Blog Archives - Eight & 322/Eight & 27

PHOTOS: The Barrow transforms into a Cabaret this week

10/30/2023

Cabaret will open at the Barrow-Civic Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Thursday night.

The show is only running one weekend with the other shows being at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m.

The show is directed by Matha Heise and choreographed by Kelly Zerbe.

More information and tickets visit their website here.

To see more photos click https://sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p215105644

To see more photos click https://sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p215105644

Happy Halloween!

10/27/2023

Downtown Franklin was flooded with princesses, aliens, witches, and dinosaurs as the Liberty Street businesses hosted the city's annual evening trick-or-treating.

There were so many kiddos the Franklin Fine Arts Council passed out 300 treat bags in about 30 minutes. By 5 p.m., many of the businesses were out of candy as well. Luckily for hungry revelers, Fox's Pizza Den was still passing out free slices.

It is one of many Halloween events planned in the city in the coming days.

The Franklin Area School district and teachers will hold Trunk or Treat 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday at the high school.

TrAils to Ales II will host Chris Higbee for a party from 7 to 10 p.m. on Saturday. There will be drink and food specials and prizes for the best costumes.

FoxTales will hold a Booze & Boos party for ages 21 and older from 9 p.m. to midnight on Saturday. There will be live music by House of Rhythm, a costume contest, drink and food specials, and prizes for everyone.

The Franklin Public Library will be hosting a Storytime Costume Party at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. All kids from Bouncing Babies & Storytime are welcome to attend.

Many of the area communities will hold their annual trick-or-treat hours from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

Pink Splash for a Cure raises awareness, funds and support

10/27/2023

Franklin has many wonderful traditions. Pink Splash for a Cure has become on of the most colorful and impactful. Each year, several hundred people gather in Fountain Park to recognize and support community members who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Held the first Tuesday after Applefest, the event gives people a chance to gain awareness for the steps people can take for early detection of the disease and honor those to have or are fighting back. It gives survivors a chance to come together in recognition that no one fights alone as they take turns squirting pink die into Egbert Fountain. Lastly, it gives the community an opportunity to be part of the cause but offerings fundraising options, such as t-shirt sales and basket raffles.

The 16th annual Pink Splash for a Cure was held October 16 on a beautiful fall day in Fountain Park. There was a large crowd, music by Holey Jeans and Kirtland Cancer Foundation executive director Kathy Horner was the speaker. More than 55 baskets of donated goods were awarded through ticket sales and there was a penny raffle. Roz Greggs, one of the event coordinators, reported that the event was fantastic again this year and that there are a limited number of shirts still available for purchase.

To buy a shirt, see who won the baskets, or stay apprised of future information involving the event, go to the group’s Facebook page.

Venango Symphony Orchestra gives fall concert

10/23/2023

The venue might have been different, but the professional sound was just the same as the Venango Symphony Orchestra performed their annual fall concert Sunday afternoon at the Rocky Grove High School auditorium.

The orchestra features a variety of compositions performed by musicians and students from throughout the region. Sunday's concert included the musician talents of 44 volunteer orchestra members, including five student members, and two featured soloist, flutist Cathy Herrera and classic guitarist Brent Register. They are led by Terri Wittreich, who is a founding member of the group.

Formerly known as the Venango Chamber Orchestra, the group updated their name as part of their 31st season. They are supported through contributions from the community. This year they were unable to put of their traditional donation basket and are asking supporters to mail checks made to the group to treasurer George Wilbur 10 Gateway Drive, Oil City 16301.

They are sponsored by the Schubert Musical & Literacy Club of Oil City and an associated member of the National and Pennsylvania Federations of Music Clubs.

They have already set dates for the 2024 performances - April 7 and November 10. Check the group's Facebook page for updates on the concert locations.

Scroll down for more photos.

The Witch is Back: Community turns out for annual Franklin Retail event

10/22/2023

It was a nearly sold out event for the Franklin Retail and Business Association's third annual Witch Walk.

"It went really well. Lots of happy people. Lot of happy businesses," Jennifer Taylor, association manager said late Saturday.

The event had attracted some unplanned attention earlier in the week after St. Patrick's Catholic Church posted a diatribe condemning the event as a religious gathering instead of its intent as a retail-based holiday celebration. The post, which garnered thousands of comments and attention from regional media outlets brought in a slightly larger crowd than past years.

