Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

By Sandra Rhodes Visitor & Member Services Allegheny National Forest Vacation Bureau If you see Italian tourists later this year, it’s thanks to some press coverage in qui Touring, Stati Uniti 2009, an Italian magazine. The Allegheny National Forest Vacation Bureau conducted a FAM (familiarization tour) traveling with the Italian writer and photographer throughout McKean County. Many local businesses and residents assisted with hosting the group. In a courtesy copy of the magazine received by the bureau earlier this month, an entire section devoted to Pennsylvania features some items closer to home for McKean Countians. The 10-page spread on Pennsylvania includes a sidebar on the Allegheny National Forest. Bradford and the Allegheny National Forest are two of the eight destinations featured on the map of Pennsylvania. One of the photos in the spread is a train going over the Kinzua Viaduct before its collapse in 2003. The text reads that after leaving Niagara Falls, one should head...

This is one of my favorite Stupid Pet Tricks of all time. I think it's because Bailey reminds me of my dog, Beebe. Beebe

Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers are offering a reward for information relating to the disappearance of Michelle Benjamin of St. Marys. The 36 year-old Benjamin disappeared in June of 2007 and hasn’t been seen since. Investigators believe there are suspicious circumstances surrounding her disappearance. Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers number is 1-800-4PA-TIPS.

Jamestown Police Department responded to the Best Western Hotel for a report of a window being smashed out. After speaking with the manager of the hotel, officers learned that the hotel received a phone call from a male stating that he was cut off from his phone call with a male customer in room 210. Hotel staff did transfer the phone call from the unknown male to the room. When the customer in the room answered the room's phone, he was advised by the unknown male that he was a member of HAZMAT and that the fire department and HAZMAT were in the hotel lobby with a major gas/carbon monoxide leak. At that time, the male customer was told to smash out a window to avoid injury or death. The male customer believing he was in danger did so, damaging the window. The male customer was not charged with the damages. The Jamestown Police Department is advising the public and businesses to be aware of this type of scam, and to contact the Jamestown Police Department should they receive any suc...

Thanks to our friend Chuck Pollock at the Olean Times Herald for the mention of Frank and Stefan in his column. The column also talks about the amazing St. Bonaventure women's basketball team and TO.

A Chester County man admitted in court that he slapped his 14-year-old son in the face, put soap in his mouth and duct-taped it closed. Following the incident on November 19, 2008, the boy went to school and a teacher noticed bruises to his neck, a lump on his temple and bloody lips. The Department of Children Youth and Families was called. The father was sentenced to two years' probation, and must attend an anger management course, submit to drug and alcohol evaluation and follow all recommendations, and have no contact with his son, who has gone to live with another relative. For the full story, visit Chester County's Daily Local News

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s improvisational comedy club, the Pitt Improvers, will perform a family-friendly show at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 16, in the Bromeley Family Theater in Blaisdell Hall. The show will also serve as a fundraiser for The Friendship Table. Tickets will be available at the door and are $5 for adults and $2 for students. Pitt-Bradford students are free with a student ID. Kristin Asinger, visiting instructor of sports medicine, and her husband, Tim, are advisers for the group of 16 students. This is the Improvers first year on campus, and the group has been well received. Recent performances have drawn about 100 students and community members, and the group performed as part of the 2008 Kiwanis Kapers. During the performances, members of the cast play a variety of improv games and perform them based on suggestions given by the audience. It was the group’s performance as part of Kapers that made members thin...

A Buffalo man suffered minor injuries when his tractor-trailer slid on Route 219 just north of Old Kane Road in Elk County. Police say Larmark Zachery Sr. was driving the rig south when it slid, hit an embankment, went across the road and hit the guardrails. When it stopped, the vehicle was blocking both lanes of Route 219. The accident happened at just after 7 o'clock this morning.

Two women will be charged with harassment for getting into a fight at 9 o'clock this morning at a house in Wetmore Township. 29-year-old Vanessa Fiscus of Kane and 31-year-old Mandy Reynolds of James City were engaging in a verbal argument that turned physical when they grabbed each other's hair and starting pushing each other, according to police. Fiscus also allegedly scratched Reynolds. Neither woman needed medical treatment.

An inmate at a Pennsylvania state prison is suing police over the injuries he got during his burglary arrest. 39-year-old Tan Van Tran says he was mauled by a police dog on March 22, 2008, and left with permanent injuries, causing him to drop things inadvertently. He says police used excessive force and the officers weren't trained adequately. The case has been forwarded to the borough of Wilson's insurance company. For more on this story, go to the Allentown Morning Call .

