Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

The state Legislature has finished passing the bills that make up the new $28 billion state budget. They wrapped up the budget work today, as both the Senate and House were in session. The final votes included a promise to work on a Marcellus Shale natural gas extraction tax and a fiscal office, as well as $600 million in capital projects borrowing. Governor Ed Rendell says he plans to sign the budget bills on Tuesday and Wednesday in the Harrisburg area and at other locations throughout the state.

Dennis W. Lowery, 65, of 25 School St., passed away Sunday, June 27th, 2010 in Gibsonia. Born January 20, 1945, in Rochester, NY, he was the son of the late William J. and Bernice B. (Butts) Lowery. On June 20, 1970 in Pittsburgh, he married Deborah Sainsbury, who survives. Mr. Lowery was a 1963 graduate of Bradford High School. He then was a member of the first class of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. He graduated from The University of Pittsburgh in Oakland in 1967 with a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Biology. Upon returning to Bradford, he worked at his family's business, Tuna Manufacturing, where he served ultimately as owner and President. In July of 1987, he joined Northwest Mutual Savings Bank, where he worked as Supervisor of Facilities and Properties. He was currently employed at Northwest Savings Bank as Vice President of Facilities and Properties. He was a member and former trustee of the First Presbyterian Church, a member and past president of the Bradf...

A couple who met while studying at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford in the early 1970s have established a scholarship to help students who can benefit, like they did, from the benefits of a smaller campus. John and Marie Seltzer’s gift of $5,000, matched by the Agnes L. and Lewis Lyle Thomas Scholarship Challenge, establishes the John W. and Marie R. Seltzer PBAA Fund, which will be a general fund to benefit any worthy student. John Seltzer studied at Pitt-Bradford from 1972 to 1974, and went on to graduate from the Pittsburgh campus. “Marie and I met there, and that’s sort of special to us,” he said. “Had I not gone to Pitt-Bradford, I don’t think I would have survived at Pitt. I wasn’t cut out for a large school. When I look back on my college years, most of my memories are of my years at Pitt-Bradford.” It was no surprise that they met at Pitt-Bradford. They could hardly not have met, as small as the school was in those days. The entire campus consisted of the townhouses whe...

The remains of a Tyrone man missing in action since his cargo plane went down in Burma during World War II have been identified. Clarence Frantz was 24-years-old when his C-47A Skytrain left India on May 23, 1944, to resupply Allied forces near Myitkyina, Burma. Frantz and the six other airmen will be buried with full military honors July 15 at Arlington National Cemetery. Back in 1996, the Defense Department identified Staff Sergeant Anthony "Bib" DeLucia of Bradford, who died in August of 1944 when his B-24 Liberator crashed into a mountainside in South China. http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=13674

A Cattaraugus man is facing charges after he crashed his pickup truck in New Albion early this morning. Sheriff’s deputies say 31-year-old Bret Frantz wrecked the pickup in a ditch at the intersection of Mayo and Chautauqua roads at 12:49 a.m. He was charged with driving while intoxicated and moving from a lane unsafely. He was released on his own recognizance.

A Coudersport woman was hurt in an accident at 10:10 Friday morning in Roulette Township. State police say 21-year-old Krystal Crum was rounding a sharp curve on Back Road when she came across wood debris in the road. When she steered to miss the debris, her car went off the road, hit an embankment and a large rock. Crum was taken to Charles Cole Memorial Hospital by private vehicle for treatment of back pain. No charges will be filed.

During Friday's session, Senator Dave Argall commented on the passage of Senate Bill 900, which would hold property owners accountable for the costs to secure, remediate or demolish blighted structures. Watch the video here .

A 17-year-old boy was taken by Mercyflight to ECMC in Buffalo after an accident early this morning on Seaward Avenue, just north of Tuna Crossroads. In a fax sent to WESB and The HERO, Foster Township Police say at 2:20 a.m. the vehicle driven by the 17-year-old crossed the road, went into the yard of 644 Seaward, hit a mailbox then traveled into the yard at 630 Seaward, where it hit a tree and a parked vehicle. The driver was thrown from the vehicle. Passenger 18-year-old Joshua Harris was treated at the scene and released to the custody of his grandmother. Passenger 48-year-old Larry Elliott was taken by ambulance to BRMC. The investigation is continuing.

John Schneider, probably best known for playing "Bo Duke" on The Dukes of Hazzard , will be performing during the annual "A Capitol Fourth" on PBS. I had the pleasure of speaking with him this morning about the show. You can listen here . Fore more information about "A Capitol Fourth," go here .

Two people were hurt in an accident at 7:20 Thursday night on Route 49 in Potter County. Police say a car driven by 31-year-old Tonya Crosson of Coudersport drifting off the road, went out of control, slid across the road, hit an embankment and turned over. Crosson and her male juvenile passenger were not wearing seatbelts and suffered minor injuries. The car had to be towed from the scene. Police say Crosson will be cited for driving at an unsafe speed.

A Jamestown couple is facing charges after their children were found locked in a room in squalid conditions Thursday afternoon. Police say the 1-year-old, 2-year-old and 4-year-old were found in a room with feces, food and dirty clothes scattered over the floor. They say the room was padlocked on the outside and they could smell marijuana in the apartment. Officers also found marijuana paraphernalia and residue. Chautauqua County probation officers were conducting a visit at apartment 21-year-old Amanda Jackson when they discovered the children. Jackson and 40-year-old Joseph Tucker are the parents. Police say there also was a large hole in the floor that children could step into, and an electrical breaker box with wires exposed that were within reach of the children. Tucker was charged with three counts of endangering the welfare of a child and felony criminal contempt for violating the two orders of protection. Jackson was charged with four counts of endangering the welfare of a chi...

