Blog Archives - Eight & 322/Eight & 27

Franklin paving project update

7/28/2023

Some severe weather predicted for this weekend has the A1 Construction and the City of Franklin changing the work schedule that was originally posted earlier this week. Basically everything will shift a day and there will be no work done on Saturday.

The work on Buffalo Street will affect the CATA bus transfer stop. Franklin City Manager Tracy Jamieson worked with the Crawford Area Transportation Authority to address the matter.

CATA's Assistant Director Kristin Hauser said the Buffalo Street bus stop will be moved the corner of 12th and Buffalo Streets on affected days.

Street milling and paving in Franklin continues into next week. The work, begun Thursday is expected to continue next week beginning at 7 a.m. each day weather permitting and continue all day until dusk according to a press release from the City of Franklin.

Work on the follow roads will done:

Friday, July 28
Elk Street from South Park to Washington Crossing, Otter Street from South Park to 12th St., Elk Street from West Park to 13th St.

Saturday, July 29
Work has been postponed to Monday.

Monday, July 31
Buffalo Street from 12th St. to 14th St., 14th Street from Buffalo to Liberty, 14th Street from Liberty to Elk.

Tuesday, August 1
15th Street from Elk to Otter, 13th Street from Chestnut to Eagle, Eagle Street from 15th to 13 th ;

Wednesday August 2
Evergreen Drive from Alder Lane to Gurney Rd., Brown Avenue from Grant to Atlantic, Monroe Street from Washington to End, and Madison Street from Washington to Adams.

The work is being done by IA Construction Corporation of Franklin.

Final top coat paving will follow.
“Keep in mind this schedule is fluid and many factors can change or extend it” said City Manager, Tracy Jamieson, "A little neighborly patience during this temporary inconvenience will go a long way.”

More music coming to downtown Oil City

7/27/2023

Chuck Justice & the Junkyard Lawyers will rock the square in Oil City beginning at 7 p.m. August 3.

The Thursday evening concerts are an Oil City Main Street free event series. Those interested in free entertainment are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on or comfortable shoes to dance in.

The Oil City Elks will set up tables along Sycamore Street and offer food at the event.

Parking downtown and in nearby lots is free after 5 p.m. the Oil City Main Street press release said.

Chuck Justice & The Junkyard Lawyers are a 4-piece hard rock band from Franklin formed in 2015. They are Mark Fornof , guitar and vocals, Chad Harless, guitar and vocals, Debi Jones on bass and vocals and drummer Jimmy Jones.

Their set features covers of popular songs from Led Zeppelin, Quiet Riot, Metallica, Megadeth, and among others "The band’s unique brand of entertainment fuses spectacular lighting and premium sound to
create an awesome music experience," the press release states.

Music on the Square concerts are made possible by the Jack Rowley Charitable Trust. The 2023 Music on the Square series will wrap up on September 15 with the Wyllis Street Band (taking place during the Oil City
Uncorked Wine Walk).

For more information, contact the Oil City Main Street Office at (814) 677-3152.

National Night Out seeks to bring neighborhood communities together

7/27/2023

The United Way of Venango recently announced the upcoming celebration of National Night Out, an annual event "dedicated to promoting community engagement, fostering positive relationships between law enforcement and residents, and enhancing neighborhood safety," according to a recent United Way press release

This year’s local National Night Out events are being supported by UPMC Northwest and UPMC Health
Plan.

Location this year are as follows:

Christ United Methodist Church - 1135 Buffalo Street, Franklin, from 5 to 9 p.m.
Clintonville Borough Park, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Franklin Heights Playground, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Rouseville Community Playground, from 5 to 9 p.m.
St. Elizabeth Center - 311 Emerald Street, Oil City, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Wyllis Street - Oil City, from 3:30 to 11 p.m.

National Night Out is a nationwide initiative encouraging neighbors to get to know one another
and build strong community bonds. Community leaders, law enforcement and fire personnel attend different locations giving residents a changce to get to know them personally.

Will Price, Executive Director of the United Way of Venango County is thrilled to host this year's
National Night Out events and invites everyone to attend. "Together, we can make a difference in our
community by building connections, fostering trust, and working collaboratively toward a safer and more
secure future," he said.

More information; Visit unitedwayvc.org.

Franklin Fine Arts Council is looking for volunteers

7/20/2023

A Franklin Fine Arts Council volunteer collects votes during the 2022 Taste of Talent event.

The Franklin Fine Arts Council hosts many of the city’s hallmark events, including Franklin on Ice, Taste of Talent, the Children’s Penny Carnival, Light-Up Night and Rock in River Fest. All that works takes an army of volunteers to pull off, and the council is recruiting.

