Today's Online Front Page: Holiday spirit is the air throughout the region; Musicians hold benefit concert; Trail cam captures the Nature of Things
The holiday spirit of giving and enjoying the company of friends, family and neighbors was on full display this weekend throughout the region. Santa found his way to Titusville to spread a little joy and hope for the holidays. Read about it under the Eight & 27 tab.
Concert benefits Sugar Valley Lodge
Bluegrass at the Barrow raised money for folks at Sugar Valley Lodge and the Barrow-Civic Theatre. It also gave bluegrass musicians a chance to get together and share tunes with nearly 200 concert goers. Read more about it on the Eight & 322 page.
Waiting for the Hallmark moment
With all the trees decorated in Fountain Park, Franklin is spreading joy as the city readies itself for its next Hallmark postcard moment!
Music series has new home in Oil City
The Karma concert series is moving to Billy's. There are four concerts planned for December, all to benefit the ongoing effort to renovate the Lyric Theatre space.
The Nature of Things columnist is struggling with trail cameras, thanks to a goat named Kennedy. But a desire to see the life around her as it happens led to getting a new one and after some tweaks there will be. more to come
Today's Online Front Page: Restaurant, Coffee shop serve up holiday meals; Christmas trees come to Fountain Park; Titusville holiday kickoff
The Titusville Mill and the Well - Coffee House and Eatery, with the support of the community, served up more than 200 meals on Thanksgiving - some through delivery and others by opening their doors for anyone looking for a place to eat on the holiday. More pictures of the effort here.
Franklin groups, businesses partner for
​a Christmas Walk in Park
The City of Franklin and the Franklin Fine Arts Council along with area businesses are once again partnering for a Christmas Walk in the Park.
​Earlier this week, volunteers set up over a dozen trees in Fountain Park and throughout the week, other volunteers showed up to decorate them. One such group - VenanGo GOLD was stringing lights around their tree Wednesday night. Their story tugs at the heart as they raise awareness about the devastating reality of childhood cancer.
Titusville opens holiday season with parade, lights display
The Santa parade will kick off at 6 p.m. tonight (Friday) on North Perry Street near the train station and work its way through downtown to Scheide Park.
Across town, the Take Pride in Titusville's Holiday at Burgess drive-thru display also opens at 6 p.m. It will be open nighly from 6 to 9 p.m.
Titusville's Janet Zehner is among the folks lending their voice to this year's Venango Chorus Christmas concert - "Goin' Home" on December 2 at the Good Hope Lutheran Church in Oil City.
Happy Thanksgiving and thank you all for supporting local journalism
On this day of Thanksgiving we are thankful for our local journalism friends and all the advertisers that support them and we especially thank those who believe in us and have been supporting us from the beginning.
Contact us at 8and322@gmail.com to learn more.
Today's Online Front Page: Concert inspired by Ukrainian refugees, Support local art, Tribute to a 'jerk', Holiday calendar is getting busy
What does it mean to be "Goin' Home"?
The theme for the Venango Chorus' holiday show was inspired by the director's daughter's family, who took in Ukrainian friends seeking shelter from the storm in their homeland.
​Read more about this story and the upcoming performance here.
Two ways to support local artists and get some unique gifts for the holidays
Franklin Area School District's art program is looking to start an art collection and find patrons for one-of-a-kind art fundraiser. ​Read story here​
​Artists from Oil City will be taking part in the national "Artist's Sunday" celebration on November 27. Sales and demonstrations will be set up at the National Transit Building and around the city.
​According to the Arts Oil City social media post, "It's an art filled day with a range of mediums, affordable gift items, original art for the collector, and a musical concert spread throughout the day and about town."
Read more about the event here.
Read The Nature of Things columnist Anna Applegat's "Tribute to a Terrible Jerk". ​
Did you know we keep a calendar of local and regional events?
SANTA PARADE - Santa will be coming to Titusville at 6 p.m. and will ride down North Perry, Spring and Franklin streets and Central Avenue. After the parade, Santa will be visiting with children at the gazebo in Scheide Park. Hot chocolate and cookies will be available.
