Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

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...

The First Wesleyan Church of Bradford will be giving away 50 free movie tickets to this Monday’s showing of the film “Heaven is for Real” at the Bradford Main Street Movie House at 5:30 p.m. The tickets will be given away to the first 50 people to show up to see the film. The inspirational movie “Heaven is for Real” is the story of 3-year-old Colton Burpo who died and went to Heaven. Upon his return he tells is parents of his experiences and of meeting relatives that he had no knowledge of. This event is part of the First Wesleyan Church’s outreach program to get people to start thinking about God, Heaven, and religion in general. Main Street Movie House owner Todd Hennard worked with the First Wesleyan Church to bring the Film “God's Not Dead to the theater a few weeks ago. He also came up with the idea of the religious film festival on Monday nights, which has been popular with local residents since it started at the beginning of May. The religious film festival will r...

These two young guys anxiously await the arrival of Santa Claus during Friday's 4th annual Cruisin' into Christmas parade on Main Street, as Santa's Helper Richard Obermyer hands out candy. Even before Santa's arrival, one of the boys turned to his grandfather and said, "Thanks for bringing me. This is great!" The parade is held a week before the traditional start of the holiday shopping season to bring people downtown to see what local merchants have to offer. This man got the best seat in the house -- Santa's chair -- at the Main Street Mercantile during the parade. And how did he manage to get the job of keeping the Jolly Old Elf's seat warm until he got to the Mercantile. Easy. He's the father of Mercantile owner Todd Hennard. (And that's Todd's Mom, too.) Santa's Mailbox is also at the Mercantile so kids can drop their letters off for Santa to read on 1490 WESB. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director It’s time for the taxpaying citizens to start having some control of our city again. Steve Cavallaro made that statement to Bradford City Council on behalf of himself and several other downtown business owners who are fed up with loitering, bad language, bicycle and skateboard riding on sidewalks, and other types of bad behavior. Cavallaro of Cavallaro Paint and Decorating; Kathy Obermeyer of Real Living Avista Properties; Todd Hennard, owner of the Main Street Mercantile and other buildings; and Nancy Graham, owner of The Tin Ceiling Gift Shoppe, presented council with a proposal that they hope would transfer control back to the business owners and their customers. “We don’t even feel like we have any control over what’s going on downtown, yet we’re the ones paying the lion’s share …” he said, adding that they would like to see more police foot patrols, and enforce the ordinances that are already in the books. “It’s getting ridiculous with kids...

Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ron Orris reads about one of the door prizes given away during Wednesday's Business After Hours at the Main Street Mercantile, as owner Todd Hennard looks on. The Chamber's Kara Kennedy holds a basket full of business cards as Becki Ivancic picks the next winner. A record crowd of more than 125 people attended the event. The previous record was 120 at Glendorn. Next month's Business After Hours will be held at Shawn Murray Photography.

The Cruisin’ into Christmas Parade starts at 5:30 tonight in Downtown Bradford – and Santa will be making his first appearance of the season during the parade. After the parade Santa himself will be setting up the mailbox where kids can drop off their letters to him to be read on WESB’s Santa’s Mailbag show. Santa will be setting up inside the Main Street Mercantile at its new location – 45 Main Street.

The Main Street Mercantile is set to open today at its new location at 45 Main Street in downtown Bradford, and Santa Claus will visit the store following the Cruisin' Into Christmas parade on Friday. The Mercantile was recently acquired by local developer, Todd Hennard, and is operated as a small business incubator program. Incubator programs help businesses grow and develop without business owners taking on the full responsibility of a small business operation. The Mercantile currently houses more that 60 individual businesses that offer such items as antiques, artwork, photography, home décor, primitive décor, old fashioned candy, jewelry, floral arrangements and candles. Additionally a book store is set to be opened soon on the second floor of the building. As part of the Cruisin’ Into Christmas parade on Friday, November 18, Santa Claus will make a special visit to the Mercantile, which will be open until 7 p.m. The Mercantile began more than six years ago. It was initiated ...