Blog Archives - Eight & 322/Eight & 27

'Tuck Everlasting' runs this week at FHS

10/31/2022

Students from Franklin and Rocky Grove high schools will present the musical “Tuck Everlasting” at 7 p.m. on November 3, 4, and 5 at the Franklin High School auditorium.

What would you do if you had all eternity? Eleven-year-old Winnie Foster yearns for a life of adventure beyond her white picket fence. But when she becomes unexpectedly entwined with the Tuck Family, she get more than she could have imagined.

When Winnie learns of the magic behind the Tuck’s unending youth, she must fight to protect their secret from those who would do anything for a chance at eternal life.

As her adventure unfolds, Winnie faces an extraordinary choice: return to her life, or continue with the Tucks on their infinite journey.

“Tuck Everlasting” is a musical based on the Natalie Babbitt American children's novel of the same name.

It features music by Chris Miller, lyrics by Nathan Tysen and a book by Claudia Shear and Tim Federle, with direction and choreography by Casey Nicholaw.

The role of Winnie Foster will be played by FHS Senior, Grace Freer. Mae Tuck will be played by FHS Senior, Makenna Reavis. The Tuck family is rounded out with FHS Freshman, Madolyn Williams as Jesse Tuck, RGHS Senior, Logan Boyle as Miles Tuck, and FHS Junior, Steven Gibbons as Angus Tuck.
The villain in this story, The Man in the Yellow Suit, will be played by FHS Junior Andrew Young. The Constable is played by FHS Freshman, Halle Curry, FHS 8th grader, Ashton Shingledecker will play the role of Hugo.
The Foster family is rounded out with RGHS Sophomore, Hayleigh Walter as Nana and Maddy Strawbridge as Mother.

The ensemble plays a strong role in this musical through song and dance in most scenes; representing joy, sorrow, celebration, sadness, and more. Ensemble members include: Cadence Collins, Kai Coon, Joslynn Davis, Kaclyn DeBoy, Kendal Fonzo, Brooke Habbyshaw, Alexis McVay, Alexis Rodemoyer, Marissa Rodgers, Madi Stewart, Mercedes Stewart, Sydney Watts.

A special appearance will be made by 8th grader, Landon Rodgers.

Tickets can be purchased NOW through the show’s webpage: https://our.show/fasdtuckeverlasting . Prices are $8 for adults, $5 for students. Tickets will also be available at the door before each performance.

Grove's got talent

10/31/2022

"The Haunting of RGHS" was the tale of sophomores pranking seniors. This was the backdrop skit that played out in between the individual acts of the year's Rocky Grove High School talent show. It told the tale of a famed RGHS ghost who may have created several mysterious and funny accidents.

In the end, all perpetrated by the sophomores trying to scare the seniors.

In between scenes the Grove showed off its deep pool of talented musicians, singers, dancers and a stand up comic.

Below are some moments from the show and you can see even more photos at https://sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p306793991.

See more photos from the event at: https://sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p306793991

Franklin has been bewitching, ghoulish and a little undead lately

10/29/2022

Franklin Pennsylvania is a quiet little quaint burgh... they are home to an antique music emporium; they have a community brass band; and they hold parades for just about every occasion. But recently, during the goulash season, they seem to be having a lot of fun with.... well the occult.

Not really.

Last week the Franklin Retail and Business Association held it's second annual "Witch Walk," an extravaganza of over-the-top costumers infiltrating the downtown to purchase items, have a beverage or two and simply just celebrate the Halloween season.

The success of the Witch Walk seemed to kick off a week of downtown fun. The Franklin Fine Arts Council and the City of Franklin hosted a trick-or-treat night, though no tricks were needed - the area businesses gladly set up shop under their shingle to pass out candy or other wares.

The event drew hundreds, possibly into the thousand of folks downtown.

The event was just drawn up for the retailers to bring possible customers to downtown shops and it was a full-out happening. Lines of kids and their parents filled bags at such a rapid pace many retailers ran out of candy before the event was half over.

In Fountain Park, a dance performance of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" gave a chance of young performers to show off the importance of the arts in culture.

Franklin strung together a series of events around Halloween to get folks downtown.

Whether it drew more business to the downtown is left to be seen, but chances are drawing hundreds of folks into the city on a certainn day... it's gotta affect the bottom line somewhere.

Franklin seems to think each week is a reason to celebrate something. Why not Halloween? Why not the ghoulish?

New-ish arrival, Nick Hess's shop, which could boast all year-round is for the weird and the wonderful, held it's annual party.

Happy Halloween.

Deer are on the move, be careful out there

10/26/2022

Below are statistics for deer-related crashes, total injuries, and total fatalities for Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties over the last five years.

PennDOT urges safety as deer start to move more

PennDOT reminds drivers that autumn is the season for deer to be on the move, sometimes crossing onto area roadways.

“October and November are prime months for deer to be active along our roadways and motorists need to take appropriate precautions to help avoid deer-related crashes,” said PennDOT District 1 Executive Brian McNulty.

