Blog Archives - Eight & 322/Eight & 27

Getting ready to count and count big

10/29/2020

Each week day Venango County employees Sabrina Backer and Melanie Bailey clean out the ballot return box at the front of the annex building.

Backer, who serves as the Chief Clerk/County Administrator/Director of Elections, said they've had to cram the carrying trays full of voting envelopes many times in the past few weeks.
Thursday around 1 p.m., they collected approximately 50 more sealed envelopes. "This was small," Bailey said.

Inside Backer's office is a locked cabinet containing over 5,000 votes And that number is growing every day as election draws nearer. Only five days away.

In 2016, the only mail-in ballots were absentee ballots. They had 1,269 that year that saw a nearly 73% voter turnout overall.

This year, with mail-in ballots being accepted for the first time from folks opting out of in-person voting, Backer said they received requests for 7,627 voting packets. Of those sent to voters, a little more 5,600 have been returned to be counted.

Backer said anyone those who requested a mail-in ballot but do not return it, can still vote in person, but they must take the ballot and return envelopes with them to their polling place on Tuesday.

The mail-in ballot must be accounted for and cancelled out in order for the person to vote in person.

For Backer and her extended crew, work to start processing the mail-ins will be begin at 7 a.m. election day. "I hope to be done by noon," Backer said.

Additional staff has been hired to help and Backer said that if they push hard they can process about 12 ballots a minute.
The votes will not be tabulated until after polls close at 8 p.m.

Backer expects the unofficial Venango County results will be known on election night. The official numbers will be known a few days later, as mail-in votes are still be eligible as long as they are postmarked on or before Election Day.

As for the added workload this year, Backer said she and her staff are taking it in stride. With the extra help they are keeping up on the work thus far.

"We're busy but holding up well, looking forward to a day off in the next couple of weeks," she said.

Polls open at 7a.m. Tuesday November 3, 2020. They close at 8 p.m.

A surge of cases: COVID numbers climbing in county, region and state, especially among young adults

10/29/2020

October has not been a good month for positive COVID-19 cases in Venango County. In less than a month, the county has gone from 88 cases to 268 as of today (October 29, 2020).

"The past few weeks Venango County’s cases having been going up at a very steady and rapid pace," said Venango County Commissioner Albert "Chip" Abromovic on social media tonight. He says the county has been looking hard to pinpoint specific causes or events to understand the spread, but says they haven't been able to determine any direct cause as yet.

UPMC Northwest spokesperson Karen Beardsley said they have three of only eight ICU beds in use at the moment and there are currently seven patients hospitalized with COVID-19. "About the same as in spring. We have seen a few cases off and on over the summer months. The total number of hospitalizations since March is 32," she said.

Beardsley said the hospital has "adequate bed capacity and staff" to accommodate current patient numbers and that there are plans in place if they suddenly have a surge of new hospitalizations.

The hospital released the following statement:

"As expected, there are growing numbers of people with COVID-19 in the communities UPMC serves throughout Pennsylvania, western Maryland and New York. Across the UPMC system, COVID-19 cases occupy less than 5% of our hospital beds. We remain fully able to care for all patients, with or without COVID-19. Our hospitals – urban, suburban and rural – are well staffed, have excellent personal protective equipment plans and supplies, and have the resources to serve the health care needs of our communities.

All UPMC hospitals, facilities and providers have the support of a world class academic medical center, using a wealth of knowledge and guidance on best practices. Should the need arise, we can share resources, transfer patients or mobilize staff between facilities. With the increase in cases in the communities we serve, it remains important for everyone to follow the guidance of our public health experts. This includes wearing a mask, following physical distancing recommendations, staying home when ill and washing hands frequently. "

Crawford County has also experienced an uptick of cases soaring past 500 total cases since the end of March when the only 216 cases.

So far no new restrictions have been added to the county by the Pennsylvania Department of Health or Governor Tom Wolf.

Earlier today, the Health Department announced 2,202 additional cases of COVID throughout the commonwealth, bringing the Pennsylvania total to 202,876. The surge statewide mirrors those seen in the spring. "Daily increases are now comparable with what we saw in April 2020," the announcement said.

The release also included information what was described as a "significant" increases in the number of cases among those in the 19 to 24-year-old age bracket. In April only 7 percent of the cases in Northwest Pennsylvania involved members of that age group. So far in October, that same age group represents 15 percent of the cases.

In response to this information, "an alert was was sent to healthcare providers about the changing COVID-19 case demographics," today's release said.

To follow what has happened since September 30, click here for updates kept by Eight & 322.

The 'Bossman' has seen it all, now he eyes another championship

10/28/2020

Oil City assistant coach Ritt Smith said when he started coaching in 1993 Dave "Bossman" May was already there. In fact several years earlier May, as a high school student, started serving the Oilers as their football aficionado, aka "ball boy."

Or is it ball man?

May, scurrying back from retrieving an extra point ball last Friday night, said he has been doing this for 33 years.

He has assisted legendary coaches: Dan Brown, Paul Stamm, Bill Heber, Matt Laverde, and now Dan York over the last three decades.

