Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

State Senator Joe Scarnati announced today that funding for further development of IMPACT WARREN has been secured. Over $2.9 million in additional funds will now be available for this project. “Since the beginning, I have worked with local officials and developers to see to the successful completion of this important project,” Scarnati stated. “I am pleased to have been involved in securing close to $3 million in additional revenues to expand economic development in this area.” Scarnati mentioned that this is a big win for the community and the region, as it will only aid in making the City of Warren a better place to work and live. “Once again, it shows the importance of working together and making sure that we bring our fair share of tax dollars back to the region,” Scarnati added. “This is a wonderful example of what can be accomplished when state leaders work closely with local officials. Without question, this is a tremendous shot in the arm to this community during these d...

City of St. Marys Police have recovered 17 political signs, business signs and other signs that had been stolen from the area of the St. Marys Municipal Airport and other undetermined locations. They recovered all the signs were recovered from a private driveway on Woodsmoke Road. They didn't say if the political signs were all from one party.

Funeral services will be held this afternoon for Kane Fire Chief Art Brechtel who died Thursday at West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh after a long battle with leukemia. Brechtel was 33 years old and was a life member of the Kane Volunteer Fire Department. The funeral is scheduled for 2 o'clock at the First United Methodist Church on Greeves Street in Kane. Fire departments from around the region will be sending representatives.

A Kill Buck, New York, man has been indicted on a variety of charges in connection with an incident when he allegedly chased his girlfriend with a kitchen knife. Between September 13 and 14, in Great Valley, Vernon Botsford allegedly caused thousands of dollars worth of damage to his girlfriend's house while her children were present. He also allegedly caused damage to vehicles and chased his girlfriend with a kitchen knife. He'll be arraigned next Monday.

A Sandy Lake man faces assault charges after an alleged road rage incident over the weekend. Police say 38-year-old Rockne Keith Barber Jr. chased another vehicle at about 3 o'clock Saturday morning along routes 62, 258 and 19. After about 20 miles Barber allegedly rammed the vehicle twice and forced it off Fredonia Road. Barber was arraigned on charges of aggravated assault and reckless driving. Barber's father, Rockne K. Barber, Sr., was arrested in September for being the alleged ringleader of a meth lab and pill-shopping operation known as Operation Cave-In.

A Brooklyn, New York, man is at ECMC after his car split in half during an accident Sunday in Chautauqua County near Fredonia. Sheriff's Deputies say a car driven by 25-year-old Christopher Goode left the road and hit a tree, splitting the vehicle in half and sending the rear end into a nearby lawn and the front end farther down the road. Goode was taken to ECMC for treatment of facial injuries. He's facing charges of driving while intoxicated and possession of marijuana.

A Bradford, man has been charged with sexually abusing a 7-year-old girl in Cattaraugus County. 24-year-old Jeffrey Lee Campbell was arrested at 6:40 a. m. Friday by the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office following an incident that happened at about 1 a. m. in the Town of Carrolton. Campbell was arraigned in Salamanca City Court on first-degree sexual abuse charges. He is scheduled to reappear in Carrolton Town Court next Monday.

You know the drill: 1)Turn your clock back 1 hour 2)Change the batteries in your smoke detectors 3)Change the batteries in your carbon monoxide detector 4)Enjoy that extra hour of sleep

By Kate Day Sager Olean Times Herald With the Halloween season in full swing, many thrill seekers are actively digging around for good, healthy scares that will make goosebumps erupt and hairs rise. And what better way to get the old heart racing than to visit a haunted house or building in the area, or at least to drive past them on a dark night. In the historic borough of Smethport, Pa., most of the town residents have heard the tale of the Old Jail Museum where the ghost of Ralph Crossmire is reportedly stalking the dark hallways or pulling pranks on the staff For the full story, go to The Olean Times Herald

A Bensalem woman on Friday filed a civil lawsuit against the Knights of Columbus in Middletown, Peco Energy, PennDOT and some Middletown homeowners for negligence after the woman was involved in March in a debilitating car accident in Middletown. The lawsuit alleges that the Knights of Columbus was negligent for serving her and allowing her to leave and drive visibly intoxicated. The organization declined to comment. For the full story, go to the Bucks County Courier Times .

