Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Bradford City Police on Friday looked into reports of a suspicious person on Oakwood Avenue, an erratic driver on Davis Street, an abandoned car on Cottage Row and a DUI on Harding Avenue, according to the complaint report and request sheet faxed to WESB and The HERO by the police department. Officers were also asked to check the welfare of several people, and received several requests to speak with an officer. They also received a report about a possible phone scam.

Two people were hurt in an accident on Route 20 in the Town of Ripley Friday afternoon. Chautauqua County Sheriff’s deputies say a vehicle driven by 56-year-old Paul Carey of Clymer was stopped to make a left turn when it was hit from behind by a vehicle driven by 29-year-old Heidi Caron of Westfield. Caron’s vehicle spun around and ended up on the shoulder of the opposite lane of travel. She had to be removed from the vehicle, and was taken to Westfield Memorial Hospital for treatment. Carey sustained a lower leg injury but refused treatment at the scene. Caron was cited for following too close.

An 18-year-old year old from Franklinville is jailed without bail for having a weapon on school property. In an e-mail sent to WESB and The HERO, Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Deputies say Derek Dallas had a sawed-off shotgun at a pond on school property behind the elementary school at 3 p.m. on Thursday. He was charged with criminal possession of a weapon. Back in May, Dallas and an Ellicottville man were charged with breaking into The Corner Drug Store in Cattaraugus and stealing several thousand prescription pills. They're awaiting further court action in that case. http://1490newsblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/cops-pair-stole-thousands-of-pills.html

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will name its new residence hall in honor of Bradford philanthropist Sarah B. Dorn, co-owner of Zippo Manufacturing Co. The University of Pittsburgh Board of Trustees approved the naming of Sarah B. Dorn House at its annual meeting Friday in Pittsburgh. Dorn House will become home to 103 students this fall. Pitt-Bradford broke ground for the $5.42 million residence hall, which is located near Fisher Hall, in November. “Sarah Dorn is a longstanding and very generous supporter of our campus, and the naming of this new residence hall in her honor is a reflection of our profound and sincere gratitude to her,” said Dr. Livingston Alexander, president. “Sarah Dorn will forever be remembered as one of the pillars upon which this beautiful campus stands.” Dorn, who is the daughter of Zippo founder George G. Blaisdell and held various positions in the company, has been an honorary member of the Pitt-Bradfor

A man arrested during an investigation into militia activity in the region has been sentenced on a weapons charge. 51-year-old Marvin Hall of Brookville, pleaded guilty in February to possessing weapons as a convicted felon. U.S. District Judge Arthur Schwap sentenced Hall to the 24 months he has already served, followed by three years of supervised release. Three other men were arrested in connection with the investigation into the Brookville Tigers Militia. 64-year-old Morgan Jones of Lucinda and 62-year-old Perry Landis of DuBois have also pleaded guilty. 61-year-old Bradley Kahle of Clearfield County was scheduled for trial in Johnstown. He allegedly told undercover agents that he hoped if Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama were elected president, they would be killed. You can see our previous stories here: http://1490newsblog.blogspot.com/search?q=militia

The Internet porn industry got good news today. ICANN, the not-for-profit corporation that coordinates the internet's naming system, has approved the .xxx top-level domain. The decision should soon bring to fruition our six-year effort to create a specific Web address for online adult entertainment, and comes on the heels of an independent review that declared that ICANN’s previous decision to deny .xxx was wrong, according to a news release from ICM Registry . Chairman Stuart Lawley said of the decision: “It’s been a long time coming, but I’m excited about the fact that .xxx will soon become a reality. This is great news." ICM Registry will now work with ICANN staff to complete the expedited due diligence on our technical and financial qualifications and to finalize the contract to run .xxx. Enough Is Enough, a non-profit organization aiming to make the Internet safer for children and families, isn't happy with the decision. "The creation of a .xxx domain sounds good