Yes, his favorite team is Oil City.

"I just like helping out people," he says almost as a mantra. Smith said May volunteers to help anyone in need.

May's dedication to the area goes beyond the sidelines, he is out in the community, especially during the holidays, taking on long hours in the cold ringing in donations for the Salvation Army.

But on he is always on the sidelines with the Oilers commenting on the game.
Four years ago when first year head coach Dan York took over the squad and they struggled, May would say "this going to be a long night."
Since then, however, he is wondering different things. "How many touchdowns do you think we'll get tonight?"

"He has been an important part of all three district championships with Oil City. He loves his Oil City Oiler football teams and we are very thankful to have his assistance with preparing for the games," Smith said.

Smith recalls a time back in the 90s when the action came to the side lines and May got caught up in the action and was hurt. "He finished the game running footballs but I had to take him to the emergency room [after the game]. He is a great help and I consider him a close friend," Smith said.

The Bossman and the 2020 version of the Oilers will be back on the field this Saturday for another District 10 Championship game, this time against the Harbor Creek Huskies. The Huskies and Oilers are both undefeated. Kickoff is expected at 7 p.m. at the Oil Field as the Oilers go for a three-peat.

The 33-year oiler veteran is glad to help out, but he also has a sense of perspective. He knows that win or lose he is happy to be a part of it all and is glad to help. "It gives me something to do," he said.

70 years later, Korean War soldier laid to rest in Venango County

10/24/2020

Years ago a marker was set at Heckathorn Cemetery in Cranberry Township, Venango County. For a long time there was no body or remains of any kind under the marker, yet it reads:

"In Memory
Harold K. Knight,
PFC, U.S. Army
Korea
JUN 10, 1930 - NOV 25, 1950"

Beside the memorial maker is a stone with the names of his parents Irene and Henry Knight.

Today Harold was finally brought home to rest beside them.

For nearly 70 years, the family had no closure. The best they knew is Harold was declared dead in the Korean War and his body never recovered.

In 2018, 55 boxes of remains of American service members were returned to the United States from North Korea. One box contained remains recovered from the east side of the Chosin Reservoir where Knight was last known to be.

On September 4, 2019, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency positively identified the remains of Harold Kenneth Knight, of Erie who was originally from Venango County.

Military scientists used anthropological analysis, evidence of eye witnesses and location of the remains, and DNA to confirm it was Knight's remains.

In late November 1950, Private First Class Knight was serving in the 31st infantry regiment as part of the 31st Regimental Combat Team. During what was described as intense fighting with the Chinese People's Volunteer Forces at Sinhung-ri, Knight went missing during withdrawal down the east side of the Chosin Reservoir toward the town of Haguru-ri.

During a rounding up of personnel on Dec. 1,1950, it was confirmed Knight was not accounted for and deemed missing.

Eye witness accounts stated Knight was killed on November 25, 1950, but his body could not be recovered.

He was officially declared missing in action and later memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

In March 1954, Knight was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart Medal.

As the years passed, the family, including 11 brothers and sisters, had to live knowing their loved one never came home.

Patricia Inchak, of Millcreek, was 12 years old when her brother was declared missing and presumed dead. "It was sad back then and it is sad today," she said at his graveside Saturday.

She and brother Albert Knight and sister Frances Thompson are the only living siblings. Their father died in 1992 and mother in 1949, when Harold was home on leave before heading to Korea.

On Saturday, Harold Kenneth Knight made his final journey to be by his parent's side. He was escorted from Erie by Burton Funeral Homes with the help of the Patriot Guard Riders and several law enforcement and civic organizations.

The Oil City and Franklin fire departments created a ladder truck archway for Knight to pass under as the procession drove over the Specialist Jonathan R. Kephart Memorial Bridge (named in memory of a soldier who was killed in Iraq).

The procession made its way to the Heckathorn Cemetery, where a brief service for about 100 people from various color guards, politicians including state Senator Scott Hutchinson, the Patriot Guard and family attended.

Full military honors were given and the flag was presented to Frances.

Harold K. Knight is finally home.

There are still over 7,000 Americans unaccounted for from the Korean War.

For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA website at www.dpaa.mil, or on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa or call (703) 699-1420/1169.

Knight’s personnel profile can be viewed at
https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt00000012j8DEAQ

A copy of his complete obituary can be viewed at
https://www.burtonfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/obituary/harold-knight

Dedication on Display: Oil City Marching Band spends fall finding ways to still make music

10/23/2020

The Oil City Marching Band is indeed ready for the playoffs despite being denied their season of playing halftime shows at Oiler football games. Last week was the first time the band took the field all season and show they have not been lazy. They have been practicing and performing anyway. It was homecoming and the recent loosening of capacity regulations allowed the band back into the stadium.

"It was disheartening that we were not permitted to attend football games at the beginning of the year, however, it was inspiring that our director Daniel Cartwright fought for us to be seen by the community still." said Rylee Merwin, piccolo and flutist for the band.

