Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Just wanted to share this e-mail with y'all. "Anne -- I have some important news that I want to make official. I've chosen Joe Biden to be my running mate. Joe and I will appear for the first time as running mates this afternoon in Springfield, Illinois -- the same place this campaign began more than 19 months ago. I'm excited about hitting the campaign trail with Joe, but the two of us can't do this alone. We need your help to keep building this movement for change. Please let Joe know that you're glad he's part of our team. Share your personal welcome note and we'll make sure he gets it: http://my.barackobama.com/welcomejoe Thanks for your support, Barack P.S. -- Make sure to turn on your TV at 2:00 p.m. Central Time to join us or watch online at http://www.BarackObama.com." You didn't know I was on a first-name basis with Senator Obama, did you? And, for the record, I haven't sent him a penny.

Hundreds of current and retired New York City firefighters are on their motorcycles today, escoring a steel beam from the World Trade Center to Shanksville, Pa. The 2-ton, 14-foot long steel beam is intended to become part of the memorial to the victims of United Airlines Flight 93 who died on Sept. 11. The bikers are members of the New York City Fire Riders. For more information, go to Iron and Steel -- NYC to Shanksville .

Firefighters from three departments battled a blaze at the Midtown Bar in Port Allegany for about 2 hours early Saturday morning. Star Hose Company Chief Terry Royce says they received the call at about 4:20 a.m. and smoke was coming from the back of the building when they arrived. The fire was contained to the bar area on the first floor. Damage is estimated at $50,000. Royce says about 50 firefighters from the Star Hose Company, Smethport Fire Department and Roulette were on the scene. No one was hurt.

when parents and newborns get pack-n-play cribs .

A Kennedy, New York, man was $100 dollars richer – for a little while. Chautauqua County Sheriff's Deputies say 26-year-old Scott Thompsett Jr. stole a $20 scratch off lottery ticket from the counter at the Kennedy Super Market. A few minutes later he walked up to the outside window and gave the winning ticket to the cashier, who gave him $100. The incident was captured on the store's security camera. Thompsett was charged with petit larceny and will appear in Town of Poland Court at a later date.

In case you're just waking up and haven't heard any news yet ... CNN confirms Sen. Barack Obama has chosen Delaware Sen. Joe Biden to be his vice-presidential running mate. We ran a story on the air Thursday saying that Governor Ed Rendell believed Biden would be the best choice. I guess this means Rendell and Obama agree on something.

The death of a Sigel man is now being investigated as a homicide. 50-year-old Timothy Finucan was found dead in his home on Wednesday as the result of a gunshot wound. Police say the results of an autopsy performed Thursday indicate the death is a homicide. Anyone who had contact with the victim prior to his death, noticed any suspicious people or vehicle in the area, or who has any information that would help in the investigation is encouraged to contact Ridgway-based state police.

As part of a manufacturer’s recall, Tops Markets has removed from shelves 54-ounce, 12-pack cartons of "HOT POCKETS PEPPERONI PIZZA" brand stuffed sandwiches. The product may contain foreign materials, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today. They have not said what the 'foreign material' is that has been found. This recall affects 54-ounce, 12-pack cartons of "HOT POCKETS PEPPERONI PIZZA" brand stuffed sandwiches. Printed on the side of each carton is "8157544614D," "EST 7721A," and "BEST BEFORE JAN2010." Each carton bears the USDA mark of inspection. The products were produced on June 5 and distributed to retail establishments nationwide. No reports of illnesses or injuries associated with this product have been received. Consumers who purchased the above product are urged to return them to the store for a full refund. Consumers with questions about the recall should conta...

Former world champion Bryan Clay stayed on course in the lead from the first to the last event to clinch the Olympic gold medal in the decathlon. He had won the 100 meters and long jump and consolidated his position by winning the discus throw. He finished 23rd in the 1500 metres, but had enough lead to win the gold. Clay is the grandson of Shirley Vandenburg of Falconer, NY.

Scarnati Leads Senate with Principle and Tact PDF

The slopes at Holiday Valley will be full this weekend – but not with skiers. Some of the best bow hunters in the world are competing in the 2008 International Bow hunting World Championships in Ellicottville. This year, 1700 contestants are in town from the United States and as far away as New Zealand, Australia, and Italy. $200,000 in cash and prizes will be handed out to the winner on Saturday. Holiday Valley will be home to the bow hunting championships for the next three years.

HARRISBURG — Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced that agents from the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit have arrested two men, including a high school science teacher from the Pittsburgh area along with a factory worker from Clearfield County, both accused of using the Internet to send sexually explicit photos and videos to what they believed were young girls. The “girls” were actually undercover agents from the Child Predator Unit who were using the online profiles of children. Corbett identified the defendants as Nicholas E. Salvo, 34, 60 Rocklynn Place, Pittsburgh and Robert C. Dunlap, 36, 716 Good St., Houtzdale. Corbett said that Salvo and Dunlap are both accused of Internet chat rooms to sexually solicit what they believed were 13 or 14-year old girls. Both men also allegedly sent nude or sexually graphic photos and webcam videos to the girls. "Internet predators are aggressively using chat room and teen networking sites to search for young victims online, q...

