Blog Archives - Eight & 322/Eight & 27

Column: Waiting on the snow for that Hallmark card moment

11/27/2022

Disclaimer: I'm not a fan of the holidays. But man I love lights and color. It would be too deep to go into the psychological pathology of why Christmas etc... doesn't resonate with me. It comes down mostly to this... I think every day is great! And the emphasis on the holidays places a lot of strain of expectations on others that just isn't necessary.

So instead let's talk about the spirit of light and color that this season brings.
And the feeling of joy.

As a teen, my buddies and I would go out and do probably unsafe things, but we'd spend miles on the road looking at light displays. On one such trip, during a snowstorm we found ourselves leaving Hope, Rhode Island, and arriving in New Hampshire where my friend, Chris, knew of a neighborhood Christmas light extravaganza.

It was one of those homes that boasted they had tens of thousands of lights, maybe hundreds of thousands. And they did. It was magical.

I also remember visiting my sister as a kid. She took me to a Boston holiday festival. It had live reindeer so it really stood out to me. During this time, one of the more embarrassing pictures of my 70s hairstyle was taken. (I'll let you imagine it, but it's buried somewhere in my online profile I'm sure. It was somewhere between a Moe Howard bowl cut and a mullet.)

But the spectacle of the Christmas display was amazing. It may have been the moment I felt the warmth of community for the first time. I was 9ish at the time.

Jump ahead to a couple years back, I was long passed my grumbling about the holiday season, when I found myself driving down Liberty Street in Franklin with all the holiday lights and all of a sudden I got that same feeling I had years earlier.

Then, a couple years later I turned off 13th Street onto Liberty and saw the 55-foot tree lit up and decorated and I was just blown away. It immediately put my heart into my soul and it felt like this place, at this time, I was my home.

At that moment I knew this crossroad town of 8 and 322 (and 62) was really something. It could take this curmudgeony ole Grinch and transform him into someone who actually looks forward to this time of year.

Who would've guessed?

Now, I try to find ways of making a picture, and they are everywhere. But finding that frame to tell everyone about this town's great commitment to lights and emotions during the holidays takes a team of artists. And we are lucky to have us all - Eight One Four Photography, Elizabeth Schmude Photography and Leigh-Anne Williams Photography - so that someone is there when the scene is magical and the spirit of community and holiday create that Hallmark moment. One of us, or all of us will get it this year because the folks in Franklin have worked diligently stop set it up to happen.

'It gives them a better Christmas'

11/27/2022

It was a night of giving of time, money and music as Bluegrass at the Barrow-Civic Theatre hosted a large crowd for the annual fundraising concert.

"(It) gives them a better Christmas," said concert organizer and Pine Valley Boys frontman Jimmy Miller. He helped start the holiday bluegrass event about 10 years ago as a way to raise money for Sugar Valley Lodge, where he serves on the board.

"They are always running tight for money," he said. The money gathered through donations and raffle ticket sales is used for a variety of needs, including purchasing gifts for residents.

The first concert was down the street a bit at the former Salvation Army building, now owned by the county. "We filled the place," Miller recalled about the first concert.

So they relocated to the downtown theater and the event became a fundraiser for both groups. Barrow-Civic Theatre employee Gary Barton estimated Saturday's crowd at approximately 175, which was an increase over last year.

They turned out to listen to four bluegrass bands: Middle Ground, Country Strings, Tug Creek and The Pine Valley Boys. Venango County commissioner Chip Abromovic, one of Miller's closest friends, even tried his hand at comedy opening the show and introducing show and the first band. "I need to work on my jokes," he admitted afterwards but was happy he got a couple laughs.

"Everyone of them (is) giving their time... and they come a long ways," Miller said of the evening's performers. "It's really a nice thing."

Franklin groups, businesses partner for Walk in the Park display

11/24/2022

A couple years ago, at the height of COVID restrictions, the annual Christmas Tree Extravaganza sponsored by the Barrow-Civic Theatre moved the trees out into Fountain Park. This out-of-necessity move may have kicked off a new holiday tradition.