The band was handed a sack of lemons to start the season, so they made lemonade.

The team's dedication and love of playing music as well as the outside-the-box mentality of their band leaders, the marching band performed more shows, in front of more athletes and parents this year than ever before.

The band, whose uniforms remained quarantined for the season because of COVID-19, played different venues, marched the streets and for probably the first time ever, played for the cross country team, soccer teams and so on.

Even the tennis team had a visit from the band.

What OMB did was take the performances to the people. The first week of the football season they took a zig-zag march through the city's southside neighborhoods playing their songs before stopping at Mitchell Park for an extended performance in front of a crowd who showed their support by attending the performance before the game.

Others who normally wouldn't get to see or hear the band sat on porches or came to their front yard. This started what became a very full schedule for the band performing at several other venues around the area on top of the athletic events.

They also gave a performance at Two Mile.

"Playing at extra activities, I think it was really enjoyable and a different experience from ever before. The OMB has never done anything like this and I think the community enjoyed it just as much as we did," said Alex Webster one of the squad's drum majors.

"This year has certainly been a life changing experience especially when it comes to band," said Merwin. Merwin performed with the band last Friday dressed to the nines because she was also a Homecoming queen candidate.

"I loved being able to share our hard work with the community and different sports and most of all witnessing all of our fans and support follow us to every community gathering whether it was our show at Two Mile or an alternative sporting event. The OMB fans are certainly the best," said Merwin.

The homecoming game was scheduled for the last regular season game against Route 8 rival Franklin. The band was told they could play this event. Prior to the game they took to Hasson Park for a public performance before leading the homecoming procession back to the school. Cheerleaders and the queen candidates followed them through the neighborhood right to the stadium.

"Football games have always just been part of the OMB experience. When those games were taken from us, we realized how important they are in our lives. I don’t think I will ever forget how I felt the second we marched onto the field at the first football game we got to attend this season." Webster said.

"What stands out the most about this season to me is the lessons that can be taken away... many of us were troubled with motivation and courage to keep practicing and working out our show without any certain events to play at." Merwin said. "We didn’t know if we’d ever step foot in front of a crowd or at any public events, but with determination and our love for band we kept hope and worked our butts off."

The Oil City band will be on the field tonight to entertain before the playoff crowd. They are expected to play before during and after the game as the Oilers take on Conneaut Area.

After that, who knows, being told they couldn't play this year certainly didn't stop them, so maybe the end of the season won't either.

Merwin, though graduating at the end of the school year, looks to the future of the Oiler Marching Band with hope.

"I hope the next seniors can experience a more normal year and be present at all of the football games, but also get to experience the diversity I have during this year. If you truly love being in marching band, you’ll love the extra opportunities to play at other events including soccer and cross country," she said "The OMB and myself are so excited for [tonight's] playoff game and hopefully more to come!!!"

High schoolers pick the brains of local leaders

10/22/2020

A group of Franklin High School juniors and seniors spent part of their school day Thursday interacting with the Venango County Commissioners in the school’s auditorium. It was a chance for the soon to be adults to pick the brains of our community leaders.

Albert Abramovic, Sam Breene and Mike Dulaney were invited by Franklin economics and government teacher Matt Gustafson to speak to students about their roles as commissioners, the local effects of the upcoming election and anything else the students had in mind.

The commissioners told the students how and why they decided to get into politics and discussed their day-to-day responsibilities. Dulaney said, though he and Breene are Republicans and Abramovic is a Democrat, the trio works closely and well together and they do not see the “ugliness of partisanship” that sometimes shows in other offices.

“We’re getting along and we’re all working together because we’re all moving toward the same thing,” Dulaney said.

Breene told the students that it is “essential” for people to be engaged in the community. Abramovic echoed Breene's claims.

“Being young and being active really makes a difference going forward,” Abramovic said.

Students asked the commissioners’ about their future plans, how they handle political conflict from constituents and how local elections affect the community.

One curious student asked a fun question wondering what result of what the commissioners described as the biggest argument they have had so far this year: what color the new floor of the commissioners’ conference room should be.

Senior Eren McKinley was the first student to ask a question and took thorough notes throughout the discussion. He said that although he does not generally have high expectations for politicians, he thought the commissioners were “well-spoken” and got their points across about what being a commissioner entails.

“They really did provide an important reminder of how important local elections are and how we need to be engaged in that,” McKinley said.

Gustafson said afterward that he thought the experience was “worthwhile” and was grateful that all the points he wanted to hit on were brought up.

Photograph and text by Sydney Herdle.
Please check more of Sydney's work covering our communities here.

Experience of generations to announce Oil City game

10/22/2020

"Steve went down like an old dishrag."
80-year-old Jim Bodamer recalled a story about when he was a radio announcer and witnessed his son getting taken out during a Titusville High School game. "I didn't know what to do.
The parent was working the mic, and his son was in pain."

This was one of the many stories Bodamer recalled during his decades broadcasting games, many of them from the press box above Carter Field in Titusville. He worked for many years on the radio where he covered his own kids playing.

