Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Moments to Remember, CARE for Children and Jeannine Schoenecker were recognized during Thursday's annual Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting. Moments to Remember received the Exemplary Business Award, CARE for Children received the Community & Spirit Award. Schoenecker received the Director's Award and talked about the importance of paying it forward. Pictured, from left, BACC Executive Director Ron Orris, Chamber President Ann Robinson, Moments to Remember owner Laurie Pritz Lindstrom, American Refining Group President Jeannine Schoenecker, CARE for Children Executive Director Tina Martin and Chamber First Vice President Tim Asinger. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Presented by the Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce and Signature Sponsor American Refining Group, Inc, the BACC Oktoberfest/21st Annual Public Auction will be held on Thursday, October 24th at The Bradford Club, 32 Boylston Street, Bradford. This community event, open to the public, is the Chamber’s primary fundraiser, with proceeds supporting the many services provided by the Chamber. The doors open at 5:30 pm; with the live auction beginning at 6:30pm. Through the generous donation of products, services, and more, an exciting variety of items has been put together for the event, which will feature approximately 30 fantastic live auction packages, as well as silent auctions, pretzel drawings, and a 50/50 card drawing. The live auction will be conducted by professional auctioneer Lloyd Burkhouse as well as local celebrity auctioneers Tim Asinger of Kessel Contruction and Scott Douglas from WESB/WBRR. Included in this year’s festivities is a delicious menu of German and traditional ...

United Way of the Bradford Area, Inc. will host the 2nd Annual Spring Arts Gala on Thursday, April 19th at the Bradford Club. The event will feature over 30 pieces of artwork donated from local artists, including paintings, framed photographs, wood carvings, glass sculpture, jewelry, and hand crafted furniture. Tim Asinger will act as head auctioneer for the event, with a guest auctioneer appearance by Woody Woodruff. When we planned the Spring Art Gala last year, we had a vision of creating an event that showcased the local talent of the Bradford community, in a festive networking atmosphere. This year, we have been overwhelmed with the scope of talent and variety of artists that have agreed to donate hand crafted items for the auction. From students with the Bradford Area High School art club, to inmates with FCI McKean, to area artists such as Denise Drummond, Sean Huntington, Alan Hancock, Jay Monti, and Gina Zetts, among others, we know that this year’s gala will well represent t...

Director Cindy Matteson has announced that casting is complete and rehearsals are underway for “Twelve Angry Men,” the second production of Bradford Little Theatre’s “Fun, Furious Fifteen” season. The Emmy Award-winning story by Reginald Rose, adapted for the stage by Sherman Sergel, takes the audience into the jury deliberations of what appears to be an open-and-shut case of murder. The play is a period piece from the 1950s; it lasts about 80 minutes and will have no intermission. The drama will be performed at the auditorium of the First Presbyterian Church, 54 E. Corydon St., Bradford, on Friday and Saturday, February 3 and 4, at 7:30 p.m. with a matinee performance at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5. “Fourteen talented men from around the region will bring this drama – one of my personal favorites – to life,” said Matteson, a BLT board member and veteran director of both Otto-Eldred Junior-Senior High School and BLT productions. “Many of us held our breath this year awaiting the verdicts in ...

Two out of three performances of “I’m Getting Murdered in the Morning” have been sold out, Bradford Little Theatre officials announced today. While more than 100 tickets are still available for the 2 p.m. performance on Sunday, February 27 show, no tickets are available for the Feb. 25 or 26 shows. “With the show taking place at a wedding reception featuring a catered dinner,” said BLT president Nanci K. Garris, “There is no traditional seating, and there is no standing-room-only seating.” “We are delighted with the public response and excited to present this comic murder mystery as part of Improv in February,” she added. Tickets for Sunday’s show are $15 per person in advance, and may be purchased through Graham Florist, Ott & McHenry Pharmacy or Tina’s Hallmark. They may also be ordered by email from BLT treasurer Marcia Morrison at tickets@bradfordlittletheatre.org . The Lee Mueller play will be presented at St. Bernard Educational and Social Center, 95 E. Corydon St. Directors ...

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford and Bradford Little Theatre have combined forces to present “Improv in February,” four events in one month that include different forms of improvisation. Local improv groups will put on a workshop, show and play, and renowned improv group The Second City will visit Bradford. “During our improv shows, everything is made up on the spot right in front of the audience,” explained Kristin Asinger, visiting instructor of sports medicine and advisor for the Pitt Improvers, Pitt-Bradford’s own student improv group. The Improvers will offer the first two events of Improv Month, an improv workshop from noon to 3 p.m. Feb. 5 in Room 218 of the Frame-Westerberg Commons. The workshop is open to the public with registration available at the door. Participants will work on acting skills through improv games and exercises. There is a fee for members of the public. The Improvers 3rd Annual Beyond Funny...

Tryouts for the murder mystery dinner theater “I’m Getting Murdered in the Morning” will be held Monday and Tuesday (Jan. 10 and 11) from 7 to 9 p.m. at Bradford Area Public Library. Kristin Asinger will direct and produce the second show in Bradford Little Theatre’s “Out of the Box” season. Assistant directors will be Tim Asinger for improvisation work and Kathy Bryant, performance. Performances will be Feb. 25-27 at St. Bernard Educational and Social Hall on East Corydon Street. The performance includes audience participation and some improvisation, though Asinger stressed that no experience with improvisation is necessary. “We are looking for 14 people who can play together, as well as work together. There are roles for both men and women from late teens to their 70s, and both experienced performers and first-timers,” said the BLT board member. Also, Asinger is looking for cast members to play a wedding photographer, disc jockey and people who would help serve the buffet dinn...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director The Bradford Zoning Hearing Board on Tuesday granted variances to two businesses, which could mean a pick-me-up for the local economy. The first variance will allow Bradford Fairway Sales & Leasing to build an auto showroom for its Ford Lincoln Mercury and Chrysler Dodge Jeep business at 215 Euclid Avenue. The current car lot there will remain, and the building will be added onto it. Ben Shearman, general manager of Bradford Fairway Sales & Leasing, explained that the current building on East Main Street “can’t support the needs of two additional franchises.” Board member Jeff Carson said he had concerns about traffic because that’s “a rotten intersection,” but Shearman said he doesn’t anticipate a huge or significant increase in traffic. “The nerve center of the whole unit in its totality will still be operating” from the East Main Street location. He said he anticipates at least another 40 vehicles being sold per month, and 35 percent ...

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford has named 10 new members to its Advisory Board and reappointed 15 members. Newly elected to the board are Gregory P. Bauer, JoAnne Ryan, Stacy Sorokes Wallace, Max Brady, Timothy J. Asinger, Stephen P. Grillo, Douglas E. Kuntz, Julie A. Marasco, James M. McDonough and John W. Seltzer. Christopher Luke, president of the Pitt-Bradford Alumni Association, was appointed an ex officio member of the board. All of the appointments were made by University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Mark Nordenberg upon recommendation by Dr. Livingston Alexander, president of Pitt-Bradford. Asinger is vice president of Kessel Construction Inc. in Bradford. His early professional background was spent in the food industry, and he became involved with Kessel in 1997 in Erie. He has been with the Bradford corporate office since 2007 and is very involved in the community with social, cultural, civic and fundraising efforts. Bauer is the president and chief executive officer of ...