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Franklin has more than 40 concerts scheduled for 2023

4/29/2023

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​The sounds of summer will return to Franklin in June and once again feature a full schedule of music with more than 40 concerts on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

“The summer concerts are something people have come to love and look forward to,” said Franklin Community Development Director, Amanda Power. “We have a variety of musicians from the area and they play different genres of music. There really is something for everyone.” 

The schedule will kick off with a performance of the Silver Cornet Band. They will be a main feature of the Bandstand Park performers on Thursdays, June 1,  15 and 29, July 6 and 20, and August 3 and 17.
lso on the Thursday schedule are Brandon Rae Band, June 8; Mark Dewalt/CATRO, June 22; Max Schang Trio, July 13; Pine Valley Boys, July 27; Randy Moorehead, August 10; and Mostly Brass, August 24.
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Folks should take a chair or blanket with them to the park to best enjoy the concerts.

“Alfresco Fridays” has a full lineup of live music at Bella Cucina and Benjamin’s Roadhouse on Liberty Street. Concerts begin at 5:30 p.m. at Benjamin’s and at 6 p.m. at Bella Cucina. Outside food and beverage are not permitted at Alfresco Fridays, but they are available for purchase. 

The Taste of Talent vocal competition is also returning to Bandstand Park. The competition is open to individual soloists ages 16 and older. Taste of Talent kicks-off during 4th of July Festivities Week at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 28.

The competition will continue on Wednesdays, July 5, 12, 19, and 26. Semi-finals will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, August 5, and the finals will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, August 6.

The concert season will finish with a tribute concert to Ronnie Beith at 7 p.m. August 31. Beith was the city’s longtime events and marketing coordinator who passed away in early April.

“Ronnie had a special relationship with so many of our performers; she was a coach, a mentor, a cheerleader… and now they want to do something to honor her memory,” said Pat Dolecki, president of the Franklin Fine Arts Council.

In her memory, many of the popular performers from the Taste of Talent competition and others will join together for a concert in one of Beith’s favorite places — Bandstand Park.
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All the concerts are presented by the Franklin Fine Arts Council and sponsors include Mike and Joyce Hughes and Franklin Oil Region Credit Union.
Information on the concerts can be found online at www.franklinpa.gov/events. ​
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Route 408 bridge replacement to begin soon

4/15/2023

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A section of Route 408 in Hydetown will be closed for about six months according to a press release from PennDOT. A rehabilitation of a 93-year-old bridge spanning Oil Creek between Patterson Road and Main Street in Hydetown Borough is expected to begin, weather permitting, on April 17.

The bridge project will replace the concrete deck, barriers, and beams on the 192-foot bridge. The work will also include reconstruction the roadway approaches, improve the guide rails, drainage and pavement markings.

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According to the PennDOT release, the project requires a 13.4-mile detour for the entirety of the project. The detour will be posted.

Information on the project is available online by clicking here:  Route 408 Bridge Project. 
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The existing bridge was built in 1930. It is classified as poor condition with a posted weight limit of 27 tons, combination 39 tons. Approximately 1,500 vehicles a day use the bridge, on average.
 
The contractor is Clearwater Construction, Inc. of Mercer, PA. The contract cost is $1,978,150, which is to be paid entirely with state funds.
 
This year PennDOT’s Northwest Region excepts to do work on more than 100 projects. To see a full listing of all the anticipated work click here: 2023 Construction Book.
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​East Branch Trail segment celebration warrants celebration

4/14/2023

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A segment of the East Branch Trail has been completed in Hydetown.

The project was funded by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and
Natural Resources with the support of several other agencies and grant programs.

There will be a celebration for the completion at 2 p.m. on Saturday April 22 at the Hydetown Fire Hall.
 
The event will include a ribbon cutting and remarks by representatives of Clear Lake Authority who owns and manages the East Branch Trail as well as other other supporters of the trail..

The newly completed portion of trail is 2.4 miles with a crushed limestone surface. It is currently the southernmost portion of the East Branch Trail, which is part of the Erie to Pittsburgh Trail.

The Clear Lake Authority was originally established as a municipal authority to maintain Clear Lake in Spartansburg. 
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They acquired the rail corridor to establish the East Branch Trail.
​This particular portion of the East Branch Trail traverses some of the Crawford County Forest and its wetlands, a unique environment with diverse flora and fauna, according to the press release from the Oil Region Alliance.
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The event will be held in conjunction with Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Celebrate Trails Day, with events taking place across the country. 
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It's Taste of Talent time again

4/8/2023

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Regular Taste of Talent competitor Tim Craver of Franklin performs during the 2022 competition. 
​The Franklin Fine Arts Council is accepting applications for the 13th annual Taste of Talent vocal competition to be held this summer in Bandstand Park, Franklin.
The competition, which is sponsored by the Franklin Fine Arts Council, is open to soloists aged 16 and older. In past seasons, the concerts have drawn audiences of 800 to 1,400 people. Participants perform one to two songs each night and move on based on live voting by the audience each night. Local judges also provide live feedback after each performance.

​Last year's winner was Kaleb Beichner of Shippenville. 
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The 2023 competition will kick off the 4th of July Festivities week with a concert at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 28. Competitions will continue at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays, July 5, 12, 19 and 26 at 7 p.m. Semifinals will take place at 7 p.m. on Saturday, August 5 and the finals will be at 4 p.m. on Sunday, August 6.  

The winner of the competition will receive $1,000 sponsored by Franklin-Oil Region Credit Union. Prize monies totaling $200 ($100 cash and $100 in Franklin Retail gift certificate) will be awarded to the other three semi-finalists.
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Applications are $25 (non-refundable) and should be submitted by May 15. Previous winners are not eligible to participate. The Taste of Talent packet is available at www.franklinpa.gov/events or by calling 814-437-1922, ext. 1123 or emailing [email protected].
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Franklin library continues Community Conversations

4/8/2023

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The Franklin Public Library continues its series of Community Conversations about a variety of topics. A new topic will be covered from 6 to 7 p.m. most Thursdays in the second-floor community room. ​
The upcoming schedule includes the following speakers:
  • April 13 - Autism Stands, Brandy Hinojosa;
  • April 20 - Community Gardens, Warren Thomas of Venango Area Community Gardens;
  • April 27 - A Night at the Theater: John Wilkes Booth & Laura Keene in the Oil Region, Margo Mong;
  • May 4 - Melanie Krneta, Homeopathy Holistic Health
  • May 11 - Silver Cornet Band, Peter Greene
  • May 18 - Alien vs. Native Species, DNCR and Bureau of Forestry
  • June 22 - Sandy Baker, Genealogy: Dig into your Roots!
  • June 29 - Barbara Rumore, Difficult Conversations about Racism
  • July 8 - Raymond Gerard Bugay, How to Publish Your Writing
  • July 13 - Patricia Thrushart, Using Poetry for Social Justice
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The library is welcoming additional speakers to the schedule. If there is a topic you would like to present contact the library at 814-432-5062 or [email protected]. ​

Click on the pictures for more information on these great events by our sponsors. 
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