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Peaceful rallies matter

5/31/2020

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The country seems set ablaze after the tragic death of George Floyd under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer just a few days ago. Protests around the country transgressed into violence and anarchy. In city after city  war-zone street scenes make it hard to differentiate one story from the next.
Even a small city like Erie, just a few miles north, had a dangerous night after the protests in the city got out of control.

While Pittsburgh and Erie were erupting, an 18-year-old Meadville High School senior was making plans for a peaceful march in her town. Social media exploded with support and concerns. There were a few keyboard warriors spewing hate and others afraid the same thing that was happening in cities across America was going to happen here.

Jaida Speed (center above with megaphone) and her mom, Christina Smith, insisted that Meadville was better than that and they would show everyone that a peaceful demonstration was possible.

At noon Sunday a group of around 100 people - white people, black people, people of mixed races and cultures, young people and old people - walked together down North Main Street from First District School. They chanted a few slogans like "No Justice, No Peace," and "Black Lives Matter."
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Along the way they seemed to pick up more people. By the time they hit Diamond Park, they appeared to be about 125 strong.

At the Diamond, the organizers asked all those who were able to spread out to find a place to lay down on the ground. They were symbolizing the position of George Floyd when he drew his last breath. They lay there for seven minutes with chants of "I Can't Breathe." A two minute moment of silence followed to demonstrate Floyd's unconscious silence while still being held down under the knee of the Minneapolis police officer.

The only disruption to the peaceful demonstration other than a few car horns and drive-by shouts out the window came from a man who began engaging the demonstrators with chants of "All Lives Matter." A small handful of demonstrators responded to the man, but the consensus was to focus on the peaceful protest and ignore the man. There were no physical altercations and the demonstrators continued their march.
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Several blocks down South Main Street, the march came to an end at Second District School. The crowd swelled to nearly 150 people who stood in a group for some final words and prayers. "This is a model place right here, Meadville, for race relations." Smokey Evans said as he interjected to thank Speed for organizing the march. "We had a peaceful rally, I'm so proud to live here," said Speed.

Smith and Speed both thanked the crowd and implored them to remain peaceful moving forward. Smith thank God for helping them do what they set out to do.

Meadville mayor Leroy Stearns followed the march and stayed close. He witnessed a couple vehicles that seemed to be hovering around the demonstrators. He said he just wanted to keep an eye on everything because he wanted to protect his city and the people in it. "I am proud of my city and the residents that participated. It was outside influence that was my concern," he said after the demonstration.

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After the crowd dispersed the demonstrators headed back along the same route. As they passed through Diamond Park, a couple dozen people hung out near the gazebo. One demonstrator strolled over to the police station across the street to invite them to participate in a moment of silence. Meadville police chief Mike Tautin and assistant chief Mike Stefanucci obliged, standing in the middle of the crowd to bow their heads during a prayer and moment of silence.
"Does everyone here realize how important this moment right here is," Smith asked the group as the  officers stood about to address the crowd. She and Speed thanked them for taking  the time to stop over and join them in a moment of silence.

Tautin denounced the violent way the Minneapolis police handled George Floyd's arrest saying that is not how his officers are trained. He spoke words of appreciation for the protesters and peaceful nature of the gathering. He and Stefanucci also posed for several photos with the participants.

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Editors note: I will be writing and posting another Op/Ed piece later in the week with more photos from today's demonstration.


Eight & 322 is an online publication focused on telling stories of the communities in the northwest region of Pennsylvania. To subscribe to the Sunday Edition newsletter, email [email protected].
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Lifetime of memories in the books

5/31/2020

2 Comments

 
If these walls could only talk
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Young St. Patrick's first-grade student Andree Hugar helped her teacher, Sister Ann Preston, wash the chalkboard in the classroom in 1970. Her reward was a lifelong lesson on the importance of reading when the sister gave her a book titled "Bears On Wheels" to keep. Little did that bright-eyed child, who lived just down the block, would be be walking out of that very same classroom 50 years later as the school's last first-grade teacher.

This week St. Patrick School, which serves grades preschool to sixth grade, will close its doors for good after 126 years of classes, 126 years of stories.
"If these walls could only talk," Andree (Hugar) Sporer said of the years of stories she has experienced in her time at the school.
She and Paula (O'Polka) Klinger each have spent five decades dedicated to the school either as a student, a parent or a teacher to the hundreds of children who have passed through their classrooms.

