Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Erie, PA – Members of the Erie Regional Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT PA-3) based in Erie, are returning home this afternoon after a 12 day deployment in Port au Prince, Haiti. The PA-3 team, led by Commander, Russell Bieniek, M.D., along with other medical personnel from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ agencies, the HHS National Disaster Medical System and the U.S. Public Health Service provided emergency medical care during the recovery and clean up following the earthquake on January 12th. DMATs are part of the National Disaster Medical System under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. Team members are activated when a state requests federal assistance with an emergency or in this case when the federal government responds to an international emergency. “Our team was honored to be called on to help at such a difficult time for the people of Haiti,” said Russell Bieniek, M.D., the ...

A one-act comedy written by a local woman is the next installment of activities in this year’s One Book Bradford season. “Never the Twain Shall Meet,” written and directed by Diane Kerner Arnett, will be performed at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Bradford Area Public Library. The play, which includes Bradford Little Theater actors, depicts the inaugural meeting of a writers' group, featuring various types of writers from academic to dabbler. While there will be a set, props and costumes, actors will perform "script in hand." The play will be about 30 minutes. The cast includes BLT veteran actors Nanci K. Garris, Pam Gaffney and Richard Frederick, and newcomer Laura Keesler. The play will be followed by a discussion headed by Linda Underhill regarding authors who build on the characters created by other authors. This year’s One Book Bradford Selection is “Becky: The Life & Loves of Becky Thatcher” by Lenore Hart. Hart picks up where Mark Twain left off and takes Becky Thatche...

Two plays directed by Dr. Kevin Ewert, associate professor of theater at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, received high praise from a newspaper in North Carolina, where the plays were performed by the Manbites Dog Theater in Durham. The play “Age of Arousal” was named one of the top 10 productions of 2009 by the Independent, a newsweekly for the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area. The paper also recognized the play in the categories of best lead performance, best ensemble and best direction, saying “Ewert’s enviable vision invoked another time – and ancestors bearing disturbing similarities to us.” The Independent also named the play “The Pillowman,” which Ewert directed in 2007, as one of the 49 best productions of the decade in that area. The list also included such notable performances as “All the King’s Men” (parts 1 and 2), “The Bluest Eye,” “The Cherry Orchard” and “The Glass Menagerie.” “Both shows were joys to work on,” Ewert said, “gr...

Korin Trumpie, PA-C has joined the Coudersport pediatric office of Dr. Mary Ann Rigas and Dr. Marlene Wust-Smith at Charles Cole Memorial Hospital. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 274-9198. Trumpie graduated from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania’s physician assistant program, where she also earned a bachelor’s degree. Trumpie previously worked at CCMH’s laboratory before continuing her education to become a physician assistant. Upon graduation from Lock Haven, she worked in the hospitalist program at Elk Regional Health System. She is a member of the Pennsylvania Society of Physician Assistants. “Korin is a perfect example of our goal to promote the continuing education of young women and men from this area and to have them return as professional healthcare providers,” said Ed Pitchford, CCMH president and chief executive officer. “We are confident that with the impending opening in May of the Lock Haven physician assistant program at Charles Cole Memorial Hospital, that ...

A snowmobiler from North Tonawanda, New York, died early Sunday morning after hitting a tree along the shore line of Long Point State Park in Chautauqua County. 24-year-old Luke Manth was snowmobiling by himself at about 2:30 a.m. After sheriff's deputies found him, he was taken to WCA Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

There will be a 4-round chess tournament on Saturday, February 20 [12:30 PM – 5:30 PM]. The tournament will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 23 Chambers St, Bradford, PA. Please enter through the Bradford Area Christian Academy entrance. This is both a team and individual tournament. The top two participants on the team will count for the team score. A team consists of one adult [father, mother, grandfather, uncle, brother over 18, etc.] and one or more children in the same family. If there is no adult family member available to play, the children may play as individuals or select another adult rated under 1600. No players rated above 1599 may play in this event. There is a nominal entry fee to help defray the cost for awards. Please bring a chess set and board.

