Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

The Clarks, a popular Pittsburgh-area rock and roll band will headline Alumni and Family Weekend Oct. 3-5 at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. The concert is just one of many activities that are open to the public, including a career networking luncheon, athletic hall of fame induction, vendor fair in the quad, rededication of Swarts Hall and an open house for the new Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) House. Activities begin Friday, Oct. 3, with a Career Networking Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. in the Mukaiyama University Room in the Frame-Westerberg Commons. A panel of alumni will share insight and advice on starting and advancing in a career through networks. This year’s panelists include Scott Bell ’94, a sales trainer for Sanofi Pasteur Pharmaceuticals; Sharon Hodgdon ’94, a senior financial aid counselor at Jamestown (N.Y.) Community College; Andy McCole ’93, an investigator for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and Chris Napoleon ’87-’88, chief engineer and owner of Napoleon Engi...

Mount Jewett residents who have been asked to conserve and boil water since Friday will be getting some help tomorrow. Sheriff Brad Mason says that residents may pick up cases of bottled water – free of charge – from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Mount Jewett Borough Building, 1 Center Street. Water will also be distributed from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday. Only Mount Jewett residents affected by the borough water supply contamination will be able to get the water, Mason says. Anyone who wants to help with distribution may call the borough office at 778-5664 or the McKean County Emergency Management Agency at 887-5070. Mason says they're not sure how long the water supply will be affected, and are waiting for test results on the water wells.

The train engineer responsible for a derailment that dumped 42,000 gallons of sodium hydroxide into Sinnemahoning-Portage Creek has pleaded guilty. 46-year-old Michael Seifert of West Seneca, N.Y., was at the controls of a Norfolk Southern train that jumped the tracks in June 2006 near Gardeau. The spill killed thousands of fish as far as seven miles downstream. Seifert pleaded guilty in McKean County Court to felony counts of causing a catastrophe and improper release of hazardous materials, and was sentenced to one to two years in jail. Norfolk Southern pleaded no contest to pollution charges last year and agreed to pay $7.5 million to settle civil cases.

Dr. Steven Herrmann, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.C., F.A.S.E., joined the medical staff at Charles Cole Memorial Hospital September 19. Dr. Herrmann is director of the Heart Center at Bradford Regional Medical Center, an affiliate of the Hamot Medical Center’s Hamot Heart Institute. As the eastern region medical director of the Hamot Heart Institute, Dr. Herrmann will continue his practice at BRMC and expand cardiology services to CCMH where he will join Dr. Howard Miller, Dr. Syed Bhat, and Dr. Halbert Feinberg, a board certified cardiologist associated with the Arnot Ogden Health System in Corning, NY. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 877/274-8200. “We are pleased to welcome Dr. Herrmann to the medical staff of Charles Cole Memorial Hospital and we are fortunate to be able to provide the residents of north central Pennsylvania access to such a fine group of physicians for their cardiovascular care. I am also pleased with the cooperation of our hospital colleagues at Bradford, Hamot, a...

Jury selection begins today in the case of a man accused of cutting his mother's throat then reading the Bible to her as she died. 21-year-old Jesse James Campbell of Houtzdale is charged with criminal homicide in the death of Cindy Jo Coleman, who was found dead in her apartment in March. Prosecutors say Campbell fought with his mother about a computer, then went to her home, hit her several times with a five-pound plastic weight, choked her, then slit her throat. Campbell was released from state prison about six weeks before the murder. He had been serving time after stealing a car. Prosecutors say Campbell has an extensive juvenile record and the juvenile court system exhausted all attempts to rehabilitate him.

A Dunkirk man apparently couldn't wait until Halloween for free candy. 18-year-old Demarcus Bess went to the Tops Market in Dunkirk last night and allegedly put 3 bags of bulk candy into a backpack then left the store without paying for it. Sheriff's Deputies found Bess walking away from the store and recovered the stolen candy. Bess was charged with petit larceny and issued an appearance ticket for Town of Dunkirk Court.

An employee of Dresser-Rand in Painted Post, New York, is hospitalized in critical condition following an explosion Saturday night. The explosion happened during a helium test of a cylinder. Another employee suffered moderate injuries but has been released from the hospital. The company did not release the employees' names. Dresser-Rand News Release .

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The fall legislative campaign pits Republicans trying to draw votes from conservative Democrats in western Pennsylvania against Democrats hoping to capitalize on favorable voter registration trends in suburban Philadelphia. "The western Democrats in Pennsylvania are conservative in nature — Reagan Democrats," said Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson. "So I see them bringing John McCain home in those districts which ultimately will help us there." For the full story, go to pennlive.com .

The Charles Cole Memorial Hospital Shinglehouse Rehabilitation Center will move from its current location to 59 Honeoye St., the former Hewitt Manor building, on October 1. Staff members Keith Benjamin, MPT, Colleen Swift, OTR/L, and Toni Maille, rehab aide, will welcome new and current patients immediately for physical therapy and occupational therapy. Phone and fax numbers will remain unchanged, 814/697-7744 (phone) and 814/697-7174 (fax).

ELMIRA, NY - Elmira's City Council is taking steps towards solving a shopping cart problem in the city. For the full story go to WETM TV .

