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. |
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Many of the area communities will hold their annual trick-or-treat hours from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
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. 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.
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. 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.
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.
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.
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. 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. . 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/ 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.
The Barrow's Applefest show is ready to rock. Literally. There are kids playing real instruments and rocking out in this production of "School of Rock." The show opens Friday at 7:30 p.m. and runs Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m and the follow week they have a special Thursday night show October 5, Friday , Oct . 6 and Saturday, Oct. 7 at 7:30 p.m. This is tech week so they have a lot to work out yet, but come Friday lights will go up and this group of folks will tell us a story about giving your kids an opportunity to be who they are and respect that they might know something we, as adults either don't know, or have forgotten. "School of Rock," might be farcical, but it hammers home the idea that youth have something to say. And talent lies in many forms. And if we're not too full of our conventions and listen... we might realize there is something deep in every one of us that, given a chance, can shine. And the beauty of this message, in this show, is that the adults also can re-learn this lesson that they suppressed. The folks in this show have been working for months, especially the lead role of Dewey, played by Randy Moorehead, and the young musicians who will be an actual band playing their own instruments. And singers... there are more than 20 singers in this show and the kids are also knocking this out of the park with powerful choruses and solos. Moorehead might not be Jack Black, but he is Dewey in this production as he works seamlessly with the kids and his own guitars to bring this character a unique breath. Moorhead said it was the role he always wanted to play and it shows. His kid bandmates will also likely blow you away realizing how young they are, yet still rocking out with a professional sound. And if we didn't emphasize this enough, - it is actually the kids playing the instruments and singing.
And look at the whole picture. Please see more photos at https://sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p250189774
The weather held out Saturday night for the annual Oil City High School's "Music in Oil Country" where it is billed as halftime all night long. Twelve high school bands showcased their halftime routines with songs ranging from the Norte Dame fight song to Lil Nas X. See almost 300 photos from Music in Oil Country here: https://sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p822300408 The show is a fundraiser for the Oil City music program. They are currently working toward raising money to purchase new marching band uniforms. See almost 300 photos from Music in Oil Country here: https://sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p822300408
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelo "Ronnie did her best to change the part of the world that God put her in," said Jeff Corbett, the long-time sound technician who Ronnie Beith relied on heavily over the last decade and a half. Ronnie Beith was the Franklin events coordinator, the person who put the community's stamp on everything she touched. She created a legacy of events and entertainment small towns the size of Franklin don't usually get. Thursday night through a tribute concert at Bandstand Park, the community thanked and remembered Ronnie for, not just everything she did, but how she made them feel. Franklin lost its greatest champion this past winter when Ronnie just couldn't battle her failing body anymore. After a heart issue a few years back she continued to work tirelessly function on only about 30% of her heart. However 30% of Ronnie Beith's heart was still four times the size of most. Hundreds of people turned out for a concert by performers from one of Ronnie's favorite events - the annual Taste of Talent vocal competition. (Disclaimer every event was one of Ronnie's favorites. They were all like her children.) Along with a song, most performers shared something about how Ronnie had touched their lives through her words or her actions. Had Ronnie been there, she would've deflected humbly. Then she would have put her hands to her heart and just loved that people came to honor her by sharing their talents once again to a park full of community members that she likely knew most by name. Likely helped in some way or another. 100s of them. There weren't too many people who loved music more Ronnie. And there likely wasn't anyone who championed local talent to reach beyond themselves to succeed as much as she did. She would do anything she could to help. That's why there were tears... lots of tears. All night long. The show opened with a flashmob style performance of the Franklin All-star cheerleaders followed by the organizers Nathaniel Licht, Tammi Dahl-Matthews and Rachael Mellor singing "Amazing Grace," one of Ronnie's favorite gospel songs.