“Franklin Fine Arts Council partners with the City of Franklin to make ‘Always Eventful’ Franklin come to life. This would be impossible without the help of dedicated and numerous volunteers,” said Pat Dolecki, council president. “Whether you want to help with one event a year or be involved all-year long, there are amazing and rewarding opportunities to give back to the town we love. It fills your heart when you pay it forward.”

The council is looking for volunteers to help in its mission of promoting the arts and enhancing the vitality and quality of life in the community and the region.

Along with the festivals, the council also assists with summer events, such as stuffing treat bags for downtown trick or treating, organizing the annual Easter egg hunt, and supporting other citywide efforts. Volunteers can assist with a variety of tasks and duties, including but not limited to mailings, fundraising, special event booths, event set up and tear down, or special skills like painting or carpentry.

Those who are interested in becoming a volunteer can sign up by completing the online form.

PA looking for input to improve broadband 'Internet for All'

7/20/2023

Pennsylvania is looking to close the digital divide and ensure that there is the Internet for All and needs input from residents to make it happen.

The state was recently awarded $1.2 billion to provide equitable broadband access across Pennsylvania. To accomplish that mission, they need to hear from residents about the current status of their internet access, including cost, availability and reliability.

A community meeting on the matter will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on July 31 at the Rainy Linn Hall within the Venango County Fairgrounds. The meeting is in partnership with the PA Broadband Development Authority, Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission, Venango County United Way, and Oil Region Alliance.

Attendees will be given an opportunity to ask questions and provide information about internet access at their homes and businesses. No personal information will be requested.

“The data collected is so important for not only Venango County, but for the entire NW PA region,” the planning commission posted about the event.

Attendees are asked to register in advance at dced.pa.gov/event/internet-for-all-community-event-venango, but registration is not required.

Those unable to attend who would like to still provide information for the project can do so by completing a 10-minute online survey or by contacting the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority at [email protected].

Local musician invites everyone to be Rockin' for a Rescue Saturday

7/13/2023

File photo of Randy Moorehead hosting Taste of Talent on July 5.

Over the past few years, local musician Randy Moorehead has created a bit of a name for himself as a singer and performer. The Seneca man won Franklin’s Taste of Talent competition in 2016 and has been playing on area stages ever since. During the COVID crisis that shut down restaurants, bars, stores and other local establishments, Moorehead speared some virtual concerts to raise funds for those unable to run their locally-owned businesses.

Just this year, he stepped into the role of hosting the Franklin vocal competition he previously won and is set to make his Barrow-Civic Theatre debut later this fall.

“I have always believed in using my talents as a giveback to the community,” Moorehead said. “I've been very blessed and being able to use that gift and share with others to help different causes over the years has been very rewarding for me.”

Now Moorehead is hoping to parlay his local celebrity into increased awareness and funding for a local, but lesser-known animal shelter through the Rockin’ for a Rescue event.

“My wife Tonya is a passionate animal lover and she introduced me to Tracy Rivers, who runs the animal rescue, years ago. Everyone knows who The Humane Society and Precious Paws are but not that many people are aware of Jenny's Dream Rescue,” Moorehead said.

Inspired by Rivers caring nature toward the animals at her shelter, Moorehead and his wife decided to organize the Rockin’ for a Rescue fundraiser, scheduled to take place from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 15 at the Franklin Elks Club. The event is open to all, no membership required, and will be held rain or shine. Plans call for it to be outside, but in case of inclement weather, it will be moved to the Elks Club’s large ball room.

Moorehead and his fellow Coversome bandmate Logan McMahon will perform alongside Tyler Carson. The music will be free and the majority of funds will be raised through raffling a long list of items donated from area businesses.

“My wife and I proactively reached out to the local businesses. I have made many contacts over the years through playing music which helped but honestly a lot of them I just cold-called through the door. The outpouring of support was incredible,” he said. “In addition, the Franklin Elks and Last Call Tavern (in Oil City) have sponsored the event and we're a huge help in making this possible.”

Moorehead is hoping for a large turnout for the event but knows not everyone will be able to fit it into their schedule. That’s why the group also set up a GoFundMe account to accept donations for Jenny’s Dream Rescue.

The mission of Jenny’s Dream is to save abandoned, abused and neglected dogs. “Whether the dogs are left starving on the side of the road or ditched at a high-kill shelter with little or no hope of getting out alive, she (Rivers) is there fighting to save them,” the group says on their website.

“When we first started planning the fundraiser, she had 39 dogs at the time she was taking care of. She takes some of the worst abuse cases/kill shelter animals for rescue,” Moorehead said.

For updates on the items donated for the raffle and other information on the event, check out the Coversome Facebook page.

