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Opening night ready

9/29/2022

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By Jill Harry
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All this week the Barrow-Civic Theatre was filled with nervous energy and excitement as the cast and crew of “Matilda The Musical” dove into their final rehearsals like an acrobat taking on a death-defying dive.

Last-minute costume tweaks, light cues, line memorization and program edits were happening simultaneously with dramatic solo performances, perfected comic timing, over-the-top character acting and rapid scenery changes. It was “tech week” at its finest.

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“It was so surreal when we were auditioning Matilda, but now it’s here. The set is finished and looks amazing,” said director Jill Lander.

Tuesday evening started with vocal warm-ups and Lander giving a few notes for the cast’s youngest members.

“If any of the tech people tell you anything, you listen,” she said. “And you stay quiet (on stage).”
It was a tall order for the kids, who could barely contain their excitement to be in costume for the opening scene.

With the short instructions covered, Lander called for the curtain to go up. “I’m ready. Let’s go.”
Pause.
“Curtain please, or lights or whatever,” she followed up.
Pause.
Curtain up and the full run in costumes was off to a shaky start but quickly picked up speed as the new stage manager and her crew moved behind the scenes to make the transitions from one set to another happen without much delay.
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Like community theatre often can be on tech week, there were still some bugs to work out, but if you asked the kids, things were going great – even if many of them missed the same cue.

“Jenny didn’t tell us” was their explanation. It was not an acceptable one by Lander’s standards. It was the only time she stopped the performance in the first half so she could instruct them on their responsibility to know what is happening in the show at all times.

One actor responded to the incident by borrowing a tune from another musical and sang out “We are all in this together.”  

But even without the musical reminder, the minor scolding didn’t dim the excitement of Matilda and her “classmates”.
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“Did you hear them throw me under the bus?” fellow cast member Jenny Jack said in jest later when everyone was in the dressing room. She, like many of the other adults, has taken on several roles on and off the stage, including being the queen of teasing hair.
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By the time the second act had started, things were back under control and the show and performances were only growing stronger.
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The night before the opening show, Lander says her advice to the kids is to get as much sleep as possible, rest their voices and be ready to make the audience laugh.
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As the final steps of preparations are ending, it is almost too good to be true for her. “It means so much to me to get this show on. My brother David and I have been working on this show for over two and a half years,” she said. “We cannot wait for everyone to see the set and meet all the characters.”
The show opens tonight at Barrow-Civic Theatre in Franklin and will include shows on October 1, 2, 6, 7 and 8. Tickets and information are available online at www.barrowtheatre.org.​
This is the sixth in a series of stories written by Jill Harry about the production of “Matilda the Musical” at the Barrow-Civic Theatre in Franklin.

Read part one here
​

​Read part two here

Read part three here

Read part four here

Read part five here
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Franklin homecoming kicked off with parade

9/29/2022

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As Franklin football gears up to host Warren on Friday. the school is full of homecoming spirit and it shined Wednesday night along Elk Street to the elementary school with a school district-wide parade and pep rally.
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Karma is a mysterious bitc...... thing.

9/29/2022

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So hornets sting. And their stings can send those who are allergic to the venom to the hospital. So when the hornet invades the walls of a domicile of someone whose life is potentially threatened by their sting- it is war.
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It never feels good to take a life.

I remember watching a movie about the Dalai Lama. As a child he was concerned about the lives of earthworms being disrupted as they were building a new temple to honor him. They had to find a way to save the earth worms because his holiness decreed it even though he was just a boy. So they sifted the soil to save the earthworms.
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I became an instant Dalai Lama fan.

I try to capture these yellow jackets and free them hoping their life is meaningful. I admit I also hope I'm improving my karma when I do it.

But then I catch one off-guard and it catches me off-guard and next thing I know I'm staring at emergency room curtains pumped full of antihistamines until I dose off for a couple hours. It is all very inconvenient.

This year, as in years past, a nest seems to have formed in the walls of my house. And though the wasps primarily enter and exit through an outside crevice in the siding, one or two find another way to get out and end up inside the house.

This is a problem.
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I put on my self-made generals helmet on and start drawing up maps to make my counter offensive, which consists of buying those cans of poisonous spray that supposedly reaches 20-30 feet away but at best its like 12. I then sheepishly pray I can hit the nest enough that they don't start flying erratically at me. $30 and me freaking out if I think one landed on me later - maybe it worked.

Truly I hate to kill them.

They are doing what they came to this life to do, it is not their fault I could die because they are protecting the life they know.

But that is the horrors of war summed up- it is us or them!

Before today I'd estimate 75 hornets have been killed individually inside the house either by electrical shock from a battery powered zapper or by crushing then against the window where they sough freedom.

Irony.

To kill a bee, even one that could kill me, just bothers me.
As I grow older I am discovering I'm not cut out for the hash realities of Darwinism. And yet here I am posting this photograph of this poor soul after attempting genocide.
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Esch takes the helm at two Pitt satellite campuses

9/26/2022

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Pitt-Titusville has a new president, the sixth in school history.

Rick Esch was inaugurated Sunday in a ceremony at Pitt-Bradford where he will also be serving as that institution’s fifth president.

“Wow, no pressure, all I have to do is save the world,” Esch joked in his opening remarks following several speakers who set a high bar for expectations as Esch takes the reins of the schools and leads their students into the future.
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The speakers included the chancellor, provost, a president emeritus and former colleagues all praised his work over the last 30 years at Bradford including the last year as interim president.
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“When we turned to Rick for interim president we knew we were in good hands,” said University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Patrick Gallagher.

