Long-time alternative businessman Nick Hess has moved his little shop from a tiny corner shop in Oil City to quaint little historic building next to the library.  It has housed several little businesses over the years including Commissioner Chip's business at one time.

Hess is transforming this unique little building into his own thing. He said he was told over and over again to not lose the charm of his Oil City business.

"Hello, have we met?" could easily be his response.

​Hess has a style that follows him as he walks down the road and it will be in his new shop that already looks like his old shop, but maybe on steroids. He will open Saturday and though it will always be a work in progress for Hess, it will have much of the same fare his old location had plus. 

He was excited that he was able to display new items he just didn't have room for in his old place, plus he has a bathroom/changing room, something he couldn't offer in the past.

Read more about Hess's shop here: http://richardsayerphotojournalism.weebly.com/eight--322/change-means-evolving

Hess will be opening during Franklin's "Shop small Saturday, a reminder that Black Friday's big national push can be thought about in different ways with local treasures that are unique and brought to you from your neighbors.

The Franklin Retail Association works with local shops to offer great bargains to the residents who support local businesses.
They also have planned "Old fashioned Christmas Retail Walk for the Adults on Dec. 4 from 4 to 7 p.m. followed the next day with more family friendly the next day on Dec. 5.

Learn more by visiting: https://www.facebook.com/Franklin-Retail-Association-225786490941544
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Go online to FB live here,

 https://www.facebook.com/VenangoAreaChamberOfCommerce/videos/1225593281144094

NEW!
Venango County commissioners have announced they are closing the county offices.

"Due to the rising number of [Covid-19] cases, all county buildings will be open by appointment only effective Monday, November 30th.
To set up an appointment, please contact the office with whom you have business.
The County will continue to operate under these new guidelines until December 31st," read an announcement posted on social media by Commissioner Mike Dulaney.
"Our two biggest reasons for making the decision was to maintain the safety of everyone, public and workers, and also to make sure the county government can continue to operate. If we have to quarantine our staff due to an outbreak among the employees, we could risk crippling the county and potentially halting vital services," he added.

To register and receive a link to this event, visit  members.venangochamber.org/events
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Franklin's light -up night organizers were very conscious of the COVID-19 pandemic when they decided to continue with the tradition of Light-Up Night.

Usually the event draws thousands who line the street no matter the weather for a long night time parade followed by a tree lighting while a long fireworks display produce oohs and ahhh from the crowd. Then folks mingle around downtown for the open shops and posing in front of the tree.

But this year thousands crowded into the city was not a good idea and not what the organizers ultimately wanted.

One of the organizer's Ronnie Beith said that they weren't advertising as heavy or giving specific times for certain attractions, but wanted to still kick-off the holiday season."People stopped me [this week] when we were doing light tests to thank us." she said. She added they said it gave them a feeling of hope.

​On Saturday she was very pleased with the turnout and said it was perfect.

COVID-19 wouldn't scale back the spirit of the holidays for this little northwest Pennsylvania town.

The large tree in front of the courthouse was officially lit as Christmas music filled the air from local performers Rachel Mellor and Nathanial Licht. A Barrow-Civic fundraiser was moved to Fountain Park to add even more festive lights to the town as businesses and organizations decorated dozens of trees.

Local businesses opened downtown Saturday night offering many sales and giveaways for the special day.

The Franklin Retail Association and Franklin event organizers downtown have several things planned for the holiday season. Some of what is planned can be found here.

A pandemic cannot stop Franklin for showing off its holiday spirit even if it is just a colorful drive through downtown over the next month or so.

​Below is a short video that shows the twinkling lights of the town's big tree.

One more for the road.

See video of escort through town below.

Dot Smith, a life-long oiler who graduated 48 years ago, made sure she was out front on the corner of Center Street and Seneca Street so she could wish her alma mater a good journey and luck in tonight's semi-final game against the Thomas Jefferson Jaguars.

The game begins in just a few hours and will be live streamed at 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS6RfQ4J-0eKUWbXDyg7_kw?noapp=1&fbclid=IwAR30Qw7d157V6Yvc6S4rOJ6N7JwApbKT8atsC-JzE3-gUPu4DYvS09CWWrw&app=desktop

Lots of businesses and homes around town show community pride in the Oilers deep run into the PIAA Class AAAA championships.
The oilers put their unbeaten record on the line in a tough match up against the WPIAL champion.

​Good Luck Oil City, we know your banged up, but your heart is strong.

​With a city budget being discussed and a deficit looming, some council members and citizens are reaching out for ideas.

​On a social media post today Meadville City councilwoman Autumn Vogel said "there's not a whole lot of reasons for city council to be chipper this budget season. We are facing some tough decisions in passing a balanced budget for 2021. We can no longer afford to kick the can down the road. We've got to make some big changes."

The city's proposed budget comes up just shy $700,000 short for 2021.

