Blog Archives - Eight & 322/Eight & 27

Time to clean off that porch or basement or garage or life

7/27/2022

Remember that old TV you took off the TV stand in 2005 an put on your front porch to "get rid of someday"? You know the one that is behind the mini fridge you pushed into the corner by the TV when it died in 2012 vowing to get rid of both of them the next week. No? You know the ones under that rug you ripped up when you put the man cave in your daughter's old bedroom the day after you dropped her off for at college. You know the one that is under 12 now dead potted summer begonias from 2010, '11, '12, '13, '14.... up to this year's that pretty much died a week after you bought it because you forgot you put on top of the rug pile on the porch?

Well here is your chance to finally get rid of it all as long as cousin Bob ain't taking the truck somewhere on the two weekend list in this here poster that you all can read so I don't have to type it up myself because I too have an old TV to dig out of my attic plus some stuff in cans I don't even want to try to guess on anymore.

Just in case you can't read it - if you want to get rid of that TV, you need to call 412-567-6566 to pre-register for the housebound hazards and electronic waste collection day at the Venango County Recycling Center this Saturday and on October 29. Toss in some of the old paint cans you still have at the bottom of the basement stairs if you're not going to paint you little girls room pink again after she graduates and moves back home.

Appointments available for free back-to-school haircuts

7/24/2022

The United Way of Venango County is offering itsBack to School: Hair Affair again.

The program will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, August 22 at three locations - Designing Concepts in Franklin, Razor's Edge in Franklin, and Siverly Barber Shop in Oil City.

Free basic haircuts are available to Venango County students age 3 to 18. Appointments will be made on a first come first serve basis. To schedule an appointment call the United Way 2-1-1 hotline.

Backpacks and school supplies will be provided to all attending children, thanks to a generous donation from Bill Baker.

If you have any questions call the United Way at 814-676-6545 or email [email protected].

National Night Out community events set

7/21/2022

United Way will hold National Night Out on Tuesday, August 2. These are a series of community events where small committees host neighborhood block parties. Six different neighborhoods are participating:

 Clintonville Borough – Hosted by Megan Weber, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

 Wyllis Street, Oil City – Hosted by Kay Woods, 3:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

 St. Elizabeth Center, Oil City – Hosted by Jessica Struthers, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

 Grace United Methodist Church, Oil City – Hosted by Eva Palmer, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

 Franklin Heights Playground – Hosted by Linda Lusher, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

 Christ United Methodist Church, Franklin – Hosted by Anne Bakker, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

According to the United Way press release, these events are focused around building strong relationships between residents, law enforcement, and first responders. Most events will include cookouts, activities, and giveaways. All events are sponsored by UPMC Health Plan.

United Way of Venango County is working towards reducing the number of individuals struggling to
meet their health, education, and income needs before 2025.

Oil Heritage Festival rodeo is about learning bike safety, free hot dogs

7/19/2022

PennDOT, the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Venango County Sheriff’s Department will hold a free children’s bicycle rodeo on Saturday, July 23, 2022 to educate children on bike safety.  Registration begins at 11 a.m in the parking lot between the CATA building and PennDOT on Elm Street in Oil City. The rodeo games will follow from 11:30 a.m to 12:30 p.m. Participants will have a chance to win OHF ribbons as they complete a fun course of bike skills. All attendees should take a bike and helmet and be accompanied by a parent or guardian who can sign a permission slip for participation. The event is open to all children ages 5 to 12.

The rodeo will consist of safety activities, games, and bicycle/helmet inspections. A random drawing will be held to give away two free bicycles donated by CATA. A free hot dog lunch will be provided by Rep. R. Lee James.

The goal of this event is to increase children’s interest in bicycling and educate them on how to ride safely. Participants are reminded that wearing a helmet is required, and a limited number of free helmets will be available from of Safe Kids Clarion-Venango.

For more information on bicycle safety, visit www.PennDOT.pa.gov/safety.

Tryouts for HOLeY Jeans right around the corner

7/17/2022

HOLeY Jeans musical director Martha Heise draws singers from all over the region.

The youth singing group is known to pop up at events all over the region, have shows in churches, on sidewalks, parks and even inside theater's like the Barrow in Franklin. Anywhere they have an audience they are at the ready.

"My goal is to connect students in music who want to broaden their experiences outside the school setting," Heise said.

