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Here’s the latest.
Oil Region Venango Campus Flourishes Under ORA Management
The Oil Region Venango Campus in Oil City is flourishing under the management of the Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry & Tourism (ORA).
The campus was owned by the former Clarion University, now Penn West University, and transferred to the ORA in July 2024. The plan was first announced in January 2024.
Since then the ORA has worked to return students to classrooms, reconnect alumni and donors with the campus, and expand offerings to include community and workforce development, cultural and heritage programming, and advanced outdoor recreation.
“The sheer importance of retaining the campus hinges on three main factors,” said John R. Phillips, II, ORA President and CEO. “First, we need it to maintain a higher education presence in Venango County. Second, it is imperative that we protect the legacies of the families who donated to the creation of the campus. And third, with recent losses like Polk Center, we did not want to see the facility fall into disrepair nor be sold or auctioned off by the PA Department of General Services.”
PADGS holds all state-owned property.
Seth Herrick was brought on in July 2024 as Executive Director of the campus. His previous work experience is in healthcare as he holds a Bachelor of Science in Medical Imaging from Clarion University, and a Master of Health Services Administration and Doctor of Healthcare Administration from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM). As an alumnus of the campus under Clarion University, Herrick has a unique perspective of what the campus was and what it could be in the future in terms of programming and opportunity to those in all stages of life as well as an asset to businesses large and small.
“The campus has changed so much in the past six months since the ORA assumed operations,” Herrick said. “The public feedback has been exceptional, and this is just the start. Having the campus available to those pursuing personal and professional growth through educational opportunities, community engagement, and social events resonates with the original mission of the Venango Campus to be a product of the community that can advance the needs of the region.”
The ORA expects to assume full ownership of the campus during the first quarter of 2025.
The Venango Training and Technology Center’s adult LPN nursing program moved to Montgomery Hall and began classes in July.
Other tenants include Oil City Vineyard Church and temporary offices for Northwest Commission.
The ORA has partnered with Manchester Bidwell Corporation of Pittsburgh to pursue a private education license and is exploring partnerships with other workforce development organizations to develop and offer existing apprenticeship programs
The Hill Group, a management consulting firm out of Pittsburgh that specializes in strategy, was tapped to hold listening sessions in which a variety of stakeholders will be interviewed about the needs of the community and potential goals for the campus. They will hold public meetings early in the new year to gather additional input.
“As we continue to grow the Venango Campus, workforce development will be at the forefront of our planning to ensure that employees in the region are equipped with the necessary skills to remain competitive in the job market and enable them to advance in their careers,” said Herrick. “I am driven to advance the campus and utilize it to its full potential to truly become a regional asset for all.”
Corporate trainings, community development, meeting space, and even private event space is available at the campus.
“We have already hosted ‘interest-based educational opportunities’ such as the Bridge Literary Society workshop in August and plan to hold more of these enrichment events and activities,” said Herrick.
Beyond the programming, another more visible change at the campus is the signage. New sign faces bearing the Oil Region National Heritage Area logo and the original donor names for each building were installed in the fall.
Plans are in the works to update the signage at the campus apartments across West First Street in a similar way, adding the ORNHA logo and retaining the original names of donors. The ORA has worked with the Clarion University Foundation with operations throughout much of 2024 and officially purchased the five apartment buildings in October 2024.
“The apartments are a key component to supporting the events of the campus,” said Phillips.
They provide options for newcomers to the area looking for short-term lodging and aid in workforce recruitment by housing interns and temporary employees in manufacturing, higher education, and environmental industries. Community meeting space is also available in one of the five apartment buildings. There is also a possibility of using some of the space for tourism lodging in the future.
Suhr Library currently houses the Barbara Morgan Harvey Center for the Study of Oil Heritage. The ORA will retain the archives and plans to make improvements to the center’s display, and return programming including the lecture series and Heritage and History Days.
The library’s lobby will be the new home of the Venango County Conservation Hall of Fame. The latest honorees were inducted in November 2024, but individuals who have made contributions to the environment with local ties have been recognized since 2011.
Ecological concerns related to the West End Pond will also be addressed by the ORA’s internal environmental programs and with external partners.
Proper maintenance of the campus grounds is just as important as maintaining the buildings themselves. The ORA envisions Rhoades Center to be a hub for outdoor recreation given its proximity to the existing bike trail, Allegheny River, and Oil City Marina. With approximately 65 acres, the property has potential for new mountain bike trails and other opportunities to commune with nature.
During a review of the campus’ history, Herrick found an old slogan: “A great place to start. A great place to grow.” He plans to incorporate it into the new marketing moving forward.
“The Oil Region Venango Campus is a major project of the ORA, but it is only one piece of a very intricate puzzle that will include brand new projects yet-to-be announced for 2025 and more ongoing work in the areas of brownfield remediation, outdoor recreation development, heritage preservation and interpretation, and tourism marketing,” Phillips said.
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Student Re-enactors Return for Fall Teams at Tarbell House
Join us this fall at the historic Tarbell House for public teas served by student re-enactors from Titusville High School. The Tarbell House, located at 324 East Main Street in Titusville, is the fully-rehabilitated 1870 home of investigative journalism pioneer Ida M. Tarbell.
Guests are invited to interact one-on-one with a young Ida Tarbell and her contemporaries as they transport you back to Oil Boom days with a delicious, multi-course.
The teas will be held November 9 and December 7. Each tea begins at 1 p.m., with guided house tours following the refreshments.
Reservations are required as space is limited. Please call the Oil Region Alliance at 814-677-3152 to make a reservation. The cost is $20 per person, and proceeds benefit the Tarbell House.
For additional information about the Tarbell House, visit its Facebook page. To schedule group tours/private events, contact the Oil Region Alliance. The non-profit Alliance owns and operates this historic property as part of their preservation and educational programs within the Oil Region National Heritage Area.
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Venango County Conversation Hall of Fame to Induct Two New Honorees Nov. 2
The 2024 Venango County Conservation Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held Saturday, November 2 in Rhoades Hall on the Oil Region Venango Campus.
The names of the 2024 inductees will be publicly revealed at the event. Doors open at 3 p.m. and the program begins promptly at 3:30. A reception with light refreshments follows.
The Conservation Hall of Fame honors men and women who have made significant and lasting contributions to conservation and the environment. The intent is to not only honor these men and women, but to ensure they and their work is remembered and to serve as an inspiration to future generations.
The Conservation Hall of Fame was created by the Oil City Chapter, Izaak Walton League of America and the first class installed in 2011. It is housed in Rhoades Hall on the Oil Region Venango Campus originally in partnership with the former Clarion University and now in a new partnership with the Oil Region Alliance.
Although the names of the 2024 inductees will not be released until the event, the selection committee has released a few hints. One of the inductees is a 1969 graduate of Franklin High School and the other is a noted bird lover in Franklin’s past.
A complete list of all Conservation Hall of Fame honorees can be found on the ORA’s website at https://oilregion.org/economic-development/venango-campus/
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Bridgeway Capital’s ACRE Program for Rural-Based Creative Entrepreneurs Expands into Oil City, Pa.
Applications open on October 21, 2024, for creative entrepreneurs in Venango County and Northwestern Pennsylvania.
PITTSBURGH – Bridgeway Capital is excited to announce the expansion of its Alliance for Creative Rural Economies (ACRE) program into Oil City, Pa. and is accepting applications beginning today. This marks the next chapter in Bridgeway’s mission to empower creative entrepreneurs in rural communities through financial resilience, creative fulfillment, and social impact.
The ACRE program is designed to foster resilient creative businesses in disinvested areas across a multistate region of Appalachia. This program, which was initially piloted in Johnstown, Pa. in 2022, has since grown to serve creative entrepreneurs in various regions, including Greensburg, Pa., New Kensington, Pa., and Morgantown, Wv. Oil City will join this network of ACRE communities as one of three locations added in 2024: serving 45 new creative entrepreneurs.
“Bridgeway is excited to add Oil City as one of three new ACRE communities,” said Adam Kenney, Chief Program Officer at Bridgeway Capital. “Oil City has a rich cultural history and a growing creative sector that will benefit from the tailored support that ACRE provides. These entrepreneurs bring commercial and creative energy to rural revitalization, and we look forward to helping them realize their potential.”
The ACRE journey follows a proprietary “Learn, Plan, Thrive” model that guides participants through business training, financial planning, and personalized coaching. The approach equips creative entrepreneurs with the tools and strategies they need to build sustainable businesses that contribute to the revitalization of their communities.
ACRE adapts to each host community based on the needs of local creative entrepreneurs and the strengths of area partners who share their goals of downtown revitalization and the reactivation of a community arts destination. In Oil City, partners include Oil Region Alliance and ARTS Oil City.
“Creative businesses are vital to the economic renewal of rural areas, and Oil City is no exception,” said John R. Phillips, II, ORA President and CEO. “Bridgeway’s ACRE program will help local artists, makers, and designers tap into new markets, strengthen their financial foundations, and make lasting contributions to Oil City’s downtown revitalization efforts and the Oil Region.”
Participants in the nine-month program will work closely with business coaches, regional industry experts and their peers to develop business plans, explore new revenue streams, and build connections within their local creative economy.
Applications for the Oil City ACRE cohort are open to creative entrepreneurs aged 18 or older with at least one year of experience operating a creative business. Priority is given to applicants that are BIPOC, women, or veteran-owned creative businesses and have evidence of, or aspirations for, social impact in their communities. Applicants from Uniontown and surrounding rural areas in Venango County will be given priority, especially those whose businesses contribute to social and community impact.
There will be an information session at the Oil Region Venango Campus October 29, 2024 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. and the application window closes December 15, 2024.
To learn more about the ACRE program, register for the information session, or to apply now, visit www.acrepartners.org.
About Bridgeway Capital
Bridgeway Capital is a mission-driven lender, a nonprofit alternative to banks that lends to small businesses, nonprofits and real estate projects that have a positive community impact. As a Community Development Financial institution (CDFI), Bridgeway is certified by the U.S. Treasury. Since 1990, Bridgeway has invested more than $250 million in communities across the region, with over 90% of the funding provided to low-income communities. As a social impact investor, Bridgeway focuses on equitable economic growth in underserved areas by providing impact-driven lending and programs to grow businesses and revitalize places. For more information, visit www.bridgewaycapital.org.
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ORA Is Finalizing Next Oil Region Guide, Last Call for Advertisers
The Oil Region Alliance (ORA) is finalizing the latest edition of the Oil Region Guide, the premier marketing publication for the region, and is offering a last call for advertisers who have yet to commit to participating.
The 56-page magazine highlights the Oil Region National Heritage Area’s history, outdoor recreational offerings, arts and culture, hospitality amenities, special events, and more through articles and advertisements.
“This Guide is for more than just potential tourists,” said Emily Altomare, ORA Communications and Tourism Manager. “It’s a resource for locals and a tool used in recruitment by area businesses, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions. It’s a great way to get your name out there. Please don’t miss this chance to be included!”
Advertising details can be found on the ORA’s Facebook page and by e-mail request to ealtomare@oilregion.org.
As Venango County’s designated tourism destination marketing organization, the ORA produces the Guide bi-annually as part of an overall marketing strategy, which includes the OilRegion.org and ExperienceTheOilRegion.com websites, an interactive online map of attractions and amenities, social media advertising campaigns, and marketing partnerships with the PA Great Lakes Region and Pennsylvania state tourism office, Visit PA.
The design and development process along with advertising sales is done entirely in-house at the ORA, but incorporates a lot of input from community members and volunteers including those who serve on the ORA’s Tourism Advisory Promotion Council.
“I am so appreciative of the collaboration between our staff and committee members as well as the participation of our advertisers,” said John R. Phillips, II, ORA President and CEO. “That’s what makes this publication so valuable.”
The Guide, at 85,000 hard copies, is distributed locally at visitor centers and points of interest as well as in response to direct requests and leads generated through advertising. It is available at stops on the Pennsylvania turnpike, several rest stops, Welcome Centers, and select AAA offices across the state in addition to three spots on I-95 in Delaware and Maryland thanks to an ORA contract with distributor Getaways on Display.
The current Guide is available to download or flip through virtually online at OilRegion.org/tourism/visitor-guide/. Once the 2025-2026 Guide is complete in January, the virtual issue will be updated to the new version.
Anyone interested in participating in the Oil Region Guide should contact Altomare at ealtomare@oilregion.org immediately.
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ORA to Hold Homeshare Education Event Oct. 23 in Oil City
The Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry & Tourism will host a free, open house style Homeshare Education Event at the Rhoades Center on the Oil Region Venango Campus Wednesday, October 23 from 4-7 p.m.
“Our goal is to connect with those operating homeshares like AirBnBs or interested in starting one,” said Emily Altomare, ORA Communications and Tourism Manager.
“As Venango County’s designated tourism destination marketing organization, the ORA is responsible for marketing the county using hotel tax dollars collected from hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, and homeshares,” said Altomare. “Homeshares are making up more and more of these funds each year. This event is an opportunity for us to strengthen our communications with those proprietors and demonstrate ways we can work together to promote the county.”
Homeshares or short-term rentals are any lodging in a permanent structure (house, apartment, cabin, etc., but not RVs or campsites) with running water, rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days.
Traditional bed and breakfast operators are also welcome to attend the event, according to Altomare. Even campground owners can attend and will benefit from the information being shared.
Handouts and questionnaires will be available throughout the event. Brief presentations will be made at 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. with plenty of time to ask questions in between.
“The timing of this event coincides with the deadline for advertising in the Oil Region Guide,” said Altomare.
The Guide is produced every other year and features stories on the heritage, arts and culture, and outdoor recreation offerings of the area in addition to listings of shops, restaurants, attractions, and lodging. Limited display advertising space is also available.
Refreshments will be available to attendees. Registration is not required, but appreciated to ealtomare@oilregion.org.
Anyone unable to attend but interested in learning more should also reach out to Altomare. Materials can be shared via email and/or appointment.
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ORA Announces Completion of Oil Region Diversity Study
The Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry & Tourism commissioned a Diversity Study project to uncover lesser known and unknown stories within the Oil Region National Heritage Area.
The Study focused on the histories of women, African Americans, Asian Americans, Jewish Americans, and transient workers throughout the region from the mid-19th century through the mid-20th century from the oil boom through its peak.
“We acknowledge that this report, while substantial, does not tell every story in the region,” said Jenn Burden, ORA Heritage Program Manager. “The ORA wants to continue to look for pieces of the region’s history that are not widely known.”
The report will help researchers, historians, and the general public better understand how various people contributed to the development of the Oil Region, according to Burden.
“The ORA intends the Study to be utilized by us and our partners for future projects and programs to tell new or expanded older stories of the Oil Region,” Burden said.
These projects and programs may include publications, lectures, and exhibits.
“One fascinating story in the Study is about the number of Chinese laundries in the region,” Burden shared. “Many Chinese men came to the region from California after the gold rush slowed down. The oil boom attracted them, like many others, to the region to seek new opportunities.”
The ORA hired researcher Hilary Jebitsch to complete the project, which lasted from about August 2023 to August 2024. She compiled a similar Study for the PA Lumber Heritage Area in 2021.
The ORA’s project was funded by the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the National Park Service with in-kind support from the Benson Memorial Library, Drake Well Museum & Park, Heritage Society of Oil City, Titusville Historical Society, Venango County Historical Society, and the Venango Museum of Art, Science & Industry.
Copies of the Study have been distributed to the in-kind support organizations as well as the Barbara Morgan Harvey Center for the Study of Oil Heritage, Crawford County Historical Society, and the Oil Region Library Association.
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ORA to Hold Oil Region Bass Tournament Sunday at Oil City Marina
The Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry, and Tourism will hold a bass fishing tournament Sunday, October 13 at the Oil City Marina and award a $1,000 cash prize.
The contest is open to the first 49 2-person boat teams to register beginning at 6:30 a.m. the day of the event and pay the $100 entry fee. Fishing hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Allegheny River. Prizes will be awarded for the heaviest combined weight of five fish. A separate “Lunker Contest” will be held for an additional $10 entry fee with the collected pot awarded for the heaviest individual fish.
“We are so fortunate to have the Allegheny River as an amenity right here in our backyard,” said John R. Phillips, II, ORA President and CEO. “This contest incentivizes folks coming here to fish.”
The Allegheny River was voted PA River of the Year for 2024.
“Anglers are excited every fall to come to the Allegheny in Oil City,” said Eric Heil. “The quantity and size of the smallmouth bass in the river is outstanding. A day of fishing is always a fun time for anglers.”
Heil, who helped with previous ORA fishing tournaments in the 2000s in addition to tournaments held by other organizations, is lending his expertise and experience to this event, organizing the contest details, spreading the word, and coordinating volunteers and equipment for registration and weigh in.
According to Heil, Sunday’s storm, which caused flash flooding in Titusville, will not negatively impact the tournament.
“It may have dirtied up the water a little down here, but it’ll clear again by the weekend,” Heil said. “The fishing actually gets better when the water is higher and dirtier than it has been almost all summer.”
Weigh in will take place starting at 4 p.m. with winners announced at 5 p.m.
The top team will receive a $1,000 cash prize on the spot. Additional prize placements and payouts will be determined based on the number of participants.
“We’re seeing great success with archery events at Two Mile Run County Park, trail runs through Oil Creek State Park, and biking events throughout our communities,” said Emily Altomare, ORA Communications and Tourism Manager. “This is a great time to focus on fishing in the Oil Region, too.”
Rules and registration forms can be found at the Facebook event page and at the ORA office.
“We hope to make this contest an annual event and grow it into a larger celebration of our waterways, drawing participants from the Oil Region and well beyond it,” said Phillips.
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Oil City Fire Department to Hold Training at Oil City Hotel Site September 11
The Oil City Fire Department (OCFD) will conduct a Pennsylvania Strike Team 1 Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Training September 11 scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the former Days Inn hotel site at 1 Seneca St., Oil City.
