Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

  Nearly 30 years after its release, “Philadelphia” is still one of the most powerful films I've ever seen. Tom Hanks plays Andy, the high-powered lawyer who gets fired because he has AIDS, although the law firm's partners deny that, and claim he was fired because of poor performance and almost loosing a big client. His character doesn't go through a lot of emotional or mental changes, but the physical transformation from a fairly healthy-looking man to a man literally on his death bed is remarkable. Denzel Washington's character, Joe, changes the most, going from someone who was scared after learning he shook the hand of someone (Andy) who had AIDS, and being disgusted by gay men, to developing an affection and respect for Andy. Andy hires Joe, an “ambulance chaser,” to represent him in a lawsuit against the law firm when every other lawyer he contacted turned him down. The supporting cast is phenomenal. Among them, Jason Robards as a law firm partner, Joan...

Creepy, grotesque but true stories of the medical field in the 19th Century. Listen to my chat with Cristin here . The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Mo’Ne Davis needed only 70 pitches to shut out Tennessee in the opening round of the Little League World Series – and get herself into the record books in the process. The 13-year-old became the first girl to pitch a winning game in series. She allowed two hits, struck out eight and didn’t walk anyone in the six-inning complete game victory. Her phenomenal play is getting some attention from big leaguers – including the Pirates’ Andrew McCutcheon who tweeted to her that he was pulling for her and her teammates on the Taney Dragons from the Philadelphia area. The Dragons play again Sunday evening. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Pope Francis is coming to Pennsylvania. The Catholic News Service reported today that the pope will attend the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia from September 22 to 27 of next year. This is will be the pope’s first US visit. He is also considering visits to New York and Washington. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

McKean County Senior Judge John Cleland has been appointed to preside over a libel suit brought by state Supreme Court Justice Seamus McCaffery and his wife, five days after the co-owners of Philadelphia's two major newspapers won a bid to recuse the entire Philadelphia bench. The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts recommended Cleland, who was later approved by Supreme Court Justice Thomas G. Saylor. Cleland presided over the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse trial and was also chairman of the Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice that looked into the Kids for Cash scandal in Luzerne County. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

PHILADELPHIA – Against the backdrop of Love Park, state Reps. Brian Sims, D-Phila., and Steve McCarter, D-Montgomery/Phila., were joined by supporters in announcing the introduction of H.B. 1686, the Pennsylvania Marriage Equality Act. "The majority of Pennsylvanians now support marriage equality, and that support continues to grow," Sims said. "Neighboring states, including New York, Maryland and Delaware, have all decided to be on the right side of history and have granted equal rights to their LGBT citizens. The time has come for Pennsylvania’s legislature to stand up and let our citizens know we see them as truly equal members of society and they have the right to choose whom they marry. "With the Supreme Court ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act, it became apparent that Pennsylvania cannot continue to be stuck in the past. This is a civil rights issue facing our LGBT community. Furthermore, this issue is holding back Pennsylvania’s economy. People and busin...

NORRISTOWN, Pa. – D. Bruce Hanes, an elected county clerk in the suburbs of Philadelphia, has become something of a gay rights hero for granting marriage licenses to same-sex couples in defiance of Pennsylvania law. But the Civil War buff and married father of two says he is only doing what’s right. “I don’t see myself as a crusader,” said Hanes, 66, who issues marriage licenses as Montgomery County's register of wills and clerk of the county orphan’s court. Read more at NBC.com . Jeff Fusco photo / Getty Images for NBC News The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Governor Tom Corbett has signed execution warrants for three men, each of whom were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. Darien Houser, John J. Koehler Jr. and Willie Clayton are incarcerated at the State Correctional Institution at Greene. Darien Houser, 49, is scheduled to be executed on July 24. In March 2004, Philadelphia Warrant Officer Sgt. Joseph LeClaire was attempting to serve a warrant on Houser for failing to appear at his trial on rape charges. Houser opened fire, killing LeClaire and wounding two other officers. Houser was arrested a short time later. In March 2006, Houser was sentenced to death. John Koehler Jr., 51, is scheduled to be executed on July 25. In April 1995, Koehler's girlfriend, Regina Clark, and her 9-year-old son, Austin Hopper, were killed in Bradford County by William Curley at the urging and insistence of Koehler. Koehler told Curley he worked for the mob and persuaded Curley to enter the profession, killing the pair as part of h...

