Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director The Kinzua Viaduct had been called "The Eighth Wonder of the World." Now, it just may be called "The Ninth Wonder of the World." DCNR Secretary Richard Allan made that declaration Thursday during the grand opening of Kinzua Sky Walk at the site of the railroad bridge that was partially toppled by a tornado in 2003. Allan also officially announced that the long-awaited visitors center will be built at Kinzua Bridge State Park. "We are excited that eight years after the historic railroad viaduct at Kinzua Bridge State Park was damaged by a tornado, visitors can experience, in a new way, what the structure once was, and also understand the power of the forces of nature that claimed a portion of it," Allan said. The 329-acre Kinzua Bridge State Park features remnants of the 2,053-foot long viaduct that was first built of iron in 1882, and then rebuilt of steel in 1900. Reba Hewitt, daughter of Andrew Stauffer, who drove...

http://www.sbu.edu/About_News.aspx?id=36014

The author who wrote a travel book about Pennsylvania will be doing a book signing at the Kinzua Bridge Fall Festival. The Kinzua Bridge Fall Festival, held annually at the Kinzua Bridge State Park, Mount Jewett, is a two-day event featuring music, crafts and food vendors. This year, the festival will be held Saturday, Sept. 17, and Sunday, Sept. 18. New this year is the Kinzua Sky Walk, a scenic overlook with a partial glass floor, built on six of the historic towers of the Kinzua Viaduct. Now open to the public, the Kinzua Sky Walk provides spectacular views of the Kinzua Gorge from a height of more than 300 feet. Admission to the park and the Kinzua Sky Walk is free. Anna Dubrovsky, who wrote “Pennsylvania” by Moon Handbooks, will be at the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau’s booth starting at 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 18, to talk with visitors and sign books. The books will be available both days at the ANFVB booth for $22, including tax. The book includes travel information on...

A Weedville woman is accused of not paying for school pictures. State police say Dean Erich Photography of DuBois took pictures at Bennetts Valley Elementary School in April and 36-year-old Tami McClintick sent a check to the photographer for payment. The check was returned because the account was closed. The photographer contacted McClintick several times requesting payment, but the requests were ignored. McClintick is charged with two counts of theft by deception.

Two people have been arrested for an incident at a bar late last month at the Kennedy Grill in Kennedy, New York. Sheriff’s deputies say 30-year-old Dawn Lutgen of Ellington, NY, slapped the bartender and threw a rock through the front window. She and 34-year-old Bryan Knapp of Ellington had been locked out of the bar, but they both re-entered. They were both arrested early this morning and charged with criminal trespass. Lutgen is also charged with criminal mischief and harassment.

No one was hurt when a car and a tractor-trailer collided near Tack’s Inn Friday afternoon. State police say the tractor-trailer driven by Michael Kickham of Geulph, Ontario, Canada, was traveling north on Route 219 when a car driven by 19-year-old Jo-Ann Keppel of Edinboro pulled into its path from Route 59. The car spun around and came to rest along the berm of 219. The tractor-trailer continued into the Tack’s Inn parking lot.

This red rainbow appeared over Bradford at about 6:50 this morning. Red rainbows only happen at sunset and sunrise, and they don’t last long. They happen when the short wavelength blues and greens are more scattered, leaving the longer wavelength reds and yellows.

A person, who apparently got tossed out of Players Downtown last night, went back to the bar and tossed a Molotov cocktail at the building. Frank Williams, who was just getting back from the Owls game at Meadville, said people told him flames had been leaping 20 feet out of the building after the fire bomb was thrown at about 11:30 p.m., He said could still see smoke at 1:30 a.m. State Police fire marshal Greg Agosti says the improvised incendiary device was thrown at the front door, and about 50 people had to be evacuated from the building. No one was hurt. Damage is estimated at $10,000. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Bradford City Police.

A government official tells CNN that members of Congress were briefed by the White House, intelligence and other officials on Thursday that there is a "specific, credible but unconfirmed threat" to the U.S. homeland as the 9/11 anniversary approaches. The source said New York and Washington were specifically mentioned as possible targets. The members were told that officials are "strongly concerned" and "are not taking anything for granted" the source told CNN. Additionally, a senior administration official with first-hand knowledge tells CNN National Security Contributor Fran Townsend that there is "specific, credible but unconfirmed threat information." The official noted that al Qaeda has shown an interest in important dates and anniversaries. "Weird things" raised questions about the intelligence but officials felt they should inform people because of the nearing 9/11 anniversary. For updates go to http://cnn.com/

Brenda L. McGee, senior vice president for finance and administration at St. Bonaventure University, has been named to serve on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development group for Higher Education. The Higher Education group was appointed by the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council to work in conjunction with the council to develop a five-year strategic plan for long-term, sustainable regional economic growth with higher education as the driver of that growth. The plan will establish a vision and provide a framework for regional growth, leveraging the strength of higher education and other strengths in Western New York and address the needs of the region. The Western New York council is one of 10 councils statewide appointed by the governor. Each council is tasked with developing a strategic plan for the development of their region. The governor has set a Nov. 14 deadline for strategic plan submissions, and has announced $200 million in capital funds ...

