Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Members of the "Will's Warriors" Relay for Life team are some of the hundreds of people raising money for the American Cancer Society today during the annual relay at Pitt-Bradford. Anyone can stop by to partake of the food court, enter to win prizes or just support the participants. As for Will's Warriors -- They are relaying for 10-year-old Will Cross Jr., who is battling cancer. A benefit for Will and his family starts at noon Sunday at the American Legion in Limestone. It includes a chicken barbecue dinner with baked beans, salad, roll, salt potatoes for $8. Take outs are available. They will also have live bands all day, drawings and more. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

By KIMBERLY MARCOTT WEINBURG Assistant Director of Communications and Marketing The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford is hosting “Power Within” an art show of work by Smethport artist Julie Mader depicting cancer-fighting plants. The exhibition of 29 paintings will be on display in the KOA Art Gallery in Blaisdell Hall on campus through July 3. The gallery is open from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and will also be open during the McKean County Unit of the American Cancer Society’s 24-hour Relay for Life held on campus from noon June 28 through noon June 29. “I’m very excited about the show being on campus during the Relay for Life event and hope that the guest sheet in the gallery will be overflowing with visitor signatures after the weekend,” Mader said. Mader said she first had the idea of the traveling exhibition, which is now on its fifth stop in the region, more than a decade ago. “The idea came from witnessing the extreme love an...

The 2012 McKean County Relay for Life not only met its goal -- it went over it by $6,250. At the end of today's relay co-chair Brian Abers told the teams they raised $91,000. The goal set by the regional office was $84,750. "We blew that total away," Abers said. Oh, and by the way, they did it with eight fewer active teams than they had last year when they raised $75,000. “You guys did it because your hearts are in the right places,” Abers said. “We are here to find a cure for cancer. You guys keep working hard like that, keep raising money like that – that cure’s coming. We’re just a few steps away.” The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Relay for Life co-chair Brian Abers and his wife Val walk the Survivors Lap hand-in-hand Friday during the annual American Cancer Society event. Later today Abers, a cancer survivor, will announce the grand total raised for this year's relay. (We have it on good authority that they will surpass their goal. We'll let you know.) "Michelle" Walter, a Miss Relay contestant, checks out the motorcycle being raffled off by Kids and Cancer. The bike winner will be announced after the annual Kids and Cancer Motorcyle Run next month. A couple more Miss Relay contestants, along with Scooby Doo, walk the loop at Pitt-Bradford.

This lovely "lady" is just one of the "gals" that will be competing for the title of Miss Relay tonight during the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. Frank Williams will be broadcasting live from the relay on 100.1 The Hero from 3 to 6 p.m. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Thursday night Stefan Arlington and Anne Holliday brought you the sounds of the American Cancer Society's Fight Back Parade on 1490 WESB. Now here are some sights. The annual Relay for Life starts at noon today at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Frank Williams will be broadcasting live from the Relay on 100.1 The HERO from 3 to 6 p.m. 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...

Yesterday four of our resident St. Francis Drive ducks checked out the grounds of Fretz Middle School. Today ... ...Fretz students are holding their third annual Mini Relay for Life to benefit the American Cancer Society. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Guinevere (sometimes known as Mark Brien) wins the Miss Relay contest. "She" and the second place contestant alone raised more than $1,000.

One of the most emotional parts of the American Cancer Society's annual Relay for Life is the Survivor Ceremony. Friday was no exception. Following his speech that didn't leave a dry eye in the tent, 16-year-old cancer survivor Tyler Johnson accepts a check from fellow survivor Dorie Meabon of Kids and Cancer. Kids and Cancer helps families defray the costs of cancer and other illnesses. Their benefit motorcyle (and all street vehicle) run is July 16. Here, some other survivors and their caregivers take a lap around the track. Brenda Dunn Brian and Val Abers and Jon and Dorie Meabon Melanie Luther-Shay, Tom Shay, Tony Danias, Christy Danias During the Fretz Mini Relay the Shays' daughter Kathleen was the top money-raiser with more than $500. Tyler's sister Samantha won an essay contest, writing about how her brother is her hero. center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuaiwYc6TUApcv9QYDiZx3dkZANVqH7wEyC2ih1T...

