Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Midway Park near Bemus Point, New York, is now on the National Register of Historic Places. The park was nominated by property owners, municipalities and organizations throughout the state. Midway Park was already on the state registry and is now eligible for matching state grants and federal historic rehabilitation tax credits.

State Attorney General Tom Corbett is objecting to a newspaper publisher's plans to pay its top executives up to $1.7 million in bonuses although the company has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Corbett's court filing says the bonuses amount to an employee retention plan, which is prohibited under federal bankruptcy law. Journal Register Company is based in Yardley, Pa., and owns the New Haven Register in Connecticut and dozens of other newspapers in several states. The company filed for bankruptcy protection in February.

Longtime Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas, who punctuated innumerable home runs with his "Outta here!" call, died Monday after being found passed out in the broadcast booth before a game against the Washington Nationals. He was 73. "We lost our voice today," team president David Montgomery said, his voice cracking. "He has loved our game and made just a tremendous contribution to our sport and certainly to our organization." Kalas, who turned 73 on March 26, has broadcast Phillies games since 1971. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002 as the recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award. Goveror Rendell's statement: “I am shocked and saddened by Harry’s untimely and unexpected passing. He was a Philadelphia institution who made the game for countless fans. The entire professional baseball family is the less with his loss, and I offer my sincere condolences to the Kalas family.” Senator Specter's statement: "As the voice o...

By George Nianiatus, senior writer Communications Department A $12,000 GlideScope specially designed to enable easier intubation in patients with difficult airway conditions was purchased for Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC) by Bradford Hospital Auxiliary. The GlideScope, manufactured by Verathon Medical, is designed for first-pass success to give healthcare providers a clear view of the patient’s airway. This enables quick intubation, which involves inserting a tube through the mouth or the nose and into a patient's lungs to help them breathe. “This is the most up-to-date medical equipment available for use on difficult airways,” says Robert Landfried, D.O., F.A.O.C.A., chairman of BRMC’s Department of Anesthesiology/Pain Management. “The GlideScope is best used on patients with airway trauma from vehicle accidents, injuries to the face or those with facial abnormalities.” Dr. Landfried already has experienced how well the GlideScope performs. “It definitely makes a big dif...

Sheriff's deputies are investigating another fatal accident in Chautauqua County. Sunday night, a woman died after her vehicle crashed into a tree near the intersection of Route 426 and Shadyside Road in the Town of Mina. She was taken to Hamot Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. The victim has been identified as 52-year-old Donna Strobl of Findley Lake, N.Y. The woman is the seventh person who died as a result of a vehicle accident this year in Chautauqua County. Another person died in late December.

An Alfred, New York, teenager is dead after an accident Friday in Allegany County. 17-year-old Emily Timbrook, a junior at Alfred-Almond High School, was a passenger in a vehicle driven by 17-year-old Ethan Mix of Almond. The vehicle was hit by a pickup truck driven by 20-year-old Patrick Mohr of Limestone. Mix, Mohr and Timbrook were transported to St. James Mercy Hospital in Hornell. Mohr was admitted with a leg injury. Mix was treated and released. Timbrook was taken by MercyFlight to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, where she was pronounced dead. No one has been charged.

Two young cousins were hurt in an ATV accident Sunday afternoon in Forestville. Sheriff's Deputies say an 8-year-old was operating the ATV on her family's property when she stopped so her 4-year-old cousin could get off the vehicle. But, the throttle was pushed, causing the ATV to lurch forward and catch the 4-year-old's leg on the machine. The ATV went a short distance before hitting a tree. The 4-year-old was flown to Women and Children's Hospital in Buffalo. The 8-year-old was taken to Lake Shore Hospital in Irving for treatment of an upper arm injury.

Pennsylvania Zane Zelehoski, Johnsonburg High School 5’9” 185lbs. Running Back, Linebacker Zane plans on attending a four year university majoring in Pre-Med to earn my bachelors degree, and to then attend a grad school to become a Physical Therapist. Zane’s honors include; PIAA District IX 100 Meter Champion, Kane Invitational 100 Meter Champion, Elk County Invitational 100, 200, 4X100 Meter Champion, 2 time AML All-Star Running Back, Beast of the Northeast Middleweight Champion, Member of the National Honor Society. Zane said, “I want to play in the Big 30 Game to have the opportunity to play one last high school football game. High school football was the most memorable time of my life, and to play one more game would mean the world to me.” Zane continued in regards to his biggest thrill, “My biggest thrill was every single hit that I made and took because ever since I was little I loved contact and confrontation.” Mark Beckwith, Otto-Eldred High School 5’9” 170lbs. Tig...

The March of Dimes annual walking event, March for Babies, is this coming Sunday, April 19 at Callahan Park in Bradford. Registration begins at 11 a.m. with team photos taken until the Duck Race. The Duck Race is at 12:30 p.m., with winners announced after the walk. A DJ, along with children's activities and live remote by WESB/WRRB will take place before and after the walk to Pitt-Bradford and back. Lunch, hot dogs, chips and water, will be offered walkers when they return to the pavilion. We ask all team captain's to please turn in their donation envelopes on Friday, April 17 at National City Bank, 71 Main St., Bradford. If this is not possible, envelopes will be collected at the field but, it will be easier for the bank volunteers plus you won't have to stand in line if you do it on Friday. See you at Callahan Park, 11 a.m. April 19 for lots of fun in support of the March of Dimes efforts to make every baby be born full-term and healthy!

