Is Bradford, PA issuing citations to businesses that display the American Flag, as this sign claims?

Local businessman Mike Smith is going to have his day in court after receiving a citation from the City of Bradford. The controversy involves two American flags and one POW/MIA flag that Smith has been displaying in front of his East Main Street business for years.

According to City Code Enforcement Officer George Corignani, the complaint was passed to his office after being received by City Clerk John Peterson. The complaint alleges the flags extend into the City’s right of way on East Main, causing a near accident.

According to City officials, both the City Clerk and Code Enforcement contacted Smith’s business and were told that the flags would stay. The citation was then issued.
Read the rest of this entry �

Bradford City Council held it’s regular meeting Tuesday night.

John Kohler was given the Key To The City Of Bradford. Sara Andrews, Director of the OECD, gave a presentation outlining some of Kohler’s contributions. Andrews told the audience, “Ten years ago nobody was investing in Main Street. The City had bought three buildings. We felt there was a need to renovate and encourage investment. John was one of those investors who really stepped up. Not only did he purchase and renovate several downtown buildings, but he actually went out and recruited businesses to occupy them”. It was also noted several of Kohler’s projects resulted in retaining businesses in the area, citing the three acre warehouse he built for Graham Packaging.

During the public comment portion of the meeting one resident raised privacy concerns. She complained that a neighbor had mounted a camera pointed at her house. Bradford City Police Chief Mike Close offered to talk to her after the meeting. Later a police spokesman stated that no charges could be filed in the matter. “The circumstances of each complaint are different. In this case it appears that no criminal law is being broken”.

The large upswing in still and video camera use, and the ease of publishing on the Internet has created a great deal of debate. Most laws that address the subject are civil, not criminal laws. Most of these laws hinge on the individual’s expectation of privacy. Columnist Andrew Kantor recently wrote this editorial on the subject in USAToday.

What do you think? Click here to send us your comments.

Here at Bradford-Online.com we hope everyone had a safe and happy 4th of July holiday. This seemed appropriate for the occasion. The voice should need no introduction, but for the younger crowd, it’s the voice of movie actor john Wayne. The fireworks were from the public display the Seneca Allegany Hotel & Casino in Salamanca, NY put on.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

The Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy (1855-1931), a Baptist minister, a Christian Socialist, and the cousin of Socialist Utopian novelist Edward Bellamy (1850-1898). [Wikipedia]
Read the rest of this entry �

Lights, camera, action! Little Chicago will stay in Bradford.

Related Links:

FilmInPA.com

Bradford City Council met Tuesday, 6/24/08. As expected, the City’s dog ordinance was amended to require a person walking their dog to have some means of cleaning up after their pet.

Council also approved a $200,000 loan to Zito Media for their on-going fiber optic project. This phase will continue work to include Bradford in the “fiber ring”. Jim Rigas and Steve Zwerin of Zito Media explained what the project involves.

Read the rest of this entry �

Bradford Mayor Tom Riel spoke Tuesday at a conference attended by Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, educators, and elected officials from across the state. The conference discussed plans to enact a school funding formula law that invests at least $2.6 billion over the next six years to help close the school funding shortfall identified in the legislature’s Costing-Out Report.

Riel told the conference, “Failure to act has real economic costs. As a locally elected official, I understand that if the state refuses to live up to its responsibility, then the burden falls to local taxpayers – which in turn hinders our economic growth. The best strategy for long-term property tax relief is for the state to increase funding for our schools.”

At the podium Riel also stressed how important it is for the General Assembly to cooperate to find a solution to the funding shortfall.

Related:

GOVERNOR RENDELL’S 2008-09 EDUCATION PROPOSED BUDGET

The City of Bradford’s Refuse & Recycling department has scheduled the week of April 28th – May 2nd as Cleanup Week.

The City is urging residents to bring all their trash to the curb. This is the time to bring out the old furniture, and other debris that’s built up over the winter. City crews cannot accept motor oil, paint, fuels, or chemicals. White goods such as washers, dryers, refrigerators, and other large appliances will be picked up for a $10 charge. You must pay at City Hall in advance of pick up.

According to Kriss Edwards at the City’s Refuse & Billing office, the regulations for this trash pick up are the same for the rest of the year. By offering a Cleanup Week, the department can schedule extra personnel and trucks for the added work.

To schedule white goods pick up, or ask a question:

Administrative Assistant/Refuse
Refuse Billing & Recycling
Kriss Edwards
(814) 362-3884 ext.12
kriss.edwards@bradfordpa.com

Residents should note the City’s Recycling Program can no longer accept newspapers bundled in plastic bags. Newspapers, magazines, and other paper recyclables should be placed in a green recycling bin and brought to the curb. Click here for the City’s 2008 Recycling Schedule.

The Bradford City Report for March 2008 has been published. This contains the City’s March budget report as well as departmental budget summaries as presented to City Counsel.

Find all 2008 City Reports here.

Bradford, PA – April 12, 2008

Protesters demonstrated Saturday at the retirement dinner held for Representative John E. Peterson at the Penn Hills Club here in Bradford, PA.

The group of about a dozen identified themselves as members of the Fifth District Peace Project. The group targets the Fifth Congressional District of Pennsylvania, and Representative Peterson’s voting record, particularly regarding the war. Peterson will be retiring at the end of his term. A number of candidates will compete for his seat in the election this fall.

The Fifth District Peace Project is co-sponsoring an event on Sunday, April 20, 2008 at Bradford’s Veteran’s Square from 10am – 4pm. The event is known as “Eyes Wide Open – An Exhibition On The Human Cost Of The War”. Co-sponsored by the American Friends Committee, more information is available here.