Kellogg has issued a voluntarily recall of select packages of Kellogg’s® Corn Pops®, Honey Smacks®, Froot Loops® and Apple Jacks® cereals. Consumers should not eat the recalled products because they do not meet quality standards. On its webiste Kellogg says, "We have identified a substance in the package liners that can produce an uncharacteristic waxy-like off taste and smell." A few consumers have experienced temporary symptoms, including nausea and diarrhea, the website says. Consumers with concerns should consult their health care provider. The products involved in the recall were shipped throughout the U.S. For specific information on the recalled products, go to Kelloggs.com

Bradford City Police spent a lot of time working on traffic and driving-related complaints, according to the complaint report and request sheet faxed to WESB and The HERO by the police department. They were called to a parking problem on Bushnell Street, “speeders” on Congress Street, a traffic complaint on South Center Street, a motor vehicle accident on East Main Street, a hit and run on Interstate Parkway and a suspicious vehicle on Boylston Street. Police also received reports of stolen property on West Washington Street, a theft on Congress Street, a dispute and an assault, both on South Avenue, harassment on South Center Street and an intoxicated person at a Main Street business.

The two men charged with dumping briny wastewater in the Allegheny National Forest have each been sentenced to three years’ probation. They’ve also been fined, placed on home detention and must do community service. 54-year-old John Morgan of Sheffield and 66-year-old Michael Evans of La Quinta, California, were convicted on violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act for injecting 200,000 gallons of brine produced from an oil drilling operation into two wells in McKean County between April of 2007 and January of 2008. Evans was a part owner of Kansas-based Swamp Angel Energy at the time, and Morgan was a site supervisor. Prior to sentencing, Judge Sean McLaughlin said the message to the oil and gas drilling community in Northwest Pennsylvania is clear: "If you fail to comply with the regulatory scheme in the Allegheny National Forest, including the permitting provisions, there will be serious consequences. … You cannot dump with impunity and essentially thumb your nose at the regul

While enjoying a get together with family and friends this weekend or participating in the uptown Kane, Alumni, and Art in the Wilds venues, be sure to tour the renovated Kane Depot and explore it's many treasures. Admission is free. The Depot Preservation Society, ArtWorks at the Depot, and Holgate Toys welcome alumni and other visitors to the Depot this weekend. Come tour the Depot and take a step back in time in the restored 1873 Railroad Depot. Enjoy the Railroad and Kane area history and artifacts. (You'll find a brand new display about CCC Camps in the baggage room. Also, Chief Robert Carson's family recently brought in a device that may demonstrate how Dr. Evan O'Neill Kane practiced for his famous self surgeries.) Buy Holgate Toys or purchase Depot preservation items (such as wooden postcards of the area or Kinzua Bridge Rail clocks. (You might even find a clock with your initials carved in the rail, but you won't be the first to do so.) ArtWorks at the Depo

About 400 cats are being removed from a no-kill animal shelter in St. Marys. The ASPCA says a search warrant was executed today at the Animal Friends of Elk and Cameron Counties. Investigators say the cats were crowded into the first floor of the sanctuary's building, and many of them appear to have upper respiratory problems. The cats are being tested for feline leukemia. The ASPCA declined to identify the people who run the facility. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hundreds-of-cats-at-pennsylvania-animal-sanctuary-rescued-by-aspca-with-assistance-from-american-humane-association--petsmart-charities-97087159.html

Short version: No changes Long version: PennDOT issues the following travel update for the Route 219/Bradford Bypass project in McKean County. This update is for the week of June 28. All work is weather and schedule dependent. Glenn O. Hawbaker, Inc. of State College is the contractor on this $28 million job. · Work on the Route 219 southbound ON-ramp at Elm Street continues. Traffic is using the existing shoulder. Contractor crew will be working close to the roadway, placing concrete for a new barrier wall. Expect delays during work hours. · Northbound traffic is sharing a lane with southbound traffic, separated by temporary concrete barrier from Mill Street to north of Hillside Drive. · Contractor will continue to truck materials for sub-base and paving operations and will be pulling into the closed “dead lane” from the northbound “live lane”. Traffic may be slow moving on Route 219 as this work takes place. · Northbound ramps at Foster Brook Interchange are closed. Traffic is to

