DUBOIS – Next week, the local American Red Cross serving Cameron, Clearfield, Elk and Jefferson counties will kick off its annual First Bash of Summer Carnival, offering area residents the opportunity to enjoy food and fun, all while supporting the organization’s humanitarian work in the local community.

The event will be held from May 29 through June 1. It will be held at the DuBois Memorial Park and run from 6 p25.m. -10 p.m. May 29-31 and from 3 p.m. – 10 p.m. June 1.

“Area residents look forward to this event every year,” said Jason Bange, executive director of the local Red Cross. “Not only is it a reminder that summer is right around the corner, but the event offers attendees the opportunity to help the local Red Cross provide aid and services to their neighbors in need.”

A group of supporters and volunteers of the Red Cross in DuBois created the carnival in 2004 to help the local chapter fulfill the mission of the Red Cross. Each year, the carnival attracts area residents with carnival rides, games, great food and live entertainment.

All proceeds from the carnival will benefit local disaster relief. The Red Cross in Western Pennsylvania responds to approximately three disasters each day, providing victims with their immediate disaster-caused needs including food, clothing and shelter. Last year, the PA Heartland Chapter responded to approximately 50 emergencies and provided Red Cross services to nearly 50 families.

For more information on the organization and the First Bash of Summer event, please contact the local Red Cross at 814-371-2750.

Glendale, AZ, United States (4E Sports) – The Phoenix Coyotes have signed executive vice president and general manager Don Maloney to a long-term contract extension but did not disclose terms of the deal as per club policy.

“We are very pleased that Don has agreed to sign a long-term contract extension with the Coyotes,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said on behalf of the league, which owns the franchise.”

“Since joining the team in 2007, Don has done an outstanding job managing his team and building a competitive roster that has produced on the ice, even given less than ideal circumstances off the ice,” Daly added.

With the new deal, Daly said the NHL remains committed to securing the Coyotes’ future in Glendale under new ownership.

In six seasons under Maloney, the Coyotes have posted an impressive record of 230-172-56 including qualifying for the Stanley Cup Playoffs three times.

“I am grateful to continue working for this franchise,” said Maloney. “We have a strong core of talented people, both on and off the ice, who are committed to building a championship team and a first class organization.”

In 2011-12, Maloney led the Coyotes to a 42-27-13 record and 97 points, securing their first division championship en route to the franchise’s first appearance in the Western Conference Final.

It marked the first time in franchise history that the Coyotes had recorded three consecutive seasons with 40-plus wins.

In addition, the Coyotes reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the third consecutive year, marking the first time the franchise qualified for the postseason in three or more straight seasons since the team clinched a playoff berth from 1996-2000.

Maloney received the inaugural NHL General Manager of the Year Award following the 2009-10 season after steering the Coyotes to a 50-25-7 record for 107 points, setting franchise records for wins, home wins (29), points, and longest home winning streak (10) while qualifying for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2002.

Before joining the Coyotes in 2007, the 54-year-old Maloney spent the previous 10 seasons as a member of the New York Rangers’ front office, most recently serving as the team’s Vice President of Player Personnel and Assistant General Manager.

As a player, Maloney registered 214 goals, 350 assists and 564 points and 815 penalty minutes in 765 regular season games over 13 NHL seasons with the Rangers, Hartford Whalers and Islanders. He also collected 22 goals, 35 assists and 57 points in 94 career Stanley Cup playoff games.

Toronto, ON, Canada (4E Sports) – Danny Valencia and Adam Jones homered while Freddy Garcia pitched five strong innings for his first win of the season as the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Toronto Blue Jays, 6-5, Saturday at Rogers Centre.

The veteran Garcia (1-2) allowed three runs – two earned – on nine hits with a strikeout in five innings of work to earn his first win in four starts this season.

Valencia finished 1-for-3 with two RBIs while J.J. Hardy knocked in two runs for the Orioles, who won four of their last five games to improve to 27-22, third in the American League East.

Toronto ace R.A. Dickey (4-6) suffered the loss after giving up six runs on nine hits with three walks and four strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings, increasing his ERA to 4.85.

The Orioles wasted no time jumping to an early lead against Dickey, the reigning National League Cy Young winner.

Chris Davis ripped a ground-rule double down the right-field line to bring home Manny Machado before Hardy hit a two-run single for a 3-0 lead.

However, Toronto responded quickly as Adam Lind hit an RBI single in the bottom part of the first and Emilio Bonifacio smacked a solo shot in the second to make it a 3-2 game.

In the third, Valencia crushed a two-run homer into the second deck in left field to put Baltimore ahead, 5-2. It was Valencia’s second homer of the season and second in as many nights.

