Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

The Steelers say they have a new fan in the White House and the new president also has one of the team's most recent prized collectibles, a game ball from their victory in the AFC championship Sunday. For the full story, go to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette .

The Pennsylvania Senate convened briefly today. Senator John Wozniak, Democrat from Johnstown, Cambria County, talked about the swearing-in of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States, and his hope that the bipartisan spirit expressed in Obama's Inaugural Address can also be found in Harrisburg. Listen HERE . There's a message to Kimberly (and everyone else who went to Washington) in there, too.

Not to be outdone by BaRocky Road ice cream, Ben & Jerry's came up with its own flavor -- Yes Pecan .

Area residents on Saturday at the Bradford Area Public Library will read historical accounts detailing the devastation left behind by a blizzard in the Great Plains during the 19th century. Bradford Little Theater in conjunction with the One Book Bradford committee will host the theatrical show at 2 p.m. at the library located at 67 W. Washington Street. Although it is free and open to the public, donations are accepted. The presentation is based on passages from the One Book Bradford’s selection, David Laskin’s “The Children’s Blizzard,” as well as Ted Kooser’s book “Blizzard Voices.” “Both Kooser’s and Laskin’s pieces are emotionally packed and clearly bring to life the horror of blizzard and its effect on the people,” said director Cindy Matteson. “The audience, hopefully, can create a picture of the action from the selection of words and minor actions of the readers.” “The Children’s Blizzard” describes a group of pioneers on the Gre...

WASHINGTON, DC-U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released the following statement on the Inauguration of President Obama: “Today is a day for celebration, but tomorrow we have to get to work. “We have a new President and a new opportunity to bring the country together. “No matter what Party you belong to, there is now a common effort by all people to move our country forward. It is time to work to reduce the high costs of health care and energy, improve retirement security and increase prosperity for all Americans. President Obama has the wisdom and the leadership to move us forward. I look forward to working with President Obama on the great things to come.”

U.S. Representative Glenn "GT" Thompson, R-Howard, issued the following statement on the swearing in Barack H. Obama as the 44th President of the United States and Joseph R. Biden as the Vice President of the United States: "The swearing-in of a new Commander in Chief and the peaceful transition of power from one administration to the next, not only exemplifies the foundation of our democracy, it demonstrates to the American people and the world that while we may differ on certain policy, the Republic, and Office of the President of the United States, supersedes politics. “Today not only marks a step forward in our nation’s history, as we welcome our first African-American President, it also serves as a clear signal to young men and women across this great land, that while we face challenging tasks ahead; the American Dream is alive and well. "There is no doubt our nation is facing unprecedented and trying times as President Obama takes office. But in times of un...

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. – Tops Friendly Markets, the leading full-service grocery retailer in Western New York, Central New York, including Rochester, and Northwestern Pennsylvania, announced today that several varieties of health bars, including Cliff Bars, Luna Bars, ZonePerfect and NutriPals Nutrition Bars, Nature’s Path Organic Bars, and Health Valley Granola Bars have been added to the list of recalled products as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration continues to investigate a multi-state salmonella outbreak linked to peanut butter products. The removal of these products is a precautionary measure, and based on the current state of the investigation, the FDA recommends that consumers avoid eating products that have been recalled and discard them. A complete list of recalled items is available at www.topsmarkets.com under product recalls. Please refer to this list, as some manufacturers have recalled multiple UPCs or varieties. Tops will continue to update the list when/if new recalls...

President Barack Obama is making a couple of changes to the White House, and one of them will be installation of a basketball court/gym floor. Mark Pessia of The Carpet Store on East Washington Street told Bill O'Reilly this afternoon on "The Radio Factor" that he'd be willing to do that. O'Reilly told Pessia Obama would be "very smart to hire a guy like you, in Bradford, Pennsylvania, who's trying to make it, to install that floor." O'Reilly suggested that Pessia send a registered letter to Senior White House adviser David Axelrod telling him that he (Pessia) is a small businessman, trying his hardest and he'd like to put in that floor. He also suggested that Pessia's letter say "I'll donate my services to my country. So, how 'bout it?" O'Reilly said Pessia has a "one in 100 chance – but it's a chance." (Later, he said it's probably a one in 1,000 chance but "what does he have to lose?") ...

Senator Ted Kennedy collapsed at the presidential luncheon at the Capitol. He was taken out on a stretcher. Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia also became ill and had to be taken out of the luncheon.