Klinger sat surrounded by books in her combined second and third grade classroom, sorting as she recalled fondly a couple of students you wouldn't think would be at the top of list of memories. Two student's she had to fail and hold back to take her class again. She said she only held back a handful of students in her tenure, but two stand out. She beamed with pride as she described how they are both college graduates and very successful adults.
"One just wasn't emotionally ready to go on," she said. She attended both that student's high school and college graduations. The other student's mother told her later that if she hadn't held he son back he wouldn't be the person he is today. They both keep in contact with her today.
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Sporer and Klinger have countless stories of kids they will tell freely and others they jokingly say they will never tell. Sporer told about a one time when there was a smell in the school that they just could not figure out only to discover a discarded former food item in one student's locker. And the pole in the middle of her first grade classroom, Sporer says that all the kids love to climb the pole, especially the boys.

They have taught generations. One student who was to be enrolled next year is the grandchild of one of her former students, Klinger said.
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Both credit Monseigneur John Snyder for helping them become teachers. "He was a wonderful man," Sporer said. He help her get through college and back into the classroom at St. Pat's.
Her first class had 29 second-graders and she had to teach everything from art to phys ed. "I got paid $50 every two weeks," she said. But she never really thought of it as work.
"When I'd leave home in the morning I never said I was going to work, I said I was going to school," Sporer said.
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The class sizes over the years got smaller and smaller, but their dedication to each student stayed the same.
"I hear former students tell the same story all the time when they go on to [a public high school:] Did you go to St. Pat's?" Klinger said with a big smile on her face. She and Sporer said St. Pat's students stand out.

Both teachers recently were busy cleaning up their classrooms and finishing the lessons with their last St. Pat's students via computer conference call meetings. Sporer cleaned everything out fast, leaving a sad classroom of empty desks and empty walls as she sat near a window with her computers and a few family photographs. Klinger took a little longer and had piles separated in order to decide what needed to be kept, discarded or given away. She was thankful she had started the process a few years earlier when she started to think about retirement. 


The school was saved by a fundraising campaign a year ago, but this year the Venango Region Catholic School, which also oversees Venango Catholic High School and St. Stephen Elementary School, decided to close St. Pat's for good.
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None of the St. Pat's teachers know what next year holds. Sporer said she would she like to teach and Klinger said she's weighing that decision carefully.
Neither is 100 percent sure where they will be next year.

"Walk by faith, not by sight," Sporer said.
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Editor's note:
Any former students, teachers or friends of St. Pat's who wish to share a story please do. I'm especially interested in those stories that made Sporer blush and Klinger shake her head no as they agreed that what happened at St. Pat's stays at St. Pat's. Haha. Please share memories, photos anything. I'll be more than pleased to do a follow up story or two.


Eight & 322 is an online publication focused on telling stories of the communities in the northwest region of Pennsylvania. To subscribe to the Sunday Edition newsletter, email [email protected].
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At 12:01 a.m. hope returned

5/31/2020

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Owner Kevin Myers was happy to reopen his bar to customers Friday morning at 12:01 a.m. Not a huge crowd, but some old regulars stopped by to support one of their favorite watering holes and local business owner.

Liberty Street in Franklin still looked like a ghost town as Thursday night rolled to a close. Only a few cars dashed in and out of the Sheetz parking lot, virtually not a soul out walking. Around 11:57 p.m., a small group of masked people started congregating, mostly six-feet apart outside of FoxTales Pub and Restaurant. Owner Kevin Myers hadn't really advertised it much, but he decided he would open up his bar as soon as the governor's switch from yellow phase to green went into effect.
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"We figured why not, he said at 12:01 right?" Myers said.
On his personal Facebook page he mentioned he was going to open at midnight and people rallied to support his decision.

The county was tired of staying at home.
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Ryan Williams commemorates his first bar beer in over two months with a photo.

One of the first inside the door was Ryan Williams who ponied up to the bar, ordered a Blue Moon  and took a moment to savor it all before he even took a swig. He marked the occasion with a photo of the first bar beer he's had since he helped close down the Purple Goose in March.
Williams said he would probably hit a few others on the other end of Friday to "spread the love around."

Just over a dozen people showed up for the two hours Myers was allowed to be opened Friday morning, but there were celebratory toasts and face-to-face conversations that haven't happened from a bar stool in over two months.

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Myers has signage all around the bar explaining the rules of social distancing and safe practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Myers said the community has been incredible during the shutdown. He admits he wasn't making the money he can when the bar is operational, but his food sales were up over 30 percent thanks to people taking advantage of his takeout offerings. He is excited to be able to open up again even though the protocols at the moment will only allow him to have 42 total in the bar, including his staff. The back patio will be able to accommodate up to 18. But they are open.
"It's been very quiet in this bar," Myers said.
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"Let's see if you've gotten any better at playing pool," Ryan Williams joked to Steve Burkhardt (left) as they christened the pool tablepost-COVID-19 shutdown Friday around 1 a.m. (Editor's note: They both appeared pretty rusty at first, especially with an annoying dude with a camera hovering over top of them.)