According to PennDOT data, in 2021, there were 5,728 deer-related crashes in Pennsylvania, resulting in 1,255 injuries and 13 fatalities. In the six counties included in PennDOT’s northwest region, there were 479 crashes and 103 total injuries last year, both increases from 2020.

Deer often travel in small herds and are most active between sunset and sunrise as they look for food. Drivers should be extra cautious during morning and evening commute times.

PennDOT recommends the following safety tips to help drivers avoid a deer-related crash:

Slow down and be alert, especially where deer crossing signs are posted.
Increase the following distance between vehicles.
Make new drivers aware of increased deer movement.
Always wear your seat belt.
Never drive impaired by drugs or alcohol.
Turn your headlights on whenever using your wipers.

Seven years and four cars

I wrote a column around two years ago calling deer "vermin" and "four-legged weapons of mass destruction" especially on Pennsylvania highways and byways.
It was after yet another encounter hitting a deer. I was upset and frustrated.
Truth is I love watching deer and find them beautiful occupiers of this planet and in that we share a common interest - to live.
I talked with someone not-so-long- ago about deer and he kept referring to them as "stupid" animals. I contend they really are not stupid - they have their own style of cognitive abilities and they perhaps don't have the same opportunity for philosophical thought that humans do, but they understand their survival needs and seek those as they roam free on the land.
"Roam free on this land" - hmm perhaps something to envy?
They do have a fear impulse and that sometimes makes them act in ways we might think are irrational, based on our ability to assess information.
But let me remind you that we have something called "Darwin Awards" - just saying.
I may get upset when I hit a deer and scream bloody murder at the animal, but its not their fault. We're the ones who insist on propelling ourselves through this life in contraptions weighing several thousands of pounds at speeds we can't physically achieve on our own. They didn't build the roadways through our roaming grounds. That is us, not the deer who made these decisions. They are just trying to find food and maybe some shelter to bed down.
That said, do they really have to eat my hostas?
Be careful out there as we approach hunting season and they try to get away from being hunted. (Maybe not something to envy?)

Read my tongue-in-cheek humor column here. In it explains how many of these creatures we really have to contend with.

Photos: Rocky Grove celebrates coming home

10/23/2022

Rocky Grove co-ops football with Franklin. But they hold their own homecoming dance and the rituals that go hand in hand with this tradition. Photos at the downtown park and the crowning of a king and queen.

This year the chosen were Blayne Baker and Sedelle Boozell. Below are some more photos captured from around Franklin and the crowning.

Photos: Bowl with a hero

10/23/2022

Saturday area kids got a chance to bowl with some members of law enforcement and firefighters in the "Bowl with a Hero" event at Buffalo Street Lanes.

Kids and the first responders seemed to have fun totgether.

Petroleum Center Bridge closed until further notice

10/23/2022

Friday the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation closed the historic Petroleum Center Bridge that spans Oil Creek near state park's office. A PennDOT press release stated the closure was "due to advanced deterioration and structural concerns discovered during a recent inspection."
Oil Creek State Park posted on social media described the reason as "severe structural damage."

"The bridge will be closed to all vehicle, bicycle, and foot traffic. This closure is expected to be in effect for the foreseeable future," the state park's post continued.

The bridge, built in 1884 by the Morse Bridge Company of Youngstown, Ohio, is a single-lane through truss bridge. It has a weight limit of only five tons and has an eleven foot clearance. "The bridge is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places for it's engineering significance, which includes its distinct design..." PennDOT's release explained.

“Historical bridges come with unique challenges. Simply replacing this bridge with a new one is not an option. We are bound by state and federal regulations to coordinate the scopes and details of these projects with the State Historic Preservation Office, which takes more time than most simple bridge projects. Repairs and rehabilitation efforts must follow guidelines and preserve the historic nature of the structure,” said PennDOT District 1 Executive Brian McNulty. “These factors require time to evaluate and design solutions that meet today’s structural and historical standards.”

The bridge has been on the radar of bridge inspectors for years and it has been receiving six-month inspections.

The bridge is only used, on average, by about 75 vehicles a day. The design phase for what to do with the bridge is already underway. According to the PennDOT press release a construction contract is tentatively planned to be awarded in 2026.

A detour is posted using Route 8, Route 227, State Park Road, and Petroleum Center Road. Temporary signs and message boards are in place along the detour route. Plans call for long-term signs to be installed later this fall.

The state park added further instruction for park access.
"For anyone traveling from the south to reach the Park Office, McCrea Farm/ski trails, Egbert pavilion and the southern delayed harvest area, you will need to follow detour signs in Rouseville directing you onto Rt. 227. If traveling from the north, you will need to follow detour signs directing you to Rt. 227 into the town of Plumer. Park directional signs are located along 227 in the town of Plumer.
Anyone through hiking will need to plan accordingly since you will not be able to cross Petroleum Center bridge. If you have any questions, please call the park office (814-676-5915)."

Photos: Senior Knights

10/22/2022

Erie Philharmonic and an Oil City church

10/17/2022

The Erie Philharmonic was supposed to play in Oil City over a year ago. COVID and several other things kept postponing the performance, but it finally came to fruition inside Trinity United Methodist Church Sunday.

