Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

A St. Bonaventure alum took home the top prize at Monday’s Blaisdell Pro Am Invitational at the Pennhills Club in Bradford. Chris Stoddard was awarded the $6,000 cash prize and trophy by Zippo owner and Chairman of the Board George B. Duke at the banquet following the tournament. Stoddard’s team, composed of amateur golfers Mike Tarbox, Scott Tanabe, and Paul Kessel, each took home a $400 cash prize for their winning team score of 115. The Blaisdell Pro Am, sponsored by Zippo, drew 26 PGA pros from the Western New York Professional Golf Association, along with 78 amateurs, competing for the $20,000 in prize money available. “The day was perfect and the Pennhills course is outstanding,” said WNY PGA Executive Director Joe Bertino. “Our pros were really excited to get out here, and all the teams played exceptionally well.” The Blaisdell Pro Am was held to honor Zippo founder George G. Blaisdell, who loved the game of golf and the club he helped found, the Pennhills Club...

BY SANDRA RHODES The purchase of a Derby Gala ticket is a sure thing - an evening of fun, food and friends all to benefit a great cause. The Bradford Area Public Library’s Derby Gala is set for 4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 4, at the Pennhills Club in Bradford. The Gala, in its fifth year, coincides with the running of the famous Kentucky Derby. Big screen TVs allow spectators to watch the “greatest two minutes in sports” as they root for their favorite horse, whether it be Overanalyze or Will Take Charge. It will be a lucky day for three of these people as cash prizes are awarded for win, place and show. And the winning doesn’t stop there. Ticketholders can actually parlay the cost of their ticket into a trip to Las Vegas to the casino. “Since the casino has been so popular in the past few years, we have expanded it to include more slot machines,” said Karen Costello-Pecht, co-chairwoman. “The best part of the casino is that you don’t have to pony up any of your own money. We give y...

Barbara Abbey was one of the many lovely ladies who got into the Derby spirit by donning a hat during Saturday's Derby Gala at the Pennhills Club. Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ron Orris took bids by phone on a Zippo lighter package made especially for the Derby Gala. Ron's phone friend, from Pueblo, Colorado, won the set for $3,500. Ryan Race deals cards to Fran Runyon (green hat) and Emily Zinsner during the Casino Night part of the Derby Gala as Bill Runyon looks over his wife's shoulder. Kristin Asinger and Candy Graham take part in the annual hat parade. Asinger won a prize for most creative hat. Hat parade judge Zach Ruth calls one of the finalists over so people can get another look at her hat. 160 people attended the event, which raises money for the Bradford Area Public Library's Endowment Fund. This is the biggest crowd that's ever attended. The event also included an auction of a variety of items including a package from Janet's...

By SANDRA RHODES Given its track record, odds are the Derby Gala will deliver a night of fun for a great cause. This year's gala is set to start at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the Pennhills Club. The Derby Gala, set to coincide with the running of the Kentucky Derby, benefits the Endowment Fund for the Bradford Area Public Library. "You will enjoy an evening of great food, wonderful company and exciting fun, said Karen Pecht, co-chairwoman of the event. This includes watching the Kentucky Derby on large-screen TVs, a hat parade and the auction of an exclusive Zippo lighter, which is actually a set of four lighters set together as a puzzle to depict a horse race scene. "Once again Zippo has gone above and beyond to support the BAPL Endowment Fund and this fund raiser ... every part of these lighters screams Kentucky Derby," Pecht said. Bides for the lighter set, which includes a framed autographed photograph of George Duke, owner of Zippo and chairman of the board, with the...

The Bradford Hospital Auxiliary and The Bradford Hospital Foundation are pleased to announce the second annual “Spring Swing Gala” slated for March 24, 2012 at the Pennhills Club in Bradford, PA. The event is to support the renovation of the Labor and Delivery unit at Bradford Regional Medical Center. Admission is $125 per person and includes hors d'oeuvres, complimentary wine and a cash bar. The event starts at 6 p.m. and dinner will be served at 7 p.m. The Gala is a black tie optional evening. This unique dinner dance will honor community members, M. Javed Akhtar, M.D. and Zenaide S. Still. “Dr. Akhtar and Zenaide have given tirelessly to their chosen vocations. As dedicated and devoted members of the Bradford community, each has truly embraced humanity,” said Francie Ambuske, Bradford Hospital Foundation Director of Development. Sponsors of the 2012 Spring Swing Gala include Halloran Philanthropies/American Refining Group Inc., Minard Run Oil Co., North...

With the idea there’s power in numbers, the tourism agencies in McKean and Cattaraugus counties are partnering to bring visitors into the region. The Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau, the official destination marketing organization for McKean County, and the Enchanted Mountains of Cattaraugus County, N.Y., have joined forces with FORE! Golf magazine to entice golfers to come to the region. The group has developed marketing materials and golf packages that will be used at travel shows and other distribution areas. The group plans to attend the Toronto Golf & Travel Show in March to promote packages and distribute information on golf courses as well as other attractions in both areas. Focusing on Toronto as one of the key markets in this joint effort helps the agencies reach their target audience, said Linda Devlin, executive director of the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau. “There’s already a steady stream of visitors coming from Canada to Ellicottville,” Devlin s...

By SANDRA RHODES It's a true case of win, place or show. The winners are the ticket holders, the place is Pennhills Club and the show is the Derby Gala. This year's Derby Gala, an annual event that benefits the Bradford Area Public Library Endowment Fund, will run from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday at the Pennhills Club. The event centers around the running of the Kentucky Derby, but this year has many new facets, including a casino night. "We wanted to add more fun to the event," said Kristin Asinger, co-chairwoman of the event. "After the race is over people would leave. We hope this will entice more people to come and stay." The price of the ticket will include $850 of "funny money" that can be used in the casino that will include slot machines, roulette, black jack and Texas Hold 'em. More money can be obtained through a donation. The funny money can in turn be used to win funny money raffle items at the end of the evening. The fun will start ...

The first event of the annual Derby Gala Triple Crown -- the Chapeau Tea -- was held Sunday at the Bradford Area Public Library. Pictured below are just a few of the 100 people who attended. The remaining events of the Triple Crown are the Kids Derby Day, set for April 16 at the library, and the Derby Gala, set for May 7 at the Pennhills Club. Proceeds benefit the Bradford Area Public Library Endowment Fund. And if you missed Sunday's tea, One Book Bradford is holding the "Three Pines Mystery Tea" at the First Presbyterian Church from 3 to 5 p.m. Apil 10. Tickets available at Grandam's House Tea & Gifts.

Allegany State Park, Ellicottville, Salamanca, Little Valley, Warren and Dunkirk are just a few of the places holding a fireworks show this weekend. The annual Pennhills Club fireworks will be at dusk on July 4. For a list of all the fireworks shows, go to our community calendar .

The Pennhills Club is hosting a beer festival starting at 3 p.m. Saturday. Music will be provided by 3 Guys Drinking Beer. More than 30 varieties of beer will be available, as well as hors d'oeuvres, sausage, wings and pizza. The beer festival is sponsored by Bradford City Beers and Glenwood Distributing. Admission is $25 per person, and you must be at least 21 years old to attend.