Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Twelve winning photographs were recently selected to be featured in the 2015 CNB Bank wall calendars. Local residents, whether beginner, amateur or professional photographers, were encouraged to submit one or two of their photos via the Bank’s web site at www.BankCNB.com throughout the past two months. The 2015 calendar features local photos with a "Railroad" theme. Nearly two hundred entries were received, but one stood out as Judge’s Best of Show, which was submitted by Elizabeth Behan of Bradford. Her photo, entitled “Railroad Crossing,” will be featured on the cover of the 2015 wall calendars, as well as inside the calendar for the month of April. The other eleven months of the year will feature photographs submitted by James Olmstead of New Florence, Renee Shimel Hall of Morrisdale, Cathie Ensminger and Carolyn Smeal of Clearfield, Chris Lasher of Brookville, Kevin Mills of Huntingdon, Erika Patrick of Munson, Nancy Pascarella of Bradford, Joshua Sykes of Woodland,...

The death of a man found on the Scenic Overlook of Route 16 has been ruled homicide. Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s deputies say 54-year-old Otis Lamont Parks, also known as Lamont Clemons of Olean, died of a gunshot wound. They say a Pennsylvania couple found the dead black man at about 9 o'clock Thursday morning. The investigation into the death is continuing and sheriff’s deputies say they will not release any further details at this time. Anyone with pertinent information is asked to contact the sheriff’s department. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Bradford Little Theatre announced its upcoming season during a fundraiser gala Saturday night at Hill Memorial Church. BLT board members served nearly 250 desserts to over 100 guests as the guests participated in several Chinese auctions and enjoyed Olean (N.Y.) Community Theatre performing “A Grand Night For Singing.” Nanci K Garris, BLT board president noted, “(Saturday’s) event was a first time partnership for BLT and OCT. With delicious desserts and a fantastic music program, the evening was a complete success. We thank Olean Community Theatre and our very supportive audience members. We can look forward to future collaborations.” The board president also announced the upcoming season for the community theatre — Season 18, dubbed Eighteen and Eclectic. The opening show will be “Jesus Christ Superstar”, performed at the Bradford Area High School auditorium in October. The rock opera is loosely based on accounts of the last week of Jesus’ life, beginning with the preparation for ...

A Smethport man accused of firing a gun into a vehicle during 4th of July weekend, and then pointing the gun at two people has waived his preliminary hearing. Court records say 40-year-old Damin Parris punched a man in the head after the man had been joking around with Parris’ dog. When the man said he was going to leave, Parris yelled, and then fired two shots into the man’s truck. The man ran into the woods. Parris then walked toward a woman’s car and, when she asked him to give her the gun, he started to point it toward her. She grabbed it, drove away in her car and met state police in the parking lot of District Judge Bill Todd’s office. Parris is charged with two counts each of aggravated assault and related offenses. He had been in McKean County Jail on $100,000 bail, but was released after this morning's hearing on unsecured bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Two unruly customers had to be taken out of the Bemus Point Village Casino early Sunday morning. Sheriff’s deputies say 31-year-old John Peterson and 35-year-old Kelley Peterson, both of Warren, were involved in a fight inside the business at 1:35 a.m. and were told to leave several times, but refused. They were both arrested for trespassing and scheduled to appear in Town of Ellery Court. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Low-flying helicopters will be hovering over three spots in Pennsylvania to find long-abandoned oil and gas wells, and one of those spots is in Potter County. The National Energy Technology Laboratory will be doing the survey between Friday and August 29 in Susquehannock State Forest in Potter County, Oil Creek State Park in Venango County and Hillman State Park in Washington County. The helicopters are equipped with technology that detects changes in the earth’s magnetic field caused by steel well casing. The survey will also determine whether the wells are emitting methane gas. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Pennsylvania General Energy of Warren is suing a township in Indiana County, claiming an ordinance passed to ban the disposal of drilling byproducts is illegal and, that federal and state laws nullify it anyway. The ordinance and resulting lawsuit were sparked by PGE's plans to convert an old underground natural gas well to an injection well, where the company could dispose of briny water and other fluids from drilling. Grant Township supervisors say they haven’t seen the lawsuit yet, but have say their own lawyer had told them the ordinance may be illegal. The supervisors are meeting tomorrow to decide whether to rescind the ordinance or defend it in court. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

HARRISBURG – Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) has issued the following statement regarding the Flatirons Development, LLC decision concerning the Brandon-Day well: “Flatirons Development, LLC, has agreed to discontinue Marcellus drilling operations of the Brandon-Day well which is located upstream of the Brockway Borough Municipal Authority Rattlesnake Reservoir. The existing bore hole will be abandoned, sealed and reclaimed to eliminate the possibility of watershed contamination. “This recent decision by Flatirons Development to stop plans for drilling at the Brandon-Day well is a good and responsible decision for our community. Earlier this year after taking part in numerous discussions and meetings regarding this well, I reached out to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to express serious reservations with permitting any further drilling at the proposed site or any nearby site which could potentially compromise the reservoir. “Toby Creek W...