"We love the opportunity to perform music of this nature in such a gorgeous, intimate setting,” said Steve
Weiser, Executive Director of the Erie Philharmonic. “Each year, we strive to grow our Erie Philharmonic family by performing concerts outside of the Warner Theatre, bringing the powerful gift of music to communities across the region."

The concert was fairly well attended to hear the Mozart, Vivaldi and Bach pieces performed.

It was nice to hear Beth Enter play again. I ran across her for many years when I worked at The Meadville Tribune.

Venango orchestra turns 30

10/16/2022

The Venango Chamber Orchestra performed Saturday at the Barrow-Civic Theatre in Franklin. This year marks the 30th year of the collection of musicians which have changed a lot from the original ensemble. But a few members have been there from the start including conductor Terri Wittreich who started in the trumpet section.

They celebrated their members who have been there for 30 years and also pointed out several high schoolers who have joined in to play.

‘The show went fantastic.’

10/15/2022

“Every single night each character was developed stronger and stronger”

Jill Lander, director of the Barrow-Civic production of "Matilda the Musical

Final bow

By Jill Harry

It’s been one week since the curtain closed on the Franklin Civic Operetta’s production of “Matilda The Musical” and the excitement of the applause lingers.

“The show went fantastic,” said director Jill Lander. “It was great to see all the standing ovations and cheers. Every night ended in one. Yes, I was happy to see my vision on the stage and people love it, but for the actors to get that recognition for their hard work for months was very rewarding.”

The show was two years in the making after it was delayed due to the COVID pandemic.

When it got the green light to finally move forward late last year, Lander went to work with prep work starting in earnest in April.

By May, she had the actor for the main character identified and one-on-one rehearsals got underway.

In June the rest of the cast, many of them youth, was picked and hit the stage to master hundreds of lines, memorize a dozen fast-paced songs, and learn several dances.

“All the kids put their all into this show,” Lander said. “It was amazing to see how they developed their characters from the first day not understanding why they weren’t allowed to smile in the show until the end.

The second they all put on their costumes it was like a lightbulb went off and the development they made was strong and amazing.”

On September 30, the curtain opened on their seven-show run.

“At first it was really nerve-racking,” recalled sixth-grader Ella Fleeger, who played the title role of Matilda. “Then it was like we were just doing dress rehearsal again.”

Then it was two and a half hours of pranks, dark comedy, and a zany but happy ending.

The musical tells the story of bookworm Matilda who starts school and meets the despicable headmistress Miss Trunchbull, played by Shawn Clerkin, a terrifying personality on stage but quite the opposite behind the curtain, a combination that at times tested Fleeger’s ability to stay in character.

“He (Clerkin) was very supportive and very funny,” Fleeger said. “It was hard to act scared when he was looking at me ‘cause he would raise his eyebrows and it was funny.”

"I also had a tough time playing a character who bullied (Ella's) sweet and honest Matilda. Yes, sometimes we smiled and winked at each other during some of our onstage “freezes”, Clerkin said.

“Shawn was always funny, always nice to all the kids and he was a really kind person,” said fourth-grader Lily Black, who played Matilda’s classmate Hortensia. “He was also full of stories.”

Quite the description of a person who, on stage, called both girls and their peers “maggots” and Matilda “a gangster.”

“The kids love him,” Lander said of Clerkin.

While Fleeger and Black both listed the silly Rudolpho, played by Ryan Carter, as their favorite persona due to his silliness, Lander said it was difficult to pick just one character.

“Every single night each character was developed stronger and stronger,” Lander said.

It was the fun, team atmosphere that had Fleeger and Black giving their “Matilda” theatre experience top reviews with a high recommendation for others to give it a try.

“Be prepared to have a lot of responsibility,” Black said. “You have to learn a lot of dances and it takes a lot of time, but you meet a lot of great people. I’d do it again.”

“Go for it,” Fleeger said. “It is very much worth it.”

These are the final stories in a series about the recent Barrow-Civic performance of "Matilda The Musical" written by Jill Harry. The series followed the making of Matilda from auditions to standing ovations.

Becoming Matilda

“Matilda The Musical” is the tale of a little girl who bravely steps forward to take control of her own story. She stands up against the bullies at home and school to defend herself and others, and along the way inspires others to do the same. She is a small girl with a wild imagination and a big persona.

Five months ago, Cranberry Elementary School student Ella Fleeger, who measures less than 5 feet tall, timidly stepped up to portray that small but mighty literary character in the Franklin Civic Operetta Association’s production of the musical. It was a large order for a soft-spoken pre-teen.

Over the next several weeks, she mastered hundreds of lines, memorized two large solos, and learned several dances. Then on September 30, she took the stage with the type of bravery associated the under-loved genius and became Matilda.

I had the pleasure of meeting up with Ella a few times during the show’s rehearsal schedule. Our introduction was her shy personality was quite evident. Her answers were polite but reserved.