“This training session will focus on enhancing our regional response capabilities to large-scale structural collapse incidents,” said Oil City Fire Department Captain Noel J. Bartlett in a letter to stakeholders. “Our goal is to prepare and equip our teams with the necessary skills and knowledge to handle complex emergencies effectively and efficiently. The training will feature practical exercises, expert demonstrations, and collaborative drills aimed at improving coordination and response strategies.”
Using the hotel property allows the OCFD to conduct this training close to home and host fellow departments from the 14 counties that make up Region 13 with 40-50 participants expected including medical specialists, HAZMAT, K-9 teams, and rigging technicians in addition to those working behind the scenes in logistics.
This training demonstrates how much work goes into coordinating a response to an emergency.
“We are pleased to partner with the OCFD to provide the hotel as the location for this vital training,” said John R. Phillips, II, President and CEO of the Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry, and Tourism, which is in a joint venture with the Oil City Redevelopment Authority to address the vacant, blighted property. “This opportunity allows us to make the most of this structure before it is torn down later this month.”
The training date of September 11 is a coincidence, but the funding for such trainings and USAR teams began in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
More recently and geographically closer, the Fern Hollow Bridge collapse in Pittsburgh in January 2022 highlighted the need for more USAR teams, especially on the western side of the state. At the time, the only Federal team was in Philadelphia and would take 12 hours to arrive.
Through millions of federal dollars and legislation passed in 2024, OCFD is part of PA Strike Team One and is working towards being a type 3 team. Philadelphia, which is a Federal Task Force, is currently a type 1 team, which works with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Strike Team can support Philly, but is not in competition with them.
Through mutual aid agreements, Strike Team 1 can give support to surrounding states as needed.
The complex capabilities and extensive in-house training required to be a USAR team garners the 15-person OCFD the respect of larger urban fire departments, according to Captain Bartlett.
“We’re the Swiss Army knife of emergency services,” Captain Bartlett said of the USAR team.
The OCFD team already has real world experience including the recovery of a woman from a five-story building collapse in Washington County, according to Captain Bartlett.
The likelihood of a similar building collapse in our area is high due to the number of deteriorating buildings.
The April 2023 storm that blew a portion of the roof off the Oddfellows Building on Seneca Street is a recent example of the failing infrastructure. The portion of the roof knocked down part of the parapet, which damaged a neighboring roof. OCFD responded to the scene.
“We can’t say it’s all good until we know it’s all good,” Chief Alex said, referring to the process of clearing a building that is supposed to be uninhabited, but could contain squatters or just people passing through the wrong place at the wrong time.
The need for various equipment and training is vast because “there are many different things that can create an emergency,” said Captain Bartlett.
The Strike Team has also responded to two explosions in Plum Township, a landslide at a garbage dump in McKean County, and a nursing home damaged by a tornado in Crawford County.
“1985 will happen again,” said Captain Bartlett, referring to the series of F4 and F5 tornadoes that swept the region, causing death and destruction. The difference is that back then there were 300,000 volunteer fire fighters. Today’s numbers are closer to 30,000 in the state.
“We need to recruit more,” said Chief Alex.
Publicizing this training may lead to more interest in the field as well as improving cooperation between the city’s fire department and volunteer units.
“People in the county don’t realize this asset is here,” said Chief Alex. “Call us if you need it.”
In the event of an actual emergency taking place during the training, the department will respond immediately.
“The city will not be unprotected,” said Captain Bartlett.
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ORA Announces 2024 Oil Region Tourism Awards Winners
The votes are in, and the Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry & Tourism is pleased to announce the winners of its fourth annual Oil Region Tourism Awards.
The winners are:
Best Dish: Porchetta Cubano at The Titusville Mill, Titusville
Best Drink: Chocolate Peanut Butter Latte at Coffee Days Co., Titusville
Best Room: Caboose Motel, Titusville
Best Shop: Warner’s Bakery, Titusville
Best Advocate: Harry Dilley, Jr.
Best Event: Applefest, Franklin
Best Destination: The Titusville Mill, Titusville
Best Scenic Selfie Spot: Oil Creek State Park
“It’s great to have new winners and first-time nominees,” said Emily Altomare, Communications and Tourism Manager for the Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry and Tourism (ORA). “The competition is really heating up.”
For the first time in contest history, Best Dish and Best Drink were not won by the same establishment.
“It’s nice to see everyone spreading the love even more this year,” said Altomare.
Winners from the 2023 contest were not eligible to be nominated this year in the same category.
As the designated tourism marketing organization for Venango County and the manager of the Oil Region National Heritage Area (ORNHA), the ORA facilitates the contest. Nominees and winners must be within the ORNHA, which includes all of Venango County, plus Titusville, Oil Creek Township, and Hydetown in Crawford County.
There are no cash prizes for the winners, but nominees and winners are promoted through the ORA’s social media and other marketing efforts. Winners receive a certificate and sign to display.
Last year, for the first time, a reception was held to gather winners to celebrate and to take photos and video interviews. A similar event is in the works for this year’s winners.
View the videos at https://www.youtube.com/@Oil_Region_Alliance and learn more about the awards and past nominees and winners at https://oilregion.org/tourism/oil-region-tourism-awards/
“There are so many unique features of the Oil Region, and this is a great way for residents and guests to share the ones they’re most passionate about with others,” Altomare said.
The public was invited to make nominations in eight hospitality categories during June via e-mail and the ORA’s Facebook page. Voting was open in August.
More than 600 people voted in this year’s contest between more than 80 nominees.
The 2024 nominees were:
Best Dish
Loaded Carne Asada at Taco Shack, Oil City
Lox Bagel Sandwich at Iron Furnace Coffee, Franklin
BearTown Breakfast Sandwich at Woods & River, Oil City
Buffalo Chicken Pierogi at Pierogi Party, Titusville
Spinach & Feta Pierogi at Pierogi Party, Titusville
Kickin’ Honey Chicken Mac at Trails to Ales, Franklin
Lasagna at Maria’s Italian Restaurant, Titusville
Bull & Bear Burger at The Titusville Mill, Titusville
Smoked Brisket Mac and Cheese at The Magic Bus Kitchen, Titusville
Linguini Alfredo with Chicken at Maria’s Italian Restaurant, Titusville
Porchetta Cubano at The Titusville Mill, Titusville
Calico Beans at Stiller’s Meats, Seneca
Berry Caribbean Pork Chop at Bella Cucina, Franklin
Turkey Sub at Bob’s Subs, Seneca
Premium Poblano Burger at Smoke Cantina, Franklin
Best Drink
Strawberry Matcha Tea Latte at Iron Furnace Coffee, Franklin
Caramel Mocha Latte at PerkUp, Seneca
Chocolate Covered Strawberry Latte at PerkUp, Seneca
Sugar-Free S’mores Latte at PerkUp, Seneca
BearTown Iced Mocha at Woods & River, Oil City
Dark Energy at PerkUp, Seneca
Happy Camper Smoothie at Woods & River Coffee, Oil City
Iced Salted Caramel Coconut Latte with Chocolate Cold Foam at Woods & River Coffee, Oil
City
Brown Sugar & Cinnamon Latte at PerkUp, Seneca
Chocolate Peanut Butter Latte at Coffee Days Co., Titusville
Samoa Latte at PerkUp, Seneca
Jitterbug Perfume Espresso Martini at The Titusville Mill, Titusville
Fever Dream Margarita at The Titusville Mill, Titusville
Blue Blaze Smoothie at Woods and River Coffee, Oil Cit y
Coconut Caramel Latte at Woods and River, Oil City
Mojito at Trails to Ales, Franklin
Best Shop
Printer’s Cabinet & Curiosities, Franklin
Wye Bridge Hobbies, Oil City
Core Goods, Oil City
Park Avenue Greenhouse, Oil City
Bringing it Back, Titusville
Warner’s Bakery, Titusville
4 Season Cycle, Franklin
The Olive Vault, Franklin
Parkside Pockets, Titusville
Stonehouse Jack, Titusville
Gem’s, Franklin
The Woods At Wyattville, Franklin
Amy’s Closet and Sassy’s Gifts, Franklin
Something Clever, Franklin
Best Stay
The Barnard House, Emlenton
The AirBnb at The Titusville Mill, Titusville
Caboose Motel, Titusville
Heron’s Landing above Woods and River Coffee, Oil City
Holiday Inn, Cranberry
Wildcat Mansion, Franklin
Best Scenic Selfie Spot
Justus Bike Trail
Pollen Nation with all the plants in the greenhouse (Anderson’s)
The Veranda, The Titusville Mill, Titusville
Oil Creek State Park
Cannons at the Garrison in Franklin
Miller Falls
Murray’s Scenic View on Plummer Street in Oil City
Kennerdell Overlook, Cranberry
Christmas Tree at Venango County Courthouse, Franklin
Egbert Memorial Fountain, Franklin
Wildcat Mansion, Franklin
Best Advocate
Susan Williams
Tiffany and David Nolf
4 Season Cycle
Erin Wanninger
Harry Dilley, Jr.
Dave Ballard
Wendy Thompson
Best Event
Roughneck Gravel Roubaix
Applefest
May Mart
Sunday Brunch Paint and Sip at The Titusville Mill, Titusville
Comedy Night at The Stuffed Fox Club at the Parkside, Titusville
Weekly Trivia at The Titusville Mill, Titusville
Adult Prom at The Titusville Mill, Titusville
Allegheny Gnar Downhill Mountain Bike race series, Oil City
Oil City Bridgefest, OC Arts Council, Oil City
Franklin Retail’s Witch Walk
Taste of Talent
Blues & BBQ
Best Destination
Oil Creek State Park
The Titusville Mill, Titusville
Oil Creek and Titusville Railroad
Egbert-Mullins-Koos House (307 S. Park St., Franklin) by the Venango County Historical Society
Drake Well Museum & Park
Bike Trails — Oil City-Franklin-Kennerdell
Seneca Lanes
Two Mile Run County Park
“We’re starting to see some friendly rivalries form and the nominating and voting process is really rallying the local customer base,” said Altomare. “We have so much to offer in our region and this is a great way to show that off.”
For more information about the contest, please contact ealtomare@oilregion.org.
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Voting is Now Open for 2024 Oil Region Tourism Awards
Voting is open now through Labor Day (Monday, September 2) for the 2024 Oil Region Tourism Awards, the fourth annual contest hosted by the Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry, and Tourism.
“Now in our fourth year, it’s still fun to hear from the public about their favorites,” said Emily Altomare, Communications and Tourism Manager for the Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry and Tourism (ORA). “People really enjoy nominating the best of the Oil Region for this recognition.”
As the designated tourism marketing organization for Venango County and the manager of the Oil Region National Heritage Area (ORNHA), the ORA is facilitating the contest. Nominees and winners must be within the ORNHA footprint, which includes all of Venango County, plus Titusville, Oil Creek Township, and Hydetown in Crawford County. Winners from the 2023 contest were not eligible to be nominated this year in the same category.
There are no cash prizes for the winners, but nominees and winners are promoted through the ORA’s social media and other marketing efforts.
“There are so many unique features of the Oil Region, and this is a great way for residents and guests to share the ones they’re most passionate about with others,” Altomare said.
Follow this link to vote: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KNGHQX3
The link is also available on the ORA Facebook page and at OilRegion.org/tourism/oil-region-tourism-awards/ along with a list of past nominees and winners.
The public was invited to make nominations in eight hospitality categories in June via the ORA’s Facebook page. To keep the process fresh, some of the categories were changed this year, following the input of members of the ORA’s Tourism Promotion and Advisory Council.
“Best Stay” replaces the former “Best Room” category to clarify that it honors lodging establishments.
“Best Advocate” can now be an individual or an organization that promotes Oil Region hospitality.
“Best Event”, as the name suggests, honors an event, which can be annual, a one-time thing, or recurring, such as a concert series.
“Best Scenic Selfie Spot” is a category that encourages nominators and voters to share their favorite place from which to post pics to social media, but even the less than tech savvy can choose their favorite landmark or scenery.
The 2024 nominees are:
Best Dish
Loaded Carne Asada at Taco Shack, Oil City
Lox Bagel Sandwich at Iron Furnace Coffee, Franklin
BearTown Breakfast Sandwich at Woods & River, Oil City
Buffalo Chicken Pierogi at Pierogi Party, Titusville
Spinach & Feta Pierogi at Pierogi Party, Titusville
Kickin’ Honey Chicken Mac at Trails to Ales, Franklin
Lasagna at Maria’s Italian Restaurant, Titusville
Bull & Bear Burger at The Titusville Mill, Titusville
Smoked Brisket Mac and Cheese at The Magic Bus Kitchen, Titusville
Linguini Alfredo with Chicken at Maria’s Italian Restaurant, Titusville
Porchetta Cubano at The Titusville Mill, Titusville
Calico Beans at Stiller’s Meats, Seneca
Berry Caribbean Pork Chop at Bella Cucina, Franklin
Turkey Sub at Bob’ s Subs, Seneca
Best Drink
Strawberry Matcha Tea Latte at Iron Furnace Coffee, Franklin
Caramel Mocha Latte at PerkUp, Seneca
Chocolate Covered Strawberry Latte at PerkUp, Seneca
Sugar-Free S’mores Latte at PerkUp, Seneca
BearTown Iced Mocha at Woods & River, Oil City
Dark Energy at PerkUp, Seneca
Happy Camper Smoothie at Woods & River Coffee, Oil City
Iced Salted Caramel Coconut Latte with Chocolate Cold Foam at Woods & River Coffee, Oil City
Brown Sugar & Cinnamon Latte at PerkUp, Seneca
Chocolate Peanut Butter Latte at Coffee Days Co., Titusville
Samoa Latte at PerkUp, Seneca
Jitterbug Perfume Espresso Martini at The Titusville Mill, Titusville
Fever Dream Margarita at The Titusville Mill, Titusville
Blue Blaze Smoothie at Woods and River Coffee, Oil City
Coconut Caramel Latte at Woods and River, Oil City
Mojito at Trails to Ales, Franklin
Best Stay
The Barnard House, Emlenton
The AirBnb at The Titusville Mill, Titusville
Caboose Motel, Titusville
Heron’s Landing above Woods and River Coffee, Oil City
Holiday Inn, Cranberry
Wildcat Mansion, Franklin
Best Shop
Printer’s Cabinet & Curiosities, Franklin
Wye Bridge Hobbies, Oil City
Core Goods, Oil City
Park Avenue Greenhouse, Oil City
Bringing it Back, Titusville
Warner’s Bakery, Titusville
4 Season Cycle, Franklin
The Olive Vault, Franklin
Parkside Pockets, Titusville
Stonehouse Jack, Titusville
Gem’s, Franklin
The Woods At Wyattville, Franklin
Amy’s Closet and Sassy’s Gifts, Franklin
Something Clever, Franklin
Best Advocate
Susan Williams
Tiffany and David Nolf
4 Season Cycle
Erin Wanninger
Harry Dilley, Jr.
Dave Ballard
Wendy Thompson
Best Event
Roughneck Gravel Roubaix, Titusville
Applefest, Franklin
May Mart, Franklin
Sunday Brunch Paint and Sip at The Titusville Mill, Titusville
Comedy Night at The Stuffed Fox Club at the Parkside, Titusville
Weekly Trivia at The Titusville Mill, Titusville
Adult Prom at The Titusville Mill, Titusville
Allegheny Gnar Downhill Mountain Bike race series, Oil City
Oil City Bridgefest, OC Arts Council, Oil City
Franklin Retail’s Witch Walk, Franklin
Taste of Talent, Franklin
Blues & BBQ, Franklin
Best Destination
Oil Creek State Park
The Titusville Mill, Titusville
Oil Creek and Titusville Railroad
Egbert-Mullins-Koos House (307 S. Park St., Franklin) by the Venango County Historical Society
Drake Well Museum & Park
Bike Trails — Oil City-Franklin-Kennerdell
Seneca Lanes
Two Mile Run County Park
Best Landmark
Best Scenic Selfie Spot
Justus Bike Trail
Pollen Nation with all the plants in the greenhouse (Anderson’s Greenhouse), Franklin
The Veranda, The Titusville Mill, Titusville
Oil Creek State Park
Cannons at the Garrison, Franklin
Miller Falls
Murray’s Scenic View, Grandview Road, Oil City
Kennerdell Overlook, Kennerdell
Christmas Tree, Venango County Courthouse, Franklin
Egbert Memorial Fountain, Franklin
Wildcat Mansion, Franklin
Winners will be announced in early September.
“We have so much to be proud of in the Oil Region,” Altomare said. “This contest is a fun way to shine a spotlight on old go-to’s and new favorites, spreading the word about the best of the best.”
For more information about the contest, please contact ealtomare@oilregion.org.
# # #
Allegheny Gnar to Host Downhill Mountain Bike Race in Oil City August 23-25; Spectators Welcome
Allegheny Gnar presents the third race in the USA Cycling Downhill State Championship Series in Oil City August 23-25, and the public is encouraged to attend.
“The weather looks perfect, and we expect a good turnout for the final race,” said event organizer Russell Lineman. “Racers are already pre-registered from across the east coast and sign up will be open until Saturday.”
The schedule includes a race for beginners Saturday with the full race Sunday. There will also be shuttled riding Friday afternoon and Saturday for which non-racers can register, meaning riders can mountain bike down the hill and have themselves and their gear hauled back up to the top in pickup trucks. Spectators can also walk down the trails and hitch a ride back to the top rather than having to walk back uphill.
Lineman encourages the community to “come check it out and maybe get interested in” downhill mountain biking.
In addition to the blood-pumping riding and racing, spectators and participants alike can check out the wares of vendors including Red Bull, 4 Season Cycle Bike Shop, AM Gear, and Mitch Hill Dairy, as well as tour the PA Woodmobile.
