Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

A fire early Saturday morning damaged a home at 43 Clinton Street in Bradford. City fire department Lt. Greg Lewis says the blaze started at a first floor gas furnace, and then spread. Damage is estimated at $85,000. A state police fire marshal has been called in to investigate. Tenants Melissa Hinchman and Adam Priest were able to get out safely. They are being assisted by the Red Cross. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Elk County has been approved for a federal Small Business Administration loan to help people rebuild after the May 21 flooding wreaked havoc on the area. State Rep. Matt Gabler says Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson gave him the word about the disaster declaration. County officials are still waiting for word form FEMA about more assistance. Jason Bange of the American Red Cross has been spending time in Ridgway helping people put their lives back together. On today's LiveLine he talked about one business that lent a helping hand – and more – to Ridgway residents. Listen here . (12 seconds) You can listen to the entire show by going to WESB.com/listen and clicking on the Local Programs tab. If you’d like to help the Red Cross – there’s a delicious way you can do it. By Tuesday, contact the chapter house on Congress and order a strawberry shortcake for 5 bucks. All proceeds go to help pay for services the Red Cross provides.

(News Release) SMETHPORT – The McKean County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) met on December 6, 2013 at the County EMA facility. Representatives from McKean County Emergency Management, Pennsylvania DEP, Zippo, W.R. Case and Sons Cutlery, American Red Cross, American Refining Group, FCI Mckean and Allegheny Bradford Corporation were in attendance. The LEPC was formed in accordance with PA Act 165 of 1990 and the Federal Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) Title III. The primary roles of the LEPC are preparing plans dealing with the release of Extremely Hazardous Substances from facilities utilize these chemicals, the collection and use of chemical fees from industries to support Hazardous Materials Response needs in the county. Updated plans for Universal Well Services and The McKean Landfill were reviewed and approved. Also, new plans for Baker Petrolite and the CARES-McKean were reviewed and approved. The LEPC was also notified that Superior Well Serv...

Two men were able to escape from their Weedville house before it was destroyed by fire late Wednesday night. Firefighters say the blaze at the River Road home of Dennis Celinski and Curtis Piszenski started at about 11:30 p.m. Firefighters were on the scene until about 6 o’clock Thursday morning. Route 255 was closed between Caledonia and Weedville while firefighters were battling the blaze. Flames damaged Windstream Fiber Optic Cable and West Penn Power Lines, causing a telephone outage in the area. One firefighter suffered a minor injury. He was taken by ambulance to Elk Regional Health Center, where he was treated and released, according to state police fire marshal Greg Agosti. The Red Cross provided food, clothing and shelter to Celinski and Piszenski. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Fire heavily damaged a Lewis Run home Sunday afternoon. Firefighters say the blaze started in a laundry room on the first floor of the house owned by Barb Torrey and Chris Slike. No one was hurt, and four cats managed to get out of the house safely. Firefighters say the home was heavily damaged by fire, smoke and water. The Red Cross is assisting the owners. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Bradford Township firefighters were called to a wildfire behind the DeSoto Holiday House on South Avenue at just after 1 o’clock this afternoon. Derrick City and Lewis Run sent a utility vehicle and firefighters as well. Jason Bange, executive director of the McKean-Potter & PA Heartland Chapters of the American Red Cross, tells us it appears that 2 to 3 acres burned. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The arrival of the winter months and the holiday season brings countless shopping trips, holiday treat baking and skiing as well as sledding excursions. These fun activities should always be approached with caution, as they have potentially unfortunate outcomes. Residents in McKean and Potter counties can learn how to handle emergency situations which might arise during the hustle and bustle of December by taking an American Red Cross preparedness, health and safety course. The Red Cross offers health and safety classes that equip individuals with the necessary skills to prepare for and respond to life threatening situations. Red Cross CPR and First Aid certifications enable individuals to respond quickly and appropriately in the event of an emergency. McKean and Potter County residents are encouraged to sign up for a training course and join the five million people who have enrolled and learned how to save a life. The following classes will be offered in Bradford this month. The cou...