Eight & 322 is an online publication focused on telling stories of the communities in the northwest region of Pennsylvania. To subscribe to the Sunday Edition newsletter, email [email protected]. 
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Brick by brick they remember

5/31/2020

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Ronald J. Cummings, U.S. Navy 52-56; Robert D Tarr, Sgt, U.S. Army WWII; Alonzo Baker, Pvt, 4 Pa. Cav, K16, Civil War, Cecil W. Hockenberry, U.S. Navy WWII; James D., Jon, John, Phyllis, David, Vincent, Murray, Richard.... all Ellis's; Harold W. Beerbower, Korea POW.
Dozens of veterans' names like these are etched into bricks in front of the Crawford County War Memorial.

All people who served this country.

A couple years back, the Veterans of the Vietnam War Jack Greer Memorial Post 52 began a brick campaign to revitalize the area around the monument in front of the Crawford County Courthouse across from Diamond Park.

"The reason we wanted to do this is the old pavers and lighting were going to shit," said campaign chair Phil Davis. The brick campaign is giving them the funds to start the revitalization project. Each brick are $100. All the money goes toward improvements to the area around the memorial.
so far, the money has allowed them to remove some tired old shrubs and replace the harsh base lighting with softer LED lights. "If you go by it at night, it's really great," Davis said.
The old pavers in front of the monument were recycled to their post headquarters a few miles away and replaced with bricks bearing the names of veterans. 
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Other corporate and organization sponsored bricks or pavers were also sold and used to pave a new apron around the flag pole and walkway closer to the courthouse entrance.

The campaign continues and nameless bricks will be replaced by any donor brick as they come in. "We have over 500 bricks," Davis said. "We'll never replace them all in my lifetime," he said

The revitalization project also includes two new benches donated by the Meadville Lions Club.

If anyone wishes to honor someone who served, the requirements are the individual needed to be honorably discharged from the service. 
Honored veterans do not have to be from Crawford County. Each $100 brick can hold 3 lines of 13 characters, including spaces. Pavers sponsored by businesses and other organization sponsors have different costs.

Anyone interested in purchasing a brick can send a note to the Brick Memorial Project, PO Box 771, Meadville, PA 16335.

Eight & 322 is an online publication focused on telling stories of the communities in the northwest region of Pennsylvania. To subscribe to the Sunday Edition newsletter, email [email protected]. 
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Your primary reason to vote is...

5/31/2020

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Tuesday June 2 is primary election day in Pennsylvania. Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Today, the direct primary, which originated in Crawford County in 1842, is used by every state in the Union in some form or other to determine who will be on the November ballot.  Though other parties and independent candidates can get on the ballot in November, the United States has become basically a two-party system. The primary election usually has a lower voter turnout than their November counterpart. Polling places will be taking COVID-19 precautions for voter safety.


Eight & 322 is an online publication focused on telling stories of the communities in the northwest region of Pennsylvania. To subscribe to the Sunday Edition newsletter, email [email protected]. 

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Got Milk.... giveaway means more people can answer yes

5/31/2020

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3,615 gallons of milk
1,695 boxes containing:
2 pounds of butter
8 ounces of cream cheese
1 quart of butter milk
1/2 gallon of chocolate milk
24 ounces of cottage cheese
and a container of sour cream


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Angela Knapp gives her daughter Kaylee a congratulatory high-five near the end of the dairy giveaway Friday at Rocky Grove Volunteer Fire Department.

That is what filled a tractor trailer truck parked in the Rocky Grove Fire Department parking lot Friday. For about four hours that trailer was emptied as refrigerators in homes all over Venango County were filled up with dairy.
For free.

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Around 50 volunteers helped dole out the trailer full of milk and dairy products Friday. The rain held out until nearly the end, but then it came down with a vengeance.

The dairy giveaway was the brainchild of Kaylee Knapp, Venango County Dairy Maid and a Rocky Grove High School student. Her mom Angela said Kaylee came to her itching for something to help the community about three weeks after school was shut down due to COVID-19.
Kaylee's love of the dairy industry prompted her to want to be sure kids who are now home all the time could get the nutrition they need.

"If they at least got dairy products than they are getting one of nature's most nutritious products," Angela said. She said Kaylee was seeing the local dairies being asked to cut back production by 15 percent and even dumping milk because the market was saturated, and decided she could help both farmers and her community at the same time.
A USDA Coronvirus food assistance program, the United Way of Venango County and Marburger Dairy has been able to provide Knapp with three truckloads of dairy to give out for free. The first truck was unloaded on a windy and rainy Friday in Rocky Grove. Cranberry and Oil City are the next communities on the list. 


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Angela Knapp is a giant supporter of her kids' efforts. She helped organize and pass out the dairy products all morning and afternoon.

"Kaylee wanted to help, not just our local community, but she wanted to be able to help out the entire county. So she decided to do three different drives at three different locations." Knapp said.

