Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

By Sandra Rhodes Visitor & Member Services Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau The Allegheny National Forest Region may be hundreds of miles away from Washington, D.C., but still has had plenty of presidential connections throughout the years. The Allegheny National Forest (ANF) was created in 1923 after President Calvin Coolidge signed a proclamation for federal purchase of available private lands for national forest purposes. Located in northern Pennsylvania, just 90 miles south of Buffalo, N.Y., the ANF now consists of more than 513,000 acres. Decades before Coolidge, President Theodore, a forward-thinking conservationalist, developed a master plan for managing the nation’s natural resources. This plan included the ideals of developing ways to keep the Earth and its resources safe for generations to come. To help meet this goal, the federal government created the U.S. Forest Service in 1905. In 1911, when William Taft was president, Congress passed the Weeks Act, allowing ...

Bradford City Police looked into reports of illegal dumping on West Washington Street and a theft on Jackson Avenue, according to the complaint report and request sheet. Parking complaints continue to pour in as well. Officers went to Williams Street, Walker Avenue and Congress Street, twice, to answer those calls. They also got a report of a road obstruction at Colonial Heights. Police were called to disturbances on East Main and High streets, harassment on Rochester and Park streets, and complaints about loud music on Park Street and noise on Bushnell Street. Officers got reports about a suspicious vehicle in a downtown parking lot and a suspicious person on South Avenue.

A gas line ruptured and caught on fire when gas company employees were plowing a road and hit the pipe. The accident happened at around 10:15 this morning two or three miles from the Interstate Parkway entrance to Allegany State Park, according to Bradford Township Volunteer Fire Department Chief Dan Burkhouse. He said the employees were plowing with a bulldozer, hit the line and an emission source, which caught the line on fire. Fifteen firefighters were on the scene for about an hour helping the employees put the fire out, Burkhouse said. No one was hurt.

WASHINGTON, DC—U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today released the following statement on funding for Presque Isle State Park being included in the President’s Fiscal Year 2012 budget proposal. “I am pleased President Obama has included funding for Presque Isle State Park in his 2012 budget recommendation. Presque Isle is a prime destination for over four million visitors annually for a variety of recreational activities and is the top attraction for Erie’s tourism economy. Presque Isle also plays an important role in reducing potential flood damage and is essential to sustaining and protecting a unique ecosystem and a distinct bird sanctuary. While this is only the first step in the congressional budget process, I will continue to fight to maintain federal funding for sand replenishment at Presque Isle.” Last month, Senator Casey urged the Army Corps of Engineers to include funding for Presque Isle State Park in its Fiscal Year 2012 budget. In a letter to Assistant Secretary to the ...

Allegheny National Forest officials have issued an update on the closing of a section of the Allegheny Snowmobile Loop. The section between Westline and The Willows restaurant is closed due to a right-of-way issue with a private landowner. The issue has not been resolved so that section of the trail will remain closed for the rest of the winter season. Bradford District Ranger Tony Scarndina says the forest service is currently working with the snowmobile community and other partners to find a solution, and he is optimistic that the issue will be resolved for next year’s snowmobile season.

One of the men charged with throwing a Molotov cocktail at a house occupied by St. Bonaventure University students has pleaded guilty to arson and assault. 21-year-old Steven Sprague of Olean and five other people are accused of throwing the bottle bomb in the early morning hours of October 17. Police say the incident started when someone was assaulted at about 4:30 that morning. Shortly after that, the bottle bomb was thrown at the house on Main Street in Allegany. Sprague will be sentenced May 2, according to a fax sent to WESB and The HERO by the district attorney's office.

Smethport - James Kenyon Angell, 72, a lifelong resident of the Smethport area, passed away peacefully on February 11, 2011 at the home of his brother, Bill, in Tampa, Florida. Born on August 30, 1938 in Cortland, New York, Jim was the youngest of three sons born to Attorney H. Kenyon Angell and wife Martha Willson Angell. After the unfortunate early passing of both parents, he and his brothers were taken in and raised by Martha's sister, Mary Putnam Willson, who doted on the boys and relocated the family to Crosby, PA. During his childhood and teenaged years in the woods of rural Pennsylvania, he developed his lifelong love of hunting, fishing, trapping and many other sportsmenlike activities. He also spent many happy summers at the family vacation home in Canandaigua, New York. A popular and academic student, Jim graduated from Smethport High School in 1956, and began his college education later that year at Syracuse University. While at Syracuse he became a member of the Psi Eps...