Provost Ann Cudd called Esch the epitome of the “servant leader,”  who puts the needs of those he leads first.
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“Rick has shown deep dedication to Pitt. When he was announced interim president there was a groundswell of support,” she said. “Rick is embedded in the communities he serves.”

Each speaker seemed to agree that Esch works hard to make improvements in himself and each of the jobs he has undertaken throughout his career.
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“He possesses a work ethic like no other,” said K. James Evans, retired vice-president and dean of student affairs at Pitt-Bradford who worked closely with Esch for years.
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Evans pointed toward the students in attendance pleading for them to listen closely to the next thing he said about their new president.

“Rick Esch never applied for a job, he was always recruited.” Evans wanted to hit home how dedication, hard work and drive to be the best pays off.


“I believe that under president Esch’s leadership the best is yet to come for both Pitt-Bradford and Pitt-Titusville,” Evans added.
​

Esch quoted teacher Christa McAuliffe, who was to become the first civilian in space, but died in the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion. “I touch the future, I teach.” 

He emphasized the importance and strength of a good liberal arts education and how the school must have the proper tools to facilitate that for the students into the future.
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“We don’t teach our students what to think. we teach them how to think,” he said.

Chancellor Gallagher closed the ceremony by echoing Cudd’s remarks about Esch - “The authority to lead comes from those being led. 

​You have an opportunity to take this university to even greater places.” 
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Legend on a Moto Guzzi

9/25/2022

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Two-wheeled motorheads have known John Monaco for decades. He is one of them and his craftsmanship, and knowledge has allowed him to grow out of a little business in his basement to needing a a much bigger space to handle the thousands of customers he has had since. 
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​In 1964 he started customizing motorcycles and it didn't take long for his reputation to spread. in 1971 he found the place that has served his needs very well since - an old dance hall out on Route 417. It has become a destination for motorcyclists from all over.


​“We get these groups from Meadville, Titusville, Mercer… all over really, coming here all the time.” Monaco said as he stood near a table with motorcycle parts from a customer's bike strewn out.


​His shop is a low-key place that focuses on word-of-mouth advertising to generate business. He has  cultivated an exclusive club of bikers who earn a “One of Monaco’s Boys” shirt only when they buy a bike.
​

Monaco’s son, also named John, works with him in the shop that is loaded with bikes, parts, mementos, tons of memories, a Hank Williams Jr. figure that once danced and... lots of trophies. It’s a place where diehard mechanics and motorcycle enthusiasts love to visit.  “People come in just to smell this place,” Monaco said.

He loves good bikes and though he didn't talk down on other brands, he really likes high performance classic bikes.
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“Triumph - just the name alone, what a bike, I get goosebumps just talking about it,” he said.

It is clear when Monaco talks he has a love for bikes, trophies and a good story.


His most recent trophy and story started with him deciding to dust off his customized Moto Guzzi and take it to a bike show in Mercer.

He hadn’t really done something like that since 2019 before the pandemic and some knee surgery. “I had to test myself, I was like ‘c’mon Monaco, you got the (guts) to do this?'," he asked himself. (OK, he didn't use the word guts.)

Now, he doesn’t like to talk about his age, but he was already a few furlongs ahead of his teen years when he started his business in the 1960s. So, he had a few trepidations about hopping on his pride and joy for a 70-mile round trip ride but shrugged it off. “I decided to get the old girl out and give it a shot,” he said.

A version of this story appeared last week in The Titusville Herald.
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When he got to the show he was surprised by the attention he received. “I didn’t really realize the monster I’d built,” he said. Yes, it had won trophies before but with all the bikes out there now he didn’t anticipate what kind of reception it, or he, would get.
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As he parked the bike a young woman walked up to him right away. “You’re one cool dude on that bike,” he recalled her saying.
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As he walked around, he had folks coming up to him calling him a legend. “I sold a lot of these guys bikes at one time or another,” he said. “I was shaking hands all day."
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While he enjoyed seeing old friends and customers, he had another thing on his mind.
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With the sun beating on his head and his hair showing the effects of wind and helmet matting, Monaco realized he forgot his ballcap.

As he was walking around the show, he asked people if he could buy their hats, he said. Finally, he came upon a former customer who gave him the hat off his own head. “I didn’t really look at it, I was just happy to finally get a ballcap and was trying to give him a few bucks that he wouldn’t take. I put it on, and it fit pretty good... and it came with its own sweat already,” he joked.
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All day he walked around with the hat. People were stopping him to chat and many wanted to take pictures with him. “I had three young women want to take a picture with me,” he said smiling.
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When he found out he had won for having the top custom-built bike, he went to get his trophy and more pictures were taken.
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“Now I never looked at the hat until later, but when I did, I saw it said ‘Naked’ with this little leaf next to it. All those pictures of me with that hat on I thought… I don’t even know what (it stood) for.”

It was a promotional hat for Naked Juice, an American smoothie and fruit juice company.
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He laughs about it now. The hat has found its way to his awards display along with his latest first-place trophy. And the Naked Hat photos out there will likely only stand to further his reputation as a legend.
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Franklin on the hunt for annual holiday centerpiece

9/21/2022

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"SEARCHING FOR OUR COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS TREE!"
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Earlier this week Franklin put out its annual call for what has become one of the major highlights of their event holiday season - a large Christmas tree displayed in front of the courthouse. 