Will Price, the executive director of the Venango County United Way said they served dairy products to over 2,000 cars Friday. About 50 volunteers helped direct traffic through the distribution site at the firehall and load the items into vehicles. At times, there were lines of cars out to the main roads, Price said.

Two more giveaways are scheduled. One will be held at the Cranberry Mall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 12. The final will be at the Oil City High School from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 26. They expect to give out about the same amount of product at each place.

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Angela Knapp and Will Price discuss the final details as the day wrapped up Friday.



Eight & 322 is an online publication focused on telling stories of the communities in the northwest region of Pennsylvania. To subscribe to the Sunday Edition newsletter, email [email protected]. 

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Where in Venango extension and hey look at the winners!!

5/30/2020

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I began a "Where in Venango County" feature a few weeks back for something fun. Later I was offered sponsorship from by the Franklin Retailers Association which gave five $10 gift certificates that can be used at dozens of Franklin area businesses. The first two winners were Bret (bear with me here) Schweinfurth, a Civil War buff. Well that's an understatement, he is encyclopedic when it comes to the war. He correctly identified the location of the Civil War statue in front of the old armory in Franklin. Angela Gerics won the second week's "Where in..." by correctly identifying the location of the electric car charging station at Oil Creek State Park. 

The contest asks for readers to guess the location shown in a photo. All the correct answers are tossed into a hat and the winner pulled at random. Both Bret and Angela have received their certificates and were kind enough to pose for a photograph at the location.

This past week's "Where in Venango County" had some technical difficulties. Either it was more difficult than I thought or the technical difficulties prevented participation. Therefore, I have decided to extend the guessing another week. I did receive one correct answer and since the technical error was no fault of theirs, I will give that person two extra chances to win for their patience.

So below, Where in Venango County is this?

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Have a guess or, if you know, just blurt it out on the Facebook post. There is possibly a prize in it for you! 
The Franklin Retail and Business Association has generously agreed to sponsor this little fun activity. If you guess correctly you will be entered in a drawing to receive a $10 Retail Relief Gift Certificate from the Franklin Retail and Business Association that can be used in a number of participating Franklin businesses.
The first person to guess correctly will be entered twice. If someone submits a selfie with this guy they will be entered three times. If someone submits a selfie that makes me laugh they will be entered five times (it takes a lot to make me laugh with a photograph.)
I will leave the contest open for a week and announce the winner the following week along with the reveal of the location. 
All entries should be done through the Facebook page post.

Good luck. Let's have some fun. 


Eight & 322 is an online publication focused on telling stories of the communities in the northwest region of Pennsylvania. To subscribe to the Sunday Edition newsletter, email [email protected]. ​
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MARC opens for the season

5/30/2020

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Alaina Fisher, up visiting from Pittsburgh, walks under one of the splash water park attractions at the Meadville Area Recreational Complex pool Saturday afternoon.
During past summers, a hot day could bring 300 or more people to the Meadville Area Recreational Complex pool. Since COVID-19 hit and shut down many of the places where people can congregate, MARC management is happy to be open even with an attendee limit of 90 at a time. 
The facility which also has ball fields, tennis and bocce courts, community gardens, a skate park and walking trails, opened Friday as Crawford County moved into the green phase which allows for larger crowd gatherings  than before. 
Other public pools in the region, including Oil City and Franklin, announced they will not to open this summer.
According to MARC director Aaron Rekich, who has been at the helm for two years, the staff must do a complete wipe down and sanitation protocols every four hours.
"There were kids lined up waiting for us to open," Rekich said about Friday's opening. Storms leading to cooler temperatures Saturday kept the numbers down, but Rekich said he is expecting people to use the facility this summer.

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Lincoln Baker, 9, of Saegertown, lets the water pound off his chest Saturday afternoon at the Meadville Area Recreational Complex pool.
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Rekich said the MARC has a system in place for when they have to turn people away due to the pool being at capacity. Knowing that visitor might feel disappointed if that happens he said they will be offering half off discounts on their next visit.
Most of the MARC's programs will also still be a go this summer with class sizes limited to no more than 25.

"Protecting our guests and employees is our number one priority. With that priority in mind, Meadville Area Recreation Complex is taking numerous steps to reduce the potential for COVID-19 spread in this facility," their website states.
The following guidelines are also spelled out on their website.
"For the health and safety of our employees and guests we ask everyone to follow the following rules:
  • Wearing a face mask at all times when inside the lobby, locker rooms, and indoor pool (outside the water)
  • Do not enter the facility if you feel ill, have a fever or cough, or are short of breath.
  • Do not enter the facility if you have been in close physical contact within the last 14 days with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
  • Abide by physical distancing rules by keeping 6 feet (about two arms lengths) away from others.
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes.
  • Use hand sanitizer before entering the facility.
  • If have a medical history that places you in a high-risk category for COVID-19, we recommend that you do not enter
Even with these precautions in place, the Meadville Area Recreation Complex cannot eliminate all risk associated with COVID-19. By choosing to make use of this facility, guests are assuming the risk that they may contract COVID-19 at the facility’s despite the Meadville Area Recreation."
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The MARC features include a larger pool under the signature dome to protect from some of the elements and an outdoor pool with a kiddie pool and a splash park area.