"I think more people may have come downtown. They didn’t necessarily buy tickets, but they came down to see what was going on," Taylor said. "The businesses got a lot of foot traffic, which is really the whole point of the event; and everyone is really happy with how it turned out."

"And the weather wasn’t great, but it was the busiest year I’ve had yet so I’d say it didn’t keep anyone away," said Nicholas Hess, who owns a small business and helped plan the event.

The day included specials at downtown stores and restaurants, a scavenger hunt, pumpkin carving, spooky stories, performances by the Dancing Witches of Emlenton, and shows by mentalist Rob Hoover. A block of 12th street was also shut down and transformed into Witches Alley, which Hess says was an awesome additional to the event.

“I’m incredibly grateful that the community — both near and far— showed up in full force to support this event," Hess said. "It was such a monumental task to pull off, with dedicated volunteers, and business owners alike, so seeing the community rally, and offer a safe place for people to have fun was magic to be a part of."

As far as concerns that the unaccepted buzz for and against the event would cause any type of unwanted activities, Taylor said simply did not transpire. "The most out of the ordinary thing I saw was a girl with a chicken. I don’t think it was anything evil. I think it was a pet chicken,” Taylor said with a giggle.

Celebrating Creatives: 3 artists move into Transit studio spaces

10/18/2023

ARTS Oil City celebrated the opening of three art studios on the second floor the National Transit Building.

The long-running program allows local artists and creative professional an opportunity to to rent studio spaces at affordable rates. Over the years, a variety of artists have worked among the dozens of rooms both in the main building as well as the annex. Now Jamie Duarte and Mike Hoover can count themselves among those ranks. The event also celebrated the return to the space by Susan McGuire.

Duarte is an Oil City native who is known for her work as a hair and nail technician as well as her cookie decorating.

With her move into the the National Transit Annex studio space, she is keeping busy with her new jewelry business.

McGuire works in watercolor and 3-D mixed media. She relocated to Oil City several years ago and formerly had a space in the building.

Hoover is a Encaustic painter and expert in Suiseki, which is stone sculptures. He recently moved Oil City from Stockton, California. He will be the featured artist in the next show at the Graffiti Gallery.

"Different Visions" opens on Friday, November 3, with a public reception from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Throughout the month, there will be open viewing hours and a variety of special events at the gallery.

Check the ARTS Oil City Facebook page for additional information on the art show and other art-related programs.

ARTS Oil City partnered with the Oil Region Alliance and the Venango Chamber of Commerce to host a public ribbon cutting event Wednesday afternoon to mark the newest art tenants.

PHOTOS: Knights rally for homecoming

10/12/2023

Homecoming this year was made just a little more special given the Knights' football team is riding a two-game winning streak. Wednesday they had their short parade to up behind Central Elementary School, a long-standing tradition that culminates in a pep rally and bon fire. The entire Franklin School District participated with the elementary schools, teachers, administrators, coaches and staff coming together to support the Knight's program, not only football.

The girls volleyball team is experiencing a solid 8-4 season thus far and take on neighbor Rocky Grove tonight.

The boys soccer team are cruising with great passing, ball control and explosiveness to the net. They are 12-2-1 and 11-1 in the conference. They take on Meadville Saturday at home.

The girls soccer team is struggling a bit, but they host Titusville tonight who are hoping to snap a four game slide where they have found the net.

The Cross country teams have held their own in a tough region, but they have three of the top runners in the district. Nadalie Latchaw just set the school's course record earlier this week.

Ty Prince scored a 76 to tie for third at the District 10 championship. He heads to compete at states next week.

So the Knights had a lot to celebrate Wednesday night.

Despite soggy ending, Applefest 40 was a success

10/10/2023

Mother Nature sure played some games with the weather for Applefest 40. Leading up the the "Best Three Days" in Franklin, the forecast was calling for lots of rain on Friday and a fair amont of precipation with falling temperatures on Saturday and Sunday.

In the end, there was a little rain Friday morning that mostly cleared out before the festivities started, a little bit of rain on Saturday with cooler temperatures, and a few showers on Sunday that kept the car show attendance.

But overall the festival went well, said Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce director Jodi Lewis. "Just to pull off a fete such as Applefest (even with glitches) is reason to be happy."

"The one thing we know about Applefest is that weather does not keep away attendees. We are fortunate for sure," she said.

"The weather we had was certainly much better than the weather that was called for only days before our kick-off," she said Tuesday. "The hard rain on Sunday messed with sales for vendors including our apple pie/dumpling/dapple cake tent, but it was nothing awful. There were still folks in the parks, and they were still carrying packages."