The Pavilion at BRMC, located off the Pleasant Street access in Bradford, will have a free Brown Bag Pharmacy Day on Tuesday, June 29, from noon to 2 p.m., in its main entrance so community members can have their prescriptions reviewed by a pharmacist, said officials. Community members just have to put their prescriptions in a bag and bring them to The Pavilion. Prescriptions will be reviewed by two pharmacists from Pharmacy Management Group. The pharmacists will check brand-name and generic prescriptions, bio-equivalencies, costs, indications, expected outcomes, contraindications, discuss precautions, adverse effects, drug-to-drug and drug-to-food interactions, dosing regiment strategies, routes and methods of administration, and proper storage conditions. Also during the review, free blood pressure screenings will be offered. The Pavilion, adjacent to Bradford Regional Medical Center, is a 95-bed facility which provides long-term care to residents and also short-term restorative care

Scott, Dan and I will be talking about code enforcement and the earthquake on today's LiveLine at 12:35 p.m. -- and we'll be taking your calls, too. The number is 814-368-9372. You can listen online at WESB.com .

Two men from a Kansas-based oil company will be sentenced this morning for dumping briny wastewater in the Allegheny National Forest. John Morgan and Michael Evans of Swamp Angel Energy pleaded guilty in February for ordering workers to secretly dump more than 200,000 gallons of briny wastewater into two oil wells in McKean County between April 2007 and January 2008. The charge is a violation of the Safe Water Drinking Act and carries a maximum possible sentence of up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Inaugural UWBA/Tops Grocery Grab Jessie Skillman, Brenda Laird and Brian Abers get an introduction to the United Way of the Bradford Area “Grocery Grab” from Michelle Gangloff, manager of Tops Market. She then took them on a tour of the store and showed them areas that were off limits for the contest. Igor chats with the United Way's Mandi Wilton Davis and the contestants during his live broadcast from the event on 100.1 The HERO. Brenda takes her cart on a practice spin. Later, during the three minutes they had to fill their carts, Jessie loads up on coffee and Brian tries to maneuver his cart around a corner. Michelle rings up everything Brenda gathered while Tyler Clark and Heather Behan do the same for Jessie and Brian. The United Way's Kelly Case (with Mandi and Igor) announces the winner ... Brian Abers! Brian won a $350 Tops grocery card, $75 Tops gas card; Brenda won a $150 Tops grocery card, $25 Tops gas card; Jessie won a $75 Tops grocery card, $25 Tops gas card. And

Campus Police Officer Pierre Gregg has left the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford after 20 years of service due to health reasons. “I can’t express enough how sorry I am to see Pierre leave the department,” said Campus Police Chief Dan Songer. “He has been a great asset to me and the Campus Police, and I depended on him a lot. I will miss his loyalty to the department and to me. I want to wish him all the best in the future.” Gregg said, “I enjoyed working with the students and tried to help the people at Pitt-Bradford – the students, the faculty members and the staff members. I was very happy at Pitt-Bradford, and I would have worked longer if my health had not been the problem.” Gregg and his wife, Jacqueline, have lived in Marshburg since 1973. They have two grown sons, Brian and Bradley. Jacqueline Gregg, Brian Gregg and Brian’s wife, Amy, are University of Pittsburgh graduates. All of them support the University of Pittsburgh system.

