Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

"In Darkness" is a fictional look at a boy struggling to survive after in the 2010 earthquake, intertwined with stories of Toussaint l'Ouverture, the Haitian slave turned revolutionary leader. Nick hopes, among other things, the book will put a focus back on Haiti and make people realize Haitians still need help. You can listen to my conversation with Nick Lake here . The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

By George Nianiatus, senior writer/media manager Marketing and Communications Department Upper Allegheny Health System When the opportunity arose to help desperate Haitians injured and sick from the most violent earthquake to hit the country in 100 years, Thomas Sampson never hesitated to join a medical mission group. He knew his training and experience as a registered nurse at Olean General Hospital’s Emergency Department would be indispensable. According to estimates by relief agencies, there are 1.3 million Haitians displaced by the magnitude-7 earthquake that killed more than 200,000 on Jan. 12 in what’s considered the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. “A pastor I know from Houghton was putting together a medical mission group through World Hope International and I had to say yes,” said Mr. Sampson, who also lives in Houghton. World Hope International is a faith-based relief and development organization in Alexandria, Va., established in 1996 to alleviate poverty and suffe...

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is back from a trip to Haiti, where she got a first-hand look at the impact of January’s earthquake. Gillibrand is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and made the trip as a part of a congressional delegation. Gillibrand says she now plans to work with her Senate colleagues on new legislation to help bolster Haiti's child welfare system. http://gillibrand.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=7B9A10EC-4674-4224-9886-935282594643

This Saturday, Open Arms Community Church will be hosting “Rock for Haiti”, a benefit concert with proceeds going to support famine relief in Haiti. The show –which starts at 6:30 in the evening at the church- will feature several local acts. The lineup includes: Josh Hatcher (acoustic rock), Ariel Campbell (acoustic rock), No Room For Nelson (alternative rock), Panic Attack (hip-hop), Marshmellow Overcoat (rock), and Horizons Open Wide (rock/ska). There will be a $5 cover charge, with funds going towards the Free Methodist Haitian Famine Relief Fund. The Famine Relief Fund has been a long-term presence in Haiti and is one of several branch organizations of Free Methodist World Missions, which has raised over $840,000 in post-earthquake relief funds (For more information, see www.helphaitiheal.org). Local artists Julia Allen, Denise Drummond, and Jennifer MacNeill have donated artwork that will be raffled off throughout the evening. Jennifer’s photography has been featured on the UN we...

along with Josh Hatcher and Ariel Campbell. They were on today's LiveLine for a preview of Saturday's "Rock for Haiti" concert. You can listen to the LiveLine here . The concert is at 6:30 Saturday at Open Arms Community Church, 1289 East Main Street. For a $5 cover charge you'll hear Ariel, Josh, Panic Attack (Justin Willoughby and Larry Petry), Marshmellow Overcoat, No Room for Nelson and Horizons Open Wide.

Erie, PA – Members of the Erie Regional Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT PA-3) based in Erie, are returning home this afternoon after a 12 day deployment in Port au Prince, Haiti. The PA-3 team, led by Commander, Russell Bieniek, M.D., along with other medical personnel from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ agencies, the HHS National Disaster Medical System and the U.S. Public Health Service provided emergency medical care during the recovery and clean up following the earthquake on January 12th. DMATs are part of the National Disaster Medical System under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. Team members are activated when a state requests federal assistance with an emergency or in this case when the federal government responds to an international emergency. “Our team was honored to be called on to help at such a difficult time for the people of Haiti,” said Russell Bieniek, M.D., the ...

Harrisburg – Pennsylvania is ready to provide medical and humanitarian care for some critically injured Haitian earthquake victims, Governor Ed Rendell announced today after sending a letter to the U.S. departments of Health and Human Services and Homeland Security. “Pennsylvania is keenly aware of the dire situation faced by so many Haitians who were critically injured during the January 12 earthquake and its aftershocks,” Governor Rendell said during a news conference. “We recognize the need to act fast, as more Haitians continue to suffer. The commonwealth is ready to support the federal government in this life-saving operation.” The Governor was joined at the news conference by Department of Health Secretary Everette James and Carolyn F. Scanlan, president and CEO of The Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania. The state departments of Health, Public Welfare and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency are coordinating planning efforts to receive Haitian patient...

St. Bonaventure University students will team up with area firefighters Friday morning for a boot drive to raise money for devastated Haiti. Students and firefighters will be stationed at busy intersections in the Olean area from 7 until 10 a.m. Friday. All the money raised will go toward Haitian relief efforts, including Food for the Poor, Hands on Direct Relief and the Carroll County Haiti Mission Project, said Dr. Todd Palmer, adviser for SBU’s Students in Free Enterprise. “St. Bonaventure has a history of working with local firefighters,” Palmer said. “We raised $45,000 during a boot drive after Hurricane Katrina.” The boot drive is co-sponsored at the university by SIFE, BonaResponds, University Ministries, and the Center for Community Engagement. Since 2005, BonaResponds and SIFE have been actively involved in local, national and international disaster relief efforts.

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford community has donated more than $3,500 to Save the Children for its relief efforts in Haiti. The Pitt-Bradford Anthropology Club spearheaded the campaign, collecting $3,563.42 in donations from students, faculty, staff and even visitors in the Frame-Westerberg Commons from Jan. 14-21. “Students, faculty and staff have shown a generosity and concern for others that has gone far beyond anything that we ever envisioned when we decided to try to raise money for Haitian relief,” said Dr. J. Michael Stuckart, associate professor of anthropology and advisor for the club. “We made a huge amount of money, in no small part because of the generosity of the Athletics Department.” Pitt-Bradford athletics contributed $956 from ticket sales and donations collected at a basketball double-header Jan. 21. Lori Mazza, director of athletics, said, “I am very grateful to the men and women’s basketball teams for their e...

reports on the devastation and recovery efforts in Haiti. 12:30 p.m. on 1490 WESB and streaming online at WESB.com .