Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Denny Williams only has one thing on his Christmas list: a new liver. He needs a liver transplant, but the costs are overwhelming. Volunteers are planning a spaghetti dinner fundraiser to help. While serving overseas with the U.S. Army, Williams contracted a life-threatening liver disease, but it didn’t greatly affect his life until his illness began to quickly worsen earlier this year. Doctors now say a liver transplant is critical to his survival, and he was recently added to the transplant waiting list. An avid Buffalo Bills fan and proud military veteran, Williams, 60, is thankful for his family and friends who have created a strong support system during this difficult time. He looks forward to the transplant that will allow him to live normally again and enjoy his favorite activities of fishing, golf and playing softball. He loved serving his community as a youth wrestling coach before his illness forced him to become a spectator. More than anything, he dreams of spending many mor...

Biggest Bear Taken in Potter County HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania Game Commission officials today announced that hunters started the 2011 black bear season by taking a preliminary harvest of 1,936 black bears in 52 counties on the first day of the four-day statewide bear season, which was the second season to open on a Saturday. Archery bear harvest data still is being entered into the Game Commission’s database, and won’t be available for another week. The 2011 first-day preliminary harvest compares with 1,751 in 2010, which also opened on a Saturday. Other first-day harvest totals were 1,897 in 2009; 1,725 in 2008; 1,005 in 2007; 1,461 in 2006; 2,026 in 2005; 1,573 in 2004; 1,454 in 2003;1,348 2002; 1,812 in 2001; and 1,691 in 2000. The top 11 bears processed at check stations on Monday all had estimated live weights that exceeded 591 pounds. Jonathan E. Byler, of Ulysses, harvested the largest bear, which was a male that weighed in at 746 pounds (estimated live weight). The bear was tak...

Kyle P. Adams, 20, 6118 Route 219, Brockport, died Monday, November 14, 2011. Born Nov. 7, 1991, in DuBois, he was a son of Mark Adams of Brockway and Lora Holt of Brockport. He was employed at Blue Water Thermal Solutions in St. Marys. Kyle was an Eagle Scout and a member of Boy Scout Troop 40 where he served as a leader. For the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts, he was chosen to receive the National Leadership Award. He was ranked No. 3 in his region for spear throwing by the World Atlatl Association. He enjoyed working on and riding his motorcycle, playing his guitar and woodworking. In addition to his parents, he is survived by one sister, Hailey Adams of Brockport; his maternal grandparents, Ronald and Beverly Holt of Falls Creek; his paternal grandparents, Richard and Gloria Adamsof Brockway; and extended family, Ginger Patterson and her son, Cody Bloom. Funeral services were held last week. Burial was in Beechtree Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Boy Scouts of Amer...

Retired New York State Trooper David O'Brien, who is serving a state prison sentence in connection to the death of 38-year-old Wendy Karnes of Bradford, wants a new trial. Karnes died in a crash with O'Brien's car in 2008 when they were both on their way to their jobs at the Seneca Allegany Casino. Read the full story at BuffaloNews.com .

Mark J. Cercone, 52, of 181 Williams St., Bradford, passed away Sunday, November 20, 2011 at UPMC Hamot Medical Center. Born April 2, 1959 in Bradford, he was a son of the late Angelo D. Cercone and Joyce I. (Carll) Cercone who survives him of Bradford. On August 4, 2001 in Bradford he married Carolyn A. (Reed) Cercone who survives. He was a 1977 graduate of Bradford High School, and attended St. Bernard Church. He was employed as a non perishable Manger at Tops Friendly Markets in Bradford from 1977 to 2008. He was a member of the LaStella Lodge, and a avid fan of the Boston Bruins, Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Phillies, and fantasy football. Surviving in addition to his mother and wife are two daughters; Amber Reed and Rachel Cercone, and one son Brandon Cercone, all of Bradford; one brother, Michael J. (Nancy) Cercone of Bradford; and several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father who died July 14, 2007. Family will be receiving friend...

