Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

SMETHPORT – The McKean County Emergency Management Agency and the McKean County Planning Commission, together with Michael Baker Jr., Inc. have begun updating the McKean County All-Hazards Mitigation Plan. The updated Hazard Mitigation Plan will be the blueprint for further reducing property damage and saving lives from the effects of future natural and man-made disasters within the County. This update is also required in order for all jurisdictions within the County to be eligible to receive certain types of state and federal funding both before and after a disaster occurs. Municipal officials must attend meetings and actively participate in the planning process by providing valuable local information in order to be covered by the Hazard Mitigation Plan. The County is pleased to announce that the hazard mitigation planning process will have a dedicated website that can be accessed at http://www.McKeanHMP.com . This website, which will be updated throughout the planning process, featur...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Pat Toomey (R-Penn.) released the following statement today on his swearing in as a member of the 112th Congress: “It is truly an honor to be sworn in today to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. I am thankful for and humbled by the tremendous support I received from people all across Pennsylvania, from my family, and from my staff. There is much challenging work before us, but with hard work and a commitment to the principles of fiscal responsibility, I am optimistic that we can make real and constructive progress for Pennsylvania and our country." Pictured, Toomey is sworn in by Vice President Joe Biden. Toomey's wife, Kris, holds the Bible. Coutesy of Toomey's office

A photo of the Kinzua Viaduct taken while it was still intact won first place in the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau’s Fall Photo Contest. The winning photo, taken by Nancy Pascarella of Bradford, shows a side view of the Viaduct with blazing orange foliage surrounding it. Mike Black, also of Bradford, received second place for a photo taken of a railroad in the Hutchins area. The third place winner was Linda Milliron of Eldred for a photo of “Charlie’s Pond” in the area of Moody Hollow Road in Coryville. Pascarella will receive a $100 prize. Black and Milliron will each receive $50. The photos were required to be taken in sites within McKean County. The three winning photos will be on display at the Visitors Bureau, located in the Old Post Office, at 80 E. Corydon St. All of the entries may be used in different promotional projects by the ANFVB. The members of the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau Board of Directors judged the contest. The Allegheny National Forest V...

Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) officially began his fifth two-year term representing the people of Cameron, Potter and McKean counties today as he and his fellow state House lawmakers were sworn in at the state Capitol in Harrisburg. "With a substantial House Republican majority and a new governor on the way, there is a lot of optimism and excitement among lawmakers today," Causer said. "I know we have significant challenges ahead, especially when it comes to our state budget, but I believe we have the right leaders in place to move our state in the right direction." Causer said his top priority for 2011 is to pass an on-time, fiscally responsible state budget. "Not one single budget was done on time in the eight years of the Rendell administration, and spending increased substantially on his watch," Causer said. "It's time to reassess every budget line item and bring state spending under control, and we need to do it by the June 30 budget dea...

State Senator Joe Scarnati of the 25th District was sworn in as President Pro Tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate for a third time. He will serve this term for the 2011-2012 legislative session. “Once again, I am honored and humbled to be named President Pro Tempore by my colleagues in the Senate,” Scarnati stated. “Certainly, we have accomplished a lot over the past several years, and I look forward to leading this chamber in the next legislative session.” Scarnati mentioned that during his swearing-in speech, he wanted to focus his remarks on jobs, the struggles of working families, and the concerns of our job creators. “We are going through the worst economy since the Great Depression, and I felt it was important to drive home to Pennsylvanians that focus must continue to be on putting people back to work,” Scarnati stated. “With many new faces and ideas, I am confident that we can enact fiscally sound policy that will get workers working and businesses doing business right here...

Tryouts for the murder mystery dinner theater “I’m Getting Murdered in the Morning” will be held Monday and Tuesday (Jan. 10 and 11) from 7 to 9 p.m. at Bradford Area Public Library. Kristin Asinger will direct and produce the second show in Bradford Little Theatre’s “Out of the Box” season. Assistant directors will be Tim Asinger for improvisation work and Kathy Bryant, performance. Performances will be Feb. 25-27 at St. Bernard Educational and Social Hall on East Corydon Street. The performance includes audience participation and some improvisation, though Asinger stressed that no experience with improvisation is necessary. “We are looking for 14 people who can play together, as well as work together. There are roles for both men and women from late teens to their 70s, and both experienced performers and first-timers,” said the BLT board member. Also, Asinger is looking for cast members to play a wedding photographer, disc jockey and people who would help serve the buffet dinn...

The Seneca Nation is asking federal officials to reject a deal that would allow a tribe from Wisconsin to run a casino in the Catskills. Seneca President Robert Odawi Porter has written a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar saying a deal with the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans would be bad public policy and would probably be illegal, too. The Interior Department hasn’t said when it will make a decision.