Our next meeting was several weeks later and dominated by her excited peers, who clearly respected her abilities and boisterously said so. Ella, however, mostly sat quietly and spoke humbly when speaking at all. It was much the same during our next encounter at dress rehearsal, though there was a change in her mannerisms.

Perhaps she had sprouted by a bit above her self-reported height of 4-foot, 11-inches, but she seemed to walk a bit taller even if it was on the same soft footing.

Two nights ago, we had a brief phone conversation about the show, our first chance to talk since it had opened. Gone were the two- or three-word answers, and in their place were eloquently expressed replies.

She spoke about the nerves of walking out onto the stage between her castmates for the first time, singing her favorite song “Quiet,” and the final moments of each performance – her standing alone on the stage under the blue/purple lights.

"She really embraced her character with all the positivity Matilda possessed," fellow cast member Shawn Clerkin said of Fleeger. "Ella had a great demeanor and was supportive of all the actors on stage. While some young actors can be influenced by having a major role, she saw herself as just a regular member of the cast."

In May, Ella said she like to do theatre because of the audience’s reactions. “I think they will react in a good way if I do a good job,” she predicted.

During the two-week run, she received a standing ovation following each performance.

“I almost cried and I am not a crier,” Fleeger said about watching the crowds stand in applause as she and her castmates sang during bows. “Sometimes, I almost started crying, ‘cause it was very, very exciting.”

She said Matilda is likely to follow her around for some time with people recognizing her as she gets back to doing many of the things she had to put aside in order to do the show. “It’s nice to have some free time,” she said of her life since the show ended. “Right now, I’m getting back into basketball and HOLeY Jeans. In the future, I hope to do more theatre.”

“The show went fantastic,” said director Jill Lander. “It was great to see all the standing ovations and cheers. Every night ended in one."

Links to previous stories in the series:

Part one

Part two

Part three

Part four

Part five

Part six

It's prime time for leaf peeping

10/13/2022

Any fine folks fancy a fall foliage photograph?

It's the season of colorful landscapes... and apparently alliteration.

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources says Oct. 13 to 19 is the best time to take in the autumn leaves for most of the western side of the state. According to their Fall Foliage Report posted online "Pennsylvania has a longer and more varied fall foliage season than any other state in the nation - or anywhere in the world."

The DCNR credits the state's perfect combination of latitudinal location, varied topography, 134 species of trees and various shrubs and vines with creating the perfect foundation for the backdrop of natural colors. The department tracks the changing leaves week to week and posts updates and maps on its Facebook page.

The post on October 13 post said "Fall color across the commonwealth continues to build, some of which is simply breathtaking! From the Appalachians to the Alleghenies, and South Mountain to the Poconos, vibrant shades await the fall foliage enthusiast. With beautiful weather expected across the state this weekend, Pennsylvania travelers won’t need to go far to see the gorgeous colors adorning Penn’s Woods."

We snapped our picture along Route 417 between Franklin and Titusville.

Jennings reaching finish line as OC100 organizer

10/12/2022

It's hard to imagine doughnuts could be the impetus for a very physically intense endurance race. But the butterfly effect, where one seemingly unrelated occurrence can influence future events, may be proven in Tom Jennings’ story of starting the Oil Creek 100 race.

Jennings said he really loved Krispy Kreme doughnuts and was known to eat several at a time. As a result his waistline increased a tad.

After a bit of ribbing from one of his kids, he vowed to never eat another one and began to run to lose those sweet fried dough pounds.

“I began small, a 3K, a 5K and built up,” he said. After awhile, he got much more serious about running. He worked his way up to half-marathons and admits he ran some pretty good times. One day he ran for eight hours, which ended up being 41 miles.

Then a lightbulb went off in his head. “A marathon is only 26 miles,” he recalled thinking. “Why would I want to go backwards?”

So he looked for longer races. When he heard of a 100-miler in Ohio he said, “my mind was blown.” He was intrigued; he looked into it; he entered and then he ran.

“It basically changed my life - seeing dawn come up - twice - in one race. When I finished that I thought, ‘if I could do that, I can do anything’,” Jennings said.

He then wanted others to experience that same feeling.

So 14 years ago, with the help of some friends who thought Oil Creek State Park trails would be a great place for an endurance race, he began the Oil Creek 100.
Over the years, the event has attracted runners from as far away as Australia and often over 200 participants for the 100-mile race alone.

The race offers a 50K and 100K options as well. This year there are around 90 registered for the 100 miles and a total of 421 for the three races combined.

As is tradition, the races kicks off behind the Titusville Middle School at 5 a.m. Saturday with the 100-mile contest. Then 6 a.m. for the 100K and 7 a.m. for the 50K. The final 100-mile racer must be done 32-hours after the start, which is 1 p.m. Sunday.

There to greet them all, will be Jennings.

Throughout the years, Jennings has witnessed many memorable moments, including several marriage proposals at the finish line. He said the first time he witnessed a proposal he thought it was a cool. “But then I saw it again and thought, ‘I guess this is a thing’.”