Heise has educated hundreds of young singers who have entertained thousands of area folks. Many appear in lead roles in musicals all over. And she is looking for more singers now.

She will be holding auditions for kids from K-12 at 6:30 p.m. August 2 at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Oil City.

HOLeY Jeans is a labor of love for Heise. She started the choir years ago when she returned to the area after college. Her younger sister wanted to be in a singing group with her friends so Martha created a way for that to happen.
More than two decades later she is still nurturing young talent and looking to keep it going strong.

Edwin Drake's heritage to be celebrated

7/15/2022

The 44th anniversary of the Oil Heritage Festival officially kicks-off Thursday, but like many of our area festivals they have more things going on than can fit into just four days.

Beginning this weekend the Venango Area Chamber, the event’s host, lists many of these events as unofficial kick-offs to the festival.

The annual Bike-n-Brew this Saturday begins with a family oriented biking scavenger hunt followed by a more adult oriented brew fest at night. Also on Saturday the annual Hop Homan and Chops Cunningham Memorial Softball Tournament kick-off a weekend full of ball at the Hasson and Mitchell Avenue fields. The softball games continue Sunday.

On Tuesday the bluegrassy Pine Valley Boys from Polk will play a concert at the Venango Museum on Seneca Street at 7 p.m.. The $10 admission helps the museum.

Wednesday Justus Park gets filled with puppy barks, cute meowing kittens and the occasional slithering snake during a pet show. Downtown the art shows open for the weekend, Max Schang play fills the down full of blues from Town Square as the Elks serve up their best BBQ chicken across the street.

And the festival hasn’t even started yet.

When it does officially kick-off Thursday a new Oil Heritage Festival Queen will be crowned, an olympics style event for young people begins at 9 a.m. at the high school and a weekend long book sale kicks off at the library. Outside the Library kids can get up close looks at big trucks and adults can pick up some fruits and vegetables at the farmer’s market. Folks sticking around into the evening can get their fill of spaghetti at the YWCA, watch or participate in the kids parade and fun fair, eat some ice cream and listen to lots of music from Mostly Brass, Mitch Littler wo spreads his Good Vibes all over the area and the popular family act - Echo Valley.

Venango Area Chamber of Commerce director Susan Williams said that is the traditional night for her to just feel the sense of community that only an old-fashioned festival can bring. She said she doesn't think she has missed one since it began.

“You go get spaghetti, you walk down to the plaza to eat ice cream and listen to Mostly Brass,” she said. She added how much fun it is to see the children having fun, the crowning of the queen and all the other music into the evening.

An all day pool party Friday up in Hasson Park is a good way for folks to keep cool before they head out for the evening entertainment featuring a Boy Scout pork chop dinner at First Presbyterian Church and a Lawyers, Guns and Money concert in Justus Park under the new city band pavilion.

If you’re planning to drive through Oil City on the weekend put your destination into GPS because Seneca Street will be closed down for events both Saturday and Sunday. The annual craft and vendor festival and the Fireman’s 5k race on Saturday and the Car show on Sunday turns the street into a park for the weekend.

Also on Saturday something called Phydeaux’s Flying Flea Circus and Wahoo Medicine Show will be around Town Square. “It’s a family friendly show that combines comedy, illusion, and pure PT Barnum hyperbole,” the OHF website explains. The Issak Walton children’s fishing derby kicks off in the morning too. And, if you ever wanted to have a family photo that looks like it was taken in the 1800s then a photo booth set along Seneca Street Saturday and Sunday is where you want to be.

And there is more, a bike rodeo for kids will be hosted by PennDOT and there is a brunch at the VFW. If you’re a religious history buff then maybe touring four Oil City churches is your bag.
Saturday is just a full day that stretches well into the night. At 5 p.m. bring a bag for candy and grab a spot along the parade route that starts way up on W. First Street on the south side and ends up across the river on the northside beforeThe Band Hannah opens for the nationally known band, The Clarks, who return for the second year in a row to perform in Justus Park. As the band finishes its set a fireworks display will light the skies.

Sunday concludes the four-day festival that lasts over a week with Disc Golf Tournament in Hasson Park and an ultimate frisbee game at the high school. Another chance for an old-time photo or to see some arts and crafts as well as some vintage cars that will line Seneca Street.

