After a rocky start to the season Franklin has pulled off three great Wednesday nights in a row to set up the semi-final and finals next Saturday.
Check out the calendar page to find out when and get your lawn chairs ready for two days of entertainment.

More photos can be viewed at sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p494142401. All the photos from the first three weeks are together on this site.
Scroll down for more.

As Jon Reese wiped sweat off his brow he knew there was a lot to do. "These don't come at convenient times," he said as he thought about the tornado that left debris strewn across the alfalfa fields he was set to cut this week. "There is metal everywhere, and now we have to walk the fields picking it all up before we can cut."

Around 12:45 Thursday afternoon Reese said he was in his kitchen as a severe storm approached. He looked out and saw stuff flying everywhere. High winds began ripping off roofs and anything in the yard ended up in someones else yard or his fields. About 500 feet from Reese's kitchen a semi-tractor trailer truck got pushed right off the road and landed on it's side.

A call came in to Cochranton fire department a few minutes later that lines were down on Route 173 in Wayne Township, according Collette Neff, a long time volunteer with the department. On the way to the scene the fire crews had to stop and clear a tree off the road just so they could pass. When they arrived they could see metal road signs twisted and some completely uprooted and flung several feet away. Trees down across the road and building material everywhere.

One of Reese's cows was severely injured and had to be put down. "It looks like she was picked up and thrown through the fence," he said. The driver of the truck was taken to the hospital to be checked out but was ok. No other people were reported injured.

But there was severe damage done to the barns, a garage was leveled and several houses had damage.

Northwest Rural Electric, PennDOT, the state police and several fire and rescue crews were on scene. Allen Clark of the Crawford County Emergency Services Agency came out to assess the damage and report to the National Weather Service who later in the day confirmed it was a tornado according to Erie News now..

Route 173 was closed from Route 27 to Lippert Road while the road was cleared and down power lines were repaired.

Reese said his multi-generation farm was hit with a tornado in 1972 as well. He recalled not getting much help back then from the insurance company, but hopes this time around its a little better. He said it was difficult coming back from that storm.

A few miles away Jodi Baker Lewis got a call there were trees down at her house on Sugar Lake. She had joked earlier that was all she needed today for a tornado to now drop a tree on her house. When she arrived home the trees that fell narrowly missed the house and garage. "I have a huge mess, but I don't have holes in my roof and I only lost some little things under that mess. And they were just things, nothing else." she said.

​"I haven't heard of anyone getting hurt," she said. And because of that she added,  "I think there are a lot of grateful [people] tonight."

"Wow, the theater is full!" Youth theater camp director Martha Heise said after her group of campers put on a show with only three and a half days to work on it.. Heise, who celebrated 20 years of the theater camp, got a little emotional as she looked out into the crowded Barrow-Civic theater to see people.
Lot's of them.
Since March of 2020 this has not happened. "It makes my heart swell," she said really choked up.

Earlier in the day she penned her thoughts on Facebook.

"This past week my wonderful team: Kelly Kukla Zerbe (choreographer), Jess Thomson Rodriguez (costumer and youth tech leader,) Angie Carothers (props and youth relations coordinator,) and Jill Marie Lander (youth tech student assistant,) did an incredible job bringing theater back to life at the Barrow." she said

Martha mentioned that the youth theater production of Aladdin was the last show before the shutdown.

"I am so grateful to the community for supporting the Barrow’s efforts for 15 months. Tonight as the stage is lit, not only is the future of the theater realized by reopening, but these incredible youth prove the future will be vibrant in their hands!"

More photos coming from the rehearsal and performance this week Hopefully tomorrow.

The Barrow is back!

 In March of 2020 the Barrow-Civic Theatre, like so many places, had to close its doors in order to be safe and comply with Gov. Wolf's orders to remain socially distanced as the state tried to find a way to get rid of this damn virus.

The last show with a full live audience was the Youth Theater production of Aladdin.

So jump ahead to July of 2021, the summer youth theater camp was allowed back in the building and the doors were allowed to be open for an audience.

And they came.

The Granny Show and the kids brought songs and laughter back in to the seats. It was the first in a line up of shows that boldly states that art is back.

Please view these photos below from the show and visit https://sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p970283267 for more.

Every now and then nature calls me. In this case nature was a red-tail perched on high screaching for several minutes before I grabbed a camera to seek it out.

"I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now.' 
Folks that know me know that I love Bob Dylan's music. So when a band with the name "Love Minus Zero," opens for the headliner that begins their set with "My Back Pages," I knew I was in for a good night. Also managed to pay attention enough to witness the Youth Alternative's Tiny Tots winners Easton Lawson and Asti McIntyre with their moms.

