Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

A Salamanca woman is accused of hitting her boyfriend in the head with a shovel early on New Year’s Day. Sheriff’s deputies say that at around 4:45 Tuesday morning, in Salamanca, 19-year-old Courtney Crouse hit the man, who they did not identify. Crouse was sent to jail without bail for the domestic violence incident, and was also arrested on a warrant for a previous incident involving assault, harassment and endangering the welfare of a child.

Sorry I didn't get these up sooner but my brain is still in vacation mode. (Nine days off has its disadvantages when you come back to work.) This is the WESB/100.1 The Hero Rockin' Block Party at First Night Bradford hosted by Scott Douglas. (Yes, that's him with the "big hair" and sunglasses.) The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Harrisburg – Ten people were killed and 172 others were injured in the 552 crashes investigated by Pennsylvania State Police during the four-day New Year’s holiday driving period, Commissioner Frank Noonan announced today. “Although the number of fatalities decreased by one compared to last year’s holiday driving period, the number of child safety seat violations and DUI arrests increased,” Noonan said. From Dec. 30, 2011 through Jan. 2, 2012, State Police investigated a total of 552 crashes. Of those crashes, 79 were alcohol-related and involved two fatalities. Also, six of the 10 people who died in crashes were not wearing seat belts. Troopers made 285 arrests for driving under the influence and issued 3,408 speeding citations during the holiday period. State Police also cited 379 individuals for failure to wear seat belts and issued citations to 51 drivers for failing to restrain children properly in child safety seats. During last year’s four-day New Year’s holiday driving period, ...

This is just a small part of the crowd that rang in the New Year in Veterans Square. Scott Douglas shared the mic with these young ladies who sang in the New Year.

Charles Cole Memorial Hospital welcomed the first baby of the new year January 1. Delanie Rae Perry was born at 3:20 p.m. and weighed 7 pounds, 8.6 ounces. Delanie’s parents are Erika Benson and Uriah Perry of Port Allegany. Maternal grandparents are Karen Haldaman of Port Allegany and Mark Benson of Coudersport. Maternal great grandparents are Irvin and Kay Saler of Coudersport. Paternal grandparents are Randall and Tracy Tucker of Roulette. Paternal great grandmother is Joeleen Kelly of Roulette.

First Night Bradford revelers can start the New Year right by participating in a number of First Night Firsts. There are a variety of sites around the Bradford area that feature family-oriented activities. An adult must accompany youths. Admission is free with a First Night button, which are currently on sale. The day starts on Friday, Dec. 31 with a First Movie at the Main Street Movie House. Toy Story 3 will be shown starting at 10 a.m. Take the plunge into the New Year with a First Night Swim from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Bradford Family YMCA. For those looking to be bowled over, there’s a First Night Bowl from 2 to 5 p.m. at Byllye Lanes on Seaward Avenue. There is an extra charge for bowling shoes; the limit is one game. Lace on your ice skates at Callahan Ice Rink from 2 to 5 p.m. for the First Night Skate. There is an extra charge for skate rentals. If art is more your style, we have you covered there, too. The talents of local artists will be highlighted for the First Night Art Show ...

Zumba, local talent, a bounce carnival and, of course, fireworks at midnight are all on tap for First Night Bradford. Activities for First Night Bradford, which promotes an alcohol-free safe environment to usher in the New Year, include something for everyone. While these activities throughout the day and evening on Friday, Dec. 31, will take place throughout the city, the place to be starting at 11:15 p.m. is Veterans Square. At that time the winners of the First Night’s Got Talent competition will be announced. Then, under the leadership of WESB/WBRR’s Scott Douglas, there will be a countdown to midnight with a fireworks finale by Young Explosives. People can see the talent in the First Night’s Got Talent competition first hand from 6 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church. Singers, dance groups and jugglers are all welcome to still try out for the competition. The final night of auditions will be at 6 p.m. today at the First United Methodist Church. Bob Teesdale, a s...

There’s no better way to celebrate the holidays than a first-class ticket to the New Year. Buttons for First Night Bradford are now on sale. This button is a pass to get into any of the venues. This includes local entertainment as well as Bob Teesdale, a singer from Nashville, Fieldstone and Moscow Nights. There are also the First Night Firsts at the Callahan Park Ice Skating Rink and Byllye Lanes, to name just a few. The buttons are available at the Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce, Tops Supermarket, The Grocery Stretcher and Tina’s Hallmark. They can also be purchased at any entertainment site the night of the event. The buttons are $5 if purchased by Dec. 30. They are $6 if purchased on Dec. 31. An information card will accompany the buttons with a list of all the venues and acts. There’s also time to get in on the act. The First Night Bradford committee is holding auditions for the First Night’s Got Talent competition. The last audition session will be held Monday, Dec. 20, at th...