Though the Barrow fundraiser moved back indoors, the City of Franklin and the Franklin Fine Arts Council along with area businesses and organizations decided to put trees up in the park in 2021 and again this year. Earlier this week, volunteers set up over a dozen trees in Fountain Park and throughout the week, other volunteers showed up to decorate them. And so one by one a Christmas Walk in the Park has started to glow.

On Wednesday night a group of parents whose lives are woven together through the common thread of losing a son or daughter to childhood cancer decorated their tree not too far from the Egbert Memorial Fountain.

VenanGO GOLD is a childhood cancer awareness group that wanted to remember those loved ones they've lost and honor the families currently battling cancer themselves. The group also decorated a tree inside the Barrow-Civic Theatre as part of the Christmas Tree Extravaganza.

Both Christmas tree displays will remain through the majority of the holiday season. The Barrow-Civic allows visitors to vote on their favorite inside tree and will name a winner December 22. A Christmas Walk in the Park should be completely finished and ready for winter wonderland wanderers by the weekend.

"Goin' Home" concert has roots in Ukrainians fleeing their homeland

11/23/2022

Venango Chorus director Beth Orris got a little philosophical when developing this year's holiday concert theme - “Goin’ Home.”

The idea came after her daughter Marianne’s home in Germany became the home of a family of Ukrainian refugees fleeing their war ravaged home. (Read their story here.)

As they met over the last few Mondays on the top of Moran Street at the Good Hope Lutheran Church in Oil City, the home of the chorus, Orris asked the members to write down “what does going home mean to you?”

The varied ideas of home will likely be folded into the program and read in-between songs. Many touched upon heaven and faith, fitting the venue for the show.

Others were more philosophical and to the point.

“Home meant more to me when my parents were alive,” one chorus member wrote. “Where all of my kids and grandkids are all together. Warm and cozy. Where I go to meet my savior.”

“Home must have a fireplace, a piano and lots and lots of books,” another wrote.

Local columnist Peter Greene wrote “… and what does ‘at home’ mean except in a place where you don’t have to worry about the secret rules.”

And “I have many houses, I have no home,” another member said matter-of-factly.

Orris said that she picked some songs to specifically portray the idea of “home.” Songs derived from Scripture like “Keep Your Lamps” and “He, Watching Over Israel” or patriotic songs like “This Is My Song” and “America The Beautiful.” Also a song of longing from Les Mis called "Bring Him Home.” Like many of the quotes from the members of the chorus, the title song "Goin’ Home" describes going to eternal salvation in heaven someday. And a holiday show must include some Christmas favorites that, as Orris put it, "remind us all of the joys of being 'Home For The Holidays' and all that entails."

“Goin’ Home” will open at 7 p.m. December 3 at Good Hope Lutheran Church in Oil City.
Learn more about the chorus from their Facebook page.

Community Thanksgiving meals

11/22/2022

Volunteers from Good Hope and Zion Lutheran churches of Oil City put in a long Monday cooking 50 turkey breasts in preparation of their annual Thanksgiving Day meal delivery. This tradition has fed thousands of local senior and homebound residents over more than 20 years. Organizer Joyce Frenz said they have 325 or so orders for this year and they also deliver to Franklin and Oil City police and fire departments as well as area EMS workers who have to work on the holiday.

Meals will be delivered between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Thursday, November 24. Reservations must be made in advance at 814-676-9122.

The Lutherans are not the only ones serving up holiday meals this holiday. Below are a few others offering meals for Thanksgiving.

Titusville
The Titusville Mill will host a community dinner from 3 to 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. The groups is accepting volunteers and donations to make the dinner happen. "We are in need of helping hands to make this event happen, as it is a purely volunteer-driven endeavor," organizers posted online. "If you are homebound or restricted in any way from making it to us, call us and we will be sure you have a warm, savory Thanksgiving dinner delivered to you." For more details on donating, volunteering, or attending, call 814-796-4048.

