Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GRLI) Act of 2014, a bill which Rep. Tom Reed was an original cosponsor of, passed the House of Representatives today. The bill authorizes clean-up endeavors and efforts to combat invasive species in the Great Lakes watershed including projects in Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Seneca and Tompkins counties. “The health of our lakes and waterways is critical to our economy and quality of life,” Reed observed. “The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative cares for our environmental cleanup efforts in the Great Lakes region. The collaborative approach of the program helps coordinate resources so projects can be carried out in the most effective manner.” The GLRI focuses on cleaning waterways, preventing and controlling invasive species, and reducing harmful algal bloom in the Great Lakes watershed. GLRI supports 16 projects in the 23rd Congressional District, which lies in the Lake Erie and Lake Ontario watersheds. The news leader of the Twin Ti...

Senator Bob Casey and a bipartisan group of 10 other senators are urging the US Army Corps of Engineers to aggressively work toward implementing short term measures, and finding a long term solution to stop the spread of Asian carp into the Great Lakes. Casey says fighting the invasive fish is important to the economy of Northwestern Pennsylvania, and getting this right will protect the region’s tourism industry and play a substantial role in future economic growth. He says Lake Erie’s coastal region supports more than 1.2 million Pennsylvania jobs and is an integral part of Pennsylvania’s economy. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Washington, DC- Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) announced that he has sent a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) urging the agency to expedite the development of plan to combat Asian Carp in the Great Lakes. In a letter that was joined by 15 other senators, Casey urged the Army Corps to swiftly develop and implement a comprehensive plan to combat Asian Carp when the Corps releases its feasibility study on the transfer of invasive aquatic species between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins in January 2014. “Combatting Asian Carp is important to Northwestern Pennsylvania’s economy,” Senator Casey said. “The Army Corps should move as swiftly as possible to put in place a comprehensive, effective plan. Getting this right will protect the region’s tourism industry and play a substantial role in future economic growth.” The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

By Anthony Sagliani Meteorologist for AccuWeather.com AccuWeather reports cold air sweeping across the Great Lakes from Canada will flip the snow switch on from northeastern Ohio into western Pennsylvania, western New York and the Appalachians on Wednesday night into Friday morning. While areas like Cleveland, Erie and Buffalo will have only a few wet snowflakes mixing in from time to time, with mostly rain squalls around, favored inland snowbelt regions such as Bradford, Pa., and New York state's Tug Hill Plateau will have moderate to significant accumulation. In fact, by the time Friday morning rolls around, parts of the Tug Hill just east of Lake Ontario could have 3-9 inches of snowfall, which would be the heaviest so far this season, and the greatest amount since last winter. A less significant, though still potentially disruptive 1-3 inches of snowfall is expected in areas such as Jamestown, N.Y., Du Bois, Pa. and Pierpont, Ohio. According to AccuWeather Chief Meteoro...

Governor Tom Corbett and First Lady Susan Corbett today served as Grand Marshalls of Tall Ships® Erie Parade of Sail. The event began four days of events marking the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Lake Erie. The Flagship Niagara led nine tall ships from around the country and the world into Presque Isle Bay as Erie marks the bicentennial of the battle that was the turning point in the War of 1812. During the battle, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry of the U.S. Navy and his crew of the Niagara defeated the British fleet near Put-in-Bay, Ohio. This victory gave the United States control of the Great Lakes and secured the young nation’s western frontier. “As we stand here today with the Flagship behind us, we are reminded of the great sacrifices of Oliver Hazard Perry and his crew,” Corbett said. “If not for their bravery and sacrifice, the war would have turned out much differently. Their victory allows us to stand on the shores of Lake Erie, united as Americans and as proud Pennsyl...