Normally, I wouldn't post something like this but I haven't been having a very good day-and-a-half, and getting this out might help. A man just called to ask when a certain football game is being played today. (Not a game we're carrying, mind you.) I told him I wasn't totally sure, but I would check. He said -- and I wish I was making this up --"Aren't there any sports people there?" Luckily, he didn't hear what I said under my breath. It wasn't bad. It was something along the lines of -- at least I know how to use the Internet.

The penalty hearing for convicted killer Jason "Spike" Clinger of DuBois will resume Monday. A jury found Clinger guilty of murdering Brooklyn, New York, residents Davon Jones and Dianikqua Johnson. Clinger faces the death penalty. The penalty hearing will continue Monday so the defense will have more time to gather character witnesses to speak for Clinger.

Actor Paul Newman has died of cancer at age 83, a spokeswoman tells CNN. WESTPORT, Conn. (AP) — Paul Newman, the Academy-Award winning superstar who personified cool as an activist, race car driver, popcorn impresario and the anti-hero of such films as "Hud," "Cool Hand Luke" and "The Color of Money," has died, a spokeswoman said Saturday. He was 83. Newman died Friday of cancer, spokeswoman Marni Tomljanovic said. No other details were immediately available. In May, Newman he had dropped plans to direct a fall production of "Of Mice and Men," citing unspecified health issues. For the full story, go to The Associated Press

Area emergency response organizations are participating in a disaster drill today at American Refining Group. The drill includes a mock train crash involving a pickup truck, a tanker leaking crude oil and a bomb threat.

A Village of Gowanda police officer was shot in the chest last night, but his bulletproof vest prevented a life-threatening injury. Jason Miller was treated at Tri-County Hospital, then released. Police say someone threw something at Miller's police cruiser. When he got out of the vehicle the suspect took off into nearby woods. Miller chased after the suspect, who shot at him. Police are questioning a teenage suspect.

Homecoming 2008 will probably be a night not many Bradford Area High School students will forget. The highlights: Fire on a Float The theme of this year's parade was "Holidays." The sophomores picked the 4th of July as their holiday. Perhaps they should have rethought the sparklers. Yes, a sparkler set some tissue paper on fire as the float was traveling down Main Street. No worries, though. Everyone is fine. But high school principal Ken Coffman says no one will be using sparklers in next year's parade. It's a Tie No, the game didn't end in a tie. The homecoming queen contest ended in a tie. Shantel English and Katelyn Morris are sharing this year's crown. No one can remember the last time the contest ended in a tie. Possibly 40 years? It's a Win The Meadville Bulldogs were late getting to Parkway Field, thinking that the game was at 8 p.m., not 7 p.m. By 9 p.m., they probably wished they hadn't shown up at all. They came into Bradford at 4-0 and ...

WASHINGTON, DC- U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) applauds the passage of the Great Lakes Legacy Act of 2008 which aims to clean up contaminated expanses in the Great Lakes within ten years and was sponsored by Senator Casey. Specifically, this bill would allow for additional funding to protect and restore targeted areas in the Great Lakes like Presque Isle. “Lake Erie is such an important part of our heritage and landscape in northwestern Pennsylvania that we must do everything we can to keep it safe and beautiful,” said Senator Casey. “This legislation will provide for funding to sustain this picturesque lake for generations to come and I am so pleased my Senate colleagues have shown they agree by supporting this bill.” The Great Lakes Legacy Act of 2008 passed by the Senate authorizes $54 million annually to clean up what have been identified as “Areas of Concern” in the Great Lakes. These sites do not meet the water quality goals established by the United States and Canada in th...

The United Way of the Bradford Area has announced that the 2008 campaign video, “We ALL Win”, is currently available for viewing on the organization’s website, www.uwbanews.org . “The video is a promotional tool that is used annually at the various employee presentations that (we) conduct throughout the four-month solicitation process,” says Assistant Director Mandi Wilton Davis. “Typically it is only available for viewing to the employees at the local businesses and companies which allow us to make a formal presentation to the workforce. “This is an excellent opportunity for not just the donors who may not ordinarily see the video, but for the community at large,” says Davis. The project was produced locally within the United Way office, with special assistance from the agencies and programs which receive United Way funding. “The directors and volunteers of the agencies were very gracious in sending me photographs,” says Davis, “as well as completing the marketing materials sent to...

"Little Chicago" has a new director. Jason Wiles, who is also an actor, an appeared on the show "Third Watch." Executive producer Carl Veno says he hopes Wiles' Hollywood connections will help the production land a big-name star to play the lead role in movie. When filming resumes, it will be in Bradford, Kane, Olean, Salamanca and Niagara Falls.

A Belfast, New York, man has been charged with impersonating a police officer after allegedly making a bogus traffic stop. Police say 22-year-old Christopher Hotchkiss pulled over a young woman by flashing his vehicle's high beams while following her down Main Street in Angelica. He allegedly displayed a badge, identified himself as an undercover state trooper and asked to see her license and registration. Then he warned her about her driving and let her go. Hotchkiss was sent to Allegany County Jail on $2,500 bail.