Franklin
ABC Life Center and Lighthouse Apartments are partnering to provide 500 free Thanksgiving dinners. There is a limit of eight dinners per registration. If you have a larger family, feel free to have multiple family members sign up. Meals will be picked up at Dotty Haggerty's Ice Cream and More at 1007 Liberty St., Franklin. Register at https://app.mapstechnologies.com/.../JkvTNmsQyEq92XLXvI8B8w.

Oil City
Salvation Army is offering meals from noon to 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, November 24 at the center at 217 Sycamore St. Meals are sit-down only. More information is available at 814-677-4056.

Meadville
Meadville Soup Kitchen ,, located at the Stone Methodist Church, will hold a Thanksgiving dinner at 11:15 a.m. Thursday. Free and open to the public.

The Family and Community Christian Association will hold it's annual sit-down dinner starting an noon Thursday. They are no longer providing takeout or delivery. No reservations required

Good Hope and Zion don't stop at Thanksgiving

Good Hope and Zion Lutheran Churches try their best year round to help feed their neighbors in need year round.

They serve up community meals every second and last Thursday of the month at Zion from 4:30 to 6 p.m..

They host coffee every Thursday at 9:30 a.m. (not on Thanksgiving).

They host an all-day breakfast at Good Hope on Shrove Tuesday each year.

They also pack up “Weekend bags of love” on the last Thursday of every month.

“We can’t afford to feed the entire town,” organizer Joyce Frenz said. “But we try to help feed our neighborhood.”

Frenz said they also have a program titled “Loads of Love” where they randomly deliver small bags of quarters to area laundromats to help people get their laundry done.

Donations are always welcomed, Frenz said, and they can be given by contacting her directly at 724-699-0861.

No need to be hungry

11/21/2022

Column

The holiday season sees an uptick in our awareness of the plight of the folks who get by on minimal comforts, such as food and shelter. We, who are blessed, suddenly open our eyes to the needs of those less blessed and we make ourselves feel better by offering little bits of hope.

I’ve never gone hungry. I'm lucky.

Over the years, working on stories about people who are hungry and the people who seek to help feed those who are hungry has given me a little insight into understanding what it means to be in need.

There are people who are hungry. And they are our neighbors sometimes. It may or may not have been bad choices that got them into this position, but hunger is way more complicated than that. Luckily there are many who wear their hearts on their sleeve and work to help those folks all year round.

This past week, I had a few chances to see this giving in action.

Fay Corley is the director of the Titusville Area Food Bank. She is a matter-of-fact sort of person who doesn't care how many organizations there are trying to help make sure people are fed. "We are never in competition, we are just here to feed people," she said. The Titusville food bank typically gives out over 40 monthly boxes of food and they service about 324 households in some way.

She is confident they are fulfilling the community's needs but admitted they get new clients each month. She says local organizations are generous and they take what comes in and immediately get it where it needs to go. "If the money comes in, we buy (food.) Whatever comes in goes right back out."

The food bank is sandwiched between two second-hand stores. One sells everything for a few coins, while the other has a few higher-marked items. The money helps keeps the doors open at the 100% volunteer-run organization.

Down the road less than a mile is Associated Charities. Their executive director is Cricket Wencil-Tracey. She said many of the same things. The organization serves around 120 families in Crawford, Venango, Forest and Warren counties. They too have a thrift store where they sell or give away items to those in need.

They are associated with Second Harvest Food Bank and recently had a food drive. They pass out food three times a week and work with clients in need all the time. Wencil-Tracey said they accept donations and are always looking for personal hygiene items. She also said monetary donations are always accepted and put toward the directed needs of the community.

Community Services also offers need-based programs beyond county lines. This past weekend, they held their 32nd annual Friends for Food campaign give away at the Rocky Grove Volunteer Fire Department. They gave out over 1,100 turkeys and vouchers for holiday meals from a local supermarket. It was open to residents in Venango and Forest counties.

Over the years I've covered holiday meals and watched the faces of volunteers, many of whom have been on the receiving end of the kindness at some point in their life, and watched the connections between them. It is in this exchange, if we could bottle it and send to Washington, that we truly see the meaning of humanity.