Items donated for the raffle

Jewelry cleaning basket donated by the Moorehead family
Cooler and pop basket donated by the Moorehead family
Back-to-school basket donated by the Moorehead family
Air fryer donated by the Watkins family
Case of Bush beer, 2 mugs and Steelers hats donated by the Watkins family
Golf basket donated by the McMahon family
60 oil change gift certificate and car cleaning package - Cranberry 10 Minute Oil Change
2 pet was tokens - Cranberry 10 Minute Oil Change
$15 gift certificate - McNerny's
1 dozen dog paw cookies - Warners Bakery
$25 gift certificate donated by Woods and River Coffee
$25 gift certificate donated by Benjamin's Roadhouse
Gift certificate for 1 dozen carnations donated by Double Bloom
7 free games of bowling donated by Seneca Lanes
$10 gift certificate donated by Baked Goods From Heaven
$50 gift certificate donated by Trails to Ales
2 100-minute gift cards donated by Island Winds Tanning
Fire ring donated by Dave Waters
Doggie basket donated by Tracy Rivers
8 pounds frozen hamloaf donated by Gahrs Hamloaf
2 gift certificates for a dozen donuts Donated by Clarks Donuts
FNB back-to-school basket donated by First National Bank
$10 gift certificate donated by Core Goods
$20 gift certificate and XL T-shirt donated by The Last Call Tavern
5 free combo meal coupons donated by Franklin McDonald's
Tickets donated by the Barrow-Civic Theatre

Oil Heritage Festival and pre-festival schedule's announced

7/13/2023

For the complete schedule click here: https://venangochamber.org/ohf-2023-schedule-of-events/

Oil Heritage festival may only officially be four jam-packed days in July, but the city extends the spirit of the community event out for days in advance.

Five days before July 20, the festival's first day the Flex Bike 'n Brew gets bike riders into town to enjoy some fun on the trails and tap it off with a party featuring plenty of beers to try and chat about. Also starting Saturday is the annual Hop Homan and Chops Cunningham Memorial softball tournament. At one point this event was so popular it was difficult finding a spot to sit and watch the games.

On Tuesday July 18 the Pine Valley Boys will perform at the Venango Museum in the evening. Wednesday the Elks BBQ it up on Sycamore Street. The Junior Olympics kick off at the high school and the annual art show opens in multiple locations on the Northside while Angel Blue & the Prophets perform in the Music on the Square concert. The art shows are open throughout the festival.

The the festival actually begins. There're several usual activities such as the library book say that runs Thursday thru Saturday in the Library's basement.
There is a touch-a-truck on Thursday in Central Avenue Plaza along with their usual curb markets.The YWCA's spaghetti supper, the children's parade and fun fair, Mostly Brass will perform and the Oil Heritage Festival Queen will be crowned. Echo Valley will cap off the evening.

On Friday a pool party up on the hill all afternoon. The festival moves mostly to Justus Park in the evening for food and games as well as music of the Bus Brothers followed by Lawyers Guns and Money.

Saturday, Seneca Street gets shut down to traffic and opened up to arts and crafts all day. The annual parade kicks off at 5 p.m. and draws people back to the park for a concert featuring Sickness who will open up for the Clarks who return for the third year in a row. They lead right into the annual fireworks at the end of their show.

The arts and crafts show continues along with the popular classic cars and motorcycle cruise in.

Add a chance to get an old-timey looking photo taken, lots of food and art, raffles and give-a-ways and you have the 45th annual Oil Heritage Festival. Col. Drake sightings are also quite common.

To see the full schedule of events visit the Venango Chamber of Commerce website at https://venangochamber.org/ohf-2023-schedule-of-events/

July Adulting 101 workshops focus on money and budgeting

7/12/2023

July registration for the Franklin Public Library's Adulting 101 series is open. The focus of this month's three workshops is on budgeting and handling money.

Amber Hughes and Roz Greggs from Top Tier Federal Credit Union will discuss financial literacy from 1 to 2 p.m., Monday, July 17 at the library. This workshop will include a discussion about different types of debt, loans, checking accounts, savings accounts and more.

The second workshop will take place from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 19, also at the library. Daidre Green, the teen services coordinator, will test attendees with a budget challenge. Participants will work in groups to see if they can successfully achieve a monthly budget with a predetermined budget amount. They will also be introduced to "needs" vs. "wants."

The final workshop will be from 2 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, July 26. Participants will meet at the library at 1:45 p.m. and walk to the Northwest Bank at 1301 Liberty St. The program will include a brief summary of what types of accounts and services the bank offers and a tour of their facility.

Anyone aged 12 to 18 can register for one, two or three of the free programs. Pre-registration is encouraged and can be done at oilregionlibraries.org/teens.

"We're always looking for more teams"

7/12/2023

Three on Three organizer Jeff Polley said that he's always looking for more team for the tournament at Oil City High School.

Five different age brackets compete.

Click on poster for more details.