Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

A Wilcox woman was hurt in an accident in Ridgway Township. State police say an SUV driven 70-year-old Donna Hansey was on Water Street Extension, about three-tenths of a mile east of Long Level Road, when it went off the road, back onto the road, off the road again and hit a ditch. The SUV then spun around and rolled over. Hansey was taken to Elk Regional Health Center for treatment of minor injuries and was cited for driving at an unsafe speed. Faxed from Ridgway-based state police

PA CleanWays of McKean County have secured a PA DEP Grant to operate a tire recycling program on August 1, 2009, from 8AM to Noon, at the Edmond Chevrolet Car Dealership on South Avenue in Bradford. There is still room for more tires to be accepted into the program. Residents must pre-register and pre-pay at the Penn State Extension Office in Smethport or by contacting Extension Educator, Jim Clark, at jac20@psu.edu . Emailed from Jim Clark Extension Educator Penn State Cooperative Extension Office, Cameron-McKean-Potter Unit

A history of the Bradford oil fields and how they have affected the wealth, attitudes and livelihood of the region will be presented at 7 p.m. July 29 at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. The presentation, which will take place in the Mukaiyama University Room in the Frame-Westerberg Commons, is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Hanley Library, the McKean County Historical Society and the Old Jail Museum. A team of researchers and storytellers from the Historical Society will provide an overview of the Bradford area oil fields and share stories and information about the industry’s past and present, booms and busts. The presentation is free and open to the public. Emailed from Pitt-Bradford

Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe has announced that agency is planning to webcast its public drawings for the 2009 elk hunting licenses and the 2009-10 bobcat season permits. To view the drawing, a special icon will be posted online on Sept. 11, the day of the public drawing, for people to click on and watch the drawing. “Each year, tens of thousands of individuals apply for an elk license or bobcat permit,” Roe said. “Unfortunately, not all of them can make it to the public drawings and we are unable – due to financial limitations – to send everyone who applied a letter to let them know whether they were drawn. “By webcasting the drawings, we hope to allow more people to view these events without having to travel.” Roe also noted that those who have submitted applications can check the status of their applications for the elk and bobcat drawings, as well as their antlerless deer license applications, thanks to the new Pennsylvania Automated License System ...

The Department of Environmental Protection is holding a meeting Tuesday in Erie so people can hear about, and comment on, a restoration plan for the Great Lakes. A proposed investment of $475 million for Great Lakes restoration projects is in the 2010 federal budget. “Lake Erie defines the identity and character of the Erie area, as well as being a major contributor to its economic vitality,” said DEP Chief of the Office of the Great Lakes Lori Boughton. “The financial commitment proposed in the 2010 federal budget will help communities solve the many environmental challenges that exist throughout the Great Lakes.” The $475 million Great Lakes Restoration Initiative proposed by President Obama puts EPA in charge of leading the effort that will target the most significant environmental problems in the Great Lakes basin. The meeting will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center, Room 112, 301 Peninsula Drive, Erie. From the PA DEP

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania must properly use federal recovery funding to continue its targeted investments in student achievement and to avoid local property tax increases, Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak said. How Pennsylvania spends its initial share of federal recovery funds will determine whether the commonwealth will be able to compete for $5 billion in “Race to the Top” funds announced today by President Obama, the secretary added. Zahorchak cautioned that a budget plan offered and approved by Senate Republicans would squander the opportunity to use stimulus funds to improve Pennsylvania’s schools and result in a $728 million hole in the state’s basic education subsidy when stimulus funds expire in two years. The Senate plan would set the stage for local tax hikes and school program cuts, ultimately putting Pennsylvania $1.2 billion behind the goals established in law last year as part of a six-year school funding formula. “President Obama and Congress intended for states...

HARRISBURG – Governor Ed Rendell has announced that more than 9,200 young people across the state are working this summer in jobs funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act — exceeding the original goal of 8,600. “Because of funding from the Recovery Act, this year we have more than four times the 2,205 youth who were able to participate last year,” Governor Rendell said. “Being able to help more than 9,200 young people secure jobs in the midst of a recession is a prime example of how our economic recovery efforts are working. We are getting the money out, putting people to work and providing them with work experience opportunities they wouldn’t have without this funding.” Governor Rendell was joined at the announcement by 20 Summer Youth Employment Program participants from the Harrisburg and York areas. The statewide program, funded by $34.5 million awarded to local workforce investment areas according to a federal formula, will provide job training and education services f...

Someone stole nearly $500 worth of property from the Oswayo Valley Apartments in Shinglehouse sometime between July 16 and 19. State police say someone got into the building's bottom floor common area and removed a wooden glider rocker with cushions; two tabletop lamps; and a 5-pound fire extinguisher. The value of the stolen items is about $475. Faxed from Coudersport-based state police.