Light-Up Night is only the beginning in Franklin

11/20/2022

Light-Up Night is only the start of the holiday happenings in Franklin.

A Christmas Walk in the Park will feature 15-16 trees placed around Fountain Park. Volunteers started putting up today and with a goal of having them decorated fully decorated by the weekend.

On Friday, December 2, Santa will be coming back to town. That evening, the jolly fellow will hitch a ride on the fire engine and make his way through the city’s neighborhoods. He is slated to leave the Franklin Fire Department at 6 p.m.
A map of his intended path will be posted on the city’s Facebook page.

The Franklin Retail Association will be holding its Old Fashioned Christmas for Kids from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on December 3.
There will be a scavenger hunt, crafts, games, face painting, and Santa and Mrs. Claus.
The events will be held throughout the downtown business district.

Also, that weekend, the original holiday production “A Barrow Christmas Card,” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. December 3 and 2 p.m. December 4 at the Barrow-Civic Theatre.
The theatre’s Christmas Tree Extravaganza will be available for viewing whenever the lobby is open.

The Barrow-Civic Theatre will host its indoor Christmas Tree Extravaganza through the end of the year. Stop down anytime the theatre is open to check out about 50 trees decorated by businesses, non-profits, schools and other groups. Plus through the New Year just a drive down Liberty Street toward the courthouse at night is almost a holiday event all in itself.

Franklin PA Events and Marketing also announced the parade float wiiners:

BRIGHTEST LIGHTS & MOST SPARKLE – Central Elementary School

DIVISION I – Churches & Schools
1st Place – Victory Elementary School
2nd Place – Venango Technology Center
3rd Place – Atlantic Avenue Church

DIVISION 2 – Business & Industry
1st Place – Next Step Therapy
2nd Place – Lockhart Raceway
3rd Place – Community Ambulance

DIVISION 3 – Service Organizations
1st Place – Chargers 4H Group
2nd Place – Jamie’s Kids
3rd Place – Clarion Venango County Dairy Princess

DIVISION 4 – Miscellaneous
1st Place – Two Mile Run County Park
2nd Place – Triple T Motorsports
3rd Place – Tri County Industries

DIVISION 5 – Decorated Vehicles & Walkers
1st Place – Will’s Blow-Up Extravaganza
2nd Place – Edify Learning Center, Master Reilly’s Family Martial Arts
3rd Place – PA Prayer Warriors

Go back and catch a glimpse of your favorite float or performance group in the online stream of the parade.

Light-Up coverage by

Concert series continues as Lyric Theatre project nears fundraising goal

11/17/2022

It is a new location and a new name but the same mission for the Karma Goes Tipsy concert series in Oil City.

The Titusville duo of Nathaniel Licht and Joe Thompson performed Thursday, the second concert at the Tipsy Chef on Seneca Street. The first four years of the series were held down the street Karma Coffee. When the coffeehouse closed earlier this year, concert organizer Kay Wood found a new, though slightly smaller spot.

Discontinuing the series was not an option, Woods said. For the past four years, the series has raised $20,000 for the Lyric Theatre Restoration project. Though the new spot has a "cozy" feel and some folks had to be turned away the week before due to limited space, Woods said the admission fees are imperative.

"They stressed to us how much they needed (the money from the series)," Woods said.

"This gives us our operating costs," said restoration volunteer Joe Boland. He said the money from the concert series has paid for consultants and helped the secure more than 81% of the funding needed to fix up the historic theater.

After 21 years, the fundraising is nearly complete - "$550,000 is what we need right now," Boland said. They are waiting on a submitted state grant application and need to raise $150,000 in matching funds, but then that "should get us there," he said.

For now, they can count on the concert series to continue raising the operating money. The December schedule will be held at the Typsy Chef as well. The Brandon Rae Band will perform at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1.

Additional information on the theater project and the concert series is available online at www.lyrictheatreoilcity.org/.

Getting ready to light up the town

11/15/2022

With the arrival of first true sign of winter so came the first sign of the holidays. Franklin's tree is here, along with a little snow. It's not the tallest tree they've ever had, but as one passer by noted - "It's just perfect."

