Blog Archives - Eight & 322/Eight & 27

Franklin's heavy heart recognized before game

12/30/2022

"We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Madison Johnson, a fellow 4-H’er and friend to many. Our prayers go out to family and friends of Maddie. Please keep them in your thoughts during this difficult time" the Cranberry Clover's 4-H club posted on Facebook.

Madison "Maddie" Johnson, daughter of Kevin and Holly Johnson, was tragically killed in a car crash Wednesday, just three days before her 16th birthday. At the Dick Russell Memorial Basketball Tournament at Franklin High School Thursday night the gym went silent as the school asked for a moment to honor Johnson.

She was a tenth grade student at the school, where, according to her obituary, she was active several school activities, including Class of 2025 Student Council Secretary, yearbook, and track and field.

Johnson was also a longtime 4-H member, participating in Venango County 4-H Teen Council, Canal Ag, and Milkmasters.

The Cranberry Clovers posted the local 4-H program is offering grief assistance to the community, as Johnson's friends and family deal with her passing. "Venango Co. Extension office is offering support for those who might need it, and will have a grief counselor available at the Venango County Extension office from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, December 30, 2022. There will be a group session starting at 10:30 a.m. We encourage all to come. Our counselor will be available for individual sessions afterwards."

On Thursday, the community responded to the tragedy by leaving memories and condolences at Johnson's online obituary and donations through a GoFundMe account. The account had more than 200 donors and had raised nearly $20,000 within five hours after it was started.

Gardinier-Warren Funeral Home & Cremation Services, in Franklin is handling the arrangements. Friends and family will be received from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, January 1, 2023 at Utica Volunteer Fire Department.

Billingsley jersey retired

12/30/2022

Number 50 is officially unavailable for future Franklin High School girls basketball players after the district retired a replica of the jersey once worn by former athletic standout Jody Billingsley.

Billingsley was a 1990 graduate of FHS and competed in volleyball, track and basketball, the latter of which she also played at the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown. At Franklin she amassed an 1,111 career points. In her senior year, average nearly 15 points a game and over 9 rebounds.

She was one of three women killed during a shooting in a Pittsburgh fitness club in 2009.

"Her dedication and determination were evident in all that she did," the announcer said during the short ceremony Thursday night.

Last year, the district memorialized the new gymnasium scoreboard in her honor. She was also inducted into the Franklin Hall of Fame in 2016.

"It was something we wanted to do for the family," said Becky Barnes, Franklin's athletic director.

Billingsley's father, Leon was among the family members on hand for the jersey retirement. He was also joined by Jodi Gault, former coach of the women's basketball team at Johnstown.

The retirement had been in the works for a while and finally came together for Thursday night during the Dick Russell Memorial Basketball Tournament. "We wanted to have the community here," Barnes said of the timing. The tournament included teams from Oil City, Rocky Grove, Franklin and Fairview.

Billingsley was the last player to wear number 50 on the FHS girls team, according to Barnes. Now a framed replicate of the jersey she wore will hang in the lobby outside the gym.

Ice on the river shouldn't pose concern

12/29/2022

Ice piles up near Justus Park and the Veterans Bridge in Oil City on Thursday, Dec. 29. The ice pack goes as far back as the Wye Railroad bridge and extends approximately at least a half-mile beyond the Oil City Marina according to The Nature of Things columnist Anna Applegate who was out and about Thursday with her call phone camera. "A Facebook message to the National Weather Service office in Pittsburgh said they are watching the situation," she wrote adding the office said it "should be warm enough tonight through tomorrow night to continue melting a good bit of the ice. The rainfall on Saturday shouldn't be enough to cause significant issues."

Photos from Christmas Eve service in Franklin

12/25/2022

Pastor Melissa Geisler presided over a candlelight service Saturday at First United Methodist Church in Franklin. About 50 souls braved the northwest Pennsylvania weather to participate in or witness the tradition.

The church lit with several dozen candles, strings of white holiday lights and tree on the alter. The choir sang from on high above the alter as Geisler led her sermon "The Heart of Christmas."

