Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

The City of Bradford’s Office of Economic and Community Development (OECD) is pleased to announce the hiring of Chelsea Kahle as the Main Street Manager. Ms. Kahle is Bradford native and a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Community and Economic Development with a specialization in Historic Architecture Preservation and Restoration. Sara Andrews, OECD Executive Director, commented “The OECD is pleased to have Chelsea come on board as the new Main Street Manager. Chelsea’s education and enthusiasm for historic preservation and community development will be an asset as we continue to focus on the growth and revitalization of our historic downtown core." Chelsea will be starting in her new position on June 1, 2015 and will be working closely with the former Main Street Manager, Anita Dolan, the staff of the OECD and other partner organizations such as the Downtown Bradford Revitalization Corporation, the Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce and the Do...

Four new houses will be built in Bradford’s Second Ward Neighborhood Revitalization Project area that could raise the tax base significantly. City council on Tuesday approved on first reading a $250,000 general obligation bond that will go toward building the homes on Elm and Congress streets. OEDC Executive Director Sara Andrews explained that loan will be repaid from the sale of the homes, the same way it was with the homes on Pearl and School streets. She says construction on the first home should start next month. Two others should start later in the summer. The fourth may not be built until next year. “It’s great to see some new construction going up in the city – that people can come in and buy a new home,” said Councilman Fred Proper. Andrews added that a study done concerning the homes on Pearl and School streets showed that the taxes collected from the new homes is 217 percent higher than the taxes collected from the old homes that were there. She added that the homes al...

Harrisburg–Governor Tom Corbett today announced that the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) recently awarded $450,000 in Keystone Communities grants to support public improvements efforts for downtown redevelopment projects and infrastructure reconstruction in the City of Bradford. “We are continuing to invest in our local communities by supporting public improvement initiatives,” Gov. Corbett said. “These projects will bring new life and preserve the historic treasures within the Bradford community, in addition to providing opportunities for renewed economic growth.” The Keystone Communities program will provide funding for two public improvement grants for the City of Bradford. The Keystone Communities grant award for $400,000 will provide funding to undertake the construction of new housing units and make façade and streetscape improvements in the Elm Street neighborhood, a Second Ward Keystone Community Designated area. Specific project activities incl...

If you think Downtown Bradford looks good now, keep watching. It’ll be looking even nicer. Bradford City Council on Tuesday gave the go-ahead to more than a dozen improvement projects planned by private property owners. Mayor Tom Riel and OECD Director Sara Andrews said this shows that people do really care about the city’s revitalization efforts. Riel said in the nine years he’s been on council he has never seen anywhere near that many certificates of appropriateness approved in one meeting. “I think that speaks volumes to … the funds (OECD) has been able to secure for downtown, and just the overall sense of revitalization in the downtown.” “It’s been a fantastic summer,” Andrews said. She noted that this represents thousands of dollars’ worth of private investment in the historic district. St. Bernard’s Church, Man’s World, Whimsical Studios, Moments to Remember, Chosen Acres, Kabob’s, as well as buildings owned by Todd Hennard, John Kohler, James Colligan, Dwayne Zimmerman and...

Bienvenido de nuevo, la comida Mexicana. Bradford City Council on Tuesday authorized a lease agreement that will bring Mexican food back to Main Street. Mauricio Feria-Espana plans to rent 109 Main Street for one year and bring in a new Mexican restaurant. OECD Executive Director Sara Andrews said Feria-Espana owns a Mexican restaurant in Olean, New York, that, she says, is “bright, cheery clean.” She says the food was good and service was excellent when she went to the Olean restaurant recently. “We’ve done our due diligence … and we’re looking forward to having them come into our community and bring back a Mexican restaurant,” Andrews said. Also Tuesday, council accepted a quote of $7,972 from IA Construction for the paving of the access road to the Callahan Park ice rink and the side lot next to the rink. The money will come from the General Obligation Bond Fund. Council also authorized the execution of a grant contract for $50,000 in Keystone Communities Program grant mon...

Former Tuna Valley Trail Association president Mike Glesk, Bradford Mayor Tom Riel, state Department of Community and Economic Development deputy secretary Clyde "Champ" Holman and Bradford Office of Economic and Community Development executive director Sara Andrews get ready to cut the ribbon on the Pine Street Bridge this afternoon. Not pictured is Julie Marasco, a president of Northwest Saving Bank, which was instrumental in completing the project. WESB photo To see more photos, go to our Facebook page, Facebook.com/1490wesb . To hear the remarks made during the ceremony, click here . The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Housing rehabilitation in the Congress Street area, more revitalization efforts on Pine Street and continued work on Downtown Bradford Gateway improvements are among the projects Bradford would like to take on with $300,000 in grant money. Office of Community and Economic Development Executive Director Sara Andrews on Tuesday held the second of two public hearings on proposed activities for 2013 Community Development Block Grant money. $40,000 would be used with HOME funds to rehabilitate single family homes in the Congress Street area. Andrews said about 20 property owners are on the waiting list. $100,000 would go toward street renovation, curbs, sidewalks and street lighting on Pine Street. Andrews said she is pleased with the project so far. "It's a great-looking improvement," she said. $40,000 would go toward the gateway improvements on Forman, Elm and Main streets. This includes engineering costs. She said directional signs that include 10 businesses shoul...