A state police fire marshal is still trying to determine what caused a fire that destroyed a garage and damaged two houses this morning on Route 219 in Elk County. Trooper Greg Agosti says the fire started at 5:15 a.m. in a garage on the property of 76-year-old Hazel Courson of Brockport, and then spread to the home a few feet away. Courson, along with 48-year-old Lori Hollobaugh, 29-year-old April Dutka and 30-year-old Jason Young were asleep at the time of the fire but were able to escape without being hurt. Agosti says radiant heat from the garage fire also damaged another house occupied by Alan and Mary Moore. Damage is estimated at $150,000. The Horton Township Fire Department was assisted by Fox Township, Brockway, Ridgway, Falls Creek and DuBois fire departments. The American Red Cross is assisting the victims. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The deadline to submit completed Tuna Trekker Trail Logs is Thursday, August 16th at the Red Cross office. If participants have been unable to finish their logs, the event committee is still asking that the logs be turned in along with any donations that were raised. For people participating in the GeoCoin Challenge, it is only necessary to have found 8 of the 10 caches. All participants will be considered for the various prizes that have been donated from local businesses. Anyone with questions regarding submitting their Trail Logs should contact the Red Cross office. If no one is available at the office when participants arrive to submit their logs, please place log through mail slot in the front door. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The McKean-Potter Counties American Red Cross provided 3,600 bottles of water to the local communities. Water was staged at the following fire halls: Lewis Run, Smethport, Hill Top (Cyclone), Roulette, and Genesee. Photo from Facebook

The McKean-Potter Counties American Red will be holding its First Annual Mini-Golf Outing at Gary’s Putter Golf & Jiffy Pup, located at 156 Cherry Springs Rd. Coudersport, PA, on August 5th, 2012. The family friendly event is set to start at 10:00 a.m. and run until 2:00 p.m. The event is for teams of two people and includes two rounds of golf, lunch, ice cream and awards. Registration forms and details can be found at the chapter’s website at www.mparc.org or by calling the Red Cross office. Proceeds from the event go to support the chapter’s disaster services fund. This past fiscal year, the chapter provided over $18,000 in disaster assistance to individuals displaced by home fires and similar emergencies. Each year the chapter holds various events to raise the necessary funds to ensure that the Red Cross is able to respond when disasters strike. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

By Kimberly Marcott Weinberg Assistant Director of Communications and Marketing Over the past year, University of Pittsburgh at Bradford students have contributed 7,771 community service hours and $10,337 in donations to various causes locally and globally. The hours and donations were compiled by Tonya Ackley, coordinator of community engagement, a position created a year ago at Pitt-Bradford to match Pitt-Bradford students with opportunities for service in the Bradford community and beyond. Alpha Phi Omega, a co-educational service fraternity, provided the most hours of service with 1,444. APO worked with Red Cross and Community Blood Bank Blood Drives, Adopt-a-Highway, Empty Bowls project to benefit the Friendship Table, Bradford Ecumenical Home, Beacon Light Behavioral Health Systems, Bowl for Kids’ Sake, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the Friendship Table, George G. Blaisdell Elementary School and Special Olympics. Students in Free Enterprise provided 827 hours of service teaching at...

The McKean-Potter Counties American Red Cross is still taking orders for its Strawberry Shortcakes fundraiser to support Red Cross programs. The shortcakes feature a full southern style biscuit smothered with fresh sweetened strawberries and topped with a generous dollop of whipped cream, served in a sealed 16oz container and is delivered to your business or location. Spoons and napkins are provided also and shortcakes will be delivered on Thursday, June 14th. Anyone interested in ordering should contact the Red Cross office by 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 12th to place their order. Information and order forms are also available on the chapter website at www.mparc.org. There is a minimum order of 4 shortcakes for delivery. Anyone interested in placing an order or with questions can contact the Red Cross at 368-6197. Delivery area limited to Bradford and the surrounding townships and the Smethport area. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The McKean-Potter Counties American Red Cross is replenishing its stock of comfort kits to give out to disaster victims. The following items are needed in trail size bottles or containers in order to complete the kits: shaving cream, hand lotion, and deodorant (men’s and women’s). The Red Cross also needs child size toothbrushes, coloring/activity books, and small packs of crayons. A complete list of Comfort Kit contents can be found on the chapter’s website at www.mparc.org . Donations of these items can be dropped off at the chapter office on Congress St. in Bradford. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