Helen Benedict's newest book, "Sand Queen," is set in the Iraq War, and culled from real life stories of female soldiers and Iraqis. "Sand Queen" offers a story of love, courage and struggle from the rare perspective of two young women on opposite sides of a war. Listen to my talk with Helen here . For more information about Helen and her books go to HelenBenedict.com . Questions about books? Go to the Bradford Area Public Library .

Jeannine Morris is an on-air expert and the founder of BeautySweetSpot.com where she dishes the most coveted celebrity secrets, while providing informative beauty, style, health and fitness tips. I spoke with her on Thursday about "Beauty tips you can be thankful for." Listen here . Find out more about Jeannine at JeannineMorris.com .

MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – Senior Jessica Jenkins scored the 1,000 point of her career, and in the process led the St. Bonaventure women's basketball team (3-0) to a 56-48 road win over West Virginia (1-1) Friday evening. Jenkins poured in a game-high 23 points behind five 3-pointers to become the 19th member of SBU's 1,000 Point Club. After WVU took a 33-32 lead at the 12:53 mark, the Bonnies went on a 17-3 extended run to open up their biggest lead of the night at 49-36. Jenkins scored 11 of those points, hitting her 1,000 career point on a 3 from the left wing at the 10:36 mark. After the Mountaineers knocked down a 3-pointer to open the game's scoring, their only other lead of the night came at 33-32. Bonaventure converted 19-of-21 free throws to seal the win, including a perfect 10-for-10 showing from redshirt senior Armelia Horton. The loss is just the fourth in WVU head coach Mike Carey's career at home against non-conference teams. Carey was previously 61-3 at home in...

Dane Anderson of Kane was the first person in line to see Santa Claus at the Main Street Mercantile (45 Main Street) Friday night. Dane gave Santa a big hug before heading back to Kane. These guys were second and third in a long, long line. If you didn't get a chance to see Santa Friday, you can drop off your letters to him at the Main Street Mercantile and he'll read them on 1490 WESB! And, personally, I'm thrilled that Santa remembered my name because I'm on the Nice List!

Characters from Beacon Light's Santa House were part of the 3rd Annual Cruisin' into Christmas Parade Friday in Downtown Bradford. Felicia Lively Munday sing's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" on the Burgers & Barbecue float. This little beagle from the McKean County SPCA is all decked out for the holidays -- and could use a good home. The Pitt-Bradford cheerleaders are full of all kinds of holiday spirit. Street Dreams Car Club President Gary Hoy, and his lovely wife Candy, tossed out candy to the kids ... ...as did our own Stefan Arlington

Former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno has a treatable form of lung cancer, a source close to Paterno says. Paterno was fired last week amid a child sex abuse scandal allegedly involving his former defensive coordinator, Jerry Sandusky. For more on this story go to CNN.com .

Jamestown police searching for a suspect in a store burglary this morning discovered a dead body in a tent. Police found the body of the unidentified man behind a home on Barrows Street at about 3 a.m. They were searching for the person who had just burglarized a nearby Wilson Farms store. They say the burglary is not related to the suspicious death, and an autopsy has been scheduled at ECMC to determine how the man died. The burglary suspect, 26-year-old Russell Maring, was found hiding in a closet in a Barrows Street house a short time later. He’s in jail and is considered a person of interest in several other Jamestown burglaries.

Dr. Larry “Rock ’n’ Roll” Schardt, who contributed a chapter to the most recent book in the popular “Chicken Soup” series, will give a talk on “The Magic in Every Moment” Wednesday, Nov. 30. The talk, subtitled “The Seven Simple Actions you can Take to Achieve a Lifetime of Happiness and Success,” will take place at 7 p.m. in the Bromeley Family Theater. It is free and open to the public. He will share principles that will help audience members make and keep those upcoming New Year’s resolutions. Schardt is a Pitt-Bradford alumnus, adjunct instructor and nationally known speaker who has motivated audiences of all ages from all 50 states and U.S. territories. Schardt has taught and lectured on such topics as life and professional success, the power of humor, teaching, conservation and sustainability, relationships and motivation. On his most recent tour with U.S. Rep. Glenn “G.T.” Thompson, Schardt spoke to nearly 700 students, encouraging...