Eight & 322 is an online publication focused on telling stories of the communities in the northwest region of Pennsylvania. To subscribe to the Sunday Edition newsletter, email
[email protected]. 

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Bug an artist, I dare ya.

5/30/2020

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A local art group is looking for people to share their creative talents again with The June Bug Project.

Following the success of community involvement with the May Flower Project, Oil Creek Earthworks Pottery Studio decided to organize a second virtual art display. Winners of The May Flower Project's multiple categories were announced May 30 through the Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/266350554765284/

The project's Facebook group explains the collaboration: "In partnership with Oil Creek Earthworks Pottery Studio, I invite you to spread some positivity, joy and some love of the creative process by building, painting, constructing, drawing and photographing some BUGS! You can use any creative media to “capture” your critters. Lets all show a little love to a creepy crawlers and post here. Remember to hashtag #junebugproject #artiseverywhere"

The June Bug Project link is  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1668195616667220/


Eight & 322 is an online publication focused on telling stories of the communities in the northwest region of Pennsylvania. To subscribe to the Sunday Edition newsletter, email [email protected]. 
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Rainy Friday

5/29/2020

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Feature photograph of the day
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The skies opened up across northwest Pennsylvania bringing some high winds and a copious amount of water on the region's first day of the green phase, Governor Wolf's plan to reopen the state as the battle against COVID-19 continues.
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Gone green 12:01 a.m.

5/29/2020

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FoxTales in Franklin decided to celebrate at the very moment the county went green. Kevin Myers, owner of the restaurant opened the door to his bar at 12:01 a.m. Friday. See more photos and a story to come this weekend.
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Artist of the Month: Jodi Baker Lewis

5/29/2020

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For the final week of the inaugural Artist of the Month series, I asked Jodi to send me her favorites among those not already featured. A technical problem with my phone slowed my process down a bit, so I am not sharing every image she sent. But as I've said all month, the pieces here show the exploratory mind and eye of an artist who fancies herself more of a go getter and community/life lover than an artist.
All month I've shared here amazing cell phone landscapes from her adventures all around northwest Pennsylvania to basically her backyard, where she continually stops to still be in awe of its beauty.
Just because this is the last entry of Jodi's work featured here doesn't mean you can't continue to see her pictures. She 
often photos on Facebook and welcomes folks to follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jodibakerlewis/
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Thank you Jodi. Your work is amazingly beautiful and your message teaches us to stop and take in the beauty of this life we're given. No better message can be conveyed in art.

Next month I will feature an artist who has done more for the Oil City art scene than just about anyone. Her work will not only make you think, but make you feel a greater understanding of the connections you have with the people in your life.
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Rally to re-open Pennsylvania held in Meadville's Bicentennial Park.

5/25/2020

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A rally to re-open Pennsylvania was held Monday at Bicentennial Park in Meadville. Between 120-150 people attended the event originally advertised on social media to follow the COVID-19 modified Memorial Day ceremony in Diamond Park. Rally organizer Pat McHenry originally estimated a large crowd ranging anywhere from 200 to 500 people.

The city denied his request to use Diamond Park citing the time of rally directly following the Memorial Day ceremony and road construction around the Diamond as safety concerns. McHenry said that adversely affected crowd size. Governor Wolf's announcement the county will move from yellow to green phase at the end of the week was another factor, McHenry admitted.

Representative Mike Kelly attended and spoke. He said he made the 45 minute trip up from his home because he thought it was important.

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Several speakers spoke out against the shutdown. Crawford County sheriff Dave Powers said he would not enforce the governor's orders, but he acknowledged it isn't really his office's duty to investigate those matters.

A few speakers mentioned getting push back from some about the appropriateness of holding the rally on Memorial Day. "
Why not hold it on Memorial Day? Members of our military gave their lives in support of the constitution and bill of rights, and our freedom. What our government is doing today diminishes their sacrifices. Are we to shut down free speech and debate? Under the government's mandates, we cannot even congregate in groups in excess of 25 people to pay homage [on Memorial Day.]
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As for the rally and a projected crowd of over 200 in attendance, Meadville City manager Andy Walker said that matter of free speech and assembly cannot be denied. McHenry cited his lawyer for insuring the rally was given the permit to go on.

McHenry addressed the governor's re-opening announcement late last week. "Should never have been closed in the first place. The only reason he is taking action now is because of the growing protests against his policies."