The previous two Allegheny Gnar races, one held at the same location in Oil City in April and another in President, PA in July, brought in more than 150 riders.
Riders will be using different trails this weekend than the ones used for the April Oil City races.
“There are three full downhill trails that all start at Clark’s Summit and end at Charley Run,” Lineman said.
Event details including a map of the site can be found online at https://www.alleghenygnar.com/events/2024-rd3.
The money brought in through sponsorships and registration fees is used for cash prizes and goes back into the trail work in Oil City and President, according to Lineman.
The goal of the series is to raise money to further trail development and mountain bike racing in the region. Allegheny Gnar was founded as a nonprofit organization in 2023 by Jim Cole and Lineman. They primarily work with private landowners to build or maintain existing trails that were previously off the map, according to the organization’s website.
Lineman thanks Hickman Woods and their family as well as Ray and Claudia Shreffler for “welcoming in the mountain bike community to their property.”
Lineman hopes these events will create more opportunities for downhill riding and racing locally as well as increase support and appreciation for trails in our community.
# # #
Oil Region Alliance Hires Outdoor Rec and Campus Staff Members
The Oil Region Alliance is pleased to announce the hiring of two new staff members.
Mark Kerr, retired PA Fish & Boat Commission Waterways Conservation Officer (WCO), joins the team as a part-time Outdoor Recreation Project Coordinator with a focus on waterways.
Seth Herrick comes to the Oil Region Venango Campus as Executive Director after several years in healthcare and medical administration.
“I am so excited to add Mark and Seth to the organization with their extensive experience in their respective fields,” said ORA President and CEO John R. Phillips, II. “I have the utmost confidence in these two gentlemen and look forward to their leadership in project and program development.”
Kerr was a WCO for nearly thirty years, serving a 700 square mile territory of the Oil City area since 2005.
“It was the best job I never had,” Kerr said. “I was at work in the same place I would have been when I was off,” he said, alluding to the old adage “if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.”
His responsibilities included environmental education, follow ups on pollution remediation, stocking trout, and boat law enforcement through which he worked with sportsmen’s clubs, civic organizations, schools, the conservation district, and the Game Commission.
Kerr has been working periodically with the ORA for the last decade, especially with Outdoor Recreation Program Manager Kim Harris. Together they have worked on environmental incidents including clean up efforts, contacts, and issues pertaining to outdoor recreation such as the Fisherman’s Cove access. According to Kerr, the ORA was instrumental in acquiring a lease agreement with the Fish & Boat Commission and that the organization’s 501c3 status allows for different access than a state agency would have.
Kerr said he appreciates the broad, long-range vision the organization has not only for the region, but also for its people and how ORA staff are led by example and encouragement toward a common goal.
“You see that, and you want to become part of that,” Kerr said.
A main goal of his work with the ORA will be water trails, specifically concerns with access, easement, and improvements. Where should water trails be, what should they look like, and what will their users need are all questions he is asking across the region and throughout the Allegheny River corridor.
There was a time, according to Kerr, when he would do 50 powered boat checks a day. Those numbers have remained, but unpowered watercrafts have increased to a ratio of 18:1 powered boat. The area’s existing launches were not meant to hold that many people and will need to be reconfigured to handle the increase in users to accommodate both powered and unpowered watercraft.
Maintaining a sufficient number of water trail access points throughout the region is also a priority for Kerr.
“This is one of the more beautiful areas I’ve ever been to,” Kerr said, citing an opportunity for the region to grow as a recreation destination through cooperation across communities.
He is based out of the ORA’s main office at 217 Elm Street, Oil City and can be reached at mkerr@oilregion.org.
Kerr resides in Oil City with his wife of 25 years, Franklin Area School District high school teacher Pam and near their four children and two grandchildren.
As ownership of the campus continues to transition to the ORA from PennWest University following the recent approval by the legislature and governor, the ORA is moving forward with plans to re-establish the location as a center for education.
Herrick will oversee partnerships with existing educational entities including secondary education institutions, training programs, and vocational schools as well as pursue new opportunities for collaboration.
“The big plan is workforce development,” said Herrick. “The broad goal is to get students on campus.”
The Venango County Technology Center’s Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) program has already moved to the campus’ Montgomery Hall. Adult students began classes there July 30.
Nursing has been a cornerstone of the campus’ programming since its early days.
“We’ve never missed a beat,” said Herrick, referring to the nursing students who graduated at the campus with degrees from PennWest in May and the new class who started in July.
“I think it’s really cool to bring it back to life,” he said.
The campus is especially significant to Herrick given his own history there.
He began as a student in 2012, majoring in medical imaging and living in the campus housing across the street. He served as President of the Medical Imaging Club and as Student Senate President in which he was very involved in bringing events and activities to campus and increasing community involvement and awareness. He was a Community Assistant at campus housing, a Student Affairs employee, and a Learning Resource Center tutor.
In addition to being fully immersed in campus life, Herrick met his future wife during move-in weekend their freshman year.
“Venango [Campus] just means so much,” said Herrick. “It’s been a huge part of my personal and professional development.”
Knowing the history of the campus adds to Herrick’s passion and investment in its success. He looks to grow a symbiotic relationship with local businesses to know what they need and how the campus can give back in terms of workforce development.
A consultant has been hired to facilitate listening sessions with the community and businesses to assess needs, but sessions have not been scheduled yet.
Herrick envisions the campus as a living entity that will be flexible and change over time to meet the varying needs of industry to support employment stability.
He also wants to see the campus enhance existing arts and culture programming in the area and act as a catalyst to further improve the region’s cultural aspects by bringing new opportunities.
Herrick recognizes the value of the campus for tourism, as well, citing it as an additional amenity that will drive users to the bike trails and waterways.
The Barbara Morgan Harvey Center for the Study of Oil Heritage will remain on campus now under the auspices of the ORA. Herrick hopes the center and its collection will be accessed more as a resource moving forward.
In addition to educational programming, Herrick will be responsible for rental of the campus’ gym, auditorium, library, and other amenities. Training space with high-end technology resources will be available for local training and workforce development needs. The site will also have the capability to host corporate trainings.
The campus is not offering tailored training yet, according to Herrick, but “In short, it’s nothing but opportunity.”
His office is in 200 Frame Hall on the Oil Region Venango Campus at 1801 W. First Street in Oil City.
Herrick lives in Cooperstown with his wife of six years, Tarah, who works in childcare, and their two sons.
“The positive impact and benefit to the region through the success of our outdoor recreation development and the Oil Region Venango Campus will no doubt be felt by the community and recognized by our stakeholders,” Phillips said.
# # #
Job Opening: Project Coordinator Position Description & Application Details
The Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry and Tourism (ORA) is seeking a Project Coordinator to join our team. The successful candidate will be responsible for supporting, developing, and implementing educational and outreach programs that promote the Oil Region National Heritage Area’s (ORNHA) rich history and recreational amenities. This person will be organized, prompt, and attentive. Flexibility in scheduling, including a willingness to work hours outside a typical Monday – Friday, 8:30 – 5 schedule, is a requirement for this position.
Responsibilities:
• Develop and implement education and outreach programs that engage the public, schools, and community groups in the history of the ORNHA.
• Conduct research on regional history to inform program and project development.
• Develop educational materials, such as brochures, interpretive panels, newsletters, and exhibits, that communicate the region’s history and recreational opportunities to the public.
• Develop and maintain ORA social media platforms, blog entries, and other communications, as assigned.
• Monitor and participate in significant events throughout the region showcasing and promoting the ORNHA in the context of its rich history and unique tourist attractions.
• Establish a comprehensive system for engaging volunteers and tracking volunteer hours especially for the historic Tarbell House in Titusville.
• Collaborate with the team to support and meet the goals and objectives outlined in the current strategic plan by providing assistance with various projects and deadlines.
• Create and maintain an inventory list for all ORA shop items.
• Assist the ORA team with any other tasks as requested.
Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in history, education, or related field OR at least two-years’ experience in these fields
• Experience in program development, education, or outreach
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the capability to work independently with minimal oversight
• Comfortable interacting with the public and leading tours of historic properties
• Interest in oil and regional history and recreation activities
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and social media platforms
The annual salary for this position is $33,000, including a benefits package with health insurance and a retirement plan. If you are passionate about regional history and are excited about sharing your knowledge with others, we encourage you to apply for this position.
The chosen candidate will be required to obtain clearances, including PA Child Abuse History Clearance, PA State Police Criminal Record Check, and Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Background Check, in order to perform the job responsibilities outlined above.
The ORA will accept applications, including resumes and cover letters, for this position until Friday, July 26, 2024; however, the position will remain open until a suitable candidate is hired. Please direct any questions and email your materials to Chris Clifton, Office Manager / Finance Assistant, at cclifton@oilregion.org or 814-677-3152.
# # #
ORA Receives Nearly $1 Million from EPA
Oil City Northside Property to be Transformed
Caption: Oil Region Alliance property manager and contractor Aaron Nagy, ORA vice president Debbie Sobina, Oil City councilman Matt Craig, and ORA President and CEO John Phillips (from left) review plans at the Kraft/Dahlstrom site along North Seneca Street in Oil City.
The Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry & Tourism (ORA) received a $999,730 clean up grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency for the brownfield known as the Kraft/Dahlstrom property in Oil City.
More than 85% of the grant will go into construction work that will change the physical appearance of the site, including removal of tires and other surface debris, erosion and sediment control, grading and leveling, building demolition, hot spot excavation, clean fill replacement, stormwater management, and revegetation.
“This is validation of our brownfields program,” said John R. Phillips, II, President and CEO of the ORA.
The ORA has been acquiring and remediating potentially contaminated properties in the Oil Region since 2020. They include the Fuchs Property in Emlenton and most recently the former Days Inn hotel site and the Venango Campus acreage in Oil City. The ORA is also in negotiations to add an additional site in Franklin.
The ORA has owned the Kraft/Dahlstrom property since Summer 2022.
They previously received EPA Community-wide assessment awards of $300,000 in 2020 and $500,000 in 2022, both from the EPA. Some funds from each of those grants were spent assessing the Kraft/Dahlstrom property.
The brownfields program is a catalyst for economic vitality above and beyond the environmental concerns, according to Phillips.
Once remediated, the site will include amenities to support the McClintock Trail, part of the greater Erie to Pittsburgh Trail system, a market for fresh food, and a multi-purpose hub for local business.
ORA Vice President Debbie Sobina describes the project as “a stepping-stone for further opportunities.”
Sobina worked closely with and was “tremendously supported” by Debra Figueroa and Matt Ward of Sustainable Strategies DC.
“We couldn’t have pulled it off without them,” Phillips said.
The ORA is pursuing additional state and federal funding opportunities to include Neighborhood Environmental Justice Projects in the Polish Hill area of Oil City and Environmental Job Training Projects.
These projects funded through the EPA allow non-profits to recruit, train, and employ people who were impacted by the site undergoing rehabilitation and/or train people for new “green jobs” in blight removal, landscaping, and other environmental fields creating sustainable, full-time work.
“Environmental Job Training Projects would be a wonderful fit for the newly acquired Venango Campus,” said Phillips.
Sobina said the ORA “expects to continue the community engagement as was begun in the clean up application process” which included a public meeting attended by representatives of the Pulaski Club, St. Elizabeth’s Center, and the community at large.
“The work has been ongoing even when you can’t see it,” Sobina said, referencing activity including testing wells to monitor the water quality.
“Since beginning our brownfields program, we have received tremendous support from our various partners at EPA, DEP, Sustainable Strategies DC, and others,” said Phillips. “This is allowing us to make significant positive improvements to the region.”
# # #
Three Oil City Entities Receive DCED Keystone Communities Grants Totaling More than $500,000
CAPTION: From left, Oil City Mayor John Kluck, Oil City Councilman Matt Craig, Oil City Community Development Director Kelly Amos Ryen, Venango Area Chamber of Commerce President Susan Williams, Venango County Economic Development Authority Executive Director Emily Lewis, Oil City Main Street Manager Stevette Rosen, Oil Region Alliance President & CEO John Phillips, and ORA Vice President Debbie Sobina gather at the Allegheny Riverfront, looking toward the hotel and north side of Oil City to discuss the project.
Governor Shapiro announced the recipients of the PA Department of Community & Economic Development Keystone Communities Grants today, three of which, valued at more than $500,000, are going to Oil City entities.
The first is a $500,000 Public Improvement grant to the Oil Region Alliance (ORA) for preparing the site of the former Days Inn hotel for future development. The second is a nearly $50,000 Main Street Implementation grant to the City of Oil City to beautify and coordinate the north and south sides. The third is a nearly $25,000 grant to the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce for a study of the Allegheny riverfront.
“Community enhancement is best achieved through collective action,” said Emily Lewis, Executive Director of the Venango County Economic Development Authority. “The award of these Keystone Communities’ grants is the realization of our cooperative efforts to revitalize the community, and I commend the Oil Region Alliance, the Oil City Main Street Program, and the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce for their efforts in securing these awards.
These funds represent a transformative amount of capital for projects that will have wide reaching positive impact on the Oil Region.
Reimagining the property at 1 Seneca St., Oil City, is an opportunity to improve the connection between the riverfront and Justus Park with the rest of the northside, including other developments underway such as the Downs Building, 100 Seneca St., and the Lyric Theatre.
“As a rural development hub organization, the ORA works in partnership with other agencies who share our vision,” said ORA President and CEO John R. Phillips, II. “This is a prime example of how working together moves the needle and effects change.”
The ORA’s plans for the property dovetail with those of the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce and OCMS Program.
“The leadership of the Venango Chamber recognizes that our public spaces, parks, trails, and natural assets have a tremendous impact on the local economy,” said Susan Williams, Venango Area Chamber of Commerce President. “Businesses want to operate in communities that provide access to such amenities.”
With the assistance of funding from the DCED and PNC Charitable funds, the Chamber will seek a feasibility study of Oil City’s riverfront, along Justus Park and the adjoining City property on the north side of Oil City, according to Williams.
“With a better idea of the challenges and opportunities for this public space, we hope to inspire development of businesses along our waterways and in the downtown, including the hotel property,” said Williams.
While the riverfront study is expected to suggest ways to take advantage of the Allegheny as an asset, the river also creates challenges for the OCMS Program because it divides the community into the north and south sides, rather than the more common, central downtown.
The OCMS Program’s vision is to have the downtown become a regional destination for visitors to enjoy the arts, recreation, and entertainment by leveraging its heritage and natural resources, according to Stevette Rosen, OCMS Manager.
The OCMS Program’s $48,785 Keystone Communities Implementation grant will fund benches and trash receptacles that will unify the north and south sides of town in addition to lighted snowflake holiday decorations, which were selected to bring light and cheer throughout the winter and not just around Christmas. The snowflake lights lined main streets on the northside in Winter 2023. Work will begin with electrical preparation on the southside as early as this fall, according to Kelly Amos Ryen, Oil City Community Development Director.
“Thanks to matching funds provided by the City of Oil City, Webco, and the Edward V. & Jessie L. Peters Charitable Trust, a $97,570 beautification project is currently underway,” Rosen said.
“The city is pleased with all of these projects as they will add to the welcoming atmosphere the city is striving to create,” said Oil City Mayor John Kluck.
The infusion of these funds into Oil City will have lasting positive effects on the region for years to come.
# # #
ORA Seeks Nominations for 2024 Oil Region Tourism Awards
The Oil Region Alliance is seeking nominations for the fourth annual Oil Region Tourism Awards.
As the designated tourism marketing organization for Venango County and the manager of the Oil Region National Heritage Area, the ORA is excited to recognize the best of the best in hospitality in our region.
“We’re so glad to host the Oil Region Tourism Awards for a fourth year and hear everyone’s input on what they love most about our region,” said ORA Communications and Tourism Manager Emily Altomare. “To that end, we’ve changed a couple categories this year to be able to highlight even more about our area.”
Anyone can make a single nomination or multiple nominations for any or every category. However, winners from 2023 are not eligible for the same category this year, but can be nominated in different categories. In the case of Best Dish and Best Drink, the same establishment can be nominated in consecutive years, but the nomination must be different than the previous year.
There are eight categories.
Best Dish is for the best restaurant meal (breakfast, lunch, or dinner) available in the Oil Region. Nominations must include the restaurant name and the menu item.
Best Drink is for the best cocktail, coffee, or other beverage and will need to include the menu item name and location in the nomination.
In 2021 both Best Dish and Best Drink were won by the Villa Italia Restaurant in Oil City for their Italian Sub and Peanut Butter Milkshake respectively. In 2022, Trails to Ales Brewery in Franklin won Best Dish for their Liberty Street Burger and Best Drink for their Broken Spoke Blueberry Beer. In 2023 Woods & River Coffee in Oil City won Best Dish with their Breakfast Sandwich and Best Drink with their Cold Brew Coffee. Is 2024 the year that Best Drink and Best Dish will be won by two different restaurants?
Best Stay, formerly Best Room, can be for a specific room or suite at a B&B or homeshare or any room at a specific lodging establishment such as a hotel or motel. The Caboose Motel in Titusville was the 2021 winner and Peddlers and Paddlers Inn in Franklin won in 2022.Wildcat Mansion won in 2023.
Best Shop is for retail locations of any kind and does not have to be directly related to the tourism industry. Cross and Co. Boutique in Seneca won in 2021 and 2023. Core Goods in Oil City won in 2022.
Best Advocate was an award for individuals who regularly sang the praises of the Oil Region, frequently shared hospitality info on social media, and encouraged attendance at community functions. Ashley Zaccari Smith was named Best Advocate in 2021, Ronnie Beith was named Best Advocate in 2022, and Jodi Lewis won in 2023. The spirit of this category stays the same, but we are now opening it up to organizations and not just individuals.
The new categories for 2024 are Best Scenic Selfie Spot, Best Event, and Best Destination. For Scenic Selfie Spots, we’re looking for locations that scream “Oil Region National Heritage Area,” the kind of places that are unique to our community and/or are so popular that everyone can identify them, and everyone should have a selfie taken there.
