Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

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Former McKean County Commissioner Cliff Lane has ousted incumbent Judy Church. According to unofficial results Lane garnered 2,552 votes to Church’s 2,276. The top two vote-getters were Joe DeMott with 3,519 and Al Pingie with 3,283.

Joe DeMott and Al Pingie have kept their seats as McKean County Commissioners, staving off a challenge by former commissioner John Egbert. DeMott picked up nearly 38 percent of the vote while Pingie gathered nearly 37 percent. On the Democratic side, incumbent Judy Church garnered 45 percent of the vote while former commissioner Cliff Lane got 32 percent.

The six candidates for McKean County commissioner participated in a forum Monday night at the Bradford Senior Center, hosted by the McKean County Chapter of Tea Party. You can hear it here One of the issues discussed was the Bradford Regional Airport and the federal Essential Air Service Program, which some lawmakers in Washington are trying to cut out of the budget. Current commissioner, and Bradford Airport Authority Chairman Joe DeMott, said, “Without the EAS program we would not have commercial air service (and) commercial air service is vital to our economic future.” “People who come here to buy lumber, to buy the products that our local manufactures make – those people fly in here,” he said. “When you’re bringing somebody in with a new industry, they’re flying in to Bradford. It’s very important that we have that service. It’s a long way to Buffalo, particularly in the winter.” Without the $1.3 million subsidy, the airport would lose commercial air service, he added. “People look...

McKean County Commissioners Joe DeMott, Al Pingie and Judy Church attended Tuesday's Bradford City Council meeting. DeMott thanked council for helping to change the organizational structure of Bradford Regional Airport. You can listen to DeMott's comments here . Mayor Tom Riel thanked the Department of Public Works for keeping the city's roads ice-free during last Friday morning's brief ice storm. He said of the six accidents reported, none were on city-maintained roads. Riel also talked about the pothole situation in the city. You can listen to his comments here . Topics that residents brought up during the council meeting were: ~~ Having the city resume collection of county taxes ~~ Having utility companies -- or companies that damage roads -- pay for the repairs ~~ The last report from Delta Consultants about the city's financial picture ~~ Recycling You can listen to the meeting here .

WASHINGTON, DC—U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) was honored today as one of the “Best of Congress” by Working Mother Media and Corporate Voices for Working Families. Senator Casey was one of 30 Members recognized for having family-friendly policies in their offices and being one of the best Members to employ working moms. “Mothers are the backbones of families and I have nothing but great respect and admiration for moms who both work and take care of their families,” said Senator Casey. “It is both humbling and a great honor to be recognized as a Member of Congress who provides some of the best conditions in his office for working moms.” The award spotlights Congressional excellence in supporting working families through legislation and advocacy. It also recognizes those members of Congress who practice what they preach – employing family-friendly policies in their own offices. This is the second time that Working Mothers Media and Corporate Voices for Working Families have compiled a li...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Most of the oil and gas drilling companies working in the county have been cooperative in fixing the roads they damage, according to McKean County Commissioners. Commissioners Joe DeMott, Al Pingie and Judy Church attended Monday’s Foster Township Supervisors meeting as part of their effort to attend meetings in every municipality in the county. So far, in three months, they’ve visited 20 of 22 municipalities. Seaward Avenue resident Tom Perry asked who’s responsible for making sure the companies adhere to weight limits, and take care of damaged roads. Pingie said it’s up to the municipalities to make sure the companies are following the rules and regulations. “So far … they’ve been very good about taking care of the roads,” Church said. “They replaced a road in Norwich Township.” She said supervisors met with the drilling company, got an estimate for road repairs and company paid it. DeMott added that the companies have been cooperative. “Most ...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director The site of the former Third Ward School is going back onto the tax rolls. Bradford City Council on Tuesday agreed to sell the .85-acre site to local businessman Todd Hennard for $25,000. Hennard plans to build three or four market-priced single-family homes on the site. The Office of Economic and Community Development bought the site from A Partnership in Housing in April of 2008 as part of its effort to improve the quality of the city’s housing stock and to increase the tax base by building new housing units. Also Tuesday, council accepted quotes from Tom Vickery to demolish blighted properties at 13 and 17 Howard Street. Vickery’s quotes were $2,954 for 13 Howard and $2,54 for 17 Howard. Both quotes include demolition, clearing the structure and transporting the construction debris to the McKean County Landfill. Both quotes were the lowest of five received for each site. The cost will be paid from the city’s 2009 Community Development Block G...