Vogel and others are reaching out looking for community input on how to proceed. Though it isn't an official survey they are hoping by hearing the will of the people they might gain a better understanding how to proceed. "I hope it helps to share the nature of the tough decisions ahead and allows us to pick the brains of the creative, thoughtful, scrappy constituency that is Meadville, Pennsylvania," Vogel wrote. In a phone conversation Vogel added the importance of understanding citizen's priorities and hopes the survey serves as a learning tool for both council and Meadvillians. She said her hope is more people get involved in local governing and participate in ways they can.

She added that she hopes the survey males it easier for people to get involved. "It allows people to engage and weigh in from where they are," noting not everyone can make the meeting times. This survey at least allows them to have a voice and offer input she said.

"I hope everyone takes the time to complete the survey. Unfortunately some still feel that their voices are not heard." councilman Larry McKnight added in a post comment. "We need you to continue to make your concerns, ideas and suggestions heard. This is your town too."

The next public hearing is Nov. 18 at 5:45 p.m. at city hall.

To view the proposed budget click on this link below. (Note the budget schedule may reflect 2019 dates, but they should read 2020.)
​https://www.cityofmeadville.org/vertical/sites/%7B256E8AF9-2CF3-4525-A3F2-7B08979EFAAB%7D/uploads/2021_Preliminary_Budget.2.pdf

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To participate in the survey click on this link below.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfVqva1yC1oOyW9Sfvh5gjVqBX-sYls7aHQgLwLCGE5Dltakw/viewform?usp=send_form

To be honest, I really didn't know Ed Acker very well. I didn't grow up around here and my baseball playing days were way behind me when I began working at The Meadville Tribune. 
By the time I came around all I really knew of Ed was he was the guy that sang some song over and over again while he cut the grass at the American Legion Field in Saegertown. I didn't even know that field he was cutting was named after him until years later.

He was just a pretty quiet guy that was always there at the field. And the field was always perfect.

I knew his wife much better because she would engage me in conversation every time I'd head back to my car from a game. Yes she was always there too.

I got to know Ed a little bit years later when his grandson was a star at Saegertown. Brandon Crum was one of the best players on a decent team. He got a little cocky one game and got himself caught in a pickle between second and third. The team wasn't doing very well already in the game but his being on base could've been a boost they needed. When he was tagged out in the rundown his grandfather was already halfway to his car.

The old coach couldn't watch another minute and he made sure people around the perimeter of the field knew it.

I remember that like it was yesterday, in part because, though I didn't really understand what I saw at the time, the following day after Brandon's photo caught in the pickle appeared in the paper, I heard the whole story from Ed's daughter and Brandon's mom Mary.

I'm not sure the photo helped anything, but I sure it led to more teaching from Ed and more learning from Brandon. Since Brandon coaches college ball I'm guessing those lessons are now being taught to dozens of kids still.

A few years later I was given a very difficult assignment. Get a photo of Ed for a story about his being honored by the American Legion for all his service to youth baseball. He wanted no part of this. Even the assignment editor knew this ahead of time. But one ability I've had over the years is gaining enough trust in my subjects to at least get my foot in the door.

I began working the family.

I found out there was a number 1 jersey with his name on it and I began thinking of the great Babe Ruth photo at Yankee Stadium. I decided I needed to make a portrait of him that maybe... just maybe he'd agree to allow if I began talking about it like this: "You know that picture of Babe Ruth....?".

It still wasn't an easy sell, but we convinced him to show up at the field and he and I had a conversation. His daughter had already done most of the work but I had to bring it home. We sat and talked baseball stories. I told him of my tenacity as a little leaguer. but that I had terrible field awareness. Not just once, but three times I was knocked on my ass by a chain-link fence as I chased after a pop up in foul territory. He chucked at that and shook his head.

He told me coaching young kids was a privilege and nothing deserving of any the attention being drawn to him by the honor from the American Legion. He didn't do it for any other reason than he loved baseball and knew how to use the sport to teach life lessons.

To him seeing kids mature into better adults because of what they learned together on the diamond was what his contribution to God and community was all about.

That was enough for him. ​He was humble and he was honest.

Alzheimer's Desease began taking Ed away years ago but glimpses were had in many stories I'd hear over those years from his daughter and grand-son. The last time I saw him he was riding in the passanger seat of a car. I said something about it being a good day for a baseball game and he smiled saying everyday is a good day for baseball.

We lost Ed today. It's a loss for a community of people carrying on what he taught.

I was just reading some remembrances on Facebook and the unbelievable good this man did for so many individuals is simply nothing that can be measured.

When you see an adult working closely with a kid, giving tough but solid advice and guidance, you can see Ed Acker in that moment.

RIP Ed. My thoughts are with your family as they mourn your loss and celebrate your life. Within each of them is something very special you gave.  Even this old photographer you wold rather hide from than pose for, is better for knowing you and having that very special conversation on a bench in the dugout of the field that will forever bear your name.

OPINION

This is going to get contentious.

But the country will be better for the discussion.... if it is a discussion. Yes the President should be contesting results that are close, so should candidate Biden. This is a time for very serious people to be very serious.