Williams said there are plenty of reasons to make the trip to Oil City for the festival. “The biggest draws are definitely the music,” she said. Lawyers, Guns and Money are a very popular local band and The Clarks drew a big crowd last year from all over the region. But she really thinks there is so much to do during the week of activities that she doesn’t want to pinpoint anything specific.

“Everything is worth driving miles for,” she said.

For more information visit: https://venangochamber.org/2022-oil-heritage-festival-schedule/

A woman still searching for answers

7/12/2022

According to the author, in 1981 at the age of five, Alison’s father woke her up and told her that here mother had left. She never saw her mother again.

They lived in the Littles Corners community in Crawford County.

Alison tells the story of growing up with the father she now believes killed her mother and hid her body that has never been found.

This is the story she tells to whoever will listen.

Author Alison Morea Duiker will be at Heckathorn United Methodist Church at 6:30 p.m. on July 13 to speak about her experiences growing up and to sign copies of her book A Daughter’s Journey…and a Story of Resilience.

Her story is one that will take you into her world growing up fearing her father, being passed around between family members and being taken in by a teacher and her family when her father dropped her off at a police station.

For years now Alison has sought to find out what happened to her mother and the pain and frustration that comes with her search for answers in this more than 40-year-old cold case. She hasn’t given up and is still looking for those elusive answers.

Her presentation is free and open to the public. She will be available to sign copies of her book which will also be available.

Bike and Brew right around the corner

7/6/2022

Tickets are on sale now

Oil Heritage Festival Bike ‘n Brew, sponsored by FLEX (Future Leaders & Entrepreneurs Exchange) will kick off on Saturday, July 16, the weekend before the Oil Heritage Festival.

From 2-4 p.m. there will be a Biking Scavenger Hunt where attendees will ride to up to 10 points of interest along the trail through Oil City. Maps and instructions for the scavenger hunt can be picked up at the Venango Chamber (24 Seneca Street, Oil City) at 2 p.m. on the day of the event or found online at ohfbikenbrew.org. To enter for prizes, they will take a photo at each spot and submit it.

The beer portion of Bike ‘n Brew is from 4-7 p.m. at the Venango Chamber of Commerce on Seneca Street.

There are two ways to participate:
For early ticket purchases,

Curbside Pickup ($40): Pick up a package full of at least 8 different craft beers from local breweries in a cooler tote bag, along with fun swag from both breweries and sponsors. Pick up the package anytime between 4 and 7 p.m.
VIP Ticket ($50): Includes the package listed above PLUS a tasting with Scierka’s Tavern at the Venango Chamber. Scierka’s will have craft beers to sample that are not available in our region. A raffle and other activities will also be included.

Ticket prices will increase by $5 after July 8th.

Local breweries include Arsenal Cider House, Clarion River Brewing Company, Dancing Gnome Brewing, Trails to Ales Brewery, Riverside Brewing Co., and Voodoo Brewing Company, with at least two other breweries expected to join.

Many local businesses have supported the event through sponsorship, including Stubler Drive-Thru Beverages, Scierka’s Tavern, Stifel - Franklin, Franklin-Oil Region Credit Union, Hileman & Woods, Komatsu Mining Corp., Morrison Funeral Home, and Cranberry 10 Minute Oil Change & Car Wash.

More information and brewfest tickets can be found at ohfbikenbrew.org or by contacting the Venango Chamber at (814) 676-8521 or [email protected].

Movies in the Park

7/6/2022

The Franklin Fine Arts Council will host two Movie in the Park events in Bandstand Park this summer.

The first will be "Sing 2", which will be shown on July 15. The movie was originally slated to be held July 1, but had to be postponed due to weather. The movie will start at dusk but prior to the movie, the United Way and Venango County Recovery will offer kids' activities.

"Raya and the Last Dragon" will play on August 5. Kids' activities will be hosted by the Fatherhood Initiative before the movie.

The movies will start at dusk.

The movies are funded through a grant from Frank and Eleanor Miese and Bridge Builders.

When "Something Rotten" is just wonderful

7/3/2022

Coming this week... a little sneak peak at what has been going on the last month or so to get ready for the next Barrow-Civic production. Eight & 322 hopes to be one of the lucky ones in the theater Tuesday for a glimpse and to grab some photos that hopefully show what hard work and dedication looks like to put on an entertaining community musical.

Look for a Wednesday morning post with pictures and hopefully more information.The play opens at the end of the week.

For tickets visit: https://barrowtheatre.org/event/something-rotten/2022-07-08/