Ridgway/Cyclone Pa. (August 22, 2008) PENNDOT ELK/McKEAN COUNTY Has announced work for the week of August 25, 2008 through August 29, 2008. Maintenance work planned by McKean County employees includes: Ø PIPE FLUSHING – SR 3003, Coontown Road Ø CRAFCOING – SR 6, Kane to Lantz Corners – SR 321, East Kane Area Ø FILL LOW SHOULDERS – SR 321, SR 59 to SR 346 Ø BRIDGE DEPOSITION REMOVAL – SR 46, Crosby Ø SIGN REPAIRS – Various Routes, County wide Ø SIDE DOZING – SR 6, Mt. Jewett to Port Allegany – SR 219, Lantz Corners to Tacks Inn Ø GRATE DIRT ROADS – SR 1001, Doyle Hollow Road – SR 1003, Sartwell Road Ø SEAL COATING – SR 59, Smethport Borough to SR 219 – SR 3009, Beagle Club Road Maintenance work planned by Elk County employees includes: Ø CRACK SEALING – SR 219, Boot Jack Hill Ø DITCH CLEANING – SR 1008, West Creek – SR 1005, Theresia Street Ø PATCHING – SR 219, Ridgway Area Ø BRIDGE REPAIRS – SR 219, Wilcox Ø BASE REPAIRS – SR 4003, Tam...

when even one child learns how to be safer through Safe Kids McKean and when the American Red Cross trains someone to be a baby sitter.

State Police say they made a major pot bust in southern Erie County near Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties. Troopers arrested 42-year-old David Thies at his home in Brant on Tuesday. He's charged with criminal possession of marijuana. State Police say a search of a nearby property uncovered 263 marijuana plants growing in a field. Troopers confiscated the plants and are now trying to determine who was growing them.

The man whose suicide threat caused a massive traffic jam for three hours on the Niagara Thruway in May has pleaded guilty. 66-year-old James Gilchriese faces a possible state prison term of up to 7 years when he's sentenced October 3. Gilchriese stopped traffic on the Thruway after pulling off the road to argue with his girlfriend and put a gun to his head. He held a cell phone to his ear in his right hand to talk with hostage negotiators and the gun to his head with his left hand before being disarmed by state police and the Buffalo Police Department SWAT team. Court-ordered mental tests confirmed that Gilchriese is mentally sound and staged the Thruway drama after an overdose of alcohol.

Lest you think I was being crass by wondering what would happen should (heaven forbid) Catherine Baker Knoll not be able to serve out her term as lieutenant governor, believe me, I am not the only person thinking about such things. Here's another blog: PolitickerPA . Wally Edge asks Does CBK’s illness prevent Rendell from joining the administration if Obama were to win?

A Mentor, Ohio, woman has completed her 325-mile swim of the Allegheny River, a month after beginning her journey. 21-year-old Katie Spotz reached Point State Park, where the Allegheny and Monogahela rivers form the Ohio, at just before noon today. She now plans to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean, some 2,500 miles from West Africa to South America, in December to raise money and awareness for the Blue Planet Run Foundation, a nonprofit whose goal is to bring clean drinking water to the estimated 1 billion people worldwide who don't have it. To see a picture of Katie in Coudersport, go to Solomon's Words .

HARRISBURG - Republican House members along the Interstate 80 corridor continued their fight against tolls on the 311-mile highway today by urging U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters to deny the application by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to toll the interstate. The letter to Secretary Peters was signed by Reps. Russ Fairchild (R-Union/Snyder), Sam Smith (R-Jefferson/Indiana/Armstrong), Karen Boback (R-Columbia/Luzerne/Wyoming), Michele Brooks (R-Crawford/Mercer/Lawrence), Garth Everett (R-Lycoming), Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango/Butler), Fred McIlhattan (R-Clarion/Armstrong), David Millard (R-Columbia), Merle Phillips (R-Northumberland/Snyder), Kathy Rapp (R-Forest/McKean/Warren), Brad Roae (R-Crawford), Richard Stevenson (R-Butler/Mercer), and Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin). The members specifically cited new updates since the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) returned the original application with numerous deficiencies last December and emphasized continui...

Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chairman T.J. Rooney today offered the following statement regarding Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll who publicly acknowledged having cancer: "The entire Pennsylvania Democratic Party considers Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker-Knoll as part of the family. We love and admire her dearly not just as an exemplary Democrat but a remarkably compassionate human being who genuinely cares about working families in Pennsylvania. We have always known her to be a fighter and someone who doesn't give up. "Democrats and Republicans throughout Pennsylvania can look to her as a source of inspiration and hope as she battles valiantly and continues to perform her duties with diligence and enthusiasm. Our thoughts and prayers will remain with her continuously."