Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Leandra’s Law charges have been filed against a Portville man accused of driving under the influence with his 1-year-old and 5-year-old children in the vehicle when he crashed the vehicle. Police say 25-year-old Shane Rice crashed the vehicle early Tuesday morning in Seneca Avenue in Olean. Rice and the children were taken to Olean General Hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries. Besides aggravated DWI, Rice was charged with endangering the welfare of a child and driving without a license. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

PORTVILLE, N.Y. – What is not to love about a Valentine’s Day Hike with a loved one at the Pfeiffer Nature Center? A Valentine’s Day Hike or Snowshoe event will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Feb. 14. Enjoy a guided outdoor adventure trail hike to the NYS Champion Tupelo Tree in the Outdoor Living Museum. The hike will depart from Lillibridge Preserve, 1974 Lillibridge Road in Portville. The event will take place snow or no snow so come prepared. This hike is designed for all age levels and is free and open to the public. Children must be accompanied by an adult. This is the perfect opportunity to explore the PNC property. The Center’s officials are committed to building a foundation of knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the intrinsic values and aesthetic qualities of the natural world while instilling a sense of responsibility and stewardship for the natural world within the global community. Feel free to bring your own snowshoes. A limited number will be ava...

PORTVILLE, N.Y. - Have you been pining for something to do to get in the holiday spirit? Well, look no further than the Pfeiffer Nature Center. The Pfeiffer Nature Center is asking all decorators to hit the great outdoors and collect items from nature for its annual holiday wreath sale. These all-natural wreaths are now on sale until Nov. 21 and can be ordered online at www.pfeiffernaturecenter.org. The Center will also have a booth at Portville’s Art & Antique Show where you can see a sample of these beautifully finished works of art. This two-day indoor show is held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, at the Portville Central School. If interested in getting into the action of actually helping to make the wreaths, mark Nov. 20-22 on your calendar and go to the Pleasant Valley Greenhouse. Volunteers can help for the entire day or a few hours. Come anytime between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. And that is not all. Call the office if you ca...

Parents of a 16-year-old high school football player who died after being tackled during a game at Portville High School last fall have filed a lawsuit against the school districts, Olean General Hospital, the Westons Mills fire department and others. Damon Janes was playing for Westfield-Brocton when he fell unconscious on September 13, 2013. He died three days later in Women & Children’s Hospital in Buffalo. The lawsuit says Damon suffered one or more concussions in the first half of the game, but was expected to remain on the field. After the hit to his head in the third quarter, he staggered off the field, sat on the bench, said a few words to a teammate, and then collapsed. He never regained consciousness. The lawsuit say the Portville school district did not have medical personnel nearby who were capable of dealing with a seriously injured player, and also blocked the Westons Mills ambulance from driving onto the field because they didn't want to damage it. The suite ...

A Salamanca man was picked up over the weekend in connection to a burglary that happened almost a year ago. State police charged 23-year-old Jeremy Foster with felony burglary in connection to an incident last December in Portville. Foster was released on his own recognizance pending further court action. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Pfeiffer Nature Center to host music workshop PORTVILLE, N.Y. - The next workshop at the Pfeiffer Nature Center is music to our ears - and yours. Muses of the Forest: Music will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at the American Chestnut cabin on the Lillibridge Road property, 1974 Lillibridge Road. Aron Cole will be the facilitator and will show participants how to play a dulcimer, a fretted string instrument with origins in the Appalachian region of the U.S. The cost to attend is $5 per person thanks to a New York State Arts Grant. A box lunch will be provided. Registrations must be made by 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, by logging onto www.pfeiffernaturecenter.org. The event will take place rain or shine. The Nature Center offers interpretative opportunities in science, nature, and art through programs and events throughout the year. Get to know Pfeiffer Nature Center – find a spot in our woods to enjoy peace and quiet, come to our programs, become a member, volu...

After a car slammed into a house in Portville an Olean woman was arrested and sent to Cattaraugus County Jail. State police say Meaghan Jackson was on Route 417 when her car went out of control, left the road and hit the house. She failed field sobriety tests and was subsequently arrested for driving while ability impaired by drugs. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

PORTVILLE, N.Y. – Fall in love with the outdoors this Saturday with a Family Autumn Walk sponsored by the Pfeiffer Nature Center. This family-oriented event will be held from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at 1974 Lillibridge Road. The walk will include snacks and games. “Explore the forest, learn about the vernal pool and what creatures live in our fields,” said executive director Chris Walden. There is no cost for members of the Pfeiffer Nature Center and is just $8 per family for non-members. Reserve your spot online at pfeiffernaturecenter.org. Registrations must be received by 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18. Pictured, Children enjoy the outdoors during a workshop at the Pfeiffer Nature Center in Portville, N.Y. A Family Autumn Walk is set for this Saturday. Photo courtesy of Pfeiffer Nature Center The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

PORTVILLE, N.Y. – Participants of this workshop will leave no stone unturned at the Pfeiffer Nature Center. From noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, the Eshelman Property at 1420 Yubadam Road in Portville will be the site of Nature 101 – Aquatic Life headed by Christopher Anderson, a former Sea World aqua handler. Participants will go to a nearby creek in search of various aquatic life, such as minnows, crayfish and frogs. Please wear old sneakers since this will be a hands on, feet wet afternoon. The cost is $8 per person. Reservations must be made by Thursday by calling the PNC at 716.933.0187. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A man is accused of hitting a woman in the head with a rock while a teenage boy was watching. Police say early Saturday morning in the Town of Portville, Rodney Hall of Hinsdale hit the woman with the rock while they were in a vehicle on Route 305. A 14-year-old boy was also in the vehicle. Hall is charged with assault, reckless endangerment, menacing and endangering the welfare of a child. He was sent to Cattaraugus County Jail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Portville man originally charged with attempted murder will spend the next 20 years in state prison for assault. 46-year-old Anthony Nevone was indicted by a Cattaraugus County grand jury on both charges, as well as reckless endangerment in connection to an incident in mid-July of last year, but pleaded guilty to the assault charge in June. Prosecutors say Nevone acted with intent to disfigure a person seriously and permanently, or to disable that person during the assault, and showed depraved indifference to human life, according to previous WESB reports. They say he used a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument, but did not specify what it was. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

