The Oil Region Alliance is teaming up groups from Erie, Crawford, Mercer, Lawrence, Butler, Beaver, Indiana, and the Laurel Highlands region to mark National Travel and Tourism Week with a series of giveaways. 
 
Each day of National Travel and Tourism Week (#NTTW), which runs May 1 to 7, the ORA will feature a neighboring county and a $100 prize on their Facebook and Instagram pages. Each post will include a link to follow to be entered in the prize drawings. Likewise, Venango County will be featured on a different neighbor’s social media each day.
 
Prizes within Venango County include gift certificates to Barrow Civic Theatre, Bella Cucina, Benjamin’s Roadhouse, TrAils to Ales, Olive Vault, DeBence Antique Music World, Venango Museum, Core Goods, Karma Coffee, Transit Art Gallery & Gifts, Drake Well Museum & Park, Cross Creek Resort, and Emlenton Brew Haus.

Winners will be announced on Monday, May 9. 
 
Celebrated annually the first full week in May, National Travel and Tourism Week was created by Congress in 1983 to elevate the economic power of travel in the U.S.

Our Franklin and Oil City communities seem to be embracing the Remake Learning initiative with an interesting schedule of activities for our youngsters and their adults.
​
Remake Learning Days Across America is a celebration of innovative experiences and opportunities for youth to develop their sense of creativity, perseverance and curiosity. Events are designed to be hands-on, relevant and engaging educational experiences for youth of all ages (pre-K through high school) and their families, caregivers and educators. 
​
Events are organized by different learning themes such as: Arts, Maker, Outdoor Learning, Science, Technology and Youth Voice. 
RLDAA is presented by Remake Learning with national partnerships with PBS Kids for Parents and Digital Promise, along with many partners and host organizations in fourteen regions across the nation.
​
Here is a schedule of events planned for around the Venango County area. Go to https://remakelearningdays.org/ for a complete listing of activities and more details. 

The City of Franklin is inviting schools, churches, businesses, social groups and other organizations to participate in the 2002 Libertyfest Parade.

This year’s theme is “Red, White & YOU!”

“We want everyone to show us what July 4th means to them by walking, marching, riding, performing, building a float, riding a bike or any other creative way that they wish,” said Ronnie Beith, city events coordinator. “Is it patriotism, fireworks, cook-outs, wearing red, white and blue, family get-togethers, concerts in the park, children's penny carnival, parades, taking a float trip, patriotic music? There are so many possible ways to express our love of country and community and we hope to see a wide variety in this year’s parade.”
​
Step off for the annual parade, which is part of a week-long celebration in our small-town America, will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, July 2 with a line-up starting at 10 a.m. Like in years past, the parade route will start on 13th Street near city hall and end on Liberty Street near the intersection with 11th Street. Larger vehicles will continue on to Washington Crossing to exit the parade.

Parade coordinator Allison Myers will be accepting parade registrations through June. 
Email agerwick@franklinpa.gov or call 814-437-1922 ext. 1115.

There is no cost to participate and cash prizes will be given to the top entries, including $300 for best overall, $250 for first place, $200 for second, $150 for third, $125 for fourth, $100 for fifth, $75 for sixth and $50 for seventh. This year’s parade sponsors are Franklin Moose 83 and UPMC Northwest.
​
Additional information on all the 4th of July week festivities will be posted online at the city’s event website www.franklinpa.gov/events as well as on the event’s Facebook page @FranklinPAEvents. 

Students and families can come at any time during the event, but the last group must start at 2:30. Families can choose to walk or bike during the event. Participants must have their own bike and helmets. The day is geared toward familes and students in grades pre-kindergarten through grade 7.   ​

The day is being organized by Oil City teachers Steph Staub and Sarah Seaton in cooperation with the Oil Creek State Park and the Hasson Little Library. 

The Oil Region Alliance will celebrate the winners of the Historic Preservation Awards Wednesday, May 4 at a free in-person event at the Christ Episcopal Church in Oil City, beginning at 6 p.m.

The evening will begin with hors d’oeuvres at 6 p.m., a tour of the building/sanctuary at 6:45 p.m., and the awards ceremony at 7 p.m. There is no cost to attend the award ceremony, but pre-registration is appreciated. E-mail jgorman@oilregion.org to register. ​
 
“After canceling 2020’s event because of the pandemic, I’m pleased that we are holding the Oil Region Historic Preservation Awards in person for 2022,” said event organizer Jennifer Burden,​Oil Region Alliance Heritage Program Manager.  The 2021 the awards were given in a virtual event.

