Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Bradford Area Public Library has named Lacey Love as executive director of the library. An ad hoc committee of Lee Doynow, Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees, Tina Martin, Chair of Human Resources and Governance, and Kelli Knapp, Seneca District Consultant with the Warren Library Association conducted the search and recommendations for the appointment of Ms. Love, which is effective October 13, 2014. “We are very excited to have Lacey accept our employment offer and serve as a leader for our library,” stated Chris Minich, Chairwoman of Bradford Area Public Library Board of Trustees. Ms. Love was most recently employed as a Library Assistant at Scott Township Public Library, located south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She has a broad background in librarianship, having worked or volunteered in both collegiate and public libraries for the past 6 years. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English, while minoring in Psychology and Economics from Allegheny College. Ms. Love then pur...

CARE for Children was honored for achieving the Seal of Excellence by successfully completing the Standards for Excellence® recertification program through the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO) during a special recognition ceremony at PANO’s Annual Conference. Standards certification represents that CARE has demonstrated a deep commitment to organizational wellness and a high standard of accountability throughout their operations and governance. Executive Director Tina M. Martin and Pediatric Therapy Services Director Ashley Carlson, MOT, OTR/L, accepted the certificate, where CARE was honored in a lunchtime ceremony along with five other Pennsylvania Community Benefit Organizations achieving the Seal of Excellence. Allen Kukovich, Chair of Smart Growth, served as Master of Ceremonies. Allen also served in the PA General Assembly for 27 years representing Westmoreland County. Ms. Martin served as the peer speaker during the luncheon at the conference, a...

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

Jaden and Tayga Griffin, with help from their grandfather Greg Booth, cut the ribbon on the Ashley Booth Griffin CARE for Children Center this afternoon. Looking on are CARE Executive Director Tina Martin, Zippo owner George Duke, Aaron Griffin, Cherie Booth and CARE board president Mick Marshall. Duke donated $1 million to CARE, which expedited the building project, which had been in the works for several years. Booth is president and CEO of Zippo and W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery. It was Duke's idea to name the building in honor of Booth's daughter, who died in a car accident in 2008. In his remarks today, Booth said although his daughter was physically at the dedication, she was there in spirit. You can see more pictures of today's dedication on WESB's Facebook page . The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Michael McLanahan, a senior at Bradford Area High School, served as the keynote speaker for the annual meeting of the CARE for Children Board of Directors held Thursday evening at the Bradford Club. The CARE for Children Board of Directors honored Zippo Manufacturing Company with the organization’s Community CARE Award and Mr. Howard Fesenmyer, Dr. Richard E. McDowell and Mr. Pete Buchheit with the CARE Volunteer Award. Mick Marshall, President of the CARE Board of Directors, presented Mr. Greg Booth, Zippo President and CEO, with the company’s award. “The board chose to honor Zippo Manufacturing Company for their long history of investing in CARE for Children, which we accept as a seal of approval,” said Marshall. “Whether it be the overall tournament sponsor for the CARE ‘fore’ Children Golf Tournament, the in-kind donations of product, the employee participation at special events and through memorial giving, or their support of the United Way, which benefits CARE.” Marshall wen...

As construction continues on the Ashley Booth Griffin CARE for Children Center, American Refining Group, Inc. has contributed $25,000 to the building fund, and a matching grant of $25,000 was awarded by the Harry R. Halloran, Jr. Fund (a donor advised fund at The Philadelphia Foundation Special Assets Fund). Mr. Halloran (second from right), Chairman of the Board and ARG Chief Executive Officer, along with President and Chief Operating Officer, Jeannine Schoenecker (left), took a tour of the new facility Friday with CARE for Children Executive Director, Tina Martin (second from left), and Board President, Mick Marshall (right). “We are so appreciative of the generosity of Mr. Halloran and American Refining Group,” said Marshall. “They continue to make an impact in our community, and we’re proud to have their continued support as we move forward during this historic time for CARE.” The organization is currently at 71% of the $2.1 million campaign goal. Construction of the facilit...