Best Event can refer to a festival, competition, concert series, or any other public activity. Private events, such as weddings and birthday parties are not eligible, and neither are those that take place at a school or through a private club or other organization. The intention is to highlight fun things to do so we want nominations of events guests can expect to attend year after year.
Best Destination can be a museum, park, trail, restaurant, or any other public location.
Here are the nominations as of June 3:
Best Dish:
Loaded Carne Asada at Taco Shack, Oil City
Lox Bagel Sandwich at Iron Furnace Coffee, Franklin
BearTown Breakfast Sandwich at Woods & River, Oil City
Buffalo Chicken Pierogi at Pierogi Party, Titusville
Spinach & Feta Pierogi at Pierogi Party, Titusville
Best Drink:
Strawberry Matcha Tea Latte at Iron Furnace Coffee, Franklin
Caramel Mocha Latte at PerkUp, Seneca
Chocolate Covered Strawberry Latte at PerkUp, Seneca
Sugar-Free S’mores Latte at PerkUp, Seneca
BearTown Iced Mocha at Woods & River, Oil City
Dark Energy at PerkUp, Seneca
Happy Camper Smoothie at Woods & River Coffee, Oil City
Iced Salted Caramel Coconut Latte with Chocolate Cold Foam at Woods & River Coffee, Oil City
Brown Sugar & Cinnamon Latte at PerkUp, Seneca
Chocolate Peanut Butter Latte at Coffee Days Co., Titusville
Best Shop:
Printer’s Cabinet & Curiosities, Franklin
Wye Bridge Hobbies, Oil City
Core Goods, Oil City
Best Stay:
The Barnard House, Emlenton
Best Scenic Selfie Spot:
Samuel Justus Trail
Best Advocate:
Susan Williams
Best Event:
Roughneck Gravel Roubaix
Best Destination:
Oil Creek State Park
Locations must be within the Oil Region National Heritage Area, which includes all of Venango County, plus Titusville, Oil Creek Township, and Hydetown in Crawford County.
The nomination period is open now through Friday, June 14. Nominations can be made via e-mail to Altomare at ealtomare@oilregion.org or by commenting on Oil Region Tourism Awards posts on the ORA’s Facebook page. Nominations will not be taken by phone, but hard copies can be mailed to the ORA office at 217 Elm St., Oil City, PA 16301.
Voting will occur via an online link available through the ORA’s social media later this summer with winners announced shortly after.
There are no cash prizes for the winners, but nominees and winners will be promoted through the ORA’s social media and other marketing efforts.
“We really enjoying hearing from the public about their favorite parts of the Oil Region and sharing those with others,” Altomare said.
Videos of winners who attended the reception for 2023 winners and for each of the 2022 Tourism Award Winners can be viewed on the ORA’s YouTube page here.
For more information about the contest, please contact ealtomare@oilregion.org.
# # #
Oil Region Celebrates National Travel and Tourism Week May 19-25 by Announcing New Website and Marketing Endeavours
The Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry & Tourism (ORA) is kicking off National Travel & Tourism Week May 19-25 by announcing its new tourism site and other new marketing endeavors.
ExperienceTheOilRegion.com highlights upcoming events and amenities to give visitors an overview of the variety of attractions in the area.
“We’re excited to have this site live,” said Emily Altomare, ORA Communications and Tourism Manager. “This is a mechanism for us to feature our broad array of offerings at any given time while also allowing us to change those features frequently.”
The ORA is the designated destination marketing organization (DMO) for Venango County and manager of the Oil Region National Heritage Area (ORNHA).
To put it into print media terms, Altomare refers to “ExperienceTheOilRegion.com” as a store sale circular, describing what’s special and coming up in the next few days or weeks to pique a person’s interest, get them to take a closer look, and hopefully visit. The earlier site, OilRegion.org, which will remain in use, she describes as more like an encyclopedia with a lot of detailed descriptions on topics not just pertaining to tourism and outdoor recreation, but oil heritage and the Alliance organization as a whole.
Video footage from 7 Foot Productions & Marketing at the top of ExperienceTheOilRegion.com features events, arts, outdoor recreation, and scenery. Further down on the homepage, is a grid of nine image tiles each highlighting a different event or point of interest in the Oil Region. Contents of the tiles will change as events that have occurred drop off and new events come on in chronological order.
The new site, which was developed by Blue Canopy Marketing out of Meadville, highlights festivals and special events in a month-by-month listing that allows tourists to see what the Oil Region has in store at any time of year.
The Oil Region tourism pillars of Outdoor Recreation, Heritage, and Arts & Culture are called out on the site with links back to OilRegion.org. Lodging and dining mentions on the new site also redirect back to the original lists on OilRegion.org.
Another new component of the site is still in the works.
An interactive map will go live on ExperienceTheOilRegion.com later this summer.
“The interactive map is another way for us to share a snapshot of the region to demonstrate the various attractions in our relatively small geographic footprint,” said Altomare.
The map gives users the ability to sort locations by outdoor recreation, arts and culture, and “Eat, Shop, and Sleep” businesses. It can also show locations for specific festivals and special events. Each location includes an image, short description, and contact information and links where applicable. This information can be shared via social media, e-mail, or text message.
Additional upcoming projects of the ORA for tourism promotion include a digital marketing campaign that will target ads on Facebook and Instagram to advertise the region to specific demographics of people, such as adventure seekers, young families, and history buffs within a few hours of Venango County. The ads will direct folks back to ExperienceTheOilRegion.com.
Another upcoming project is the hosting of guest content creators who will visit the area, taking photos and developing itineraries, which can then be shared through the Oil Region’s websites and social media.
This content will also make it into one of the most well-known and longest running promotion projects of the ORA, the Oil Region Guide. This is the magazine-style publication that highlights the region’s history along with outdoor recreation, events, and arts and cultural offerings. The 2023 issue was the first with a planned two-year shelf-life. Work is already underway for the next Guide, which will serve all of 2025 and 2026. Distribution will begin in January 2025. Advertising opportunities will open this summer.
The Oil Region Tourism Awards, begun in 2021 as a way to emphasize all the good amenities and events still available despite pandemic restrictions, will return this year with a couple new categories. A call for nominations will be made later in the week on the ORA’s Facebook page. Details on voting and winner announcements will follow.
Additional products and projects of the ORA’s tourism program include:
- Hospitality Flyers, which are customized print outs for events taking place in the region, especially those with limited cell service, to direct guests to lodging, dining, and other events.
- Tabling, taking materials to events to share with guests and being there in-person to answer questions and chat, similar to having an exhibit table at a trade show or conference
- Matching Marketing Mini Grants for regional tourism businesses and non-profits to print brochures and rack cards for distribution
- Sponsorships and direct support of regional tourism amenities
- Marketing material distribution in Welcome Centers and literature racks throughout the ORNHA
“All the tools in our toolbox are providing the ultimate experience to the visitor to the Oil Region,” said Maureen James, ORA board of directors and tourism council chairperson.
“Methods to deliver a community’s message are many and varied, and today’s consumers want and expect information to be available to them through multiple forms,” James said. “Websites and other digital sources assist in providing visual experiences that tempt people to visit and participate in a region’s assets through the touch of a screen, but these resources also need to be available through a guide to hold and dog-ear.”
James acknowledged the impact tourism has “as an important driver of economic growth and community development,” a sentiment echoed by ORA President and CEO John R. Phillips, II.
“National Travel and Tourism week really gives us a chance to show the substantial economic impact of that industry on our economy,” Phillips said. “It is also a chance to show appreciation for the people who truly are champions of a community and influence visitors to return or even move to an area. There is a lot of money that is spent to showcase and market the Oil Region, but it takes our tourism partners and amenities to make a lasting impact on people that causes them to come back.”
The tourism industry is healthy in the Oil Region, according to Altomare.
“The wide variety and high quality of offerings is what is allowing us to expand how we market the region, which should propel continued growth and strength in the future,” Altomare said.
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Jeep Event Returns to Two Mile Run County Park July 13 & 14
It’s a Jeep thing for the fourth year in a row in the Oil Region!
The Ten Miles 4 Two Mile (TM4TM) Jeep Run returns to Two Mile Run County Park July 13 and 14.
This event allows only Jeeps, no other makes or models, and their drivers to experience the park on one of two five-mile woods trails or a 10-mile scenic trail.
“You’re going to see parts of the park that you normally wouldn’t get to see,” said Eric Elliott, President of Oil Valley Jeeps, organizers of the event.
Pre-registration is required with payment. Cost is $25 for the Scenic Trail and $50 for the Woods Trail. Those who register and pay for the Woods Trail can also enjoy running on the Scenic Trail. Both routes take about an hour to an hour and a half. Participants can make as many trips as time allows on both days for the single registration price. All routes will go in the same direction on Saturday and the opposite direction on Sunday.
This year’s courses are slightly varied than those used previously.
All Jeeps must be road legal with proper insurance, and all drivers must be 18 or older with a valid driver’s license.
The Woods trail is appropriate for stock 4×4 Wranglers that have mud, all-terrain, or winter tires. Drivers of other Jeep models can enjoy the Woods Trail with off-road modifications. Drivers of any 4×4 Jeep model can enjoy the Scenic trail.
The Ladies Only rides, which were new in 2023 and a success, are back with time slots available Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, and Sunday morning. All guides will be females, and females will do all of the driving, but male passengers are allowed.
The event is limited to 250 Jeeps. Visit OilValleyJeeps.org for more details and to register.
“The event is definitely well received by the community,” said Elliott. “The people love this event.”
Jeep groups from Erie, Pittsburgh, Punxsutawney/DuBois area, and even Canton, Ohio have been attending Oil Valley Jeeps’ events. According to Elliott, Jeep drivers come from about a two-hour radius.
There’s another way to measure the popularity of TM4TM. The event is a fundraiser for Two Mile Run County Park. Between the last three years of this event and three years of starlight rides that take place (and sell out) in February, Oil Valley Jeeps has raised more than $19,000 for Two Mile, more than any other organization that hosts an event at the park.
Elliott says they hope to sell out this year.
If not, the online registration will close July 12 at noon.
Food sales, 50/50s, and raffles will also take place during the event. Cash is required for both. Drawings will be at the end of the event on Sunday, but winners need not be present to win.
The rain dates are July 20 and 21. Event organizers will announce any postponement due to weather via the Facebook page.
“We will do everything we possibly can to do it the day and time scheduled,” said Elliott.
However, because Oil Valley Jeeps is responsible for the safety of the participants and to keep trail conditions in good shape with minimal trail repairs, they do not want to hold the event if conditions are not acceptable.
The Jeep group is proud to offer this event at Two Mile and recognizes that it adds to the offerings of the park and people’s appreciation for it, Elliott said.
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ORA Celebrates Historic Preservation Award Winners May 16 in Titusville
The Oil Region Alliance will celebrate the winners of the Historic Preservation Awards Thursday, May 16.
The in-person event, which is free and open to the public, will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 216 N. Franklin St., Titusville, beginning at 6 p.m. and will include refreshments and presentation of certificates to the winners.
“All of this year’s winners are in Titusville, and the ceremony is happening in Titusville, which is just a happy coincidence,” said Jennifer Burden, ORA Heritage Program Manager. “I believe this is the first year that all nominations came from one community.”
While formal tours of the winning locations will not be offered, the public could certainly drive by each of the winning sites on their way to the church prior to the award ceremony or later at their leisure.
Nominations were accepted in March and voted on by a panel of judges representing the following organizations: Friends of Drake Well, Inc., Titusville Historical Society, Titusville Renaissance, Inc., Venango County Historical Society, and the Venango Museum of Art, Science & Industry.
The 2024 Oil Region Historic Preservation Award Winners are:
- Baby Bee Ultrasound and Boutique for Enhancement
Nominated by the Greater Titusville Development Foundation, this project at 108 S. Franklin St., included painting the entire four-story façade of this three-storefront property, repairing brick, replacing windows, and adding awnings. The building owner received a Downtown Façade Improvement Grant from the Greater Titusville Development Foundation. - Kathleen Barnhart for Residence
Nominated by the Titusville Historical Society the residence at 209 E. Main St., was built in 1871 for David and Susan Emery, who purchased the land that comprised Edwin Drake’s first oil well and was later donated to become Drake Well Museum & Park. The Barnhart family purchased the house in 1985 and have focused on maintaining historic architectural elements. In 2023, Kathleen undertook repainting the home and restoring an appropriate paint scheme for the Italianate style house with work completed by Experienced Painter, LLC. of Pittsfield. - Missy’s Arcade Restaurant and Hoppy’s for Enhancement
Nominated by the Greater Titusville Development Foundation, the dual storefronts at 116 and 118 Diamond St., underwent repairs to the windows, decorative cast iron, entrances, awnings, cornices, and most notably a new façade color scheme. Work was partially funded through a Downtown Façade Improvement Grant from the Greater Titusville Development Foundation. - Titusville City Hall Building for Preservation Stewardship
Titusville Renaissance, Inc. nominated Titusville City Hall, 107 N. Franklin St., which underwent repainting of all siding, window frames, fascia, and handrails in addition to repairs to the wood, brick, and windows. Funds from the PNC Charitable Trust and American Rescue Plan were used to hire Keystone Painting Services for the work. The building was constructed around 1865, has served as the headquarters of City government since 1872, and is listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places. - The Parkside Building for Adaptive Reuse
Titusville Historical Society nominated the former YMCA at 201 W. Spring St., which has become home to two dining establishments, several small craft vendors, the Titusville Historical Society, and a multi-purpose room for meetings, concerts, exhibits, and other events. Heating and electricity were updated, new historically accurate windows were selected, an ADA-accessible ramp was added, and other updates were made to make spaces more attractive and usable since the building was purchased by Nathaniel Licht in August 2020. Future plans include developing artist studios on the second floor and creating apartments in the basement.
The Oil Region National Heritage Area includes all of Venango County, the Borough of Hydetown, the City of Titusville, and Oil Creek Township in Crawford County.
Eligible resources must be within the Oil Region and at least 50 years old. Eligible projects include interior and exterior work in public buildings and exterior work in privately owned buildings and must have been in progress or completed during the last five years. Once an individual or project has received an award, it is not eligible again for another five years.
There is no cost to attend the award ceremony, but pre-registration is appreciated. E-mail jgorman@oilregion.org to register.
The program has presented more than 150 awards since 1997 including those to a WWII plane, a bridge from 1876, and numerous monuments, landmarks, and churches throughout the region.
Please contact Burden at jburden@oilregion.org or 814-677-3152 x 116 for more information.
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ORA to Auction Former Days Inn/Arlington Hotel Contents May 11
The Oil Region Alliance will hold an auction of the contents of the former Days Inn/Arlington Hotel property at 1 Seneca St., Oil City Saturday, May 11 starting at 9 a.m. with auctioneer Todd E. Beichner.
This is a liquidation of restaurant and commercial kitchen equipment as well as hotel furnishings. It is not a sale of the property.
“The property is slated for demolition and the auction clears the way for those preparations to continue,” said John R. Phillips, II, ORA President and CEO. “There are lots of useful items left in the building. The auction is a chance for anyone to repurpose those items and maybe grab a piece of memorabilia of the building.”
Oil City City Council voted in June 2023 to purchase the property with the Oil Region Alliance with the understanding it would be demolished. The property’s rapid deterioration sitting vacant since 2019 was cited as a reason, along with numerous waterline breaks.
Demolishing the hotel and preparing the site for new development is just part of the downtown Oil City revitalization that also includes redevelopment of the Downs Building, 100 Seneca, and the Lyric Theatre, according to Phillips.
“We are excited to begin this new chapter with the possibilities for this property and to contribute to all the many projects that are going on simultaneously in Oil City that will draw visitors and new residents to the region,” said Phillips.
Photos of some items up for auction can be found at AuctionZip.com.
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ORA Seeks Public Input for Survey of Historic Buildings
The Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry & Tourism is seeking input from the public for a cultural resource survey, which will collect information on historically and culturally significant buildings owned by nonprofits, religious organizations, and municipalities that have the capacity to offer rental space.
Rental space could be short-term uses such as meetings and workshops or long-term purposes such as office and work space.
“I believe the results of the project will be a resource for people and organizations looking for unique meeting and work spaces,” said Jenn Burden, ORA Heritage Program Manager. “Many historic buildings in the Oil Region National Heritage Area have the capacity for additional uses that could yield new revenue sources and attention for the organizations that own them.”
The goal of the survey is to identify available spaces then market them, which will drive needed revenue to the organizations who own the properties.
The idea for this project evolved from the January 2020 Town Hall Meeting in Franklin held in conjunction with Partners for Sacred Places, a national, non-sectarian, nonprofit organization focused on building the capacity of congregations of historic sacred places to better serve their communities as anchor institutions, nurturing transformation, and shaping vibrant, creative communities, according to Burden.
Covid restrictions delayed the project.
The ORA is seeking public input for buildings to consider. Follow this link to suggest a property that is more than 50 years old, culturally or historically significant, and owned by a nonprofit such as a church or municipality.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CulturalResourceSurvey
The link will also be available from the ORA’s Facebook page, and will be open until April 30.
The ORA received grant funding for this project from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the PA Historical & Museum Commission, and the National Park Service, and hired The Markosky Engineering Group, Inc. to compile the research.
Contact Burden at jburden@oilregion.org with questions.
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Allegheny Gnar to Host Downhill Mountain Bike Event April 12-14 in Oil City; Spectators Welcome
The Allegheny Gnar downhill mountain bike races are coming to Oil City April 12-14, and the public is invited to participate as either competitors or spectators.
This weekend’s races are part of the USA Cycling Downhill State Championship Series and are held at Clark’s Summit near the Dwyer Street hill (also known locally as Lover’s Leap Lookout).