Lawyers, Guns and Money drew a substantial crowd to Justus Park Friday night to help Oil Heritage organizers feel pretty good about their efforts to provide community fun.

Venango Area Chamber president Susan Williams said she has been pleased with the weather and turnout this year so far.

​The event continues today with vendors and art downtown on the north side, a cross town parade and The Clarks. Then tomorrow the annual car cruse ib show expects to back them in

Saegertown, which battled back from the loser's bracket to meet the team that put them there in the first place.

​They were able to avenge that loss with a huge game at the bat Tuesday night to force the if necessary game Wednesday. Read more about that  here on the Sports section. 

​St. Mary's came out with enthusiasm Wednesday and found gaps that were closed quickly the night before. Saegertown's run comes to an end but they provided their fans plenty of excitement the last few weeks.

To view more photos scroll down and then visit https://sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p51899276 for even more There are also photos from their previous games.

One ruby-throated hummingbird scolds another for sitting in her spot. The one on the right couldn't take the harassment and soon left.
​Photo by Anna Applegate who authors the photo blog The Nature of Things here on Eight & 322. Please visit her blog and become a fan like we are.

I received a message from Paul Myers last week to inform me that Oil City would be hosting the opening round of the district 1 playoffs for 8 - 10 year old baseball. Then the rains came and more messages about postponing game after game. Finally a packed Sunday was declared a go but the amount of rain in the last week meant a lot of work getting the fields playable. My last message to Paul was answered "We're finishing the fields right now, they actually look pretty good, so Oil City will be playing at 11." 

Dedicated workers making sure youth baseball clings on for today's youth who love the game.

I caught sight of Paul in-between games lining the batter's boxes.They were there for four games on a Sunday, you know, the day of rest. Each game required more work to get it in top shape for the next important game. And they'll be there again today getting ready for tonight's game as well.

Another tireless supporter of the community is my fellow photographer and friend Kelly Malek who seems to be at everything community related and especially sports. She takes so many photos for the high school and also up at Cranberry it's truly amazing the gift she gives to the kids, parents and grandparents with her talent and love of photography.

See more photos from Sunday's first game between Oil City and Saegerton by visiting our sports section.

Some of the core fundamentals of basketball have become increasingly less obvious in young players coming into junior high and high school program according to Cranberry girls JV coach Shannon Morrow. She pointed to the lack of camps around the area like when she was a kid as a possible reason. 

She and Cranberry varsity coach Carrie Melat decided to do something about it this year. They started their first camp and it got a lot of attention. Over 100 kids learn ways to improve their dribbling skills, body control and how to set their feet before shooting.

They created fun games and drills for the kids to practice and play while they built comraderie and confidence. "I love watching all the kids from different schools become friends," Morrow said. 10 different schools were represented at the camp held out on Cranberry at the St. Thomas Center where Helper's Gym is located. They were able to put portable hoops outside too to spread out the amount of kids.

Morrow emphasized that the camp benefitted both boys and girls because the focus was on the basic fundamentals of the sport. "I like seeing the girls compete with the boys and not back down," she said.

The nearly weeklong camp was such a success they plan to do it every year, Morrow said.And to keep it FUN.

It was supposed to start two weeks ago, but mother nature proved she is the queen after all and we bow to her. The last two Wednesdays were, shall we say, soggy, but on July 14, 2021, that queen cut Franklin a huge break and the performers for this years Taste of Talent finally got a chance to show off in front of a crowd of several hundred lawn chair sitting enthusiasts of vocal virtuosity gathered in Bandstand Park. 

One of the original contestants had to drop out before the night even started, but that set up a schedule adjustment that put them all back on track. By this time two performers would've been eliminated by the popular crowd voting. Only one was eliminated tonight.
​
Each performer has their own story and their own strength. One performer, Ruth Herrick hadn't really been singing in awhile, but after her husband passed away, she decided to take it up again and there she was on stage in front of hundreds of people singing from her heart.

This event has become a summer staple in Franklin, more than a decade old and each week live entertainment is bellowing off the bandstand, occasionally spilling into the crowd as the performers mingle out among them at times or they just get up and dance a bit..

It's actually quite extraordinary. A small hamlet park filled with song from talented folks who just have more guts than most of us car stereo or shower singers.

Past performers and champions also return to sing or play as the votes are tallied.

They get up and belt out songs from all sorts of different genres as the crowd listens, some tap their toes, others get up and shake what the good lord gave em and others sit and try to figure out who is going to win this competition come the end of it in August.