Western New York is getting another $4 million of federal stimulus money for transportation-related projects. $1.4 million will go toward paving about 2 miles of Wildwood Avenue in Salamanca from Linwood Avenue to the city line. The Chautauqua County Children's Safety Education Village in North Harmony will receive $1.8 million to build a two-classroom building for traffic and personal safety instruction. The project will provide hands-on safety education for children from kindergarten through fourth grade. $200,000 will go toward installing signs for Bike Route 517 in Chautauqua, Erie and Niagara counties. Governor David Paterson says these, along with several other Western New York projects, are expected to create about 100 jobs. governor's web site

New York State is implementing a quarantine to prevent the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer, a beetle that destroys ash trees. The beetle has been found in Randolph, New York. About 30 trees have been damaged so far. The quarantine restricts the movement of ash trees, ash products and all firewood in Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal Plant Health Inspection Service will issue a parallel quarantine. Currently, federal EAB quarantine areas restricting the interstate movement of regulated articles are in 12 states, including Pennsylvania. News release from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Sgt. Ryan H. Lane, 25, of Pittsburgh, Pa., died July 23 of wounds suffered while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

From the Harrisburg Patriot-News "Saying he is emotionally, physically and spiritually spent, Chuck Ardo said he has made the decision to leave his job after seven years at the Capitol." To read the full story go here: Harrisburg Patriot-News

OLEAN, NY -- Entries are still being accepted for the Olean Gus Macker Basketball Tournament. The Olean High School Sports Boosters and the Olean City School District Foundation are calling for visitors, students and community members to sign up for the August 14-16 Gus Macker three-on-three basketball tournament. Entry deadline for teams interested in this year’s tournament are Friday, July 31 for applications that are submitted by mail AND for internet entries. To register on-line, go to www.macker.com or mail an application to Gus Macker Application, P.O. Box 70, Greenville, Mich. 48838. GOACC will be mailing many completed registration forms by the end of the day, Tuesday, July 28th. Include yours by the deadline with form and payment. No faxed application forms will be accepted. The entry fee must accompany the team application, and can be paid by check or credit card. The entry fee for four player teams is $124. The two groups anticipate having over 300 teams and 10,000 spe...

Veterans who have served active duty in the military since Sept. 11, 2001, may be able to attend the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford for free or greatly reduced cost thanks to the new Department of Veterans Affairs Post-9/11 GI Bill, which takes effect Aug. 1. “For those veterans who are eligible, it will allow them to come to Pitt-Bradford and have all their tuition and fees paid for plus a $1,000 book allowance and a generous housing allowance,” said James Baldwin, assistant dean of academic affairs and director of enrollment services. “They will not have to borrow money to finance their education.” Tim Lawson, for example, is an incoming freshman who served six years in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve, including two tours in Iraq finding and detonating improvised explosive devices. He can now attend Pitt-Bradford tuition free, working toward a degree in elementary education, using his housing stipend to cover his mortgage and utilities and a $1,000 annual...

Earlier this week, new traffic signals were installed at the intersection of East Main Street and Kendall Avenue.

A state trooper in Ridgway has been promoted to the rank of corporal. Dennis McFadden of Kersey was one of 47 members of the state police to be promoted to corporal today during ceremonies held at the State Police Academy in Hershey. McFadden has been with the state police since 1991 and will remain with Troop C in Ridgway. Also promoted today was Ronald Schupp of Mercer. He has been with the state police since 1990 and had previously been stationed with Troop C in Kane. Faxed from Pennsylvania State Police

Access to the Irwin Run Canoe Launch will be extremely limited the week of August 3 as work continues on the Irwin Run Bridge, so boaters are encouraged to use alternate launches. On August 3, the contractor will set the second half of the pre-cast, reinforced concrete bridge. This involves 12 wide loads carrying sections of the bridge traveling from Ridgway to the bridge site. This is scheduled to start at 6 a.m. and will continue until late evening. Flaggers will control traffic and motorists will be stopped as each section is unloaded. Delays may occur along routes 219, 948 and 3002. Traffic will be stopped on Route 3002 as each section arrives at the bridge site. All work is weather dependent. PennDOT expects the project to be finished in September. This work had been set to start on Wednesday, but is being changed because of scheduling conflicts. From PennDOT

I'm not commenting on this, I'm just sending you to GrassrootsPA.com .

A St. Marys man has been arrested for fleeing from police following an accident in which he was injured this morning. Police say 28-year-old Donald Cameroni committed traffic violations on the Hospital Curve area of Johnsonburg Road at about 2:15. He then allegedly fled the area on Route 255 when police tried to stop him. Cameroni's vehicle went out of control while it was traveling at a high rate of speed around a curve, and hit a tree. Cameroni was taken to Elk Regional Health Center, where he was treated and released. He was arraigned on charges of fleeing from law enforcement, DUI and summary traffic violations, then sent to jail pending further court action. Faxed from St. Marys City Police Department

By Joel Keefer Executive Assistant to Greg Edwards Dunkirk, NY: -- The familiar sights and sounds of the Chautauqua County Fair will soon be in the air, and County Executive Gregory J. Edwards is encouraging everyone to come out and take part in the 128th edition of the event. The Chautauqua County Fair runs July 27 to August 2 at the Dunkirk fairgrounds, and will feature great shows, rides and food. "I look forward to the County Fair each and every year," Edwards said. "Not only is it a great time to get out and have some fun, but it's also an opportunity for people to learn more about our agricultural community." Farming is a critical part of the County's economy, and Edwards has always made it a point to take part in the Annual 4-H Meat Animal Sale and visits the 4-H animal barns each year. In addition to all of the traditional aspects of the Chautauqua County Fair, Edwards said there will also be a strong County Government presence this year. "Growi...