A huge crowd took advantage of the weather Friday to attend Bradford’s Festa Italiana. The “Italian Fest”, as it is commonly known, has been a tradition for years, with Italian cuisine and entertainment. The games, music, food, and beer spell a three day party with plenty to do for the entire family. The celebration culminates with a fireworks display at dark on Saturday night.

Visit Bradford-Online.com’s Photogallery to see more…

Festa Italiana begins Thursday and will continue through Saturday. The traditional Bradford celebration means food and friends, music, memories, and fun.

Check back here over the next few days for more pictures from the Fest!

The weather cooperated Thursday night and the crowd was great. Here are a few shots:

First there was a wrap-up party at the Bank Street Community Garden. The party marks the end of the garden’s design and construction. It was also intended to thank Kara Smith and Rachel Ence, the interns who contributed so much to make the project a reality. See our previous post with video.

After the wrap-up party, Bradford held it’s first celebration of National Night Out in the Family Video parking lot on West Washington Street. The City of Bradford Police Department provided children’s fingerprinting ID kits, safety information, and gave tours of the City’s Emergency Response Team van. The local D.A.R.T. (Diving And Recovery Team) were also there to explain their operations. McKean County CARE for Children was on hand with safety information and SAFE Kids McKean County handouts.

Project Pride Manager Linda Campongiani explains the concept behind Bradford’s National Night Out:

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For the past week, the story has been circulating that a Bradford, PA business had received a citation from the City for flags that extended into the roadway. A photo from the local newspaper, the Bradford Era, shows the business owner standing amidst a display of American flags in front of his building.

Bradford City Mayor Tom Riel has stated that tne citation has nothing to do with the American flag, or patriotism. The issue is obstructing a City right-of-way.

Today the Mayor revealed that when the citation was issued there were “six or seven white flags with lettering, that sat much lower to the ground”, that were not evident when the Era photograph was taken. Riel said that the display in the Era photo weren’t placed there until after the citation was issued.
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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.

C. B. WHITEHEAD was born Tioga County, Pa., January 8, 1840. at Lawrenceville, He was educated in the schools of his native county, and in 1860 went to Titusville, Pa., where he was employed by Brewer, Watson & Co., extensive oil producers. He returned to Tioga County and was engaged in mercantile business four years. In 1870 he went to Blossburg, Pa., and from there to Bradford in 1878, where he engaged in oil producing, and where he died, January 31, 1899. Mr. Whitehead was a Democrat. When Bradford was incorporated into a city in 1876 he was one of the first select councilmen, and served until 1884, when President Cleveland appointed him postmaster of Bradford. When his term as postmaster expired he was again elected to the Common Council, in a Republican ward, by a handsome majority. Mr. Whitehead built more than forty houses in Bradford. He was a member of the Masonic Fraternity. He was married in 1875 to Miss Mary Ferris. Two children were born to them : Sarah and Waldo M.

HON. LEWIS EMERY, Jr. — Senator Emery is perhaps the best-known citizen of Bradford. He was born near the village of Cherry Creek, Chautauqua County, N. Y., August 10, 1839. His father met with financial reverses in the construction of a railroad, near Olean, for the old Erie company, and in other ventures. He went west and located with his family in Michigan, where he carried on the milling business, having mastered the trade of cloth-making when young and being a skilled mechanic.

The subject of our sketch was educated in the common schools, and after learning the trade of his father, attended the Hillsdale College, of Hillsdale, Mich., where he finished his training. He then taught school, and worked for his father in his mill. In May, 1846, he went to Illinois, where he engaged in general merchandizing and built a mill.
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AUGUSTUS W. NEWELL

AUGUSTUS WILLIAM NEWELL was born October 9, 1832, at Newton, Mass. He attended the schools of Brookline, Mass. At the age of thirteen years he began the study of civil engineering. He was in his father’s office when a young man, and later helped survey the routes of different railroads. Daniel Kingsbury, his uncle, had purchased of the United States Land Company 200,000 acres of land in McKean County, Pa., and young Newell gave his uncle the money he had saved to invest in land in that county. He then settled at Bradford. He helped survey the route for and to build the Buffalo, Bradford and Pittsburg Railroad, his uncle being president and a large stockholder of the company. The company went into bankruptcy, owing young Newell considerable money.
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The calendar says today is the last day of winter.

We’re over the bitter cold of February, but not close enough to spring to feel that first warm breeze. When we step out, we “sense” the weather. We look toward the sky and we sniff the breeze, feel how damp the air is. We probe for any sign of spring. It will be here any day. Temperatures are unremarkable, hovering a little above freezing. About all you can say is that it’s not really cold.

The sun is gone, and we hover between rain and snow and sleet. Waiting. The rain and wind attack the receding piles of dirty snow and ice. The piles are ugly now, riddled with gravel and debris. We don’t like to look at them. They surrender their moisture, their essence. It floats skyward, like the dying spirit of Winter, returning to its beginning. Any day now, it’ll be Spring.

If you have to ask how much it costs, you can’t afford it. - J.P. Morgan

While gasoline prices in the rest of the nation declined, on average, to under $3.00, prices in Bradford Pa remained well above $3.00. Now that prices are rising again, retailers in Bradford are ahead of the curve, raising prices immediately. The U.S. reports healthy oil reserves, and the Chinese have capped prices and cut imports. So what’s the excuse this time? Reportedly, Speculation on a slowing U.S. economy is driving oil prices up.