He also recalled a time when he was covering a basketball game where his son was a star player. His son was having a tough game. "I actually said on the radio, '[the coach] has to get Bodamer out of there'," he chuckled. He said he had to say it like it was. He also said later in the game when the team needed a clutch shot that his son should be put back in because he would rise to the occasion.

Bodamer spent years as a broadcaster in radio where he also broadcast high school sports in New Mexico after he took a job there as a Christian School administrator.

"It's fun to watch kids play, the best sports to watch. High school kids learning a trade. It's important to developing character. These young men and women are our future leaders," he said.

In the last decade he has teamed up with Luke Ruot and The Stream TV in Titusville to broadcast games via the internet. "We bounce a lot of ideas off each other, Luke's a good guy," Bodamer said.

This broadcast team will be announcing Friday night's Oil City football home playoff game against Conneaut Area Senior High School.

The senior Bodamer says he really enjoys working with Ruot, but perhaps the most fun is getting to work along side his two sons Steve and David who provide color commentary. "They're a couple of idiots," he joked, but as you listen to the broadcasts you sense they all know what they are talking about.

Also working the games is grandson Adam who does some of the from the stands camera work of the on field action that his grandfather announces play by play.

Bodamer, a 1958 Titusville graduate. say that high school sports, and really an part of the school's activities are important to the community.
"There is a lot of pride to being a Rocket, if it is Friday night you go to the football game."

On Friday, Stream TV will shift gears to cover the Oil City Oilers, who Bodamer says he has been following noting they are an extremely good football team.
He and Ruot will discuss coverage and prepare for each game. "You want to present an intelligent program," the retire school administrator said.

He'll research both teams prior to the game so his has information and stats ready to go as he announces the game. He also said he really wants to be sure he announces names correctly out of respect for the player and their families. "I have butchered names and that has always bothered me. They deserve better," he said

The Stream is familiar with the Oilers and CASH who played the Rockets earlier this year.

To watch this game visit the link to their facebook page by clicking on the photogaph below.

Artist of September(extended): Sue Buck

10/21/2020

From 2010-2017 I made hats for myself first and then started selling hats and other accessories on Etsy.

I started this work in 2010 because for decades I had collected embroideries and antique fabrics from all over the world. I decided I should put them to use and make something. Sewing for me was nothing new since I had learned how to sew and crochet when I was maybe ten years old.

I even still have a smocked pillow I made when I was 13 and in a Home Economics class. Geez, does anyone still smock? Are there still Home Economics classes? Yep, I am old. :)

Click on small images to enlarge.

For years, I would draw during the day and sew at night. I had half of the studio for drawing and the other half for sewing. The sewing studio photos show when the sewing table was cleared and well, when it was not.

For me this making of hats did not seem like a jump in my ideas and art making. I saw in those fabrics and pieces of clothing a history of the weavers and the handwork by embroiderers.

I could feel and smell the history of individuals who made and often who had worn those fabrics. I could sense the love in their making and worked to honor and respect their work as I made hats.

I hope I have shown in all of my work the love I have for individual histories and even the histories of inanimate objects. There is a life and history in everything around us.

These are the kind of things I have always thought about and considered.

Who is this? What were they thinking? What should I be thinking? How can I represent this individual with love and respect? Be that an antique eggbeater or a piece of elaborate embroidery.

Editor's interjection. Sue is a gifted short film maker and these are incredible films that I will link here. Please take a moment to watch them. The layers are something to behold really. Her films are some of my favorite works of art.

https://www.facebook.com/sue.buck.921/videos/1197435713625525

www.facebook.com/sue.buck.921/videos/1197435713625525

https://www.facebook.com/sue.buck.921/videos/995185683850530

https://www.facebook.com/sue.buck.921/videos/962920573743708

https://www.facebook.com/sue.buck.921/videos/837910552911378

https://www.facebook.com/sue.buck.921/videos/959572237411875

https://www.facebook.com/sue.buck.921/videos/837222219646878

https://www.facebook.com/sue.buck.921/videos/836537496382017

https://www.facebook.com/sue.buck.921/videos/105164482852659

In 2015 I retired after 41 years of teaching and moved my studio inside the house where I would be warmer in the winter. I began to think seriously about how I wanted to spend my retirement days.

I decided I wanted to spend my time donating drawings to monkey rescues and ape sanctuaries. Since I had no money to donate, but knew how to draw, this made sense.

2019-2020 I donated ten drawings to the Monkey Helpline which is a Vervet monkey rescue near Durban, South Africa. If you are curious, here is the link to their website.

https://www.monkeyhelpline.co.za/

In 2013 I began working on a years-long project of donating drawings to the Center for Great Apes in Florida. I decided to commit my time to this place in order to pay back for all I had learned about my life, the lives of others and life in the world through my decades of study and research of great apes.

By the way, the category of great apes includes gorillas, orangutans, chimpanzees, bonobos and humans.

Yes, humans are great apes. :)

This center is a sanctuary for chimpanzees and orangutans who once were bred as exotic pets and as entertainers in zoos, film, and television commercials.