Week in Review 4/5 to 4/11

St. Bernard's Church

Crews demolished the apartment building at 42 Elm/85 Congress Street Saturday morning after a fire destroyed it Friday morning. The fire has been ruled accidental. No one was hurt, but three families were left homeless. The Red Cross is assisting them.

Bradford City Firefighter Butch Kreiner (above) corrals some kids who are overly eager Easter egg hunters and just waiting for the siren to blow to start the hunt. This was the Firefighters' Local 655 41st Annual Easter Egg Hunt. It was held at Callahan Park. This is the 2- to 4-year-old age group. They also had groups for 5 to 7 year olds and 8 to 10 year olds. The videos aren't very long, but you get the idea:

From the US Forest Service: Rock Snot – spreading terror in streams. Do your part – keep ‘rock snot’ out! OK – just what is rock snot? The scientific name is Didymosphenia geminate, more commonly called ‘Didymo’. Rock snot is a diatom, which is a one-celled freshwater algae (plant) with siliceous (quartz or glass-like) cell walls. The cells are microscopic. The danger of rock snot is that the algae blooms in the summer and forms a mat across the entire stream that can be as much as eight inches thick, and many miles long. This mat literally suffocates aquatic insects and the stream bottom. It ruins the visual appearance of a stream because rock snot looks like toilet paper streaming in the flow. Unlike other algae, rock snot is not slippery; it has the consistency of wet cotton. Throw your line in the stream and try and reel back a t-shirt… rock snot ruins angling opportunities. Once rock snot invades a stream there are no techniques to remove it. Where did rock snot come fr...

The Mount Jewett Charter Coalition recently held a "DeSio's Famous Chicken Parmigiana Dinner" fundraiser for the proposed Charter School. The group sold and served 241 dinners Mount Jewett FireHall. Approximately $2,600 was raised during this fundraiser. This money will be used for upcoming legal fees associated with the Charter Appeals Hearing in Harrisburg and for a PA Charter Coalition of Charter Schools Conference that members of the MJ Charter Coalition will be attending that is being held in Philadelphia this month. The Charter School supporters turned out in large numbers to support the MJ Coalition's efforts to put a Charter School in Mount Jewett. People from as far as Ludlow, Kane, Bradford, Corry, Olean, St. Marys and Smethport attended the dinner. Photo provided by the Mount Jewett Charter School Coalition

By Jerry Feaser PA Game Commission HARRISBURG – This year marks the 41st anniversary of the Keystone State’s spring gobbler hunting season, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission is reporting turkey hunters should expect to find exciting opportunities afield as they head out for both the youth and traditional spring season openers. The state’s one-day youth spring gobbler season is April 18; the general spring gobbler season is April 25 to May 25. Hunters who have purchased a second spring gobbler season license may harvest up to two bearded turkeys. “For the springs of four decades, wild turkey hunters have had a chance to match wits with gobblers in the fields and forests of Pennsylvania, and to say they have taken a shine to this special season would be an understatement,” explained Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. “Although the season was somewhat controversial when proposed, and we started it conservatively to ensure the resource could handle it, today it is one of ...

Starting this weekend, Pastor Mike McAvoy will teach a four week series entitled "Stimulus - God's Bailout Plan For Your Life". "With all the talk about a bail out plan for the American Economy, I thought Easter a great time to kick off a series about God's bail out plan for our life," said McAvoy. McAvoy said that the Christian faith is about something more than just sitting in a church on the weekend, "God has a lot to say about stimulating our lives to go from nominal to great, ordinary to extraordinary." McAvoy said, that unlike the recently publicized bailout plans geared toward large corporations, God's plan is for everyday people."We all find ourselves facing difficult circumstances throughout our lives and it's good news that God has provided a bailout/stimulus to help us out. We don't have to try to do this thing called life on our own by our own means." The four week series starts this Easter weekend, during the regu...

The Allegheny National Forest (NF) announced today that it will be hosting three public meetings to discuss the oil and gas program and a recently filed settlement that will have a direct effect on future development within the Forest. Meetings are scheduled for: 1. Monday, April 13th, 7:00 p.m., Warren Holiday Inn (Main Ballroom), Ludlow St. in Warren; 2. Tuesday, April 14th, 7:00 p.m., Frame-Westerberg Commons (University Room) at University of Pittsburgh in Bradford 3. Wednesday, April 15th, 7:00 p.m., Clarion Holiday Inn at the junction of State Route 68 and Interstate-80 (exit 62). As Forest Supervisor Marten expressed, “Although this is short notice regarding these meetings, the public deserves to know as soon as possible how we are planning to move forward.” On April 9th, 2009, the United States Forest Service, Allegheny Defense Project, Sierra Club and Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics filed a stipulation of dismissal of the pending lawsuit, along with a settl...

Kane Area School District facilities manager John Rook said the school used to pay between $105,000 to $125,000 annually in natural gas heating costs. With the biomass system, those heating costs have been reduced to $40,000 annually. For the full story, go to the Courier-Express .

The McKean County Planning Commission is planning a feasibility study on the possible conversion of the Knox and Kane Railroad right-of-way to a trail system. McKean County is working with Elk, Forest and Clarion counties on the proposal to create a 69.9-mile trail from Kinzua Bridge State Park to Knox in Clarion County. A state grant would pay half the cost of the study, which has an estimated price tag of about $69,000. If the grant application is approved, the study would start early next year and be finished by spring of 2011. County planning director Debbie Lunden would also like the study to address a proposal for retaining the railroad tracks for a possible new tourist train operation from Kane to Kinzua Bridge State Park.