Mostly, he’s proud of how the race and being an advocate for running has brought people together and affected how they live. He told a story of a woman seeing him and with tears in her eyes said “you changed my life; you changed my health.”

Stories like that make him touch chest where his heart is and smile.
It’s been a lot of work for Jennings and his wife, Rita. She said they easily put 700 hours of work into the race each year and, since COVID, it has been wearing them down a bit.
Jennings said this will be his last year running the event.

With the blessing and support of Jennings, longtime race advocate and volunteer Heather Nelson has stepped up to take on the duties for next year’s event.

But stepping down doesn’t necessarily mean stepping away. Jennings said he’s thinking about doing something that, as the event organizer, he’s never been able to do - run in it himself.
He said he’ll begin training in hopes to feel prepared to sign up for it next year.
“Maybe start out with the 50K, maybe 100(K),” he said.

Reflecting on Applefest 39

10/10/2022

With Applefest 39 in the books, it's time for the Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce director Jodi Baker-Lewis to take a breath. For a busy person in charge of the area's largest festival that means not going to the office, but still answering her cell phone for reporters asking how it went this year.

"It was everything we planned for and more," she said. "Every year we (Applefest CORE committee) hold our breath, and on Sunday around 4:30 p.m. we collectively let it out as we smile and begin the cleanup process, which includes smiles, stories, laughter, and lots of remember-this-for-next-year (comments).

And, yes, that means even before the festival is all cleaned up they are already planning for next year, which will mark the 40th year they have put on Applefest.

The three-day festival includes arts and crafts, food vendors, musical entertainment, historical tours, and a kids' zone. Each day of the festival has a bit of its own identity. And though many of the things each year are similar, the CORE committee is always looking for new things for the roughly 30,000 people attending each day to do.

"Friday was a little slow, but the real shoppers came out on Friday," Baker-Lewis said. "Sunday's attendance more than made up for Friday's."

Though Friday started wet, most of the day was damp, but not rainy.

The CORE committee offered authors a chance to get wide exposure on Saturday as one of the unique aspects of this year's festival.

John Guilinger of Oil City was named the big winner of the apple pie baking contest.

The farmer's market on Saturday was packed and several vendors were hopping, including Renee Snyder, who said it was really busy as she loaded honeycrisps into a bag for a customer.

The Franklin YMCA hosted its annual Race for Any Pace with more than 350 participants. The top male finisher was Caleb Prettyman, 16, of Franklin in a time of 16:36. The top female runner was Hannah Gildersleeve, 37, of Grove City in 20:01. Carrie Kolesar, 47, of Cranberry, finished first in the walking division. The complete race results are available on The Runner's High website.

Baker-Lewis said this year's car show was one of the largest in festival history with nearly 500 cars registered. They lined up all the way from 13th Street around the corner ending at 11th street with cars also parked up and down 12th Street.

Sunday also included the success of having a performance by a country music band that drew even more people to Bandstand Park was done through a collaboration with the Franklin Fine Arts Council. South 62 was supposed to play in Franklin earlier this year as part of the Thursday Night Concert Series but the performance was canceled due to weather concerns.

"South 62 has a big following locally and in the surrounding areas," Lewis said.

But South 62 wasn't the only music drawing folks ears to the park and Liberty Street.
"We are fortunate to have such talent locally," Baker-Lewis said of all the entertainment on this year's schedule. The Max Schang Trio, Charlie Barath, HOLeY Jeans, FHS Madrigals, Joe Liotta and Friends, The Route 8 Band, Franklin Silver Cornet Band, Mostly Brass, Fusion Dance Center, Franklin YMCA Magic AllStar Cheerleaders, Brandon Rae Band, Tyler Carson, Ruby and the Franklin High School Marching Band, all drew a sizable audiences.

The "busy crowd" meant good sales for many of the vendors, including the chamber itself, Baker-Lewis said. By early Sunday afternoon, they had sold out of 2,400 apple dumplings, as well as all their apple dapple cake and pie, Baker-Lewis said. "Selling out is a great thing, we wish we didn't sell out so early for sure. (But in years past) we delivered boxes of dumplings to anyone we could think of Sunday evening," she said.

It was a successful year that has the CORE committee already looking ahead to doing it again on Oct. 6, 7 and 8, 2023. Though Baker-Lewis won't reveal any big hopes or plans just yet, she says ideas are being tossed around, but nothing definite just yet.

"We cannot wait to bring you Applefest 40 - The Best Three Days," Baker-Lewis said.

The shining stars of Applefest

10/8/2022

Shining an apple on your own T-shirt might be perfectly acceptable when you are preparing the fruit for your personal consumption.

But if you’re polishing apples to entice passersby to pick one up to enjoy while they peruse all that a fall festival has to offer… well, there might be a more appetizing way.

“I use a magical towel that I got from Narnia,” said Aubrie Kendall, 10, who claimed to be the best apple polisher in the world. She and her friend Amelia Heil, 15, were volunteering Friday afternoon in the gazebo at Franklin’s Applefest. The gazebo is centrally located and serves as the information booth.

There, visitors can get more than just questions answered, they get an apple to enjoy.