As anyone should know, when these apes grow up, they are strong and are seen by many as not quite as cute as when they were young.

Many of the females were seen only as breeders and their babies would be taken away from them immediately to be raised by humans. Some were bought as pets and then when they got older, the owners did not know what to do with them and sadly many remained caged for years with no physical contact.

There are a lot of sad stories here, but the good thing is that now they live in an amazing complex surrounded by beautiful plants and trees.

Their enclosures are huge and everyone has a lot of room. There are even long chutes that allow the apes to walk around and see what is going on.

Animals who had never known their own kind learn appropriate behaviors within groups. As I write this, I am actually crying at the beauty of this place. This sanctuary is not open to the public, although there are a couple of days a year when there are visitors.

These apes no longer have to perform for people. Since these individuals never lived in the wild, they could never return to the wild, but here they have found heaven. They are fed the best meals imaginable.

They are cared for and loved by their caregivers. These chimpanzees and orangutans have ended up in retirement heaven. In fact, I wish I were an orangutan so that I could go and live there. It is truly paradise.

I have had the honor and privilege to visit the center twice and meet the individuals I have been drawing for years. To date I have finished sixty drawings for the center. The drawings are 30”x 44” inches in size, not quite three by four feet.

These drawings are done in charcoal and soft pastels.

When I contacted Patti Ragan the director about the possibility of donating drawings to the center, she sent me many photos from which to choose who I would like to draw.

Well, there was no way in the world that I could make such a choice, so I told her I would just draw everyone.

I still have about twelve left to do, although I read the other day that they might be getting several more chimpanzees, so who knows.

I might be doing these drawings for a long time yet.

Here are a few of my drawings of some of the orangutans and chimpanzees there. Each of these individuals have histories and life stories just as we all do.

I encourage you to go the center's website and read their stories. Click on the link below and then click on Meet the Apes. You will quickly see and understand what I have been talking about through these drawings.

https://www.centerforgreatapes.org/

To close, throughout all of this my intention has been to show you how artists work and think. How our ideas and our art evolve through years and years of study and work. I have found that if you follow your own interests, you will be taken places you could never have imagined. I wanted to show how even as decades go by, we are always and still ourselves. :)

We often ask ourselves this question. How did I get here?

hmmmm… Looking at the drawing of that puppy beside the drawing of Toddy, it looks as if I landed right where I started. In this case that feels like a good thing. :)

Thanks for reading and looking at my work.

Pipeline Alley is busy on a Saturday

10/17/2020

Feature photograph of the day

As I write this to post, another photographer showed up with his clients to photograph either a senior portrait or an engagement photo, I didn't creep on them. Only moments earlier this bride and groom was being photographed by another photographer and her assistants in what seemed like would be stunning posed photo shoot. I took a stroll up in the Transit Annex, yes I did creep on them, and was able to grab this little moment of the photographer under the veil with her subjects as they smooched.
I love my job.

UPDATE: Franklin man needs a new kidney

10/17/2020

UPDATE: "He's still really tired all the time and getting dizzy more frequently," Rhiannon Graham said about her husband Darrin who is awaiting a kidney transplant. "We're just hoping we can find a match before anything does get worse."

After the article below was first published in June the Grahams have been contacted by people wo registered as possible donors but no matches have come yet. So he continues his daily treatments and tries to be awake for his family. The port being used for his dialysis is beginning to give him issues which is a real concern.

This article continues to be shared and read each week, but still hasn't reached that one right person who can get Darrin the help he needs.

Below was first published 6/18/2020

"He doesn’t drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes or anything. He barley even drinks soda,"

It's a huge ask.
Darrin Graham understands this. So does Rhiannon, his wife of the 14 years. Darrin has been dealing with kidney failure since he was 15 years old living in Baltimore.
He and Rhiannon got married right around the time of his second kidney transplant. The first transplant didn't really take.

Now the 43-year-old Franklin resident needs a third.

"The doctors didn't really know why," Darrin said about his kidney failure as teenager.
For the last 28 years he has dealt with failing kidney's, dialysis and knowing he likely has to hope a new donor will be there when he needs it the most. Now is one of those times.
Recently he was lined up to get a kidney from an organ donor who died, but something happened and the kidney went to another patient.

So the Grahams went back to waiting.

"We're told a transplant is generally good for about ten years. This one has been 14," Rhiannon said.
Unfortunately this kidney hasn't been much good to him for a few years now.

Darrin spends four hours each Monday, Wednesday and Friday hooked up to a dialysis machine. The treatments wear him out. "He's tired a lot," Rhiannon said.

The couple have been dealing with Darrin's kidney problems as their son DJ has battled heart issues from birth. The toddler has been in and out of the hospital for the last three years undergoing multiple surgeries.
During all those treatments, the Graham's took turns going to Pittsburgh and staying in Franklin with their five other children.
Even as he was in Pittsburgh with his son, Darin was getting his dialysis.

DJ is doing better now so they are home more, but Darrin is still spending 12 hours a week hooked to a machine just to keep his body functioning.