MEADVILLE -- The Department of Environmental Protection is considering an expansion of the current Lake Erie coastal zone to a larger, watershed-based area to encompass all Pennsylvania watersheds that flow into Lake Erie. This June, DEP will seek public input on the proposed expansion during several public listening sessions in the Lake Erie watershed. There are three listening sessions scheduled: June 18 at 9 a.m. in the Springboro Community Center, June 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the Girard Township Building, and June 19 at 3:00 p.m. in the Blasco Library in Erie. “Expanding Lake Erie’s coastal zone would create new opportunities for grant-funded improvements in the Lake Erie watershed,” DEP Northwest Regional Director Kelly Burch said. “We are pleased to offer an opportunity for residents to comment on this important proposal.” In 2011, the local Lake Erie Advisory Committee asked DEP’s Coastal Resources Management Program (CRMP) to study and consider an expanded watershed boundary. Si...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) introduced a resolution in the Senate today to recognize the anniversary of the Battle of Lake Erie, a pivotal contest in the War of 1812. Bicentennial celebrations to commemorate the battle and its participants will commence this Memorial Day weekend in Erie, Pa. “I’m proud to commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Lake Erie,” said Sen. Toomey. “This dramatic encounter breathed new life into a damaged American war effort. Contributing in no small way to this victory was the city of Erie, which provided the safe locale, supplies, and muscle necessary to build the victorious fleet in limited time. I thank the city of Erie and the Perry 200 Commemoration Commission for their efforts to ensure the appropriate recognition of this historic event over the course of this summer.” William P. Garvey, Ph.D., General Co-Chair of the Perry 200 said, “We are grateful that Senator Toomey is advancing a Congressional Proclamation to co...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today sent a letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior urging the agency to quicken and strengthen its efforts to prevent Asian carp from wreaking havoc on the ecosystem of the Great Lakes and the jobs and economic footprint Lake Erie has on Northwest Pennsylvania. Senator Casey’s letter comes after the announcement that Asian carp DNA was recently discovered in samples taken from Lake Erie last year. “The discovery of Asian carp DNA in Lake Erie is a worrisome development and a strong call for action,” said Senator Casey. “To protect jobs and the economy of Northwest Pennsylvania, the Department of the Interior must step up its efforts to prevent a disastrous infestation of this invasive fish.” The coastal region of Lake Erie supports $1.2 million Pennsylvania jobs, Senator Casey wrote in his letter to Secretary Ken Salazar, and Pennsylvania’s fishing industry contributes $1.6 billion to the state’s economy annually. Senator Case...

Two children had to be treated for chemical burns after they came in contact with gasoline when their boat sank in Lake Erie Wednesday morning. The children and a man were fishing about 5 miles from the Walnut Creek Marina when the boat started taking on water and quickly sank. The three jumped into the lake, where they stayed for about an hour until people on a passing boat spotted a cooler in the water. When they stopped to pick up the cooler, they heard the cries for help from the man and children. The other boaters rescued the trio and took them to the Walnut Creek Access area. From there, they were taken to UPMC Hamot. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Four people are OK after their boat capsized on Lake Erie in the Town of Sheridan Sunday afternoon. Sheriff’s deputies say they got a call at about 12:15 about the disabled vessel that was about a mile off shore. The sheriff’s navigation team and CCWET members found the boat and helped the four Buffalo residents to the Dunkirk harbor. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today joined Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) in introducing bipartisan legislation to prevent Asian carp and other invasive species from entering the Great Lakes and destroying the Lakes' ecosystem. The Stop Invasive Species Act would require the speedy creation of an action plan to block Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes through a number of rivers and tributaries across the Great Lakes region. “We need to act now to prevent Asian Carp from infiltrating Lake Erie and threatening the fishing and boating industries that rely on a healthy lake,” said Senator Casey. “This bill would expedite the creation of an aggressive plan to stop Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes at 18 points of entry and protect the communities along Lake Erie that depend on the lake for recreation and commerce.” The Stop Invasive Species Act requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to submit to Congress an expedited actio...

A federal study says Lake Erie and some rivers flowing into it would offer ideal habitat for Asian carp, the invasive species that could threaten the Great Lakes’ multi-billion dollar fishing and recreation industry. The U.S. Geological Survey says the Maumee, Sandusky and Grand rivers have temperatures and water flows suitable for spawning by silver and bighead carp. Both species that have been advancing toward the Great Lakes for years after escaping into the Mississippi River and its tributaries from southern fish farms and sewage lagoons. The study released today says there is reason to worry about the potential threat to Lake Erie. http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=3074 The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

By Joe Kosack Wildlife Conservation Education Specialist Pennsylvania Game Commission PYMATUNING – What in Sam Hill are sandhill cranes doing in Pennsylvania? They don’t have much history here; their status was more of a just-passing-through or accidental visitor than anything else. Heck, they don’t even have relatives in Pennsylvania. But their growing presence here ensures that those folks who refer to most wading birds as “cranes” will start to be right some of the time! “Sandhill cranes, until relatively recently, weren’t part of the state’s breeding bird community,” explained Dan Brauning, Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Diversity Division chief. “In fact, it’s sort of amazing they’re anywhere in North America today given the bird’s troubled past.” A majority of the sandhill crane’s global population historically has nested throughout Canada. East of the Mississippi River, they predominantly inhabited the Great Lakes in substantial numbers through the 1800s. But they encount...