Roland C. Barksdale-Hall, an educator, author and storyteller, will speak at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford on Monday, Feb. 15, as part of Black History Month. Barksdale-Hall, who has been researching the black family for more than 20 years, will speak at 7:30 p.m. in the Mukaiyama University Room in the Frame-Westerberg Commons. The event is free and open to the public. The event is sponsored by the Student Activities Council. Barksdale-Hall teaches public speaking, history and critical thinking at Butler County Community College in the dual high school/college program. He is also president and co-founder of JAH Kente International Inc., which promotes the arts in churches, libraries and schools through the metropolitan Washington, D.C., area. He is also the founder of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society of Pittsburgh and was a former executive director. He has traveled to West Africa, and his research resulted in the Millennium Fami...

This is my Valentine's Day gift to all the women in my age range who want to take control of their health and beauty. Listen here . For more information, including "before" and "after" pictures of my guest Staness Jonekos, go here .

When: Saturday Feb. 20th – 12pm-3pm Sunday Feb. 21st – 12pm-3pm Saturday Mar 13th - 12pm-3pm Sunday Mar 14th - 12-pm-3pm Where: Bradford Family YMCA Teen Center 59 Boylston St. Bradford, Pa Cost: $30 per child ages 5-12 $40 per child ages 13-16 ($20 for each additional child within the same household) Please bring a birth certificate with you to the registration. Anyone signing up after March 31st will be charged an additional $10 per child

In round eleven within the varsity division of the chess league at School Street Elementary, Dr. Laroche trounced Wal-Mart allowing Dexter’s Service Center to advance to tie for first. There is now a three-way tie for second: the Pharmacy at Union Square, Parkview Super Market, and Smith’s Fine Jewelry. Tamara Ferguson (captain for Smith’s) and Greg Henry (captain of the Pharmacy) drew their match advancing Mike Jones to top individual. In the JV section, long time league leader Lang Surveying lost its match to fall back to fourth place. Smith’s Watch & Clock Repair and Tasta Pizza advanced to tie for first team. Drs. Rhinehart Team is only a point behind in second, with Edmond Chevrolet and Lang Surveying just half a point behind. Brent Kennedy (captain for Smith’s Watch & Clock Repair) leads the pack for top individual followed by Mitchell Forbes, captain for Hamlin Bank, in second. Jessica Yost (member of Drs. Rhinehart team) and Nate Evan, a member of the Edmond Chevrole...

Charles Cole Memorial Hospital will reopen the Bowman Health Center on Tuesday at its original location, 83 S. Marvin St., Smethport. The office’s phone number will remain the same, 887-5395. An official dedication and open house will be held at a later date. The Bowman Health Center, which originally opened in the 1990s, will adjoin the Smethport Wellness Center and Physical Therapy. Part of the building is also occupied by the Guidance Center. In 2005, the health center moved to 17129 Route 6 and operated as Misty Valley Health Center. CCMH reopened the Bowman Health Center in honor of Douglas Bowman, MD, following his untimely death in November 2008.

The 2010 Kinzua Outdoor and Travel Show offers two exciting features for the public to actively participate in the event. For the seventh year, the Bragging Wall, a freestanding structure with surrounding area for floor or table display, will host many private entries. Hunting and fishing aficionados are encouraged to display their trophy mounts and share their stories about those that “didn’t get away!” Prizes will be awarded in five categories: big game, white tail, furbearer, foul, and fish. Each entry will be numbered and displayed with the entrant’s name and a brief description. Each entrant will receive one free admission to the event. Winners are determined by the people’s choice. Ballots will be done using money cans. Proceeds from the Bragging Wall voting will be donated to Hunt of a Lifetime, a non-profit organization with a mission to grant hunting and fishing adventures and dreams for children 21 and under, who have been diagnosed with life threatening illnesses The Braggin...