"How perfect it is that God would send a child to lead us," Geisler read from Isaiah.

"The true light that enlightens all has come into the world," Geisler said in her sermon. " That light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness has never been able to put it out."

Besides the choir, there were songs from Meagan Moehler and Kenzie and Megan Ostergard.

A minor snag came when Geisler was to light the Christmas Candle that just wouldn't light.

After a few minutes and several attempts Geisler apologized but, without skipping a beat, emphasized that the light of Christ is still with them all.

Merry Christmas and thank you Pastor Geisler and First United Methodist Church for allowing us in to document this service to share.

PHOTOS: Rocky Grove winter concert was SRO

12/23/2022

Halfway there: The arts are growing at Franklin High School

12/22/2022

The Franklin Area High School art department is trying to establish a legacy art culture. On Wednesday they held a sale of student, faculty and community artists' works. It is their goal to raise enough money this school year to purchase an original piece of regional artwork to start the school's permanent collection.

Their goal is to have a couple grand in hand to purchase the inaugural piece.

The sale, which was held in conjunction with the senior high school's holiday concert, raised over $1,000, Franklin art teacher Darrellyn Freeman reported on social media. "With gratitude, we thank you all for believing in this exciting new adventure for our district," she said.

They are hoping to continue raising funds to still reach their goal of $2,000.

As for the artwork that will be purchased for the collection, Freeman says they have received a few submissions thus far but hope to have a few more to choose from.

"Also, we will be extending the submission deadline to January 31 to give our regional artists time to enter artwork for consideration for the collection," she said.

Once all the submissions have been gathered, the students will select the piece that will be purchased, professionally framed if needed and put on display near the school's library.

Anyone interested in submitting artwork should email Freeman at freemand@fasd.k12.pa.us.

Some seasonal obstacles are more fun than others

12/22/2022

Zig around the purple cone then zag around the yellow cone but don't kick over a second purple cone and you're off to a good start.

That is just the first little maneuver in the annual obstacle course at Valley Grove Elementary School.

After the cones, it's on to leap-frogging over four rolled-up wrestling mats before dropping to all fours to elbow crawl under the last obstacle in the first line. Back on to two feet to navigate a two-by-four like a balance beam before a short hurdle, scooting through four different-sized hoops and the high jump and roll to the finish line.

The quick ones were right around the 20-second mark without penalty points added on. Since the folks competing today had already qualified as the tops in their class there were no slow finishers.

The obstacle course races are a tradition that stretches back to at least 2007 when the Sugarcreek, Cooperstown and Rocky Grove elementary schools combined to form Valley Grove Elementary School. Former gym teacher Scott Harry is credited with starting the tradition. Elizabeth Kolodziejczak-Sanner, who replaced Harry after he retired last year, kept the popular long-standing tradition alive.

Also adding to the celebratory spirit of the day, principal Jake Saullo dressed as an Elf on Shelf to greet students first thing in the morning. He donned the getup to kick off the afternoon competition.

Below are several photos from the fun competition. To see even more photos click here.

Franklin High School was filled with song Wednesday night

12/21/2022

The Franklin holiday band and choir winter concert was pushed back an hour Wednesday evening so that one of its members had time to attend the calling hours with her family for her father who recently passed away.

Though Makenna Reavis lost her dad unexpectedly over the weekend she wanted to sing. Band director Steve Johnston and choir director Sarah Gilbert decided to start the show at 8 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. when the calling hours ended.

Reavis had a solo in "December Snow" and the audience gave her a standing ovation, according to Darrell Greenawalt who was there taking photographs.

The concert featured several holiday- and winter-inspired pieces put led by Johnston and Gilbert.

Below are a few photos snapped in the middle of the show.

Honorable Knights pushed back, school district wellness steps forward

12/20/2022

Franklin's School Board conducted its business Monday, paying some bills, dealing with staffing issues and hearing updates on initiatives from the district's superintendent - among those Honorable Knights and a collaboration with the YMCA.

The district was hoping to kick off the new Honorable Knights initiative in the New Year, but a snowy day canceled an important planning session. The program includes volunteer mentors helping at the high school.