There are dozens of songs to go. Next Wednesday, weather permitting, the next round will take place and another contestant will fall. This doesn't mean they aren't talented, nor does it mean they won't still sing, it's just the nature of the beast. Someone goes home each week. The rest sing again for the crowd.

They perform, and they perform in front of people and that is just plain gutsy! 

​Great stuff!

​Below are more photos from the night. You can click on the smaller ones to enlarge.

We will share an album of many more photos in the coming weeks.

On July fourth weekend Shane and his wife Angel arranged a Ruck Walk and Ride in honor of Tyler and to raise awareness and funds to help slow the suicide rate. They plan to make this an annual event in Franklin as well as establision a fund and foundation to raise more money for education and help.

A Ruck Walk means you carry your gear with you as you move from point A to Point B. In this case the Carey's asked participants to carry 20 pounds, symbolic of the number of military suicides a day, for 20 laps around the perimeter of the Venango County Courthouse and two adjacent parks. It wasn't mandatory they carry the weight or even walk, they welcomed anyone who came to support.

"I'm carrying mine and Tyler's," Shane said as he stopped to adjust a sock about halfway through the walk. "I have to carry it the whole way he said." He was offered help, but it was important for him to finish the walk with his son in a way. "It's supposed to be uncomfortable, it's supposed to be something that reminds you of  how hard life is, but this is nothing compared to what Ty was carrying." Shane said.

A few dozen walkers took part in the Friday morning walk. Several others stopped by to learn more about the efforts of groups trying to bring awareness and hopefully a halt to veteran suicides. Others cheered on the walkers and remembered Tyler.

"I hoped more of Ty's old friends would show up," Shane said disappointed he wouldn't see his old friends for a little while and tell old stories.

One gentleman, who is a marathon runner from Florida participated and asked if it was disrespectful if he ran instead of walked. Shane said go for it.

On Saturday several dozen riders took part in a ride from where Tyler is buried at St. Patrick's Cemetery to Sharon where the Carey's now reside. They all contributed $25 or more towards the ride.

The proceeds from these two events, which also consisted of a silent auction, gift baskets and sales of items to increase awareness will be split between , Mission 22, IGY6, 22 Until Valhalla, Stop Soldier Suicide and KILL22. Click on their name to learn more about each organization.

The Carey's said they were happy with the turnout but hope even more people attend future events and more importantly become more aware of the problem and step up to help. Shane said he is always willing to listen and help.

​Writer's note: I had first met Tyler in 2015 when I began work at the Derrick. He was a stellar athlete and I remember meeting him at football practice where I took head and shoulder photos for the upcoming season. He could stare through you when he wanted to. He was very professional and focussed. He wanted to get back to practice with his teammates not have his picture taken.

He was a leader and that was obvious as I watched him that season right up to when they lost a playoff game up at Edinboro University. He was also a tough as nails wrestler.

When I learned of his death by suicide I was shocked and sad. I went looking for that head shot, but couldn't find it. I also went looking for other football photos but struggled to find those too.

I don't remember what the paper did at the time of this news.

When I learned his father was planning to do a 22 mile hike on his son's birthday, only a little more than a month after his sons death, I reached out to see if I could do a story. I was surprised when Shane agreed to meet with me and I told him I'd listen to anything he wished to share.

And he shared.

As we talked a drink at an empty chair with Tyler's bracelet dangling on the rim of the glass sat there full the entire time. That was Ty's drink. We talked for easily 3 hours.

​That first meeting led to several discussions after that, I attended the 22 mile walk and visited Tyler's grave with the family. We eventually published the story on Memorial Day weekend in the Derrick and News-Herald. I was honored to be trusted and accepted into this story. Two years later I'm still honored.

​The photograph that I made that struck me the most was watching Shane helping to carry his son's headstone to be placed at St. Patrick's cemetery. That one still gets me.

​You can read more and see that photo by clicking the link.

Check out a story from this event by my good friends at The Derrick

Several bees are busy pollinating the Sweat Pea blossoms around the region. It might be ho, but its pretty and amazing out there.

Franklin began celebrating this year's 245th birthday of independence more than a week ago. With events every night and other communities hosting fireworks only a few miles away in the days leading up to the fourth, it could be possible that the town would be fatigued and the turnout would be low.

But that's not the way Franklin operates.

They pack em in.

The lawn of Riverfront Park was orderly, but full of folks enjoying some snacks from the food vendors.  The DJ music filled the air as they awaited the start of the fireworks display. Set off from across the river the "Thunder over Franklin" was a perfect ending to a long week and a half of celebrations and entertainment.

