Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

By the end of the academic year, 20 medical students from the University of Pittsburgh will have spent one of their clinical rotations in Bradford thanks to a five-year grant to introduce medical students to rural medicine. The $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is administered by the Center for Rural Health Practice at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Students in their third year of medical school spend a year exploring different kinds of medicine in a clinical setting, explained Alana Gilman, a third-year student currently studying in Bradford with Dr. Jill Owens. Students throughout the country will experience the same specialties in their rotations, but most will be in the urban or suburban settings surrounding teaching hospitals, she said. Gilman said she has looked forward to undertaking her family medicine rotation in a rural setting because she gets to see a more continuous patient...

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...

By DIANE KERNER ARNETT Richard J. “Dick” Marcott has been chosen to receive the 2012 Lester Brauser Theatre Appreciation Award, announced Bradford Little Theatre president Nanci K. Garris on Thursday. Established in 2001, the Brauser Award is presented to an individual whose work makes community theatre possible in the Bradford area. It is named after theatre enthusiast the late Lester Brauser. “Dick is most deserving of this particular award recognizing his efforts in and dedication to community theatre,” said BLT president Nanci K. Garris, noting he has appeared in BLT almost since its founding; has served on the board as president, treasurer and hospitality chairman; has designed and founded programs including various types of acting and technical workshops and Senior Theatre. “This is only the second time BLT has honored one of our own, the first time being founder Patty Bianco in 2006. She, like Dick, was also honored by Bradford Creative and Performing Arts Center, another group ...

State Representative Marty Causer held a Coffee & Conversation event this morning at Pitt-Bradford, and discussed a variety of topics including Marcellus Shale, education funding and department of public welfare funding. You can listen here . Causer is also holding a town hall meeting at 6 o’clock tonight at the Smethport Fire Hall.

H.L. “Woody” Woodruff has been chosen to receive the 2011 Lester Brauser Theatre Appreciation Award, announced Bradford Little Theatre president Nanci K. Garris on Tuesday. Established in 2001, the Brauser Award is presented to an individual whose work makes community theatre possible in the Bradford area. It is named after theatre enthusiast the late Lester Brauser. “Since the 1960s, wherever there has been entertainment for the community, there has been Woody,” said BLT president Nanci K. Garris. “Sometimes he has brought performers to town, sometimes he has hosted bus trips to events out of town, and other times he is the performer. It is because of his ongoing support of the arts and especially his personal performances, that we are pleased to present him this award. Garris recounted Woodruff’s many onstage appearances in the annual Kiwanis Kapers benefit show; his work as auctioneer or master of ceremonies for local causes; his “bits” at local events like car shows; and even his ...

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford has named five new members to its Advisory Board and reappointed 18 members. Newly elected to the board is John M. Marasco. Sara Andrews, Eric Bridges, Linda Devlin and state Rep. Matt Gabler, R.-DuBois, were named ex officio members. Also, former Congressman John E. Peterson was moved from ex officio to honorary status. All of the appointments were made by University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Mark Nordenberg. Marasco, who lives in Bradford, is senior vice president with Anderson & Kime Employee Benefits Inc. in Ridgway. He has been in the employee benefits profession for the last 17 years, starting with Blue Cross of Western New York, then working with Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Pennsylvania. He joined Anderson & Kime in 1999 and was promoted to senior vice president in 2001. He has been an active fundraising volunteer for the Bradford Family YMCA, the American Cancer Society and the Zachary Vigliotta Scholarship Fund. Andrews is...