But if asked what kind of apple they are getting, there are a variety of answers given. Almost never a straight one.

“Free” is one of the festival organizer’s Jim Williams favorite answers.
“McIntosh,” longtime volunteer Matt Beith said. “How do you know?” asked the visitor. Caught, he laughs and admits “Oh I don’t really know. I just guessed.” “I think they are empire,” Kendall chimed in.

Whatever kind they are, the Applefest CORE committee passes out 100 bushels of them during the three-day weekend. That is roughly 12,500 apples and every single one of them gets a special hand polishing by one of the dozens of volunteers. “I bet I’ve polished 900 of them,” Kendall boasted. Though her estimate may have been a bit of a liberal exaggeration, Maureen James more conservatively estimated she polished about three to four bushels in her three-hour tour of volunteering Friday - that's about 500 give or take.

“They are not spit-polished,” assured James, who has a very methodical technique to make the round fruits shine. “Steady easy pressure, you don’t want to bruise them,” she said.

“Just keep the cloth moving,” said Kyle Peasley as he turned an apple with his right hand into a cloth on his left hand. “Last year I told people I was sent to polishing school to learn how - three circular motions - it has to be a perfect circle.”

Next to him, friend Justin Fleeger listened in. “I hate to say it, but I think mine are shinier than yours, Kyle.
This pair, joined by Matthew Kirkland had trouble keeping up with the demand on Saturday afternoon. “This is the biggest [turnout] I’ve seen,” Peasley said.
“You guys are great at shining apples,” a passerby shouted.

Friday’s crowd wasn’t as demanding but just as appreciative of the free fruit, so Kendall and Heil were making their own fun of the work.

Heil didn’t know what her secret technique was, she just shrugged a shoulder and kept polishing. Kendall, on the other hand, held up her towel and said “this one is sewn together from unicorn hair.”

Beith said it’s a young person’s game polishing this many apples. “Man my carpel tunnel is acting up,” he joked. Kendall and Beith noted their hands were very waxy after a couple hours of polishing. “I’ll have to do the dishes when I get home to get the wax off,” Beith said.
Kendall didn’t chime in to agree about that idea.

Mark your calendars for next year!

Applefest will be October 6, 7 and 8, 2023

A lot of life since diagnosis: Breast Cancer Awareness Month

10/8/2022

“The words rang out unlike anything I have ever experienced before,” wrote Meadville resident Sue Kilburn in a journal in 2005. She began keeping a journal after she heard the words - “you have cancer.”

Kilburn, a nurse at the time was well aware of self breast examinations and took them serious. Her fibrocystic breast tissue often gave false or difficult to read results during mammograms. So when she was told they wanted to do a little further testing it seemed routine to her.
But this trip was different.

“Today changed my life forever,” she continued to write.”Every moment, every hair, every day - life is different.”

But she also wrote “I knew that cancer wasn’t going to define me.”

At the time Kilburn, after doing her research, elected to have a lumpectomy followed by chemotherapy and radiation. She’ll be the first to admit there were days going through all this that she wanted to give up. But she didn’t.
She survived.She got stronger and she began to get her life back after treatments.

There were endless check-ups ahead still, but she was a survivor.

She went on to become a breast cancer nurse educator helping hundreds of people going through cancer journey. As a survivor she even made it passed the five year mark cancer free. That is the time when, if no reoccurrence one is considered cancer-free and the likelihood of the cancer returning is decreased significantly.

“That is somewhat of a misnomer,” she said. Though it is good news, cancer is a break down of normal cell functioning in the body and it can occur anytime.
13 years later, in her other breast, cancer was discovered again.

This time she wasn’t going to go through this ever again and elected a total mastectomy. “Every time you have to go for another biopsy or test …it takes your breath away.”

Her surgery was a success and lymph nodes taken were clear. She still does self exams and since her surgery she has developed lymphedema that she is currently controlling through daily therapy at home.

“I don’t want to depress anyone with my story,” she said.

She knows that a cancer battle is no picnic, but she also knows not battling it means missing out.

Since her first diagnosis Kilburn has experienced her children’s graduations, weddings, watched her grandchildren come into the world and grow. She even watched her son, husband and father-in-law parachute together out of an airplane. Twice.

She has lived a lot of life.

“I always want to be positive and never discouraging,” she said. As a cancer educator she used her story in hopes that it could help others in their story. She advocates for self-examinations, mammograms, being proactive and has offered an ear, a hand and a hug to anyone that wanted it. She is always helping folks find the resources they need.

And the advancements are improving everyday.

She recently has been researching Jennifer McKenzie. an Australian physio-therapist whose work in the field is touching on many issues cancer patients face.
Her work is accessible online at “The Compass Community: Breast Cancer Education Support Network.”

Advice that Kilburn has for anyone battling cancer is to “Stay as positive as you can and laugh as much as you can, It is not your fault. If you pity yourself you are not helping anyone, especially yourself.”

Kilburn says the advancements and targeting therapies are helping more and more people reach that level of “survivor,” a label cancer patients wear with pride.

