The Oil City Arts Council and ARTS Oil City are combining forces once again to put on the 44th annual Oil Heritage Festival Art Show, scheduled for July 20 to 24 in Oil City.

The art show, which is held in connection with the community-wide Oil Heritage Festival, included over 300 pieces of original artwork from 120 different artists in 2021.

There is no entry fee and no pre-registration to participate in the 2022 show and participants may enter up to three works across any category. ​

​The show features divisions for adults (Professional and Amateur), Young Adults (ages 13 to 17), and Children (ages 12 and under). Categories include Watercolors & Pastels, Oils & Acrylics, Three-Dimensional Arts, Graphics and Mixed Media, Fiber Arts, and Photography.

The show will be professionally judged, with ribbons awarded for first, second and third places in each category and division, as well as honorable mentions, People’s Choice and Best in Show.

Artwork must be delivered to the Great Room in the National Transit Building between 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 10 

The show will be set up in three locations: the National Transit Building (206 Seneca Street), National Transit Building Annex (210 Seneca Street), and at the storefront at 42 Seneca Street. Participating artists and the public may attend the opening reception from 6 to 9 p.m. July 20, held simultaneously at all three locations. The show will be open from noon to 4 p.m. July 21 and 24, noon to 6 p.m. July 22 and 23.  

Additional entry guidelines and information on the art show is available on the Oil Heritage Festival website, at the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce, Oil City Library, Oil Region Alliance, Transit Art Gallery and Gifts, and Artists Attic or by contacting the Oil City Main Street Program office at 814-677-3152 or kbailey@oilregion.org. 

Friends of all ages and even those of the four-legged variety will find something just for them in this year's Franklin Fourth of July Festivities as it returns with the traditional parade, fireworks, lots of music and children’s activities. 

“We are excited to be back to offering a full week of fun for all ages and celebrate the love for our community and country,” said Ronnie Beith, Franklin Events Coordinator.

The 2022 celebration includes the return of the city’s popular Libertyfest parade at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, July 2. This year’s theme is Red, White & You. 

“The theme gives participants a chance to show what July 4th means to them,” Beith said. “We are hoping the crowd gets into the act too by wearing their most patriotic outfit to the parade and help us celebrate the return of our summertime parade.”

This year’s parade will include a little pre-show and post-show activity as well. The weekly farmer’s market will hold one of its Artisan Days from 8 am. to 1 p.m. in 12th Street Island. Immediately prior to step off, the winners of the Red, White & You writing contest will be announced from the judge’s stand near the corner of Liberty Street and West Park Street. 

​“Back by popular demand, country music band South 62 will be playing at 7 p.m. Sunday in Bandstand Park. How lucky we are to have this wonderful band back in Franklin,” Beith said. “And they are just the start of a week of music that includes Tammi Dahl, Nathaniel Licht and Rachael Mellor, the Taste of Talent kick-off, Franklin Silver Cornet Band, and others performing throughout the city. No matter who is performing in the park, my advice is come early, take a chair and be ready to an enjoyable night of music.”​

There will be games and a petting zoo in Fountain Park, the Candyland obstacle course and Marty’s Bubble Machine in Bandstand Park, and a Red, White & You Touch-a-Truck event at the 12th Street Island.

A complete schedule of the Fourth of July Festivities Week activities is included below:

• Saturday, June 25 – Franklin Farmers-Curb Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., 12th Street Island; Franklin High School Community Mural Unveiling 11 a.m., alley by Barrow-Civic Theatre.
• Sunday, June 26 – South 62, 7 p.m., Bandstand Park.
• Monday, June 27 – Venango County Humane Society Pet Show, Bandstand Park, 6 p.m., registration • 6:30 p.m., show.
• Tuesday, June 28 – Concert by Tammi Dahl, Nathaniel Licht, and Rachael Mellor, 7 p.m., Bandstand Park.
• Wednesday, June 29 – Taste of Talent vocal competition kick-off, 7 p.m., Bandstand Park.
• Thursday, June 30 – Franklin Silver Cornet Band Mostly Marches concert, 7:30 p.m., Bandstand Park.
• Friday, July 1 – Yak ‘N Java, 8:30 a.m., 250 Elk Street, (814) 388-9122; Sidewalk/Indoor Sales, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., stores throughout downtown; Children’s Penny Carnival, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Fountain Park, Bandstand Park and 12th Street Island; Coversome (Randy Moorehead and Logan McMahon), 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Benjamin’s Roadhouse patio; Tammi Dahl & Mark DeWalt 6 to 8:30 p.m., Bella Cucina patio; children’s activities and Movies In The Park “SING 2” dusk, Bandstand Park.
• Saturday, July 2 – Franklin Farmers-Curb Market Artisan Day, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., 12th Street Island; Sidewalk/Indoor Sales, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Libertyfest Parade, 11:30 a.m.; entertainment and food booths, following the parade, Fountain Park.
• Sunday, July 3 – Clever Norm concert and cornhole 2 to 5 p.m., TrAils to Ales II.
• Monday, July 4 – Thunder Over Franklin by Pyrotechnico, dusk, Riverfront Park.​​

Route 417 (Rocky Grove Avenue) will be closed to northbound through traffic from the intersection with Route 322 on June 13 and 14, weather permitting. According to a PennDOT press release the closure is necessary to repair a retaining wall between the roadway and Monkey Run. The sidewalk between Village Auto and has been closed for sometime. Southbound lanes will be open for local business and road access.

A detour will be posted using Route 322, Route 8/Route 62, and Front Street. Trucks traveling from Franklin to Titusville are advised to use Route 8.
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After the wall repairs are made, the Borough of Sugarcreek will make repairs to the sidewalk, which is owned by the municipality.

The County of Venango work planned that will close portions of Meadville Pike will be postponed until June 15. That roadway will be closed to through traffic from the intersection with Route 322 in the City of Franklin to Bell Avenue in Sugarcreek Borough for up to two weeks. 

The detour for the Meadville Pike closure will be posted using Route 322 and Patchel Run Road.

The annualal Taste of Franklin, which traditionally is held on the Sunday of the Taste of Talent finale was cancelled this past week. Franklin Retail Association president Jennifer Taylor said local restaurant staffing issues was the main cause. "We are just taking this year off, it isn't cancelled forever," she said. "[The Franklin Retail Association] is supposed to hold events that promote our businessesses, but we have to weigh the amount of work we ask of them with what is actually possible."

Taylor said she hopes to talk with the past participants pants to see what can be done to make them more likely to participatepate in the future. This year they had only a few restaurants interested and many said it is tough hiringg enough staff to do anything extra. "We are willing to retool it and we're looking for ideas," she said.

Franklin High School Black Knight Marching Band returned to march and perform in the national Memorial Day Parade. As part of the trip they also got a chance to tour several of the Capital's attractions.

To view a little of their performance click on the below video. They appear around the 14-minute mark.

Jeff and I met years ago on the sidelines of basketball games where he and I both made pictures. Over the years we would talk a lot about photography and life when we saw each other.

We've critiqued each others work, shared slices of pizza and perhaps had a drink or two with suds that kept us talking for even more hours.

These are his photographs and he has posted dozens more on his Facebook page. You can see more here.

I am happy I chose to cover our youth in sports knowing I had people back here covering my back. 

I don't have a problem with games on Memorial Day at all, but I think we need to do better and not schedule them in the morning when we have many who want to take a moment to simply remember, repect and honor those lost and more importantly those living who give of themselves so that we do not forget.

​My rants are over... at least until next year.