Kane Community Hospital is gaining recognition as an IT leader among hospitals. In July KCH was named one of the American Hospital Association's "Most Wired Hospitals for 2011" by Hospitals and Health Networks magazine. Kane Community Hospital is among only 154 organizations (both large and small) to make this year's Most Wired list. For the 13th year, Hospitals & Health Networks has named the "Most Wired" hospitals and health systems, based on the "Most Wired" Survey. The 2011 survey results continue to build on the new analytic structure that was implemented in 2010 after two years of redesign. This year, many additional requirements corresponded to meaningful use criteria, although they were not as stringent as federal meaningful use requirements. Hospitals and health systems are assessed based on progress in adoption, implementation and use of information technology in four critical areas: infrastructure, business and administrative manag...

Dr. Nancy McCabe’s third book, “Crossing the Blue Willow Bridge: A Journey to My Daughter’s Birthplace in China,” will be published next month by the University of Missouri Press. McCabe is an associate professor of writing and director of the writing program at Pitt-Bradford. The book is on Amazon.com and other online booksellers. The book is a follow-up to McCabe’s 2003 book, “Meeting Sophie: A Memoir of Adoption,” about the adoption of her daughter from China. “Crossing the Blue Willow Bridge” began with a “homeland visit” by the McCabes in the fall of 2008, in which they visited the region of China from which Sophie was adopted. McCabe said she used the trip as a framework for exploring other issues of parenting, interracial and intercultural families and international adoption, including addressing a child’s feeling of connection to multiple heritages. Heritage trips, particularly to China, have become a rite of passage f...

By Dominick Lisi Dr. Gregory Privitera, assistant professor of psychology at St. Bonaventure University, authored a 736-page book titled “Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences.” The book was published by Sage Publications, Inc. and is set to be on sale soon. In this text, Privitera highlights statistical methods using an integrated method of instruction. The book encompasses a cutting-edge balance of theory and application that illuminates modern-day research with the statistical software researchers use. “This book incorporates instructions for using SPSS statistical software into the main text,” he said. “Writing this book has strengthened my teaching and ability to understand where students struggle most. Publishing also is a humbling process and I am grateful to be able to share this project in the classroom with students.” By incorporating laboratory with lecture instruction in the main text, the book will strengthen a foundation of learning for future research-based classes. “...

Smethport – A detour for roadway improvement work on Route 3011 in McKean County remains in effect through Monday, Sept. 12. McKean County drivers will encounter a closure for Route 3011 near the village of Ormsby and will be directed use the following official detour: Southbound drivers will follow Route 59 east and Route 6 south before returning to Route 3011. Northbound drivers will follow Route 6 north and Route 59 west before returning to Route 3011. Signs will be in place to assist drivers on the detour. Roadway reclamation work will continue through Friday. Paving will begin on Saturday and is expected to be complete sometime on Monday. On Tuesday, Sept. 13, Route 3011 will be open but drivers may encounter single lane closures and short travel delays as crews complete roadwork activities. Glenn O. Hawbaker, Inc. of State College is the contractor on this roadway improvement project. All work is weather dependent. Follow PennDOT on Twitter at www.twitter.com/511PAStateCOLL .

Harrisburg – Governor Tom Corbett today ordered all U.S. and Pennsylvania flags at the Capitol Complex and at commonwealth facilities statewide lowered to half staff on Sunday, Sept. 11 in honor of Patriot Day. All Pennsylvanians are authorized to join in this tribute.

A Ripley man and his son escaped injury when a Norfolk Southern train destroyed their car at about 6 o’clock Wednesday night on the Goodrich Street crossing. Sheriff’s deputies say 69-year-old Richard Swonger ignored warning lights and drove onto the tracks as the freight train approached. His 31-year-old son Jason was in the car with him. The train pushed the car off the tracks, but neither man was hurt and neither was anyone on the train. Richard Swoger was charged with failure to stop at a railroad crossing