The blood supply has been lingering at below safe levels for several weeks now, drifting up and down, and concerns are growing that the shortage will worsen as summer progresses. The excellent weather forecast for this coming weekend could also be a factor. The Community Blood Bank is open Thursday at Union Square from 3:30 to 7:30pm and Saturday 9-1pm. No appointment is needed to save a life. “Summer is always tough and we are expecting things to get worse,” Says Dan Desrochers Director of Marketing at the Community Blood Bank. “We are hoping to be ready but there’s a real cause for concern for local patients.” The Community Blood Bank is the EXCLUSIVE supplier of blood products to all the hospitals in Erie, McKean, Warren, Elk and Potter Counties. And now supplies Tioga County at over 50%. The CBB supplies 98% of all blood used in Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, & Allegany Counties in WNY. Only blood donated with the Community Blood Bank will alleviate the shortage in these counties

If you felt the Earth move at just after 1:30 this afternoon you’re not alone. Countless people called the McKean Count 911 Center and WESB to report a tremor or shaking. An earthquake hit near the Ontario/Quebec border in Canada and tremors were felt in Bradford, and even farther south. Originally the US Geological Survey said the quake’s magnitude was 5.5 Now they say it was 5.0. The quake hit at 1:41 this afternoon about 38 miles north of Ottawa. People in the Main, East Main and West Washington street and Jackson Avenue areas reported feeling the quake. It was also felt in Port Allegany, Warren, Olean, Allegany, Portville, Kill Buck, Randolph. In Jamestown, some buildings were evacuated as a precautionary measure. There were no reports of injuries or damage, but several buildings in the Toronto and Ottawa areas were evacuated. In Bradford, people reported items in their homes and offices moving. Some people reported feeling dizzy or light-headed, and realized later it was because o

On Monday, June 28, PennDOT will close the Knapp Creek Bridge on Route 346 in the village of Prentisvale. A detour will be in place through the 2010 construction season. The detour will direct drivers to use State Route 1017 (R.L. Sweitzer Drive) and State Route 246. Project work also includes approach and roadway paving, drainage items, guide rail installation, pavement markings and miscellaneous construction. A.L. Blades of Hornell, New York is the contractor on this $2.3 million job. The Knapp Creek Bridge is located on Route 346 in Prentisvale, Otto Township, McKean County. PennDOT expects to open the new bridge to traffic by late fall.

A 5.5 magnitude earthquake hit near the Ontario/Quebec border in Canada and tremors were felt in Bradford, and even farther south. The quake hit at 1:41 this afternoon about 38 miles north of Ottawa. The McKean County 911 Center and WESB got dozens of calls from people reporting the tremors and shaking. People in the Main, East Main and West Washington street areas reported feeling the quake. It was also felt in Port Allegany, Olean and Portville. There were no reports of injuries or damage, but several buildings in the Toronto and Ottawa areas were evacuated. In Bradford, people reported items in their homes and offices moving. Besides Canada, New York and Pennsylvania, the quake was also felt in Michigan and Vermont, according to the US Geological Survey. The quake lasted for about 30 seconds. http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsus/

A 5.5 magnitude earthquake hit near the Ontario/Quebec border in Canada and tremors were felt as far south as Main Street in Bradford. The quake hit at 1:40 this afternoon about 38 miles north of Ottawa. The McKean County 911 Center and WESB and The HERO got dozens of calls from people reporting the tremors and shaking. We’ll have more information later this afternoon.

HARRISBURG -- The Pennsylvania State Police placed 250 commercial vehicles out of service during a three-day enforcement effort last week that focused on trucks hauling waste water from Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling operations across the state, Commissioner Frank E. Pawlowski announced today. Pawlowski said state troopers worked in partnership with personnel from the Department of Environmental Protection, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and the federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration as part of Operation FracNET. In total, 1,137 trucks were inspected from June 14-16. “Pennsylvania has experienced significant increases in heavy truck traffic in areas where Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling operations are taking place, particularly in Bradford, Clearfield, Susquehanna, Tioga and Washington counties,” Pawlowski said. “The process of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, requires significant amounts of water to be delivered to the sites and later trucked away.” He sa

The preliminary hearing for a man accused of killing a St. Marys man on June 12 has been continued until August. 67-year-old Edward Kralik Jr., also of St. Marys, is charged with criminal homicide and aggravated assault for the stabbing death of 50-year-old Clayton Lecker. During his arraignment last week, Kralik said the incident was an accident and he’ll prove it. Kralik and Lecker were in a fight when Lecker was stabbed. Kralik was treated for his injuries at Hamot Medical Center. Kralik is in jail without bail.