Local business owners also spoke out against the governor's orders. Don Ott of Voy River's BBQ in Linesville said that "now you're going to hear from those of us who a have skin in the game." He talked about the economy and how the shutdown is causing prices of meats and supplies he needs to run his business to skyrocket.

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The rally lasted just shy of two hours as the hot sun and mid-eighties temperatures drove most of the people to the shade in the park. McHenry said overall he was pleased with the turnout given the venue change and governor's announcement. He said he won't stop fighting until the state is completely opened back up again.
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Memorial Day in Meadville

5/25/2020

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Many area Memorial Day observance activities were officially cancelled or modified on Monday. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Governor Wolf's stay at home orders any potential large gathering was cancelled for more controlled programs. Meadville asked residents not to attend the service in Diamond Park. They arranged for it to be live streamed so people could watch it safely social distanced from their homes. It appears many heeded the city's advice. A couple dozen people attended the ceremony along with the VFW and Veterans of the Vietnam War honor guards and Memorial Day committee. The park did look vastly different than in years past when the ceremony followed the downtown parade that ended at the Diamond.

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Forgotten places... well almost forgotten

5/24/2020

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"And now you're honored"

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Memorial Day is a chance to say thank you to those who gave of themselves for this 244-year-old experiment we call America. Thanks to the dedication of hundreds of volunteers, thousands of veterans are honored with flags at their grave markers. But some tombstones require more than a quick drive through a country cemetery.

So when Pat Childers wields a machete through thick jaggers up a hillside just off Route 8 in Hydetown, it isn't because he has nothing better to do with his time.
It's a way for him to show respect and honor.

"It's straight up there," the logger said as he cuts a path.
Somewhere up on this hill lies the remains of a War of 1812 veteran that he thinks needs to be honored. It's not an easy trek with felled trees under foot and no clear understanding where he's headed. A few days earlier a couple others joined Childers and they determined they couldn't do it without some means of cutting through the thicket.

"I'm not saying we're going to get to it," he said as he continued to slice through the underbrush. It was thick and he was leaving a bit of blood behind as thorns ripped though his skin.
Suddenly after countless swings of the blade he exclaims, "We are here!"

Childers inherited a list of deceased veterans from Jerry Shafer who had written approximate locations of out of the way markers, some like this one, in deep woods. Forgotten names, forgotten places.

Well .... almost forgotten.


Childers searched for three years along the hillside before he found the marker the first time. The stone had long since toppled and if not for a couple corner stones he may have never found it.
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"What I heard was he was moved twice because of road projects," Childers said. The stone is hard to read but it appears to have "Thomas M" written across the top of the stone and what looks like Burnett just under that. Moss and deterioration make the rest impossible to make out. The metal flag holder indicating he was a veteran of the War of 1812 had been recently replaced.
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Searching for records on Burnett haven't produced results as of yet. But knowing the veteran's story doesn't matter for Childers' task during this Memorial Day weekend. Remembering, honoring and pausing to say thanks is what these veteran's groups, which Childers has memberships.
"And now you're honored my friend," Childers said as he cleaned off the marker and placed the new flag in the holder.
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Childers served in the Navy from 1982-86 and has been active with the local veteran's groups and helping put flags out. He took over the list of harder to reach graves because Shafer was getting older. "I spend all my free time [during this week] doing this. I get emotional about this stuff," he said. He is looking to find someone younger to take the list over from him. "I think it needs to be done," he said hoping it doesn't end when he can no longer do it.
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"What an honor," he said about placing a flag on this remote grave that has a toppled stone that is barely readable anymore. "I hope in 200 or 300 years someone puts a flag on my grave."
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Where in Venango County?

5/24/2020

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Any idea where this is? 
Have a guess or, if you know, just blurt it out on the Facebook post. There is possibly a prize in it for you! 
The Franklin Retail and Business Association has generously agreed to sponsor this little fun activity. If you guess correctly you will be entered in a drawing to receive a $10 Retail Relief Gift Certificate that can be used in a number of participating Franklin businesses.
The first person to guess correctly will be entered twice. If someone submits a selfie with this guy they will be entered three times. If someone submits a selfie that makes me laugh they will be entered five times (it takes a lot to make me laugh with a photograph.)
I will leave the contest open for a week and announce the winner the following week along with the reveal of the location. 
All entries should be done through the Facebook page post.

Good luck. Let's have some fun. ​












Last week's winner was Angela Gerics who was one of nine people who correctly guessed Oil Creek State Park for this electric vehicle charging station locale. I'll be in touch soon to get you your gift certificate from the Franklin Retailers Association.