The United Way of the Bradford Area will honor the contributions and support of Mr. and Mrs. Bob and Mary Galey, as well as that of the associates of Tops Friendly Market, with the 2009 Red Feather Volunteer Recognition Award. For their part, Bob and Mary Galey mirror the purpose of the annual recognition award, says United Way Executive Director Kris Luther. “Their roles and responsibilities (with regard to the annual fundraising efforts) have varied,” says Luther, “but their personal mission has remained consistent; making the Bradford community a better place.” Bob Galey’s participation with the organization began in 1945 as an employee of Zippo Manufacturing Company. He was an eventual chairperson of the appeal in 1973, and also served as Board President. He played an integral role in developing the “fair share” and payroll deduction programs locally, and returned as co-chair of the appeal with his wife in 2007. Mary Galey as remained a supporter of the United Way for many y...

Nearly 3,000 jobs will be created by the expansion and completion of Route 219, according to a study released today. Dr. Shailendra Gajanan's study estimates that more than 1,700 new jobs will be added in Erie and Cattaraugus counties in New York, and in McKean, Clearfield and Jefferson counties in Pennsylvania related to construction. An estimated 1,200 additional new jobs will be created due to direct or indirect effects of the expansion. "In recent years, there has been a growing interest to study the economic impact of trade corridors," Gajanan said. "Several groups in North America, Latin America and Europe have started focusing on the positive spillover effects of expanding corridors and realizing the importance of funding for corridors development." The study also suggests that, over 20 years, the completion of Continental 1 (Route 219) will increase the Gross Regional Product in Pennsylvania and New York by $200 million, with most of the impact in Erie, ...

A study has found that water in Lake Erie along Presque Isle State Park is cleaner than expected. Mercyhurst College researchers say fewer than 10 percent of the samples they took from the water contained a substance that causes swimmers to develop gastrointestinal illnesses. Researchers expected to find most water samples full of the toxin because of high levels of E. coli found in the water in recent years.

Olean Common Council has voted to defeat a $24 million budget proposal. Mayor David Carucci requested the special meeting, but didn't attend. City Auditor Janet Jones didn't attend the meeting either. Alderman Earl McElfresh said the absence of Carucci and Jones was enough of a reason to cast a "no" vote. He said he has 13 questions about the revised budget proposal that the mayor handed out on Friday.

A Clarion County man has been sentenced to five years and three months in federal prison for having the makings of six pipe bombs and two illegal guns when police went to his home to investigate alleged threats against a state trooper. 59-year Dana McCall of Ashland Township avoided a longer sentence when a federal judge rejected prosecutors' arguments that the weapons were going to be used against the trooper or his family. McCall also faces charges of terroristic threats for allegedly threatening Trooper James Weaver and his family. Weaver had cited McCall for criminal mischief in a 2006 property damage case. McCall was found guilty and fined $275. Authorities believe McCall targeted the trooper because of that case.

Steve Feldman tells us Monday's informational meeting for this year's Bradford All-American Soap Box Derby was well-attended and went well, too. There's still room for more drivers, though. (The more the merrier!) The derby is open to boys and girls ages 8 to 17. For more information, you can call Steve at (814)368-2695. Volunteers are always welcome, too. The Bradford All-American Soap Box Derby is sponsored by Mastercraft and 100.1 The HERO.

Last year our 20th annual Wedding Belles contest helped pump $1 million into the local economy. This year -- halfway through the contest -- the total is $616,000. Wow! Great job, brides. Congratulations, sponsors. Thanks to all the people spending the money! Keep up the good work. For more information about the Wedding Belles Contest, and to see pictures of the brides (if you haven't seen them yet), go HERE .

Punxsutawney Phil has escaped from his den at the Punxsutawney Library three times over the past two weeks. The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club says Phil climbed into the library's ceiling. The most recent escape was last Sunday. The groundhog has been caught and returned to his den all three times.

The Bradford Township Volunteer Fire Department held its 27th Annual Awards Banquet Saturday evening at the Interstate Parkway Fire Station. More than 80 firefighters and guests attended the event. Sara Andrews received the special service award for 18 years of service with the Bingo Committee. For the full story, and photos, go to the BTVD Web site .

A former guard at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh who slashed a $1.2 million painting because he didn't like it has been sentenced to house arrest for up to 23 months and ordered to pay $245,000. Twenty-eight-year-old Timur Serebrykov must also perform 500 hours of community service and will be on probation for four years. The painting – "Night Sky 2" by Latvian artist Vija Celmins – is now worth $240,000 less because of the damage.