The couple is hoping that finding Darrin a living donor they can get back a little normal.

Waiting for a match through a deceased donor is a 1 in 50,000 chance, they said. "We've been told by the doctor that finding a living donor is our best chance," Rhiannon said.

Rhiannon said about her husband has to very careful about what he consumes.
"He doesn’t drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes or anything. He barley even drinks soda," she said.
His kidney's simply just have not worked well since he was a teenager.

He feels lucky that he doesn't really experience much pain and has been able to help take care of his kids. His body isn't helping him. He is running out of places for a port to receive his dialysis. A complication with a previous port nearly killed him. A transplant is really his next option.

The family has started a Facebook page with lots of information about becoming a living donor. Even if one doesn't match Darrin's blood type they can still sign up and their kidneys could help another and the agency will try to match Darrin's through a swap system.
The page describes Darrin's situation and provides information about being a living donor and where folks can go to help.
"This is very draining on him. But he sucks it up and is a great father to his children. He goes to all their sporting events, plays catch with them and he helps takes care of his 3 year old son who was born with congenital heart disease and has had 5 open heart surgeries." the page explains.

Battling kidney failure has become his second full-time job to being a dad.

"I know this is a lot to ask of someone but at this point it seems to be our only option," Said Rhiannon. "I just want to see my kids grow, that's all that matters" Darrin added.

Need more information? Check out there
Darrin Graham needs a kidney facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/Darrin-Graham-Needs-a-Kidney-107809347387855/

Living donor form
https://livingdonorreg.upmc.com/?fbclid=IwAR2TWF1lwEyM4hJLuk5bwrzl7Xi1h_g2s_yN__9-kn3i4aKEs5RlWoYGRVc

A little bit of normal

10/16/2020

Layla Hollis was crowned the 2020 Oil City High School homecoming queen Friday night in front of a fairly large crowd at the Oil Field. Friday night's contest was a little more traditional than earlier games this season with fans in the stands, the band playing before the game and at the half as part of the homecoming festivities. Except for many people wearing masks, it almost felt like everything was back to normal. The queens were escorted on to the field by family members this year.

More pictures of the court and game to come.

Facade work

10/15/2020

To prevent the fate of some of the area Catholic churches, the Trinity United Methodist church has decided to put a few thousand dollars into façade repairs this past week or so. Alex Properties Restoration and Masonry Repairs of New Castle has been repointing and checking the Center Street landmark. According to church member Martha Heise, it is preventative maintenance to repair some deteriorated mortar and overall the building is in good shape.

Another hit to the Oil City Catholic community

10/12/2020

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Oil City is reflected in a stone across the street in the Polish Heritage Park about the history of the church.

Tucked away on the side of the hill sits a little Catholic church that is best described as "hard to find."
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary has one road leading to it and one road leading away on Oil City's northside. Its rich history in the historically predominate Polish neighborhood echoes in its sanctuary and is etched in stone in a nearby Polish Heritage Park.

Also tucked away in the "From the Pastor's Desk" section of the Oil City Catholic community's bulletin from October 4, is news that this piece of history will soon be torn down.

"This is heartbreaking news, as many people’s sacramental lives occurred at Assumption," the pastor's message read. Efforts to find new owners for the building failed, leaving the parish to embark on a hard course of action.

"Given the precarious condition of the facility, our limited financial resources, and the lack of use of the former church building for over a year now, in consultation with the parish Finance Council and in accord with the locally developed pastoral plan, we have made the difficult decision to demolish former Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church," the bulletin continued.

Kim Fornof, the financial administrator for St. Joseph's Church said there is no plans for the property other than green space. "The parking lot will remain because it is used by the St. Elizabeth's Center," she said. The house across the street that is used by the sisters of the Catholic Rural Ministry will also remain.

Over a year ago the church was relegated to inactivity due to "significant repair work needed to the building," according to the bulletin. Some efforts were made to find a new owner, but because of the building requires extensive repairs and the operating costs are significant, there couldn't find anyone to take it on, Fornof posted on a social media.
She went on to say the decision made by the Catholic community was not made lightly.

The demolition has been awarded to Klapec at $50,000. Work is expected to start once inspections and permits have been obtained. The estimated timeline to begin is two months.

On social media several people commented about the loss of the more than a century old church.

"So much history just a wrecking ball away."

"So sad, what a beautiful Church."

"My gram would've been devastated."

Father John Miller, who penned the pastor's message, continued to assure his flock what it means to be a church. "At times like this we need to remember that the Church is not the building, the Church is, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, the People of God, the Body of Christ, and the Temple of the Holy Spirit. "

"It's unfortunate, but it's what has to be done," said Fornof.

We hope to update this story with more stories. Anyone with memories of time at the church can share them by commenting below or sending an email to [email protected]

Choose love Oil City - maybe some wine too?

10/11/2020

Chalk was brought out, the smell of good ole festival foods, music and smiling faces buzzed around Town Square Park Saturday for the O.C.toberfest celebration by the Oil City Main Street committee who has managed to put on a few "social distancing in mind" events during this pandemic. Here are a few photographs from the late afternoon featuring the Wyllis Street band.