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Mission of faith

5/24/2020

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What began as a father's desire to honor the men and women who serve this country has turned into a mission of faith and love.
Burton Kephart is the author of "Proven in Battle," 
a booklet of thoughts, prayers and accounts of a very difficult time in the Franklin family's life after his son, Jonathan Kephart, was killed fighting in the war in Iraq on April 8, 2004.  
He said he wants the book to honor, not just Jonathan, but all those who have sacrificed for this country. Burton Kephart printed and passed out 10,000 copies of his book in the first year of printing. Since then he has passed out over 70,000 copies of his self published book.

Jonathan Kephart was part of a patrol outside Baghdad that was ambushed. "We were all in the kill zone," wrote Sgt. Edwin Rossman Jr. in a report about the incident that took Kephart's life.
"There were, at any given time, 30-50 people on each side of the road firing on us," he wrote. It was estimated that during this engagement the patrol were out-numbered by hunderds.
Kephart was manning .50 caliber gun at the back of a vehicle. "I watched numerous enemy elements take causalities as a result of SPC Kephart who was in the vehicle behind me firing." Rossman said he witnessed Kephart focused and performing at an incredible level to protect the patrol. The vehicles were driving in erratic patterns to make themselves a less predictable target for the enemy, according to Rossman. Kephart's gun and ammunition were hit and exploded and the gun was disabled. Kephart then began firing with an M-4 assault rifle from the turret of his vehicle as another soldier fixed the disabled .50 caliber weapon. At some point Kephart was shot twice. The tires of Kephart's vehicle were shot out making them slower targets. Moments later while still heavily engaged in a firefight his turret was hit with a rocket propelled grenade and exploded. Kephart sunk in the turret.

Rossman stated Kephart's actions of engaging the enemy in battle prevented the situation from being much worse for the others in the patrol. He said Kephart kept doing his job, despite being shot twice and hit several times in his kevlar vest until he was ultimately killed by the RPG hit. "Jonathan Kephart was a hero that day. I will make sure every young soldier I meet knows his story and the sacrifice he made giving his life protecting and defending his brothers and sisters," Rossman said.


Burt Kephart is also seeing to it that his son's story is being told and remembered through his book that he gives away for free. The book goes through the detailed last moments of Jonathan's life and the journey he and his family traveled in the days following his son's death to his burial over a week later. The elder Kephart said it's written from a Christian perspective. He knows people struggle with loss just as he misses his son. Kephart takes comfort that his son is home in heaven.
He hopes his book gives people that hope and strength as well. "That's been my motive for the last 16 years passing out this book," he said.

"This will be the first Memorial Day for a great number of people," Burt Kephart said reflecting on the devastating toll of the COVID-19 pandemic. "It's going to be hard for a lot of families."

Kephart continues to share the book and his son's story. To contact him, email [email protected] or write to 6424 US 322, Franklin Pa. 16323.


Burt Kephart recently sent the following letter to the editor to local newspapers and asked it be reprinted here as well.

The COVID-19 situation has made it a difficult time for people in many different ways. One of those ways is in the lives of families all across our nation who have lost loved ones fighting for our freedom in wars of all ages.
With not being able to hold Memorial Day events (we understand why) this year for the purpose of specifically remembering their sacrifice, we fear they will be forgotten this year.
We should not let that happen.
One of the ways people might want to consider remembering these sacrifices is to volunteer to place flags on the graves of our veterans in their area. It is done by various groups of volunteers before Memorial Day weekend.
I am sure any added help to get this done would be appreciated.
As a father of Army Specialist Jonathan Kephart, who was killed in action while serving in Iraq on April 8, 2004, I have helped place flags for a number of years. It is a very rewarding experience.
If you have not experienced this yourself and you are able, consider it this year. Please join us in remembering their sacrifice. Let's not forget them this year. - Burton Kephart
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Cap and gown ready

5/23/2020

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Rocky Grove High School senior class advisor Margie Hart was given the pleasure of passing out caps and gowns to the 60 seniors about to head out to college or other adventures. Last week the school was opened up so students could retrieve their belongings from lockers and classrooms. Seniors could also pick up their graduation regalia and a packet of notes to themselves, notes from parents and other items stuffed into an envelope when they entered seventh grade. "Do you wear makeup?" Hart asked Jocelyn Gorden as they looked at her folder. It was decorated with photographs including cutouts of cosmetics. "I did then apparently," Gorden said.

Principal Kelly Hart said the school is still planning to hold a graduation ceremony. There are currently two plans proposed for June 4 at 6 p.m. and they are both outside. One is a more traditional style ceremony 
with some restrictions including social distancing that would be held at the soccer field behind the Valley Grove Elementary School. Hart is hoping this plan can be implemented now that the governor has allowed Venango County to go into the green phase on May 29. 

Plan B would be a drive-by diploma distribution in the circle in front of the high school. Each student would be assigned a specific time and allowed eight guests and only two vehicles. The administration is still waiting for guidelines from the CDC and the Pennsylvania Department of Health before they make a final decision. A rain-date for either is June 5.