Hunter Cook just came out to play for Ronnie. He admitted he hadn't played in about two years, but wanted to sing a Ronnie favorite - John Denver's "Country Roads." He then got the whole crowd to sing along with him. Something that, if you had watched Ronnie over the years, you'd see her singing right along too. Tyler Carson credited Ronnie for giving him the confidence to become an artist. He and Kaylene Dunkle performed a powerful duet of "All I Ask of You." Then the tears really started flowing when Taste of Talent veteran Tim Craver took the stage. Soon after Ronnie's death Craver took pen to paper to honor Ronnie by reworking the words of Elton John's "Candle in the Wind." He was encouraged to perform his version for the tribute concert crowd. "Goodbye Franklin's Rose" set the tone for the rest of the words, some Taupin/John, some Craver. "...You called out to our city And you brought us together again... And your heartbeat will always live here, Inside of us who love you still... All our words cannot express, The joy you brought us through the years... Goodbye, Franklin’s Rose May you ever grow in our hearts... From a city lost without your soul, Who miss the wings of your compassion, More than you will ever know.... Your candle’s burned out long before, Your legend ever will." Probably no other words expressed the evening better than "And your heartbeat will always live here, inside of us." Ashleigh Bennett performed an original song. First she told a story about Ronnie encouraging her to perform that would likely help her win the Taste of Talent and that original songs aren't familiar to the voting audience and often don't result in votes. Bennett said she decided to perform her own composition, titled "Reflections," anyway. Ronnie approached her afterwards giving her a hug and thanking her for not listening to her prior advice. She was then one of Ashleigh's biggest fans. "Thanks for believing in me Ronnie," Bennett said. Chris Miller brought up a band including Licht and Rachel Mellor to sing "Heaven." He told the crowd after intruding everyone, "Ronnie would’ve loved seeing us all collaborating on this." Ruth Herrick, a recent Taste of Talent participant who came back to singing after losing her husband, was a recent favorite of Ronnie's and the feeling was mutual. She said how she, like many others, met Ronnie and loved her immediately. "She is, was and always will be the wind beneath my wings," After she performed the Bette Midler classic "Wind Beneath my Wings," the crowd gave her a round of applause. "I love you Ronnie," she said. Past Taste champion, Ian Best, like almost every other performer, had a story that involved a Ronnie hug. His rendition of "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" moved Ronnie who made sure he knew that. He picked that song to sing at the tribute in part because of that, but also because the lyrics reflect someone who is always there for you. "Ronnie was the constant for all of us, for the entire community. Ronnie was the constant for everything around here." Licht then performed the gospel number "There was Jesus" that Ronnie loved with Joe Thompson and Anna Lehnortt. "She loved without restriction," Licht said. "She greeted everyone like family. She treated everyone like her own children... I hope you leave here tonight with that love in your heart." Another past champion Randy Moorehead brought back a story about his performance of Bette Midler's "The Rose" where he passed out roses to important people in the crowd saving the last one for Ronnie. He chose to sing that song again, this time holding one rose that he eventually placed on an empty chair positioned where Ronnie always sat. Mellor later said she was holding herself together pretty well up to that point. A lot of tears were shed at that moment. The second Taste of Talent winner Kevin Downing, along with his current singing partner Brianna Erdman, sang "The Prayer." Licht described as one of the most popular Taste of Talent songs over the years. Closing out the evening, the long-time sound guru Corbett strapped on his guitar and was joined by a band including his son Tony, lifelong friend Nelson Porter, and Licht. Corbett talked about his 15 years working with Ronnie. "All of Ronnie’s ideas and dreams... It’s been a privilege." They chose to sing an Eric Clapton tune called "If I Could Change the World." Corbett said the world is a big place and that the best we can hope to do is change the part of where we live, and that's something that was Ronnie. At the end of the concert, all past performers from Taste of talent were invited up on stage for a "We are the World"-style rendition of "Lean on Me." Mellor said the last words of the night to cap the whole tribute off... "We love you Ronnie." Editor's note: This story was edited from the original. We inadvertently left out the YMCA cheerleaders in our initial post. Our apologies.
To see more photos from last year's event please visit https://sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p390515015 The annual Music in Oil Country marching band festival will feature 12 schools showing off their talents and 2023 halftime routines.