HARRISBURG - State Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren/Forest/McKean) this week voted against a state budget that increases state spending to $28.04 billion and uses $850 million in federal money that has not been approved to balance the budget. "Although I am pleased we have been able to get a budget passed in a timely manner, this spending plan is unrealistic and irresponsible," said Rapp. "Not only are we spending $28 billion when revenue has only netted the state around $25 billion, but we are also relying on $850 million from the federal government that has yet to be approved - and is looking less likely that it will be the longer time goes by." The $850 million is stimulus money from the Federal Medical Assistance Percentages that Congress must approve. The $28.04 billion state budget for 2010-11 represents an increase of $207.2 million over last year and is funded with a combination of state dollars, stimulus funds (which expire next year) and several other state funds...

The Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce announces its 3rd annual Summer Soiree to be held July 21st from 5-7:30pm at Heritage Suites, 139 Minard Run Road. The Summer Soiree is an adult networking event, open to the public, which will include refreshments by Bradford City Beers and Tortugas Restaurant, hearty hors d’oeuvres by Andy Mascioni Catering, and live music by Take 3. Heritage Suites will offer tours during the event. This event is an opportunity to socialize and network in a fun, casual atmosphere. There will be door prizes and the drawing for the 200 Club raffle will be held at 6:30pm. There is a nominal admission fee of $10 per person. One FREE admission is included with the purchase of a 200 Club ticket. This popular 50/50 raffle only has 200 tickets with 27 prizes ranging from $100 up to $1000. Part of the proceeds from this fundraiser benefit BACC community outreach programs such as community holiday lighting displays. Contact the Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce for your l...

– PennDOT issues the following travel update for the Route 219/Bradford Bypass project in McKean County. This update is for the week of July 5. All work is weather and schedule dependent. Glenn O. Hawbaker, Inc. of State College is the contractor on this $28 million job. · No work will be performed Monday, July 5 in observance of the Independence Day holiday. · Work on the Route 219 southbound ON-ramp at Elm Street continues. Traffic is using the existing shoulder. Contractor crew will be working close to the roadway, placing concrete for a new barrier wall. Expect delays during work hours. · Northbound traffic is sharing a lane with southbound traffic, separated by temporary concrete barrier from Mill Street to north of Hillside Drive. · Contractor will continue to truck materials for sub-base and paving operations and will be pulling into the closed “dead lane” from the northbound “live lane”. Traffic may be slow moving on Route 219 as this work takes place. · Northbound ramps at ...

State police are continuing to search for a Titusville man who has been missing since Saturday. 76-year-old Charles Speer was last seen at Presque Isle Downs & Casino in Erie at about 6 p.m. on June 26. Speer suffers from dementia. Police say he drove away in a 1998 burgundy Nissan Maxima with the Pennsylvania license plate GFA9486.

The State Senate did not approve a budget plan during Thursday's brief meeting. Republican lawmakers, including Senator Cathy Young, say it's outrageous the budget is three months overdue. "In one of the most irresponsible and shameful moves ever seen in Albany, the New York City-controlled tax and spend Senators have decided to adjourn rather than finishing the state budget," Young said in a statement e-mailed to WESB and The HERO. "They have added billions of dollars in new spending, yet they are skipping town without paying the bill." "When Upstate Senators questioned them about why they were not bringing up the rest of their budget, they refused to answer, and instead ruled Senators out of order," she said. "The law requires the budget to be passed by April 1 and the Senate should stay in Albany until it's done. I'm going to continue to fight against their out-of-control taxes and spending. We must turn around the economy so that ...

A man is facing charges for allegedly threatening an employee while robbing the Rite Aid Pharmacy in Wellsville Thursday. In a news release, police say 29-year-old Aaron Heale grabbed an employee at just before 1 o’clock in the afternoon, said he had a weapon and demanded drugs. They say based on excellent information provided by witnesses, they were able to find Heale in Wellsville at about 2:45 p.m. He’s charged with robbery and petit larceny.

The McKean/Potter Counties American Red Cross held its annual meeting on June 30, 2010 at the Sawyer Evangelical Church’s pavilion in Bradford. The primary purpose of the meeting was to thank Red Cross volunteers and donors. Volunteer program awards were presented by executive director Jason Bange and human resources chairperson Melissa Ibanez to Marion Lineman for Blood Services; Ray Austin for Community Services; Jennifer Stambaugh for Emergency Services; and Sam Cummings for Financial Development. Outgoing board members were honored while incoming board members were welcomed. Outgoing board members include Melissa Ibanez, HR Chair, Jane Bell, Secretary; Staci Frantz, Treasurer; and Stacy Sorokes Wallace, Chairperson. New board members are Danielle Delong, Mike Montecalvo, Erika Seagren, and Jon Bradish. Incoming officers are: Thomas Schultz, Secretary; Cliff Wood, Finance Chairperson; Sam Cummings, Vice-Chairperson, and Ryan Dach, Chairperson. Bange commented, “Our former le...

The man accused of killing a woman and her infant daughter in March has pleaded not guilty. Waide Nolf was formally arraigned by Judge John Pavlock in McKean County Court on Thursday. He’s accused of drowning Tanya and Tamara Haight in a house they shared with several other people on Pleasant Street. McKean County District Attorney Ray Learn is seeking the death penalty.

A Missouri man is accused of trying to smuggle five pounds of marijuana into the Rainbow Family gathering near Hearts Content in the Allegheny National Forest. The US Forest Service says 37-year-old Bruce Runion Jr. was arrested Tuesday after a joint investigation they conducted with the Warren County Drug Task Force. Runion is charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal conspiracy and 11 counts of criminal use of a communications facility, for using UPS to ship the pot from California.