Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

I stared across the farm’s hillside. I could see to the aspen on the back side of the eighty acres from this slight rise. The aspen leaves were bright yellow in the fall. Abandoned pastureland, formerly white pine, hemlock, and black spruce trees over a perched water table, had been logged, grazed heavily, and then abandoned. We had purchased the farm to make a place for retirement and wildlife. An initial survey of the plants on the farm had identified some ‘things to do’. The hillsides were gullied from erosion. Buckthorn (Rhamas sp.) shrubs were gaining a foothold, and would soon overtake all moist soil places. In the farm’s history, some well-meaning (but unknowing) soul had planted autumn olive, multi-flora rose, and Tartarian honeysuckle shrubs. Our vision of creating a haven for wildlife was going to take hard work, some herbicide, and planting the best native shrubs for wildlife. Our work was cut out for us. Autumn and Russian olive (Elaegnus sp.) shrubs were wid...

An Irving man is dead and his passenger is hospitalized following an accident early Saturday morning at routes 5 and 20. Chautauqua County Sheriff's deputies say a car driven by 28-year-old Thomas O'Connell Jr. went out of control, left the road, hit and severed a utility pole, then rolled several times before hitting a tree. Both O'Connell and his passenger, 22-year-old Jason P. Sanford were ejected from the vehicle. O'Connell was found dead, next to his car. Sanford was pinned under the car. Sanford is being treated at ECMC.

A 59-year-old Forestville man died Friday afternoon in a fire at his home. Firefighters found Michael Domenico in a bedroom as they battled the blaze. The house was fully engulfed in flames when they arrived at just before 5 p.m. Chautauqua County officials say the cause of the fire hasn't been determined yet and an autopsy is being performed to determine how Domenico died.

These people look over items for sale at Grace Lutheran Church Saturday morning. The yard sales at the church were a few of dozens held Saturday as part of the annual Bradford Area Town-Wide Yard Sales. It was a perfect day, weather-wise, for bargain hunting, and News 4 Meteorologist Mike Cejka says after a chilly start to Sunday, we'll enjoy sunshine and a high around 76.

It might be one of Pittsburgh's famous Primanti Bros. sandwiches for Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm. Or it might be a platter of Detroit-made Kowalski sausages for Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell. The outcome depends on the winner of the NHL Stanley Cup finals between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings. The seven-game series opens Saturday night in Detroit. If the Penguins lose, Rendell must have a meal of Kowalski sausages, Faygo Rock and Rye pop and Michigan cherries while wearing a Red Wings jersey. If the Red Wings lose, Granholm must don a Penguins jersey, and down hot dogs from the Original Hot Dog Shop and a Primanti Bros. sandwich, as well as Eat'n Park cookies.

My guest on The Weekend Wrap is Hillary Clarke, director of advocacy for the Cancer Action Network. She'll be talking about the Fight Back Express bus tour and its stop in Buffalo on Sunday. The Fight Back Express is working to make cancer a national priority by educating the public, lawmakers, candidates and the media about the importance of the government's role in defeating cancer. The Fight Back Express will be at Delaware Park from 4 to 5 p.m. Sunday. The easiest way to get to the bus is by way of the Jewett Parkway entrance. You can hear The Weekend Wrap at 9:15 a.m. Saturday on 1490 WESB and 6 a.m. Saturday on 100.1 The HERO. For more information about the Cancer Action Network, visit ACSCAN .

A new panel has been formed to keep an eye on booming natural gas exploration in Lycoming County. County commissioners and Williamsport-Lycoming County Chamber of Commerce have named the Community Gas Exploration Task Force. The mission is to identify key issues, research facts and propose public policy on gas exploration. Commissioner Rebecca Burke says that should include preserving natural resources, without hindering gas companies from operating. She says the commissioners hope positive working relationships can mean big benefits for the local economy. The move comes after area cooperative extension staff members spent several days studying the effects of gas exploration in the Barnett Shale region of northern Texas. The formation is similar to the Marcellus Shale, which lies under some areas of Pennsylvania, including most of Lycoming County.