"The City of Franklin is once again searching for a Community-County tree – a well-proportioned 35 to 40 foot tree to be placed on the sidewalk leading to the Venango County Courthouse," the city posted on its Events and Marketing Facebook page Tuesday.

Coordinator Ronnie Beith said anyone who thinks they have an evergreen that would fit the bill should message her at [email protected]. She will pass the word to Dan Weiland, AKA Mr. Christmas, who will check out all the potential trees and pick the best fit for the space. 

Once found, the tree will need some decorations, and the city is looking for help in that area too.

"We are also looking for groups or individuals who are interested in assisting with the decorating of the tree and the parks," the Facebook post included. 

The city purchased some new lights after many strings were damaged during last year's tree trumble. They will be placed on the tree soon after it is set in its place by volunteers. It has become a tradition for the city to turn the tree on almost immediately following the Light Up Night parade, which is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday, November 19.

Prior to the holiday festival, help is needed to spread the Christmas cheer throughout the downtown as well. 

"Due to new light poles, it is hard to tell what will be done to light up Liberty (Street) this year," Beith said. "We will be back to normal next year...
 We are requesting downtown businesses use lots of Christmas lights."

The city is seeking volunteers to decorate the smaller trees that will be put up in Fountain Park the days following Light Up Night. 

Finding the Christmas tree and volunteer decorators is important "for the joy, pride and spirit of the community and to continue our tradition of being a beautiful Christmas destination for visitors and tourists," Beith said, adding it is one of the reasons, Franklin is "a great spot to come and shop, eat, be entertained and celebrate the holiday season."

Anyone with a tree or a desire to help decorate should contact Beith at 
[email protected]. 

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Lesson Learned
Last year Franklin had its largest trees since the tradition started about seven years ago. It was wonderful. It was mesmerizing. It was too much for the weather Mother Nature brought to the area.

​In early December 2021, the tree fell over during a wind storm when at least one of the three-foot supporting spikes came out of the ground.  It was quickly removed and replaced with a smaller but adequate evergreen.
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This year, the Venango County Commissioners took steps to ensure that would not happen again. "We had four anchors built to support the tree," explained Commissioner Mike Dulaney. "Essentially, they are six-foot deep holes filled with concrete, rebar, and a hook on top for us to tether the tree... The rebar goes through the concrete and into the ground for added stability."

The new system should ensure the tree stays in place as much as possible. " I was told the guide wire will fail before these," Dulaney said. ​
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Silver and Gold

9/20/2022

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Back in June, Maplewood senior Trista Robinson was thrilled to take home a silver medal at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference representing the state of Pennsylvania and the Crawford County Career and Technical Center.

“I was just thrilled to get silver,” Robinson said about where she finished in the Estheticians category, which concentrates on skin care and make-up. 


But hold your horses.
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When her teacher, Kristen Deets, got her scores, she and Robinson noticed something that wasn’t quite right. She had lost 10 points for a missing resume. 

They knew they had submitted the resume because it was a bit of a pain sending the material over good old-fashioned northwest Pennsylvania broadband. 
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They were so concerned about it in fact, that they had called to confirm the materials, including the resume, had been received.

Those materials had to be submitted before the in-person competition in Atlanta, Georgia.

“We honestly didn’t think about it when we got down (to the competition,)” Robinson said, knowing everything was submitted. At the end of the competition only six points separated her from the winner. The ten point resume deduction cost her gold.

“At that point it didn’t matter (to me) I knew I won and that was good enough,” Robinson said noting she didn’t think anything would be done about it.

Deets contacted the SkillUSA program director about the discrepancy and upon reviewing the material, it was determined Robinson was indeed the winner.
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So on September 30, at 1 p.m. Chelle Travis, the SkillsUSA executive director will be presenting Robinson her award in person during a special ceremony at the Crawford Technical facility.
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Robinson and her mom Chelby are impressed the top dog of the organization is driving up from Virginia for this. Chelby is thrilled about her daughter's accomplishment recognition but noted the mistake stole a little of her daughter’s thunder in not getting recognized in front of thousands of people in Atlanta.

“It was like a concert arena,” Robinson said of getting her silver award in June.

“When my category came up I couldn’t look, I just put my head down when they began naming the top three (finalists,)" she said. “When they said Pennsylvania, I was, like... crying.”


She mentioned that she may enter the international competition in 2024 in France, but for now she is happy to keep her nation's best talents close to home and keep working with her mom at Chelby’s Tanning and Hair Garage in Townville.
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Matilda cast visited Franklin and Oil City libraries for story time

9/20/2022

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By Jill Harry
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​

In what could almost be touted as an anti-reading story time, infamous “Matilda The Musical”
book haters Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood and their son of questionable intelligence Michael made a somewhat hypocritical appearances at two Venango County libraries.

They were also
accompanied by famed bookworms and pranksters Matilda Wormwood and her best friend Lavender.

The five characters took time Saturday to read portions of Roald Dahl’s children’s book “Matilda” and answer a few questions from the small crowds of kids gathered at the Oil City and Franklin libraries.
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“I can’t believe you brought me to a library. Couldn’t we just go to the movies?” said Mr. Wormwood, played by Kevin Fox.

He was the first to read, though not without complaint.

”Books are stupid. All you need is 22 minutes and some advertisements,” said the self-proclaimed lover of the telly (TV).
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Mr. Wormwood also took the time to share nuggets of
“wisdom” with the giggly group sitting on the carpet - like: “Good hair… means there’s a good
strong brain underneath”; “no  one ever got rich by being honest” and “When you’ve been given a fine brain like I have, you got to use it.”
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While the thought of people bashing books while surrounded by hundreds of them might seem
like an odd pairing, most people at Saturday’s story time knew it was a mini publicity tour for the
Franklin Civic Operetta Association’s upcoming production of “Matilda The Musical.”