Go Pink or Go Home

There a number of awareness fundraiser around. Local School's like Franklin High School hold Pink Out Games and fundraisers. Franklin girls volleyball recently raised almost $3,000 for the Kirkland Cancer Foundation, a non-profit seeking to help Venango County cancer patients however they can as they go through treatments. Several other groups have held similar events range money for Kirkland or the American Cancer Society

On October 11 at 5:50 p.m. a group of cancer survivors and supporters will gather at Franklin’s Fountain Park for the annual Pink Splash for a Cure event.The event is open to the public.
It is a chance for folks to gather in support of one another as well as raise money for the local charity - The Kirtland Cancer Foundation, which tries to aid in helping Venango County families who are in the midst of a cancer battle. “We want to help,” said Matthew Kirtland, who is one of the foundation’s leaders.
The Pink Splash event has a speaker and entertainment followed by a ceremony for survivors geared toward being in the fight together. Each server gets a chance to pour a little red dye into the fountain turning the water pink for the rest of the month. This is the 15th year for the event.
For more information on the Kirtland Cancer Foundation, call 814-437-1305.

The Numbers

This story first appeared in the Titusville Herald.

Early detection is the key and limits the chance of the cancer spreading.. According to the American Cancer Society, Breast Cancer is the most common cancer in women except for skin cancers. In American it is estimated that 287,850 new cases will be diagnosed in 2022 and over 43,000 will die.

Since 2007 cancer rates have remained steady in women under 50 but have decreased in older women. From 2013 to 2018 death rates decreased by one percentage point each year.

Theses decreases are believed to be a direct result of finding breast cancer earlier through screening and increased awareness as well as better treatments.

Four inducted into FHS Hall of Fame

10/4/2022

A double Division 1 athlete, a community servant, a successful coach and the district's first 1,000-point baller - these are the four newest members of the Franklin Area High School Hall of Fame. The 2022 inductees were Kevin Blackhurst, Class of 1989, for athletics; Lou Slautterback, teacher, for service; Eric Smith, coach, for athletics, and Charles T. “Chuck” Snell (posthumously), Class of 1957, for athletics.

The induction ceremony was held Thursday night at the Quality Inn and Conference Center and drew one of the largest crowds of the event's 12 years.

The following descriptions of the inductees were written by the Hall of Fame committee. The quotes are taken from the program provided at the ceremony.

Eric Smith (top left), Charles Snell (top right, Kevin Blackhurst (bottom right) and Lou Slautterback (bottom left)

Kevin Blackhurst

"Kevin's career may be one of the best the school has ever been able to produce."

Franklin Area High School has had its share of athletes reach the ultimate goal of playing Division 1 athletics. While it’s hard enough to reach that pinnacle in one sport, one Franklin athlete was able to excel in two sports at the Division 1 level. Kevin Blackhurst had one of the finest careers Frankin has seen.

He was an all-conference performer in both basketball and baseball and the 1989 TCAC MVP in hoops. He is the only Franklin alum to be a McDonald’s all-American nominee. He played in the prestigious Dapper Dan Roundball Classic in Pittsburgh, a first for a Venango County athlete.

At the University of Delaware he lettered in both basketball and baseball and earned honors in both sports. He helped the basketball program to two NCAA Tournament appearances and Blackhurst still ranks seventh on the career batting average list at Delaware. He was named the 1994 University of Delaware Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year. He is the only player in school history to play in both the NCAA hoops and baseball tournaments in the same year.

Lou Slautterback

"Four decades of providing caring, loving, and heartfelt instruction of the youth of Franklin has made a difference in countless lives."

Many great educators have been a part of the Frankin Area School District. They have committed themselves to making a difference in the lives of every single young person they come in contact with. One such individual is Mr. Lou Slautterback.

Mr. Slautterback’s passion for teaching was evident the moment he set foot in the halls of the school district. He was hired in 1968 and for the next 36 years he worked tirelessly to promote health, fitness, and the value of physical education.

He was integral in the expansion of phys ed to the entire district and help push for more physical education teachers with more days in phys ed during the week for each elementary student.

Decades of students and athletes have been positively influenced by him.

Eric Smith

"He focused on hard work and doing the little things right."

Throughout the history of Frankin Area High School athletics, there have been some great eras. The football, basketball, and baseball programs have had their share of success but the most successful program over the last 30 years has been the boys and girls swimming programs. This can be attributed to the hiring of Eric Smith in 1991.

Starting the 1991-1992 season and for the next 25 years, Frankin swimming was one of the best in the district and Western Pennsylvania. As the head swimming coach, he compiled 574 victories. Franklin’s swimming programs dominated with eight undefeated seasons, 19 conference championships, 16 District X titles, and in 2013 the boys team was PIAA runner-up.While at Franklin, he coached individually 46 All-Americans, 263 District X Champions in 128 events, 19 state champions, and 203 PIAA state qualifiers.

Charles T. “Chuck” Snell

"A family tree of atheletic success was rooted in Mr. Snell."

