Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

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An apparent dispute over ducks ended up with charges filed against a Forestville man, and a dead duck. Sheriff’s deputies were called to a neighbor dispute Sunday night and when they got there, they talked to a farmer who raises ducks to sell them, who said when he got home he discovered that one of his ducks had been shot and killed. Deputies learned that 51-year-old David O’Connor, who lives next door, used a .22-caliber rifle to shoot the duck, knowing that the bird belonged to his neighbor. O’Connor is charged with firing a gun within 500 feet of a residence and torturing and injuring animals. He is scheduled to appear in Town of Villenova Court. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Big Brothers Big Sisters of McKean County would like to thank the businesses and individuals who participated and donated in Bowl For Kids’ Sake 2013. Bowl For Kids’ Sake is our largest annual fundraiser that took place on March 23, 2013 at Byllye Lanes in Bradford. Funds raised will support ongoing professional match support for one on one matches between adult volunteers and youth in need of an additional positive adult role model throughout McKean County. Big Brothers Big Sisters is an evidence-based mentoring program shown to prevent substance abuse and anti-social behavior among youth. Served youth show significant improvements in school attendance, academic performance, involvement with positive school and community activities, self-esteem, interpersonal and problem solving skills, and future planning and goal setting. Served youth are also much more likely to develop friendships with positive peers and have improved relationships with family members. It costs approximately $1,...

A planning committee meeting for the 3nd annual Bradford Central Christian Alumni Reunion will be held on Wednesday, April 17th at 6:00PM. The meeting will be held at Monte’s Restaurant, East Main Street, Bradford. All alumni are welcome to attend. The reunion will be scheduled for August 17, 2013 and will include activities to mark the anniversaries of all classes to graduate from Bradford Central Christian High School. Special recognition will be made to the graduating classes from 1963, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993 and 1998. A representative from each class from 1963-2000 is invited to either attend the meeting or make contact with committee members to insure all alumni are included and contacted. Alumni are encouraged to update their contact information by sending a short message to gomaroon@gmail.com . Information on the weekend events will be distributed soon. Any questions may be directed to the email address or by contacting Kris Tate Luther at St. Bernard Sch...

There still time to submit questions for the Candidate Forum set for Thursday night at the Bradford Area Public Library. The forum, sponsored by the American Association of University Women, is set to start at 7:30 p.m. and will include candidates for McKean County sheriff as well as Bradford City Council. Dr. Steve Robar, political science professor at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, will be the moderator. Questions can be emailed to aauw_bradford@yahoo.com  The sheriff race is a contested race between Republicans Steve Caskey, Brian Gustafson and Brad Mason. Three candidates are running for three seats on Bradford City Council. They are Brad Mangel, Tim Pecora and Fred Proper, all Republicans. The forum is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. The primary election is May 21. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Portville man has pleaded guilty to assault and other charges. Back in February, after being released from Olean General Hospital, 28-year-old Michael Wright was picked up on an arrest warrant in connection to an incident on February 18 in the Village of Portville. He also violated a court order by attempting to harm the other person. Sentencing is scheduled for June 24. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Salamanca man who took police on a high-speed chase last fall has pleaded guilty in Cattaraugus County Court. 45-year-old Richard Skye was on Route 353 in Little Valley on September 4 when sheriff’s deputies tried to stop him. Instead of stopping, he led them on chase into the Town of Ellicottville, where the chase ended when Skye drove his vehicle up a seasonal road. He will be sentenced on May 28 on charges of reckless endangerment and unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Where can you take your kids for some fun horseplay and not break the bank? The Kids Derby at the Bradford Area Public Library, of course. The annual Kids Derby is set for 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at the library. This event is part of the Triple Crown of events surrounding the Kentucky Derby. “This is one of our favorite events here at the library,” said Stephanie Smeal Parsons, community outreach/programming coordinator at the Library. “This afternoon is absolutely a great time for both kids and adults.” The event includes facing painting by Sassy Nat, balloon twisting by Yogi the Clown and Farmer Jack plus cookie crafts, hat crafts and a hat parade with prizes awarded. Perhaps the most crowd-drawing feature is the pony rides done by 4-H/Penn State Cooperative Extension. Parsons hope that both children who are familiar with the library as well as those that aren’t come to the event. “The library is a fantastic resource for our community,” she said. “By getting a child to ...

Tyler Wilber and Anthony Zimbardi, senior varsity basketball players at Bradford Area High School, held a three-on-three co-ed basketball tournament on Sunday to benefit therapeutic recreation activities for children with disabilities. Twelve teams comprised of 48 student players participated in the round robin tournament. The winning team was Dave & the Foxy Ladies. Over $600 has been raised to date and will be donated to CARE for Children. The three-on-three tournament was part of Wilber and Zimbardi's Senior Project. Pictured from left to right: Tyler Wilber , event co-chair, with winning team 'Dave and the Foxy Ladies' comprised of seniors Montgomery Burgoon, David Ackerman, Alex Vinelli, Kassera Owens, and event co-chair, Anthony Zimbardi Photo provided by CARE for Children

OLEAN, NY -- The 42nd Annual Greater Olean Area Home and Garden Show welcomed more than 3,569 visitors April 12-14 (about 300 less attendees than last year). Seventy-four vendors were on hand to display and demonstrate products from hot tubs, to gardening supplies, along with heating and cooling systems. The event, hosted by Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce, was co-sponsored by their forty-eight corporate sponsors. The vendors at the Home and Garden Show were enrolled in a contest for “Best Booth” based on neatness, presentation, props, information, and theme-related. The theme this year is “Where Inspiration Becomes Reality.” Winners for 2013 Greater Olean Area Home and Garden Show go to BEST USE OF THEME – Lee’s Wine & Beer, BEST OVERALL BOOTH – Scott’s Landscaping. Congratulations to both and thanks to the judges for their time and coordination. Prizes are discounts on 2014’s Greater Olean Area Home and Garden Show rental. The winners of the Times Herald/Greater Ol...