A St. Marys man charged with the stabbing death of another man is scheduled to go to trial in June. 67-year-old Edward Kralik is charged with killing 50-year-old Clayton Lecker of St. Marys on June 12, 2010. Jury selection is scheduled for June 13. Police say Lecker died of a single stab wound to the abdomen during an altercation with Kralick.

Bradford City Police answered quite a few calls from Sunday afternoon to Monday afternoon. They got vehicle complaints from Interstate Parkway and North Center Street, and a report of parking problem on Jefferson Street, according to the complaint report and request sheet faxed to WESB and The HERO by the police department. Officers also looked into a report of harassment on Edwards Street and a property dispute on Pearl Street. They got complaints about juveniles on Jackson Avenue and at the Terminal Building. They got several requests to speak with an officer and a number of calls about alarms going off at buildings. Officers also got a complaint about a barking dog on North Center Street and a repot of a “mailbox problem” at the Post Office.

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Foster Township has a new supervisor. Businessman Dale Phillips was appointed during Monday’s meeting to fill the position left when Chris Wolcott resigned in December. Phillips is the brother-in-law of Bradford Mayor Tom Riel. Also during Monday’s meeting, Jim Connelly Jr. was voted chairman and BJ Campbell vice chairman. Campbell also resigned his position on the Zoning Hearing Board because he can’t hold both jobs. Virginia Hinaman also resigned from the Zoning Hearing Board. They were replaced by Bruce Cauvel and Norm Strotman Jr., who will serve for five years. Campbell said Hinaman was a “very attentive” board member and did a good job. Connelly thanked Cauvel and Strotman for “stepping up and serving Foster Township.” Also during the meeting Connelly acknowledged the work that Sally Scrivo does as emergency management coordinator for the township. “Unless there’s a major emergency or a catastrophe most people don’t even know Sally’s out ...

This is just a small part of the crowd that rang in the New Year in Veterans Square. Scott Douglas shared the mic with these young ladies who sang in the New Year.

First Night's Got Talent winner Sabrina Hershey of Coudersport & Nashville recording artist Bob Teesdale Teesdale announces the winner's name as finalist Colleen Krise applauds. Finalist Kylie Hushon performs on the main stage shortly before the midnight finale.

Better late than never -- here are some First Night pictures: These skaters practice their skills at the Callahan Park Ice Rink ... while these people start rolling in the new year at Byllye Lanes. The ever-popular First Night Art Show included pieces by Rick Minard, Nancy Crissman, Dee Smith, Rocky Holland, Jesse Nuzzo, Wade Aiken, Cassie Brandow, Nancy Pascarella and more.

Charles Cole Memorial Hospital welcomed the first baby of the new year January 1. Delanie Rae Perry was born at 3:20 p.m. and weighed 7 pounds, 8.6 ounces. Delanie’s parents are Erika Benson and Uriah Perry of Port Allegany. Maternal grandparents are Karen Haldaman of Port Allegany and Mark Benson of Coudersport. Maternal great grandparents are Irvin and Kay Saler of Coudersport. Paternal grandparents are Randall and Tracy Tucker of Roulette. Paternal great grandmother is Joeleen Kelly of Roulette.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced that he will reduce his salary by 5 percent. The salary for the governor is $179,000. It is set by state law and has not changed since 1999. Cuomo says he will return the money to the state. Lt. Governor Robert Duffy, along with the governor’s secretary, counsel and chief of staff, and the Director of State Operations are also taking 5 percent pay cuts. http://www.governor.ny.gov/press/010311GovernorCuomoReducesSalary

12 baby pigs died in a fire that started when a lamp being used to keep them warm came in contact with some hay. Chautauqua County Sheriff’s deputies say the fire started at about 7:30 this morning in a barn in Ripley. Investigators say after the heat lamp caught the hay on fire, the hay then caught the rest of the barn on fire.

A family pet died in a house fire in Silver Creek this morning. Sheriff’s deputies say a passing motorist noticed the fire at about 6:30 a.m. and called their office. No people were home at the time of the fire. The house had major damage from fire, water and smoke. Investigators have not determined the cause of the fire yet.

Natural gas prices could be going up almost 9 percent. National Fuel today filed its projection for gas purchases to be made from August 1 of this year through July 31 of 2012. The company projects an increase in cost, meaning the bill of a typical residential customer would go from $83 a month to $90 a month. This is just a forecast for prices to be experienced later this year and must be reviewed and approved by the PUC before becoming effective. No change is being made at this time.