Ground broken for Ashley Booth Griffin CARE for Children Center Zippo owner and president of the board George Duke talks about why he decided to donate $1 million to CARE for Children for their new building, and how he decided it should be named the Ashley Booth Griffin CARE for Children Center. Zippo president and CEO Greg Booth talks about his daughter Ashley, who died in a car accident nearly four years ago, and shows off an artists' rendering of the new buildng. He gives his granddaughter Jaden Griffin some tips on groundbreaking while CARE's Mandi Wilton Davis helps Tayga Griffin with her hard hat. Pictured after the groundbreaking, CARE board president Mick Marshall, CARE executive director Tina Martin, George Duke, Ashley's husband Aaron Griffin, Tayga Griffin, Jaden Griffin, Cherie Booth, Greg Booth. Bob Cummins Construction will be building the new center and expects to have it finished in about a year. You can listen to the groundbreaking ceremony here . WESB phot...

CARE for Children and Pat Ryan received the 2012 George G. Blaisdell YMCA Community Service Award this morning. Ryan (right) is director of operations at Futures Rehabilitation Center and heads McKean County’s Special Olympics program. CARE Executive Director Tina Martin and Board President Mick Marshall accepted the award for the agency, which is in the second phase of its fundraising drive to build a new facility on East Main Street. CARE for Children photo

CARE for Children’s Building Campaign for the Future of Children of all Abilities kicked off with a bang with a lead gift from Zippo Manufacturing of $1,000,000 with naming rights for the building. Deborah Price and Karen Gelston will serve as co-chairs for the campaign, to support the construction and operation of the Ashley Booth Griffin CARE for Children Center, to be located at 723 East Main Street in Bradford. The fundraising campaign is the largest in CARE’s history and has so far been in a quiet phase, bringing in more than $1,225,000 since December 2011. The agency is kicking of the public phase Monday, May 7th which includes an estimated goal of $1,500,000 for construction and related costs which CARE is optimistic of raising over the next year. After the construction phase is completed, the organization will work to raise an additional $500,000 over the next five years to pay back the $175,000 expended for the property purchase and $250,000 for additional parking, and playgro...

Ashley Booth Griffin CARE for Children Center to be established When Ashley Booth Griffin died in a tragic car accident nearly four years ago, out of the grief, shock, and utter devastation that followed came the hope that she would not be forgotten. Her parents, Greg and Cherie Booth, wanted to keep her memory alive for her two young daughters and all whose lives she had touched. George Duke, owner and chairman of Zippo Manufacturing Company, has secured that dream with a $1 million donation to CARE for Children to establish the Ashley Booth Griffin CARE for Children Center. “The generosity of Zippo, George Duke and the Blaisdell family is astounding. This donation is not just an investment in CARE for Children’s building project, but will ensure that CARE can continue to positively impact and change local children’s lives,” said Mick Marshall, president CARE for Children board of directors. Since 1924 - first as the McKean County Society for Crippled Children, later as McKean County...

Representatives from Safe Kids McKean County are promoting youth safety and injury prevention with presentations to more than 200 sixth- and seventh-grade students in the Health and Wellness classes at Fretz Middle School. "Our students had the wonderful opportunity to have a great presentation on many imperative safety topics,” said Health and Physical Education Educator Judy Abbey, B.S. M.Ed. “It is important to use our community resources to help explain the importance of safety and awareness to all youth in our school district. CARE for Children staff spoke to students about bike safety and the importance of wearing a helmet, demonstrating through the use of a coconut crusher the potential damage that could be sustained in the case of an accident without the use of a helmet; youth sports safety including concussions, hydration and proper rest and training techniques. The students played a Safe Kids Sports Safety bean bag toss game, which the McKean County chapter rec...

Senior Judge John H. Yoder was the keynote speaker for the annual meeting of the CARE for Children Board of Directors held Thursday evening at the Bradford Club. The CARE for Children Board of Directors honored the Bradford Area School District Student Service League and Kinzua Outdoors, Thomas Means Director, with the organization’s Community CARE Award and Kirk Stauffer, PGA Professional with the CARE Volunteer Award. Mandi Wilton-Davis, Development and Marketing Coordinator at CARE, presented the Student Service League represented by Tim Bean, School Board President, and Sandy Romanowski, Superintendent of Schools with the award. “The board chose to honor the Bradford Area School District not just because of the philanthropic efforts of the Student Service League, but the everyday efforts of Bradford’s teachers, administrators, and support staff, in partnership with our therapists, who help children with disabilities and delays, realize their potential,” said Davis. Tina M. Martin, ...