And very accurate.

​We have an incredible ego in this country. We keep saying it is the greatest country in the world and in history. We have backed up this claim on many occasions and many people from other countries have looked to us for help and a better life because we have backed up those claims.

At our worst, for the most part, we're still pretty good..... because we can be great by acknowledging when we're not and working to fix it. It takes excruciatingly long sometimes.

This is Thursday. The election was Tuesday. This is not excruciatingly long.

We've become impatient children wanting what we want NOW!!!!

Relax, be calm, be diligent, be watchful and be accurate. 

I have many friends who want it to be accurate for the exact same reasons I want it to be accurate even though we want exact opposite results. America will not be great at all if we are not accurate. If we are not true. 

And accuracy and factualness will require challenges and scrutiny and....yes....time. Even if one candidate is projected at 270 today or tomorrow, there will still be work to be done to verify, without a doubt, the outcome.

So let's take a breath and let the process work.

Yes, let's keep a watchful eye. Yes let's check in with the news sources we trust most and if we get tired of the same discussions being had by the same people, look at the "other guy's" network or even better, look at some other offerings out there and see where that takes you in understanding the news of the day better.

Today I walked out into nature on November 5, 2020 and realized that I was really missing quite a beautiful day.

Life is still happening out there.

I watched a sparrow bounce from twig to twig, I have no idea what he was thinking or doing, but it seemed important....and it also seemed free.

"That sparrow is more free than me," I thought.

That was a bit of perspective I needed.

Sadly I popped back onto my phone a few seconds later to see what was happening with Nevada, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia.  Uggh!

Breathe! We'll get there.

The last update I made was on 10/29 where I explained where UPMC Northwest was in capacity and preparedness. I am working on a follow-up on that for next week.
​
The last update can be read here.
http://richardsayerphotojournalism.weebly.com/eight--322/a-surge-of-cases-covid-numbers-climbing-in-county-region-and-state-especially-among-young-adults

Since that day we have jumped over 100 new cases. As of Nov. 5. 2020 reported cases of Venango County residents was 376 since March 29. That is close to 300 cases in just a little over a month's time.

Election Day 2020
Did you know? If a voter who decided to cast their ballot by mail in Pennsylvania,
but died before Election Day their vote will not count.

A line circled all the way around the fairly large Seneca VFD social hall and a couple hundred feet more into the parking lot Tuesday night around 5:30. These were voters braving the cooling temperatures. "As long as we're in line they have to let us vote!" one voter said. "I should've worn my coat," another said.

Duane Meade, who had been helping with traffic control since noon said he hasn't seen anything like this in his any years voting. "If polls are like this all over the United States, we won't know who won until next week," he said.

This year record numbers of mail-in voters could delay states being able to declare a winner and therefore the all important electoral votes. In Venango County they expected to have the less than 8,000 mail-in votes processed before polls closed Tuesday.

But it is unsure at this time if all of Pennsylvania will be counted before the end of the night.

Locally the races for State Senator and State Representative should be easily decided tonight.

In Franklin in the late afternoon Lee James Green Party opponent Michael Badges-Canning was casually hanging out engaging with anyone who wanted to learn a little more about his candidacy. He said a local paper closer to his home in Butler County did a story about the race for the Pennsylvania 64 seat and reported Lee James was running unopposed.

​The Green Party candidate felt a little disrespected even after the small correction in the paper the next day. But that didn't deter him from being available at a few polling locations to answer questions.

Polls closed at 8 p.m. and now all there is to do is wait for the results. The Republican headquarters on Seneca Street in Oil City incumbent Lee James popped in to check in and see what was being reported on Fox News playing on the big screen TV.

I love to cover high school athletics. My favorite part is when sport is pure.

​It is personal records. It is finishing.

This is life lesson 101 in my book. 

When it is only about glory then it takes on a different meaning. And that meaning sometimes becomes a shadow on what sport's greatest attribute is truly about. Leadership and understanding of your role on a team or within life.

I love cross country, track and swimming because it is personal accomplishment above all else that matters.

We can win, but if we give it all, we are our best self. I took this photo above because this runner never said die. She finished. Awesome! I was proud of her and I don't even know her.

I made several photos Saturday that showed the joy of sport and the intense strength it takes to accomplish something that might be beyond the athlete's knowledge, but not beyond their ability - not beyond their soul.

​Runner's high comes from that which is beyond ones comprehension. Good for you all!

​Please look at even more of these athletes here. 

A brief explanation of the above photo. The comment was this athlete ruined his finish line moment by turning around and crossing the line backwards. I didn't think so. To me it was a story in itself. Whether you call it confidence or arrogance, this runner is head and shoulders above the rest and he had a moment of fun for himself. I'm not even sure how I feel about it, to me I would humbly want to just cross the line, but I also have a sense of humor so not knowing this athlete I won't judge. I just recorded what I did and I didn't think he ruined anything. It was real.