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 Riley Brophy was named the 2024 Franklin Homecoming Queen during halftime of the Knights' epic overtime battle against Eisenhower. She was escorted by Matt Hallenbeck. Click here to read more about the game.
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 Picture perfect weather for this year's Applefest. Even the storms rolling in at the tail end allowed everyone the chance to get their wares in safe order.  We don't know if the numbers this year broke any records, but the car show was packed, Saturday was packed and Friday was very well attended. Below are some photos that caught our eye Sunday. Today we noticed mostly the interactions between folks. Great!              Well if good weather begets good festive moods... the first two days of Applefest should be boosting good endorphins in all our brains.  Friday and Saturday, if anyone wants to complain, was perhaps too perfect. Mild to warmish, but not hot temperatures seemed to bring out... well... everybody.  If Sunday's car show goes as such, this could go down as one of the most successful Applefest's in its history. Saturday was certainly packed in both parks.  Below are more scenes from Saturday walking around.             Opening day of Applefest was summer-like and it drew thousands as usual. Everything from hot sausage to hot button topics are available. This weekend is known by organizers as "the best three day" and there is truly something for everyone. Here are a few photos from day one of the festival.            And let's not forget Annie. A miraculous performance at the Barrow-Civic Theatre featuring an incredible young actress who nails the part.    Northwest Pennsylvania leads state in clean roadway volunteers
“I was seeing the garbage every day,” The Dude said of his morning commute through Venango County. “I thought ‘who else would I expect to do it?’” So shortly after the pandemic, The Dude, or El Duderino if you are not into the whole brevity thing, adopted his first stretch of roadway not too far from his home. From there his participation grew as he continued to pick up miles along his path to work. Each time he adopted another area he requested to have a nickname, inspired by the cult-classic movie “The Big Lebowski,” put on the sign in place of his own identity. “(I) do it just to do it and I wanted other people to do it just to do it,” he said. The Dude also does it because he loves the outdoors, cares about the environment, and wants to better his community through service. “It’s amusing how far back some of the garbage goes,” he said during a recent outing to clean an area near the border of Cranberry Township and the Franklin. He has unearthed bottles and papers that appeared to be several years, if not decades, old. He has also found other historical and interesting items covered for years by litter. “After you clean everything up and remove all that noise, there’s cool stuff (to discover in nature).” He also finds a lot of the repeat offenders on the list of common types of litter – beer cans, fast food wrappers, and cigarette butts.  “Garbage breeds garbage” Since 1990, PennDOT has sponsored the Adopt-a-Highway program to enlist volunteers across the state to help beautify the area along the roadways. The Department encourages its volunteers to clean their designated miles in the spring once the snow melts and again in the fall before the weather gets cold. Volunteers are provided gloves, bags and safety vests. The bags of garbage are hauled away by state employees when requested. Last year in the northwest region of the state more than 2,100 bags of litter were cleaned up through the program. Statewide, approximately 32,800 bags of litter were collected by volunteers and disposed of by PennDOT in 2023. So far in 2024, almost 1,200 bags of garbage were turned over for northwest region PennDOT employees to discard. The Dude hit his route aggressively in the spring, fillng nine bags in March alone. Recently, in just ten minutes, he had traveled less than a quarter of a mile in one direction and nearly filled a bag. He is hoping that his efforts and the humor people might find in his name will inspire others to get involved in the program.
Wimer highlights the Knights of Columbus in Crawford County as the region’s longest running volunteer group and the Waterford Lions Club as the group that registered the most trash collected over the years with 402 bags. The growing number of participants makes the northwest region, the PennDOT district with the largest number of miles currently claimed through the program, but it is not where the most garbage was collected. That designation went to the Philadelphia area in 2023 with almost 5,200 bags, more than double that of the northwest region. “If you average 40 pounds per bag it equates to 43 tons of trash volunteers reported for picking up in 2023 in District 1,” Wimer said. “That’s a task our employees could never accomplish alone,” said District 1 Executive Brian McNulty. “We are so grateful for our volunteers, both longtime groups and those who just signed on this year.” It’s not too late to adopt a roadway and participate in the 2024 clean-up effort. The program, which requires a two-year commitment, is open to any group or individual and a variety of roadway lengths and adoption areas are available. To sign up, renew an adoption, or register a cleanup time, go online to adoptahighway.penndot.pa.gov. As for "The Dude," he envisions a day when all the miles in Venango County are adopted and cleaned. “It would be a cool bragging right. And it’s totally doable here.” Story and photos by Jill Harry, courtesy of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.  Rainy cool conditions couldn't stop the Music in Oil Country festival Saturday at Oil City High School. The multi-school extravaganza features are high school bands showing of their halftime shows. Rain dampened part of the show, but the school got a chance to show their hard work to fellow marching bands and their friends and families. It isn't a competition, it's just a chance to appreciate tradition and the continued hard work coming from the arts side of education and the high school experience. Ten school's came to entertain. The festival is a fundraiser for the Oiler Marching Band that is replacing uniforms this year. They hope to be able to debut the new look OMB before the end of this season. 
