Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

(News Release) HARRISBURG – The Senate Game and Fisheries Committee and Senate Majority Policy Committee, on Friday, held a public hearing to examine Pennsylvania laws pertaining to endangered and threatened species. Senator Joe Scarnati (R-25) and Senator Richard Alloway (R-33) explained that the purpose of the informational hearing was to receive testimony on the Threatened and Endangered Species legislation that has been proposed. Senate Bill 1047 was introduced by Senator Scarnati last year and would establish the Endangered Species Coordination Act. The hearing, which took place at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, included testifiers from the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, PA Chamber of Business and Industry and the PA Builders Association. “Our federal government has effectively protected threatened species for over 100 years,” Senator Scarnati stated. “However, currently in Pennsylvania our state agencies do not coordinate thei

One of the men who stole a Seneca Nation Marshal’s SUV and then did about $3,000 worth of damage to it has been found guilty by jury after a three-day trial in Cattaraugus County Court. 23-year-old Kevin Beaver of Salamanca stole the Chevy Tahoe while the marshals were responding to a call in Kill Buck. He and another man then took the SUV to Old Route 17, where they met up with two other men. All four then went to the gravel pits in the Town of Red House and did $2,665 worth of damage to the SUV. Beaver is scheduled for sentencing on March 10. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Florence A. Caruso, 90, of Bradford, passed away, Monday, January 6, 2014, at the Bradford Regional Medical Center, following a long Illness. Born June 18, 1923, in Seminole, PA, she was the daughter of Alexander and Veronica Ostovich. On December 15, 1945, in St. Charles Catholic Church in New Bethlehem she married Henry A. Caruso, who preceded her in death on June 10, 1999. Mrs. Caruso was a 1941 graduate of Redbank Valley High School in New Bethlehem and a 1969 graduate of St. Bonaventure University with a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Math Education. Mrs. Caruso taught in Bradford Schools for several years, and at the end of her career was an Elementary Principal, retiring in June of 1985. She had resided in Bradford since 1958. She enjoyed sewing and cooking. Surviving are two sons, Alex (Marcia) Caruso of Bradford and Joseph (Rozlyn) Caruso of Edina, MN five grandchildren, Michael (Katie) Caruso, and, Jill (Danny) Neighbour, Katie Caruso, Sarah (Daniel) Jankowski and Ma

Bradford was indeed a cool town on Friday, but warm hearts prevailed as an anonymous donor came through to push the United Way of the Bradford Area’s 2013 campaign over the $330,000 goal. “By 8:30 in the morning, we had a phone call saying that this donor wanted to contribute an additional $5,000, which was beyond exciting,” said Executive Director Mandi Wilton Davis. Although the campaign closed earlier in the week, officials say that, because it was the donor’s wishes for these dollars to be attributed to the 2013 appeal, they will make the necessary adjustments. “We, as an organization, obviously abide by the Donor Bill of Rights, which states that the donor can be assured that their gift will be used for the purpose for which it was given,” said Davis. “In this case, it was directed to the 2013 campaign, and that’s where it will be used.” Davis said she was happy with the success based on Thursday’s status, and is beyond elated today. “I really don’t know what to say. So man

Dave and Sam from Madison Rising joined Scott Douglas on The Morning Buzz today. Bradford Mayor Tom Riel proclaimed today "Madison Rising Day" in the city. Pictured with Dave, Sam, Tom Riel and Scott Douglas is TC Clark who organized tonight's concert at the VFW Event Center. About 20 tickets are left and will be on sale at the VFW at at 11 a.m. First come, first served. The band is dedicating tonight's show to US Army SFC Andrew R. Taylor and his family. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, PA-5, today voted to support H.R. 2279, the Reducing Excessive Deadline Obligations Act, which passed the House by a vote of 225 to 188. The legislation, composed of three separate bills, seeks to modernize existing federal law and increase the role of the states in environmental cleanups under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). “Passage of H.R. 2279 will protect businesses and local municipalities from expensive and duplicative federal hazardous substance cleanup requirements, which stands to help the 17 Superfund sites in Pennsylvania’s 5th Congressional District,” stated Rep. Thompson. “Additionally, these reforms will prevent EPA regulations, which the agency admits are overly burdensome and costly, from preempting state requirements pertaining to hazardous substances.” Included in the Reducing Excessive Deadline Obligations Act: · H.R. 2279, which pr