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Bradford’s newest councilmen agree that code enforcement is the number one priority of city residents. Almost all public comment council has received in the last six months has been about code enforcement, blighted properties and the historic district, said Councilman Fred Proper during Tuesday's council meeting. “The quality of life in our community is being affected by the property in the community – deteriorating property,” he said. As a council, “You got it across to us that it’s probably the number one priority in this community right now. We need to work together to handle that.” “I’ve got the message that it is the number one priority, aside from maybe some financial problems that we’re going to have to face,” he said. “This is the number one issue – blighted properties, code enforcement,” Councilman Jim Evans said. “The only reason it surpasses financial is we’re not building a budget right now.” “That message has come through loud a

When the Workshop Trailblazers ATV Club won a contest to ride with ATV enthusiast Brian Fisher at their favorite location, they had just one spot in mind – Majestic Kamp & Lost Trails in Coleville, just outside of Rew. That ride will be aired on Fisher’s ATV World on the Outdoor Channel on Monday at 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. and Tuesday at 12:30 a.m. It will also air in September. Brenda Fitch, owner of Majestic Trails, located on Route 46, explained that Fisher’s ATV World is a show that promotes new ATVs, equipment and riding areas. The Workshop Trailblazers, out of York, won a “Ride with Brian” by coming in first place in the Club Contest for having the most club members present at the 2009 Fisher’s ATV Reunion in Patton, Pa. “They toured our place here and did a lot of interviews,” Fitch said of the television crew. “We were very pleased and excited that a club from York chose Majestic Trails here in Rew as their favorite riding park.” The crew was on site May 6-May 8. Fitch said

State Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk) is looking to honor veterans of the Korean War. "I would like to recognize men and women living in the 75th Legislative District who served our great nation during the Korean War," said Gabler. "It is a chance to say 'We have not forgotten' to those who served in a war that took the lives of nearly 34,000 members of the United States Armed Forces and profoundly changed the lives of countless others." A ceremony is being planned for later this year. Anyone wishing to nominate a Korean War veteran to be honored should contact Gabler's office before Monday, August 9. Be prepared to include the following information on the veteran: name, home address, phone number, branch of service, rank and time of service. Contact information is needed in order to send out invitations. You may register your veteran's name by calling Gabler's DuBois office at (814) 375-4688 or his St. Marys office at (814) 781-6301, or by l

The hot days and warm nights of summer are the perfect time to stake down a tent or pack up the RV and pull out the backpack to enjoy some family fun in the Allegheny National Forest region in Pennsylvania. Temperatures in the higher altitude of the Allegheny Plateau provide cool breezes on those hot summer nights and the pristine shore line of the Allegheny Reservoir provides plenty of opportunities for water adventures. The lush green forest lands of the Allegheny National Forest region draws thousands of visitors each year to experience life in the Pennsylvania Wilds whether you want to camp in the woods or stay in one of the many cozy cabins available in the region. Allegheny Site Management handles all the camping within the Allegheny National Forest, including Willow Bay, which has access to the Allegheny Reservoir. At Willow Bay, there are six primitive cabins with a porch swing, electric, nearby water and showers, parking and a fire ring. Cabins along the shoreline provide beau

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 22, 2010 – Auditor General Jack Wagner said today that the state’s Megan’s Law website has improved in recent years but it still has significant problems with accuracy and usefulness. In a special report released today, Wagner gave the state’s Megan’s Law website an overall grade of C-, with marks of C- for offender photographs, B for information provided, D for search functions, and D- for features and tools. The advocacy group Parents for Megan’s Law gave Pennsylvania’s Megan’s Law a grade of D four years ago when it issued report cards for every state. “Our conclusion is that the Pennsylvania Megan’s Law website does not make the grade in providing the public with useful, accurate and easily accessible information,” Wagner said. “The website must be improved.” The special report follows up on a special performance audit of Megan’s Law that Wagner conducted in 2006. That audit faulted the website for failing to provide the public such basic information as up-to