One more photo below, and a link to view more.  More photos at: sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p359577716  More photos at: sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p359577716  The Music in Oil Country marching band festival will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday at Oil City High School. The gates will open at 6 p.m. Admission is $5. This year’s festival will feature 11 high school bands spanning seven counties showcasing the hours of practice the students have put into each of their shows. High school bands scheduled to perform include the Oil City Oiler Marching Band, Franklin High School Black Knight Marching Band, Titusville Rocket Marching Band, Keystone Panther Marching Band, Lakeview High School Sailor Band, Cambridge Springs Marching Blue Devils, Warren Marching Dragons, Conneaut Area “Rock n’ Roll” Marching Band, Fort LeBoeuf Stampede of Sound Marching Band, Brockway Marching Band and West Middlesex “Big Red” Marching Band. As in past years, the festival will again offer concessions, raffles, a bake sale, t-shirt sales, candy grams and air grams. Proceeds from the festival will help offset the cost of new uniforms for the Oiler Marching Band. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be held in the Oil City High School gymnasium. Anyone with questions may contact Daniel Cartwright, Oil City Band Director, at [email protected]. Below are photos from last year's event. The weather held out Saturday night for the annual Oil City High School's "Music in Oil Country" where it is billed as halftime all night long. Twelve high school bands showcased their halftime routines with songs ranging from the Norte Dame fight song to Lil Nas X. 
See almost 300 photos from Music in Oil Country here: https://sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p822300408  The show is a fundraiser for the Oil City music program. They are currently working toward raising money to purchase new marching band uniforms. 
See almost 300 photos from Music in Oil Country here: https://sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p822300408 
In a 2022 report from the Department of Veterans Affairs, there were 6,146 veteran suicides, which is anaverage of nearly 17 vets taking their own life every day. The report also stated that veterans were 57% more likely to commit suicide than non-veteran adults in the United States. Other veterans support groups report even higher numbers. Mission 22, an organization founded to raise awareness and create avenues of support for veterans suffering from mental illness, was founded based on an earlier report claiming 22 veterans took their life each day. For Zinz, who lost his close friend, even one is too many. He wants to do his part to spread awareness of the issue and move closer to a solution. He is looking into setting up an LLC to be able to increase his efforts in raising both money and awareness. As of now he is planning to host another scramble next year, as well as explore ways to do even more. “There are just so many people that you don’t know are suffering every day,” he said. “That’s the biggest thing for me… to raise awareness for that. But I also want (McDaniel’s) legacy to live on because he had an amazing spirit and was always helping others out." Zinz said many times he would call McDaniel all hours of the night and he would always pick up. McDaniel did that for everybody. "He was that kind of a guy," Zinz said. "The problem with Marines is they are very prideful and they don’t (outwardly) show any signs of weakness at all," he continued. "That's just the way they are and I think that just got built up over a long period of time. I had no idea this was going on with him… people fight demons every day. It built up and I don’t think he thought he could get out. I don’t want anybody to forget this. There is always a way out." 
 Mike "Airtight Alibi" Williamson, a crowd and thrower's favorite, announced Saturday would be the last time he would add any more stones to rivers, at least not competitively. Each year Airtight makes it a point to remember to those skippers who have passed away by holding an en masse toss with all the competitors lined up on rivers edge.  
   "I have nothing" sang Aiden Quinn Sunday. It was his choice of an encore song moments after winning the 2024 Taste of Talent competition in Franklin. It was the song he led off the competition where he wowed the crowd immediately with his ability to belt and put emotion into a song. He had "something." And now the Sligo native has a little pocket change and goes down in the history of Franklin along side the other past champions of its premier summer vocal competition. Last year's champion, Lexie Gilson, who was on hand to perform as well Sunday showed that it is the strength of voice that makes a difference, no matter where you're from (she lives out near State College) that rises you to the top. Quinn was infectictious on Sunday trying to get the crowd up and dancing as he sang Frankie Valli's "Can't take my eyes off of you," and though the shy crowd of 600 didn't indulge him, he did garner a partial standing ovation from a dedicated front row crowd.  Sunday's finale had Madison Wakefield, Tim Craver and Aoife Salusky joining Quinn to give a pretty impressive line up of strong performances across many genres. The crowd truly got their money's worth in entertainment value. Especially with the four song performance from last year's winner who again delivered a vocal performance not many small towns ever get a chance to witness.  This put a cap on the most recent season, but the competition remained a strong example that talent can be found even in the most remote reaches and that we should always be on the lookout of it. Then help to nurture it. Below are more photographs from Sunday's performances.  To see more photos from Eight & 322 covering this year's Taste of Talent please visit sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p703039581  
   Shiver me timbers, the Barrow-Civic Theatre was invaded by a hardy group of young performers as part of the 19th annual Youth Theatre Summer Camp. The camp offered 90 kids a chance to understand what the theatre has to offer, including singing, dancing, dialogue, scenery, props, and technical support.  Blimey! After only 3 and a half days of rehearsal, the young buccaneers performed a full, though short, around 45 minute-long production of "Pirates The Musical." And they did so to a nearly full house of hearties. The enthusiastic crew of little scalawags included 30 kids who who walked the plank as first-timers to the stage. There were students from many local and regional school districts involved as well as a handful of stowaways who "sailed" in all the way from Pittsburgh, Penn State, and Philadelphia.