Following the festival, she heard mixed reactions from the vendors, including many who said the festival was a big success for them.

"As you can imagine, we hear the good with the bad. Visitors, especially ones who have been in town for other reasons, cannot believe that this already beautiful town can be transformed into something more magical," Lewis said. "Local non-profits and businesses appreciate what Applefest does for their budgets. Everyone who puts forth an effort benefits greatly."

After 40 years of the festival, many of which Lewis has been involved in as a volunteer or chamber employee, she knows that any event will have its mega fans as well as its critics. And despite many of the same events coming back year after year, every Applefest has a little flavor of its own.

This year the festival first times included t-shirts, sweatshirts and hats on demand in the park, an appearance by Willow and Perry of the Tree Family Party Piggies, performances by The Wyllis Street Band, Brandon Rae Band and The Flagship Steel Band, and a brand new Applefest themes flag.

But what made a mark on Lewis this year?

"What stands out to me the most is that for 40 years people have been dedicating their time to making this event happen, and each year more people come forward asking how they can help," she said "The chamber does not have a big staff, and the CORE (planning) committee is 11 or 12 people. Anyone knows that we cannot make that happen with just that many people. It is the village that surrounds us that stands out to me."

Opposite all the firsts was a big last that went unnoticed by many of the festival attendees. Long-time CORE committee chairperson Jim Williams marked his final go-around as head of the year's largest event.

"He has been such an integral part of this committee and this event. I would say that is because he believes in this community; he and Lynda chose to make it their home a few decades ago, and he has done what he can to make sure the downtown is successful," Lewis said of the festival's longtime leader.

"Jim and the CORE committee invest so much of themselves into Applefest, and they don’t do it so that they can be patted on the back; they do it for the love of community. We all know the value of this event to our local business owners, and every decision that Jim has made is based on that benefit to business owners. He is a great leader and a great team member; he is hands-on and wouldn’t ask us to do anything that he would not do first."

Taking Williams' spot at the helm will be longtime CORE committee member, former chamber employee and current Venango County commissioner Mike Dulaney.

Williams plans to remain on the committee to provide support, guidance and volunteer hours as Dulaney transitions into the leadership position.

"As always, we are so grateful for everyone who makes Applefest the incredible event that it is," Lewis said.

"And this year - I am a little extra grateful for friends who knew just what I needed when I needed it; they stayed up late with me; they came in the mornings and evenings and weekends … thank you all."

Applefest 41 will be held
October 4, 5 and 6, 2024

PHOTOS: Applefest 40

10/8/2023

A run for apples: Applefest 2023

10/7/2023

The Bandit stole the 5k. Ethan Knapp, aka Bandit, took first place in the annual Applefest 5k run Saturday morning. Bea Kolesar, 15, of Cranberry came across the finish line at 20:35 as the top female athlete.

There were 260 runners from all around including; a couple in their late seventies from Durango, Colorado; eight-year old Samuel Storm from the Franklin area and folks from Texas and New Jersey. Most were locals and that's what makes Applefest - Applefest!

Below are several photos from the race.

PHOTOS: Franklin Hall of Fame isn't just about athletics

10/6/2023

ICYMI (because we didn't post it haha).

Franklin High School honored this year’s class of inductees into their Hall of Fame. Unlike many school's who have hallowed entranceways full of athletic achievers, Franklin honors service and dedication beyond just those who generated headlines on the sports pages.

This year's class exemplified the diversity of pathways possible with a public school education and student's who made connections with teachers, or more precise, because teachers made connections with students.

Every recipient acknowledged one or two professors who made such an impact they carried the lessons throughout their life and career.
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The class of 2023 includes: Allan Shilling for service; Dr. Joseph F. Stewart, class of ‘57 for athletics; Dr. David L. Griffen, class of ‘72 for achievement; Rachel Redick Bowden, class of ‘02 for athletics, and Dave Smith, class of ‘98 for athletics. Below are some photos from the event.

For more information on Franklin's Hall of Fame visit: https://sites.google.com/a/students.fasd.k12.pa.us/fasd-hall-of-fame/ or their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/FranklinAreaHOF/

Moon over Meadville

10/1/2023

As the Meadville Bulldogs were giving Oil City a "moon" whoopin,' high above Bender field a near full-moon was rising. The official full moon was on Friday at 5:57 a.m. for those keeping score at home.