Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Washington, DC – Workers rights and the preservation of the democratic process in the unionization process are fundamental rights that each American worker should enjoy without intimidation. The Secret Ballot Protection Act will preserve this longstanding principal. “As a former union member, and a staunch supporter of our democratic process, under no circumstance, could I support efforts to strip the American worker of their fundamental right to cast a ballot in secret,” said Thompson, a Member of the House Education and Labor Committee. “While organized labor played a significant role in getting this President elected and giving the Democrats control of Congress, it is a slap in the face to hard working Americans to advance an undemocratic agenda for political gain.” Thompson’s support of the Secret Ballot Protection Act is an effort to rebuke the Democratic leadership’s desire to bring up the misleading Employee Free Choice Act also known as Card Check. This legislation would strip...

Registrations are still being accepted for the Cattaraugus County Arts Council’s (CCAC) introductory pottery class which starts Thursday, March 12. The class will be led by potter Shawn McGuire, formerly of Syracuse, NY who specializes in wood-fired ware. The classes will be held at CCAC’s Community Art and Pottery Studio (CAPS), the area’s only fully equipped pottery studio complete with pottery wheels, a slab roller, clay, glazes, and all the tools needed to dig into the clay. A prolific self-taught potter, Sean was hired by Clayscapes Pottery of Syracuse in 2003, a new ceramic materials distributor and education center. McGuire commented, “Learning about materials, equipment and ceramic processes at Clayscape proved more valuable to me then any graduate program ever could. I had to be able to serve as a technical adviser to everyone from university professors and students to hobbyists who had never worked with clay before. I also served as the membership chairperson for the Syracu...

Legislation co-sponsored by State Representative Marty Causer would require drug testing for people on public assistance. Causer says anyone over the age of 18 and under 65 would be required to undergo drug testing and pass in order to receive public assistance. The bill would deny anyone who fails a drug test benefits for a period of 12 months. And, anyone who refused a drug test would automatically be denied benefits.

A Bradford teen has been charged in connection with last spring’s accident that claimed the lives of two Bradford High students. Court records indicate that 19 year-old Jeffery Caldwell is facing charges of DUI, racing on a highway, reckless endangering another person. 18-year-old Evan Yehl and 18-year-old Britt Bookhamer died when their car, which was traveling with Caldwell’s car, crashed into a tree on West Washington Street in Bradford Township. Police reports indicate that Caldwell’s car crashed after Yehl’s.

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Blackstone Business Enterprises Inc. of Jamestown, N.Y., for 18 alleged willful and serious violations of OSHA standards for failing to protect contract employees against asbestos hazards. The sheet metal and structural steel fabricator faces $273,000 in proposed fines for failing to provide required safeguards for temporary employees who were hired to remove asbestos-containing insulation from steam pipes at the company’s Blackstone Avenue plant. “The sizable fines proposed here reflect the fact that this company knew several of these critical safeguards were necessary yet chose not to provide them,” said Arthur Dube, OSHA’s area director in Buffalo. “Inhalation of asbestos fibers by workers may lead to lung disease and other disorders. That is why it is essential that effective protective measures be in place and in use whenever necessary. One means of identifying and preventing ...

The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia has confirmed Paul Kovalski's suspicions about his latest find — a 3-by-3-inch brown disc laying on the banks of Big Brook in New Jersey is in fact from a dinosaur. The Marlboro, New Jersey, dentist says the innocuous-looking find is likely a leg section from a duckbilled dinosaur called a hadrosaur. He discovered it in December a few miles inland from the central Jersey shore. Kovalski says the bone is a rare find in New Jersey even though the Big Brook area is billed as one of the top fossil-finding sites in the nation.

Thousands of troops from the Pennsylvania Army National Guard have resumed control of a large swath of Iraq north of Baghdad. Col. Marc Ferraro, commander of the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, said in a conference call today with reporters that the Iraqis have shown a willingness to work with the troops. But he also says the area remains dangerous. In the month since more than 4,000 troops from armories across Pennsylvania have arrived, one soldier has been killed and two have been seriously injured. Ferraro resumed control Tuesday of the mostly rural, 900-square-mile region, based in Taji, Iraq.