​But as she proved during both events, Mrs. Wormwood isn’t most people.
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“The musical is all about me – ‘Mrs. Wormwood The Musical’,” actress Brooke Lawrie said,
never breaking character.
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She was the last of the five to take a turn reading to the children, who were most interested in her disinterest in young ones or reading and in love with herself and primping.
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“Girls need to be concerned about makeup and hair dye, not books and stories,” she said. “Why
would you take time to read a book when you could stare at the television and yourself at the
same time?”
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When one brave little girl asked the couple why they do not like kids, the crowd erupted into laughter at their answers. “Kids are A LOT of work,” said Mrs. Wormwood. “Kids are gross,” Mr. Wormwood added.

The kids confirmed that Lavender’s favorite color is purple. She also revealed a prank she may have pulled involving a newt and the dreaded principal Miss Trunchbull.

All the while, Matilda sat conservatively listening, only becoming animated during her section of reading and when asked a single question – do you have a favorite book?

​“I do like this one – 
there’s one called ‘The Secret Garden’ … and ‘Tess of the d'Urbervilles’ … ‘Lord of the Rings’,” answered Matilda, who is played by Ella Fleeger.

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“We do not have any copies of ‘Matilda’ right now. They are all checked out,” children’s library Tracy Hilton said regrettably after thanking the characters and their entourage for visiting.
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But luckily for all the Matilda newbies in the crowd, there are six chances to see the story in action at the Barrow-Civic Theatre on September 30, and October 1, 2, 6, 7 and 8.

“You’ll have to come to the show to hear some more silly stories,” said show director Jill Lander.

(This is the fifth part of a series of stories that will be written about the production of “Matilda
The Musical” at the Barrow-Civic Theatre in Franklin.)
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The Matilda-inspired quilt
It was a full Matilda day at the Franklin Library. Volunteers from the Flying Needles Quilting
Group of the First United Methodist Church were stationed not far from the reading group.

They 
were diligently working to complete a 58 by 64-inch quilt featuring the bookworm, Matilda. It was being
done in connection with the musical and the library’s quilt-a-thon fundraiser.
“This was a first,” said quilter Sherry Bastecki of the collaboration.

Every year the group tries to 
do a quilt inspired by a children’s book, which they include in the fundraiser, but this is the first time it coincided with an Applefest show also based on a children’s book.

Once completed, the quilt will be one of two handmade items given away through the sale of
tickets that can be purchased at the library. The other is a 36 by 48-inch wall hanging version of
Jinny Beyer’s Tessellating Tabbies.
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Tickets are $5 for one or $20 for 5. They can be purchased at the library during regular business
hours or at the Barrow-Civic Theatre during the show, according to Bastecki.
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Wood, Cochranton show off in Erie

9/20/2022

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The small Maplewood Tiger Marching Band won the Class A division of the McDowell Invitational Marching Band competition over the weekend. The Lake Erie Marching Band Association event featured 18 regional bands competing in three different classes. Maplewood which consists of under 20 members got a score of 73.250. Union City and Corry also competed in Class A.
Cochranton won the Class AA competition.
Meadville competed in Class AAA.
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Doing their "level" best for Applefest, schedule below too

9/17/2022

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The bumpy ride along Route 8 up on top of the hill between Polk Cutoff and Route 62 is expected to be smooth and clear for Applefest. Also, downtown where the heart of Applefest beats, the summer's long sidewalk project will be more pedestrian friendly even though the work to finish the project has been delayed.

Last week milling and initial paving began along Route 8 this week in preparation for paving by IA construction that is expected to be completed by the end of the month according to PennDOT who added they do not expect to have restrictions on to road during Applefest weekend. The three-day fall festival draws tens of thousands of visitors each year.
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The sidewalk and light pole replacement project in downtown Franklin had been slowed by the light poles not arriving yet. "There are delays in getting all the supplies needed to complete the lighting improvements being done on Liberty Street between 12th and 14th Streets." said PennDot press officer Jill Harry. She added that many of the bases were replaced allowing them to finish leveling the sidewalks in those areas making it "flush to the existing sidewalk, eliminating the hole or trip hazards" 
 
The city asked the some of the existing lights not be replaced until the new poles arrived. In these cases the work around the poles leaves holes that will be temporarily filled in for Applefest.

"All of this work should be completed as early as the end of next week (weather permitting) but definitely prior to Applefest in order to address safety during a high pedestrian traffic times on that roadway/sidewalk," according to Harry.

"It's the best three days," says Franklin Chamber of Commerce director Jodi Baker Lewis as if her words were programmed to somehow repeat. 

 
More information on the Route 8 project from Route 62 to Polk Cutoff can be found by clicking here.
Below is the current schedule for this year's Applefest.
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Check the Applefest Facebook page or website for updates.
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More about drop box voting explained

9/17/2022

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A bit of a hubbub began Wednesday morning when folks in Venango County picked up their newspaper to read about the recent commissioner’s meeting.
The previous day, the Venango County Commissioners voted two to one to discontinue the mail-in drop box that has been used since 2020.
This prompted John Kluck, the Venango County Democratic chair, to write a letter objecting to the move. “As registered voters, we object to the removal of the box,”  was stated in the letter signed by Kluck and Ashley Smith. It was delivered to the commissioners Friday morning during a public Special Election Board meeting schedule to handle other matters.
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The box had been located at the entrance to the Venango County Courthouse Annex since the 2020 general election and used in two primaries and another general election.
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“There have been no voting irregularities associated with the ballot drop box in Venango County in previous elections and we see no legitimate reason to remove it,” the letter continued. 