The high school newspaper, the district and the Franklin Area School District Community Engagement Committee describe the program as a "community-driven volunteer program."

The goal of the program is to create a support system for all students by having adults from the community very visiblly in the school.

The adults, who will be dressed in a black and red top with Honorable Knight written on the chest, will be there in the morning for arrival, they will be in the hallways, the cafeteria, during arrival and dismissal and around offering support and guidance to the students. Thomas hopes this program will "help foster relationships between student and staff to create an environment where students feel supported."

Excerpt from the "Knighty News" December 2022 edition

A training session, which volunteers want before officially launching the new initiative, had to be postponed, superintendent Eugene Thomas told the board. This in turn led to the delay of a presentation to the student body that had been planned for Wednesday, he said. So the launch of the program has pushed back to February.

Thomas also introduced a new program that he hopes will increase districtwide wellness and offer something free to the staff. In collaboration with the YMCA, the district will offer memberships to employees who will use it and commit to a wellness regimen.

"Our goal is to build health and wellness, and to build community collaborations," Thomas said.

He hopes it will pay dividends in the long term with fewer sick days and better overall health in the school's community.

The two initiatives are part of an overall effort by Thomas to bridge a gap between the community and the school district - an effort that was met with enthusiasm from the board.

Franklin teacher Tracey Hart is one of two high school educators in the state asked to be a part of Governor-elect Josh Shapiro's transition team. Hart said she attended a conference where she was asked her opinion. "For those of you who know me, if you don't want to know the answer, don't ask the question," she told the board. She said what she offered must've been something Shapiro and his team deemed worthy of the honor. She admitted it's been a whirlwind and a lot of work but, she is excited to work with the governor-elect and is hopeful for the future of education in Pennsylvania.

In other business, the board approved the following:

An agreement with Thiel College to provide an educational experience to the college’s Master of Science in Speech Pathology students.
An agreement with the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford to offer the dual enrollment program.
A contract with AB Specialties Inc. of Export for the window replacements at the junior-senior high school at a cost of $1,398,400. It will be funded with an ESSER II grant.
Payment of $31,390.20 to Fennick Group Inc dba Strongland Roofing Systems for phase 2 of the Sandycreek Elementary School roof replacement. The payment will be made from the capital reserve.
Staffing changes, including Stephanie Lee, social worker/home visitor (counselor); Haley Lavella, eighth grade English teacher; Cindi Hoffman, custodial floater, second shift; Elizabeth Fyock, driver for Transerve; Mark London, guest teacher; and Rachel Wheller, cafeteria substitute.
Paid coaching changes, including Cael Ziegler, junior high assistant wrestling coach, $1750 per year; Lenado Fleming Sandycreek boys basketball coach $375 per year; Dalton Lusher, assistant swimming coach, $2275 per year; and Jacob Salsgiver assistant track coach, $2275 per year.

County high school choirs combine voices

12/18/2022

After intermission from selections from Handel's Messiah, area high school choirs were given a chance to show off the young talent Venango County has to showcase.

Dr. Hae-Jong Lee from Youngstown State University worked with the students all afternoon Saturday on a couple of numbers.

The combined choirs were given a chance to work on fresh material. Lee said at the end of the show that the local kids are very talented and the music programs in these schools are extremely vital.

Each school then took turns showcasing their singers and providing a glimpse into what their own holiday shows coming up high entail.

This part of the performance was a collaboration between the local school music programs spearheaded by Franklin's Sarah Gilbert and with the support of Zach Covington and the Barrow-Civic Theatre.

Below are more photos from the show.

Hallelujah

12/18/2022

The Barrow-Civic Theatre brought to the area selections from Handel's "The Messiah" this weekend with two shows. Saturday was standing-room only. Sunday also drew a pretty good crowd.

Several soloists performed to tell the story of Christ's birth, death, and resurrection. Soloists included George Wilbur, Rebecca Grove, Nelson Thayer, Helen Fielding, Jamie Bastello, Zachary Covington, Sarah Gilbert and Tim Gilbert. Convington also served as director of the show with Sara Gilbert stepping in to direct a few songs.

