Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

By ANNE HOLLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Get ready for another traffic change in downtown Bradford. An ordinance to make Kennedy Street one-way from Boylston Street to Main Street was approved on first reading by city council Tuesday night. Traffic would flow toward Main Street. Mayor Tom Riel explained that a parking space would be removed from Main Street so people turning onto Main from Kennedy would have a better view. Also, council approved on first reading an ordinance that would allow parking on both side of Kennedy Street from Boylston to Main. The measures are in response to concerns from Kennedy Street business owners. If approved on second reading, both ordinances would go into effect on October 4. Councilman Rick Benton voted against the proposed ordinances because of the “terrible sight problem.” “I hope one parking space will take care of it,” he said. Also Tuesday, council agreed to execute an agreement with Rudy Gobin to buy 19-23 Pine Street for $50,000, pending appro...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Some changes are coming to downtown Bradford, as several business owners make improvements to existing buildings. Dianne Thompson, pending owner of the former Nusbaum Grocery building on East Washington Street, will be making a number of changes. Bradford City Council on Tuesday agreed to issue the building inspector permission to issue a building permit to Thompson for installation of new windows, siding and reconstruction of the entryway of the building, making an arched entry. The interior of the building will be totally renovated, adding living space on the first floor, and upgrades to the electrical, pluming and heating systems. The outside of the building will be painted green and cream, the same colors as The Corner Bar next door. “Good luck with that, Dianne,” said Mayor Tom Riel. “I think Al (Nusbaum) would be smiling if he knew you were doing this.” “I do, too,” Thompson said. “Thank you.” Thompson’s downtown neighbor Joe Fromach, owne...

Bradford City Council on Tuesday passed two resolutions to address the city's budgetary problems. First, the city is submitting a Fleet Credit Card Application to buy E-85 Flex Fuel for all city vehicles that can use it. Wednesday afternoon, E-85 was 50 cents cheaper than regular gasoline. Also, any purchase expected to be more than $50 has to have prior approval from the city clerk or deputy city clerk. Because of a decrease in timber revenues, the city is looking at a budget shortfall of between $300,000 and $500,000. Also during Tuesday's meeting, council awarded a contract to I.A. Construction for paving Kennedy and Boylston streets. The $109.5 million project is being funded with 2008 Community Development Block Grant money. In other matters, City Clerk John Peterson wanted to remind contractors that the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act goes into effect on July 1, and they must be registered with the state. Attorney General Tom Corbett says that the law is intended...

Despite the fact that the Bradford Regional Strategy has been in the works for about three years a public meeting on the plan got a bit heated last night. People seemed to be confused about what the plan is, how facets of it will be funded and why it's necessary. OECD Executive Director Sara Andrews summed it up. "These are the type of projects we're trying to do to improve the quality of life here. Just because it's not like the old days should we all just give up and close the door and walk away? If that's the attitude ..." But she continued, "If you don't have a plan, how can you look forward? How can you look forward to the future if you don't have a plan to improve your community?" She also stressed that everything in the plan is just a proposal at this point and nothing is set in stone. Also before Tuesday's city council council, Roberta Sarraf of the master plan team explained the new zoning ordiance that, during the meeting, counc...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director The Bradford Mall, swine flu and the Derrick City reunion were among the topics discussed during a lengthy Foster Township supervisors meeting Monday night. Seaward Avenue resident Tom Perry asked if anything could be done with the mall to push the owners into doing something. Township solicitor Dick Mutzabaugh said if codes are being violated the owners could be cited, and he could give further advice when and if that happens. Township resident Jim Connolly mentioned the Bradford Master Plan, which calls for "cutting the building, more or less, in half" with the stream running between the two halves of the building. He said if the Office of Economic and Community Development could come up with grant money, and go to the owners saying they and the township want to work with them "and hand them some free money, maybe it would give them some incentive to get the mall … going." "Isn't the Bradford Mall the most valuabl...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director During the first public meeting of the Bradford Master Plan team about two years ago, members of the team said one of the toughest obstacles to overcome would be attitude. Wednesday night, during a presentation of the plan to the planning boards of the local municipalities, Albert Filoni of MacLachlan, Cornelius and Filoni Architects Inc. of Pittsburgh said attitudes are starting to change. "The first year of our interviews were a little depressing," Filoni said. "We heard nothing but what a mess it was; how dead Main Street was; how all the young people were leaving. Negative. Negative. Negative." "We kept looking around and looking at things and we couldn't find all that negativity in what we were seeing," he said. "I think as we've been working together for two years, we've seen that attitude start to change," he said. He said one thing area residents have to remember is that people already ...

Albert Filoni of MacLachlan, Cornelius & Filoni Architects speaks to a group that attended a public forum on the "Bradford Regional Strategy." Among the issues discussed was an ordinance being put into place that will require very strict registration of all rental properties.

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Having more places for the community to gather was one focus of a work session held Monday night by the Bradford Master Plan Team. The aim of the work session was to come up with ideas for four specific areas of the city – the Elm Street off-ramp to Route 219; the Tuna Creek area of Mechanic and East Washington streets; the intersection of West Washington Street and Interstate Parkway; and Veterans Square. The people who attended the work session were separated into four groups to address the issues concerning those areas. Chris Hauser's group worked on ideas for Veterans Square and, Hauser said, a reconfiguration of the elements of the square to create more space would be more conducive to holding a variety of events there. For example, during Summerfest all the vendors could be set up in an around the square instead of along Main Street. He said it would instill "a sense of community instead of being fragmented up and down Main Street...

03/05/06 - Bradford Master Plan Team Holds Forum The Bradford Master Plan team held a public form Wednesday, and Albert Filoni told people that the team is not trying to bring Bradford back to its glory days, but they are trying to bring about a resurgence. Among the issues discussed were housing, zoning and economic development. Another issue was the attitude of people in the area – which the team says needs to improve because Bradford isn't as bad as some people perceive it to be. Also, Joe Warner of Bradford Online said getting people back to downtown Bradford could be as simple as putting up a sign. Everyone at the meeting seemed to agree that a sign coming out of Wal-Mart, directing people downtown is a great idea. ( Pictured is Albert Filoni of MacLachlan, Cornelius & Filoni Architects ) For more information on the Master Plan, visit Bradford Regional Strategy . For video from the meeting, you can go to Bradford Online . Thanks Spider! 03/07/08 - Aide Quits over 'Mon...