Commissioners Sam Breene, Mike Dulaney and Chip Abramovic agree there have not been any irregularities detected in the county. Sabrina Backer, Venango County Director of Elections, also agreed that statement was accurate. Backer said that the use of the drop box is a county-by-county decision.
Crawford County Commissioner Christopher Soff said drop boxes were only used there during the 2020 primary election, but not since. 
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On Friday, Breene pointed out that if the election board sees potential problems, he feels the board should act to correct those issues. He pointed out that monitoring the box is problematic. “Someone would have to watch it all the time,” he said. And video isn’t always conclusive.
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A person can only drop off their vote to be valid. If someone tries to bring in someone else’s, the election board cannot accept the second ballot. Breene said the state rules aren’t clear what to do if someone drops more than one ballot in a drop box.
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“If someone drops off four ballots, say, and we see them do this on video, even if there was nothing nefarious going on, they were just dropping off for their family, do we then have to not count every vote in that box because how do we determine which four were dropped in,” Breene said.

Soff agrees. He said the Crawford County board had similar concerns as to how to keep the boxes secured and what the protocols would be should they discover an issue. “It is just not practical for a county our size,” he said.

Mike Wilcox of Oil Region Rising pointed out that the changes to the U.S. Postal service in recent years have made delivery slower and less reliable, noting that the drop boxes addressed that problem. He and others also noted some accessibility issues for folks getting to the office, the drop box made it easier for them to vote.

Backer and the commissioners said that if someone needs assistance an election official will come down to get the ballot. They emphasized again that only one ballot per voter can be dropped off.

Members in the crowd on Friday morning also brought up that the commissioners’ decision to vote on the issue at Tuesday’s meeting was a bit sneaky and no one had any warning. 

Agendas for public meetings must be posted and available to the public no less than 24 hours prior to the meeting. The online agenda was time-stamped at 3:21 p.m. on Monday for the 4:30 p.m. meeting Tuesday. The election board meeting, like several other departments, are included in sections during the commissioners’ meeting.
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Veronica Santee said the decision seemed out of the blue and unnecessary and questioned the commissioners’ motives for the action. Breene said he wasn’t going to get into a debate at the election board meeting because the meeting was about other matters - voter registration challenges matters in particular.
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Earlier this summer Venango County resident Jeff Lehman and a group of other residents began cross-referencing registered voter lists with postal addresses and found over 600 registered voters who may or may not still live in the county. Backer’s office checked these names.

Lehman was happy to note the election office already knew about a good percentage of the names and went about checking on the others. Many were discovered to be military personnel and, therefore, still active voters. Others were listed inactive, meaning they will have to show proof of ID and residency to vote, but they are not taken off the registered list at this time. Twenty-six names were taken off the list officially.

Backer and the commissioners noted that people are not obligated to tell them if they move, but they have not had anyone try to vote twice in two different states. “I’ve learned a lot from this process,” said Breene.
Backer said when someone is inactive for a certain amount of time, they are sent a series of letters to ascertain their residence and to keep them on the registered voter list. She said this is something they are always working on to ensure their lists are as accurate as they can be.
​

Sixteen people attended the meeting Friday, a dozen of whom were there mostly to voice their concern over the drop box issue.

Breene said they will look over the letter from the Democrats and also take into account what they heard from residents and look further into their decision.

But for now, there is no plan to use the drop box during the upcoming election.

After the meeting, all three Venango County commissioners emphasized they are easily accessible. Their phone numbers and email addresses are on the county’s website at www.co.venango.pa.us.
​

“If we only had this many people at the commissioners’ meetings,” Breene joked.

​
Editor's. note: Here is the first story printed two days prior.
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A historic bridge will create future connections

9/15/2022

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This story was first published in The Titusville Herald.
In 1878 when a metal truss bridge was built over Pine Creek in Oil Creek Township it was mostly to carry foot traffic and horse and buggies. Cars weren’t even thing yet. That same bridge will once again service foot traffic spanning over Linesville Creek on the other side of the county.

It is part of a historical preservation project made possible through federal Transportation Alternative Set-Aside funding.
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​“The program provides money for projects that support on- and off-road pedestrian and bicycle facilities, infrastructure projects for improving non-driver access to public transportation and enhanced mobility, community improvement activities, and environmental mitigation, trails that serve a transportation purpose, and safe routes to school projects,” according to a PennDOT press release.
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The $2,289,000 project was awarded Horizon Construction Group Inc. of Sandy Lake.
“I think anytime you’re able to preserve a piece of Crawford County history and, even more so the historical significance of a bridge like this for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the county is proud to see this bridge have new life and it will continue to serve the county for many years to come,” said Crawford County Commissioner Christopher Soff.
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A small press conference was held Tuesday at the site where the bridge was hoisted into place Thursday. The bridge was reassembled using hot rivets to keep it historically accurate. Modern bridges use bolts.

