Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Governor Tom Corbett and First Lady Susan Corbett (top) light the capitol tree on the front steps of the capitol building in Harrisburg on Thursday. Also pictured, a spectator participating in the ceremony; and Central Dauphin high school singers, who provided the musical selections at the capitol tree lighting ceremony. Photos provided by Commonwealth Media Service The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Santa will make several appearances this holiday season in historic downtown Bradford. Santa (from the Arcade & Attica North Pole Express) is scheduled to appear on Thursday, December 4 and Thursday, December 11 from 6-8 p.m. at Wright’s Music Shed, 80 Main Street, Bradford. Photography will be done by Shawn Murray Photography and coffees and hot chocolate will be provided by Creative Coffee. On Saturday, December 13 during downtown Bradford’s Old Fashioned Christmas, Santa will attend a Holiday Brunch from 9 a.m. to Noon at The Aud Restaurant located at 30 Boylston Street. Santa will then appear at Whimsical Studio at 119 Main Street from 1-4 p.m. Santa and a cast of holiday characters will appear at Bradford Little Theatre’s ‘Story Land’ event that will be held at their location at 79 Main Street from Noon -3 p.m. A final appearance by Santa will be held on Thursday, December 18 from 6-8 p.m. at Wright’s Music Shed. Photography will again be done by Shawn Murray Photograp...

If you have a book lover on your holiday shopping list -- or if you love reading holiday books -- or both check out "A Mark Twain Christmas" by Carlo DeVito. I had the pleasure of speaking with Mr. DeVito this morning about the book. Listen here .

Decorated 'Santa House' for many years Daryl R. Williams, 90, of 440 Congress Street, formerly of Rockland Ave., passed away Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at The Pavilion at Bradford Regional Medical Center, surrounded by his loving family. A lifelong area resident, he was born November 14, 1922 in Bradford. He was a son of the late Russell H. and Leona B. (Roberson) Williams. He was a 1940 graduate of Bradford High School. On September 8, 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served during World War II. While in the Army, he served with the 101st Airborne Division, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, Company A in the Normandy Invasion, Operation Market Garden in Holland and the defense of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. He was wounded twice and received the Purple Heart and Oak Leaf Cluster, Distinguished Unit Badge with Oak Leaf Cluster and the European African Middle Eastern Service Badge with four bronze stars. He was honorably discharged October 16, 1945. ...

Independence Law Center hails decision in favor of elementary school student PITTSBURGH — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled unanimously on Tuesday in favor of a student whose invitations to a church Christmas party, while in the 5th grade, were singled out and prohibited even though other student invitations were permitted. One would have thought that this issue could have been worked out once the Pocono Mountain School District’s administration was made aware of the selective censoring of a student’s speech. However, the school district in K.A. v. Pocono Mountain School District argued before the District Court and again at the Court of Appeals that its policy was constitutional. The Court of Appeals disagreed, finding that the school district and its policies unconstitutionally suppressed student expression. “We are grateful that the Third Circuit has affirmed the right of student expression,” said Randall Wenger of the Independence Law Center, one of the stu...

In case you missed the LiveLine with Sal Lizard on "Being Santa Claus," you can still listen to it. After that, you'll hear some easy entertaining tips. Video streaming by Ustream The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Governor Tom Corbett gets an assist from Lt. Governor Jim Cawley and his son Nicholas (5), along with First Lady Susan Corbett (right), and Suzanna Cawley (left) as they light the Capitol Christmas tree in a Tuesday evening ceremony on the Capitol steps. The ceremony, held outside for the first time in recent memory, brought together members of the community for a holiday celebration. The ceremony featured Christmas caroling led by the Hanover High School Victorian Singers. The 15-member vocal group specializes in singing acapella and they dress in Victorian-period garb. Photo provided by PA Internet News Service

Foster Township employee Ken Greek donated his time -- and decorations -- to spruce up a corner of the meeting room in the Foster Township Municipal Building for the holidays. WESB photo The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts at St. Bonaventure University invites the campus and community to “follow the star” in the first-ever campus crèche walk to be held from 3 to 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 7. The Quick Center’s annual display of its impressive collection of crèches from around the world is usually housed in one location, inside the arts center. This year, however, the collection will be displayed at three locations on campus: in the Quick Center’s Branch Gallery, the University Chapel, and the Thomas Merton Center. On Friday, Dec. 7, campus and community residents are invited to participate in the “Follow the Star Crèche Walk,” a walking tour of each display site accompanied by time for spiritual reflection. The event is open to all at no charge. Guests are invited to gather at the Quick Center at 3 p.m. that day and view the display in the Branch Gallery. They will then proceed to the University Chapel to view the crèches on display in the chapel’s side al...

