Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery continued its 125th anniversary celebration today by holding a picnic lunch for its employees and unveiling a custom made knife that is now on display in the Zippo/Case Museum on a pedestal that carries the names of all the current Case employees. Zippo/Case President CEO Greg Booth joked about how happy he was to find his name on the display. "I made the cut," he said. As for the knife itself, Zippo/Case owner George Duke simply said, "That is great. Fantastic." Artisan Mike DuBois crafted the special knife. Case Director of Marketing John Sullivan said today’s events were designed as a thank you to the company’s dedicated employees. Sullivan also noted that the community is a big part of Case’s success, which is why the “Thank you, Bradford” message is on the sign at the Davis and Main Street intersection. The Case factory on Owens Way is currently going through a $10 million renovation which, Sullivan says, will keep the com...

It appears George Hocker has defeated current Foster Township Supervisor Chairman John Sullivan by a count of 431 to 308 in today’s election. Bradford Township Supervisor Gayle Bauer, however, held off her challenger Richard Yovichin by a count of 410 to 248. It appears Michael Angelo squeaked by Timothy Newhouse in the race for Lafayette Township supervisor by a vote of 58 to 56. In Liberty Township, Fred Ernst defeated Charles Safford by a vote of 106 to 84. Election results are not official until the Board of Elections certifies them on Friday. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director In an unusually brief Foster Township supervisors meeting sewer issues, for a change, did not take center stage. Sewer and sanitary authority issues were discussed, but shared time with police, emergency management, code enforcement and business development. When asked by resident Bill Hallock how much it would cost to develop property at the Foster Brook intersection, supervisor Dale Phillips said there are no figures from PennDOT but development and occupancy permits depend on use, and how many cars are going in and out. “I believe we’ve got some great potential down there in that area,” Phillips said, adding that he likes to go Applebee’s in Olean on Saturday and “it’s like Bradford day. I know everybody in there.” “Why can’t I know everybody in Applebee’s that’s in Foster Township? Why are we going there instead of them coming here?” he asked rhetorically. He said he’s called the owners of the Kmart property in the Bradford Mall in ...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Sewer issues once again dominated a Foster Township supervisors meeting, but they also discussed the township’s hiring practices, the Foster Brook intersection and new Tasers for the police department. During Monday’s meeting, township engineer Harold Bloomgren said the layout of the sewer line extension project is being finalized, and once it’s complete they will address issues concerning streams and wetlands. Bloomgren also explained the formula for PENNVEST funding, which is based on a points system. The more points a project has, the higher it moves on the priority list. He said one of the most important factors is whether a project would create or retain jobs. Another concern is “wildcat” lines flowing into waterways. An October 18 meeting has been scheduled for residents to get more information about the sewer line extension project. Bloomgren said while engineers were out working in the Kendall Avenue corridor, the question people asked o...

UPDATE Bradford Sanitary Authority will receive a PENNVEST $15,598,357 loan and a $3,146,643 grant to upgrade and expand its sewage treatment plant in order to eliminate wet weather overloading of the plant and discharges of partially treated sewage into Tunungwant Creek. By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director The Bradford Sanitary Authority and Bradford City Council can agree on one thing: Whatever is going to be done about upgrading the wastewater treatment plant has to be done as soon as possible. The two groups held a work session Tuesday to discuss plans for the plant. Bradford Township supervisor Gayle Bauer and Foster Township supervisor John Sullivan also attended. At issue is the best way to upgrade the plant, at the lowest cost. Another issue is which engineering firm would be best for the job. Buchart Horn first brought up the new BioMag technology for the plant, which would save money. Gannett Fleming has been the Sanitary Authority’s engineer for years. Buchart Horn has ...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Foster Township’s sewer line project could cost about a million dollars less than originally planned. “We’ve taken what was thought to be a 5, 6 million dollar project and … I think it’s about 4.4 million,” said new township engineer Harold Bloomgren of Northwest Engineering. “That’s a little easier to handle.” Bloomgren attended Monday’s Foster Township supervisors meeting and gave a report on the updated Act 537 Plan. Northwest has taken over engineering duties from E&M Engineers after a mistake by E&M cost the township a low interest PENNVEST loan. E&M’s insurance company is currently considering an “errors and omissions” claim so the township can get its money back. The new plan developed by Northwest calls for using low pressure sewer lines with grinder pumps instead of gravity lines. The actual cost to township residents will depend on if funding comes from PENNVEST or Rural Utility Service, and the terms of the loans and/or gr...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Foster Township supervisors on Monday decided to cut their losses and hire a new engineering firm to finish their Act 537 sewer plan. A mistake by their previous engineers cost them a PENNVEST loan and about $200,000. Supervisor Jim Connelly Jr. also detailed other instances where the company cost them about $44,000 worth of extra labor and materials. They hired Northwest Engineering to complete the sewer plan and act as the township's new engineering firm. Supervisor John Sullivan voted against hiring Northwest because, he said, he was not impressed with the company's presentation to them. Sullivan did say, however, that he is "thrilled" that they made a decision and can move forward with the sewer plan. Also Monday, Connelly said he spoke with PennDOT earlier in the day about the problems at the intersection of East Main Street and Derrick Road. He said the agency has spoken with Reid Petroleum (owner of Crosby’s) and they ar...