Governor Tom Corbett today announced that commonwealth support will enable Delta Air Lines' wholly-owned subsidiary, Monroe Energy LLC, to acquire the ConocoPhillips refinery in Trainer, preserving hundreds of direct jobs and thousands of jobs in related industries. Monroe will receive a $30 million Opportunity Grant from the Department of Community and Economic Development for job creation and site improvements. Financial support is contingent upon the company investing at least $350 million at the project site, including acquisition costs, and employing at least 402 full-time workers on-site for at least five years from the date of occupancy. In addition to direct jobs, an economic impact study conducted by the Department of Labor and Industry reported that every 100 direct jobs at the refinery support 1800 indirect jobs. Pictured with Corbett is Delta president, and St. Bonaventure University graduate, Ed Bastian. Provided by Commonwealth Media Services

The owner of United Refining in Warren says he is thinking about bidding on Sunoco's refinery in South Philadelphia. United Refining Energy Corp. chairman and billionaire John Catsimatidis tells The Philadelphia Inquirer his company is deciding this month if it will make an offer for the refinery, which Sunoco plans to shut down on July 1 if they don't find a buyer. He is the first potential buyer to publicly acknowledge an interest in the refinery, which is the largest on the East Coast. It is one of three in the Philadelphia area threatened with permanent closure because their owners say they are unprofitable. In addition to the Philadelphia facility, Sunoco already shut down its Marcus Hook refinery. ConocoPhillips has shut down operations at its refinery in Trainer. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Winners of eight straight home games, the Bonnies host league-leader Temple in a nationally televised "White Out" game Wednesday at the Reilly Center. The Reilly Center will host a "White Out" night and athletics department officials encourage everyone in attendance to wear white in support of the Bonnies. The Student Government Association is also sponsoring a canned-food drive. Temple enters the game on an eight-game win streak and sits just outside the Top 25 in the most recent AP poll. St. Bonaventure is 9-1 in the Reilly Center this season, with all but one victory coming by double digits. The game features Co-Atlantic 10 Players of the Week Andrew Nicholson and Ramone Moore, as the senior tandem picked up league honors for their performances last week. Nicholson averaged 22.5 points, 16.0 rebounds and shot 19-of-30 for the week (63.3 percent) in a 1-1 week for the Bonnies. After a 24-point, nine-rebound outing in a loss at UMass, the senior posted St. Bonave...

PHILADELPHIA -- U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today was joined by Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams to announce the introduction of the State Witness Protection Act, new legislation that would make witness intimidation a federal crime and strengthen penalties for those convicted of it. High profile cases of witness intimidation in Philadelphia, including the recent killing of a store clerk believed to be the witness of a November 2011 murder, underscore the need to give law enforcement more tools to deal with the problem. “Despite the strong leadership of officials and law enforcement, Philadelphia is grappling with violent crime,” said Senator Casey. “Witness intimidation is a major obstacle in the pursuit of justice, and the legislation I’m announcing today will help law enforcement tackle the problem and put more criminals behind bars.” The State witness Protection Act would make it a federal crime to: kill, attempt to kill, or use physical force to threaten or intimida...

A jury has found three people in the "Operation Drive-Thru" drug ring guilty of a number of charges following their weeklong trial in Clearfield County. Charles Gearhart of Woodland, Michael Styers of Mercer, and Maharaji "Bean" Hemingway of Philadelphia were charged following an investigation by the state attorney general’s office into a drug trafficking ring that Styers ran. He went to Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Wilkes-Barre to buy cocaine, heroin and prescription drugs, and then took them back to Clearfield County to sell. The investigation was known as "Operation Drive Thru" because Gearhart and his wife Danielle sold to people who drove their vehicles up to a window of their mobile home almost daily. http://1490newsblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/clearfields-operation-drive-thru.html The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

by State Sen. LeAnna Washington (D-Phila./Montgomery) It’s time that we begin treating child rape for the serious crime it is -- and setting bail that fits the crime would be a good place to start. The bail set for accused child abuser Jerry Sandusky was woefully inadequate. The bargain basement $100,000 unsecured bail spoke volumes about the District Justice Leslie Dutchcot’s underlying friendship (she donated money and volunteered at Mr. Sandusky’s “Second Mile” charity) and unrelenting hero worship stature for Sandusky. Her bail minimized and marginalized the victims, likely deterred other victims and witnesses from coming forward and potentially endangered other children in that community. In reviewing the grotesque and disturbing testimony specified in page after page of the Grand Jury report, one has to wonder why any judge would think a man accused of such repugnant crimes is worthy of leniency. It’s safe to say that many, many people accused of far lesser crimes have been requi...