Charges are pending against the person who set a Hamlin Township building on fire Friday afternoon. In a fax sent to WESB and The HERO, State Police Fire Marshal Greg Agosti says he and the state Department of Environmental Protection conducted an investigation into the fire at 61 Old Bradford Road at 3:15 p.m. on Friday. “A known actor” ignited the remains of the building, owned by 55-year-old Courtney Ahlberg of Kane, with the intent of disposing of it. A passing motorist and neighbors reported the fire. Mount Jewett, Hamlin Township and Smethport fire departments responded. No one was hurt, but a nearby building also owned by Ahlberg had minor heat damage. Agosti says the investigation is continuing and charges are pending. He and DEP are also reminding people that the Solid Waste Management Act of Pennsylvania (Act 97) states that burning of any solid waste without a permit from DEP constitutes unlawful conduct. DEP does not give permits for burning waste, other than in incinerator

An Army National Guard soldier from Erie has pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally bringing guns into the United States. 42-year-old James Bindeman is charged with of entry of goods into the United States by means of false statements. Prosecutors say Bindeman built a crate with a false bottom and hid 11 guns in it when he returned from duty in Iraq. He said the crate had power tools and golf clubs in it. The guns were discovered when the crate was unpacked at a guard readiness center in Cambridge Springs. Bindeman faces two years a prison, a fine of $250,000 or both when he’s sentenced on October 22. http://www.justice.gov/usao/paw/pr/2010_june/2010_06_21_03.html

A federal judge in New Orleans, Louisiana, has blocked a six-month federal moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs says the government will immediately appeal the ruling to the 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. More from CNN.com .

A lawyer for the man who infected more than a dozen people in Chautauqua County with HIV was in court today to argue that his client has done his time and should be released from prison. Nushawn Williams’ prison term ended in April, but Attorney General Andrew Cuomo wants to keep him in custody under a civil law that allows extended confinement for a person who has a mental abnormality. A judge ruled last month there was enough evidence to hold Williams until a civil confinement trial in October. State Supreme Court Judge John Michalski reserved decision on today’s arguments and ordered both sides to be back in court next month.

The Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau (HHRVB) has challenged their Facebook Fans to "Be A Candy Bar Czar" with a new contest created exclusively for their Fan Page audience http://Facebook.com/HersheyHarrisburg . Through July 16, Facebook Fans can follow in the footsteps of the great chocolate magnate Milton S. Hershey who built his fame and fortune on his uncanny ability to create and market unique candy confections like the original Hershey®'s Milk Chocolate bar and Hershey®'s Kisses® chocolates. To be eligible for the "Be A Candy Bar Czar" grand prize valued at $2,000, participants must post what "tasty" ingredients they would put in their ultimate candy bar and what they would name their new creation. "Imagine you were given the keys to your very own top secret food lab," said Rick Dunlap, Director of Communications for HHRVB. "If you had access to any ingredient in the world, what would you put in your ultimate candy b

It was a busy start to the week for Bradford City Police. They received reports of missing property on Bushnell Street, a theft from Cole Avenue porch, and a theft from Rochester Street, according to the complaint report and request sheet faxed to WESB and The HERO from the police department. Officers also looked into disputes and Park and West Corydon streets and disturbances on West Washington and Jefferson streets, as well as harassment on Jefferson. They investigated motor vehicles accidents at High and King streets, and on Elm Street, and a hit and run on Jackson Avenue. Police were called to complaints of loud music on Leland Avenue, dogs running loose on Lorana Avenue and juveniles in the road on West Washington Street. They were also asked to remove a person from a Main Street business.

The Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force has released more information about the weekend arrest of a Chinese national accused of running a marijuana growing operation in Cattaraugus County. 31-year-old Xiao Xia Tang is jailed on charges of theft of services and unlawful growing of marijuana. Tang is also an illegal alien, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have been notified. Friday night, a raid of Tang’s Cold Spring home by several law enforcement agencies uncovered 1,162 marijuana plants worth more than $2 million. They also found about $10,000 worth of marijuana-growing equipment. The Olean and Jamestown offices of the drug task force, as well as the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office, Drug Enforcement Agency Task Force and New York State Police Community Enforcement Team were involved in the investigation and the raid. Photos courtesy of the Southern Tier Regionanl Drug Task Force/Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office

Drama, comedy and ballet are on the bill for the 2010-11 Prism Series at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. The university’s premiere arts series will begin with “The Diary of Anne Frank” presented by The Barter Theatre from Abington, Va., at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13 in the Bromeley Family Theater in Blaisdell Hall. The price for the public is $29 and $24; the cost for all students is $12 and $10. A matinee will be performed Oct. 14 as part of the Kaleidoscope school series. Based on the published diary of German teenager Anne Frank, the play tells the story of two Jewish families in hiding from the Nazis in wartime Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The beauty of the story of Anne Frank is that she left behind in her diary … the everyday thoughts, dreams and ordinary existence of an adolescent girl growing up in extremely difficult conditions while struggling with those things every adolescent experiences,” wrote Richard Rose, director of the Barter Theatre’s pro

Children between the ages of 7 and 12 who’ve suffered any kind of loss are being urged to attend the free Helping Hands Retreat at Camp Penuel in Eldred on Aug. 13-15. To enable a child to attend the camp, call Bradford Regional Medical Center’s (BRMC’s) McKean County VNA & Hospice office at 814-362-7466 by Aug. 9. “If you know of a child who has experienced the loss of someone close to them, or any other loss that is affecting them, encourage their family to call the VNA,” said Martha Dibble, RN-C, hospice coordinator for VNA & Hospice. “We can accommodate 20 to 25 children at the sixth annual camp that’s filled with fun and meaningful activities,” said Mrs. Dibble. Registration is open to all children, not just those who live in McKean County. Also, “Children who’ve attended before are welcome to come again,” Mrs. Dibble said. Those who return will find new activities have been added. The camp is staffed by full-time VNA staff, a registered nurse, a social worker, a lay minis

A 63-year-old New York City man has been arrested in connection with a bomb threat phoned in to the Buffalo campaign headquarters of gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino in April. Miles Fisher has been charged with conveying false information, following the bomb threat phoned in to the "Paladino for the People" campaign headquarters in Ellicott Square on April 13. Ellicott Square was evacuated as a precautionary measure. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both. http://www.justice.gov/usao/nyw/press/press_releases/FisherArrest.pdf

Divers found the body of 31-year-old Jason Allen of Jamestown at about 2:45 this afternoon. Allen disappeared late Saturday afternoon on Chautauqua Lake near Dewittville Bay after jumping into the water from a boat. Volunteer fire departments and the county dive team had been searching the lake since about 5:30 on Saturday. Today, they used a special sonar unit from the Glade Township, PA, fire department that can be dragged by a boat and provides better visibility underwater.

A State Senator has introduced a crime-reporting bill named for a mentally disabled woman who was tortured and killed earlier this year. State Senator Kim Ward calls the bill calls "Jennifer's Law," for 30-year-old Jennifer Daugherty. The proposal would make it illegal for someone to witness a violent crime and fail to report it to police. "It is heartbreaking to think of what Jennifer went through, and the fact that one phone call to police might have put an end to these cruel crimes," Ward said. “Sometimes society has to compel people to do the right thing. This legislation is aimed at preventing further tragedies." Daugherty was tortured for several days before being stabbed to death and her body dumped in a parking lot. Two of the six people accused in her death are facing the death penalty. Ward also expressed her concern that housing shelters are not screening guests for criminal backgrounds. Daugherty met some of the defendants at a homeless shelter

A Salamanca man who made child pornography videos with five girls has been sentenced to 75 years in federal prison. 38-year-old Shawn Snyder's victims ranged in age from 4 to 11. He pleaded guilty in February to five counts of producing child porn. He was sentenced today in federal court in Buffalo. Snyder's defense attorney argued that his client is mentally retarded and has an IQ of 73. But Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango pointed out that Snyder is intelligent enough to operate a high-end video camera and entice girls to come to his home and appear in the videos.