"We are aware that Plan B is not as close to the traditional ceremony we are familiar with, but we need to have plans in place for both situations." Hart said. "We have various students who will be entering the military and trade school during the summer, and we want the entire class to have the opportunity to experience graduation."

A final decision is expected to be made by May 30.
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Helping mom pump iron

5/23/2020

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"Pregnancy used to be considered a 'disability.' It was ill-advised to lift weights
or get your heart rate above a certain level. That’s old school thought.
"

Pregnancy and pumping iron

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Livia Grace has been lifting weights with her mom now for 32 weeks. And she isn't even born yet.

Leigh-Anne Williams of Franklin believes fitness isn't just for physical health, but mental health as well - even during pregnancy. 
"It’s something I do for myself .... I have much more energy and the natural endorphin's, the feel-good chemicals that are released during exercise act as a natural anti-depressant," said Williams, an operating room physicians assistant. 

She has four children, the oldest about to enter middle school and her youngest came to this world three years ago just hours after she had a really great session of lifting.
"I went out with a bang," she said having a really solid lift and achieving her highest weights in weeks. She carries a sense of pride that she achieved something she'll always remember.

Lifting weights or heavy exercise isn't a common thing among pregnant women. Williams said that if you're active before pregnancy it's OK to keep being active with the doctors approval. "I wouldn't go from sitting around watching T.V. to suddenly power lifting," she said.
In the past she has been able to power lift well into the 200 pound ranges, but she does cut back during pregnancy.


"I am cautious and always listen to my body. My docs are OK with me continuing my pre-pregnancy workout regimen, but pregnancy itself naturally limits me," she said. 

And she doesn't take chances.
​
"I have scaled back on the amount and intensity of exercising this pregnancy. I was very cautious in the beginning of the pregnancy and pretty much did no exercise at all until I was given the green light."She said she started very slowly getting back into exercising around 14 weeks and listening to what her body was telling her.
"My pregnancy workouts are usually short, sometimes only 15-30 minutes," she said.

Attitudes about exercise and pregnancy over the years have changed.


"Pregnancy used to be considered a 'disability.' It was ill-advised to lift weights or get your heart rate above a certain level. That’s old school thought. Most OB’s now endorse that continuing your pre-pregnancy exercise regimen is safe as long as there are no circumstances that would put you at high risk for complications, " Williams said.

She does caution that pregnant women should always consult with their obstetrician about their exercise routine and understand that modifications may be needed.
​
"Exercise in pregnancy is healthy not only for the woman, but for the baby, and can make labor and delivery easier, as well as recovery," she said. " Exercise may look a little different during pregnancy. A growing belly can make certain exercises more difficult. Certain hormones in pregnancy can make joints unstable. Laying down flat after a certain point in pregnancy is not advisable. There are lots of things to take into consideration when exercising during pregnancy, but if you educate yourself, listen to your body, and make the necessary modifications, it can be done."
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"We the People" rally

5/23/2020

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A group of citizens calling themselves "We the People" have organized a rally on Memorial Day in Meadville to protest the governor's restrictions on businesses and social gatherings across the state.

The organizers secured their permit before Friday's announcement by Gov. Wolf that Crawford and a couple dozen other counties will move from yellow to green on May 29.

They plan to proceed anyway.

"Should never have been closed in the first place." said organizer Patrick McHenry, a Vietnam War veteran, former State Police captain and county coroner. He tried to get Diamond Park for the rally. The time of his event butted up against the Memorial Day committee's event in the park which had already been reserved until noon through a prior granted permit with the city.

Stating concerns the rally could interfere with the end of that solemn event as well as safety issues surrounding the Diamond's current road resurfacing project, McHenry's permit request was denied. City manager Andrew Walker offered a suggestion that the "We the People" committee move their rally to Bicentennial Park. McHenry agreed and announced on social media the "the city relented and gave us a permit for Bicentennial Park."

So the rally is on for Monday at noon.

McHenry said holding the rally on Memorial Day is appropriate. "Members of our military gave their lives in support of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, and our freedom. What our government is doing today diminishes their sacrifices," he said. He estimated around 200 will attend when he first asked for a permit.

Walker said he respects the importance of free speech and pointed to the roadwork and safety concerns as the deciding factor for the original permit denial.  The use of Bicentennial Park was approved despite concerns the crowd might be larger than the recommended 25 person limit. Rules about crowd size during the governor's yellow phase do not apply to rallies when it's a protest with First Amendment implications, according to documentation provided by Walker. He acknowledges individuals right to protest is paramount and he cannot prohibit peaceful free speech nor does he have desire to do so.

 The "We the People" rally starts at noon in Bicentennial Park. 



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