Bradford City Council on Tuesday approved resolutions dealing with some of the most talked-about problems in the city -- road conditions, dilapidated properties and bad behavior in the downtown area. Council ~~ also approved, on first reading, an ordinance that would allow shoppers to park longer at metered spots on Kennedy Street. Council has to approve the ordinance a second time, presumably on May 14, before it goes into effect. ~~ agreed to advertise for services to install a security and video surveillance system downtown. Private donations are paying for the system. ~~ approved the demolition of three blighted properties: 57 Amm Street, 179 High Street and 44 Willard Avenue. Mayor Tom Riel said, "It's about time," regarding the demolition on Willard. Councilman Fred Proper seconded the resolution "with pleasure." The money for the demolition comes from the CDBG fund. ~~ agreed to advertise for bidders to work on resurfacing eight city streets, inclu...

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Pending approval by the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program the proposed NewBury Commons project in Bradford will receive $50,000 from the state’s Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund and Marcellus Shale impact fees. The money will be sent to McKean County, which would then turn it over to developer Housing Visions, according to OECD Executive Director Sara Andrews. The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency recently announced that $7.6 million is being distributed for 25 projects in 19 counties to improve the availability and affordability of housing in the Marcellus Shale region of the state. “We did a lot of listening to arrive at this outstanding group of award recipients,” said PHFA Executive Director and CEO Brian Hudson Sr. “I think this money can do a lot of good to improve the availability of quality, affordable housing in these affected communities.” The LIHTC Program is an indirect federal subsidy used to finance the development of affordable rental...

Futures Rehabilitation Center, Inc. held its annual meeting at the Center on Dec. 11 during which time board members reviewed the Agency’s 2011/2012 fiscal year operations. During the meeting, several board members were reappointed to serve three-year terms beginning January 2013. Those included, Sara Andrews, Susan Evans, Nancy Leonard, Katharine Pude and George Duke. Officers for the coming year are: Ron Orris, chairman; Richard Johnson, vice chairman; Marcia Avey, treasurer; Ross Neidich, secretary and Robert Esch, past chairman. Management team members gave a power point presentation to the board on their service areas. President and CEO William Leven provided an overview of the Agency along with program and fiscal results for the last fiscal year. The agency’s annual report, detailing program and financial results of the fiscal year was distributed to the board of directors. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Property taxes in the City of Bradford will not go up next year. Mayor Tom Riel thanked the city’s department heads and City Clerk John Peterson “who did a tremendous job with the budget this year, resulting in no tax increase two years in a row in a time when most communities in Pennsylvania are seeing double digit tax increases.” “I think that speaks volumes …” Riel added. “I think we’ve turned the city’s finances around. Contrary to what some people think, I think we’re headed in the right direction.” “We’re not there yet,” Riel said, “but this is my seventh year on council and I think this is the most comfortable budget I’ve ever been involved in, and I think John (Peterson) can attest to the same.” Peterson said this was his 13th budget and it was a “refreshing process to be able to go through.” “Our department heads this year have done a tremendous job … not coming in with inflated budgetary figures for council to review,” Peterso...