​Happy birthday America.

A few years ago I was talking with Dottie Tawney who was working then for the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce. The band Lawyers, Guns  & Money was setting up and she mentioned something about Ollie.

Now I was fairly new to Venango County so I didn't know who Ollie, the keyboardist in the band, was. But I was racking my brain trying to figure out why he looked so familiar, so I asked, "who is Ollie?" She told me "it's Judge Lobaugh." 

I knew who Judge Lobaugh was (thankfully, for covering him for the newspaper and not from standing shackled before him) but I had no idea he was a rock-n-roller. So I went back and wrote a story about tis great story I found, only to realize I was the only one in the tri state area who didn't really know this story.

It was fun to write that piece which ended up as a blog. In it I mentioned that he sang "Comfortably Numb." So last night when the drummer in the band said "Let's do Comfortably Numb next", Judge Lobaugh saw me and said, "we're playing this for you." I laughed and awkwardly replied, "well, I'm halfway there Judge." Probably not the smartest of replies in retrospect, but I was stone cold sober so ...

Something happened Saturday night that hasn't really been able to happen for far too long. Justus Park was loaded with food vendors, activities for kids and a few hundred folks parked lawn chairs on the grass to listen to old friends play old tunes as they awaited the fireworks the local firefighter's union supplied to light up the sky. 

It was almost like looking back and forgetting the pandemic even affected anything.... well except some folks are no longer in the crowd.... that part still sucks and it will be a long time before we're over that, if ever.

But the hair raising good time does show that we humans can persevere and move on.

On Saturday night, downtown Oil City looked like a ghost town during the fireworks, but that is because hundreds of people were in the park, hundreds stood on the bridge, hundreds stood on the South Side looking across the river, hundreds were along Route 8 with a good view and I'd hazard a guess that up near the top of Central Avenue hundreds crowded to look down at the display as they have for years.

There was a festive feeling in the air as people seemed to be having a good time.

As for me, I'll admit I felt a bit off. Most folks sat in chairs and there seemed to be a lack of dancing to the band that I've witnessed in the past. I stayed around the perimeter mostly and then even ventured out of the park when the fireworks started. I never want to take the same type of photo every single night (there are three fireworks displays in three nights.)

So I found myself in a nearly empty downtown trying to make a stereotypical, but not one I've ever made, photo of fireworks with a flag in the foreground.

I made this picture. I did not notice at first that the flag was tattered. I wasn't overly happy with the photos I was getting. The fireworks weren't placed quite right and I wasn't prepared with the proper lens. I could go on and on. But as I looked at this image, I thought about the last year and a half and this seemed exactly what this nation is right now. 

We've been through hell. And yes, we are a tad frayed from the experience. But you know what? That flag is still flying. America turned 245, but it is by no means old. Nor is it even close to being done. We might be a tad tattered, but we are still upheld by the strongest principles humankind ever penned, so we celebrate and we move on.

We grow better because we air our differences, make mistakes, acknowledge those mistakes and work to correct them. The beauty is the Founding Fathers did not write a how-to, they simply wrote a must-seek document that will take hundreds of years of hard work to accomplish.

Today we're further along than ever before in understanding what Thomas Jefferson penned, yet we still have a long, long way to go.

Happy Fourth of July - may we keep getting better because we truly want to be.



Below are a few more photos that grabbed my eye and tried my best to capture. Like America, I too am a work in progress. I may not be Comfortably Numb judge, but thank you for the song!

Here is to another 245+ years!

Local country-flare rockfish and rollery on occasion Hunter Cook Band entertained a couple hundred hungry for live entertainment folks Saturday night in Bandstand Park. Asking the crowd at one point for a little feed back and to maybe laugh when he was telling jokes, Cook tried to draw energy from the crowd as he intermingled old Johnny Cash and Skynyrd with some newer country folks only a couple in the crowd recognized. They even played a couple originals.

"That's one of my favorite artists and I hope after hearing me sing his songs maybe he'll become one of yours," he told the crowd 

​Tonight, in just a few hours Franklin will light up the sky over the Allegheny River to celebrate the Fourth of July.

State Senator Scott Hutchison jumped into action when it was realized the American flag was not posted during the recent Silver Cornet Band's Fourth of July week concert in Bandstand Park. Hutchinson, who is Silver Cornet groupie of sorts, in part because his wife Mary Beth is a flutist in the band, nimbly climbed up on the side of the stage to remedy the situation. Given that it was a special holiday selection of patriotic tunes, it seemed fitting the flag needed to be in its usual place.