An Olean City Alderman has pleaded innocent to a petit larceny charge. 22-year-old Andrew Searles is accused of taking a pre-paid gas card from Mastel Ford while he worked there. Searles no longer works for Mastel. Searles says he has no reason to resign from Common Council and declined to comment further. Both Mayor David Carucci and Common Council President Richard Smith have also declined to comment, other than to say they will wait for the issue to work itself out in court. Searles is free on his own recognizance.

A Bradford man has pleaded guilty in connection with an accident that killed his passenger last year in Belfast, New York. 36-year-old Joseph Arnett has been sentenced to five years' probation. On June 24 he was driving on Route 305 when he did not stop at the stop sign at the bottom of a hill. The vehicle went across Route 19, hit an embankment and went airborne, flipping over near the old River Valley Farms. 23-year-old Devon Brunell of Cuba, New York, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s student newspaper, The Source, has received a second-place award in the American Scholastic Press Association’s annual newspaper competition. The award was based on issues from the Fall 2007 semester, during which time Ed Nolter, a senior public relations major from Bradford, served as editor; Anna Chiodo, a senior public relations major from Bradford, was managing editor; and Alex Davis, a freshman public relations major from Emporium, was assistant managing editor. Tim Ziaukas, associate professor of public relations, is the paper’s adviser.

New York Governor David Paterson is out of the hospital after having a second eye surgery performed. The laser surgery was performed as a precautionary measure, and is the same procedure he had on Tuesday in his other eye. Paterson went to the hospital early Tuesday morning complaining of severe eye pain. The governor was diagnosed on that day with acute glaucoma, and the procedure was performed. Paterson is expected to recover at home with his family over the Memorial Day weekend, and is likely go back to work next week.

On Saturday, the town where Jimmy Stewart grew up having a wonderful life -- Indiana, Pa. -- will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of its favorite son. The centennial festival day for Stewart will be held inside the Jimmy Stewart Museum and outside at the museum plaza at 835 Philadelphia Street on Saturday. There will be bands, an Air Force flyover, movie viewings, presentations, dedications and awards during the all-day program. Earlier this week, US Senator Bob Casey talked about Stewart on the Senate floor.

US Senator Bob Casey is support the Great Lakes Legacy Act of 2008, which is aimed at cleaning up contaminated areas of the Great Lakes within 10 years. Among other things, the bill would allow additional funding to protect and restore targeted areas in the Great Lakes like Presque Isle. “Lake Erie is an integral part of Northwestern Pennsylvania’s landscape and we must do everything we can to keep it safe and beautiful,” Casey said “This legislation will provide for funding to sustain this picturesque lake for generations to come.” The Great Lakes Legacy Act of 2008 would authorize $150 million annually to clean up what have been identified as “Areas of Concern” in the Great Lakes.

Bright purple boxes will be hanging from ash trees as Pennsylvania officials begin a survey after Memorial Day to assess the spread of the ash borer. Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff says the invasive beetle was discovered in Butler and Allegheny counties western Pennsylvania last summer. Quarantines were imposed on the movement of ash nursery stocks, green lumber and firewood in those counties and neighboring Beaver and Lawrence counties. Wolff says 10,000 three-sided traps will be hung in trees in 35 counties this summer to see whether the bettle has spread to new areas. The emerald ash borer is a wood-boring beetle native to China and eastern Asia. It has killed more than 30 million ash trees in Michigan since 2002 and millions more in Ohio and Indiana. You can read our previous posts on the emerald ash borer HERE

The White House says a Pennsylvania soldier who jumped on top of a grenade in Iraq and saved the life of his comrades will posthumously receive the Medal of Honor. The honor will be given to Pfc. Ross McGinnis, of Knox on June 2. Military officials have said McGinnis was perched in the gunner's hatch of a Humvee when a grenade sailed past him and into the truck where four other soldiers sat. He shouted a warning to the others, then jumped on the grenade. It blew up and killed him. The 19-year-old McGinnis was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, in Schweinfurt, Germany. He died on Dec. 4, 2006. Congressman John Peterson issued the following statement: “It is with deep gratitude, and sorrow, that I recognize the selfless act Ross McGinnis performed on December 4, 2006. This young man, just 19 years old, was a soldier’s soldier, who enlisted in the Army to fight for causes larger than any individual: freedom and libert...