Last year, Franklin had a record tall tree for Light-Up Night. It towered. It was over 50 feet high and it really created quite the Hallmark scene as one rounded to corner off 13th Street heading down through town on Liberty Street. But soggy ground and high winds didn't allow it to stay standing long. A few tears where shed by those closest to the tree-getting experience. But they wiped them off, grabbed each others arms and headed right back to work. They wore their hearts that don't like to disappoint on their sleeves, found a quick replacement and within a day were back in business with a much smaller tree. One that could finish off the holiday season with style.

This year's tree won't break and records but it is up and secured with new anchors put deep into the ground. Come Saturday, it will be ready for the "oohs" and "ahhhs" that come during the city's annual tree lighting tradition.

Volunteers gathered around the 35ish-foot tree to begin getting it decorated for Saturday's debut. "I just want to know where it is written that Christmas lights must get tangled up," volunteer Cheryl Brickner joked as she and others struggled unraveling the hundreds of feet of light strings that will cover this festive cone.

Decorating chairperson Pat Dolecki said the tree will be adorned with 1,440 colorful lights and 550 twinkle lights.

The tree will also feature a new crown this year with a large aluminum star burst wrapped in white lights. It's larger than the one used in previous years.

This tree was donated by Greg Gonzales of Oil City. He donated it in memory of his late wife, Kathy. “She was really special, always caring for people.... She’d want me to do this,” Gonzales said through a press release from the city of Franklin.

As usual, Ed Turner of Paul Bunyan's Tree Service's had his crew cut down the tree. Turner said the tree was right up against a building so it had a "bad spot" that they had to cut out taking several feet off the final height of the tree. Klapec Trucking transported the evergreen and Industrial Truck and Crane helped safely get the it down and then back up again in its new holiday home. Several other volunteers stood in the cold and snow to help get the lights on the tree.

The lights will stay off until Saturday night, when it is lit in grand fashion following the Light-Up Night parade and proceed the annual holiday fireworks display.

Light-Up Night also features tons of stuff to do in and around town all day long. To see all that is going on in order to make plans visit http://www.8and322.com/eight--322/making-sure-light-up-night-is-bright.

Got Applefest photos?

11/14/2022

Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce's hallmark event will celebrate being 40 this year. To gear up, chamber director Jodi Baker Lewis is looking for Applefest memories people want to share, especially in photographs. These memories may be included in Applefest slideshows in the chamber's window and may end up in a 40th anniversary publication.

So dig out those old shoe boxes, photo albums or scroll through your phone and share your trip down memory lane with them. Please include which year the photos are from. The chamber is especially interested in photographs from the early years when Lee Chapman suggested a pie-baking contest, but Lewis said great memories from any of the 40 years will be great.
Email photos to [email protected]

Applefest will be October 6-8, 2023

Making sure Light Up Night is bright

11/13/2022

Franklin, the business community and residents are joining together to make sure the city is merry and bright on its “most beautiful night” despite a change in the downtown decorations.

Earlier this year Franklin started sidewalk and lighting updates along Liberty Street between 12th and 14th streets. The poles for the streetlights included in the project could not be completely replaced this year due to supply difficulties.

“This is quite a unique year as far as decorating goes. Our light poles, which were supposed to arrive in August, will not arrive until November 18,” said Ronnie Beith, Franklin events and marketing coordinator.
That means no stringing the holiday lights for the city’s annual Light Up Night. The holiday event, which sponsor Franklin Fine Arts Council called “Franklin’s most beautiful night,” will be held Saturday, November 19.

Knowing how much residents and visitors enjoy the festive feel of the downtown when the lights are up, Beith and her crew of friends and city volunteers developed a plan to keep the season bright. “We have challenged the town to help us light up Liberty in any way they can. We are challenging the businesses, our volunteer ‘Santa Helpers,’ our parade entries, etc. It is a community effort,” she said.