POPS CONCERT - The Franklin Silver Cornet Band will be playing its annual Pops Concert at 7:30 p.m. at the Barrow-Civic Theatre. The concert is free, though attendees are asked to bring a donation of a non-perishable food item for a local food bank. ​
Click here for more local events.
​November 25 to December 31
HOLIDAY AT BURGESS - The drive-thru light display will be open from 6 to 9 p.m. daily. Sponsored by Take Pride in Titusville. Donations accepted. Santa will be available to visit with children on Fridays and Saturdays in December. There will be ice carvings on December 3, sled dogs on December 10, and live reindeer on December 17.
SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY - Local small businesses will be hosting a variety of special events, discounts and giveaways. Shop local this holiday.
Today's Online Front Page: Community Thanksgiving meals, Rehearsals underway for holiday concert, Businesses in running for contest funding
Community Thanksgiving meals available
​​Volunteers from Good Hope and Zion Lutheran churches cooked more than 50 turkeys for their Thanksgiving meal program. Here is a listing of area organizations offering free holiday dinners:
The Titusville Mill will host a community dinner from 3 to 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. For more details on donating, volunteering, or attending, call 814-796-4048.
ABC Life Center and Lighthouse Apartments in Franklin are partnering to provide 500 free Thanksgiving dinners. Register at ​https://app.mapstechnologies.com/.../JkvTNmsQyEq92XLXvI8B8w.
Salvation Army is offering meals from noon to 12:45 p.m. Wednesday at the center at 217 Sycamore St. in Oil City. Meals are sit-down only. More information is available at 814-677-4056.​
Good Hope and Zion Lutheran churches will deliver meals between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Thursday. Reservations must be made in advance at 814-676-9122.
Meadville Community Soup Kitchen will hold a free Thanksgiving dinner at 11:15 a.m. Thursday. The dinner will be held at Stone United Methodist Church, 956 S. Main St.
Family and Community Christian Association (378 Chestnut St., Meadville) will host a free sit-down dinner at noon on Thanksgiving Day. No reservations are required.
Read more of this story here.
Members of the Venango Chorus rehearsed Monday in preparation for their annual holiday concert that will be at 7 p.m. Saturday, December 3, at Good Hope Lutheran Church on Moran Street in Oil City. They have two more practices to polish up their selections of holiday tunes. We are working on a story about their show theme, which asks "What does home mean to you?"
Titusville, Franklin businesses among ORA competition finalists
The Roughneck Gravel Roubaix bike race in Titusville and Iron Furnance Coffee in Franklin are among the finalists in the Outdoor Recreation Business contest. The winners will be announced during a ceremony at Oil City's Christmas Past festival on December 2. A kid's bike and a $200 gift certificate will be awarded to two people in attendance at the ceremony.
​Read more about who is nominated here.
Today's Online Front Page: Holiday kickoff event schedules, Charities help the hungry, Christmas gift workshop for kids, Wood wins state title
The chilly evening air was no match for the warm glow of the holiday spirit in Franklin Saturday. The city held its annual LIght-Up Night celebration complete with an electric light parade, giant tree lighting and a fireworks display coordinated to Christmas music. See more pictures of the event on the Eight & 322 tab.
Holiday events scheduled throughout the region
Franklin is one of the first communities in the area to mark the start of the holiday season with their annual light up extravaganza, it is not the only opportunity to get into the Christmas spirit.
Titusville – November 25. Santa will come to town at 6 p.m. and will ride down North Perry, Spring and Franklin streets, and Central Avenue ending at Scheide Park where Santa will visit with children at the gazebo. Hot chocolate and cookies will be available. Also that night, the Take Pride in Titusville's Holiday at Burgess drive-thru display will also open at 6 p.m.