D’Hondt Motorsports, LLC (DMS) announced today that Zippo Manufacturing Company, promoting their line of hot new Zippo BLU lighters, will be the primary sponsor for Kyle Busch in the #92 Toyota Camry in the “Zippo 200” August 9th at Watkins Glen International. “We are proud to have Zippo sponsor D’Hondt Motorsports (DMS) and Kyle Busch at Watkins Glen” said team owner Eddie D’Hondt. “This new partnership is a good opportunity for us all and allows us room to grow. Zippo has supported racing at some level for a long time and we look forward to a very successful weekend.” Zippo founder, George G. Blaisdell, began attending events at Watkins Glen in the 1950’s. In 1993, they became the title sponsor for the Grand Prix race there. In NASCAR, they sponsored Jimmy Spencer in the 1990’s and introduced a line of collectible driver lighters. They have been the Nationwide Series event title sponsor at Watkins Glen for four years. “We are excited to not only be the race title sponsor but to al...

National River Cleanup is a year-long event. This year’s event officially kicks-off May 31-June 8. Millions of tons of trash end up in our nation’s rivers and streams every year. American Rivers is a proud sponsor of National River Cleanup and invites you to launch a river cleanup in your backyard. More than 600,000 volunteers have participated in thousands of National River Cleanups since inception in 1991. More than 1,000 tons of litter and debris have been removed from over 100,000 miles of waterways. In 2007, the National River Cleanup removed 600 tons of trash from 7,500 miles of streams; the 95,000 volunteers filled 100,980 garbage bags! How do you get started on your own National River Cleanup day? American Rivers has an “Organize a Cleanup” button at their http://www.americanrivers.org/ website. American Rivers provides everything you need to know to start your own event, and register your event so other people can find your event. You can also find river cleanups near...

Former GOP Congressional candidate Derek Walker says he's planning to file federal election tampering charges against a political rival and law enforcement officials. Five days before the April 22 primary, charges of stalking and burglary, among others, were filed against Walker in connection with an incident involving his former girlfriend. Earlier this week, Walker pleaded guilty to 4 misdemeanor charges; the felony charges were all dropped. Walker says the charges brought against him were part of a political conspiracy, and he has the evidence to prove it. He says Clearfield County District Attorney Bill Shaw, Clearfield Police Chief James Schilling and Matt Shaner, another of the 8 Republicans running for the 5th District Congressional seat, smeared his name and tampered with a federal election. He claims the three worked together to bring the charges to light. Walker says he pleaded guilty to the misdemeanors, because it was best for everyone involved. He admits to being guilt...

You may have heard Scott and me talking about this on The Morning Buzz. In case you want to see the entire list of the Top 10 Free US Attractions, here it is: Top 10 Free US Attractions

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director The Marcellus Shale rock formation hasn’t had much of an impact in McKean County yet, but experts expect that to change. During a statewide television call-in show – Pennsylvania's Gas Rush – a panel answered questions about gas and oil drilling in general, and Marcellus Shale in particular. Marcellus Shale is a layer of black shale 6,500 to 7,000 feet underground. It covers about 34 million acres in parts of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio and New York. With new drilling techniques, it may be possible to produce 50 trillion cubic feet of natural gas from the Marcellus Shale formation. That's about how much natural gas the United States uses in two years. The Allegheny National Forest is rich in Marcellus Shale. But Ron Giiius of the Department of Environmental Protection said at this point there's no interest in drilling for Marcellus Shale in the forest, but there's no telling what the future holds. "Right now," Gil...