A vessel operated by Daniel Sehnke of Northeast, PA, was disabled in Lake Erie off the Town of Ripley Tuesday afternoon, and got some help from the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office navigation division. Deputies say Sehnke was unable to operate the vessel due to a mechanical failure and it drifted into shallow water in the area of RJ's Campground in Ripley. A Good Samaritan from the campground assisted the owner and three passengers. They were able to hold the boat off the rocks until the navigation unit arrived at the scene. The four occupants were then helped up a cliff to safety.

The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office Navigation Division rescued a boat from the Van Buren Point area of Lake Erie late Monday night. They got a call from the US Coast Guard at around 11:44 p.m. saying a boat was disabled. The Navigation team was able to find it and tow it to Dunkirk Harbor. Four people, including a 1 year-old and a 3-year-old, were all OK. They are all from Fredonia.

A new study says more than one-and-a-half million US jobs and $62 billion in annual wages are linked directly to the Great Lakes. The study released today says Michigan has nearly 523,000 jobs connected to the Great Lakes, more than any other state. Pennsylvania has more than 25,000 and New York has more than 157,000. Most of the jobs are in manufacturing. Others are in tourism and recreation, shipping, agriculture and other sectors of the economy. http://www.miseagrant.umich.edu/downloads/economy/11-708-Great-Lakes-Jobs.pdf

Chautauqua County Sheriff’s deputies say an observant Portland resident helped them capture two people who they think are responsible for several burglaries at seasonal homes along Lake Erie. Deputies say the resident called them after seeing a person with a backpack walking toward a home. The resident knew no one was living there, and that several burglaries had occurred in the area. Deputies found one of the suspects in the area of the homes, and another inside a home. 37-year-old Jason Wasson and 36-year-old David Rowe, both of the Jamestown area, are both charged with burglary and are being held in the county jail.

WASHINGTON, DC— U.S. Senator Bob Casey joined a group of seven senators expressing concern over a proposed shipment of radioactive material through the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway by a Canadian Company, Bruce Power Inc. Letters were sent to Cynthia L. Quarterman, Administrator for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration, Marc Leblanc, Secretary of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, and Jim Prentice, Minister of the Environment for Environment Canada. The senators sent the letters in reaction to Bruce Power’s proposal to ship radioactively-contaminated nuclear steam generators through the Great Lakes and United States territory. In the letter to the DOT, the senators wrote, “The Great Lakes are an invaluable resource to our states, providing drinking water to millions and supporting robust economies. We urge you to comply with both the letter and spirit of the law and reject any proposal that does not protect the...

Three kayakers were rescued early this morning from the Shore Acres area of Lake Erie in Westfield, New York. Sheriff’s deputies got a call at around 1:10 a.m. say the kayakers were in distress. When the navigation and dive team arrived, they found 21-year-old Daniel Masterson of South Wales, New York, near the shoreline. He said two of his friends were trying to swim to shore but he lost sight of them. Officers gave Masterson a life vest then swam around a steep cliff and found 21-year-old Scott Stiglmeir and 21-year-old Samuel Destefano, both of East Aurora, New York, and were able to bring them to shore. Emergency medical personnel treated all three men at the scene and released them.

A 14-year-old drowned Sunday afternoon in Lake Erie after large waves prevented the child from getting back to shore. Chautauqua County Sheriff’s deputies say the 14-year-old and a 13-year-old were playing in the water at about 3:40 when they couldn’t get back to shore. The teenager’s father, 45-year-old Joseph Polisoto of Dunkirk jumped into the water and was able to swim out to the teens. But then the current forced all three to where the sheer cliffs prevented them from reaching the shore. Rescue crews were able to locate Polisoto and the 13-year-old and throw them lines and life vest. The 14-year-old was found later and taken to Westfield Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounce dead.