The Little Mermaid and Rapunzel were just a couple of the fictional characters who made an appearance at Thursday's American Cancer Society "Fight Back Parade," which has become the kick-off event for the annual Relay for Life. Also on hand were local police and fire departments, many of the teams, Kids and Canccer, and the Street Dreams Car Club. And ... the Miss Relay contestants. The relay gets underway at noon Friday at Pitt-Bradford. Plenty of fun and food will be available -- even if you don't have a team -- as the community fights back against cancer and remembers those who fought the good fight.

Fretz Middle School students and staff held their second annual Mini Relay for Life today and raised more than $6,300 for the American Cancer Society. Principal Tina Slaven announced that they raised $809 during today’s carnival; the Ping Pong-Palooza, cupcake sale, penny war and ice cream sales brought in $2,000; and the envelopes the students brought in added up to $3,567. The grand total was $6,376. Teacher Judy Abbey noted that student Kathleen Shay brought in more than $500. The “big” Relay for Life is June 17 and 18 at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.

The highly anticipated St. Patrick’s Day Party / Stop #2 for the Straub Brewery Charity Pub Crawl will be held at HoleShot Bar & Grill in St. Marys this Friday, March 18th from 9 - 11 p.m. All are welcome to attend and there is no cover charge. A Jam Session/Open Mic Night (HoleShot will provide the drums, mic, and amps) will follow Fish Fries (available all-day until 8 p.m). The St. Patty’s Day celebration will include HoleShot’s famous Roost Fries, $1 Straub Beer Draft Drink Specials, Free Door Prizes, official concert-style Pub Crawl tees for sale, and to really bring out everyone’s inner Leprechaun, special GREEN Straub Beer will be served throughout the party. Please note that Edgewood has also generously donated their parking lot for overflow parking at the party. The yearlong 2011 Straub Brewery Charity Pub Crawl benefits four local charities: Elk County Relay for Life, Elk County Humane Society, Crystal Fire Department, and Rotary Club of St. Marys. Proceeds for the chariti...

By SANDRA RHODES Odds are that when John Schlimm decides to do a cookbook it will be outstanding. Add into the mix chefs from Harrah’s Entertainment casinos and what you’ll have is a sure bet. That’s just the case with the St. Marys native’s new cookbook – a compilation of 125 recipes right from the chefs that have made their restaurants what they are today. As Schlimm explained, the idea of “The Seven Stars Cookbook: Recipes from World-Class Casino Restaurants,” was born when he was on the national tour for the “Ultimate Beer Lovers Cookbook.” When he was on this tour and working with Harrah’s chefs, a light bulb went off. “There was an absolute gold mine right here,” he said. His agent approached Harrah’s who then jumped right on board. Two years later is a cookbook that is much a work of art as it is a collection of recipes. “It was very important to me that all three dozen (Harrah’s) properties in this country be in this book,” he said. “We worked very hard to reach out to each pro...

On Wednesday, Kane Community Hospital (KCH), an affiliate of Hamot Health Foundation, held a celebration to honor employee participation in the Tenth Anniversary of the Kane Area Relay for Life. The celebration began in the Gardens at KCH where J. Gary Rhodes, CEO of KCH and Mark Papalia, Director of Operations grilled hot dogs and hamburgers for hospital staff. In his remarks to those gathered for a pre-luncheon ceremony, Rhodes commented that it was a most appropriate place to remember and to celebrate the many triumphs of cancer research and care. The Gardens at KCH were created after the loss of long time nurse Patti Zook (who suggested gardens at the Hospital) after her courageous fight with cancer. After her passing, many more KCH colleagues followed, Rhodes noted, remembering each and the toll cancer has levied on the Hospital and throughout the Kane Area. Rhodes reminded team members and staff that KCH’s involvement with the American Cancer Society’s signature event ...

Here are just a few of the "Miss Relay" contestants: You can see all of the the Miss Relay contestants in person Friday at Kane Area High School, where the Relay for Life starts at noon and goes through noon on Saturday.

Here are just a few of the participants before the parade ... McKean County Commissioners Joe DeMott and Judy Church Three of the survivors on their float 100.1 The HERO's Igor ... and some of the spectators ...