Oil City Main Street also is conducting "Oil City Uncorked, Wagon o' Wine Raffle" fundraiser. $5 tickets or 3 for $10 can be purchased at the office at 217 Elm Street. They estimate more than a $300 value, including at least 15 bottles of wine and more. The drawing will be made on November 28.

Click small photos to enlarge.

Stop going nowhere

10/11/2020

Featured photograph of the day

Make up your own caption here. Route 322 between Meadville and Franklin, Pennsylvania.

United Way gives

10/11/2020

Before school started the United Way worked with several local agencies to help prepare families for getting back to the routine of learning and interaction with teachers and friends again after such a long spring and summer. The photograph above was a left over from the agency's day of free hair cuts held at the Cranberry Mall.

A week ago the UW announced their plans for Christmas. Below is the press release in its entirety.

From the United Way:
The Twelve Days of Giveaways is the United Way’s first virtual fundraiser event, that will take place from December 8th through December 23rd 2020. During this time United Way will be giving away twelve packages of “Holiday Cheer”. Packages will include wine, liquor, beer, and other items to help you make it through the holidays. Tickets will be on sale on the United Way website for $5 each and three for $10. All proceeds will benefit the United Way’s Imagination Library program. Tickets will be available October 15th, 2020.

Every day from December 8th through the 23rd, weekdays only, United Way will draw one winner to win a holiday package of cheer, with each package valued at $150.00 or more. Three packages will be valued at $250 and on the 12th day of Giveaway the package will be over $400.00 in value. United Way will also hold a virtual 50/50 that will be available to purchase online and will be picked on the 12th day of the giveaway. *Due to the contents of the packages you must be 21 years of age or older to participate.

This event was made possible by a major sponsorship from Stubler’s Drive-Thru and Beverage. More information will be coming in near future.

When COVID-19 hit this past spring the United Way was forced to cancel their two Guest Bartender events that were scheduled for 2020. This was very troubling, as these events played a critical role in the funding for the Imagination Library Program. Without these events they had no choice but to place a hold on enrollment, which has led to a waiting list of roughly 250 children. United Way hopes that with this fundraiser they will be able to open back up registration, providing more children with a free book, once a month, delivered to their home.

United Way kicked off their Guest Bartender events in April of 2019 to support The Imagination Library. These events were a huge success for the United Way and provided over half the funding for the program this past year. The Imagination Library helps children become prepared for their first day of kindergarten and instills a love of reading at an early age. The United Way of Venango County wants to put a book in every child's hand, age birth to age five, at no cost to the families. Through the Imagination Library, kids will receive a FREE age appropriate book mailed directly to their home until they turn five years old, to encourage a love of reading and foster future school success.

With education being one of the key components to what United Way believes to be the building blocks for a happy and successful life the Imagination Library is very important to them. United Way strives to prepare children, youth, and young adults to succeed in school and life. Children enrolled for the full course of the Imagination Library, age birth through five, receive 60 books before ever entering a kindergarten classroom. This familiarizes them with literature and gives them a jumpstart to their education career. With over 37% of families in Venango County living at or below the ALICE income levels (Asset limited, income constrained, employed) this free program is an incredible asset to our community.

Printer's Cabinet's last weekend is bittersweet

10/9/2020

Oil City curiosity shop moving soon to Franklin

Sitting inside his tiny shop on West Front Street Friday, Nicholas Hess began his final weekend in his seven year journey as an Oil City shop owner. The Printer's Cabinet and Curiosities owner had just sold a diamond ring and purchased a fertility statue of unknown origin in the span of five minutes. His store is his personality, a million stories and eclectic as can be.

"It'll be hard to leave, but change means we're evolving," Hess said. For Hess, the world traveler in search of the unusual and unique, that evolution means a trip about eight miles down the road. Hess will be closing up the Oil City shop after hours on Sunday with plans to be open again in downtown Franklin in the beginning of November.

The new shop will be located in a tiny little building next to the Franklin Library on 12th street.

Hess said many of his customers are concerned the new shop won't have the same quaint tiny feel they have grown accustomed to in his tiny wedge shaped store, but he assures them it will. The new location has more space, but Hess has more stuff in storage he plans to have out on display. Plus it is just him to make this space as unique a shopping experience as he has developed in Oil City.

The new store will still be an eclectic tight maze where every square inch is filled with something to see. A mishmash of items from boxes of human teeth to honey his brother makes, old photographs of people he cannot identify that he places earrings on to sell. Even a buck's head mounted to the wall has bling dangling from his ears and a hat on its head. Right next that is a steampunks out ram's head. If you look up you struggle to find the ceiling with thousands of items from necklaces to taxidernmed waterfowl with wings spread.

"Every drawer has something it," Hess said pointing a wall of cabinets.

Though there doesn't appear to be an organisational plan, Hess says he has only lost a short list of items that he is sure will turn up as he catalogues for his move.

Yes he plans to catalogue his inventory before he moves. Roughly.... oh hell there is now way of telling how many thousands of items he has crammed into that small space.