A car without a driver crashed into a house in Jamestown Friday night. Police say a pickup truck driven by 28-year-old Vincent Delmonaco of Jamestown ran a red light at Forest Avenue and Newland and collided with a car driven by a 17-year-old. The teenager and four other teens got out of the car but – left it in gear. The car traveled down Forest Avenue, damaged some property in front of one house, and then hit another one. Delmonaco is charged with going through a red light. The 17-year-old permit holder faces charges, too, including unlicensed operation and operating without a 21-year-old supervisor. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Mount Jewett man was arrested Saturday afternoon after a domestic incident in Norwich Township. Police say 18-year-old Richard Anderson threatened a Smethport man with a pair of bolt cutters and a baseball bat. Anderson was charged with harassment, and released on his own recognizance. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Two people are facing drug and other charges following a traffic stop Sunday in the Town of Cuba. John Berdon and Reina Cole are each charged with 12 counts each of criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, along with endangering the welfare of a child, resisting arrest, driving while ability impaired by drugs, unlawful possession of marijuana and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. They are both in Allegany County Jail on $50,000 cash bail each and are scheduled to appear in Cuba Town Court on Tuesday. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A motorist who drove through an accident scene is facing charges. State police say at just before 3 a.m. Saturday they were investigating a crash on McKinistry Road in the Town of Yorkshire, where a car left the road, traveled into a yard and hit a tree. While they were investigating a van driven by 39-year-old Jamie Havens of Yorkshire went past the emergency vehicles, onto the yard, through the accident scene and parked in a driveway. He was charged with driving while intoxicated, and is scheduled to appear in Town of Yorkshire Court. The driver of the car that hit the tree was taken by helicopter to ECMC. Troopers say alcohol is believed to be a factor in that crash, and they are continuing their investigation. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Fredonia driver, who other drivers say was running them off the road, is charged with driving while intoxicated. Sheriff’s deputies got reports from numerous motorists about an erratic driver at around 3:30 Sunday afternoon, and they eventually found 55-year-old Robbin Hill in the Town of Pomfret. Along with DWI, he is charges with consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle. Hill was released to family members and scheduled to appear in Pomfret Court. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson will be the keynote speaker at the McKean County Republican Committee’s annual spring dinner on Tuesday, April 30, at the Pennhills Club, Rep. Marty Causer, chairman of the committee, announced today. Doors open at 6 p.m. for cocktails; dinner will be served at 7 p.m. Thompson is serving his third term in Congress representing Pennsylvania’s most rural district. As a member of the House Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Education and Workforce Committees, Thompson brings his expertise and knowledge to bear on the issues facing rural businesses, communities, and families in order to improve the lives of the citizens of the Fifth District. He is again serving as chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy and Forestry. A forum featuring GOP candidates for the offices of county sheriff and treasurer is also planned. Tickets cost $25 per person. For additional information or to RSVP, call 814-368-7534 or email m...

A plastic toy melting in a forced air heating vent caused a fire in Ridgway this morning. State Police fire marshal Greg Agosti says the fire started at just before 8 a.m. at the Sherman Avenue home of 29-year-old Dolri Pounds. No one was hurt. Damage is estimated at $5,000. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

CARE for Children will hold its fourth annual Rock and Win fundraiser on Saturday, April 13th at 7p.m. at the Pennhills Club on Minard Run in Bradford. There is a charge for the event and limited tickets are available at the door. The band Bad Influence with Mick Marshall and Chuck Sirko are the headline performers with special guest percussionist Jimmy Copeland. The event has drawings, auctions, and specials throughout the evening. Rock & Win benefits CARE for Children’s community outreach services for local children. Services include child safety & injury prevention initiatives, disability awareness programs, and therapeutic recreation activities and also supports early learning at Rainbow Corner Preschool. CARE for Children is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to improving the lives of children of all abilities. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Ridgway – Beginning Monday, PennDOT will move ahead with roadway and intersection improvement work on Route 219 in Ridgway. When work completes this fall, area drivers will enjoy smoother, more efficient travel through the Route 219/Route 948 (Main Street) intersection in downtown Ridgway. Work will begin with excavation and paving in front of the Ridgway Welcome Center to improve the turning radius for trucks traveling southbound on Route 219. Other work will include new curb, curb ramps, traffic signal upgrades, milling, and roadway paving. Depending on the work being performed, drivers may encounter short delays and roadway flaggers in the work zone. PennDOT reminds drivers to remain alert and proceed through the work zone with caution. These intersection improvements are the final piece of PennDOT’s Osterhout Street project. Osterhout Street opened to truck traffic late last year, allowing trucks to travel directly from the bottom of the Boot Jack Hill Bypass at Route 120 to Ro...

A Lewis Run woman was arrested early this morning after a domestic incident in the borough. Police say 22-year-old Chelsea Coldren kicked and hit a 28-year-old man several times, smashed windows at a house and damaged the victim’s vehicle. She was charged with assault, harassment and criminal mischief and jailed on $5,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947