This just in: The very talented Scott Douglas will be hosting this year's First Night's Got Talent competition. Calling all local talent. Start the New Year right with a chance to win a local talent competition. The First Night Bradford committee is holding auditions for the First Night’s Got Talent competition. The auditions will be held Monday, Dec. 13, and Monday, Dec. 20, at the First United Methodist Church on Chambers Street. The auditions will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. each night. Time is limited for each audition and the entire act must be present for the audition. Those interested are asked to keep in mind that acts must be family-oriented and need to be available the week of the show for any practice that is called as well as on Dec. 31 from 5 p.m. until midnight. There will be no exceptions. Acts can bring a CD to accompany them at the auditions; no accompanist will be available for the auditions. Performers must be 13 years of age or older. Those performers who have ...

Scott Douglas was the master of ceremonies for First Night's Got Talent as well as the festivities in Veterans Square. ( Thanks to Jim Jones for brighening up this photo for me! ) The fireworks finale by Young Explosives wowed the crowd. Congratulations -- and thank you! -- to Larry, Kim & the entire committee for a great day and night!

This photo, taken during the fireworks display that started at midnight, should give you an idea of how bright the fireworks were.

AAA is projecting 87.7 million Americans will be traveling 50 miles or more away from home during the year-end holidays. This is a 3.8 percent increase from the 84.5 million Americans who traveled during the same Christmas / New Year period one year ago, and is the largest projected increase for any major holiday this year. The number of travelers by automobile is expected to be 77.7 million in 2009 compared to 74.4 million last year; an increase of 4.4 percent. The number of travelers by air is expected be 4.2 million compared to 4.1 million in 2008; an increase of 2.9 percent. The number of those traveling by “other” means, including, trains, watercraft, buses and multiple-modes of transportation, is expected to be 5.8 million compared to 6.0 million last year, AAA said. Last year, the total number of travelers during the year-end holidays was 84.5 million; a decline of 4.7 percent from 2007. “An increase in holiday travel signifies that consumers are more optimistic about their pers...

First Night Bradford will host a First Night’s Got Talent contest during its New Year’s Eve festivities on Thursday, December 31st. Auditions to qualify for the final event to be held on New Year’s Eve will be held on Monday, December 7 and Wednesday, December 9 from 6-9 p.m. at the Friendship Table, on W. Corydon Street in Bradford. First Night’s Got Talent is open to any entertainment act. Participants are asked to bring their own accompaniment music to the audition. A CD player will be provided. Finalists will perform during First Night Bradford before a panel of judges, which will include country singer and Nashville recording artist Robert Allen who will also perform at First Night Bradford, and WESB/WBRR's Anne Holliday. WESB/WBRR's Scott Douglas will be the master of ceremonies for the finals. For more information contact Kim Hallock at 366-2524 or visit the website at www.firstnightbradford.com

2008 went out with a bang in the Dillsburg area. Authorities say a small earthquake jarred the York County area just after the midnight on New Year's Eve. The U.S. Geological Survey says the tremor measured a 2.1 magnitude on the Richter scale. It was centered near Dillsburg and struck about 12:30 a.m. Dec. 31. For the full story, go to pennlive.com .

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Musicians dressed as Wild West gunslingers and comics dressed as bullfighters, knights and Mexican wrestlers strutted through downtown Thursday during the annual Mummers Parade, celebrating New Year's Day and, perhaps, the fact the beloved tradition did not fall victim to the city's budget ax. Thousands braved sunny but frigid temperatures that rose to 30 degrees to ring in 2009 Philadelphia-style, watching the parade of comics, musicians and others dressed in elaborate costumes of satin, sequins and feathers. For the full story, go to pennlive.com . To learn more about the Mummers (and to see some great pictures!) go to Philly Mummers.com .

In case you couldn't join Scott and me in Veterans Square at midnight -- here's what you missed: Happy New Year! All the events I was able to attend were great, but I have to give special kudos to Roger Peters for, what I think, is the best art show he's ever put together. If you missed it, you missed something special.

By LYNN OLANOFF The Express-Times The fiberglass Peep's competition was stiff. There was a glowing pickle, a papier-mache gumbo pot and an 18-foot sausage. But in the end, it was the intriguing combination of a conch shell, a drag queen and a costumed pirate wench that beat Bethlehem's Peep as TripAdvisor's No. 1 quirkiest New Year's Eve event. For the full story, go to Lehigh Valley Live.com . Must be TripAdvisor didn't hear about our gazebo drop, or the awesome oil derrick fireworks we had last year .