Franklin basketball has had an outstanding number of players come through the program throughout Franklin Area High School’s long history. Many players have strived to finish their careers with over 1,000 points. There have actually been 12 players that have finished with over 1,000 points in their respective careers, but the first to do it was (the late) Charles T. “Chuck” Snell.

Chuck was an outstanding all-around athlete while attending Frankin, but he has become a name synonymous with basketball excellence. He was an outstanding shooter that finished with 1,053 points in his career and was a benchmark to equal for years to come. An all-state honorable mention in both 1956 and 1957, Chuck held both the records for scoring in a season, 502, and a single game, 42, when he graduated and continued his career at St. Francis and later Clarion.

He is the grandfather of current Franklin baseball coach Brian Schmidt and uncle of HOF athletic nominees Gary and Steve Shingledecker.

Franklin High School formed its Hall of Fame in 2010 to recognize individuals and/or teams whose actions and achievements in their chosen field have brought honor and distinction to the heritage of the high school. Each year new honorees are recognized and honored at an induction ceremony held on the Thursday of Applefest week.

Our friend at Route 8 Rivalry also attended and wrote about the induction ceremony. Make sure to check out Penny's story "Went to the Franklin Hall of Fame banquet and am glad I did".

Council hears options for Washington Crossing

10/3/2022

Chris Lucia, a project engineer with Whitman, Requardt and Associate (WRA) was on hand for a presentation to Franklin City Council Monday night. He discussed possible solutions to pedestrian safety concerns at Washington Crossing.

Lucia said the intersection of Elk Street and Route 8 is above the state average in crashes. He gave the city a handful of possible improves from better warning signal ahead signs and newly painted crosswalks to entirely new signals to replace the aging and outdated system currently there.

Not really on the table are rumble strips because of the proximity of the bridge to the intersection. Turning Elk into a one way wasn't really an option either due to the majority of the traffic on the street is heading away from the courthouse, so the change would cause even more congestion on Liberty Street, Lucia said.

Several options for signal changes were presented, including use of yellow blinker arrows. Syncing the lights at Elk and Liberty streets could help curb motorists trying to beat one light in order to hit the next one, Lucia noted. Changing and updating signs were also suggested.

Piano key crosswalks, audible pedestrian signals like the ones in downtown Franklin, improved street lighting and a sidewalk along Route 8 at Rite Aid were also brought up.

The study showed that the average speeds coming toward the intersection was not significantly above the speed limit.

"Tonight was to show options to council," Lucia said. Depending on the funding available to the city, council could pick and choose what options they wanted to implement. Mayor Doug Baker noted that none of the suggestions would make the intersection worse.

Because the intersection is above the state's average for crash numbers, it could also be a candidate for federal safety funding. "We'll keep an eye out for funds to see what we can get," said City Manager Tracy Jamieson.

Below are images from the Power Point Presentation

Remembering dedicated community servants

10/2/2022

It's no secret that volunteer fire department numbers are down from where they were years ago. The average age of the active members is rising year after year and there are fewer young people getting involved. At one time the generational expectation was stronger than it appears today.

On Sunday, a small group area fire department personnel from Venango County took a few moments to remember their members lost over the last year thus shrinking the numbers even further.

"We are a family we have each other’s back," said Sandy Lewis who organized the event. "We put our lives on line together. When we lose one of our own we grieve together."

Lewis spoke out to a very small crowd gathered in Franklin's Bandstand Park.

The event was put on to remember the area firefighters who passed away over the last year in Venango County. Long time members of the volunteer community. "Each of these members left a hole in our community." Lewis said before their names were read out loud by State Senator Scott Hutchinson and candle lit in their honor.

Thomas Brenner of Chapmanville VFD, Lionel Wade III of Cherrytree VFD, Steve Rembold of Seneca VFD, Don Bellinger of Rouseville VFD, John Dick, Ronnie Weber and Eugene Sheffer of Rocky Grove VFD, Dick Kerr, Fire Police captain, Austin Marsh and Raymond Schwab of Pinegrove VFD and Marshall Sherman of Polk VFD.

RIP

The ceremony features some young people who read poems, played taps and sang.

Franklin resident Betty Ghering spoke about her personal experience of having her life saved by dispatchers at 911 and first responders. Ghering's heart had stopped but the paramedics kept working on her and she survived to tell her story. "Please put out the word... support your local fire departments," she pleaded to the crowd.

Several officials and volunteers from outside of Venango County made the trip Sunday including a pair of gentlemen from the Pine Creek VFD in Jefferson County who simply just wanted to help support this observation and memorial. Lewis said this event, though not well attended locally, has gotten the interest of other counties who may plan similar memorials in their area.

This was the second year for the Venango County memorial.

Sometimes pep rallies work

10/1/2022

One side of Titusville High School was quiet on Friday afternoon. That's because the entire student body was at the other end of the building causing quite a raucous.

The homecoming pep rally was full of very loud fun and that excitement carried on into the night as the Rockets shutout visiting Conneaut Area 27-0 to notch their second win of the year.

Below are more photos taken while covering the rally for The Titusville Herald.