PORTVILLE, N.Y. – If you are looking for a breather from hectic summer activities, the Pfeiffer Nature Center has just what you need. The 2014 Exhale Series starts Sunday, July 20. The theme for this season is “Acts of a Meaning Life” which celebrates experiences, creations, and communications of individuals and groups of individuals. The Sunday evening typically begins around 5:30 p.m. with live music. A speaker from the community follows at 6 p.m. The evening concludes with more music. The format and style is designed to create an atmosphere of sharing and reflection in a place where people can come to understand and appreciate the diversity which is a part of every community. Visitors are welcome to join or depart the program at their leisure. From the mountaintop location of the Lillibridge Pavilion, the Exhale Series brings together music, inspiration, community members in a natural, outdoor setting. The Sunday evening program runs through Sunday, Aug. 25. Mary Schloss...

The fire that damaged an Eldred house Thursday night has been ruled accidental. State Police Fire Marshal Greg Agosti say the fire at 25 Edson Street in the borough started at a propane grill on the back porch that was being used at the time. Damage is estimated at $140,000. The house is owned by Amanda Morrisroe. Agosti says the fire also damaged the house at 29 Edson Street owned by Monica Lowe, and the house at 30 Bennett Street owned by Duane Stull. There were no injuries. Star Hose Company of Port Allegany and the Portville, New York, Fire Department assisted the Eldred Borough Fire Department at the scene. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Portville man originally charged with attempted murder has pleaded guilty to assault. 46-year-old Anthony Nevone was indicted by a Cattaraugus County grand jury on both charges, as well as reckless endangerment in connection to an incident in mid-July of last year. Prosecutors say Nevone acted with intent to disfigure a person seriously and permanently, or to disable that person during the assault, and showed depraved indifference to human life, according to previous WESB reports. They say he used a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument, but did not specify what it was. Nevone is scheduled for sentencing on August 4 in Cattaraugus County Court. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

By Kiara Catanzaro SBU ’15 St. Bonaventure University will host its 28th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29. Local high school girls and their coaches will participate in sporting event programs throughout the day with St. Bonaventure’s female student-athletes and staff. The event, sponsored by the School of Education, the Department of Physical Education, the Department of Athletics, the Department of Military Science and the Visiting Scholars Program, will host 15 school districts including 400 women student-athletes along with their coaches and teachers. Students from the following school districts will attend: Allegany-Limestone, Archbishop Walsh, Austin Area Schools, Bath, Bolivar-Richburg, Bradford, Cuba-Rushford, Fillmore, Franklinville, Jamestown-Lutheran, Portville, Randolph, Seneca Nation, South Park and Southwestern. After 9 a.m. registration, students will listen to a keynote address from alumnus Amy Mo...

A woman who was looking at her GPS instead of the road didn’t stop at a stop sign at the end of an I-86 exit this afternoon in Olean and an ambulance on Route 16 slammed into her pickup truck. Police say at just before 1:30 p.m. 26-year-old Jill Peangatelli of Houtzdale was coming off Exit 26 when she didn’t stop, leading to the collision with the Trans Am ambulance driven by Robert Brooks of Portville. Brooks and an EMT were the only people in the ambulance. Brooks suffered a laceration on one of his hands. Peangatelli sustained minor cuts and bruises. She’s charged with failure to stop at a stop sign, using a portable electronic device while driving and not wearing a seat belt. Traffic was detoured around the crash site for a short time this afternoon. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Portville man is in jail for breaking into a home, and then pushing and choking his ex-girlfriend. State Police say 29-year-old Timothy Hammond went into the home at Route 417 at about 6 o’clock Tuesday night, had a physical confrontation with the resident and attacked his ex-girlfriend. She wasn’t hurt, but the other person was treated for a nasal injury at Olean General Hospital and then released. Hammond was sent to Cattaraugus County Jail on $5,000 bail. He’s scheduled to appear in Town of Portville Court tomorrow. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Portville man who broke into a building in October of last year will spend the next 1 to 3 years in state prison for violating his probation. 23-year-old Jaryd Rodgers was on probation for stealing money and forging checks in Olean when he committed the burglary. When he was sentenced for those crimes, he was also ordered to pay more than $23,000 in restitution. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Assault and other charges have been filed against a Portville man following a domestic incident Monday afternoon. Sheriff’s deputies arrested 27-year-old Keegan Flynn for endangering the welfare of a child and unlawful imprisonment as well as assault after the incident at his home. He was arraigned in Portville Town Court and released on his own recognizance. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

An Olean man who stole guns, electronics and other items between July and August of 2012 has been sentenced to 3 ½ to 7 years in state prison. 28-year-old Henry Spencer was convicted of two counts of burglary for incidents in Portville, Hinsdale and Ischua. When police executed a search warrant where they believed Spencer and his co-defendant were holed up, they found six firearms, 50 marijuana plants, packaged marijuana, a car, drug paraphernalia, electronics, ammunition and several other items. Spencer has also been ordered to pay restitution. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947