Check here for the latest Bradford, PA Gas Prices.

“As I look around me,
a bright sky I see,
and a shadow beside me.
Six more weeks of winter it will be!”

Even as Punxsutawney Phil predicted that we’ll see six more weeks of winter, it was hard to believe that anything cast a shadow today.

This week’s weather is predicted to be overcast and cloudy with temperatures hovering slightly above freezing.

Speaking of the winter blues, are you looking for something to do on Superbowl Sunday? Consider coming to the 5th Annual Big Game Party & Wing Contest, 6pm Sunday at the Open Arms Community Church, 1289 East Main Street in Bradford. Bring your best wing sauce and enter the contest, or just bring a dish or drink to share. Everyone is invited!

Winter in Bradford can seem to drag on and on. We didn’t really get any snow until December. January, 2008 started off mild enough. Like the rest of the east coast, the last couple of weeks have been bitterly cold. If you’d like to discuss the weather, or anything else for that matter, visit our discussion forum, TalkAboutBradford.com.

Winter starts when the snow sticks to the ground.

It looks like winter will be here a while now.

All good things must come to an end eventually. That includes the amazing weather we’ve been enjoying in October. We’ve had blue skies, temps in the upper 70’s, and comfortable nights. According to weather forecasts, the next few days will see cloudy skies with scattered rain. Temperatures will drop to a more seasonal level; in the 50’s during the day and low to mid 40’s at night. *Sigh*

Here’s the heron I chased down the creek.

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For those of us watching the foliage, the peak season is still a little way off. Watching the leaves change as they head toward full color has been especially nice this year, because of all the clear blue skies and bright sun.

The lack of rain has its downside too, as peak foliage will probably be bright, but brief. Leaf peepers might not the famous vistas you see on postcards, but individual trees will still provide spectacular shots.

Predictions about the percentage of leaves that have turned and when peak foliage will appear is the subject of some discussion on Talk About Bradford.

Other sites like FallinPA.com or VisitPA.com provide some good information too.

Update: This post contains updated dates.

Artist Heather Levy’s Rocket Science Series will be on exhibit at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford from October 12th to November 16th, 2007. There will be an artist’s talk / opening reception Friday, Oct. 12, 2007 at 12:00 p.m.

The inspiration for the works in the series comes from formulas used in rocket science. Her paintings use depth, motion, and color to bridge the gap between physics and art. I contacted Heather and asked her a few questions:

Did you have a connection to Bradford prior to your exhibit?

In 2004 I volunteered to help paint a mural in Washington, DC, where I had the good fortune to work under the guidance of Master Painter Prof. Kong Ho, Associate Professor of Art & Program and Director of Communication & the Arts Division at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Professor Ho and I maintained a friendship and he alerted me to the possible opportunity of showing my work at UPB. I presented a portfolio for their consideration and was accepted!

What is the inspiration for your art?

My Art in general is inspired by life, the beauty of nature, the complexity of humanity. Each work contains a theory, notion, or hypothesis, either consciously or subconsciously.

I consider myself a philosopher writing with my brush. I put a capital “A” on Art and worship it.

What is was the inspiration for the Rocket Science series?

The inspiration for my Rocket Science Series was born from the phrase, “It’s not rocket science”. I wanted to be able to point to my work and say, “Well, this is Rocket Science”.

I researched actual Rocket Science formulas and then translated them into paintings.

The Richard E. McDowell Trail is a great choice for a morning run or a leisurely stroll. Well maintained, level, and paved, it’s wheelchair accessible. It’s also great for small kids on bikes. The Tuna Valley Trails Association established and maintains this and other trails, with community volunteers supplying most of the labor.

The trail is currently a 1.5 mile section between the trailhead on Campus Drive, across from the softball fields, to Clark’s Lane. Future plans call for extending the trail from downtown Bradford to the Marilla Resevoir. Click here for a map.

There is also vehicle access via the parking lots behind Pitt-Bradford’s McDowell Sports Center or Blaisdell Performing Arts Center, and at Clark’s Lane.

The trail’s ponds and fields are teeming with a wide variety of wildlife and plant life. Running parallel to the West Branch of Tuna Creek, fishing is allowed but only with artificial lures.

This part of the creek has been cleaned up considerably and is now able to support a microcosm of organisms that will only live in the cleanest water, including trout.

The whole trail is picturesque, and it’s not uncommon to see sketch or watercolor artists in the sun by the big pond.

To see lots of photos and to get a good idea of what the trail is like you can visit Bradford-Online.com’s Photogallery.

Today there’s a strong interest on the web for pictures. I’m pleased to introduce the Bradford-Online.com PhotoGallery. The intent of the photogallery is two-fold. First, to keep visitors up-to-date on events and the changing face of Bradford, Pennsylvania. The other goal will be to give visitors a sense of what Bradford is.

Take a look around. You can even send an Ecard using any of the pictures. If you have pictures or video posted on a web site and you’d like to share it, please do! Send a link from our Contact Us page.