Event organizer Russell Lineman encourages the community to “come check it out and maybe get interested in it.”
Lineman understands that the sport is not for everyone, but feels anyone can enjoy watching the races.
“It’s certainly not golf,” said Lineman. “There is a heckling culture.”
Race competitors tease one another during competition and can get a little rowdy, according to Lineman, but there is also a lot of encouragement and camaraderie, too.
Race classes include novice, expert, and pro in men’s and woman’s divisions in age groups of 16 and under, 17-29, 30-40, and 40+. All use the same course. A beginner’s course is half the distance and just for fun, not points. Races are in time trial format with the fastest time winning.
There are no other downhill mountain bike races in the state and the next closest venue is a ski resort about a five-hour drive away, according to Lineman.
He is planning for about 100 racers, but says that could double if the forecast predicts ideal weather.
Lineman said this event will feel more like an expo environment with some food vendors, product samples, and bike shop reps. Amenities for all include free parking, portable restrooms, and great views throughout the weekend.
Shuttled open riding will take place Friday and Saturday, meaning riders can mountain bike down the hill and have themselves and their gear hauled back up to the top in pickup trucks.
Sunday will be the actual races, which will take place around noon to 2 p.m. depending on the numbers of participants.
Future Allegheny Gnar races and shuttled ride days will be held at the Oil City location August 23-25, but on different trails, as well as July 5-7 in President, PA.
The President location is 16,000 acres of land with a lien that requires it be used for recreation purposes. The property is managed by Western Pennsylvania Conservancy in Franklin.
The money brought in through sponsorships and registration fees is used for cash prizes and goes back into the trail work in Oil City and President, according to Lineman.
The Hickman family, who own the land used for the trails in Oil City, want to see it being used and are in support of the mountain bike trails and races, he said. Additional hiking trails are also in the works.
Allegheny Gnar was founded as a nonprofit organization in 2023 by Jim Cole and Lineman with a mission to build, maintain, and promote new mountain bike trails in the Allegheny region. They primarily work with private land owners to build or maintain existing trails that were previously off the map, according to the website.
Details and registration information are available at AlleghenyGnar.com or by e-mailing info@ammotocross.com.
Lineman hopes these events will create more opportunities for downhill riding and racing locally as well as increased support and appreciation for trails in our community.
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ORA Requests Nominations for Historic Preservation Awards
The Oil Region Alliance is currently accepting nominations for this year’s Oil Region Historic Preservation Awards.
The awards program was created to:
- recognize projects that represent appropriate standards of preservation, restoration, and rehabilitation
- acknowledge individuals and groups for initiatives, services, or commitment to the preservation of historic structures
- create an advocacy for historic preservation through a greater public awareness of the built environment
- enhance a region-wide preservation ethic in both the public and private sectors
“I’m pleased to once again call for nominations for the Preservation Awards,” said Jenn Burden, ORA Heritage Manager. “The Awards are a way to celebrate preservation efforts within the Oil Region National Heritage Area. It’s always exciting to learn about how the region values its history and historic resources.”
Past winners include churches, bridges, war memorials, cemetery tours, and a military plane.
Nomination forms and eligibility requirements are available at OilRegion.org/heritage/historic-preservation-awards/. Nominations are due to jburden@oilregion.org by Monday, April 1.
Eligible nominees must be in the Oil Region National Heritage Area, which includes all of Venango County and Titusville, Hydetown, and Oil Creek Township in Crawford County, and be significant to the area. Eligible projects include interior and exterior work in public buildings and exterior work in privately owned buildings and must have been in progress or completed during the last five years. Once an individual or project has received an award, it is not eligible again for another five years. Lastly, eligible buildings must be at least 50 years old.
The Awards ceremony, which is open to the public, will be held Thursday, May 16 from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Titusville First Presbyterian Church, 216 N. Franklin St., Titusville.
The program has presented more than 150 awards since 1997.
Please contact Burden at jburden@oilregion.org or 814-677-3152 x 116 for more information.
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ORA Shares ATV Study Results; Helps Create ATV Association
The results are in for the long-awaited ATV (all terrain vehicle) feasibility study commissioned by the Oil Region Alliance.
Through the more than 1,200 responses to surveys and input during public meetings, the majority are in favor of ATV trails in Venango County. However, no private landowners came forward as willing to have trails developed on their property. For now, public roads are being identified to create a “trail” that would allow ATV users to traverse the county.
“We have wanted to develop at ATV trail in Venango County for quite some time and recognize the potential economic impact it could have on our region,” said ORA President and CEO John R. Phillips, II. “We want to ensure that users are safe and legal, which is why we invested in this study.”
“This has taken a great deal of time to go through, and we need to move forward positively,” said Kim Harris, Oil Region Alliance Outdoor Recreation Program Manager. “People going rogue and riding on private property without permission are not helping to get trails built,” Harris said.
Instead, per the recommendations of the study, a group of ATV trail enthusiasts has been engaged to develop an association to advocate for an ATV trail system.
The ORA is helping with the development of this standalone organization and providing technical assistance.
The Oil Region ATV Association formed in January 2024.
The Oil Region ATV Association is looking for board members, especially those with skills needed by all organizations, such as financial, legal, and marketing experience. The board will have 15 members. Those interested in participating should contact Harris at kharris@oilregion.org or 814-677-3152 or send a letter of interest to 217 Elm St., Oil City, PA 16301.
Similarly, any landowners interested in learning more about ATV trail development can contact Harris. According to her, there are different means of partnering including easements and sales of portions of property or entire parcels that private individuals may not be aware of when considering allowing trail development on their land.
The executive summary of the study is available at the bottom of OilRegion.org/tourism/outdoor-recreation/ The full report is available via e-mail by request from Harris.
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Plan Would Transfer Venango Property to Oil Region Alliance
Leaders cite a boost to region’s economic development; nursing program would transition to PennWest Clarion
Cultural and economic growth in Venango County will get a boost under a plan developed by the Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry and Tourism and Pennsylvania Western University Clarion for the university’s Venango property.
Under the proposal, Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education and the Pennsylvania Department of General Services would transfer the Venango location to ORA ownership.
The transfer is subject to authorization by PASSHE’s Board of Governors and legislative approval and would allow for the conveyance of the Venango property to the ORA. The ORA, which manages the Oil Region National Heritage Area, would use the site to further its mission of heritage preservation, economic development, recreation, tourism and arts revitalization.
“The ORA is a ‘best-fit’ for the Venango property,” said John R. Phillips, II, Alliance president and CEO. “The ORA has consistently supported and partnered with the university over these past decades and has an intimate understanding and genuine interest, perhaps better stated as passion, to see this site continue for the advancement of our region.”
Enhanced PennWest Student Opportunities
PennWest offers only one program at Venango, an Associate of Science in Nursing, which would move to PennWest Clarion beginning in fall 2024, pending approval from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the accrediting body for PennWest.
There are 75 students in the ASN program – 35 students in their second year will finish their degree at Venango and graduate in May. Forty students will transition to the Clarion campus, pending approval.
“This is an exciting plan for the Venango region,” said Dr. R. Lorraine Bernotsky, interim president of PennWest. “If approved, ORA will manage the facilities and resources to the fullest extent. PennWest will retain its employees while continuing to offer our students a top-quality educational experience. This is a difficult, but important, step in our continued work toward financial stability for PennWest.
“I want to acknowledge the more than 60 years that staff and students have made Venango an important part of Clarion. Community leaders, elected officials and philanthropic partners in the region have played important roles in the campus, and we will work closely with them through the transition.”
Faculty members who have taught at the Venango campus will continue to have the opportunity to teach courses and supervise clinical experiences appropriate to their discipline. PennWest Clarion has state-of-the-art simulation labs, and students will have access to a greater number of elective courses and extracurricular opportunities.
All 12 staff at Venango will be offered positions at other PennWest locations.
“The commitment to meeting workforce needs in our region remains strong,” said Dr. Deborah Kelly, dean of the College of Health Sciences and Human Services. “We will continue to maintain strong relationships with our community partners throughout the region.”
The PennWest Clarion – Somerset location, at the Somerset County Education Center, will continue to offer an Associate of Science in Nursing.
Enrollment at Venango has declined from 450 students in fall 2001. PennWest expects to realize approximately $1.3 million in annual savings, as well as forego more than $6 million in necessary maintenance on the site.
Leveraging a Regional Gem
The Venango campus has been an essential regional resource for more than 60 years, providing job training, continuing education, cultural experiences, historic preservation, recreation and community convocation. Much of that legacy would be preserved under ORA plans.
As a certified economic development organization, the ORA would host job-training programs at Venango and continue to support the Venango Conservation Hall of Fame established in Rhoades Center. Recently reauthorized by Congress to manage the Oil Region National Heritage Area through 2037, the ORA would be in a position to steward and promote the Barbara Morgan Harvey Center for the Study of Oil Heritage. The Center houses a collection which includes artifacts and documents such as deeds, maps, publications, and other records from throughout the history of the oil industry, and is housed in Charles L. Suhr Library.
Rep. R. Lee James, from Pennsylvania’s 64th Legislative District, supports the ORA’s plans. His priorities include protecting the environmental resources in the area while encouraging economic growth.
“As a graduate of Clarion University, it saddens me to have witnessed the decline of student enrollment over the past twenty years in western Pennsylvania,” James said. “The Venango campus is the oldest regional campus in the State System of Higher Education. From enrollment of 450 students, the current number is down by an unsustainable 80% today. We must take steps to prepare for future needs. I believe our best option is with the management expertise at Oil Region Alliance in Oil City. The alliance has the resources to promote Venango campus to potential businesses that are looking for a turn-key facility. The campus setting would be attractive to a teaching institution but also be inclusive to business development opportunities.”
With its experience in outdoor recreation projects and its direct involvement in regional trail-related activities, the ORA is ideally postured to pursue renewal of the West End Pond. This long-time community treasure is a visible trailhead. Amenities in the adjacent Robert W. Rhoades Center could possibly be used to support respite for trail users and inclement weather shelter.
Rhoades Center has a 100-plus seat auditorium that ORA hopes to use for a variety of purposes including cultural activities, lectures, performances, and heritage-related programming.
The ORA will undertake a comprehensive business plan with outreach for community involvement to arrive at an ecosystem of uses and occupants, meeting the needs of the region while assuring long-term vibrancy and sustainability.
This is a joint statement prepared by Wendy Mackall of Pennsylvania Western University (724-938-5640 | mackall@pennwest.edu ) and Emily Altomare of the Oil Region Alliance (814-677-3152 | ealtomare@oilregion.com)
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ORA Announces New Hires Including Oil City Main Street Manager
The Oil Region Alliance is pleased to announce the hiring of three new employees: Bryon Huyett, as Broadband Project Manager, Kody Ealy, as Custodian at the Crawford Center in Emlenton, and Stevette Rosen, as Oil City Main Street Manager.
“The ORA is growing and seeing successes across its programs that are making positive impacts in our region,” said John R. Phillips, II, ORA President and CEO. “Expanding our capacity is vital to the continuation of progress. We plan to grow even more in 2024 and add to the years of experience and expertise already on our staff.”
The ORA successfully wrote for a $500,000 Appalachian Regional Commission Area Development Grant on behalf of Venango County. The project includes building two towers that will distribute broadband signal to un- and under-served portions of Cranberry Township.
Huyett is the telecommunications expert who will execute the grant.
“He is instrumental in getting the design up and running,” said Debbie Sobina, ORA Executive Vice President.
Ealy is serving as a part-time custodian for the Crawford Center, a property owned by the Borough of Emlenton, but maintained by the ORA since the days of the Venango Economic Development Corporation. According to Ealy, he is very fond of the Emlenton community and excited to be a steward for this property.
“As the employing entity for the Oil City Main Street Program, which is a partnership between the ORA and the City of Oil City, the ORA is excited for the continuation of its legacy,” Phillips said. “The committee did an outstanding job vetting the candidates, and I wholeheartedly agree with their choice.”
Rosen comes to the Oil City Main Street Program from Renda Radio in Punxsutawney, PA where she was the General Manager. Her responsibilities there included Profit & Loss (lowering costs while increasing revenue), HR (hiring, firing, and training personnel), Sales, and Promotions.
Event development and promotions are Rosen’s forte, she said.
The Oil City Main Street Manager position has been vacant since Kathy Bailey passed away in August 2023.
“I’ll never be able to fill her shoes, but I’ll try to make her proud,” Rosen said of Bailey. “I can’t replace her; she’s irreplaceable.”
The two worked together when Rosen was developing radio promotions in the Oil Region and Bailey was managing the Cranberry Mall. Rosen remained aware of Bailey’s reputation and commitment to the community throughout their respective careers, she said.
Rosen graduated from high school in Zelienople in 1979, worked on a family farm and as a professional server, and had two children before earning a Mass Communications degree from Clarion University in 1996. During her education, she attended classes at the Venango Campus, served as editor for school newspaper Venango Voice, and contributed articles to The Derrick newspaper. She also graduated from the Regional Vision in Leadership Development program where she learned a lot about thinking and working regionally, she said.
She worked in sales and promotions at Mega Rock Radio in Brookville where she learned to be a problem solver for businesses. She was part of her clients’ marketing plans, helping them to develop their image and reputation, and driving sales. Through these annual contracts, Rosen learned how philanthropic local businesses are.
She began lending her fundraising talents as a volunteer to causes including Make-A-Wish, the Salvation Army, and breast cancer research.
Rosen said fundraising has been part of her life since she was a kid, raising money through caroling for Children’s Hospital. She went on to actively fundraise for her own children’s school needs as well as the greater community through her involvement in the Chamber of Commerce in Clarion and in Punxsutawney.
As Vice President of the Clarion Chamber, Rosen chaired the Autumn Leaf Festival committee and has also run wine walks.
Rosen feels her fundraising and event planning experience will serve her well as Main Street Manager. She feels confident connecting with businesses and their owners from the smallest mom and pop shops to the biggest employers in the area. She said she’s looking forward to meeting the business community and hearing the public’s ideas and concerns.
“I look forward to being an asset to the community,” Rosen said. “I hope to bring something fresh to the program.”
Rosen is excited to try to bring both sides of the river together in Oil City and recognizes that this is a special time for the city, citing the Lyric Theatre as just one example of “all kinds of wonderful changes” that are happening here.
She is fascinated by the Oil Region’s heritage and is looking forward to learning more about the area’s preservation efforts.
“I love to learn new things,” she said.
Rosen is also looking forward to meeting other Main Street managers and learning from their advice and experience as advocates and resources.
Rosen is happy to relocate to the Oil Region especially because it puts her closer to her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren living in Titusville as well as her son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren living in Youngsville, OH.
Her first day is Tuesday, January 16. She can be reached at srosen@oilregion.org.
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Public Notice of ORA Grant Application to EPA
The Oil Region Alliance (ORA) is providing notification to the community that the ORA intends to submit an application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by November 13, 2023, seeking a grant to clean up contamination at the Kraft and Dahlstrom properties at 62 Spruce Street and 304-306 Duncomb Street, Oil City, PA 16301 to support productive economic redevelopment of these properties. The ORA welcomes any comments from the public on the EPA cleanup application and projects. The ORA will hold a public hearing on November 8, 2023, 2:00 p.m., at the Oil City Pulaski Club building, 52 Duncomb Seneca Street, Oil City, PA 16301 during which public comments will be taken from all community members, including community members with limited English proficiency and community members with disabilities. You may get information about this hearing or copies of a draft of the EPA application and an analysis of brownfields cleanup alternatives (ABCA) for the site by contacting Jessica Gorman, Executive Assistant, at jgorman@oilregion.org or by visiting the ORA offices at 217 Elm Street, Oil City, PA 16301. Written comments may be left with the draft ABCA or can be sent to Jessica Gorman at jgorman@oilregion.org. To discuss your accessibility needs, you may also contact Jessica Gorman before November 6, 2023 via email at jgorman@oilregion.org or telephone at 814.677.3152 x 100.
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Oil City Main Street Program Seeks Main Street Manager
The Oil City Main Street Program, a partnership between the City of Oil City and the Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry, and Tourism, seeks applicants for the position of Main Street Manager. This is a full-time position which focuses on the development and implementation of an economic revitalization strategy for the Oil City downtown business district.
The successful candidate will lead and grow many projects and activities in the areas of:
- Small business recruitment and retention
- Historic preservation attractive design
- Reuse of existing buildings and underutilized space
- Community promotions
- Private and public partnerships
- Volunteer management
- Funding sources and fundraising
Candidate should have the following qualifications:
- Previous leadership, small business development, fundraising/grant-writing and project management experience
- Bachelor’s degree in business administration, marketing, communications, or related field
- Excellent organization, interpersonal, writing, research, public speaking and communication Excellent computer skills in Microsoft Office, Google Suite, website management, and social media.
This position allows for a flexible work schedule to support promotional activities, community events and city meetings, which often require weekend or evening hours. A full job description can be downloaded below. Salary and benefits commensurate with experience. For consideration, please send a cover letter and resume to: Oil Region Alliance, Human Resources, 217 Elm Street, Oil City, PA 16301. Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE)
Application deadline: November 6, 2023
OCMSP_Main_Street_Manager_ ORA_Final
# # #
ORA Announces 2023 Oil Region Tourism Award Winners
The votes are in, and the Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry & Tourism is pleased to announce the winners of its third annual Oil Region Tourism Awards.
The winners are:
Best Dish: Breakfast Sandwich at Woods & River Coffee, Oil City
Best Drink: Cold Brew Coffee at Woods & River, Oil City
Best Room: Wildcat Mansion, Franklin
Best Shop: Cross & Co. Boutique, Seneca
Best Advocate: Jodi Baker Lewis
Best Partner: Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce
Best Must See/Do Attraction: Barrow Civic Theatre, Franklin
Best Landmark: Drake Well Museum & Park, Titusville
“This contest is really taking off,” said Emily Altomare, Communications and Tourism Manager for the Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry and Tourism (ORA). “We have more nominations than ever before, and it’s exciting to see so many first-time nominees.”