A man accidentally shot himself Thursday night in Potter County. Police say Joseph Funaro of Galeton shot himself in the hand at a home on Short Run Road at about 7:50 p.m. He was taken to Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre for treatment of the moderate injury. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A man is accused of hitting a woman in the head with a rock while a teenage boy was watching. Police say early Saturday morning in the Town of Portville, Rodney Hall of Hinsdale hit the woman with the rock while they were in a vehicle on Route 305. A 14-year-old boy was also in the vehicle. Hall is charged with assault, reckless endangerment, menacing and endangering the welfare of a child. He was sent to Cattaraugus County Jail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The final “Lunch in the Square” of the season will be held on Wednesday, August 13 at Veterans’ Square from 11:30 until 1 pm. Entertainment will be provided by local favorite band “Clean Slate”. Participating restaurants include, The Aud Restaurant, Chu Lee Gardens, John Williams European Pastry Shop, Montes, Kabob’s at the Option, Gabriel’s Bistro, Dairy Queen and Dawg Gone It. Items available will include a salad bar (with homemade dressings), chicken curry, chicken souvlaki, croissant sandwiches, Chinese, beef on weck, meatballs, hot dogs and Philly cheesesteak sandwiches and ice cream sundaes. “This event is always a summer favorite for our community and this is the final one,” said Main Street Manager, Anita Dolan. “Area restaurants have been very supportive of this program. It is a nice way for restaurants to reach new customers and attendees can enjoy the break in the work week, sample some great food, and enjoy the entertainment!” Dolan added. Additionally, WESB/WB...

PennDOT Clearfield County Sign Crew members Sam Graham, left, and Joe Williams place a sign on Interstate 80 in Clearfield County near Exit 133 (Kylertown/Philipsburg). An 88-mile stretch of the highway was posted at 70-mph this morning as part of a pilot project. The posted speed limit on I-80 is now 70 mph between Exit 101 (DuBois) in Clearfield County and mile marker 189 in Clinton County. A section of I-380 in Monroe County was also posted at 70 mph today. PennDOT will use data collected from the pilot locations while evaluating other 65-mph roadway sections for potential 70-mph implementation in the spring or summer next year. Roadway sections that can safely accommodate the increased speed could start being signed soon after the evaluations are complete. Photo provided by PennDOT

Police have released the names of the people involved the fatal motorcycle accident Thursday night on East Main Street near Futures Way. They say the motorcycle driver, 59-year-old Louis Tantalo of Bradford was pronounced dead at the scene by McKean County Coroner Mike Cahill. His wife, 52-year-old Deborah Tantalo, was first treated on the scene by EMS personnel, and was then flown to UPMC Hamot in Erie for treatment of serious injuries. The cause of the accident is still under investigation. If you witnessed the accident, or have pertinent information in regard to the investigation, you are asked to contact City of Bradford Police. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Investigators say site managers are to blame for a natural gas well fire that killed a Warren native in February, according to a report released today. The Department of Environmental Protection says in the report a contract worker with no oil field experience worked on the well, contrary to company policy, but did not identify a specific cause for the fire. The report also says Chevron's well site managers did not always provide enough oversight to contractors at the site about 50 miles south of Pittsburgh. The blast killed 27-year-old Ian McKee, a field service technician for Houston-based Cameron International. DEP previously said Chevron improperly restricted state access to the well site for the first two days. A Chevron spokesman says they are reviewing the DEP report. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Zippo/Case Museum celebrates Bradford’s Italian heritage with an exhibit featuring the Zippo lighter art of Italian master of photography and airbrush, Claudio Mazzi. The collection, on display now through August 15, has been loaned to the museum by a special arrangement with a private collector and features six hand-painted, individually numbered Mazzi designs created specifically for the members of Zippo Club Italia. “The Zippo/Case Museum is honored to have the chance to showcase these beautiful Italian masterpieces,” said Linda Meabon, Zippo/Case Museum Curator and Historian. “I have had the distinct pleasure of watching Maestro Mazzi turn a Zippo lighter case into a unique piece of art. His works are so vividly realistic and dimensional; sometimes it’s hard to believe that it’s not a photograph.” Mazzi, who lives and works in Modena, Italy, began airbrushing original works of art onto Zippo lighters in 1996, after a chance meeting with the president of Zippo Italia, Zippo’...

The event has been postponed because of the weather, but Elm Street Manager Lisa Keck says they hope to put a similar event together soon in conjunction with the 2nd Ward NPP. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Customers of the Pithole Water Company are being advised to boil their water until further notice. The well that serves the 35 to 40 customers is down, and work is not expected on the new well until tomorrow. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Shooters Grill & Bar in Port Allegany has been fined $200 for not maintaining complete and truthful business records from March of 2012 to March of this year. An administrative law judge imposed the penalty last month, according to the state police bureau of liquor control enforcement. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A car hit a cluster of mailboxes during a crash last night in Elk County, but the teenage driver wasn’t hurt. Police say 16-year-old Mitchell DeCecchis of Johnsonburg was on Long Level Road in Jones Township at 10:20 p.m. when his car went off the road, flew through the air after going up a side of a driveway, hit the cluster of mailboxes and then landed in a ditch. The car had to be towed from the scene. DeCecchis was cited for driving at an unsafe speed. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A 24-year-old Cattaraugus County man will spend the next 1 ½ to 3 years in state prison after being sentenced as a repeat felon. Derrek Eschenbach of Freedom was convicted of attempted to promote a sexual performance by a child. The incident happened in June of 2013 in the Town of Allegany. Prosecutors didn’t release any further information. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947