Blog Archives

Santa in shorts, what s'mores could you ask for?

7/28/2025

Franklin Retail and Business Association director Rya Rudegeair said that all 50 S'mores kits were handed out by Santa as well as over 125 coupons Saturday during the annual Christmas in July.

Despite the early rains, shop owners saw a steady flow of of traffic. "Everyone loved Santa," Rudegeair said adding that the businesses he had heard from reported things went well.

Christmas in July is one of the many promotional events the association puts on each year to draw visitors to the city’s historic and quaint business district.

Due to some downtown construction the farmer's market, which is traditionally between Fountain and Bandstand Park at the base of the Venango County Courthouse, was in the parking lot behind PNC Bank, where it has been all summer.

Santa was supposed to be there, but between the weather and Santa noticing there weren't a lot of children, he moved to the Franklin Chamber of Commerce where he would greet people inside as well as out on the sidewalk.

The five hour event attracted well over a hundred to the downtown to shop and take in the unseasonably festive tone thanks to the music provided by the young Liberty Street little band, a trio formed in recent years by a trio of talented Franklin High School musicians.

The retail association also hosted a raffle with gift certificates of $50, $25 and $10 give to Faith Copley, Nancy Arroyo, and Elwood and Josh Gamble respectively.

This means more future business for local shops thanks to the sponsorship of Sassy's Clothing and Gift Boutique, Witherup and Galaxy Federal Credit Union.

Since 1972, the retail association has been a Franklin networking and cross marketing group with the goal of bringing in shoppers while boosting their over 70 members' profiles and hopefully revenues.

Events like Christmas in July are a part of their networking and business community building.

But he says they can be purchased year round, currently at the Chamber, but soon off their redesigned website.

They are currently encouraging people coming in to watch the popular Taste of Talent Vocal Competition, to come early to have dinner and that the business offer great takeout options if folks want to eat in the park.

Taste of Talent has two more shows on Saturday at 7 p.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Other Retail Association events include the Witch Walk in October, Retail Windfall in November and Olde Fashioned Christmas in December.

Click on poster for details and to enter

In May, they brought in a full-time director to work in conjunction with the Franklin Chamber of Commerce. Local business owner Ryan Rudegeair, hired thanks to a grant from the McElhatten Foundation, has been tasked with promoting and advancing opportunities for business served by the two organizations.

He'll be helping to expand the popular gift cards that can be used at all association member businesses year round. “So many get sold around the holidays” said Rudegeair,. “They don’t expire and it’s a great customer service that can be given as a gift. The money comes back to the businesses. If you buy a gift card, a Franklin business is going to benefit from it.”

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Sister act at Oil Heritage

7/26/2025

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Some pass the torch, some pass the tiara.

Payton Liederbach was chosen the 2025 Oil Heritage Festival Queen two years after her sister Kennedy earned the sash and crown.

"I’m so happy This is so meaningful, our cousin won before too," Payton said.

Kayla McCandlees was the 2015 queen.

The rising Oil City High School senior, is a star athlete and her resume is loaded with volunteer work, the latter is a strong part of the criteria the OHF Queen candidates are judged.

Each candidate had to submit an essay as well answering the question 'why they would like to be the queen.'

"... it would give me the platform to represent and give back to the community I love," she wrote. "I would cherish the opportunity to meet new people in our town and participate in all the festival activities.

"Thie experience would allow me to serve my community, enhance my leadership skills and be a role model to young kids, all of which are personally very important."

Maureen James, head go the OHF Queen contest, said this is the first time sisters have won.

"My little girl I’m so proud. She is my best friend. I’m beyond proud she is following in my footsteps," Kennedy said shortly after Payton was crowned. "This is a big yesr she is heading into."

Kennedy was crowned in 2023 when severe thunderstorms moved the ceremony indoors.

Kayla McCandless was crowned in 2015.

The obligatory .5 of the candidates

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The Taste of "Family" seems to be the theme

7/24/2025

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On a night they had to say goodbye to one of the constants, emcee Randy Moorehead asked each vocalist what they like most about the competition. A common response - family - how each person involved from organizers to fellow contestants become very close during the weeks, and for some, years of competing and rooting for each other to have great performances.

With the elimination of Mike Craig, the talent pool is down to eight moving into the final weekend. Craig is a second year vocalist who would be greeted with a hug after every performance by his two favorite fans, his children.

The usual Wednesday night show, will move to 7 p.m. Saturday, August 2 for the semi-finals where the field will be reduced to the top four vote getters.

Those four will return the following day at 4 p.m. where each finalist will sing two songs apiece with the top vote getter taking home the prize of 2025 Taste of Talent champion.

Fans of local talent and a variety of styles have two more opportunities to have a voice on who will win the $1,000 prize plus several other items.

The winner of the most color coordinated with the Always Eventful sign - Sunny James.

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Santa to make an appearance next week in Franklin.

7/16/2025

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Santa Claus is coming to town. Wait, it’s only July.

And yet Santa Claus IS coming to town next week - in the middle of summer.

The folks at the Franklin Retail and Business Association don’t think the spirit of Christmas should be relegated to just one cold day in late December.
They want people to be jolly when it’s warm out as well.

Editor's note: Eight & 322 has a business relationship with the Franklin Retail and Business Association.

Christmas in July is one of the many promotional events the Retail Association puts on each year to draw visitors to the city’s historic and quaint business district.

Between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on July 26, Franklin will be a summer wonderland with Santa visiting the Curb Market handing out gifts to be used in the downtown shops.

And he’ll have a limited number of smore boxes for the kids.

Shops will be offering specials all day and there will be a hunt for elves hidden around town. Count them up, figure out their names and decode the secret message for chances to win gift cards.