For the third year in a row, Best Dish and Best Drink was won by the same establishment. This year it was newcomer Woods and River Coffee, in Oil City. Previous winners were Trails to Ales in Franklin and Villa Italia Ristorante in Oil City.
Cross & Co. Boutique in Seneca won for Best Shop in 2021 and 2023, and Drake Well won for Best Landmark in 2021 and 2023, making them the first repeat winners in the history of the contest.
Winners from the 2022 contest were not eligible to be nominated this year in the same category.
As the designated tourism marketing organization for Venango County and the manager of the Oil Region National Heritage Area (ORNHA), the ORA facilitates the contest. Nominees and winners must be within the ORNHA, which includes all of Venango County, plus Titusville, Oil Creek Township, and Hydetown in Crawford County.
There are no cash prizes for the winners, but nominees and winners are promoted through the ORA’s social media and other marketing efforts.
“There are so many unique features of the Oil Region, and this is a great way for residents and guests to share the ones they’re most passionate about with others,” Altomare said.
The public was invited to make nominations in eight hospitality categories during June and July via e-mail and the ORA’s Facebook page. Voting was open from Monday, August 7 to Friday, August 18.
More than 700 people voted in this year’s contest.
The 2023 nominees are:
Best Dish:
Classic Breakfast Sandwich at Grandview Lookout, Oil City
Dill Pickle Pizza at Trails to Ales, Franklin
Sausage Gravy Wrap at Baked Goods from Heaven, Oil City
Billy’s Philly Cheesesteak at Billy’s, Oil City
Freaky Greek Gyro at Grandview Lookout, Oil City
Crab Cake BLT Sandwich at Bella Cucina, Franklin
Ba’s Homemade Polish Platter at Double Play, Oil City
Low Country Dip appetizer at Fat Chad’s Tap & Steakhouse, Titusville
Dirt Flurry at McGranaghan’s City Limits, Titusville
Duck Egg Rolls at Bella Cucina, Franklin
Breakfast Sandwich at Woods and River, Oil City
Polish Dinner at Scierka’s Tavern, Oil City
Calzone at Leonardo’s, Franklin
Coconut Mango Tilapia at Trails to Ales, Franklin
Reuben Sandwich at Country Grub, Franklin
Lasagna at Leonardo’s, Franklin
Best Drink:
Lemonade with Strawberry Boba at Grandview Lookout, Oil City
Blackberry Bourbon Sidecar at Bella Cucina, Franklin
Ralph’s Ice Cream Slushies at Titusville Iron Works, Titusville
Cold Brew Coffee at Woods and River Coffee, Oil City
Espresso at Iron Furnace, Franklin
Beartown Mocha at Woods & River Coffee, Oil City
Frozen Peach Royal, at Otto’s Tavern, Emlenton
Matcha Sunrise at Iron Furnace Coffee, Franklin
Liquid Gold Milk Tea at FrosTEA n’Fusions, The Mercantile, Titusville
Fruit Sangria at Benjamins, Franklin
Best Room:
Wildcat Mansion, Franklin
Caboose Motel, Titusville
Heron’s Landing (above Woods & River Coffee), Oil City
Holiday Inn Express, Seneca
Best Shop:
Amy’s Closet & Sassy’s Gifts, Franklin
The Printer’s Cabinet and Curiosities, Franklin
Porch Music Store, Franklin
Stonehouse Jack, Titusville
Cross & Co. Boutique, Seneca
Crismans Little Britches, Franklin
4 Season Cycle, Franklin
Hal Carbaugh’s Barber Shop, Franklin
Olive Vault, Franklin
Daffin’s Candies, Franklin
Olde Liberty, Franklin
Liberty Street Antiques, Franklin
Best Industry Advocate:
Wendy Thompson
Bob Joyce
Matt Beith
Cathy Kentzel
Leah Carter
Peter Greene
Jodi Baker Lewis
Best Industry Partner/Organization:
National Park Service
Oil City Main Street Program
Titusville Ironworks
Webco Industries
4 Season Cycle
Oil Region Library Association
Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce
Woods and River Coffee
Best Must Do Activity or Attraction:
Allegheny River
BridgeFest — Oil City Festival in August
Axe Throwing at Allegheny River Retreat Center, Franklin
Oil Heritage Festival—Oil City Festival in July
James A. Nelles Memorial Swimming Pool, Oil City
Oil Creek State Park
Rocky Grove Fireman’s Fair
Rock in River Fest, Franklin
Mountain Bike Trails at Two Mile Run County Park
Sandycreek Recreation Trail
Belmar Bridge
Emlenton Summer Festival
Barrow Civic Theatre, Franklin
May Garden Mart – Franklin Festival in May
Picnic/Activities at Blood Farm, Oil Creek State Park
Best Landmark:
The Barrow Civic Theatre
Drake Well
Historic Pithole City
Murray Scenic Overlook, Oil City
Belmar Bridge on the Allegheny River
McKinney Hall at UPT, Titusville
Confluence of the Allegheny and French Creek
Allegheny River Trail
River Ridge Farm
100 Seneca at Cornplanter Square
St John’s Episcopal Church Tiffany windows, Franklin
Pithole Stone Arch Bridge, Eagle Rock Road
A celebration for the winners is being planned and each winner will receive a certificate and sign to post in their business showing that they are one of the best of the best in the Oil Region.
Videos of the 2022 winners were posted on the ORA’s Facebook page and can be viewed at the ORA’s YouTube page at YouTube.com/@Oil_Region_Alliance.
Past nominees and winners are also listed on the ORA’s website at OilRegion.org/Tourism/Calendar/.
“It’s fun watching this contest grow,” Altomare said. “We’re hearing about old go-tos and new favorites. It really puts a spotlight on the best of the best in the Oil Region.”
For more information about the contest, please contact ealtomare@oilregion.org.
# # #
Virtual Meeting for Oil City Design Guide Scheduled for August 29
The Oil City Main Street Program invites the public to attend the final meeting regarding the Oil City Design Guide Tuesday, August 29 at 6 p.m. via Zoom.
“We are excited to have a thorough resource for building owners and tenants in Oil City to properly care for their properties,” said Jenn Burden, Oil Region Alliance Heritage Program Manager and OCMS Design Committee member. “Although the Design Guide is geared towards historic buildings, I think it can be valuable for buildings of any age.”
The Design Guide document defines its purpose as providing voluntary guidance for “property owners, tenants, contractors, design professionals, tradespeople, local government officials, and community organizations to promote and ensure the integrity of the historic districts and buildings in Oil City for the enjoyment of current and future generations.”
Design Guide goals include:
- Demonstrating important architectural and design features of older and historic buildings
- Providing seasonal and long-term maintenance recommendations
- Encouraging good stewardship of historic buildings
- Enhancing the cohesion of the three historic districts in Oil City
- Attracting new residents and economic investment by improving and maintaining Oil City’s historic identity
The OCMS Program spearheaded the Design Guide project. A steering committee composed of residents and business owners from the three historic districts, local elected officials, and community organizations oversaw the Oil City Design Guide process and development. The steering committee worked with the consultant team, citySTUDIO and T&B Planning, regularly during the process to provide feedback and suggestions.
Public input was provided via an online survey in Summer 2021. Feedback on the second draft was supplied during a public meeting in Spring 2023. Comments on the final draft were provided in Summer 2023 during a second public meeting.
The final version of the Oil City Design Guide will be shared during the meeting Tuesday.
Those wishing to attend the meeting can register by e-mailing jgorman@oilregion.org to receive the meeting link.
The Oil City Design Guide is being funded by a Keystone Historic Preservation Project Grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, with additional funding from the National Park Service via the Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry and Tourism, the Hart Family Fund for Small Towns of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Northwest Charitable Foundation, Inc., Mr. and Mrs. Henry B. Suhr, Jr., and Take Pride in Oil City.
The steering committee wishes to recognize the efforts of the late Kathy Bailey, Oil City Main Street Program Manager (2011-2023). Her hard work and dedication to the Program greatly benefited the Oil City community.
# # #
Oil Region Alliance Offers Heritage Mini Grants Again
The Oil Region Alliance is offering a second round of mini-grants of up to $4,700 to non-profits and municipalities for heritage projects in the Oil Region National Heritage Area. Funding is made available from the Pennsylvania Heritage Areas Program fund, managed by the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.
The Oil Region National Heritage Area (ORNHA) 2023 Heritage Mini-Grant Program is meant to assist heritage-related sites and organizations, as well as municipalities and counties, to develop new programs, partnerships, exhibits, tours, and other initiatives that are consistent with the Interpretation goals in the 2021 Oil Region National Heritage Area Strategic Plan report.
“The ORA received a great response to the first round of the ORNHA Heritage Mini-Grant Program earlier this year, but we have a small amount of funding remaining to potentially help a few more projects and programs,” said Jenn Burden, ORA Heritage Program Manager.
Non-profit 501(c)3 organizations currently registered with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Charitable Organizations, municipalities, and counties are eligible to apply. Projects must have a significant connection to the heritage of the ORNHA, which is all of Venango County and Titusville, Hydetown Borough, and Oil Creek Township in Crawford County.
Eligible projects include, but are not limited to:
- Educational and/or media pieces that promote the heritage and/or history of the ORNHA
- New or revised educational brochures
- Videos highlighting the region’s history
- Development of curriculum units for grades K-12
- Creation of new wayside materials (interpretive panels, historical markers, etc.)
- Enhancement, repair, or creation of historical exhibits
- Materials to properly preserve/store historic artifacts for future use
- Arrangement of public historical events (speakers, demonstrations, workshops, tours, etc.)
Eligible entities may apply for more than one project as part of this grant application as long as the total cost for the projects does not exceed $25,000 and the total grant request does not exceed $4,700. Entities should list multiple projects in priority order in their application. ORA and the review committee may award funding to all or some projects in the applications based upon completeness of applications and available funding.
The grants are reimbursable, meaning awardees are responsible for payments up front and must submit receipts to be reimbursed. ORA will make payments within 30 days of receipt of required proof of payments. Grant-funded projects and closeout materials need to be completed by April 30, 2024.
The full application with more information is available at OilRegion.org/the-alliance/rfps/
Applications are due by September 1, 2023. Award announcements will be made by September 15, 2023.
Contact Burden at jburden@oilregion.org or 814.677.3152 with questions.
# # #
Voting Now Open for 2023 Oil Region Tourism Awards
Voting is open now through Friday, August 18 for the 2023 Oil Region Tourism Awards, the third annual contest hosted by the Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry, and Tourism.
“This contest is really taking off,” said Emily Altomare, Communications and Tourism Manager for the Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry and Tourism (ORA). “We have more nominations than ever before, and it’s exciting to see so many first-time nominees.”
As the designated tourism marketing organization for Venango County and the manager of the Oil Region National Heritage Area (ORNHA), the ORA is facilitating the contest. Nominees and winners must be within the ORNHA, which includes all of Venango County, plus Titusville, Oil Creek Township, and Hydetown in Crawford County. Winners from the 2022 contest were not eligible to be nominated this year in the same category. There are no cash prizes for the winners, but nominees and winners will be promoted through the ORA’s social media and other marketing efforts.
“There are so many unique features of the Oil Region, and this is a great way for residents and guests to share the ones they’re most passionate about with others,” Altomare said.
Follow this link to vote: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2023OilRegionTourismAwards
The link is also available on the ORA Facebook page and at https://oilregion.org/tourism/calendar/.
The public was invited to make nominations in eight hospitality categories during June and July via the ORA’s Facebook page.
The 2023 nominees are:
Best Dish
Classic Breakfast Sandwich at Grandview Lookout, Oil City
Dill Pickle Pizza at Trails to Ales, Franklin
Sausage Gravy Wrap at Baked Goods from Heaven, Oil City
Billy’s Philly Cheesesteak at Billy’s, Oil City
Freaky Greek Gyro at Grandview Lookout, Oil City
Crab Cake BLT Sandwich at Bella Cucina, Franklin
Ba’s Homemade Polish Platter at Double Play, Oil City
Low Country Dip appetizer at Fat Chad’s Tap & Steakhouse, Titusville
Dirt Flurry at McGranaghan’s City Limits, Titusville
Duck Egg Rolls at Bella Cucina, Franklin
Breakfast Sandwich at Woods and River, Oil City
Polish Dinner at Scierka’s Tavern, Oil City
Calzone at Leonardo’s, Franklin
Coconut Mango Tilapia at Trails to Ales, Franklin
Reuben Sandwich at Country Grub, Franklin
Lasagna at Leonardo’s, Franklin
Best Drink
Lemonade with Strawberry Boba at Grandview Lookout, Oil City
Blackberry Bourbon Sidecar at Bella Cucina, Franklin
Ralph’s Ice Cream Slushies at Titusville Iron Works, Titusville
Iced Coffee at Woods and River Coffee, Oil City
Espresso at Iron Furnace, Franklin
Beartown Mocha at Woods & River Coffee, Oil City
Frozen Peach Royal, at Otto’s Tavern, Emlenton
Matcha Sunrise at Iron Furnace Coffee, Franklin
Liquid Gold Milk Tea at FrosTEA n’Fusions, The Mercantile, Titusville
Fruit Sangria at Benjamins, Franklin
Best Room
Wildcat Mansion, Franklin
Caboose Motel, Titusville
Heron’s Landing (above Woods & River Coffee), Oil City
Holiday Inn Express, Seneca
Best Shop
Amy’s Closet & Sassy’s Gifts, Franklin
The Printer’s Cabinet and Curiosities, Franklin
Porch Music Store, Franklin
Stonehouse Jack, Titusville
Cross & Co. Boutique, Seneca
Crismans Little Britches, Franklin
4 Season Cycle, Franklin
Hal Carbaugh’s Barber Shop, Franklin
Olive Vault, Franklin
Daffin’s Candies, Franklin
Olde Liberty, Franklin
Liberty Street Antiques, Franklin
Best Industry Advocate
Wendy Thompson
Bob Joyce
Matt Beith
Cathy Kentzel
Leah Carter
Peter Greene
Jodi Baker Lewis
Best Industry Partner/Organization
National Park Service
Oil City Main Street Program
Titusville Ironworks
Webco Industries
4 Season Cycle
Oil Region Library Association
Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce
Woods and River Coffee
Best Must Do Activity or Attraction
Allegheny River
BridgeFest — Oil City Festival in August
Axe Throwing at Allegheny River Retreat Center, Franklin
Oil Heritage Festival—Oil City Festival in July
James A. Nelles Memorial Swimming Pool, Oil City
Oil Creek State Park
Rocky Grove Fireman’s Fair
Rock in River Fest, Franklin
Mountain Bike Trails at Two Mile Run County Park
Sandycreek Recreation Trail
Belmar Bridge
Emlenton Summer Festival
Barrow Civic Theatre, Franklin
May Garden Mart – Franklin Festival in May
Picnic/Activities at Blood Farm, Oil Creek State Park
Best Landmark
The Barrow Civic Theatre
Drake Well
Historic Pithole City
Murray Scenic Overlook, Oil City
Belmar Bridge on the Allegheny River
McKinney Hall at UPT, Titusville
Confluence of the Allegheny and French Creek
Allegheny River Trail
River Ridge Farm
100 Seneca at Cornplanter Square
St. John’s Episcopal Church Tiffany windows, Franklin
Pithole Stone Arch Bridge, Eagle Rock Road
Winners will be announced Friday, September 1.
Videos of the 2022 winners were posted on the ORA’s Facebook page and can be viewed at the ORA’s YouTube page at YouTube.com/@Oil_Region_Alliance.
Past nominees and winners are also listed on the ORA’s website at OilRegion.org/Tourism/Calendar/.
“It’s fun watching this contest grow,” Altomare said. “We’re hearing about old go-tos and new favorites. It really puts a spotlight on the best of the best in the Oil Region.”
For more information about the contest, please contact ealtomare@oilregion.org.
# # #
Oil Region Alliance Requests Nominations for Tourism Awards
The Oil Region Alliance is seeking nominations for the third annual Oil Region Tourism Awards.
As the designated tourism marketing organization for Venango County and the manager of the Oil Region National Heritage Area, the ORA is excited to recognize the best of the best in hospitality in our region.
“We’re excited to hold the Oil Region Tourism Awards for a third year,” said ORA Communications and Tourism Manager Emily Altomare. “It’s such a great opportunity for locals and guests to recognize some of their favorite things in the Oil Region and share them with others.”
Anyone can make a single nomination or multiple nominations for any or every category. However, winners from 2022 are not eligible for the same category this year, but can be nominated in different categories.
There are eight categories.
Best Dish is for the best restaurant meal (breakfast, lunch, or dinner) available in the Oil Region. Nominations must include the restaurant name and the menu item.
Best Drink is for the best cocktail, coffee, or other beverage and will need to include the menu item name and location in the nomination.
In 2021 both Best Dish and Best Drink were won by the Villa Italia Restaurant in Oil City for their Italian Sub and Peanut Butter Milkshake respectively. In 2022, Trails to Ales Brewery in Franklin won Best Dish for their Liberty Street Burger and Best Drink for their Broken Spoke Blueberry Beer. These menu items will not be eligible for 2023 awards, but anything else on Trails’ menu is fair game.
Best Room can be for a specific room or suite at a B&B or homeshare or any room at a specific lodging establishment such as a hotel or motel. The Caboose Motel in Titusville was the 2021 winner and Peddlers and Paddlers Inn in Franklin won in 2022.
Best Shop is for retail locations of any kind and does not have to be directly related to the tourism industry. Cross and Co. Boutique in Seneca won in 2021 and Core Goods in Oil City won in 2022.