The new administration didn't waste any time changing The White House Web Site . Cool changes, too, I might add.

Embedded video from CNN Video For more video, photos and stories, go to CNN.com .

Kimberly Weinberg of Pitt-Bradford's Marketing & Communications Department just sent us this picture from Washington: Thanks for thinking of us, Kimberly -- and have a good time! I'm still going to look for her on TV, though. Remember, WESB listeners can hear CNN's live coverage of Barack Obama's inauguration beginning at 11:30 a.m.

A museum in Philadelphia has received a "Big" musical gift. The 16-foot long walking piano from the 1988 Tom Hanks movie, "Big,", is now part of the collection of the Please Touch Museum – the children's museum of Philadelphia. The keyboard was built in Philadelphia by Remo Saraceni, whose company, Museum Interactive Technologies, is based in the city. The three-octave piano is a gift to the museum from Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Shein of suburban Merion, who bought it for their art collection shortly after the release of the movie.

The trial of a New York state man charged with shooting and killing his parents and a brother is ready to start in Towanda. Thirty-two-year-old Steven Colegrove, of Deposit, N.Y., has pleaded not guilty to three counts each of criminal homicide, first-degree murder, second-degree murder and third-degree murder. The bodies of 60-year-old Joseph Colegrove, 56-year-old Marlene Colegrove and 36-year-old Michael Colegrove were found in their home on August 8, 2007. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty, and say Colegrove killed the family members to collect an inheritance.

A Sandy Lake man is charged with cruelty to animals and two other charges after breaking into a Mercer County barn and having sex with a lamb. State police say 45-year-old James Alan Stiver went into the barn last Sunday night without permission and had sexual intercourse with the lamb. The lamb was seriously injured and had to be euthanized. Stiver is charged with one count each of sexual intercourse with an animal, cruelty to animals and criminal trespass. He's jailed on $5,000 bail.

By Matthew Roberts Keeping open the Reynolds Game Farm, a preserve where pheasants are bred to be released for hunting across the state, is a big win for outdoor sportsmen and rural New York, said Senator Catharine Young (R,I,C-Olean). Governor David Paterson had ordered the closure of the Department of Environmental Conservation-run facility near Ithaca last December, but reversed his position on Friday. "Gov. Paterson deserves kudos for changing his mind. This situation is a prime example of what you can accomplish when you raise your voice in protest and take on Albany," Sen. Young said. Upset sportsmen had been pressuring Gov. Paterson to drop his plan. "Hunters felt betrayed because funding for the facility, which costs $750,000 per year to operate, was coming from dedicated money from the Conservation Fund. Fees collected from hunting and fishing licenses, and excise taxes from firearm and ammunition purchases, are supposed to be dedicated to the Conservation Fund ...

“Today we celebrate the life and legacy of one of America’s greatest heroes, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Dr. King fought not just for the rights of African-Americans, but for the rights of all Americans. He recognized that a nation conceived in liberty and committed to justice could not stand as a beacon to the world if many of its people remained second-class citizens. Justice denied to some was justice denied to all. “When Barack Obama takes the oath of office to become the 44th President of the United States, we will witness another important step toward Dr. King’s dream of a post-racial America. This will undoubtedly be a moment of unity and triumph for our country, but even as we recognize that racism has been dealt a crushing blow, we know there is much more work to be done if we are to fully realize Dr. King’s dream. “Dr. King recognized what President-elect Obama has fittingly called “the fundamental truth that America is great not because it is perfect but because it can alwa...

The federal government plans to help restore the Corydon-Riverview Cemetery. The cemetery is on a bluff above the Allegheny Reservoir and is in danger of collapsing into the water because waves and fluctuating reservoir levels have eroded the sand and silt bank that protects it. The cemetery, which was moved from its original location during construction of the Kinzua Dam in the 1960s, contains the remains of relatives and descendants of Seneca Chief Cornplanter. Allegheny National Forest Supervisor Leanne Marten will meet with the cemetery committee next week to discuss plans to protect the cemetery.

Last year people were concerned about the emerald ash borer beetle. This year area maple producers are concerned about the Asian longhorn beetle, which targets maple forests. The New York State Maple Producers say an effort is underway to fund research into these pests and others. The money will come from a new two-cent assessment on the sale of every maple syrup container sold or produced for consumers. The beetle is currently within 100 miles of Western New York, which has prompted authorities to prohibit people from bringing firewood into campgrounds.

WESB's Week in Review for 1/12/09 to 1/17/09