wesb . WESB photo The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Robert Hannon has been named Bradford High’s head varsity girls’ basketball coach for the 2013-14 school year. The Bradford Area School Board held a special meeting at noon today to vote on the measure. The appointment is effective today. Former coach Ann Nuzzo was not recommended to continue in the position, despite consecutive winning seasons with the team. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

School starts in Bradford tomorrow, but some students won’t be going at their normal times. 7th and 8th graders will start at 10:50 a.m. 10th, 11th and 12th graders will start at 11: 05 a.m. 6th graders will start at their normal time of 7:50 a.m. 9th graders will start at their normal time of 8:05 a.m. All elementary school students will start at their normal time. All schools will dismiss at their regularly scheduled times. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

PITTSBURGH – Bradford resident Marissa Buchheit has been cast in the Pittsburgh premiere of the Tony Award-winning blockbuster musical In the Heights . Hailed by the New York Times as "the hottest, most street savvy production in years" the show is being produced by Carrnivale Theatrics in conjunction with Front Porch Theatricals at the New Hazlett Theater from August 23 through September 1. This high-energy show features a contemporary Latin-flavored score and Tony-winning hip-hop dance moves. It takes place in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, where a young store owner watches the joys and heartbreaks of his tight-knit community as they pass through his bodega. In the Heights was nominated for 13 Tonys in 2008 and won four Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Original Score,Best Choreography and Best Orchestrations. Buchheit, who will be playing the role of Carla, joins a diverse cast of 24 other performers from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, New Yo...

The State Senate today unanimously approved legislation to expand and enhance the safe schools grant program within the Department of Education, according to Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25). Scarnati was able to secure over $8.5 million in this year’s budget for funding of school safety initiatives, in order to provide grants to Pennsylvania schools and municipalities to address the issue of school violence and improve school safety. Senate Bill 10 was introduced by Senator Scarnati in February, in response in part to the tragic school shooting that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, last December. “Passage of Senate Bill 10 is a major accomplishment for Pennsylvania’s children, parents and educators,” Scarnati said. “I am grateful to my colleagues in the Senate and the House for understanding the necessity of this legislation, which will ensure the greatest level of security possible in our schools. Protecting our childre...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director The Bradford Area School Board on Monday approved a budget and a comprehensive plan for the high school for the next academic year, but did not take any action regarding the Lady Owls basketball coach. Before the second public comment portion of the monthly meeting superintendent Katy Pude acknowledged the people in the audience who were “looking for an explanation” as to why Ann Nuzzo was not going to be recommended to continue coaching the girls’ basketball team for the 2013-14 season. She said it is a personnel issue that she can’t discuss in public, but she did talk about “what did not lead to this decision.” “The truth is there were several parent complaints during basketball season and these were dealt with individually and at that time,” Pude said. “There has not been a recent outcry by any of these parents asking for the coach’s dismissal.” She apologized to any parents or students who were hurt by those rumors. Pude went on t...

The Bradford Area School District is sponsoring a bookmobile that will be in the community through August 8. It will be going around the community to various parks. The schedule is: Monday-Callahan Park Tuesday-Hanley Park Wednesday-Brookline Court Park Thursday-Kendall Ave Park The book mobile will be set up at the parks from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.. There is no charge, and students are allowed to check out two books each time. Also, there are picture books available for toddlers and younger children. There will be a variety of books for all ages. The students will get a certificate for a treat when they return their books. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The American Association of University Women - Bradford Branch honored Margie Holland of Bradford with the Gateway to Equity Award last week. Holland, a native of Kane, tackled Title IX and brought forth a lawsuit that set a precedent in the state of Pennsylvania for coaches of women sports to be paid the same as coaches in male sports. She also played professional women's baseball in her younger years. Holland taught in the Bradford Area School District for several years as well as coached girls' basketball. Gateway to Equity award to honor individuals, groups or organizations that have shown, by action and philosophy, that they advance equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy or research. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

For the 12th year in a row, the Bradford Area School Board will not be raising taxes. The preliminary budget was introduced and approved during last night’s board meeting. It will be on display in the district office until it’s adopted at next month’s meeting. Also during last night’s meeting, the board tabled a proposal that would hire a second school resource officer for the next school year. Assistant Superintendent Sam Johnson asked the board to put the measure on hold because Bradford City Police Chief Chris Lucco is trying to get grant money to pay the officer’s salary. Current school resource officer Butch Bartlett was at last night’s meeting, and introduced some of the members of the high school’s Criminal Justice Club who recently traveled to Washington, D.C. The students presented a slide show and talked about the highlights of their trip. For more pictures, and video, of the trip you can go to the club's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/BAHS-Criminal-Ju...

Bradford Regional Medical Center’s (BRMC) Brooke Hamilton, D.D.S. visited the Floyd C. Fretz Middle School on Friday as part of an ongoing effort by school districts throughout the State of Pennsylvania to offer dental examinations for school-aged children. Dental examinations are required on original entry into school and in grades three and seven. Dr. Hamilton completed exams earlier in the year at George G. Blaisdell Elementary and School Street Elementary. “Dental disease prevention, providing education, and preventive interventions are a very low-tech, cost-effective way to control dental disease and potentially improve quality of life. I enjoy the opportunity to meet children in the school environment where they are most comfortable. Hopefully, they are encouraged to practice good oral health,” said Dr. Hamilton. Dr. Hamilton is a graduate of the OSU College of Dentistry and joined the Bradford Dental Center in early 2012. The Bradford Dental Center offers a broad array of ...

Andrew Scanlan, Kaitlyn Hallock, Ryan Daughenbaugh and Chris Borland make their way down the Yellow Brick Road in dress rehearsal for "The Wizard of Oz," being presented Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Bradford High Auditorium. These four actors, along with Evan Close, Lexie Thurston, Ariel DeFrank and Cole Vecchio (and co-director Andrew Dutka) stopped by our studios earlier this week to talk about the show. You can hear part one of the interview here . Part Two Stay tuned for part three. Photo courtesy of Kimberly Hallock The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947