Garcia ran into some more trouble in the fifth when his errant throw hit Brett Lawrie as he was running down the first-base line, allowing Jose Bautista to score.

Garcia, however, bounced back and ended his stint strong by getting Colby Rasmus to groundout to end the frame, leaving two runners stranded.

Dickey contained the Orioles after Valencia’s homer but he ran into Jones in the seventh. Jones drilled a 1-1 pitch into the upper deck in left field for his eighth homer of the season, giving the Orioles a 6-3 lead.

The Blue Jays rallied in the eighth against Steve Johnson, cutting the Orioles’ lead to 6-5 behind RBI singles from Munenori Kawasaki and Melky Cabrera.

However, Jim Johnson pitched a scoreless ninth to seal the win and clinch his 15th save of the year.

Baltimore will go for the series win Sunday with Miguel Gonzalez (2-2) on the mound against Chad Jenkins (1-0).

Columbus, OH, United States (4E Sports) – Ohio State has boosted its already stocked 2014 class after St. Vincent-St. Mary’s linebacker Dante Booker gave an oral commitment to join the Buckeyes.

Booker was the ninth oral commitment for the Buckeyes, whose 2014 class includes six in-state players.

“We’d much rather have more of a base here and then start branching out a little bit later,” Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer said.

Among the top 75 players in Ohio as ranked by the Rivals site BuckeyeGrove.com, 25 have given oral commitments so far. The Buckeyes have more of them than any other school, with Cincinnati linebacker Sam Hubbard falling outside the top 75.

From the 25 pledged players, five have committed to Ohio State, including linebacker Dante Booker (No. 2), linebacker Kyle Berger (No. 6), offensive lineman Kyle Trout (No. 7), running back Parris Campbell (No. 15) and offensive lineman Marcelys Jones.

Currently, Ohio State is third in the recruiting ranks behind Notre Dame and Michigan. Last season, Ohio finished with a perfect 12-0 record but never made it to a bowl game because of NCAA sanctions.

In February, Meyer declared that Ohio State was much further ahead in recruiting for 2014 than the Buckeyes had been the year before.

However, Ohio State’s recruitment has been challenged by Michigan, Notre Dame and other programs like Louisville and Kentucky.

Denver, CO, United States (4E Sports) – Denver Nuggets general manager Masai Ujiri, the 2013 NBA’s Executive of the Year, is in negotiations to take over as the Toronto Raptors General Manager.

Ujiri, 42, is weighing his option but appears more likeely to will leave the Nuggets.

His Denver contract expires on June 30, and it appears the Nuggets have no intention of countering the Raptors’ pursuit of Ujiri.

Toronto’s bid is believed to be double to triple of what Denver could best offer Ujiri, one of the lowest-paid executives in the league.

New MLSE CEO Tim Leiweke is spearheading Toronto’s pursuit of Ujiri.

Since leaving Toronto in 2010, Ujiri has done a masterful job reshaping the Nuggets into a Western Conference contender in a post-Carmelo Anthony era.

Toronto has stripped one of Ujiri’s mentors, president Bryan Colangelo, of ultimate say on basketball matters but Colangelo will remain on the business side of the Raptors’ organization. Ujiri had been the assistant GM for the Raptors.

Las Vegas, NV, United States (4E Sports) – Two-time UFC champion Cain Velasquez weighed 240 pounds as his 6-foot-4 challenger Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva reached 263, 2 pounds under the heavyweight division limit.

The heavyweights meet again in a rematch Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas for UFC 160 with a title on the line.

Velasquez tore apart Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva one year ago en route to a vicious opening-round technical knockout.

“Bigfoot is dangerous,” said Velasquez, who recaptured the belt in December after a five-round decision over Junior dos Santos. “I’m not taking him lightly going into the fight, for sure.”

Silva earned his rematch with stoppages of Travis Browne and Alistair Overeem.

Zuffa’s traditional Memorial Day weekend offering in Las Vegas features a heavyweight tilt pitting dos Santos (15-2) against Mark Hunt (9-7) in the co-main event, with the winner possibly in line to fight for the UFC title.

Dos Santos, 28, weighed 239 pounds. Hunt (9-7), weighed 264 pounds.

In a lightweight title eliminator, 29-year-old Canadian T.J. Grant (20-5) faces American Gray Maynard (11-1-1) with a shot at champion Benson Henderson.

Grant, weighed 155 pounds, while Maynard, 34, checked in at 156 pounds. 