HARRISBURG - State Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk) will be hosting open house events at each of his two district office locations. "I am looking forward to meeting with constituents and officially introducing the offices we've established to serve their needs," Gabler said. "I have a great staff that is off to a terrific start, and I encourage folks in the district to stop by to meet them and discover more about the many legislative services we provide." Light refreshments will be served at both locations. The open house schedule is as follows: · St. Marys office- 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday, March 5th, 53 South St. Marys Street, Suite 2 (Corner of South St. Marys and Mill Streets). · DuBois office- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday, March 6th, DuBois Area Plaza, Suite 10, 1221 East DuBois Avenue. The services Gabler and his staff can provide include driver's license and vehicle registration applications and renewals, assistance with PennDOT pa...

HARRISBURG – According to official 2008 bear harvest figures released today by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, hunters took a total of 3,458 bears, which included 69 bears during the second archery bear season, Nov. 19-20; 2,951 bears during the statewide 3-day season, Nov. 24-26; and 438 bears during the extended season, Dec. 1-6, that was open in select areas of the state. This harvest ranks second among Pennsylvania’s annual bear harvests. In 2005, hunters set a record harvest of 4,164 bears. Other recent harvests were: 3,075 in 2000; 3,063 in 2001; 2,686 in 2002; 3,000 in 2003; 2,972 in 2004; 3,122 in 2006; and 2,360 in 2007. “This year’s harvest was what we had expected, as many areas had above-average bear populations,” said Mark Ternent, Game Commission bear biologist. “There were a few exceptions to this, like Clinton and Cameron counties in WMU 2G, where poor acorn crops contributed to a smaller harvest, but elsewhere across the state, harvest generally increased. “In W...

A Pittsburgh man charged with punching a school principal and her assistant after he tried to take his son from class will stand trial. Police say 40-year-old Taru Davis hit Annette Scott Piper in the face, then hit her assistant when she intervened on Feb. 16. Piper testified Tuesday that Davis punched her so hard that he knocked her to the ground. She says he continued punching her as she was on the ground. Davis' wife has said their son gets migraines and his father wanted to take him home because he wasn't feeling well. School officials say he didn't follow protocol. Davis was held for trial on charges of aggravated assault, trespassing and disorderly conduct.

Wilkes-Barre has a new law that lets city employees shut down rental properties that are deemed nuisances. The law lets city employees kick out tenants if there are three or more police reports at a property within six months. Landlords must pay any outstanding fines and get buildings inspected before anyone can move back in. Mayor Tom Leighton says neighbors were grateful after the first apartment house was shut down under the new law Monday.

The 11-year-old boy charged with killing his father's pregnant fiancée will be moved from a county jail to a juvenile facility. A court order issued today says it's in Jordan Brown's best interest to be housed in the Allencrest Juvenile Detention Center northwest of Pittsburgh. Brown is accused of shooting 26-year-old Kenzie Marie Houk in the head Friday and killing her and her unborn baby boy. The order says he will still be charged as an adult for now. Brown is being held at the Lawrence County Jail, in a cell isolated from the adult inmates. His attorney says he'll be transferred to the juvenile center in the morning.

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Several residents of Pleasant and School streets made it clear to Bradford City Council Tuesday night that they don't want another traffic pattern change. They were concerned about a misconception that a change would be necessary to complete the proposed Community Parks Trail. But Mayor Tom Riel, OECD Executive Director Sara Andrews and City Clerk John Peterson explained that the first meeting with the trails engineer was on Tuesday, so plans – let alone firm plans – have not been made yet. Andrews said they went over the proposed route of the trails, and Pleasant Street was never discussed as a route of the trail. She added that traffic studies and traffic counts will be done before any physical work begins on the trail. "Our goal is to improve the walking system in our community," Andrews said, adding that improving safety is an issue as well. Peterson added that the engineers have "identified problematic areas that they...