Over the years, the shop has offered Hess experiences beyond the run of the mill buying and selling, including a lot of requests to use the space. A couple asked to be married there, folks have requested seances, along with things he wouldn't share. "I could make you blush on a Friday if you want," he said with a laugh. He mentioned one time a medium from Lily Dale told him his store had a vortex or portal to another realm. "That's hard to leave," he said.

One thing he won't miss and looks forward to in his new location. A simple life luxury many take for granted - indoor plumbing. The new location will allow himself and guests a restroom, something he hasn't had in these seven years. It will also offer him a small place where people can try on some of the vintage clothing he carries. Hess said at his current spot he has a customer who would try on clothing inside his store while he would stand guard at the door. Though he loves telling the story he was excited to be able to offer his customers a little more privacy.

He said he doesn't sell much clothing at the current location but will have more on display at the new location.

As for his customers, Hess said he has several people who walk to his store but has been told that the eight-mile move won't stop them from coming. "They said they'll take a bus if they have to," he said.

Hess is very familiar in Franklin. He is very active with the Barrow-Civic Theatre, acting and directing/producing many performances there. His roles are as curious as his shop, playing everything from a candelabra in "Beauty and the Beast" to Sebastian in "Little Mermaid" to Willy Wonka in the show of the same name. He loves directing and costuming, which is evident in his shop as he decorates in way that can best described as distinctively quirky.

"It's an art installation really," he said.

Hess is a storyteller and it is a big part of what interests him in his work. He saved a headless Joself from a dumpster in Brooklyn, New York once and it has been a fixture outside his shop for years. He told a couple of first-time shoppers on Friday that the piece is going with him to Franklin.

"It's offended and intrigued," he told them.

Hess pointed to a little box of hair in his shop. He said it was important for someone to save the hair and it is his mission to save it too and, if possible, find someone else who will also think it is important to save. "That's my job - to find a caretaker for that object. To put a person in touch with something they can have an emotional connection. That's why I have this business."

Hess mentioned sometimes that connection doesn't work out and he's gotten a few things back. He recently purchased a doll and then gave it away. It was a bit creepy and the the doll was sold to him as potentially haunted. The person returned it a week later saying she couldn't have it in the house anymore.

He knows his store has oddities and that is part of the store's overall charm. A person wanting a fine vintage necklace, a Halloween decoration, a doll, old steampunk glasses, old dental equipment, a human skull or a South American fertility idol - it's quite likely somewhere in Hess's store.

And if it's not he will be intrigued why it is not and likely try to locate one or more for you. And in doing so he'll end up with another story to tell.

Hess said the current location has been wonderful over the years, but he's looking forwarded to something new.

To visit the current location one last time, you'll have Saturday and Sunday from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. or "As long as people are there," He's said. "That's a better answer."

The Lara Trump pink train came through oil country

10/8/2020

Lara Trump swung through Oil City Thursday to stump for her father-in-law, President Donald Trump. The Women for Trump tour made stops throughout Pennsylvania on what a spokesperson called a busy day.

The bus was supposed to arrive between 2 and 2:30 p.m. It arrived after 4 p.m. but the crowd of Trump supporters didn't seem to care they were late. The common theme between Lara Trump and others who spoke was the small group of Biden/Harris supporters across the street were out of touch with what America needs and that the majority of those in attendance wanted four more years of a Trump presidency.

Also across the street was Gordon Bickel, who held a sign supporting Polk Center. He said this was a big deal for the city to have Lara Trump stop.

There was no question more than 100, possibly more than 200, people were excited to showcase Venango County as "TRUMP COUNTRY" as one of the signs pronounced.

Check out the photos from Thursday's rally.

More photos

10/6/2020

At Eight & 322 we take dozens of photos at each event. We edit them down to one or two to post with our stories, but we save many many more that our readers can enjoy and even purchase if they choose. We cover many things that showcase the people of our community enjoying life in small town America. Youth sports are often difficult for parents and grandparents to capture as they attend to watch. We love it when we can provide some professional action photos for our readers that they display in their homes or scrapbooks.

One of my favourite things issuing into someone's house to see a photograph I've taken on the wall or displayed on the most prized spot in the house - the refrigerator.

You can view hundreds of images by visiting https://sayerrich.zenfolio.com/f700082825

Well, does the tail tell us anything?

10/4/2020

Feature photograph of the day

If a squirrel's tail is especially bushy does that mean a bad winter looms ahead? How about an abundance of acorns?
Not sure I want to know really, but I know we're due for a cold harsh winter since we've had several mild ones in a row. I'm hoping this little guy's tail is just show and not really telling us anything.

Crap!
https://www.almanac.com/news/weather/weather-whisperers/signs-bad-winter-squirrels-onion-skins-and-other-folklore

Guess I'll be checking onions next.

And if I see a pig gathering sticks I'm heading to Florida to spend some time with mom. Interesting folklore predictors here.
https://www.farmersalmanac.com/can-acorns-predict-a-rough-winter-2387