Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

By SANDRA RHODES The Kids Derby at the Bradford Area Public Library is just a hop, skip and jump away – or in this case, a gallop. This year’s Kids Derby is set for 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 21, at the library. The library, located at 67 W. Washington St., started the Kids Derby to add to the “Triple Crown” of events leading up to the Derby Gala, which is held the same day as the Kentucky Derby. “We wanted to offer the same fun festivities to the children that the adults get to partake in at the Derby Gala,” said Stephanie Parsons, children’s program coordinator at the library. “The children get to come play, create and expand their minds in their Derby experience.” And parents will not have to “pony up” for this event – it’s all free. This includes the children making their own Derby hats, balloon animals, cookie decorating, play games, clown, only rides and, of course, a chance to get their own library card. As in the Derby Gala, there will be a hat parade and prizes awarded. The e...

Bradford City Police are issuing an emergency “no parking” order for Melvin Avenue and Lorana Avenue, on the South Kendall Avenue side, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday. The order is being issued because a pre-fabricated home is being delivered to the neighborhood. People violating the order may have their vehicles towed. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The parole hearing for convicted child killer Eric Smith has been postponed. Smith, who is now 32 years old, was just 13 in 1994 when he killed 4-year-old Derrick Robie in Steuben County. He was sentenced to nine years to life in prison. Today was supposed to be his sixth parole hearing, but officials say they are waiting for more records before going on with the hearing. Smith lured Derrick into woods, hit him with a rock, stuffed paper in his mouth and crushed his skull with a 26-pound rock. He is in the maximum security Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The last movie Johnny Depp and our buddy Lew Temple were in together was the Academy Award-winning "Rango." Now they're working on "The Lone Ranger." Lew sent us this picture from the set in Monument Valley, Utah. He says the landscape on the Navajo reservation is amazing, and adds that this is the same place where John Ford shot "Stagecoach." Johnny Depp plays "Tonto." Armie Hammer, probably best known for playing the Winklevoss twins in "The Social Network," plays The Lone Ranger. The movie is due out next year. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

When Governor Corbett signed Act 13 into law on February 14th of this year, it marked the culmination of three years of work by the Legislature in crafting a comprehensive Marcellus Shale legislative package. The final legislation contained strong environmental safeguards, a mechanism for fair and predictable municipal regulation of the industry and a robust, yet competitive, impact fee. Perhaps the most closely scrutinized aspect of the Marcellus Shale legislation was the establishment of a local impact fee. The Governor and legislative leaders, including myself, spent a great deal of time discussing and debating this critical topic. The outcome of this process was the creation of a local impact fee, with the amount set by the state and proceeds collected by the Public Utility Commission (PUC). Counties and municipalities where Marcellus Shale drilling is taking place would be given the option to adopt the fee or risk losing their share of the revenue generated by the...

Holocaust Survivor Sam Rosen (Left) helps fellow survivor Sam Sherron (Right) light a candle in honor of Yom Hashoah, also known as Holocause Remembrance Day, in a ceremony sponsored by the PA Governor's Office, and held in the Governor's Reception Room, of the Main Capitol, in Harrisburg today. The event was organized by the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition. Senator Mike Stack says it's important that the story of the Holocaust be passed on from generation to generation, because the prejudices and hatreds that lead to genocide build from small events, and it's important to always be on guard against them. Commwealth Media Services photo The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

One Book Bradford hosted a "Tiffany Bus Trip" to Buffalo and East Aurora Saturday so those reading (or who have read) the book "Clara and Mr. Tiffany" could gain a greater appreciation for the artistry and craftsmanship detailed in the book. The window pictured above is one of five actually signed by Louis Comfort Tiffany in Baker Memorial United Methodist Church in East Aurora. People on the trip also visited Trinity Episcopal Church in Buffalo to see several other Tiffany windows, and some by his main rival, John LaFarge. Rick Richards led the trip, which also included a trip to the famous Viddler's 5&10 in East Aurora. The One Book Bradford season concludes on May 1 with a visit by author Susan Vreeland at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. The event is free and open to the public. WESB photo The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Films from the Wild and Scenic Film Festival held earlier this year in California will be featured as part of an Earth Day celebration planned for Sunday at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Events are co-sponsored by the Pitt-Bradford Environmental Studies Club and the Allegheny Defense Project. Activities begin with a hike at 9 a.m. from Blaisdell Hall, but will center around nine short films from the national festival. Films will show from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Bromeley Family Theater with several intermissions for food, music, door prizes and exhibitors. The event is free and open to the public. Those attending have an opportunity to win a kayak, Osprey backpack, a hand-crafted backpack mandolin, a sleeping bag, a fishing pole and other small items. Donations will be accepted to benefit the Environmental Studies Club and next year’s film festival. A schedule of the films follows: 1 p.m. – “Gloop” and “One Plastic Bea...

The Austin man who helped another man dump the body of an Eldred teenager in a creek has pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. 26-year-old Avery Buckingham helped 20-year-old Jonohan Prather of Coudersport throw the body of 18-year-old Samuel Miller into Prouty Creek last June after Prather shot him eight times in the head and chest. Buckingham will be sentenced May 22, and could get up to 40 years in prison. Prather has already been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. A third co-conspirator, 16-year-old Kaylynn Benson of Coudersport, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and will be sentenced May 1. She could spend up to 20 years in prison for holding a spotlight for Buckingham and Prather while they threw Miller's body into the creek. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Jamestown City Councilman, who had been overseeing the Public Safety Committee, has turned himself into police for breaking the window out of a bar over the weekend. Michael Taylor allegedly broke the window out of Sneakers in Jamestown at around 2 a.m. Saturday. He turned himself in on Monday and was charged with felony criminal mischief. After being released by police, he attended Monday’s council meeting but did resign as chairman of the Public Safety Committee. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Gregory Betts, poet, editor, essayist and teacher, is the next presenter in the 2012 Writers Series at St. Bonaventure University, organized by the Department of English and funded by the Good Ideas Grants initiated by the dean of the School of Arts and Sciences. Betts will read from his works starting at 5:10 p.m. Thursday, April 19, in Dresser Auditorium of the Murphy Professional Building on campus. His presentation is free and open to all. Betts is the author of five books of poetry including “If Language” (2005), a collection of 56 paragraph-length anagrams, and “The Others Raised in Me” (2009), a sequence of 150 “plunderverse” poems created by deleting words and letters from William Shakespeare’s sonnet 150. His poetry and experimental prose have been published in journals and magazines across Canada and the United States, as well as in a few European nations. His work has appeared in the conceptual writing anthology “Against Expression.” Betts is the editor of four collections ...