And they are putting their money where their mouth is. This year’s top Light Up Night parade prize will be $300 for the entry with the most lights. Other traditional parade categories will offer $200 and $125 awards.
Likewise, they have upped the ante for the downtown business window decorating contest. The annual competition to deck the halls is sponsored by FFAC and Galaxy Federal Credit Union. This year, Franklin councilperson Todd Zahner, owner of the County Grub, added an extra prize for the business that uses the most lights.

The lights traditionally strung along Liberty Street have been repurposed in Fountain Park for 2022.
“We did a lot with lights this year,” said Pat Dolecki, who serves as one of the city’s decorating chairs. Dan Weiland is the other.

“We have 10 trees that were wrapped with lights that normally would be on the streets,” Dolecki said. She led an effort to clean and, as needed, replace bulbs in the city’s inventory of thousands of lights. Those included the lights up around the trees near the memorial in Fountain Park.

“(We) used up all my supplies. I had to order more,” Dolecki said.

Nearly 2,000 of the lights will be going on the city’s biggest tree, which will once again be in front of the Venango County Courthouse. A new, more secure anchor system was installed earlier this year to ensure the tree remains in place.

The 2022 tree will be coming from the front yard of Greg Gonzales of Oil City. He donated it in memory of his late wife, Kathy. “She was really special, always caring for people. She worked at CareerLink and then when she couldn’t anymore because of the cancer, she worked at St. Elizabeth’s Center as a family advocate. She’d want me to do this,” Gonzales said through a press release from the city.

Gonzales was approached by volunteers from the city, who asked if he would be willing to give up the tree that he and a neighbor had trimmed and maintained over the years. He said it was a family decision to do so, and that many of his kids and grandkids will attend the lighting ceremony.

“We are so thankful to the Gonzales family for the gift of Franklin’s Christmas tree,” Amanda Power, community development director, wrote in a release. “This is a really special holiday tradition for the community, but it’s made even more beautiful knowing that we are honoring Kathy’s legacy of kindness and generosity.”

The tree will be lit immediately following the Light Up Night Electric Light Parade, which will start at 6 p.m. and will feature the theme “Feel the Love of Christmas.” And immediately after the tree is lit, Fountain Park will glow with the annual ground fireworks show.

“Pyrotechnico is getting ready to put on another spectacular fireworks display – with new effects to the sounds of Christmas music,” Beith said. “The crew never ceases to amaze us.”

“My dream for Franklin was a beautiful and early kick-off for the holiday season and spirit in Franklin. Light Up Night with its beauty and grandeur is my favorite event,” she said. “Overall, I love the giving, friendly spirit of Christmas.”

Here's whats happening in connection with Light Up Night

While the evening electric parade and fireworks are the hallmarks of the event, the entire downtown and beyond will be filled with activity throughout the day. The following is a schedule of the day’s activities:

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Franklin High School Class of 2023 craft show at the Sandycreek Elementary School.
Noon to 3 p.m. – Cookie Walk at the Franklin Public Library.
1 to 4 p.m. – Venango County Human Services Fall Block party at the Venango County building at Elk and Eighth streets.
1 to 9 p.m. – Christmas Tree Extravaganza in the Barrow Civic lobby; 2:30 p.m. Holey Jeans performance.
2 to 4 p.m. – Gina Marie Burris will read and sign her children’s books at Amy's Closet & Sassy's Gifts.
4 to 5:30 p.m. – Santa Claus visits and Jones Party Magic train rides in Bandstand Park.
4 to 5:30 p.m. – Hot dogs and cocoa will be served at the First Presbyterian Church.
5:15 p.m. – Tammi Dahl Matthews performs traditional Christmas music at the Judge’s Stand on Liberty Street.
6 p.m. – Electric Lights Parade.
Immediately following the parade – Christmas tree lighting and fireworks.
7:30 to 10 p.m. – Lawyers, Guns & Money at TrAils to Ales II.
8 p.m. – Christmas with Sandi Patty at the Barrow-Civic Theatre.
9 p.m. to midnight – Rodger Montgomery at FoxTales Pub.