Besides the arson on West Washington Street, City of Bradford Police on Thursday investigated motor vehicle accidents on Interstate Parkway and Main and Forman streets and a drug violation on Bushnell Street. They were also called about disorderly conduct on Main Street and harassment on Cornen and Amm streets. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Agencies Will Still Get Full Funding The United Way of the Bradford Area closed the books on the 2013 campaign, “Life Is Good When You’re United”, coming up just $2,500 short of the $330,000 fundraising goal. “I’m truly so happy with the successes of this appeal,” said Executive Director Mandi Wilton Davis. “Aside from being so close to that 100%, we can assure our agencies that no one will receive a reduction in their 2014 monthly allocations, which is the most important thing.” Davis said that diligent, responsible and strategic work on the part of the Board of Directors led to the agencies being able to receive their full allocation. “They (the board members) take their responsibilities very seriously, especially that of determining which agencies receive funding from the annual campaign(s), and they worked very hard to determine what would be best for those agencies – and our community – in the end,” said Davis. Campaign Co-Chairs Mary Boser and Lisa Boser-Miller expressed

(News Release) HARRISBURG – Senators David G. Argall (R-29) and Joe Scarnati (R-25) are crafting a proposal that would strengthen the integrity of several areas within the state’s welfare department. The two senators are taking concerns voiced by their constituents to include in a proposal that addresses several areas of misuse of taxpayer-funded benefits. “Our concern is that these valuable taxpayer dollars are being misused when the programs are set to help those with a genuine need,” Senator Argall said. “We need to make sure we protect our most vulnerable citizens while letting the system abusers know the free ride is over. I’ve heard at town hall meetings some outrageous examples of misuse of taxpayer dollars occurring, but after further review, have found it is legal under the current system. This drives hardworking taxpayers crazy.” “Pennsylvania taxpayers deserve to know that their tax dollars are being invested wisely and that state funds for public assistance prog

A Ludlow man accused of threatening his mother with a gun and stealing her car has waived his preliminary hearing in McKean County Central Court. 49-year-old Christopher Straneva allegedly took his mother’s car without permission on December 20 and then, after refusing to give her gas money, threatened her with a .22 caliber rifle. Police found him December 22 on a forest service road and arrested him without incident. He remains in McKean County Jail on $75,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Four people have been picked up by the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force. 27-year-old Carmen Burney and Kellee Lewis, both of Olean, and 29-year-old Pierre Morgan and 29-year-old Justin Vance, both of Buffalo, are each charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance. They were charged after a search warrant was executed at Lewis’s home early this morning and the task force, along with the Olean City Police Street Crimes Unit, found crack cocaine. The task force says more charges are pending the completion of the investigation. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Arson has been determined as the cause of a fire late last night in a vacant apartment on West Washington Street. City police were called to 125 West Washington at just before midnight and found smoke coming from the back of the building. An upstairs tenant was able to put the fire out before firefighters arrived. Four people were in the upper apartment at the time and one of them suffered an asthma attack from smoke inhalation, but did not require medical treatment. The building is owned by David Monago. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact City of Bradford Police. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