If anyone has pictures, feel free to post them on our Facebook page or send them to news@wesb.com PEMA has been notified UPDATE 7:25 p.m.: Wildfire specialists continue to battle the fire. Route 120 is closed to everything except emergency vehicles. Firefighters from across the region are battling a wildfire near Sinnemahoning. An air tanker has been called in to help fight what’s being called a rapidly spreading forest fire. The plane made its first water drop at just after 6 p.m. DCNR personnel, besides those on the plane, are on the scene as well. Firefighters are also concerned about fire spreading to buildings, and smaller fires starting. Cameron, Potter, McKean, Elk and Clinton county firefighters are responding. The Red Cross is assisting the firefighters. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

In the past few months, the American Red Cross in McKean-Potter Counties received two new response vehicles to better enable the chapter to respond to emergencies in the local area. The 2012 Dodge Ram pickup truck was purchased in October with funding provided by the National Red Cross, and the 7’x16’ Disaster Response Trailer was purchased last month with donations provided by two local supporters. “The trailer will not only be stocked with shelter supplies, but will also be equipped to provide mobile feeding at disaster scenes,” stated executive director, Jason Bange. “This is a much needed addition to our chapter’s response capabilities and we are very grateful to all the donors who made this possible.” The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

During March, the American Red Cross is asking everyone to help people in need by supporting the lifesaving services it provides. “Please remember those who need our help and support the Red Cross by making a donation, becoming a volunteer, taking a class, or giving blood,” said Jason Bange, executive director of the McKean-Potter Chapter. “We want to thank everyone for their generosity, which has enabled us help people here at home, across the United States, and around the world.” March is Red Cross Month, first proclaimed in 1943 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Since that time, every president, including President Obama, has designated March as Red Cross Month. The American Red Cross is synonymous with helping people, and has been doing so for more than 130 years. The Red Cross responds to nearly 70,000 disasters a year in this country, providing shelter, food, emotional support and other necessities to those affected. It provides 24-hour support to members of the military, veter...

In the wake of Hurricane Irene, thousands of people have turned to the American Red Cross for help. Many communities from North Carolina to New England are suffering from significant flooding, wind damage and widespread power outages. We are putting the full force of the Red Cross into action to provide relief. Our response to this storm could last for weeks, helping people get back on their feet. Right now, our main focus is to continue providing people with shelter and food. Last night, the Red Cross operated or supported approximately 340 shelters with more than 8,600 residents from North Carolina to New England. This number will fluctuate as we go through this disaster. Since Friday, we’ve provided more than 48,000 overnight shelter stays. We’ve also made arrangements to have about 1.3 million meals available in North Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia and New York through our partners. We have approximately 260 feeding vehicles ready to go into neighborhoods. We’ve eng...

Thousands of people from throughout the world descended on the Allegheny National Forest Region for GeoWoodstock IX at the Warren County Fairgrounds on Saturday, July 5. The Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau, the tourist promotion agency for McKean County, was on hand to distribute local tourism information, to share information and listen to stories of the geocachers adventures as they searched for caches hidden here. Geocaching, a relatively new phenomenon that has been around for about 10 years, involves people using GPS units (Global Positioning System) to find caches – or treasures. In many of the caches, a stamp or passport system leads to participants acquiring a uniquely numbered, traceable geocoin. It is the perfect sport, balancing technology and the outdoors, and has grown to be an international phenomenon. Participants in Saturday’s event found treasure just be visiting the region, and enjoying the natural beauty of northwestern Pennsylvania. Visitors came from as ...

By SANDRA RHODES It’s no coin-incidence that there’s a new feature in the Trekking the Tuna Trails program this year. The Trekking the Tuna Trails, sponsored by the Tuna Valley Trail Association, is in its third year of raising money for the McKean-Potter Counties American Red Cross. Participants are asked to walk the trails in the Tuna Valley Trail System as well as help out the Red Cross. The program, currently underway, continues until Aug. 15. This year, a new challenge has been added into the trail mix. The Geocoin Challenge allows participants who raise $20 in addition to finding the nine geocaches on the nine trails of the TVTA plus a 10th cache when they turn in their log at the Red Cross, to earn a geocoin. The trackable geocoin, created by Glenn Melvin, is a two-inch wooden coin made of maple. One side has the Red Cross and Tuna Trekker logos, while the other side as the Erik Benjamin Covered Bridge, located at the Marilla Reservoir on West Washington Street. ...