More than 300 people turned out for Sunday’s second annual Marilla Winter Trek. Rick Lutz of the Tuna Valley Trails Association says, “Everything went great, including the weather. I am especially happy for Gene (Cornelius), who created the monster.” He said the hundreds of people were all over the Marilla area snowshoeing, hiking, cross-country skiing, ice fishing and geocaching. He said the geocache crew planted the caches a few weeks ago, and the snow covered up all traces of them. Lutz also said families were building snowmen out on the ice and the county rescue dive team did a demonstration. He said paramedics wee on hand as well, and local police helped with parking. He added that they went through “every bit of food” they had, along with 5 gallons of cider and 5 gallons of hot chocolate. Planning has already started for the third annual Marilla Winter Trek, hosted by the TVTA. “It is a lot of work,” Lutz said, “but worth it when it turns out so well.”

WASHINGTON, DC— U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee, released the following statement after President Obama released his proposed budget: “I will closely review President Obama’s budget proposal and its impact on Pennsylvania, job creation and the economy as the congressional budget process moves forward. “Long-term deficits and debts are not sustainable. Government spending must be reduced. At the same time, we can’t indiscriminately slash funding for good programs that benefit Pennsylvanians and invest in our economic future. The budget should invest in growth and cut what doesn't work. Cuts to already underfunded priorities like local law enforcement, medical research and education for our children will leave us less secure and hurt our ability to compete in the global economy. “A host of options must be considered to reduce the deficit. As a former Pennsylvania Auditor General and State Treasurer I know that significant savings can ...

State Senator Joe Scarnati is making news across the state today for accepting a trip to the Super Bowl from Consol Energy. Scarnati and other Senate Republicans leaders were criticized by former Governor Ed Rendell and environmentalists for blocking an extraction tax on Marcellus Shale drilling. The critics say Scarnati and the other blocked legislation on the tax because of their relationships with energy companies. Scarnati talked about that on his last visit to the LiveLine. He said in his position as President Pro Tempore of the Senate one of his jobs is to keep the Republicans in the majority. He raises money for the Republican caucus to help fund campaigns of members who are in races. He raised more than $100,000 through various Marcellus Shale companies across the state, and that is disclosed on finance reports. But he added that he raised close to $1.5 million all together. “To raise $100,000-some from that industry isn’t influencing me,” Scarnati said, “and I’m insulted that ...

HARRISBURG – The Department of Health will offer free nicotine replacement therapy, or NRT, kits starting on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, to help Pennsylvanians who want to give up tobacco in the name of love. Under the “Quit for Love” campaign, the kits will be available through the state’s Free Quitline (1-800-QUIT-NOW) for approximately six to eight weeks, or while supplies last. “Tobacco use continues to be the leading cause of preventable death and disease,” said acting Secretary of Health Dr. Eli Avila. “According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one of every five deaths nationwide is attributed to smoking. Quitting tobacco is a major step toward improving your overall health. Do it for yourself, for your friends, for your loved ones.” “We know that most people will try to quit an average of five to eight times before they succeed,” said Leslie Best, Health Promotion and Risk Reduction Bureau Director. “Counseling coupled with the NRT increases the ...

Ray Learn will seek reelection as District Attorney of McKean County. Learn was elected as District Attorney in 2009 to fill the remainder of the term vacated when then District Attorney John Pavlock was appointed as Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. As District Attorney, and head of the McKean County Drug Task Force, Learn led the Task Force to its most active year ever. In 2010, the Drug Task Force conducted 81 operations, arrested 78 people, and seized approximately $30,000 worth of illegal drugs and over $40,000 in cash and vehicles. Learn has successfully prosecuted several high profile cases, including two capital murder cases. In 2010, the District Attorney’s Office prosecuted more than 700 cases, including arsons, assaults, thefts, and sexual assaults. Learn also developed and implemented the McKean County Law Enforcement Series which provides free monthly training to all police departments in McKean County. Prior to being elected District Attorney, Learn was an assistant dis...