Best Industry Advocate is for an individual who regularly sings the praises of the Oil Region, someone who frequently shares hospitality info on social media, and encourages attendance at community functions. Ashley Zaccari Smith was named Best Advocate in 2021 and Ronnie Beith was named Best Advocate in 2022.
Best Industry Partner/Organization can go to a specific hospitality industry business or an organization that contributes greatly to the offerings of the region. The Be Here program of the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce won in 2021. The Venango Area Chamber of Commerce won in 2022.
Best Must Do Activity or Attraction requests nominations for the best places to go and things to do in the region, such as a museum, festival, or park. The bike trails were named the Best Activity for 2021 and Applefest won for 2022.
Best Landmark will honor a specific location that guests shouldn’t miss during a visit, such as a monument, oilfield relic, architectural feature, or selfie site. Drake Well Museum and Park was named the Best Landmark in 2021 and Two Mile Run County Park won in 2022.
Locations must be within the Oil Region National Heritage Area, which includes all of Venango County, plus Titusville, Oil Creek Township, and Hydetown in Crawford County.
The nomination period is open now through Monday, July 31. Nominations can be made via e-mail to Altomare at ealtomare@oilregion.org or by commenting on Oil Region Tourism Awards posts on the ORA’s Facebook page. Nominations will not be taken by phone, but hard copies can be mailed to the ORA office at 217 Elm St., Oil City, PA 16301.
Voting will occur via an online link available through the ORA’s social media. Voting will open Monday, August 7 and conclude Friday, August 18.
Winners will be announced Friday, September 1.
There are no cash prizes for the winners, but nominees and winners will be promoted through the ORA’s social media and other marketing efforts.
Videos for each of the 2022 Tourism Award Winners were shared on the ORA’s Facebook page and can be viewed on the ORA’s YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/@Oil_Region_Alliance/videos
For more information about the contest, please contact ealtomare@oilregion.org.
# # #
ORA Celebrates Historic Preservation Award Winners May 18 in Oil City
The Oil Region Alliance will celebrate the winners of the Historic Preservation Awards Thursday, May 18.
The in-person event, which is free and open to the public, will be held at Christ Episcopal Church at 16 Central Ave., Oil City, beginning at 6 p.m. and will include hors d’ oeuvres, a tour of the church, and presentation of certificates to the winners.
“I’m pleased with the variety of nominations this year, including the reconstruction of a 1940s airplane and the restoration and relocation of a historic bridge,” said event organizer Jennifer Burden, Oil Region Alliance Heritage Program Manager. “It’s great to see so many different types of historic preservation projects in the Oil Region National Heritage Area.”
Nominations were accepted in March and voted on by a panel of judges representing the following sponsor organizations: Crawford County Historical Society, Franklin Preservation Association, Friends of Drake Well, Inc., Heritage Society of Oil City, Oil City Main Street Program, Titusville Historical Society, Titusville Renaissance, Inc., Venango County Historical Society, and the Venango Museum of Art, Science & Industry.
The 2023 Oil Region Historic Preservation Award Winners are:
- Vintage Wings, Inc. for the Reconstruction of the Beach City Baby
The 1941 DC-3 was used in military service during WWII then as the official transport of the governor of Ohio. Abandoned since 1983, Vintage Wings President and Founder Jason Capra discovered the plane in Beach City, Ohio and set out to restore it. With the help of volunteers, donors, and a few corporate sponsors, the plane was restored in just more than three years. In 2022, the Beach City Baby visited several airshows with a mission of educating the public via living history re-enactments.
- Carole Hall for Preservation Education/Initiative
Carole Hall was nominated by the Titusville Historical Society for her commitment to the historic education of the region including work as the Education Coordinator at Drake Well Museum and Park where she began their Docent Program with Titusville schools, developed History Camps for kids and adults, and planned the March Lecture Series. She has portrayed Ida Tarbell on numerous occasions and initiated and continues to be active in awarding the Ida Tarbell Award given to a graduating Titusville High School girl. She is an energetic, optimistic, and encouraging volunteer who exemplifies dedication to education, civic duty, and investment in future generations through her work with the Titusville Historical Society, the Oil Region Alliance, Drake Well, and other organizations and efforts.
- Deep Harbour Properties for the Enhancement of the Lamberton Building in Franklin
Deep Harbour Properties repaired and painted the main entrance to the Lamberton Building that faces 13th Street in Franklin with a nod to the style of the past.
- PennDOT and PA DCNR for the Messerall Bridge in the Structure Category
Titusville Renaissance, Inc. nominated the Messerall Bridge for a Historic Preservation Award because PennDOT and DCNR moved the long-abandoned bridge from Oil Creek Township, Crawford County, rehabilitated it using about 75% of the original materials, and relocated it to Pymatuning State Park in Western Crawford County to close a trail gap.
- Gregory Rock & Aimé Sposato Rock for the Reconstruction of the Rocsato Conservatory of Music at Hillhurst in Titusville
Titusville Renaissance, Inc. nominated the Reconstruction of the Rocsato Conservatory of Music, which included repairs to the roof and windows, cosmetic changes to floors and wall coverings, and adapting the first floor to create teaching and performance spaces as well as the residential space above.
- Chris and Jenn Morrison for their Enhancement of the Former Salvation Army Building in Franklin
Franklin Preservation nominated the Enhancement of the Former Salvation Army Building in Franklin. Owners Chris and Jenn Morrison had the masonry cleaned and repointed, replaced the roof, rebuilt the garage, and added awnings to the building where they have relocated their business Vino and Vibes in the building.
- Reconstruction of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Oil City
Nominated by parishioner Debbie Sobina, the Reconstruction of St. Joseph’s Church is recognized for work completed between January and October 2022 that included heating and cooling updates, new light fixtures, new marble flooring, new wainscotting, and repair of columns, stained glass windows, and pews. Eight medallion murals were fabricated, hand-painted, and installed on the transept to recapture the original design in the sanctuary.
- Robert Billingsley and Carolee Michener for Historic Appreciation of the World War I Memorial in Franklin
Nominated by the Venango County Historical Society, the World War I Memorial outside the Venango County Courthouse is recognized for Historic Appreciation. The project was led by Robert Billingsley and the late Carolee Michener who researched newspapers, enlistment and medical records, public input to compile the names that Franklin Granite and several contractors would engrave on this monument. The two walls create a trench symbolic of those dug by soldiers on the frontline during the war. The monument was dedicated Veteran’s Day 2018.
The Oil Region National Heritage Area includes all of Venango County, the Borough of Hydetown, the City of Titusville, and Oil Creek Township in Crawford County.
Eligible resources must be within the Oil Region and at least 50 years old. Eligible projects include interior and exterior work in public buildings and exterior work in privately owned buildings and must have been in progress or completed during the last five years. Once an individual or project has received an award, it is not eligible again for another five years.
The evening will begin with hors d’oeuvres at 6 p.m., a tour of the building/sanctuary at 6:15 p.m., and the awards ceremony at 6:45 p.m. There is no cost to attend the award ceremony, but pre-registration is appreciated. E-mail jgorman@oilregion.org to register.
The program has presented more than 150 awards since 1997.
Please contact Burden at jburden@oilregion.org or 814-677-3152 x 116 for more information.
# # #
ORA to Hold Hands-on Plaster Workshop in Clintonville May 6
The Oil Region Alliance will hold a workshop on restoring three-coat plaster at the historic Judge McKee House in Clintonville Saturday, May 6 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“Restoring original materials in historic structures such as the plaster in the Judge McKee House is imperative to maintaining the historic character and look of the building,” said ORA Project Manager Abigail Watson-Popescu, who will lead the workshop.
Three-coat lime plaster, consisting of a scratch coat, brown coat, and finish coat, is its own unique system that is superior in strength and durability, and allows the building to “breathe” by regulating moisture, according to Watson-Popescu.
“Three-coat plaster is quickly becoming a lost art,” Watson-Popescu said.
The workshop will focus on methods of stabilizing historic plaster, as well as restoring plaster using traditional methods, tools, and materials.
“Workshop attendees can expect to learn the properties of historic three-coat plaster, ways of repairing and stabilizing plaster in situ, and the proper methods of preparing and plastering a wall,” Watson-Popescu said. “They can then take this knowledge back to make repairs on their own historic homes.”
The cost of the workshop is $30, which includes refreshments plus materials to use during the workshop and to take home for future use. Space is limited. Pre-registration is required. Contact Jessica at jgorman@oilregion.org or 814.677.3152.
The Judge Thomas McKee Homestead was settled in 1796, with evidence that the stone structure was standing in 1821, making it one of the oldest houses still standing in Venango County. Judge Thomas McKee was named an associate judge when Venango County was formed in 1805.
This workshop is part of the Oil Region Alliance’s celebration of May as National Historic Preservation Month.
The ORA will also hold the annual Oil Region Historic Preservation Awards Ceremony Thursday, May 18 from 6-8 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church in Oil City. This event is free and open to the public. Registration is appreciated to jgorman@oilregion.org or 814.677.3152.
The Oil Region Alliance oversees the Oil Region National Heritage Area. Designated by Congress in 2004, the ORNHA commemorates the area’s significance as the birthplace of the modern petroleum industry. It encompasses all of Venango County and Titusville, Hydetown Borough, and Oil Creek Township in Crawford County.
# # #
East Branch Trail Segment Completion Celebration April 22 at 2 p.m. in Hydetown
The community is invited to attend a celebration for the completion of a segment of the East Branch Trail, which will be held Saturday, April 22 at 2 p.m. at the Hydtown Fire Hall at 12666 Main St., Hydetown.
The event will include remarks by representatives of Clear Lake Authority and other trail partners and supporters followed by a ribbon cutting and official inaugural bike ride.
The newly completed portion of trail is about a half-mile from the Fire Hall. It is 2.4 miles of crushed limestone surface. It is currently the southernmost portion of the East Branch Trail, which is part of the Erie to Pittsburgh Trail and the Industrial Heartland Trails Coalition, a group of organizations and stakeholders advocating for trails across Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, and West Virginia.
Clear Lake Authority owns and manages the East Branch Trail and is the host of the event. Clear Lake Authority was originally established as a municipal authority to maintain Clear Lake in Spartansburg. 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.
The event will be held in conjunction with Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Celebrate Trails Day, with events taking place across the country that recognize the importance of trails and the conservancy’s mission to build a nation connected by trails.
Hydetown Borough is part of the Oil Region National Heritage Area, in addition to Oil Creek Township and Titusville in Crawford County and all of Venango County.
Clear Lake Authority is grateful for the support and cooperation of Hydetown Borough Council and the Oil Region Alliance, managers of the Oil Region National Heritage Area.
This project was funded by a grant from the PA DCNR Bureau of Conservation and Natural Resources through a Community Conservation Partnership Program Grant using Environmental Stewardship Funds through the Northwest Greenways Block Grants administered by the NW Commission. Additional funding and support were secured through the Trail Volunteer Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation, the Oil Region Alliance, Erie to Pittsburgh Trail, Crawford County Planning Commission, and volunteers through the Clear Lake Authority and local communities.
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ORA Seeks Historic Preservation Nominees to Celebrate at May Event
It’s time to recognize the people and projects preserving the Oil Region’s history through the Historic Preservation Awards.
The Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry & Tourism is accepting nominations through March 31.
“These awards are a celebration of building preservation, education, and heritage efforts,” said event organizer Jennifer Burden, Oil Region Alliance Heritage Program Manager. “Every year we look forward to seeing what great work is happening in the region and shining a spotlight on it.”
The Oil Region Historic Preservation Awards is part of the ORA’s celebration of Historic Preservation Month, held each May. The program recognizes appropriate preservation, restoration, and rehabilitation projects, as well as individuals and groups committed to historic preservation. It creates an advocacy for historic preservation and enhances a regional historic preservation ethic within the Oil Region National Heritage Area.
The region includes all of Venango County, the Borough of Hydetown, the City of Titusville and Oil Creek Township in Crawford County.
Any person or group may submit a nomination for a Historic Preservation Award. Eligible structures must be within the Oil Region and at least 50 years old. Eligible projects include interior and exterior work in public buildings and exterior work in privately owned buildings. Once an individual or project has received an award, it is not eligible again for another five years.
Nomination forms and lists of past winners are available at the OilRegion.org Historic Preservation Awards page. (https://oilregion.org/heritage/historic-preservation-awards/)
Digital “Before & After” photographs are required with each nomination. They can be sent to jburden@oilregion.org, noting “Historic Preservation” in the subject line. Photographs help illustrate the nature and impact of the project work to the Awards judges and will be incorporated into the awards ceremony. Up to ten photos of the nominated project may be submitted.
Nominations must be submitted by Friday, March 31 to jburden@oilregion.org or Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry & Tourism at 217 Elm St., Oil City, PA 16301.
The awards ceremony will take place Thursday, May 18 at Christ Episcopal Church in Oil City.
The evening will begin with hors d’oeuvres at 6 p.m., a tour of the building/sanctuary at 6:45 p.m., and the awards ceremony at 7 p.m. There is no cost to attend the award ceremony, but pre-registration is appreciated. E-mail jgorman@oilregion.org to register.
Sponsors of the Historic Preservation Awards are the Crawford County Historical Society, Franklin Preservation Association, Friends of Drake Well, Inc., Heritage Society of Oil City, Oil City Main Street Program, Oil Region Alliance, Titusville Historical Society, Titusville Renaissance, Inc., Venango County Historical Society, and the Venango Museum of Art, Science & Industry.
The program has presented more than 150 awards since 1997.
Please contact Burden at jburden@oilregion.org or 814-677-3152 x 116 for more information.
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Oil Region Alliance Produces Oil Region Guide for 2023-2024
The latest Oil Region Guide, the premier tourism publication of the Oil Region, which is produced by the Oil Region Alliance (ORA), is now available.
The magazine highlights the Oil Region National Heritage Area (ORNHA)’s history, outdoor recreational offerings, arts and culture, hospitality amenities, and more through articles and advertisements.
“The release of a new Oil Region Guide is always exciting,” said Emily Altomare, ORA Communications and Tourism Manager. “This publication represents so much hard work, but also a wonderful opportunity to introduce people to new things to love about the Oil Region.”
For the second year in a row the Guide was designed in-house at the ORA, incorporating a lot of input from community members and volunteers including those who serve on the ORA’s Tourism Advisory Promotion Council.
“I am so appreciative of the collaboration between our staff and committee members as well as the participation of our advertisers,” said John R. Phillips, II, ORA President and CEO. “That’s what makes this publication so valuable.”
The latest Guide was produced with a two-year shelf-life in mind, meaning it will serve for all of calendar years 2023 and 2024.
The Guide was also expanded from 52 pages to 56 pages to accommodate all interested advertisers and additions to the content, including new features on the Oil Region Astronomical Society and 2024 solar eclipse.
The ORA is Venango County’s designated tourism marketing organization. Since the ORNHA includes all of Venango and Titusville, Oil Creek Township, and Hydetown Borough in Crawford County, the Guide covers the same geographic footprint. The community of Foxburg, which is adjacent to the southern border of the ORNHA, is also included.
The 85,000 hard copies of the Guide were once again printed by Seneca Printing Express in Franklin.
The Guide is distributed locally at visitor centers and points of interest as well as in response to direct requests and leads generated through advertising. It is also available at stops on the Pennsylvania turnpike, several rest stops, Welcome Centers, and select AAA offices across the state in addition to three spots on I-95 in Delaware and Maryland thanks to an ORA contract with Getaways on Display.
The Guide will also be available to download or flip through virtually online at OilRegion.org/tourism/visitor-guide/.
The digital version allows readers to link directly with events and advertiser websites or social media pages with just a click.
Questions about the Oil Region Guide or requests for copies can be directed to Altomare at ealtomare@oilregion.org.
Development of the next Oil Region Guide, which will come out in January 2025, will begin Summer of 2024. It has not yet been determined if that Guide will be for one year or two.
“We’re very proud to have this new marketing piece that so thoroughly highlights all our area has to offer,” Phillips said.
# # #
Oil Region Alliance Offers Heritage Mini Grants to Non-Profits
The Oil Region Alliance is offering mini-grants of up to $5,000 to non-profits for heritage projects in the Oil Region National Heritage Area.
The Oil Region National Heritage Area (ORNHA) 2023 Heritage Mini-Grant Program is meant to assist heritage-related sites and organizations, as well as municipalities and counties, to develop new programs, partnerships, exhibits, tours, and other initiatives that are consistent with the Interpretation goals in the 2021 Oil Region National Heritage Area Strategic Plan report.
“I hope that the ORNHA Heritage Mini-Grant Program will help numerous projects and programs come to fruition,” said Jenn Burden, ORA Heritage Program Manager. “This region is full of potential opportunities to celebrate our unique heritage and history.”
Non-profit 501(c)3 organizations currently registered with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Charitable Organizations, municipalities, and counties are eligible to apply. Projects must have a significant connection to the heritage of the ORNHA, which is all of Venango County and Titusville, Hydetown Borough, and Oil Creek Township in Crawford County.
Eligible projects include, but are not limited to:
- Educational and/or media pieces that promote the history and/or history of the ORNHA
- New or revised educational brochures
- Videos highlighting the region’s history
- Development of curriculum units for grades K-12
- Creation of new wayside materials (interpretive panels, historical markers, etc.)
- Enhancement, repair, or creation of historical exhibits
- Materials to properly preserve/store historic artifacts for future use
- Arrangement of public historical events (speakers, demonstrations, workshops, tours, etc.)
Eligible entities may apply for more than one project as part of this grant application as long as the total cost for the projects does not exceed $25,000 and the total grant request does not exceed $5,000. Entities should list multiple projects in priority order in their application. ORA and the review committee may award funding to all or some projects in the applications based upon completeness of applications and available funding.
The grants are reimbursable, meaning awardees are responsible for payments up front and must submit receipts to be reimbursed. ORA will make payments within 30 days of receipt of required proof of payments.
The full application with more information is available at OilRegion.org/the-alliance/rfps/
Applications are due by February 17, 2023.