“We are expanding and trying to do more out of market marketing for our members,” said past retail director Jennifer Taylor just before she left her post in May. “We’re trying to bring in people from out of town to visit our downtown. Shop and eat here. And you can sleep here too.”

The Retail Association is a Franklin networking and cross marketing group with the goal of bringing in shoppers while boosting their member’s profiles and hopefully revenues.

Events like Christmas in July are a part of the networking the organization has planned as it transitions to a newer, more dedicated organization serving its members.

In May, they brought in a full-time director to work in conjunction with the Franklin Chamber of Commerce. Local business owner Ryan Rudegeair, hired thanks to a grant from the McElhatten Foundation, has been tasked with promoting and advancing opportunities for business served by the two organizations.

“It had become clear over the years that if we were to build, this needed to be a position where someone worked in an office, came to work every day, had access to phones and computers,” Taylor said acknowledging that since 1972 the retail association directors did their best, but had full-time jobs and personal careers. “It’s a huge increase in our capacity,” Taylor said of hiring Rudegeair.

“I’m really excited that the Retail Association will have that opportunity now for the members to reach a bigger audience and bring in more money for the organization,” she said. “I think people underestimate just how much marketing has to be done for any organization or any group of businesses. It has to be done constantly and it has to be professionally done.”

Rudegeair said the new website, which is set to launch soon, will have more user-friendly services like being able to purchase the association’s popular gift cards, which can be used at over 70 businesses.

“They don’t expire and it’s a great customer service that can be given as a gift or just used on your own,” Rudegeair said. “The money comes back to the businesses. If you buy a gift card in Franklin, a Franklin business is going to benefit from it.”

The cards can still be purchased at the Franklin Chamber, where Rudegeair’s office sits. “So many get sold around the holidays” said Rudegeair, emphasizing the cards are great birthday gift and prize giveaways.

It is one way they work to promote its diverse network of members, which offer food and coffee, antiques, oddities, haircuts, cooking supplies and even new guitars, he pointed out.

“We want to promote all of us collectively,” he said. “I don’t think any of the retailers are served by being an isolated business. Everyone is served with people coming into town and shopping around town… we can be a shopping destination.”

Along with Christmas in July, the association also has an initiative in connection with the popular Taste of Talent vocal competition. They are promoting the area establishments for either dining in or ordering take out to enjoy in the park during the performances.

Other Retail Association events include the Witch Walk in October, Retail Windfall in November and Olde Fashioned Christmas in December. They are amid retooling the Taste of Franklin model to better serve its restaurants’ needs in the spring.

The Retail Association also helps with the growing Sip and Shop program that allows visitors aged 21 and older to have adult beverages in approved cups around town as they shop. Another way to give visitors to downtown a fun and unique experience.

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Gotta, gotta cut loose... Footloose.

7/9/2025

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The Barrow-Civic Theatre is taking a step back in time to examine how the healing properties of a reaction should not dictate a future.

The musical "Footloose" examines how the healing process from a tragedy takes time. That the community actions, perhaps seen as necessary at the time, cannot be expected to live on forever. And a growing future generation should not be shackled by the past.

And it has catchy tunes that many of us might recognize from either our youth or from radio's insistence that these songs are now considered oldies.

How on earth can songs from the 80s be considered oldies?

Mixed in with numbers inspired by 80s pop hit is a message: squelching of young people's possibilities leads to a society that doesn't understand possibility and it's never too late to fix that.

And as stated prior, the has catchy tunes. So even if you don't want to expand your mind, you can at least tap a toe.

But why not do both?

This cast has a number of talented young people challenging the more experienced older actors, both in script and stage presence.

Aoife Salusky and Kyel Harry are a perfect Ariel and Ren, who take on a town and its incredibly deep pain, hoping to wash away the "sins" of an old tragedy. The young people see hope in the simple yet complex notion of cutting it loose on the dance floor.

And they set out to convince the town's elders of the same.

The rest of the cast includes Shawn Clerkin, a real life minister, playing a Rev. Shaw Moore who is in the midst of wondering if he should continue honoring the dead while suppressing the living or find a way to celebrate the lives of all.

His dedicated wife, Vi played by Dawn Sears, sees the longevity of living happily as perhaps a better path forward.

Chloe Preston, SJ Fox and Alex Webster are over the top wannabe's adding humor while also elevating the powers of their voice in song. And this is a strength in this musical - singing.

The young men, are well represented. Donald Dudinsky plays the lovable Willard Hewitt. Drew Martz has the unenviable task of playing a dumb monster type of controlling male, which sets up, in its stark contrast, the love story that develops between Ren and Ariel.

In the end, this take on an 80s cult classic movie has a message that is apropos today. All voices are worth listening to no matter the age.

You can listen and watch the show the weekend.

"Footloose" opens Friday July 11 at 7:30 p.m.

Show Dates: July 11, 12, 18 and 19 at 7:30 p.m. and July 13 and 20 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are available at www.barrowtheatre.org.

Below are more photos from the show during dress rehearsal Tuesday.

More photos: sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p717620745

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Eliminations start this week for Taste of Talent, all votes count

7/7/2025

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With only ten contestants instead of the usual 12, the first two weeks of the annual contest saw no eliminations.

That will end this week as votes from the first two weeks will be added to Wednesday evening's vote total.

The performer receiving the fewest votes will not be invited back for week four. It is the nature of the contest as they whittle down to a champion.

Tim Craver, Mike Craig, Alexis Kline, Mason Davis, Herb Morton, Beth Schmader, Matthew Myers, Brooklyn Culver, Olivia Moorehead and Madelyn Williams are set to perform Wednesday at Bandstand Park beginning at 7 p.m..