When completed the bridge will help connect trails that add an extra 3.5 miles Pymatuning State Park trail system. PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Environmental resources teamed up to keep this bridge alive.
Soff said he values the importance of trails and recreation in the county and is proud to see this project nearing its fruition.
The Messerall Truss Bridge is a metal bowstring truss bridge. It was closed in 1987 due to deterioration. ​
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Last August it was lifted by crane and taken away to begin the refurbishing process. About 75% of the bridge is original with new parts made for pieces that were too far gone to save. The bridge was sandblasted and repainted for its new home on the multi-use trail outside Linesville Borough near the spillway.
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“This project offered a unique and important opportunity for PennDOT and the DCNR to partner for the benefit of various communities all at once,” said Brian McNulty, PennDOT District 1 Executive. “The DCNR was able to enhance a popular stretch of trail that users have been requesting for a long time. Crawford County was able to pass on a closed bridge so it could be preserved in a new location. And PennDOT was able to facilitate the sometimes-complicated construction process that accompanies historic structures and trail creation for the benefit of the community here in Linesville, as well as the (thousands) of visitors the park receives every year.”
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Last two photos provided by PennDOT
​The bridge will be fitted with a wooden deck and opened for public use by the end of the month. The entire project is expected to be completed in October.

“The DCNR and our Pymatuning State Park staff are proud to be the caretakers of a piece of Crawford County history for years to come and excited to see the trail wind its way into Linesville,”  said State Parks Director John Hallas. 

Information on the project is available online at www.penndot.gov/District1. The DCNR will also share information on their Pymatuning State Park Facebook page.
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Drop off ballot box gone from Venango County

9/14/2022

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Edited to correct name spelling mistake and add a title that was accidentally cut in editing.
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File photo from 2020
 This story was first published in The Titusville Herald
Tuesday the Venango County Commissioners voted to discontinue the use of the ballot return drop box that was introduced during the COVID-restriction 2020 election.
 
The box sat, securely locked, outside the Venango County Courthouse Annex.

“We’re just trying to get ahead of this,” said commissioner Mike Dulaney, who added that the state is moving towards eliminating use of ballot drop boxes.
“It’s a local decision,” Sabrina Backer Director of Election for Venango County noted.
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Venango County Democrat chairperson John Kluck said he is in the process of composing a letter to the county board of elections disagreeing with the decision.

“We completely object to removing the boxes. There were zero problems locally using them, so why remove the boxes at all?”
Backer said of all the mail-in ballots received last election, only about 10% were dropped in the box. She confirmed there were no irregularities in the county during the last elections using the drop boxes.
 
During Tuesday’s regular commissioners meeting, Commissioners Sam Breene and Delaney voted to stop using the boxes. Commissioner Albert “Chip” Abramovic voted against the motion. The election board is meeting Friday morning(Sept. 16) at 9 a.m. to discuss voter registration challenges Backer said,

Mike Wilcox of Oil Region Rising is trying to get a group together to attend the meeting saying he wants to ask the board why they acted to remove the boxes.
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Though the drop boxes won't used, Backer said if someone is planning to vote by mail-in ballot and fears they waited too long to mail and meet the arrival deadline, they can bring their ballot and envelope to their polling place. There the mail-in ballot would be voided and they can vote in person. She also said that on Election Day, November 8, Venango County Courthouse annex room 100 will be open for people to drop off their ballots before 8 p.m. 
 
The last day to register to vote is October 24. Deadline for requesting a mail-in ballot is November 1. All completed mail-in ballots must be received at the courthouse by 8 p.m. November 8.  
 
​
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Kids are in the lead as ‘Matilda The Musical’ starts to take shape

9/14/2022

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By Jill Harry

​In a show about a backward world where parents hate books, gym is the most hated class at school and a librarian is the one entertained by a storyteller, it seems only natural that the youngest members of the cast would be the leaders.
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So is the story of the Barrow-Civic Theatre production of “Matilda the Musical.”
“When you do a show with kids, you worry about how it is going to be because they are so young,” said stage veteran Brooke Lawrie, who plays Mrs. Wormwood. “These guys are making me up my game.”
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She was among the adult characters standing back and watching a full stage of youngsters practice a series of songs and complex choreography during a recent rehearsal. It was the first night most of the older actors had a chance to see their younger counterparts perform and it was nearly instant astonishment.
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The musical tells the tale of small, imaginative, and magical Matilda and her friends who push back against the mean adults who surround them.

​There are 27 parts in the cast, including ensemble members. About 50% of characters are under 16.
Carrying such a big show meant the younger members started practicing earlier in the summer, and by mid-August, they were well on their way to knowing a half dozen songs with dances. 

“The kids are really starting to get into their characters,” director Jill Lander as she watched the kids diligently running through detailed choreography on stage. “I have my army,” she said, as she pointed to the children and note how seriously they were taking on their roles of leading the show.
In fact, they were so focused during rehearsal that it took a second visit to find time to talk with them about their impressions of the show.

​Then it was hard to get in a word edgewise because of the friendly banter among the group and questions were rarely answered by just one person.
This is the fourth in a series of stories written by Jill Harry about the production of “Matilda the Musical” at the Barrow-Civic Theatre in Franklin.

Read part one here
​

​Read part two here

Read part three here

Character appearances, story times scheduled for Saturday

The Barrow-Civic Theatre and the Franklin Civic Operetta Association are partnering with two Venango County libraries to offer a special sneak peek at “Matilda The Musical.”

Several of the show’s lead characters will hold free Matilda and Friends story times on Saturday, September 17. They will appear in full costume at 10 a.m. at the Oil City Library and 1 p.m. at the Franklin Public Library.