 
    ROILity Crowned "I knew she had it in the bag," said Kelsey Hanna said Thursday night after her twin sister Kayla was named the 2024 Oil Heritage Festival Queen. She wasn't being smug, she was legitimately proud of her sister. "I have firsthand experience in this event(Oil Heritage Festival) and have vivid memories of riding in the parade as a little girl with my gymnastics team," Kayla wrote in her essay to the OHF Queen committee. Her resume is loaded with community service and extracurricular activities include her and her sister being top-notch cross country runners for Cranberry High School. OHF kicked off for its multi-day festival earlier this week. The annual art show is loaded with regional art at the National Transit Building and the Graffiti Gallery on the north side. Thursday Central Avenue Plaza was full of people enjoying music from Mostly Brass, Mitch Litler and the Wyllis Street Band as well as games, ice cream and much more. 
       
 To view more photos from this and previous weeks visit: sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p703039581
 Taste of Talent's field was narrowed to the final eight for the 7 p.m. August 3 semi-finals. The Taste veteran, and often a big crowd favorite, Ruth Herrick was eliminated from this year's contest. Entering the final week are Matthew Myers, Alexander Karg, Jacob Kunselma, Aiden Quinn, Madison Wakefield. Aoife Salusk, Lauren Clarke George and Tim Craver. There will be no Wednesday evening show next week as the competition finishes off with a Saturday evening show where the field will be narrowed to just four for the Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. finals where each performer will sing two songs.
To view more photos from this and previous weeks visit: sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p703039581  
       August 15-18 
 Michael Craig channeled Rick Astley with his singing of Never Gonna Give You Up. Lauren Clarke George took the audience to the heavens with Ava Maria before another Taste regular Tim Craver brought us back into the country with Broken Wing by Martina McBride. The final act of the night was Jake Kunselman's own song title Wanted Memories.
Then the hardest part of the night for the host Joey Lillard came when he had to announce the elimination of a contestant. Craig, last week was the low vote getter. and therefore won't be among the nine returning performers next week. Only a couple more weeks of the competition remain with the finals set for Sunday August 4.  Below are more photos from Wednesday's performances.
View more photos at sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p703039581
View more photos at sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p703039581   View more photos at sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p703039581   View more photos at sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p703039581   Opens Friday July 19 at 7:30 p.m. Also tickets on sale for Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sanday at 2 p.m.
  The dinner part of the dinner theater is sold out, but there is still plenty of good seats available for the show that features some powerful singing, a little bawdiness and colorful costumes in this variety musical performance at the Barrow-Civic Theatre this week. Selections from Tony Award-winning musicals "Godspell," "Pippin," "Company," and "A Chorus Line," are performed by 14 regional actors in a show titled "A Taste of '70s Musicals." This is the Franklin Civic Operetta Association's 65th anniversary. Visit https://barrowtheatre.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket#/events/a0STN000003yG3N2AU for tickets. Shows run Friday July 19 and Saturday July 20 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, July 21 at 2 p.m.
To view more photos visit: sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p1008164378 
  Humity still air made the fireworks display a bit different to enjoy, but the hundreds of folks packed on to the lawn last Riverfront Park for the Thunder over Franklin display didn't seem to mind. The twenty-minute show capped off Franklin's week of activities.          
   The annual Taste of Talent vocal competition brought 11 singers to the bandstand in downtown Franklin Wednesday a week late, due to opening night storms last week. The weather again threatened, but the organizers thought they could get it in and they did. 
No contestants were eliminated this week. The votes taken this week were tallied and will be held to be added to next week's votes. The contestant with the fewest votes will exit the competition. The remaining contestant will perform each Wednesday at 7 p.m. with one being eliminated each week until the semi-finals which will move to Saturday, August 3, at 7 p.m., and the competition finale is on Sunday, August 4, at 4 p.m. 
 
Thunder over Franklin concludes the celebrations Thursday at Riverfront Park.
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