PHILADELPHIA – State Sen. Larry Farnese (D-Phila.) today called on the Chairman of the Pennsylvania Senate’s Finance Committee to fast track his legislation that would keep state and municipal workers who are convicted of a sex crime against a minor from collecting their public pension. Senate Bill 1290 was introduced on October 18, 2011, and would amend the Public Employee Pension Forfeiture Act. “Senate Bill 1290 is an important piece of legislation that will protect our children and it needs to be called up for a vote when the Senate reconvenes,” said Sen. Farnese. “The headlines out of Happy Valley are disgusting, and we need to get this legislation to the Governor’s desk as soon as possible so those convicted of sex crimes against minors know we are serious about protecting our children.” Almost 19,000 Penn State employees participate in state funded pension plans that could be covered under this law. Current Pennsylvania law contains provisions that bar public officials and em...

By Bryan Jackson SBU ‘12 St. Bonaventure students trekked to Eastern Pennsylvania for a weekend of volunteering at St. Francis Inn soup kitchen. Over Columbus Day weekend, director of the Franciscan Center for Social Concern Sr. Suzanne Kush, C.S.S.F., and Fr. John Coughlin, O.F.M, accompanied six St. Bonaventure students to the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia, where St. Francis Inn has been serving patrons since 1979. This month marked the fourth consecutive year Bonaventure students have volunteered at the soup kitchen, and Fr. John said a return trip next Columbus Day weekend has already been booked. Direct service to the poor shined through as one of the trip’s pivotal elements, according to Fr. John, who said the soup kitchen relies heavily on volunteers to staff their goodwill operation. Junior philosophy major Brett Keegan said that while no individual experience, event or person stuck out to him, the trip as a whole left him with a newfound, unique perspective. “The...

Senator Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) today voted for legislation that would set stricter regulations for abortion clinics in Pennsylvania. Senate Bill 732 was introduced following a grand jury investigation of an abortion clinic in Philadelphia which had gone uninspected for 17 years and was operating under unsanitary and criminal conditions. The bill was improved and strengthened by an amendment offered by Senator Bob Mensch last week which Senator Scarnati also supported. “The atrocities discovered at the Women’s Medical Society in West Philadelphia made it clear that we need to require annual unannounced inspections for each abortion facility, set higher health and safety standards and implement a system that responds quickly to complaints,” Scarnati said. “This legislation will mandate that these facilities meet the same standards which other healthcare facilities must meet.” The bill would require clinics that perform abortions after nine week...

Philadelphia – "We have a crisis on our hands," warned Dr. Poune Saberi, a Philadelphia family physician, speaking at Love Park during a rally Saturday, part of the "River to River" march against fracking. She continued, "Three days ago a fracking well in Canton, Pennsylvania [Bradford County] blew out, spilling thousands of gallons of toxic chemicals over farms, fields, the private property of local families, and into a creek that flows into the Susquehanna River..." She listed some of the chemicals and flowback contaminants involved in fracking, and their impact on human health. Saberi asked, "shouldn't the EPA study of fracking impacts on drinking water -- to be released in 2014 -- precede [the onset of] this cancerous industry?" She concluded, "We must demand the government... enforce a moratorium on all Marcellus Shale hydrofracking in Pennsylvania. Otherwise the tide of gas drilling will wash us all into a river of chemical wast...

Raymond C. Schweizer, 90, of 180 Penhurst Dr. Pittsburgh, PA., formerly of 15 Thomas Road, Bradford, passed away Tuesday, February 15, 2011 at West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh. Born January 30, 1921, in Buffalo he was a son of the late Charles and Gertrude (Raymond) Schweizer. On June 25, 1947 in Buffalo he married Elizabeth "Betty" (Roarke) Schweizer who died April 24, 2005. He was a 1938 graduate of Bennett High School in Buffalo, and later graduated with a bachelors degree in Business Administration from the University of Buffalo in 1951. In 1943 he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corp and attended B-29 Flight Engineering School. He was honorably discharged in 1946. He worked as a police officer in Buffalo while attending the University of Buffalo. After the service he worked for the FBI in Philadelphia. Later he began working as a Dealer Representative for the Ford Motor Company covering Upstate New York and North Western Pennsylvania. In 1964 he purchased Fairway ...

President Obama is coming to central Pennsylvania on Wednesday, according to White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki. She says Obama will visit a leader of the energy innovations hub that will be located at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. A Penn State team is getting $122-million, over the next five years, to establish the Philadelphia "hub," which will work on making America's buildings more energy efficient. The President's trip is part of a push for his 'Win the Future' agenda. Psaki says the President plans to tour campus facilities and make some remarks during the trip. From RadioPA's Matt Paul