Additional holiday events

Light Up Night is only the start of the holiday happenings in Franklin.

The city is sponsoring a Christmas Walk in the Park again this year. Businesses and organizations are invited to decorate one of the 20 trees that will be placed around Fountain Park. The trees will go up on November 20 and should be decorated by the following weekend. Those trees and the 10 decorated by the FFAC will be turned on once the city installs the electrical boxes. For additional details and to reserve a tree, contact Franklin community development director Amanda Power at [email protected].

On Friday, December 2, Santa will be coming back to town. That evening day, the jolly fellow will hitch a ride on the fire engine and make his way through the city’s neighborhoods. He is slated to leave the Franklin Fire Department at 6 p.m. A map of his intended path will be posted on the city’s Facebook page.

The Franklin Retail Association will be holding its Old Fashioned Christmas for Kids from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on December 3. There will be a scavenger hunt, crafts, games, face painting, and Santa and Mrs. Claus. The events will be held throughout the downtown business district.

Also, that weekend, the original holiday production “A Barrow Christmas Card,” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. December 3 and 2 p.m. December 4 at the Barrow-Civic Theatre. The theatre’s Christmas Tree Extravaganza will be available for viewing whenever the lobby is open.

I have so much work to do.....squirrel!

11/12/2022

A taste of the future

11/11/2022

Getting passed COVID restrictions allowed for the idea of career fairs to return. Rocky Grove High School took the lead to open up their gymnasium to dozens of prospective employers and colleges to show off what they have to offer.

They then invited several other local schools to take advantage of the varied future choices possible and available to them - many of which that are not too far from home. The students had a chance to ask questions, pick up some swag and collect contact information to take home and think about.

Veterans Day thank you

11/11/2022

Several area schools took time Thursday morning to thank veterans for their service to this country. Many had programs with special recognitions, music, presentations and breakfast. Rocky Grove High School served up a special meal after the band played for a group veterans, many who were accompanied by their kids or grandkids who attend Valley Grove Schools.

Helping young people understand their grief

11/9/2022

When a person dies, they generally leave behind someone who loved them. Sometimes those left are kids.
For years, the Venango County Visiting Nurses Association, through its hospice program, has opened its hearts to this young population.

Using their expertise in helping families through very difficult times, they brought kids together for Camp Good Grief, Horses for Healing and Hope for the Holidays. The events are geared toward supporting one another through a series of activities designed to address the many different aspects of grief.

COVID put a hold on these events, but the organizers are bringing the kids together once again.
Saturday at Two Mile County Park a dozen or so youngsters shared in play, crafts, discussions and a Thanksgiving dinner as part of the Hope for the Holidays program.

This year’s theme was “snowflakes.”

The organizers explained how the loss of a loved one, or even a pet, is a personal journey. “Just like snowflakes. No two (experiences of grief) are the same. Like snowflakes, each person's grief journey is unique and yet we are not alone,” said Jennifer Horn, one of the event organizers. “Just like snowflakes, sometimes grief comes in one flake at a time. Other times, it comes like a blizzard. Our grief journey can also feel like an unexpected snowstorm, as intense feelings may unexpectedly appear but gradually lighten. Eventually, snowflakes melt away, similar to the way the feelings we experience on our grief journey can change.”

The kids created an ornament and a framed bit of art using beach glass to take home. They also took a short hike and wrote the name or names of their loved ones in the sand of the park’s beach. At the conclusion of the day, they sat around the campfire to reflect on things they learned about dealing with their own personal loss.

Organizer Kim Slater Hile spoke with the kids about how to deal with the upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations, emphasizing that their grandparent, parent or friend would want them to be joyful. "It's OK to have fun and be happy during the holidays."

Redistricting didn't change local results, see who represents you

11/9/2022

Come January you may have new representation
See who will serve your area once redistricting takes effect

Venango had a fairly high voter turnout with 64 percent of registered voters casting ballots. Not everyone voted and therefore not everyone knows who will be representing them when this past year's redistricting take full effect starting in January. Below is a breakdown of who will represent you.