EASTON -- A Bethlehem man who celebrated his sentence of probation for microwaving a cat by posting a message on his MySpace page was sent Friday to Northampton County Prison. For the full story, go to Lehigh Valley Live.com .

A Town of Ellicott man reported missing by his wife Wednesday was found on Saturday. 54-year-old Steven Gehret was last seen leaving a Jamestown Bank Wednesday afternoon. At that time, he called his wife and said he would see her later, but did not return home. Police say Gehret left on his own, and they will release more information on Monday.

Yes, we know the site's down. We're workin' on it. Thanks for your patience and understanding!

An Ohio man has been convicted of killing a Clarion University graduate and a retired Pennsylvania state trooper. It took a jury less than six hours to return a guilty verdict against 44-year-old Calvin Neyland, who shot his victims August 8, 2007, at a Liberty Transportation Company facility in Perrysburg Township, Ohio. Neyland killed 44-year-old Douglas Smith, who was the son of Douglas Smith Jr., a former vice president with Quaker State, and nurse Charlene Smith, who still live in the Oil City area. Neyland also killed 58-year-old Thomas Lazar of Belle Vernon, who was the corporate safety director for Liberty Transportation. Prosecutors say Neyland killed the two men after learning that he was going to be fired for repeated violations and for falsifying his driving log. For the full story, go to the Toledo Blade .

State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo is an "evil individual," and trying to leave his office was "like trying to leave the Mafia," his estranged son-in-law told a federal court jury yesterday during a second day of unrelenting cross-examination. For the full story, go to the Philadelphia Inquirer .

A North Harmony, New York, man is in jail after allegedly threatening to kill a woman with a chain saw. Chautauqua County Sheriff's Deputies say they responded to a domestic incident on Open Meadows Road at 3:20 this morning and found 39-year-old Rodney Austin and the woman he allegedly threatened to kill. She says the chain saw was running in the house when he made the alleged threat. Austin has been charged with menacing and reckless endangerment.

No, this is not the reminder about turning your clocks back. That'll come later. This reminder is about a holiday. Thanksgiving. For those of you who don't remember, Thanksgiving is the American holiday that come in between Halloween and Christmas. Some of you may be saying? "Huh? What's this reminder all about?" Well, as I was driving home at about 10:30 last night, the people who had their Halloween decorations up on Labor Day, were in the process of putting up their Christmas decorations. As I was driving to work this morning, I saw two more houses with Christmas lights on. I have no problem with putting up Christmas decorations in October or November. After all, you just don't know what the weather's going to be like later. But just because they're up, doesn't mean you have to light them. So, one more reminder: Thanksgiving. It's a great holiday. Let's not forget about it.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of fans showered the World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies with brotherly love and confetti on Friday, climbing trees and ladders, hanging out of windows and packing sidewalks, balconies and rooftops to honor the team that ended the city's 25-year title drought. Left fielder Pat Burrell led the confetti-filled parade, riding on a horse-drawn beer wagon and pumping his fists in the air. Next came eight flatbed trucks filled with waving players and other members of the Phillies organization, including the furry green Phanatic mascot. For the full story, go to pennlive.com .

The students at School Street Elementary concluded their Halloween festivities Friday with a pie-eating contest and a sense of pride and satisfaction from giving back to their community. For the second year, the fifth-graders brought in donations for a read-a-thon, and the entire student body voted in a “favorite baby picture” contest which featured all of the staff. All of the donations benefited three local organizations of the student service league’s choice, with the United Way receiving more than $1,000. “What an absolutely wonderful way to conclude the week,” says Mandi Wilton Davis, Assistant Director. “The pie-eating contest featured Principal Sarah Tingley, the three teachers who won the photo contest, as well as a student drawn at random, and it was a blast!” Although no person was chosen as winner of the pie-eating contest, fifth-grade teacher Keri Baldwin emphasized that the student body, as well as the organizations which received the donations, were the true winners...

Two Missouri men have been arrested for killing a black bear that had been feeding at a Dumpster outside the Ho-Sta-Geh Restaurant. State Department of Environmental Conservation officers found the men dragging the carcass out of a wooded area near the restaurant. 40-year-old Carl Brown and 65-year-old David Shimamoto were charged with a variety of offenses. Brown is free on bail Shimamoto was released on his own recognizance. They're scheduled to appear in Allegany Town Court on November 24.