Oil City – December 2. Oil City will light its tree in Town Square during an event from 5 to 7:30 p.m. HOLeY Jeans will perform. Santa is also expected to make an appearance. See the entire schedule in the calendar section.
Meadville – December 2. The downtown event features a tree lighting in Diamond Park, ice sculptures, Santa, live music, and local shopping.
Cooperstown – December 10. The day will include Breakfast with Santa, tiny Christmas tree display, lighting up the island at 6 p.m., Santa and a bake sale.
Make sure to check out our Calendar tab for more holiday events scheduled in the coming weeks.
Look for the Helpers
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. This past week, we got to see this giving in action at Associated Charities, the Titusville Area Food Bank and Friends for Food. Full story here.
Congrats Wood
​After shaky starts in the first two sets, Maplewood took command of the match and won in straight sets to take home their sixth state volleyball title.
Christmas workshop gives kids a chance to make gifts
Two Mile Run County Park will be turned into the North Pole as it hosts a Christmas Workshop for children. Christmas craft stations will be set up from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at the park office. Children will be able to create gifts for their family and friends and well as enjoy cookies and hot chocolate.
​​The event is open to ages 5 to 12 and costs $10 per child. Pre-registration for a time slot is required and can be done online. Check out more in the News From You section.
Extra Extra!! Wood Wins State Championship
Nobody better
Maplewood looked as though they had met their match early on in the Class A state volleyball final Saturday. But showing patience and tenacity, the Tigers became the comeback kids in the first two sets. They ended up sweeping the West Branch Warriors in straight sets at Cumberland Valley High School.
The Tigers had a slow start against the District 6 champs falling behind 7-1 in the first set. Coach Sheila Bancroft called a timeout to get her squad settled down. It worked, though the Tigers didn't manage to take a lead until, down 22-19, they ran off five straight points.
Maplewood ended up taking the first set 26-24. It was the first set loss for the Warriors during the playoffs.
Wood again started slow in the second set. They twice found themselves down by at least five points, 10-5 and 14-8. After clawing back to a 17-14 deficit, they got hot behind Bailey Varndell's serving. Varndell was ace happy with five during a 10-point Maplewood run that propelled them into the lead and up seven 24-17. The Warriors made it interesting with a four-point run before Bancroft stopped the momentum with a timeout.
Wood took the second set 25-21.
That seemed to be enough to quell the Warriors ability to start quick. The third set was completely dominated by the Tigers who jumped out to 6-1 lead. The Warriors never got closer than four points and ended up losing to the Tigers 25-11.
Eight & 322 file
The win gives the Tigers their sixth state title on the girls side and eighth overall. It is the fifth for Coach Bancroft.
Today's Online Front Page: Brrrrr it's cold out there, Titusville's proposed budget is online, News From You section, Congrats Luke and go Wood!
Baby, it's cold outside
While our neighbors to the north might be getting most of the snow, it will be a chilly weekend in the Oil Region. Make sure to bundle up before heading out for Franklin's Light-Up Night parade, tree lighting and fireworks. Saturday's forecast for Titusville and Franklin shows partly cloudy skies with highs only reaching 30 and lows in the teens, according to the Weather Channel.
Late Saturday and into Sunday, snowflakes are likely to start falling with some accumulation. The calendar might indicate it is still fall, but winter has certainly arrived in the area.
​Your city's proposed budget is your business?
In Tuesday's meeting Titusville city manager Neil Fratus said he wants to be transparent throughout the budget process. Though the proposed budgets are always made available to the public, today's electronic age makes it even easier to see where your leaders are spending your tax money. And you can see how much you're actually spending for the services they provide.
Titusville City Council revenue and expense budgets are online to view on the city's website or you can download to view them here:
2023_proposed_expense_budget_-_not_final.pdf
2023_proposed_revenue_budget_-_not_final.pdf
Go Maplewood girls go!
Maplewood takes on West Branch in state title match Saturday at 10:30 a.m. in Mechanicsburg.