Two more members of the Operation Family Cookout methamphetamine ring have been sentenced. 30-year-old Bradley Hatcher was sentenced to five to 10 years in state prison on charges of possession of meth with intent to distribute. Hatcher pleaded guilty on January 7. 43-year-old Patricia Frey was ordered to serve nine to 18 months in the Erie County Prison for her role in the conspiracy. Frey is the wife of Ronald Frey, who led the distribution ring with his brother, James Frey. The state Attorney General's Office says the Freys operated the meth ring for more than a decade at their neighboring houses. James Frey is serving 5 to 20 years in prison. His brother is awaiting sentencing. Twenty-nine people were charged in the case.

A tractor-trailer driver for a Canadian company who crossed the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge on Saturday has not been seen since and is being considered a missing person. 50-year-old Virgil Henry had been scheduled to make several stops in Western New York and Massachusetts, but didn't show up, according to state trooper Becky Gibbons. The international alert was issued by Interpol in Ottawa and passed to the state police. Henry typically takes rural roads on his route, and there had been no problems with his driving in the past, according to police.

By Senator Jeffrey E. Piccola (R-15, Dauphin/York Counties) While post secondary education is not necessary to lead a successful and happy life, a college degree has become increasingly essential to helping achieve the American Dream. From earnings potential to retirement savings and an overall sense of community, higher education often yields significant rewards to the graduate and to society as a whole. However, families are facing painfully high tuition bills. Steps must be taken to address this growing and disturbing trend to aid students and their families and focus on the many challenges facing higher education today. That’s why I responded to a call from Governor Rendell challenging lawmakers, who do not support the details of his proposed Tuition Relief Act – a plan that would legalize and tax video poker machines in taverns, bars, and restaurants – to come up with an alternative to keep college affordable for families. Recently, I unveiled a real solution which sends the r...

Today was the final full squad workout at Pirate City and all players were off the fields by 1:00. Infielder Luis Cruz suffered a strained left hip flexor during the first hour of practice and is expected to miss up to a week of action. The Grapefruit League season opener is tomorrow - a 1:05 affair against the World Champion Phillies at McKechnie Field. Chris Bootcheck is expected to start for the Bucs against Philadelphia’s Jamie Moyer (LH)...A collection of nine relief pitchers are scheduled to pitch an inning apiece for the Pirates; after Bootcheck, we are scheduled to see Matt Capps, Donnie Veal, Romulo Sanchez, Ronald Uviedo, Juan Mateo, Craig Hansen, Evan Meek and Jesse Chavez. The first 2500 fans thru the gates Wednesday will receive a 2009 Spring Training Magnet Schedule, courtesy of Pepsi. Tomorrow will also mark the debut of new Bucco broadcaster Tim Neverett, who joined the Pirates on December 18...Wednesday’s game is the first of 22 from spring training that will be a...

The Bradford Ranger Station in Marshburg will be closed until late fall or early winter of this year, while crews evaluate the damage caused by the severe winter weather. Among the repairs that will be done are replacement of the heating and air conditioning systems and construction of a new roof. District Ranger Tony Scardina says the forest service is making every effort to get the work done and re-open the office as soon as possible. Employees were moved to the Warren office earlier this month. In the meantime, any questions regarding the availability of services, law enforcement needs, or general information requests should be directed to the Warren office at (814) 723-5150, or the Marienville Ranger District at (814) 927-6628.

United States Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan announced Monday that James A. Volpe, a resident of Brockport, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court in Johnstown to charges of violating various federal laws. Volpe, age 50, pleaded guilty to three counts before United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson. In connection with the guilty plea, Assistant United States Attorney John J. Valkovci, Jr., advised the court that on May 17, 2007, Volpe distributed anabolic steroids, and on the same date he mailed anabolic steroids that were misbranded as drugs that require a prescription from a practitioner licensed by law to administer. On September 12, 2007, Volpe, who had been convicted in 1981 in Orange County, New York, of possession of stolen property, unlawfully possessed a pistol and two rifles. Federal law prohibits persons who have been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year from possessing ammunition or firearms. Possession of stolen property is such a ...

Appeals officers for both chambers of the Pennsylvania Legislature said Tuesday the new Right-to-Know Law does not give the public the right to review correspondence between lawmakers and lobbyists. For the full story, go to pennlive.com .