Dramas Depict Reactions to Birth of Jesus A series of monologues titled “So Little They Knew’ will be offered throughout Advent at Grace Lutheran Church, 79 Mechanic St. The special services will be offered at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays Dec. 5, Dec. 12 and Dec. 19; also at regular services at 5:15 p.m. Saturday Dec. 15 and 11:15 a.m. Sunday Dec. 16; and culminate services at 5:15 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22 and at 9 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 23. They are free and open to the public. The monologues, written by Marion Fairman depict how different women react to the possibility that Mary’s son Jesus is the Messiah. Christen Davis will portray “A Gossip of Nazareth” on Dec. 5; Lisa Boser-Miller, “A Soldier’s Wife” on Dec. 12; Laura Keesler, “An Innkeeper’s Wife” on Dec. 15 and 16; Dana DiBlasi, “A Wife of Herod” on Dec. 19; and Carole Pletcher, “A Shepherd’s Wife” on Dec. 22 and 23. In her talk, each character reveals facts about the culture and practices of the times from the time...

Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history's most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps. Read it all at Newseum.org/YesVirginia or, better yet, read along with Chris Mackowski. Listen here . The original news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The First Wesleyan Church of Bradford handed out $1,000 in cash in increments of $10 each to area residents this Christmas Season. On Thursday members of the church handed out $500 in cash at the Save-A-Lot grocery store in Bradford. On Friday church members concluded their giving at the Big Lots store at the Bradford Mall. The $1,000 in cash is being given away by the First Wesleyan Church’s Positive Thinking Connection Group as part of their continuing efforts to bring Christ, Community, and Church together. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

1490 WESB presents Chris Mackowski's annual reading of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" by Dr. Seuss at 12:35 this afternoon. You can also hear it online at WESB.com . Click on the "Listen Live" link. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Tortuga's Restaurant will be serving free Christmas meals from 1 to 5 p.m. on Christmas Day. The Christmas dinner will be prepared by Mike Dolan of Ott & McHenry Pharmacy and Jeremy Callinan of Tortuga's. It includes appetizers, main course and soft drinks. (Alcoholic beverages are not included.) Anyone who wants a hot Christmas meal is welcome. http://tortugasrestaurant.com The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Where will Santa be headed when he leaves WESB Friday after doing his Santa's Mailbag show? NORAD is once again tracking him for us. http://www.noradsanta.org/en/ You can also track Santa on Facebook, Twitter and on your cell phone by going to that website. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Here's the latest from the National Weather Service: There's chance of drizzle or freezing drizzle between midnight and 1am, then a chance of snow and freezing drizzle after 1am. Tuesday will be cloudy with a high near 35. We’ll see rain on Wednesday, and thunderstorms are possible, too. The high will be around 50. Thursday will be mostly cloudy with a high near 40. And, looking ahead, if you’re dreaming of a white Christmas, as of today, there’s a 30 percent chance of your dream coming true. But we all know what they say about the weather around here -- Wait a minute. It'll change. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Someone in Warren County apparently thought stealing a couple of Christmas trees would be better than buying them. Earlier this week two spruce trees were taken from property along Samuelson Road in Sugar Grove Township. Police say the trees were taken for the thief’s "Christmas pleasure." The property owner says the trees were about 15 years old and were planted along his property as a privacy fence. He said a few of the trees have been stolen each holiday season over the past 10 years. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The youth of the First Presbyterian Church, 54 East Corydon Street, will present this year’s Christmas Pageant during the 11 a.m. sanctuary service on Sunday, December 18th. The Sunday school classes will be telling the traditional story of the birth of Jesus Christ through the eyes and hearts of the students, having written their version or interpretation of the story in their classrooms under the direction of their teachers and Shelley Harvey, director of Christian Education at the church. Music direction is under the guidance Regina Gabriel, the church’s director of music and organist, and Lisa Fedak, church member, directing the children in playing chimes and singing. All are welcome to attend. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Still trying to find that perfect Christmas gift? Why get a light for the American Cancer Society's Tree(s) of Hope. It's only $5 and it's a perfect way to honor and memoralize a friend or family member. Listen to the LiveLine with Dorie Meabon and Katie Dupree and learn more about Love Lights a Tree of Hope and where your donation goes. Listen here . The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

PA Department of General Services Secretary Sheri Phillips, Governor Tom Corbett, 14-year-old Colin Vengen and Susan Corbett applaud after lighting the Capitol Christmas tree today in Harrisburg, honoring Pennsylvania's heroes who helped residents survive this year's storms and floods. In September, Colin, of Pottsville, Schuylkill County, was flown in a State Police helicopter to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to receive a liver transplant after flooding from Tropical Storm Lee made travel by vehicle impossible. Provided by Commonwealth Media Services The original news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947