U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (R) 16th District, won he reelection bid Tuesday with almost 60 percent of the vote over challenger Dan Pastore (D). Kelly's district will now cover a part of Venango County, including the City of Franklin, Barkeyville, Cooperstown, Polk, Sugarcreek and Utica boroughs, Canal, Frenchcreek, Irwin, Jackson, Mineral and Sandycreek townships and a portion of Victory Township. It also includes all of Butler, Crawford, Erie, Lawrence and Mercer counties.

There are an estimated 764,865 residents in this district. Click here for website.

Glenn Thompson (R) U.S. Representative District 15 easily defeated Mike Molesevich (D) who only generated 29.9 percent of the vote. Thompson's district will now include only a portion of Venango County encompassing the City of Oil City, Clintonville, Emlenton, Pleasantville and Rouseville boroughs, and Allegheny, Cherrytree, Clinton, Cornplanter, Cranberry, Oakland, Oil Creek, Pinegrove, Plum, President, Richland, Rockland, Scrubgrass townships, and a portion of Victory Township. The district includes a portion of Indiana and Lycoming counties and all of Armstrong, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, McKean, Potter, Snyder, Tioga, Union and Warren counties.

The area includes approximately 764,864 residents. Click here for website.

R. Lee James (R) PA Representative District 64 ran unopposed. His district will now cover all of Venango County plus the City of Titusville, Hydetown and Townville boroughs, and Oil Creek, Rome, Steuben and Troy townships in Crawford County.

The district has an estimated population of 62,365. Click here for website.

Michele Brooks (R) PA Senate District 50 was reelected over challenger Rianna Czech (D). Her district includes all of Crawford and Mercer counties and a portion of Lawrence County.

The district has a population of approximately 263,540 residents. Click here for website.

Scott Hutchinson (R) PA Senate District 21 was not up for election this year. His district will include all of Venango, Forest and Warren counties plus portions of Butler, Clarion and Erie counties.

This district has an estimated 258,167 residents, Hutchinson is up for reelection in 2024. Click here for website.

Brad Roae (R) PA Representative District 6 defeated challenger Nerissa Galt (D). His district includes portions of Crawford and Erie counties. In Crawford County, the district covers the City of Meadville, Cochranton, Conneaut Lake, Conneautville, Linesville and Springboro boroughs, and Beaver, Conneaut, East Fairfield, East Fallowfield, East Mead, Fairfield, Greenwood, Hayfield, North Shenango, Pine, Randolph, Sadsbury, South Shenango, Spring, Summerhill, Summit, Union, Vernon, Wayne, West Fallowfield, West Mead and West Shenango townships. The portion of Erie County included is Albion and Cranesville boroughs and Conneaut, Elk Creek and Springfield townships.

The district has approximately 64,059 residents. Click here for website.

Kathy Rapp (R) PA Representative District 65 was unopposed Tuesday. Her district covers Athens, Bloomfield, Cambridge, Cussewago, Richmond, Rockdale, Sparta, Venango and Woodcock townships, Blooming Valley, Cambridge Springs, Centerville, Saegertown, Spartansburg, Venango and Woodcock Borough in Crawford County, as well as all of Warren and Forest counties.

This district has an approximate population of 61,937 residents. Click here for website.

A poem seems to be coming on

11/9/2022

In my headlights that are one thing,
in my backyard another.
roaming a land they only know as the ground under-foot....
Well who are we to claim this ground as our own.

I often wonder about the brain... and thoughts.... why is it we place such importance beyond the sheer joy of not being hunted, or scared of the unknown...

Comfort foods simmer on the stove.

Greendale cemetery 11/2022

"I think we have potential" - Sheila Bancroft

11/5/2022

Wood dominates

District 10 title returns to Maplewood's storied program

Sheila Bancroft usually knows when she has a team, and going up against her friend Marci Malliard's Cochranton Cardinals, who are a very, very good volleyball team that she would need her team to play.
And that they did. What was thought by many to be a likely five set match was over in three. The three were tough sets, but Wood proved just a little more consistent in each of the sets.