Seven organists from the Chautauqua Chapter of the American Guild of Organists will perform in a Pipe Organ Extravaganza Sunday at the Harriett B. Wick Chapel on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. The concert, which is free and open to the public, begins at 4 p.m. Featured performers are Brian Bogey, Jack Hemink, Ron McEntire, Jennifer Schruers, Cindy Lind Hanson, Andy Schmidt and Donna Gatz, dean of the Chautauqua chapter. Each of the organists will play one or two pieces, including J.S. Bach’s famous “Prelude and Fugue in E Minor. The Sarah B. Dorn Organ in Wick Chapel has 17 ranks and was built by the Schantz Organ Co. for the chapel in 2010. Pictured, front row, from left, Brian Bogey and Jack Hemink; back row, Ron McEntire, Jennifer Schruers, Cindy Lind Hanson, Donna Gatz and Andy Schmidt. Pitt-Bradford photo The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947 For disability-related needs, contact the Office of Di...

Seven people appeared in Cattaraugus County Court Monday on burglary charges. 37-year-old James Baran of Jamestown has been sentenced to 1 to 3 years in prison for breaking into a South Valley building last December with a 17-year-old. Baran must also pay nearly $1,400 in restitution. Michael Chase and Mary McConnell of Olean and Tanya Brehm of Machias all pleaded guilty in connection to separate incidents. They will all be sentenced July 9. DeShawn France and Quwhyn Nobles of Olean pleaded not guilty. Joshua Tyler of Olean pleaded not guilty to burglary and assault of a police officer. Those cases have all been adjourned for motions. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Derrick City man accused of hitting a Buffalo man in the head with a hammer 28 times has waived his preliminary hearing. 19-year-old Larry Shroyer Jr. is charged with attempted murder, assault and ethnic intimidation. Back in January Shroyer allegedly attacked 56-year-old James White at the Hotel Holley. Shroyer is jailed on $150,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Federal and local drug enforcement agents say they found half a pound of marijuana and about 200 prescription pills during a raid of a Chautauqua County house. The Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force charged 39-year-old Ralph Jackson Sr. of Arkwright with distributing opiate-based painkillers and marijuana. The arrest is part of a seven month investigation into drug trafficking in Chautauqua County. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Fire did $200,000 worth of damage to an Elk County home Monday afternoon. State police fire marshal Greg Agosti says the blaze at the two-story house on Old Lamont Road in the Village of Lamont started at about 2:45 p.m. No one was hurt. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The house is owned by Alan and Sheryl Pence of Kane. The Highland Township Fire Department wa assisted by Kane, Johnsonburg, Ridgway, Mount Jewett and Ludlow fire departments. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

In celebration of Earth Day (April 22), and in conjunction with The Great American Cleanup of Pennsylvania, community volunteers will be cleaning up litter in the City of Bradford. The event will run from 10:00 am until noon on Saturday April 21st. This effort is to remove litter and trash from the entire City of Bradford. In an effort to make this event as beneficial for the community as possible the City of Bradford has also committed to holding the Spring Cleanup effort to coincide with this volunteer effort. Spring Clean-up items must be less than 4 feet long and weigh less than 40 pounds and should be set curbside on your regular pick day. There will be a $10 charge for white goods and pick up should be scheduled by calling 362-3884 ext. 21; yard waste will not be part of this pick-up. New this year will be an electronics recycling event. Evolution E-Cycling will be on hand to accept electronic items on Saturday the 21st between 10AM and 4PM at the drop off location/cleanup h...

Former Allegany police and fire chief Francis “Pezz” Pezzimenti passed away Saturday at Olean General Hospital. He was 80. Pezz served as police chief from 1975 to 1992 and was with the department for 29 years. He also spent 50 years with the Allegany Engine Co., 46 as chief. When he retired from the department in 2010, he was named honorary chief for life. You can find his obituary here . The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Habitat for Humanity-McKean will host the first Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce Coffee and Conversation event from 7:00 to 9:00 am on Tuesday, April 24th. The Coffee and Conversation event will be held at the Habitat for Humanity house site, 47 Interstate Parkway, Bradford, PA. Coffee and Conversation is designed to be a morning alternative to the Chamber’s popular Business After Hours series. Like Business After Hours, Coffee and Conversation will give the business and professional community an opportunity to come together in a relaxed, social setting for networking. “Business After Hours draws a great crowd, but evening events don’t fit everyone’s schedule,” said BACC Executive Director, Ron Orris. “We’d like to offer the same great relaxed networking opportunities at a variety of times to accommodate even more members of the local business community. We’re hoping that many of our regular Business After Hours participants as well as some new faces will be able to join us on the 2...

Someone stole money from an Elk County fire department over the weekend. Police say someone broke into the Fox Township Fire Hall in Kersey sometime before 3 a.m. Sunday by way of a kitchen window. Once inside, the burglar pried open a safe and took about $820 that was inside. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947