Curwensville second-baseman Taylor Goodman covers first on a bunt attempt by Moniteau’s Alyssa  Dailey. The Lady Tide advanced to the District IX Class AA Championship game with a 12-0 win.  Goodman went 3-for-5 at the plate in the game.                 (photo by Rusty McCracken)

Lady Tide pitcher Tierra Shope went 3-for-4 at the plate including this double to right as Curwensville ousted Moniteau 12-0 on Friday.  Lady Warrior catcher Emily Hiwiller watches the ball.            (photo by Rusty McCracken)

WEST SUNBURY – If the third time is the charm, then in her third start in the District IX Championships, Curwensville Area High School pitcher Tierra Shope was certainly charming.  In the circle, Shope blanked hosting Moniteau 12-0 while making the most of her plate experiences with a 3-for-4 afternoon including two doubles on Friday.

In the last two seasons, while competing in the Class A playoffs, the Lady Tide bowed out in their first round games – losses that sat uneasy with the Tide’s right hander.  As a freshman, Shope lost to Smethport 1-0 when the only hit she allowed in the game cleared the center field fence.  Last season, in a hitter’s duel, everything off the Coudersport bats seemed to fall in for hits in an 8-5 exit for Curwensville.  Both of those games were also played on the road.

In Friday’s game with Moniteau, the higher seed in the Class AA bracket, Shope’s only pre-game comment to head coach Allen Leigey was, “I’m ready.”  She then stepped in the circle and the batter’s box and proved it.

“It seems strange to talk about Tierra’s hitting, but she stepped in and gave us three knocks,” Leigey said.  ”We had been struggling in the lower part of the line-up, and I told her we were going with a straight nine card.  It paid off today.”

Shope and the defense allowed just two runners to get to third base – one after an error, and one on a triple, in the first two innings.  The Lady Warrior offense could manage to get on base just three more times in the game – all of them in the fifth and final inning.  Shope scattered three hits (two in the fifth inning with one of those the result of an obstruction call).  She struck out one batter and walked one as well.

On an unusually chilly day, the Tide offense was able to put the heat on Moniteau in the first inning.  Sarah Wriglesworth slapped a one out single to center and moved to second on Cheyenne Pentz’ single.  After the second out, Abby Johnson and Abby Dugo showed their patience at the plate to draw back-to-back walks for the 1-0 lead.  However, the visitors left the bases loaded after that.

Moniteau threatened in the bottom of the first when a one-out error left Heather McMillen on second.  McMillen moved to third on a ground out, but was stranded there.  Warrior catcher Emily Hiwiller drew the only free pass of the day off Shope, but jumped off the bag too early on a steal attempt and was called out.

Again the hosts threatened in the second when Nicole Buterbaugh slapped a triple down the right field line with one out.  Shope followed the three-bagger with a strikeout and got opposing pitcher Taylor Hasychak to pop out to left to end the last threat of the game for the Warriors.

“We gave them runners in the early innings and got out of it,” noted Leigey.  ”I was a little nervous because we were letting them hang around (The Tide left two runners on in the second without scoring).  We felt that if we could put the ball in play, we could put up some good numbers, but we were sitting on that 1-0 lead, and I wasn’t comfortable.”

The Curwensville offense gave their coach the peace of mind he was looking for in the fourth inning by sending 13 batters to the plate and scoring nine times.  Shope started the hit parade with a one out single to left.  Taylor Goodman and Wriglesworth followed with singles for the first run of the inning.  Pentz then walked to load the bases before Tiffany Carter singled in a run.

Johnson followed with a two-run double and Dugo singled in two more for a 7-0 lead.  Alaina Stiles singled to send Dugo to third, and Nikki Harker added an RBI safety as well.  Dominique Newkirk came in to run for Harker with Stiles at third.  Newkirk drew a late throw to second on a stolen base and Stiles also stole home for a 9-0 count.  Newkirk finished the inning’s scoring when Shope doubled for her second hit of the inning.

Two runs were added by the Tide in the sixth set up by hits from Pentz and Carter.  The 10-run rule went into effect as the defense closed the book on the hosts in the fifth.

“We didn’t really know what to expect coming into the AA tournament,” said Leigey.  ”We went out in the first round the last two years, and it’s really good  to get to the finals.  We wanted this win, and I’m really proud of these kids.”

Curwensville finished their first appearance in the Class AA championships with 16 total hits – 10 from the senior bats.  Goodman, who was recently named as the Player-of-the-year in the Allegany League Small School Division Southern Tier, finished with three hits along with Shope’s pair of double and a single .  Wriglesworth, Pentz and Carter all added two hits each.  Dugo tallied four RBI while Johnson chased two runners home.

NOTE - Goodman now has collected 101 career hits as a Golden Tide player.  Carter as designated player, Johnson in left field and Dugo at third base were also recently named as league All-Stars.

Curwensville’s opponent for the title game will not be known until Tuesday.  Top-seeded Redbank Valley and fourth-seeded Karns City were also posponed on Thursday due to rain, but the make-up date was pushed to next week.  The site and date for the District IX Class AA Championship game will be determined after the Tuesday outcome.