​Interested attendees should call the libraries to register at 814-678-3072 for Oil City and 814-432-5062 for Franklin.
​
Along with sharing excerpts from the book “Matilda,” which inspired the musical, the cast members will also answer questions, pose for pictures, and have some giveaways.

Members of “Matilda” will be at each stop for approximately one hour and the event is open to all ages, according to Kristy Moore, one of the show’s producers. This will be the community’s only chance to see the characters in person before curtains open on the show, she said.

After that, they will have to buy tickets to the show, which will be held at 7:30 p.m. on September 30, and October 1, 6, 7 and 8; and 2 p.m. October 2.
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Switching from singing with the recording to singing with the piano, they instantaneously agreed is the hardest part of the musical so far.

When asked who is the funniest in the group? “We all are,” they said.

Who is the loudest? They boisterously answered Ben Coyer, who plays Nigel. He is also the one who knows everyone’s lines but his own, his friends joshed to him.

But who is the best dancer? That seemed unanimous as well – Lily Griffin, who plays Erica. “If you forget a dance, Lily is the one to look at,” said Makena Shaffer, who plays Lavender.  

When asked practically anything else, the swarm of answers that followed was hard to distinguish. As Baylee Rice, who plays Tammy, puts it, “We are all best friends.”
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That is partially because many of them knew at least one other cast member before the rehearsals started, partially because they share a love of the show, and partially because of the respect they have for each other and especially for the quietest among them – Matilda herself, played by Ella Fleeger.
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While her fellow cast members talked rambunctiously around her, Fleeger mostly smiled, giggled, and nodded in agreement with their assessments of each other.

“She’s like more mature than most of us,” Rice said of Fleeger, who had sheepishly admitted she got a head start on learning some of the longer parts of dialogue she had to memorize.

“I was surprised how you know them (her lines) so well,” said Isabel McNulty, who plays Alice.
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​After a few more laughs, a shared secret about the show’s big ending and a joke as to who might be the real Miss Honey and Miss Trunchbull, the group was back into joyful pandemonium.

Then the call for Act 2 came out and they all bustled on stage ready to get to work.

​It was all business for them.


“It’s exciting to watch them learn and develop and make the show a show,” said theater stalwart Kevin Fox, who plays Mr. Wormwood. “They will carry us (adults).

They will make us look great.”
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Cast of Kid Characters
​ 

Matilda - Ella Fleeger
Michael Wormwood - Logan Welms
Bruce - Cameron Whitling
Lavender - Makena Shaffer
Amanda - Alaina Kuhaneck
Nigel - Ben Coyer
Erica - Lilian Griffin
Alice - Isabel McNulty
Hortensia - Lily Black
Tammy - Baylee Rice
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The best camera is....

9/13/2022

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... the one in your hand.
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I love photography, but sometimes all I have is my iPhone. So we make do.
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I'm not a nature photographer, but I love beautiful things that exist where I I take note of them or not.
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Music education showcased with "rivals" playing together as family

9/11/2022

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"The main purpose of Music in Oil Country is to support camaraderie among bands from throughout our area," said Oil City Marching Band director Daniel Cartwright.

​The school hosted their 10th annual(sans COVID) event on Saturday with support from ten other area high schools and special guest, the Grove City College Marching Band.

They bill  Music in Oil Country as "halftime all night long." The visiting schools showcase what they perform weekly during halftime of football games, only this is a venue where all attention is on the band and not half the crowd rehashing how well or poorly the football team played in the first half.


"The thrill of stepping onto the turf and seeing a full set of bleachers in front of you and other marching bands cheering behind you never gets old," said Kevin Vinson, Titusville's music director.

The festival is really a chance to, simply, showcase the music. Yes it is still on a football field, but it's about the pride in the elfort each musician puts into the tradition of a halftime show. And they come together, not as gridiron rivals, but a larger family of musicians who love to play.

"I want students to make connections with kids from other schools who do the same activities they do. It’s not a competition, it is supporting each other, meeting new people and maybe make a few new friends," Cartwright said.

He emphasized that having these "rival" schools participate in these shows further illustrates how much a-like they are than different. Especially when you hear them cheer each others routines.
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"These are our local kids making connections with each other." 

The event is a fundraiser for the Oil City band who is looking ahead to the future in need of new uniforms. "It's just brilliant," Franklin band director Steve Johnston said of Music in Oil Country. Franklin is a strong supporter of the festival happily performing each year.

"The bulk of our band funds come from Music in Oil Country," said Cartwright who credits past uniforms, the band trailer and rain gear to having this fundraiser other school bands gladly support. He is also thankful the school sports booster club recognizes their contributions and also gives. "We are currently working on our next uniform campaign," he said.
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The evening began with another music program from Oil City performance. A vocal group sang a few barbershop quartet songs and then a larger choir sang the Star Spangled Banner.

Then the bands kicked in, some small, some large, but they all drew responses from the nearly capacity crowd filling the stands. "The crowd last night was phenomenal," Cartwright said as they sat through each band's performance. 

​This year, besides the immense and varied talent of the high school bands, the Grove City College Marching Band, consisting of 110 member, was on hand to close out the show. Each of the high school bands surrounded the field to watch and learn from this heralded college band. More than a couple members of the Grove City band had performed on the Oil field at one time or another, either as part of the Oiler band or visiting schools at football games or playing at this very festival. And they came to support these high school bands without charging a fee.


"It’s always a bonus to have a college band perform. Having a quality group like Grove City College perform shows kids what the next level is like and marching band doesn’t stop after high school," said Cartwright.