The event “where it’s halftime all night long” is a fundraiser for the Oil City High School music program, which is getting ready to purchase new marching band uniforms. According to music director Dan Cartwright, it was 2009 the last time a new set of uniforms at a cost of $50,000. He suspects it will be more this time around. Beyond the fundraising aspect, Cartwright says there is a greater benefit to the festival. "The purpose of the festival is not only to give area marching bands a great event and venue to perform at, but for participants to meet and mingle with kids from all over the area who do the same thing every week," he said. "There are no contests or rivalries, just an evening to celebrate the countless hours that each school puts into their show each season." The following 12 schools from seven counties will perform:
The festival kicks off at 7 p.m. on September 9 at Oil City High School. Gates open at 6 p.m. Admission is $5. As in years past, there will also be raffles, concessions, a bake sale, candy grams and air grams. The event will go on if it rains but will move indoors to the gymnasium where the bands will crowd the basketball court. For those who can't make the show, the Oil City High School broadcasting team will livestream the event. Anyone wishing to support the band's fundraising efforts can also send checks payable to OCASD with the Oil Marching Band in the memo line. For questions, contact Daniel Cartwright at dcartwright@mail.ocasd.org. The Allegheny/French Creek confluence is a little rockier after this past weekend's Rock in River festival. In the professional competition alone, 120 circular-ish - flat stones brought from all over the place are now part of Venango County. A rock can take millions of years to create. Once it is created it can sit in the same places for 1,000s of years. Rock skippers look for the perfect ones they think might have the right shape, weight and aerodynamics to sail barely touching the surface of the water over and over again before it dives in or loses its forward momentum and drops. These old rocks may confuse archaeologists someday, but they have found a new home in the rust belt. Some rocks really shine seemingly to endlessly go while others end in a rather unceremonious keplunk. Some skippers make special trips to favorite spots to find their choice rocks and collect all year, others will bring a couple handfuls to the river bank. Some bring rocks to share. In the championship pro division Saturday the 20 competitors managed to make 120 stones skip nearly 3,000 times. There was also a youth and amateur division The competition's winner had a single skip of 50 and the cumulative high total of 179, 11 better than his closest challenger on the day. For the second year in a row the Pennsylvania stone skipping champion was Tidioute's Andy "Big Rock" Severns. Second was Baltomore's Enzo Ferrari and third was Aiden Woolsey down from Buffalo. Competitors came from as far away as Soquel, California. One Canadian, who is a past winner made the trip again as well. Quincy, Massachusetts and a regular from Illinois. Eight states and one Canada Provence were represented. Missing from this year was Kurt "The Mountainman" Steiner. The world-record holder is a perennial favorite of the competition but he was in Europe to skip stones for a music video for The Chemical Brothers and Beck. Stone skipping fame comes with a price sometimes. A lot of the usual faces were there. Dave "The Spiderman" Ohmer with his sons' David "Chicken foot" Ohmer and Luke "Electric Luke Orchestra" Ohmer, Dan "The Canadian" Quayle , Dana "Panda" Olson and Mike "Air-tight Alibi" Willianson. But two regulars, besides the Mountainman, were not there. A moment of silence for one of the event founders Ronnie Beith and another annual skipper Aaron "The Kraken" McCracken was observed. A special moment was had for McCracken as Airtight Alibi sprinkled a small packet of McCracken's ashes along the shore. Then the fitting tribute of all throwers getting along the edge to throw a rock in unison to honor their friends. McCracken was the second-place winner last year while he was in mid-battle and getting chemotherapy treatments. Beith has been Franklin's event coordinator for years. They both passed away since last year's festival. See more photos from Saturday's event here: https://sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p54911288
A few more photos from Saturday's event are below. Bridgefest Saturday had both ends of Veteran's Bridge rocking with tunes from 4 to 10 p.m.. There were spirits to drink, art to look at, chalk to draw with and many vendors selling their work and food. Kaleb Lewis also gave a professional movie level make-up demonstration. Hundreds of people gathered on the bridge throughout the day to take advantage of the second day.
Below are a few photos from the event. The annual two-day festival that utilizes the Center street span on Friday and the Veteran's Bridge on Saturday kicked off with a family friendly event yesterday. The Center Street Bridge event was sponsored by Oil City Main Street who, just a few days ago, lost their leader, Kathy Bailey, after a long battle with cancer. Maureen James, who was there helping out, said people wondered if the event would be cancelled after Bailey passed away. "Kathy would kill us if we cancelled it," she said. Bailey, was instrumental in the Center Street LED illumination and it spawned the first Bridgefest-like event in 2017. Then Bailey, with Main Street, and Kay Woods, through the arts council, decided in 2018 to turn it into two bridge, two-day event. Last night Mitch Littler, HOLeY Jeans and the Oil City Marching Band helped draw hundreds to Center Street while children's games where under the steal arched beams of the historic bridge. The renovated bridge is the iconic symbol of the Main Street Program. John Manders' characitures, putt-putt golf and sometimes a crashing Jenga game, food and face painting, arts and crafts, some fun and some important conversations, George Etzel's Kung-Fu kids demonstrating, and kids running around everywhere were just part of the event. Oh and there were clowns and balloons galore.
The event is free and open to the public.. Below are more photos from Friday evening's event. Saturday September 16
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