CURWENSVILLE — 12

Taylor Goodman 2b 5130, Sarah Wriglesworth cf 4221, Cheyenne Pentz ss 3220, Tiffany Carter c 3221, Abby Johnson lf 3112, Abby Dugo 3b 3114, Alaina Stiles dp 4110, Nikki Harker 1b 3011, Dominique Newkirk pr 0100, Tierra Shope p 4131, Riley Young cr 0000, , TOTALS – 32 AB 12 R 16 H 10 RBI.

MONITEAU — 0

Alyssa Dailey cf/3b 2000, Heather McMillen 2b 2000, Chloe Eshenbaugh ss 2000, Emily Hiwiller c/1b 1000, Sydney Boben 3b/c 2000, Nicole Buterbaugh dp/lf 2020, Aleisha Fowler rf 2000,  Taylor Hasychak p 2010, Courtney Sowinski lf 1000, Kelsey Anderson cf 1000, Kayla Campbell flex/1b 0000, TOTALS – 17 AB 0 R 3 H 0 RBI.

SCORES BY INNINGS – R H E

Curwensville   100 92x x – 12 16 1

Moniteau  000 00x x – 0 3 1

ERRORS – Johnson; Eshenbaugh.  LOB – Curwensville 10; Moniteau 3.  2B – Johnson, Shope 2.  3B – Buterbaugh.  SB – Stiles, Newkirk.  WP -Hasychak.  PB – Hiwiller.

PITCHINGCurwensville -   Shope 5 IP 3 H 0 R 0 ER 1 BB 1 K 0 HB

Moniteau -  Hasychak 5 IP 16 H 12 R 11 ER 5 BB 0 K 0 HB

WP - Shope (16-5).  LP – Hasychak (15-5).

Lady Tide Scoreboard:

(Provided photo)

Clearfield County Career and Technology Center’s Practical Nursing Program is conducting a food donation drive from May 28-June 3.

The food drive is to support the Salvation Army Emergency Food Pantry in Clearfield.  There is an immediate need for non-perishable food supplies.

Food donations can be dropped off at the CCCTC between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Or, food items can be dropped off at the Salvation Army at 119 Byers St between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Pictured are this year’s practical nursing students with Captain Sharon Harford of the Salvation Army, who is in the front row and fourth from the left.

In addition to panels and presentations, the conference will include film screenings, musical performances, art and photography exhibits, and keynote addresses by leading Beatles critics and musicologists. The conference will conclude with a commemorative screening of The Ed Sullivan Show as it was originally broadcast on February 9, 1964.

Tentative speakers and performers include noted Beatles historian Mark Lewisohn, music theorist Walter Everett, Beatles instrument expert Andy Babiuk, and Beatles author Jude Southerland Kessler.

Ken Womack, senior associate dean for Academic Affairs at Penn State Altoona and Beatles scholar, said, “The conference will be a unique opportunity for scholars and fans to come together–pun intended!–to commemorate the Beatles’ timeless cultural and aesthetic achievements.

“It will be stimulating in a scholarly sense, to be sure, but there will be a number of interactive and performance-based exhibitions as well. And, of course, the conference will be especially noteworthy for the screening of the Beatles’ original appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.  A splendid time is definitely guaranteed for all.”

You are cordially invited to submit abstracts and or panel suggestions for the conference devoted to the life, work, influence, and artistry of the Beatles. Visit www.altoona.psu.edu/beatles/callforpapers.php for more information.

The Books-on-Board, or B.O.B. e-Reader Lending Service, was made possible by a donation by a former local resident.  More details regarding the donation, the pending service, the official launch date will be released soon.

The Shaw Public Library is excited to have this opportunity, and the staff is working through the details to get the e-Readers ready for public use.

“Offering this service will advance our rural library to the 21^st Century level of library service,” stated Paula Collins, library director. “This library is very lucky to have wonderful people looking out for us to make projects like this happen.”

She said the B.O.B. project is an exceptional example of Information Literacy, one of the five literacies of the Pennsylvania Library Association PA Forward | Pennsylvania Libraries initiative.

The PA Forward initiative, launched by the Pennsylvania Library Association (PaLA) in 2012, supports the efforts of libraries across the state as leaders in community education.  The five literacies of PA Forward are the base line of all the services and programs offered at the Shaw Public Library.

“The e-Reader lending program showcases how libraries are transforming what we offer to reflect the advances that technology makes possible,” said Collins. “What a thrilling time this is for the Clearfield community.”

Shaw Public Library is open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m., and Fridays from 12 p.m. until 5 p.m.  Additional information can also be found on Shaw Public Library’s Web site at www.clearfield.org/shaw.