The chorus included more than 50 local voices and the orchestra had nearly 20 members.

Below are more photos from the performance. Please see our post about the local high school choirs who also performed Saturday night at the Barrow.

Christmas workshop at Two Mile

12/9/2022

To engage more people to use the park, director Luke Kauffman tried something new - a Christmas workshop for kids to make unique crafts for the holiday. Several stations were set up to let their creative juices flow.

Dozen of kids showed up Friday afternoon and dozens more are registered already for Saturday.
Though the event is sign-up only, Kauffman said there may be a few spots open for Saturday's event between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

The projects are geared for ages 5 to 12 and costs $10 per child. Kauffman said anyone who is not pre-registered but interested should call the park first to see if spots are still available. For more information, call 814-676-6116

Cookies and hot chocolate will be provided. Additional refreshments can be purchased for donations. Proceeds will go toward events and activities at the park.

"I've always wanted to add more events and bring more people to the park," Kauffman said, noting that COVID has made some things difficult the last couple years. He is also planning a sled riding event, but is waiting for the weather to conducive to sledding. So stay tuned.

Franklin approves new fireworks rules

12/8/2022

Franklin City Council passed a fireworks ordinance this week that is aimed at preventing the use of fireworks too close to homes or other property. The ordinance lays out a 150-foot rule and makes shooting fireworks under the influence illegal.

First offenses can come with a $500 fine.

Other parts of the ordinance limit when fireworks can be used. "Consumer Fireworks may not be used between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m."

Some exceptions to that time are made for Independence Day, New Year's Eve, Memorial Day and Labor Day celebrations.

Fines increase for repeat offenders. The illegal sale of fireworks can result in fines as high as $10,000, according to the ordinance.

Fireworks cannot be used on:

Public property, including, but not limited to, streets, parking lots, sidewalks and parks, without the express permission of the owner or entity that controls the property.
Within, directed at or directed from a vehicle or building.
Directed at another person.
While the person is under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance or another drug.
Within 150 feet of a building or vehicle, whether or not the building or vehicle is owned by the user of the fireworks.

Oil City lights up for Christmas

12/3/2022

Oil City kicked off its 21st annual Christmas Past festival with music, Santa, and lighting the tree in Town Square. The evening also includes hot chocolate, "sleigh" rides and a toy drive.

The festival continues Saturday with craft shows and other sales events at several venues around town. Here is a listing of the day's schedule:

7 a.m. to 8 p.m. - Shop Downtown and Play Small Business Bingo (Sunday also)
8 to 10 a.m. - Breakfast of Grace United Methodist Church
9 to 10 .m. - Jingle Bell Run starting at Town Square
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Children's Art Show at the Oil City Library; Holiday Happenings craft show at the Belle Lettres Club; Sweet Treats Cookie Sale and Craft Show at the YWCA
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Victorian Christmas Bazaar at the Knights of Columbus and Grace United Methodist Church
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Christmas tree display at the Venango Museum of Art, Science & Industry
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Holiday bazaar at Graffiti Gallery (Sunday also)
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. - Make a Wish Weekend at the Transit Arts Gallery & Gifts (Sunday also)
Noon to 4 p.m. - Photos with Santa at the National Transit Great Room; Winter Wonderland at the Oil Creek Earthworks Pottery Studio
2 to 3 p.m. - Holiday Carols at Artist's Attic
7 p.m. - Venango Chorus concert at Good Hope Lutheran Church

It's a win-win-win situation

12/1/2022

'I just want to get toys in the hands of people who can't afford them and help a charity.'

In 2013, Brandy Elford was driving home from the store and had a realization - toys are expensive.

"I was appalled at the price of toys," Elford said. "How can people afford this stuff?"

Then she had another thought - "I wish it was yard sale season" - followed by a spark of an idea - why can't it be?

From there she started the Everybody Wins Used Toy Sale and Giveaway. She asked people to donate gently used toys to be sold at yard sale prices or below. With just a two-week turnaround, she put her plan into motion. Despite a lot of snow on sale day, she raised $600.