This is the third part of a series I've been calling "Gasland," in reference to to the award-winning film by Josh Fox. The film is winner of The Special Jury Prize for documentary at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. For more on the movie -- including video -- go to Gasland the Movie.com . The movie debuts on HBO at 9 p.m. today. Last week, I spoke with US Senator Bob Casey, a co-sponsor of the FRAC Act. You can listen here . Pictured, a panel discussion following the June 6 showing of the movie in Bradford. Josh Fox is on the far right.

The Allegheny National Forest was selected by the Rainbow Family as the location for their 2010 national gathering and, since ince this announcement, the forest has joined forces with a National Incident Management Team (NIMT) to manage the event. The primary concern for the gathering is the health and safety of area residents, forest employees, and Rainbow Family gathering attendees. “This team, working in partnership with the Forest, will help ensure a safe and successful gathering for all parties involved,” stated Forest Supervisor Leanne Marten. “We realize the impacts to the communities and services resulting from a gathering of this size and we will strive for positive outcomes from this event,” added Marten. The Rainbow Family is a loose-knit group of people from diverse backgrounds who gather annually on a national forest for a celebration of peace during the July 4th holiday, when the gathering reaches peak attendance of up to 10,000 people. Following the holiday, the attend

Motorsports fans will want to be at the Zippo/Case Museum on Saturday, June 26, when Zippo celebrates with special sales and promotions, car displays, and the opportunity to win tickets to the Zippo 200 Nationwide Series race at Watkins Glen. Here’s a chance to get up close to the show car replica of the Zippo / Kwik Fill #47 Toyota that Marcos Ambrose hopes to bring to Victory Lane in his only Nationwide race this year, the 2010 Zippo 200 at the Glen. Try your skill at taking on the twists and turns of The Glen in the NASCAR racing simulators, or grab a photo of the pace car that leads the field at Watkins Glen International. NASCAR not your speed? See the 1947 Zippo Car and browse the traveling museum for a look at hundreds of Zippo lighters that tour with the Zippo Car. Don’t miss this chance to see the Freedom Bike, a custom-painted 2010 Harley Fat Bob that will be raffled off Saturday, July 17, by the Kids and Cancer philanthropic organization. Save 20% off all Zippo MotorSports

The preliminary hearing for the Emporium man charged with the murders of Wayne and Vicky Shugar of Brockway has been continued. 45-year-old Steven Rebert was scheduled to be in district court today. He was arrested in New York State on June 12 on unrelated charges, then turned over to Pennsylvania State Police, who charged him with criminal homicide, aggravated assault and burglary. He’s in Jefferson County Jail without bail. The Shugars were found shot to death in the basement of their home on April 12. Rebert is also a person of interest in the unsolved murders of Bill Fickel of Genesee County, New York, and Kevin Smith of Orleans County.

Another natural gas well incident in the region sent two people to the hospital. The workers were hurt Friday morning in Tioga County when a pipe coupling came apart at an Ultra Resources well in Gaines Township. DEP’s Nels Taber says both workers were flown to Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre. A piece of metal hit one worker in the head, causing a skull laceration; the other had broken ribs. The well was being readied for production, but was shut down for the rest of the day on Friday. OSHA is investigating.

I had the pleasure of speaking with New York Times best-selling author Mary Alice Monroe about her book Last Light Over Carolina , which just came out in paperback. The story takes place in a small shrimping village off the coast of South Carolina, which led Mary Alice and I into a conversation about the BP disaster in the Gulf and how that is affecting families. Listen here . For more information go to Mary Alice Monroe.com .

to all you dads out there. (Yes, all of you.)