Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Titusville has another state historical marker, and this time it has a Bradford connection. The marker honors Byron Benson, who oversaw the completion of the first long-distance pipeline, which ran 109 miles from the Bradford oil fields to Williamsport. Benson worked in Pennsylvania's oil region from 1865 through 1888 and was a founder of the Tidewater Pipe Company.

Just a reminder that entries for the Bradford Oil 150 Committee Open Writing Contest are due by November 2. Entry forms are still available at the Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce, Bradford Landmark Society, Bradford Area Public Library and the Main Street Mercantile. Mail completed entries to Rick Benton, Director of Community Affiars, Dallas-Morris Drilling Inc., 29 MOrris Lane, Bradford, PA, 16701; or drop them off at the chamber office at 125 Main Street. For more information on the contest, please see our previous entry HERE .

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Anyone who's been paying attention to the state budget impasse has probably heard lawmakers talking about a bigger problem looming in the next couple of years – municipal pension plans. City Clerk John Peterson explained during Tuesday's Bradford City Council meeting that where a major issue may occur is in 2011 when contributions to pension plans will be based on market figures from the early part of this year when the market was "disastrous." "It could be a budgetary crisis for all municipalities in Pennsylvania," Peterson said. Lawmakers in Harrisburg have been addressing the pension issue. The state senate finance committee on Monday approved an amendment to House Bill 1828 (a pension relief measure to help Philadelphia) that would include all municipalities based on their level of funding for their individual programs. The amendment defines municipalities as being in minimal, moderate or severe distress and outli...

Judy Rose and Kelly Platko of Roseart were among the vendors at the Callahan Park ice rink Saturday afternoon. Fratelli's restaurant got into the Oil 150 spirit with their chocolate derrick. Even the Bradford Owls got in on the Oil 150 action by scrimmaging ...

Congratulations to Chris Kellner & Crew! Listen to the pre-shoot talks ... and the shoot itself: 1 Harvey Golubock 2 Chris Kellner, Sherri Schulze 3 "It's a gusher!"

Miss McKean County Tate Slaven The University of Pittsburgh Varsity Marching Band Mayor Tom Riel Honey & Tubby Colella and Martha Colella, Miss United Way 1971 The Bradford Area High School Marching Owls and Cheerleaders

The well shoot during Bradford's Oil 150 festivities today turned out even better than planner Chris Kellner of Kellner Well Drilling in Olean expected it would. We'll have many more pictures of today's events coming soon. Stay tuned!

I'll have many more photos later ... but now I have places to go and people to see -- all Oil 150-related.