Vinson agrees. "
We enjoyed all of the bands that we were able to watch, but a highlight for my students was the Grove City College band's performance to close out the event."
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Below are some more photos from the festival that we liked. For more pictures from Music in Oil Country visit: ​https://sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p390515015
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Name that travels

9/10/2022

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Benson was one of the many pets brought to Bandstand Park Saturday for the annual Pet Fest. The little guy is Blakely Morrow's pooch and he got his name from a sign along the side of the road in Ohio the family saw when they picked him up for adoption.
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Attendance was a little down this year, but those that did show seemed to have fun. Many pet friendly activities were offered including a blessing from an actual preacher and a booth where pets could get their vaccine shots. The event is a fundraiser for Precious Paws animal rescue in Franklin.
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Witches sought to invade Franklin

9/9/2022

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Do you have a favorite incantation you’ve been wanting to try out?

Do you like big pointy hats and loud cackling laughter?

​Or do you prefer a more earthy connection to a sisterhood? 
​

There might be a reason for you to circle October 22 on your calendar.

The Franklin Retail Association stirred the cauldron last year by trying out something new around Halloween - a Witch Walk. It was instantly very popular and drew witches and warlocks from miles away. What does a retail group have to do with witchery you might ask?
 

Fun.

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Over 150 signed up for the tickets last year and received in return freebies, discounts and other special attractions like raffles, dances and a best witch contest.Happy screeches and chants echoed up and down Liberty Street as dressed up make-up’d men and women went from shop to shop stopping occasionally for a witches circle and dance.

The association is building on last years success by offering even more incentives as they invite people from all over the region to attend the Saturday evening happening. They’d love to see the sidewalks filled with witches beginning at 5 p.m. stretching into the dark. They have 275 tickets to sell.

“Dress in your witchy best, and head downtown to shake your broomstick,” said Jennifer Taylor the association’s director. The $25 tickets  go on sale beginning September 20 at various locations in downtown Franklin. They can also be purchased by calling Sassy’s Gifts at 814-346-0269.

A ticket will get you a free Witch Walk tote loaded with stuff like coupons for two Tarot readings, two mocktails or cocktails, and “other treats.” A fun gathering is planned in the evening to with plenty of door prizes and the best dressed witches will awarded as well to cap off the fun.
​

“This is such a unique event for our area,” Taylor said. “… so many people enjoyed it last year.”
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Spartansburg sky gets lit up big once a year, for 100 of em

9/8/2022

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From jumping out of airplanes in Iraq to helping kids safely ride the Sizzler Jeff Demetris serves the people of this country. Demetris said was a long-time member of the 82nd airborne and was injured in an attack while serving in Iraq. "I limp a little," he said.

The Sizzler is only one of the attractions at the 100th year of the Spartanburg Fair. The usual star filled night sky over the mostly dark Sparty community was filled with bright shining lights of the many rides and food vendors serving thousands of visitors to the little town's fairgrounds.

I got a call to cover the fair late yesterday to help out our friends at The Titusville Herald. So I rushed up, spent about 40 minutes and headed to find a strong enough of a signal to send photos back on deadline. Old school stuff.

Thought I'd share some of the photos here. Also had a productive meeting with our friends at the Franklin Retail association as we move closer to partnership showcasing local businesses.

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Oliver Miller, 2, is a fourth generation farmer from Sparty and his mom said he just loves to help feed the cows.
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Thousands of people visit the Spartanburg fair every year. This year marks their 100th year.
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Shawn Wright cooks in the Blooming Onion booth at the Spartanburg Fair.
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Where else can you get your blow up alien and yellow duck fix?
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Alivia Sewell, from left, Kayla Hollobaugh and Jennifer Fedorchuk play the Goldfish game. Sewell won two fish that she says she will add to the bowl at home with two other fish she already has.
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Smiles and rides and a good big brother.
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Experiments in theater

9/4/2022

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The twice-a-year madhouse of 24-hour intensive creation once again gave actors a chance to test their mettle, writers a chance to craft something from scratch in the wee hours of the morning and directors to try to put all of the parts together in about twelve hours.

​Five short original plays were presented to a live audience Saturday at the Barrow-Civic Theatre.

​Barrow mainstay Brooke Lawrie was the circus master in the absence of Red-Eye founder Nick Hess, who was away at a wedding.
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The experience starts the night before when actors audition for a group of writers who then pick their cast of characters. Then they likely brew a fresh pot of coffee and plug in their laptops for a long evening of hunting and pecking away at the keyboard. 
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The next morning, the bleary-eyed writer's deliver their scripts, copies are made and doled out to the actors, many who are new to the stage and still shaking the cobwebs from their sleepy brains.

​The directors begin figuring out how to make those printed words into a moving visual as the actors start memorizing their lines.

​Notes are made for costumes, props, lights, sound effects and even a fake beard.
​
​See more photos at: https://sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p481438663
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By 3 p.m.,  it's all running like a clock ... a very chaotic clock that is sped up to the point where the hands fall off. Hair is ripped out and conversations that were whispered only a few hours earlier are now quite loud and at times echoing past the Mary Ann Richardson sitting room into the lobby before being heard by pedestrians out on Liberty Street who become fully aware that it's nearing showtime.
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They then get a run through on stage with the props and light. Shortly after 7 p.m. the doors open and folks wander in to find a seat in order to catch a glimpse of a one-of-a-kind theater experience.

In about 24 hours it goes from start to successful finish. Cause no matter the missed light cues, fumbled lines or set piece failures, it is a success in creation 
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