City of Bradford Police on Tuesday got calls about harassment on Pleasant, Pearl and Chestnut streets as well as Chautauqua Place. They looked into traffic/parking problems on Brennan, School and Boylston streets, Abbott Road and Seaward Avenue. Officers also got a call about barking dogs on Park Street. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A man already in Chautauqua County Jail for a burglary in Busti has been sentenced as a repeat felon in Cattaraugus County. 27-year-old Brandon Clifton, who has lived in Jamestown and Randolph over the last couple of years, will spend 1 ½ to 3 years in prison for breaking into two camps in Randolph in June of 2012 and stealing several items. The Chautauqua County burglary was in October of 2012. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Four people appeared in Cattaraugus County Court on drug charges earlier this week. 34-year-old Joseph Dempsey of Olean was sentenced as a repeat felon to two years in prison for selling heroin last January in Olean. 49-year-old Henry Dalaba of Salamanca was sentenced to five years’ probation for selling morphine pills in July of 2012 in Salamanca. 20-year-old Katie Leti of Olean was sentenced to five years’ probation for selling a Lortab pill in July of 2012 in Olean. 57-year-old David Foster of Olean pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance for having heroin in February of last year in Olean. He’s scheduled for sentencing on February 24. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Salamanca woman has pleaded guilty to charges that she set fire to her mobile home. 50-year-old Tina Wagoner is charged with arson is connection to the November 8, 2012, fire in the City of Salamanca. She’s scheduled for sentencing on March 10 in Cattaraugus County Court. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Olean man who held police at bay for about an hour and a half, and fired a shot from a rifle out the back door of his apartment will spend the next two to four years in state prison. 49-year-old Frank DiLorenzo was charged as a repeat felon after pleading guilty to a charge of reckless endangerment. The incident happened on July 18. He eventually surrendered to police. No one was hurt. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Three men have been sentenced for running a meth lab in Allegany. 33-year-old Anthony Ray and 32-year-old Joshua Safford, who lived at the South Seventh Street house that was raided in March of last year, have each been sentenced to five years’ probation Their co-defendant 36-year-old Raymond Shaffer Jr. of Olean has been sentenced as a repeat felon to two years in state prison. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Westfield, PA, woman is facing federal charges for allegedly receiving Social Security benefits she wasn’t entitled to. The US Attorney’s office charged 63-year-old Rose Hager with coversion of government funds by receiving Supplemental Security Income benefits in March of 2011. They didn’t say how much money she received. The maximum penalty is one year in prison, followed by parole, along with a fine of more than $300,000 and significant tax penalties. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Today State Senator Joe Scarnati (R-25) was sworn in as President Pro Tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate for 2014. This is the eighth time Senate colleagues have elected Senator Scarnati to the third-highest constitutional office in the Commonwealth. The Honorable Justice Thomas G. Saylor administered the Oath of Office. Following being sworn-in as President Pro Tempore, Senator Scarnati offered remarks on major legislative issues that lie ahead for the Senate in 2014. Scarnati explained that one of the largest tasks this year will be to complete Pennsylvania’s budget. “I have confidence that the Senate will be a leader in ensuring our state budget is balanced in a responsible manner, while working hard to find a solution that will allow us to increase funding for our public schools, institutions of higher education and programs that help the elderly and our most needy citizens,” Scarnati stated. “The choices we make will be many, but the largest cost impacting our budget in the

The latest list of closings and cancellations go to http://www.wesb.com/news/closings/ . The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Office of International Services and Study Abroad is looking for students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members who live within 30 miles of Pitt-Bradford to submit photos for an upcoming exhibit. The 2nd Annual Pitt-Bradford Photography Exhibit will be on display from Jan. 17 through Jan. 31 in the KOA Art Gallery in Blaisdell Hall. This year’s theme is a celebration of Pitt-Bradford’s 50th anniversary. Amateur photographers may enter the following categories: 50 and Beyond; Black and White; Famous Things; Nature and Animals; Daily Life; and Most Creative. The People’s Choice category will be open to everyone, including professional photographers. Professionals will also be considered in the “Best Professional Shot” category. All student photographs will be considered for the “Best Student Shot.” An opening reception will be held at noon Jan. 17 in the KOA Speer Lobby of Blaisdell Hall. Those att

Two more people have been arraigned on drug charges following the New Year’s Eve sweep by the McKean County Drug Task Force. 35-year-old Justin Jones and 31-year-old Jessie Starr Jones are accused of selling Suboxone to a confidential informant of the task force. According to court records, the deal had been arranged by text message and took place at their Hedgehog Lane home. The husband and wife are charged with felony counts of delivery of a controlled substance, criminal use a communication facility and conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance, as well as a misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Bradford Police have arrested the man they believe is responsible for some of the burglaries in the city over the past month. 27-year-old Daniel Colella of Avenue B is charged with burglary, criminal trespass and criminal mischief. He’s in McKean County Jail on $150,000 bail. Police say their investigation is continuing. A Smethport man is in McKean County Jail on burglary charges. 24-year-old Nathan Hoy is also charged with forgery, criminal trespass, identity theft and related offenses in connection to a December 30 incident when he stole a woman's car and checkbook, according to court records. His bail is set at $25,000. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947