The Orak Grotto’s annual Tag Days recently raised $1,500 that will support scholarships for CARE for Children’s upcoming day camp, as well as scholarships for specialty camps, all for children with developmental and physical disabilities. During the day camp, CARE kids will take part in inclusive activities such as open gym, crafts, adaptive swimming, gross motor sessions and field trips; as well as a day at Mystic Waters for putt-putt golf, crafts and outdoor play. The donation will also enable 10 children to attend camps, including Camp JJ and Woodlands Youth and Teen Sports Camp. Pictured from left to right are: Dr. Karl Frankovich, M.D., Chief of Staff Emeritus, from Shriners Hospital in Erie; Zethan Brougham; Terry Matthews, Orak Grotto Treasurer; Rodney Jones; Tina Martin, CARE for Children Executive Director; and Gene Carll, Shriners Transportation Volunteer. Brougham, a seventh grade student at Floyd Fretz Middle School, is the son of Steve and Ann Brougham of Bradford. Jone...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Richard Dorn was presented with the United Way’s Red Feather Award during a dinner Thursday night. "I know that in this area there a lot of people who have done a heck of lot more than I have done or will do,” Dorn said, “so I’m here, maybe, as their representative more than for myself.” Dorn then went on to tell the community members what they have done in the past 14 years, as documented by the Sunshine Report which was his brainchild. “You have offered nearly 47,000 nights of safe, free shelter to the homeless. … You have offered over 15,000 days and nights of protection to those who have been abused within or outside their homes. You have counseled over 7,000 people in crisis who needed help to change their situation and resume their lives,” he said. The community has also provided more than half a million hot meals – free – to people who needed them, and has delivered more than five tons of groceries, Dorn added. He also mentioned the ...

Local parents, child care providers, and educators now have a consolidated venue to turn to for information on child development, parenting, and issues specific to children with delays and disabilities with the unveiling of the Parent Resource Center at the Bradford Area Public Library. CARE for Children initially developed a collection of materials following a Children First Priority One grant that the agency received from the Kiwanis Club of Bradford in 2001. The number of resources has grown considerably over the years, with continued funding from the Kiwanis Club and the United Way of Bradford. Donations of books were also received by the March of Dimes, the Bradford Area School District and local individuals. “CARE had all these great resources for parents but they were underutilized,” stated Tina Martin, Executive Director. “We decided to collaborate with the library, and Director Linda Newman graciously set aside a prominent space next to the circulation desk to house the col...

Local agency CARE for Children is one step closer to its dream of opening a therapy, health and early learning center for children of all abilities by purchasing a property in Bradford. The site, located at 723 East Main Street (which formerly housed Sundahl Insurance Company), is one block south of the agency’s current location on Russell Boulevard. "CARE for Children has had many homes over its 86-year history and the board determined that the time has come to have a community center for children that will address the diverse needs of the local pediatric population,” said Mick Marshall, President, CARE for Children Board of Directors. The non-profit organization has provided pediatric services in McKean County since 1924 and in the last fiscal year provided school and home based therapy services to over 200 clients; preschool for 44 students; specialized orthopedic and wheelchair clinics for 165 children; safety and injury prevention programs for 1463 children; and disability aw...

Pine Acres Country Club will host the seventeenth annual CARE ‘fore’ Children Golf Tournament on Sunday, August 1st, 2010. All proceeds benefit free services for local children of all abilities. The tournament is a four person scramble with an 8:30 AM shotgun start. Flighting is based on the team member with the lowest handicap. The entry fee is $40 for Pine Acres members and $50 for non-members, which includes green fees, food and refreshment on course. The tournament has a total purse of $3,500 based on 35 teams and prizes on par 3 holes. Carts are an additional fee; please reserve carts when registering teams. To field a team, please contact: Kirk Stauffer, PGA Pro, Pine Acres Country Club, 814-362-2005. To find out about course sponsorship please contact Tina Martin, executive director, CARE for Children, 814-362-4621.

Newly-developed award to allow United Way to acknowledge agency representatives The United Way of the Bradford Area has developed an award to acknowledge the effort and dedication of a funded-agency representative. The inaugural award will be given to CARE for Children Executive Director Tina Martin at the United Way’s annual Red Feather Volunteer event on June 1. The award, deemed as the “Excellence in Representation”, was created by UWBA Executive Director Kelly Case and Assistant Director Mandi Wilton Davis. It was voted on by the members of the UWBA Board of Directors. According to Case and Davis, there is a set criteria for which the award will be based including, but not limited to the recipient being affiliated in some capacity with a funded agency; the person who best exemplifies the United Way mission within their own organization; one who participates with the annual campaign; one who possesses a working knowledge of the United Way and how it benefits the various programs and...