A Panama, New York, man has been charged with snowmobiling while intoxicated following an accident that left him seriously injured this morning. At 1:47 this morning 37-year-old Ernie Bender's snowmobile went out of control at the junction of trails S48 and C4 off Route 430 in the Town of Chautauqua. Sheriff's deputies say the snowmobile flew into a patch of trees and Bender was thrown from the machine. He was first taken to Westfield Hospital then transferred to Hamot Medical Center. Deputies say additional charges are expected.

A Franklinville High School student is in jail after being accused of beating another student with a pipe. Police say 16-year-old Mario Castro beat a 17-year-old student with a metal pipe they believe was taken from the school's weight room. Police say the attack escalated from a disagreement between the students. The victim suffered head and neck injuries. Castro is charged with felony assault.

A Coudersport man is facing charges after getting into a snowmobile accident then falling asleep in someone else's house. Police say after the accident, 28-year-old Dustin Butler entered the home of Heather Empson of Ulysses. Nobody was home at the time and Butler was discovered sleeping inside the home the next morning. He was taken to Charles Cole Memorial Hospital for treatment of injuries sustained in the accident, then charged with criminal trespass and criminal mischief.

A Russell man is dead following a crash Friday afternoon on Market Street in Warren. Police say a car driven by 60-year-old Stephen Kobojek of 111 Main Street went through the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Market, where it hit a vehicle driven by 59-year-old James Reitz of Warren. Kobojeck's car then hit a pickup truck driven by 65-year-old Richard Laird of Pittsfield and another pickup driven by 20-year-old Brandan Bosko, also of Pittsfield. Kobojek died at the scene. Bosko was flown by medical helicopter to an out-of-town hospital. A passenger in Bosko's vehicle was also taken to the hospital with unspecified injuries.

A man has been indicted on charges that he murdered an elderly man in his Delevan Terrace apartment in December. 42-year-old Melvin Stephenson is charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of 80-year-old Wilbur Norton. Stephenson is also charged with first-degree manslaughter, burglary and robbery. He's being held in Attica Prison. He's scheduled for arraignment on March 1. Norton's body was discovered by a Meals on Wheels volunteer on December 1. Cattaraugus County Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb says Stephenson, who lives in the same apartment building, became a person of interest shortly after an autopsy revealed that Norton's death was a homicide. He was picked up on a parole violation and was in custody during the investigation into Norton's death.

WARREN - Since Governor Ed Rendell announced his proposed 2010/2011 state budget on Tuesday, Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati has been and is still examining the merits of the product. Clearly, his first concern was the level of overall spending. “At first glance, during this severe economic downturn, I have a real problem with increasing our spending level by over 4.1%,” Scarnati stated. “While working families and job creators are struggling with their own budgets, I find it irresponsible that the Commonwealth would even consider such a dramatic increase, much less pass it as a final budget.” Scarnati mentioned that from his perspective, this year’s thought process will be much the same as it was last year. The budget must reflect the fiscal realities of the Pennsylvania family, it must not contain a broad-based tax increase, and it must be sustainable. “Moving forward, it is my sincere hope that as we begin the 2010/2011 budget negotiations, all parties involved will...

Representatives from the Cameron County Family Center’s Share the Love program visited Charles Cole Memorial Hospital’s Long Term Care residents to deliver Valentine’s Day cards this week. Program organizers Kris Fapore and Sissy Miller deliver holiday cards throughout the year and also visit residents at the Guy and Mary Felt Manor, Grove House, and Elk Regional Medical Center. Pictured, from left, are Calvin Kennedy, Sissy Miller, Peggy Russell and Ruth Lentz. ( Photo courtesy of Charles Cole Memorial Hospital )

Two men who drilled for oil in the Allegheny National Forest have been charged with improperly injecting brine water into wells in violation of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. John Morgan and Michael Evans of Swamp Angel Energy each face one felony count for incidents that happened at two well sites in McKean County between April of 2007 and January of 2008. Court records say the men did not have the permits required to inject brine into the wells. Morgan, who lives in Sheffield, and Evans, who lives in the state of California, are expected to plead guilty Tuesday in federal court in Erie. Violating the Safe Drinking Water Act carries a penalty of up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.