Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

A couple of weeks ago on The Weekend Wrap on 1490 WESB and 100.1 The HERO I spoke with people about National Geographic books concerning different aspects of travel. Earlier this week, I spoke with "The Female Indiana Jones." You can hear all of those now: Janice Holly Booth talks about "Only Pack What You Can Carry" here . Rudy Marxa talks about the new National Geographic book “100 Countries, 5,000 Ideas" here . Mireya Mayor is the author of "Pink Boots and a Machete: My Journey form NFL Cheerleader to National Geographic Explorer. Listen here . For more information, you can go to NationalGeographic.com/books . Remember, the Bradford Area Public Library is always an excellent source for information about any book.

Saturday at 9:15 a.m. on 1490 WESB -- Steve Feldman and Bridgette Wells will be talking about the third annual Bradford Mastercraft All-American Soap Box Derby. Sunday at 9:15 a.m. on 1490 WESB -- The Kids-for-Cash scandal in Luzerne County, including an interview with Judge John Cleland Sunday 9:25 a.m. on 1490 WESB -- Legislative Report with State Representative Marty Causer ~~~ On 100.1 The HERO, you can hear The Weekend Wrap starting at 6 a.m. Saturday.

Video clips at Ustream Stayed tuned for the news, sports, The Weekend Wrap and Ad Line.

Part of this weekend's "Weekend Wrap" is my talk with best-selling author Rick Yancey about his newest book, "The Monstrumologist." You can hear it Saturday at 6:20 a.m. on 100.1 The HERO and 9:15 a.m. Sunday on 1490 WESB.

My guest on Saturday's Weekend Wrap is author/lawyer Julie James, whose new book "Just the Sexiest Man Alive," is wonderful! Check it out HERE . You can hear my interview with Julie at 6 a.m. on 100.1 The HERO and at 9:15 a.m. on 1490 WESB.

Governor Edward G. Rendell today said Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Yablonsky will resign, effective Oct. 23, to return to the private sector. The Governor lauded Yablonsky’s service to Pennsylvania’s working men and women, which drove economic growth throughout the commonwealth. “It is hard to imagine any secretary of DCED or Commerce had a greater impact in creating a stronger Pennsylvania economy than Dennis Yablonsky,” Governor Rendell said. “He was at the forefront in attracting billions in new capital investments that have enabled us to create thousands of new jobs, revitalize our communities, diversify our economy and put Pennsylvania in a better position than most states. “Dennis and I worked hand-in-hand with the General Assembly to get my economic stimulus package passed that invested more than $3 billion to support more than 2,600 projects statewide. This state investment has been able to leverage more than $8.8 billion in additional inv...

So, nobody has questions for Senator Scarnati? I got no responses the first time I asked, so I'm asking again. The senator will be back on my show soon, and if you have questions you'd like me to ask him, leave them here, and I'll ask. If you live in an area where you can't hear WESB or The HERO, you can get your answers here, because I plan on writing a story to post here after the interview. If you've never commented on a blog before and don't know how it works -- you can post anonymously, or just with your first name, if you don't want me or the senator to know who's asking the question. If I don't get any comments, I'll have to assume everyone is totally happy with the job he's doing, and no one needs or wants his help on anything. I'm sure he'll be happy to hear that.

My job is so cool. For as long as I can remember, I've enjoyed telling people about the news. My first vivid memory of this is when I found out Lyndon Johnson wasn't running for re-election. This was back when there was a Buffalo Evening News and it was delivered to our door. Anyway, I remember getting the paper, reading the story and running to the kitchen where my Mom was cooking dinner to tell her that President Johnson wasn't running. I was 7. 40 years later (yeah, I'm admitting it) my actual job is what I've wanted to do, and have been doing, since I was a kid -- gathering news and telling people about it. On Friday after I finished talking to Scott Hamilton about the "Capitol Fourth" on PBS, I started thinking about all the people I've interviewed this year for The LiveLine and Weekend Wrap, who have also been on the "Today" show and "Good Morning America" and "The Late Show" and "Oprah" and ... Well, yo...

I'll be speaking with Lisa Oz, wife of Dr. Mehment Oz, author of "YOU, The Owner's Manual," and the "YOU" series. We'll be talking mostly about the new audiobook "YOU Breathing Easy," and you can find more information about that HERE . I'll also be speaking with Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Yablonsky about "Rebuilding PA" and more. You can hear The Weekend Wrap at 6 a.m. Saturday on 100.1 The HERO and at 9:15 a.m. Saturday and Sunday on 1490 WESB. Remember, The Weekend Wrap also includes State Representative Marty Causer's Legislative Report every week.

Fretz Middle School teachers Robin Hardy and Sue McMurtrie stopped by the station today to check on Kaitlyn Hallock, who job shadowed me. But Katie did more than follow me around, she did a news story and she'll be interviewing me on The Weekend Wrap -- 9:15 a.m. Saturday on 1490 WESB and 6 a.m. Saturday on 100.1 The HERO. (She'll be singing, too.) The second half of The Weekend Wrap is Mike DeGeorge of the National Association of Variable Annuities, who will be explaining variable annuities.

My guest on The Weekend Wrap is Hillary Clarke, director of advocacy for the Cancer Action Network. She'll be talking about the Fight Back Express bus tour and its stop in Buffalo on Sunday. The Fight Back Express is working to make cancer a national priority by educating the public, lawmakers, candidates and the media about the importance of the government's role in defeating cancer. The Fight Back Express will be at Delaware Park from 4 to 5 p.m. Sunday. The easiest way to get to the bus is by way of the Jewett Parkway entrance. You can hear The Weekend Wrap at 9:15 a.m. Saturday on 1490 WESB and 6 a.m. Saturday on 100.1 The HERO. For more information about the Cancer Action Network, visit ACSCAN .

My guest on The Weekend Wrap is Anthony Merola, senior Vice President of CitiGroup. He will be discussing a new survery showing college upperclassmen remain optimistic about their financial future despite the current economy. For more information, you can visit Students.UseCreditWisely.com .

"Twenty Wishes," the new novel from best-selling author Debbie Macomber is an uplifting story of hope and renewal. A group of recently widowed women bond over a unique and heart-warming idea: make a list of all the wonderful things they hope to experience in their lives. You can hear Debbie talk about her book, and more, on The Weekend Wrap Saturday at 9:15 a.m. on 1490 WESB and at 6 a.m. on 100.1 The HERO. But there's more. Debbie and her publisher are inviting readers to enter a contest to make their most-desired wish come true. Debbie and her publisher will choose the winner, who will receive $10,000 cash to make that wish come true. For more details, visit Set Your Wish Free And there's even more. On Thursday, May 22, Debbie will be at Wegman's in Williamsville, NY, at 2 p.m. for a book signing. On Friday, May 23, at 12:30 p.m., she'll be at Borders on Walden Avenue in Cheektowaga.

Stayed tuned to WESB and The HERO , and keep checking back here, for more about Debbie Macomber and her new book ... coming (very) soon.

Because the Beijing Olympics are coming this summer, I thought speaking with a Beijing native would be interesting. So this weekend, you can hear my interview with author, actress and illusionist Grace Chang. Besides her book, Jin Jin the Dragon , she'll be talking about Chinese culture, Chinese philosophy, East meeting West and the city of Beijing itself. The Weekend Wrap airs at 9:15 a.m. Saturday and Sunday on 1490 WESB and 6 a.m. Saturday on 100.1 The HERO. For more information on Grace Chang, visit Chang Imagination .