 “It’s important to recognize and celebrate historic preservation efforts throughout the Oil Region.”
 
Nominations were accepted in March and voted on by a panel of judges representing the following sponsor organizations: Crawford County Historical Society, Franklin Preservation Association, Friends of Drake Well, Inc., Heritage Society of Oil City, Oil City Main Street Program, Oil Region Alliance, Titusville Historical Society, Titusville Renaissance, Inc., Venango County Historical Society, and the Venango Museum of Art, Science & Industry.

The 2022 Oil Region Historic Preservation Award Winners are:

• Hidden Heritage publication for Historic Appreciation, nominated by the Heritage Society of Oil City
• Grove Hill Cemetery Publications and Tours for Historic Appreciation, nominated by the Heritage Society of Oil City
• St. Titus Roman Catholic Church for Preservation Stewardship, nominated by the Titusville Historical Society 
• The Brundred Carriage House for Reconstruction by Roberta and Gerald Kahler and Elizabeth Giuseffi, nominated by Ron Gustafson of Gustafson General Contracting
• Lynn Cressman for Historic Appreciation, nominated by Titusville Renaissance, Inc. 
• Olive Vault, Homegrown Kitchen, and Coffee in Between for Preservation Stewardship of their building at 1247 Liberty St., Franklin, nominated by Venango County Historical Society 
• Barr’s Insurance for Preservation Stewardship for its building at 257 Seneca St., Oil City, nominated by Oil City Main Street Program

 
The Oil Region Historic Preservation Awards is part of the ORA’s celebration of Historic Preservation Month, held each May. The program recognizes appropriate preservation, restoration, and rehabilitation projects, as well as individuals and groups committed to historic preservation. It creates an advocacy for historic preservation and enhances a regional historic preservation ethic within the Oil Region National Heritage Area.
 
The region includes all of Venango County, the Borough of Hydetown, the City of Titusville and Oil Creek Township in Crawford County.
 
Eligible structures must be within the Oil Region and at least 50 years old. Eligible projects include interior and exterior work in public buildings and exterior work in privately owned buildings. Once an individual or project has received an award, it is not eligible again for another five years.
 
The program has presented more than 150 awards since 1997.
 
Contact Burden at jburden@oilregion.org or 814-677-3152 x 116 for more information.

The United Way of Venango County, along with UPMC Health Plan, is inviting small community committees to apply for a mini-grant to hold a National Night Out event in their community or neighborhood. 

National Night Out is an annual community-building program that promotes strong police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. 

The goal is to make our neighborhoods safer and more caring places to live and work.

​Most communities celebrate National Night Out by hosting block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts and other various community events with safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel, exhibits and more. 

The grant applications will be open from May 1 until May 31. They can be found online at unitedwayofvenangocounty.org.

Awards will be announced to recipients on June 10. 

The National Night Out Grants, unlike traditional United Way grants, are not restricted to 501(c)3 non-profits. These grants may be applied to by individuals or small neighborhood committees looking to strengthen their communities. Grant recipients must agree to and sign United Way’s funding agreement, which lays out the maximum approved amount and the way reimbursements will be handled. United Way does encourage partnerships with agencies and organizations that may be more familiar with the process and likely to help. 

The United Way of Venango County has been working towards reducing the number of Venango County residents struggling to meet their health, education, and income needs by 2025. The United Way knows basic needs are the first way to reduce the struggles of everyday life. One of our most basic human needs is to connect with other people. When you build a relationship within your community, it is the start to becoming more financially stable, according to the United Way's press release.

If you are interested in helping to sponsor an event through a monetary donation, please contact the
United Way, or donate online via the National Night Out tab at unitedwayofvenangocounty.org. 

If you have any questions, call the United Way at 814-676-6545 or email jennifer@uwvenango.org.

 The Oil Region Alliance will hold a family-friendly Earth Day Celebration 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 23 at the Tarbell House in Titusville.
 
Children ages 4 - to 11 and their families can partake in hands-on ecological themed activities and learn about backyard scientist and 1880 Allegheny College biology graduate (and later investigative journalist) Ida Tarbell at her childhood home at 324 E. Main St. 
 
This event will feature a story time with Miss Becky from Benson Memorial Library. Titusville Council on the Arts Executive Director Sarah Miller will lead a craft. Representatives from the PA Bureau of Forestry will provide displays and activities about trees. Earth Day-themed take-home items and snacks will also be offered.
 
This event is free and open to the public. Registration is not required.