And from there, things just got bigger and better.

In 2018, the effort raised about $2,000 and the next year about $1,800. For the last two years, Elford put the sale on hold due to COVID, but was ready to dust off the idea in 2022.

On Thursday night she was joined by a small army of volunteers who were scurrying about the Galloway United Methodist Church gym pricing and organizing the first wave of donated items. Elford was about a third of the way to her goal as of 6:30 p.m. "I'm hoping more stuff will show up," she said.

From 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, December 2, she will accept clean, gently used, like new and new toys for ages baby through teen, including dolls, cars, books, sporting items, costumes, stuffed animals, and imagination items. Her wishlist includes "anything a kid would play with," she said. Donations can be dropped off by using the front entrance of the church, which is located off Route 417.

On Saturday, all the items will be available for purchase. From 9 a.m. to noon things will be sold at their marked prices. From noon to 1 p.m., everything will be half off. After a one-hour break, she will open the doors again and all the remaining items will be given away for free until 3 p.m.

All the money raised will be donated to the Family Service & Children’s Aid Society's shelter for domestic and sexual abuse victims.

As for the remaining toys, Elford says that has never been an issue, even the first year in the blizzard. That year, as they were cleaning up the remaining items a woman pulled up who said their family could not afford toys that year due to losing their employment. "We just loaded her up," Elford said as she recalled hitting her mission right from the start.

"It's pretty simple. I just want to get toys into the hands of people who can't afford them and help a charity."

Find out more about the sale through the Facebook event page.

A Christmas Card from the Barrow

12/1/2022

Director Shawn Clerkin has a motto about turning lemons into lemonade, but based on the rehearsal Thursday night it might be better summed as "when auditions hand you a smaller-than-needed cast, create your own variety show."

He is leading the charge for the original holiday show "A Barrow Christmas Card" which will be performed Saturday and Sunday.

The Franklin Civic Operetta Association originally planned to do the classic "Holiday Inn" as its Christmas show this year but had to change course this fall. "We just didn't have enough (people) audition to pull off the show," Clerkin said.

Unable to do a full-scale musical options were limited, yet limitless. "Let's do, essentially, a Christmas variety show like you used to see on TV," Clerkin said. "We built the show around who was there and what their talent is."

There will be singing, dancing, skits and featured performers.

As far as the music in the show, it was a team effort to choose traditional and modern hits. "They all picked their favorites," Clerkin said. "We only had one overlap."

Online the show is described as follows: "People in Franklin love the Christmas holiday! We love the season and have many ways that we celebrate with friends and family. Different carols, songs, delicious food, inspiring tales, and cultural traditions all celebrate this joyous season. Join your Franklin Civic Operetta and Barrow-Civic Theatre friends, along with local Taste of Talent participants, as we share in story and song the many ways the lovely Oil Region celebrates Christmas."

Making up the core cast is Libby Best, Bellina Devine, Kevin Fox, Jenny Jack, Cole Devine, Dawn Polito, Liam Webster. Jenalee Schenk and Kaitlynn Moore. Featured Taste of Talent performers will be Kevin Downey with duet partner Brianna Erdman, Nathaniel Licht, Joni Zacherl and Ashleigh Bennett. Snowflake performers are Alaina Kuhaneck, Isbel McNulty, Lily Black and Addison Moore.

Knightettes are Baylee Cutchall, Savan Steigerwald, McKenna Bordell, Brooklyn Burchanowski, Quinlyn Karns, Stephanie Anderson, Angelina Wofford, Ella Bodien, Eden Criado, Mikahla Ho, Isabelle Baker, Ella Marbich and Marley Plowman. Silks members are Haley Bell, Andi Coast, Jade Owens, Karis Heckathorne, Allie Miller, Brooklyn Culver and Sophia Schwab.

Show, which has a run time of just under two hours, will be done at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets can be purchased from the box office before each show or online at https://barrowtheatre.org/event/a-barrow-christmas-card/2022-12-03/.