Purchase of New Firetruck Approved By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Tempers flared during Tuesday’s Bradford City Council meeting. Foster Township supervisor chairman Jim Connelly Jr., who is also a landlord in the city, asked how the city plans on paying off its 2012 bond. Mayor Tom Riel said the city has set aside money for this year’s payment, and then started to explain why the city needed to borrow money, giving the “deplorable” condition of the streets as one reason. Connelly interrupted, saying he agrees the streets are in deplorable condition, but he didn’t need an explanation on why the city borrowed the money. He wanted to know if the city is going to have to raise taxes to pay it off. Riel asked if Connelly was finished; Connelly said he asked Riel a question; then they talked over each other for a few seconds. “Mr. Connelly,” Riel said, “here is how it works here: A citizen stands and addresses council and we respond. We don’t banter and go back and forth ...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director In what Mayor Tom Riel called a rare occurrence, Bradford City Council was presented with a resolution for a change order to reduce the cost of a construction project. OECD Executive Director Sara Andrews explained during Tuesday’s council meeting that they knew going into the Pine Street Pedestrian Bridge project that they could reduce costs and, with the help of contractor Bob Cummins, they were able to lower it by more than $17,000. One of the biggest ways they reduced cost was getting boulders from the Bradford City Water Authority instead of going to Marienville to buy them and transport them. The water authority said the city could have boulders on their property, and would just have to pay the cost to transport them. That saved about $10,000, she said. Cummins also suggested building the entrance steps on-site instead of having pre-fabricated steps brought in. They also scrapped the plan to have lights on the railings. “We felt that was ...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director A tattoo shop owner wants to help with the cost of surveillance cameras for downtown Bradford, and a paving project will help making driving a little easier in some other parts of the city. The issue of surveillance cameras came up during the last council meeting when several downtown business owners expressed their concerns about bad behavior in the downtown area. At that time, Mayor Tom Riel said the Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce is trying to raise money to have the cameras installed. During Tuesday’s council meeting Bob Price, who owns Inferno Studio, said he is offering some money for the cameras “just so people know we care and we want to help.” “I’m trying to put together as much as I can,” he said, adding he has raised $1,000 so far and is trying to raise more. He added that he has talked to people who would be willing to do the work on the cameras inexpensively. Price also wanted to dispel a misconception about tattoo parlors. “I kno...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Brad Mangel has been sworn in as Bradford’s newest city council member, replacing Rick Benton who died June 16. His term expires on the first Monday of January 2014. Mayor Tom Riel said Mangel, who has lived in Bradford his entire life except when he was in the military, probably attended more council meetings than any other member of the community in the last four or five years. “I’d like to thank the mayor and council for allowing me the opportunity to serve,” Mangel said. “I’d like to thank John (Peterson, city clerk) for administering the oath. Last but not least, I’d like to thank my wife for her support of my many endeavors, and especially this one. And, I look forward to sitting on this side of the table.” Riel thanked the eight people who submitted letters of interest for the position. “There were some fine people who submitted a letter,” Riel said, “unfortunately we could only choose one.” Also Tuesday, council opened three bids for the...

Garnet D. Andrews, 83, a loving wife and devoted mother, formerly of Minard Run Rd., has gone to be with the Lord, Wednesday, May 9, 2012, at the Bradford Ecumenical Home. Born in Bradford on January 4, 1929, she was a daughter of the late Harold Pratt and Clara (Caswell) Stickney. On February 25, 1949 at DeGolia United Brethern Church, she married William E. Andrews who survives. Garnet was a member and had a prayer ministry at the Evans Memorial United Methodist Church and always sent the right card or flowers to those hurting or in need and sang in the choir. Many were touched by her unfailing kindness. She was also known for her love of baking and was famous for her fudge, pies and cinnamon rolls. Surviving in addition to her husband Bill of 63 years are two sons, Daniel (Lori) Andrews of Charlottesville, Va., Jeff (Sara) Andrews and two daughters Bonnie (Tom) Groce and Linda Jane (Dave) Farrell all of Bradford. She was involved and interested in the lives of her seven grandchildre...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director The City of Bradford has come up with a new battle plan in its fight against blight. Instead of demolishing only a handful of properties this year, they’re going to go after many more by, as OECD director Sara Andrews said, getting more bang for their buck. She explained that every year $30,000 of Community Development Block Grant money is set aside for demolition. But this year, they are going take out a loan for $150,000 and pay back the loan with the CDBG money. Andrews said she checked with the state Department of Community and Economic Development and they said using the money that way would be fine. City Council on Tuesday authorized OECD to send letters to lending institutions in an effort to secure the loan. She said Councilman Rhett Kennedy has complied of list of 56 properties that need to be demolished, and that list is growing. She added that they are in the process of getting the “legal end of things” tied up so they can secure the ...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Main Street businesses should look as if they want to be part of Main Street. OECD Executive Director Sara Andrews said that’s the attitude she and Main Street Manager Colette Roessler are going to try to encourage business owners to have. Andrews and Roessler talked about the downtown business district prior to Tuesday’s Bradford City Council meeting when they discussed applying for a Keystone Communities Main Street Façade Grant. If they get the $50,000 grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development, they would continue the façade improvement program, which has already led to $600,000 worth of improvements downtown. More than half of that came from private investments by property owners. During the council meeting, members authorized the filing of the grant application. As for the new attitude on Main Street Andrews said, “If you want to be on Main Street, let’s have some pride and look like you want to be on Main Street...

Building on the success of the Elm Street Neighborhood project, the Office of Economic and Community Development is hoping to receive a Keystone Communities Development Grant. OECD Executive Director Sara Andrews and Elm Street manager Lisa Keck said they have accomplished most of their goals in that section of town, but have about another years’ worth of work to do. During a public hearing prior to Tuesday’s city council meeting they talked about what’s been accomplished and what they’re still looking to do. Keck said they would like to continue infrastructure improvements to complement what has already been done in the area of School, Pearl, Bank and Howard streets and Merrow Avenue. She said they are also looking to continue the façade improvement and housing rehabilitation assistance programs, saying they have more engagement now with people willing to do that. “Working with code enforcement department, we have been able to engage a lot of landlords who hadn’t been interested in pa...