Jill and Jim Kelly, center, accept a check from Erika Bacha and Katherine Moyer of Bradford during Hunter's Day of Hope Saturday at the Buffalo Bills Fieldhouse in Orchard Park. On January 22, the girls held a fundraiser for Hunter's Hope at Byllye Lanes. It was their senior project. Photo courtesy of Barry and Sonja Bacha

A representative from Emporium's Emmanuel Episcopal Church visited Charles Cole Memorial Hospital's Skilled Nursing and Rehab residents to deliver Valentine's Day cards this week. Program organizer Sissy Miller delivers the "sunshine 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 Harold Lias and Sissy Miller. Photo courtesy of Charles Cole Memorial Hospital

Green Star Investigations was founded and incorporated in 2003, by Clarissa McNair, P.I. The private investigator brings her skills as a journalist, as an interviewer, as a writer to Green Star Investigations. McNair has been a detective for the past fourteen years. Cici McNair has lived the life most of us think is interesting and action packed but don't really want. She has written about these adventures in DETECTIVES DON’T WEAR SEAT BELTS. In this new book she explores the most dangerous of all among us: the Femme Fatale. Listen to the show here . For more information go to McNair Writes.com and Green Star Investigations

A former Bradford woman who escaped from the Warren County Jail in November has been sentenced to time in state prison. 39-year-old Doreather Skaggs left the prison grounds during her cleaning detail. She was found later that day at the Glade Kwik-Fill and returned to the prison. She was originally jailed after pleading guilty to a theft charge. In July, she took a Clarendon man's car and $200. The car was found in Bradford. The 21 to 42 month state prison sentence will be served concurrently with the theft sentence.

A Buffalo man is dead after a crash Friday afternoon in Cattaraugus County. 28-year-old Purvis Jones Jr. was driving his pickup truck on Van Etten Road in the Town of Dayton when it went out of control on a curve, slid sideways and was hit by a vehicle driven by Daniel Barker Jr. of North Collins. Jones was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a news release sent to WESB and The HERO by the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office.

Four students at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford have been selected to receive a $5,000 study-abroad scholarship and participate in the Vira I. Heinz Scholarship Program for Women in Global Leadership. Morgan Emery, Stephanie Makin, Elizabeth Tillman, and Rebecca Zipay will each receive a stipend to support a summer study-abroad program of their choice and a follow-up community engagement experience after their return. Emery, a sophomore from Eldred majoring in English, will spend a month in Viña del Mar, Chile. There, she will take an intensive Spanish course to improve her second language skills. Additionally, she will focus on literacy and reading education. Speaking a second language is important to Emery, who said her future plans may include, “teaching English as a second language or working for the United Nations as an employee of UNESCO (the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization).” Makin, a sophomore criminal ju...

State police are investigating a crash on Route 219 near Redmund’s in Ridgway Township today. At 12:10 a truck driven by 37-year-old Joseph Dellulo Jr. of Johnsonburg went out of control while going around a curve, hit the guardrails, spun around and turned onto its driver’s side. Dellulo and his passenger, 60-year-old Josephine Dellulo of Johnsonburg, both suffered moderate injuries and were taken to Elk Regional Health Center for treatment. Police say charges will be filed after they receive results of a BAC test.

WASHINGTON, DC— U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Chairman of the Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has been selected to serve as a member of the bipartisan Senate National Security Working Group. “Becoming a member of the select National Security Working Group will give me an even greater role in bolstering the security of Pennsylvanians and all Americans,” said Senator Casey. “We face many threats ranging from terrorists and rogue nations acquiring nuclear material, to the IEDs that target our men and women serving in Afghanistan. I look forward to working within this bipartisan group to identify strategies that address these security challenges.” In addition to his chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee with jurisdiction over the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Senator Casey is the co-founder of the bipartisan Senate Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism Caucus. Senator Casey has been o...