Anger and frustration freely flowed into and infiltrated last night’s Foster Township supervisors meeting, when the better part of two hours was taken up by a variety of sewer line-related issues. Even before supervisors introduced a motion to appoint a township engineer, residents – who packed the meeting room in the municipal building – brought up issues concerning hook-up fees to the new sewer line. But the discussion really heated up after supervisor chairman Jim Connelly Jr. made a motion to appoint The EADS Group as township engineer. He read quotes for the sewer line project from EADS ($684,000), Hill Engineering ($576,000) and E&M Engineers ($320,000). For months residents have been asking the supervisors to take action against E&M for a mistake that cost the township a PENNVEST loan for the project. But, last night, they were not happy about paying twice as much money to another engineering firm. Connelly said if E&M hadn’t made the mistake they wouldn’t even be ha...

Car Show May Move to the Bradford Mall By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Foster Township residents won’t see tax or sewage rate increases in 2012, but they may see the Autumn Daze Car Show move into the township. During Monday night’s meeting supervisor Dale Phillips said he has been working with the owners of the Bradford Mall and Street Dreams Car Club president Gary Hoy about moving the show from downtown Bradford to the mall. “It looks very good so far, knock on wood,” Phillips said, adding that Hoy was submitting all the necessary information to the mall’s management company. Phillips said the car club would be teaming up with the township’s volunteer fire departments and 100 percent of the proceeds would go to them. The show is scheduled for September 9. Also Monday, Bolivar Drive resident Bill Hallock asked about the $216,000 “error” made in the funding process for the sewer project, saying he believes the supervisors are taking the situation too lightly. “We should be up...

John Sullivan is taking over as Foster Township supervisor sooner than expected. BJ Campbell, who Sullivan defeated in last month’s primary election, tendered his resignation Monday and Sullivan was immediately appointed to the position. In accepting the resignation supervisor chairman Jim Connelly Jr. explained that Campbell is not resigning out of hostility. It’s simply that he “feels that he would like to give (Sullivan) the opportunity to get on board a little earlier. We are facing some pretty major decisions in regard to this township.” Connelly mentioned the sewer project and labor negations with the police and road departments. “BJ Campbell did a super job for this township,” Connelly said. “When I was sitting up here in December – It was a pretty rough night when everybody quit. I’ll be honest with you.” But, he added, Campbell had said that if anyone ever quit he would step up to the plate, and he did. Connelly went on to say that during his first week in office Campbell was ...

Newcomer John Sullivan appears to have beaten BJ Campbell for a Foster Township Supervisors’ seat in a close race. Sullivan garnered 320 votes while Campbell, who was appointed to the supervisor position earlier this year, picked up 275 votes. The totals are still unofficial until they are certified later this week by the McKean County Board of Elections.

Tuesday was the last day to circulate and file nominating petitions for the May 17 primary election – and some history may have been made by who did not file. For the first time in recent memory, an incumbent Bradford mayor -- in this case Tom Riel -- is running unopposed in the primary. Others, however, do have opposition. Michele Alfieri-Causer, Tony Alfieri, Tony Clarke and Chris Hauser are all running for the second county judge position. In Foster Township, John Sullivan and BJ Campbell are running to fill the unexpired term of Bob Slike. That's for 2 years. Dale Phillips is running unopposed for the 6-year seat.