Congratulations Luke
Franklin High School senior Luke Guth signed his National Letter of Intent to attend Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. He will play Division 1 baseball for the Commodores during the 2023-24 season. Guth was the Knight's ace pitcher during the 2022 season and helped the team make it into post-season play. ​
Where we share things you're doing in the community
Our website has a section just for Information that you want to share with the community, like the Northwest Planning Commission's Greenway grant opportunities. We call it "News From You". Submit your news and photos to 8and 322@gmail.com.
Today's Online Front Page: Titusville proposed budget holds line on taxes; OC Concert series continues; Barrow announces 2023 shows
Nathaniel Licht and Joe Thompson performed Thursday night as part of the Karma at Tipsy concert series in Oil City. The performances raise money for the Lyric Theatre Restoration Project, which is nearing its overall funding-raising goal. Read an update on the series and the project under the Eight & 322 tab.
Good luck Tigers!
Maplewood will face West Branch in the 1A girls volleyball state champions at 10:30 Saturday at Cumberland Valley high school in Mechanicsburg. Here are some pictures from earlier this season.
'Doing more with less'
Titusville council discusses financial matters ​
Tuesday's city council meeting showed that money is tight in the Titusville, but the city manager and council are determined to not raise taxes.
The approved first reading of the proposed 2023 budget was passed along with the bill to fix the tax rates for the upcoming year.
​"So, basically there is no tax increase," Mayor Jon Crouch emphasized after city manager Neil Fratus presented the tax rates.
Council also discussed a request for money from the redevelopment authority.
​Read more about this week's council meeting under the Eight & 27 tab.
Barrow-Civc Theatre announces mainstage, youth theatre shows
The Barrow-Civic Theatre in Franklin revealed its 2023 Franklin Civic Operetta Association mainstage season and it includes four full-scale productions - the play "Pride & Prejudice" and includes the musicals "Cinderella", "School of Rock" and "Cabaret".
The winter FCOA Youth Theatre returns early next year with performances of "The Rainbow Fish Musical." It is the first full-scale winter show since February 2020.
​Find out more about the shows under the News From You section.
Today's Online Front Page: Maplewood is headed to states - again; Licht, Thompson performing in OC; Franklin has its Light-Up Night tree
It was a Maplewood sweep, though not an easy one. Oswayo Valley took them to 25-22, 25-23 and 25-23 in the state semi-final Class A girls volleyball match Tuesday night at Warren High School. This will be coach Sheila Bancroft's ninth appearance in the state championship game. Under her coaching, the Maplewood Tigers have won four girls championships thus far. She also coached a boys team to the state finals.
​The girls are scheduled to play at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Cumberland Valley High School in Mechanicsburg. They will face the winner of Sacred Heart Academy versus West Branch match-up that is scheduled for Wednesday.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Franklin has its tree. It came down Route 8 from Oil City early Tuesday afternoon. The city volunteers plan to return tomorrow to finish decking out the branches just in time for Franklin's Light-Up Night on Saturday, November 19.
Read more about Franklin's tree by clicking here.
Ed Turner from Paul Bunyan's Tree Service, which helps with the cutting down the holiday centerpieces, said Oil City will be getting its tree tomorrow. Oil City will light up its tree on December 2 at the start of its annual Christmas Past weekend.
Oh, and if you know Matt Beith (below) you might ask him about climbing Christmas trees and getting covered in sap.
Titusville musicians to perform in Oil City
​Titusville's own Nathaniel Licht and Joe Thompson will perform from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, November 17 at Tipsy Chef at 45 Seneca Street, Oil City. The concert is part of the Karma Goes Tipsy musical series. The series is a fundraiser for the Lyric Theatre restoration project. The cost is $5 and attendance is BYOB. A light menu will be available.
Find out about other events happening in the area by checking on the Calendar tab.
Titusville mayor praises efforts of cooperation in the city and councilman McCrillis wonders where the public is when the budget meetings take place. It appears the budget is tight leaving little room for some possible needed projects. We'll have more on Tuesday's city council meeting tomorrow.
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