HARRISBURG – Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) issued the following statement regarding his “yes” vote on House Bill 1950, the Marcellus/Utica Shale Impact bill. “My top priority with any impact fee bill has always been to ensure that the bulk of the money stays local. Under House Bill 1950, a full 75 percent of money generated by any impact fees enacted by a county stay in that county and its municipalities to maintain local roads and bridges, preserve and protect water supplies, and enhance emergency preparedness and public safety. “The remaining 25 percent of impact fee revenue will be sent to the Commonwealth, but it is primarily set aside for infrastructure, environmental protection and public safety initiatives in regions where drilling is taking place. I believe this is an appropriate way to invest impact fee dollars. “It was also important that any impact fee measure adopted by the House not put the state at a competitive disadvantage with other Marcellus Shale gas-producing s...

Bradford Little Theatre is opening new office and rehearsal space at 79 Main St. starting Saturday. “We are excited to be moving into a bigger space that will not only house our offices, but meet our need for rehearsal, tryout and construction space,” said BLT president Nanci K. Garris. “Our new space offers first-floor access and a dynamic downtown presence,” said Garris. “It should eliminate the need to rent rehearsal and tryout space as we have in the past. Also, we should be able to do basic set and prop construction in the rear – an option we have never had before.” “The board examined this move carefully to ensure financial feasibility, and believe that the site will not cost our non-profit organization any more than is currently spent for rehearsal and meeting space.” “We are excited about the possibility of using the space to be part of downtown activities as well,” she said, noting the two large display windows in the front of the site. Currently, the BLT office is on the thir...

The Cruisin’ into Christmas Parade starts at 5:30 tonight in Downtown Bradford – and Santa will be making his first appearance of the season during the parade. After the parade Santa himself will be setting up the mailbox where kids can drop off their letters to him to be read on WESB’s Santa’s Mailbag show. Santa will be setting up inside the Main Street Mercantile at its new location – 45 Main Street.

The FAA is continuing to investigate the plane crash that injured four people in Potter County Thursday afternoon. The crash happened at just before 4:30 in Harrison Township when the two-engine plane flew into a garage. The pilot was 62-year-old Thomas Anticola of Lancaster, New York. The passengers were 51-year-old Keith Zittel of Niagara Falls, 47-year-old David Kennedy of Hamburg and 44-year-old Paul Seegar of North Tonawanda. Three were taken by ambulance to Charles Cole Memorial Hospital for treatment of moderate injuries; the fourth was taken by Mercy Flight to an out-of-town hospital for treatment of serious injuries. The plane was flying to Buffalo from Delaware when it experienced engine trouble.

At 4:28 pm on Thursday, Fire Depts. have been dispatched to a report of a plane crash into a garage with fully involved fire in Harrison Township at 300 Johnson Road. Reported to be twin engine aircraft with 4 persons on board. Additional ambulances and manpower dispatched to the scene. NOW REPORTING 4 Advanced Life Support PATIENTS, NO HELICOPTERS AVAILABLE DUE TO WEATHER. For continuing coverage go to Solomon's Words . Thanks Jim!

Three people were hurt in a rollover crash at around 11 o’clock this morning in Charlotte. 18-yearpold Jami McCurdy of Sinclairville was on Edson Road when her vehicle went out of control, crossed the center line, traveled into a wooded area and hit a utility pole. McCurdy and a female passenger were taken by ambulance to WCA Hospital. A male passenger was taken to the hospital by private vehicle. Sheriff’s deputies are continuing their investigation.

A Mansfield, New York, man is accused of having sex with an 11-year-old. 36-year-old Dusk Tocha was arrested last night after an ongoing investigation by the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Department. Tocha is charged with sexual conduct against a child and is jailed on $250,000 bail.