Award announcements will be made Wednesday, March 1.
Contact Burden at jburden@oilregion.org or 814.677.3152 with questions.
# # #
Oil Region Alliance Releases Updated Driving Tour Booklet
Locals and guests to the Oil Region have a new resource to guide them through the area and make sure they don’t miss a thing – the Oil Region Driving Tour Booklet.
This publication is a revision of a document last updated in 1999 that directs users to points of interest throughout the Oil Region National Heritage Area.
“The Driving Tour focuses on the geography and natural features and the way the landscape informed the social and economic development of the Oil Region National Heritage Area,” said Abbe Watson-Popescu, ORA Project Manager, who updated and developed the content of the Driving Tour.
This new and improved publication is in full color and includes more maps, images, and historical photos. Contact information was updated and content themes were modernized. The route of the driving tour itself was changed to include new swaths of the region including Pleasantville and the surrounding boomtowns. Rockland Furnace, Freedom Falls, Mineral Springs, and Hughes Park are new inclusions for this edition.
“I hope that folks will use it to discover new pockets of the ORNHA and visit sites they didn’t realize existed,” Watson-Popescu said.
The booklet’s layout was graphically designed by Brandon Boocks. Publications were printed locally by Seneca Printing.
The Driving Tour Booklet project was financed in part by the National Park Service and the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources – Bureau of Recreation and Conservation, through Community Conservation Partnerships Program Grant Heritage and Other Parks.
Driving Tour Booklets are available for free at the ORA office at 217 Elm St., Oil City and at literature distribution racks throughout the ORNHA.
# # #
Trail Support Meeting Scheduled for January 23 in Hydetown
Friends of the bike trails in Eastern Crawford County, including the East Branch Trail and Queen City Trail, are encouraged to attend an informational meeting Monday, January 23, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. at the Hydetown Volunteer Fire Department Social Hall.
All types of skill sets are needed to support trail development and ongoing maintenance including hands-on construction from hand tools to heavy equipment, writing, social media and website design, finance and fundraising, and trail patrols.
“If you have a skill you’d like to share, I’m sure we can find a role for you to support the trails,” said Kim Harris, Oil Region Alliance Project Manager, Outdoor Recreation Specialist.
Harris will be helping to facilitate the meeting along with other local trail experts such as Ron Steffey of Steffey Trail Connections and representatives from Clear Lake Authority.
Everyone is welcome to attend and learn more about how to get involved with these excellent outdoor recreational assets.
# # #
Oil Region National Heritage Area Reauthorized for 15 Years
President Biden signed legislation today that will reauthorize Northwest PA’s Oil Region National Heritage Area for the next 15 years along with 54 other NHAs throughout the country.
The National Heritage Area Act (S. 1942) passed the Senate with a vote of “unanimous consent” and with overwhelming bipartisan approval in the House of Representatives with a vote of 326-95 in December.
“The passage of S. 1942 is a significant milestone for all Heritage Areas and its bipartisan passage solidifies and validates that National Heritage Areas bring projects, programs, education, and economic redevelopment to the communities we serve,” said John R. Phillips, II, President and CEO of the Oil Region Alliance, managing entity of the Oil Region National Heritage Area. “One of the best benefits for us is that we will be able to strategically plan our projects and activities over a long period and be able to focus on them instead of the next reauthorization deadline.”
The Oil Region National Heritage Area was designated by Congress in 2004 and consists of all of Venango County and Titusville, Hydetown Borough, and Oil Creek Township in Crawford County.
Reauthorization every few years was required for the ORNHA to be eligible for funding from the National Park Service. Until the passage of this National Heritage Area Act, there was no uniformity in the reauthorization schedules of the 55 NHAs in the U.S. Now all NHAs will be on the same timeline.
Additionally, seven new NHAs were designated in the National Heritage Area Act.
According to the Alliance of National Heritage Areas, NHAs around the country are cost-effective, grass roots organizations, which promote economic development through historic preservation and natural resource conservation. The small annual investment of $29 million through the National Park Service yields an additional $5.50 of local, state, and private funding for every federal dollar.
“Over the years, the ORA has supplemented funding from the NPS to restore the Tarbell House in Titusville to be used as event space, design Visitor Centers in the region, build multi-use trails, and produce numerous educational brochures, interpretive panels, and lessons plans,” said Jenn Burden, ORA Heritage Program Manager. “Continued funding from the NPS will ensure the completion of the historic Scheide House in Titusville and Downs Building in Oil City rehabilitation projects as well as additional educational, recreational, and interpretive projects and programs that showcase the unique heritage of the Oil Region.”
This legislation was championed by Congressmen Paul Tonko (D-NY) and David McKinley (R-WV) in the House and Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Roy Blunt (R-MO) in the Senate. Locally, U.S. Representatives Mike Kelly and Glenn Thompson supported the bill.
“The National Heritage Area Act is a testament to the tremendous work National Heritage Areas do within communities across America,” said Sara Capen, leader of the Alliance of National Heritage Areas. “It is a direct reflection of the determination and resilience that is not only the bedrock of National Heritage Areas, but also the history of the places and people National Heritage Areas represent. The Alliance of National Heritage Areas is profoundly grateful for the tireless leadership and support we have received on a bipartisan basis within Congress (December 22) and look forward to serving our communities for an additional 15 years.”
# # #
Oil Region Alliance Announces Winners of Outdoor Rec Contest
Congratulations to the winners of the Oil Region Alliance Outdoor Recreation Business Plan Contest!
First place and a $10,000 prize went to Adam Diem of Oil Valley Gravel, LLC. for expansion of the Roughneck Gravel Roubaix bike race based in Titusville over Memorial Day Weekend.
Second place and a $5,000 prize went to Erin Wanninger and Marcy Hall of Woods and River Coffee in Oil City for outdoor seating, bike parking, bike fix-it station, and an overlook of the Allegheny River at their coffee shop.
Hannah Gamble of Iron Furnace Coffee and Theresa McQuaide of Ziibi Fins and Floats were also finalists in the contest.
Winners were announced Friday, December 2 as part of Oil City’s Christmas Past, which also included a Christmas tree lighting, live performances, and an appearance by Santa.
Attendees entered two free drawings. A $200 gift card from Outdoor Allegheny River Services (OARS) for kayak rentals or ax throwing was won by Danny Delong, A bike from 4 Season Cycle was won by Brady Cubitt.
Contest participants submitted a concept paper judged on the following criteria:
- Relevance/ Importance to Natural Outdoor Recreation Economic Development
- Viability of the Business Idea
- Economic Impact on the Region
- Presentation Quality
In November, the finalists presented their business plans to a panel of judges who selected the winners.
Support for the contest is provided by Venango County Act 13 funds.
Learn more about the contest at ORAGOT.com.
# # #
ORA to Award Outdoor Rec Business Plan Contest Winners & Prizes for Attendees Dec. 2 in Oil City
The Oil Region Alliance will announce the winners of the 2022 Outdoor Recreation Business Plan Contest Friday, December 2 at 7:15 p.m. and give away two special prizes to lucky attendees.
The announcement will be part of Oil City’s Christmas Past and take place in Town Square in conjunction with the tree lighting and musical acts.
Children ages 5 to 12 can enter a free drawing for a chance to win a bike sponsored by 4 Season Cycle of Franklin.
Adults can enter a free drawing for a chance to win a $200 gift certificate sponsored by Outdoors Allegheny River Services (OARS) of Franklin, good for equipment rental or ax throwing.
Must be present to enter and win.
The four finalists were selected by a panel of judges based on a submitted business plan and then in-person presentation.
The finalists are:
- Adam Diem of Oil Valley Gravel, LLC. for the Roughneck Gravel Roubaix bike race based in Titusville over Memorial Day Weekend
- Hannah Gamble of Iron Furnace Coffee to expand the business with a coffee trailer to take to events, parks, and other offsite locations
- Theresa McQuaide of Ziibi Fins and Floats for overnight camping along the Allegheny River and pedal kayak rentals
- Erin Wanninger and Marcy Hall for outdoor seating, bike parking, bike fix-it station, and overlook of Allegheny River at Woods and Rivers Coffee Shop in Oil City
All four of the above finalists are in the running for either a $5,000 or a $10,000 prize.
Support for the contest is provided by Venango County Act 13 funds.
Follow the contest progress at ORAGOT.com.
# # #
Oil Region Alliance Announces Retirement & New Hire at VP Post
The Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry & Tourism announces the retirement of Executive Vice President Daniel Twombly and hiring of Debra Sobina for the same position.
Twombly served as the Executive Vice President of the ORA for the last seventeen years, focusing on the organization’s finances and managing the rehabilitation of the Downs Building in Oil City.
He officially retired September 30.
“My work career mirrors the legacy of the region — 25 years refining and packaging oil products at the
Pennzoil Refinery in Rouseville, PA and, most recently, working to preserve, interpret, and enhance the birthplace of the oil industry through the Oil Region Alliance,” Twombly said. “For the past 17 years I’ve been privileged to manage the finances of this organization, one of the Oil Region’s most significant assets.”
“We are sorry to lose the expertise and camaraderie of Executive Vice President Dan Twombly,” said John R. Phillips, II, ORA President and CEO. “But we wish him all the best in this next phase of his life and thank him for his 17 years of dedicated service to the ORA.”
“We are confident that the transition to Debra Sobina as Executive Vice President will be successful,” Phillips said.
Sobina was a founding board member when the ORA as it is now known was formed in 2005 through the merger of the Venango Economic Development Corporation, Oil Heritage Region, Inc., Oil Heritage Region Tourist Promotion Agency, and Oil City Community Development Corporation. Throughout the years she served numerous ORA board terms and offices including that of Treasurer, where she worked closely with Twombly on the ORA’s financial reports.
Sobina’s previous employment includes a long history in the banking industry and more recently administrative and academic positions at Clarion University.
“I am so genuinely happy to return to work in Venango County and the Oil Region National Heritage Area, and pledge my best efforts to the board, staff and members of the Oil Region Alliance, and to all the constituents of the Oil Region,” Sobina said.
Twombly and Sobina worked together throughout much of 2022 to ensure a smooth hand-off.
Both Twombly and Sobina addressed the ORA’s membership during the September 22 annual meeting. Twombly reflected on favorite memories from the post, including a visit to Detroit’s MotorCities National Heritage Area and portraying Santa Claus during a holiday event with the OC&T train. Sobina looked forward to promoting community vitality.
Sobina can be reached at dsobina@oilregion.org and 814.677.3152 x 109.
The ORA is the manager of the Oil Region National Heritage Area, one of only 55 National Heritage Areas in the country. The ORA focuses on economic development, including brownfield reclamation, tourism promotion, outdoor recreation development, and heritage preservation and promotion.
# # #
Experts, Industry Leaders, and Officials to Discuss Energy Security at PA Oil Region Summit October 11-12, 2022
Experts, industry leaders and current and former officials will convene in northwest Pennsylvania’s Oil Region National Heritage Area October 11-12, 2022 to discuss the past and future of energy security at the inaugural Oil Heritage Energy Security Conference.
Andrew J. Tabler, an Oil City native, author and former U.S. official, and Brenda Shaffer, energy expert and Professor at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, are spearheading a group of Venango County, Pennsylvania residents and experts determined to put the state’s historic Oil Region back on the global energy map – by hosting a spirited debate amidst the region’s stunning autumn foliage.
“The United States and its allies face increasingly stark dilemmas concerning energy and national security,” Tabler said. “So, Venango County is hosting discussions at Drake Well Museum and Park and other heritage sites in the Oil Region to discuss the lessons of the global energy industry’s past in order to power a more prosperous and sustainable future.”
Venango County and Baku, capital of Azerbaijan, located on the edge of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, both claim the world’s “first” oil well. Azerbaijan’s first well was drilled in 1846, while Edwin Drake drilled America’s first well outside Titusville, Pennsylvania in 1859 – launching the modern petroleum industry. The world’s standard 42-gallon oil barrel was established in the area and the global oil price was set in Oil City throughout the late 19th century. During a trip last April to Azerbaijan, Tabler helped establish the first connections between the two oil heritage communities since Azerbaijan’s independence from the former Soviet Union in 1992.
Khazar Ibrahim, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to the United States, then visited the Oil Region in May 2022 for a quick tour to address the public at Drake Well and students at Oil City Area High School – establishing first-ever relations between officials of the two cradles of the energy industry.
“When the ambassador asked our students the best time for him to return, they shouted ‘October!’ to take in our area’s stunning fall foliage,” said Venango County Commissioner Sam Breene. “We took it as a great sign and ran with the conference idea.”
Entitled “Back to the Future: Toward a Successful American Energy Security Policy”, the invitation-only event is an extraordinary opportunity to connect global policy makers with the edge of the American heartland. The seminar is being held under the non-profit Friends of Drake Well, Inc. with additional conference support from the Oil Region Alliance and the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce.
“Before the pandemic, such meetings would always convene in places like Houston and London,” said Susan Williams, President and CEO of the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce. “With a long afternoon drive from New York or Washington, D.C. now often more manageable than the chaos of air travel, the energy heritage and natural beauty of Venango County every October serves as an extraordinary getaway for policy makers and energy experts to quietly discuss the growing nexus between energy security and national security.”
Presenters and invitees include representatives from research, industry, governments and local communities, among which are:
- Ambassador Richard Morningstar, Founding Chairman of the Global Energy Center, The Atlantic Council, and former US Ambassador to the European Union and to the Republic of Azerbaijan
- Victoria Coates, Senior Fellow, The Heritage Foundation and Former Deputy National Security Advisor and Senior Advisor, U.S. Department of Energy
- Ed Chow, Senior Associate in the Energy Security and Climate Change Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies
- Steven Burns, Chief, Energy and Infrastructure, Technical Support Office, Bureau for Europe and Eurasia, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
- Michael Ratner, International Energy Lead, Congressional Research Service
Additional activities are a reception at the recently restored house of famous muckraker journalist Ida Tarbell, whose work led to the breakup of John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Corporation, a dinner at the Titusville Iron Works Tap House, an oil boom era factory recently converted to an event venue, and tours of heritage sites in Oil City and Franklin such as the Venango Museum of Art, Science, and Industry and the National Transit Building, Rockefeller’s former headquarters in Pennsylvania’s oil region. The conference will also highlight Venango County’s oil history and world-class rail trails for engaging in niche tourism.
“The Oil Region Alliance is pleased to participate in this conference, which is a rare opportunity to gather current executives from throughout the world to discuss and share ideas on the future of the energy industry in the historic setting where it all began,” said John R. Phillips, II, Oil Region Alliance President and CEO.
In order to facilitate a productive discussion, most seminar sessions at Drake Well on October 11 will be held “off the record” under the Chatham House Rule, that is, participants are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed. However, the seminar’s introduction, concluding panel and press conference and most October 12 activities in Oil City and Franklin, PA will be on-the-record. Many speakers are also happy to give on-the-record interviews on the conference sidelines.
Members of the media are encouraged to attend and cover the conference, but to abide by session attribution rules. Please contact Emily Altomare at ealtomare@oilregion.org with your press credentials in order to pre-register.
# # #
ORA Announces 2022 Oil Region Tourism Award Winners
The votes are in, and the people have spoken. The 2022 Oil Region Tourism Award Winners are chosen!
Nearly 500 voters selected from more than 50 nominations in eight categories to select the best of the best in the Oil Region.
And the winners are:
Best Dish
Liberty Street Burger at Trails to Ales in Franklin
Best Drink
Brokenspoke Blueberry Beer at Trails to Ales in Franklin
(This beat the Vanilla Iced Latte at Iron Furnace in Franklin by one vote!)
Best Room
Peddlers and Paddlers Inn, Franklin
Best Shop
Core Goods in Oil City
Best Industry Advocate
Ronnie Beith
Best Industry Partner/Organization
The Venango Chamber of Commerce
Best Must Do Activity or Attraction
Applefest
Best Landmark
Two Mile Run County Park
(This beat the Barrow Civic Theater in Franklin by one vote!)
“The participation in this contest is outstanding,” said Emily Altomare, Oil Region Alliance Communications and Tourism Manager. “We shortened the nomination and voting periods this year, but still saw a lot of variety and interaction.”
The ORA is the designated marketing organization for Venango County and oversees the Oil Region National Heritage Area, which comprises all of Venango County, Titusville, Oil Creek Township, and Hydetown Borough in Crawford County. The contest was open to nominations from within the boundaries of the ORNHA.
The 2022 nominees are:
Best Dish
Pecan Crusted Chicken at Bella Cucina in Franklin
BBQ Bacon Burger at Dawndi’s in Franklin
Liberty Street Burger at Trails to Ales in Franklin
Kale Salad at Iron Furnace in Franklin
Brisket & Gouda sandwich at The Well in Titusville
Smashburger at Curbside StrEAT Co. in the Mercantile in Titusville
Best Drink
Shaved Ice from Sprinklez in the Mercantile in Titusville and Seneca
Boba Drink from Sprinklez in the Mercantile in Titusville and Seneca
Brokenspoke Blueberry Beer at Trails to Ales in Franklin
Thai Iced Tea from Homegrown Kitchen in Franklin
Vanilla Iced Latte at Iron Furnace in Franklin
Best Room
The Witherup House in Franklin
Peddler and Paddlers Inn, Franklin
Haggerty Hollow, an airBnB outside of Franklin
Cottage and Farmhouse at Two Mile Run County Park
Best Shop
The Printer’s Cabinet in Franklin
Franklin Clothing Exchange
Amy’s Closet and Sassy’s Gifts
Core Goods in Oil City
Cali Rae’s Haute Spot in Franklin
Stone House Jack in Titusville
Best Industry Advocate
Ashley Cowles Sheffer
Ronnie Beith
Maureen James
Wendy Thompson
Luke Kauffman
Chris Fiely
Kim Harris
JC Caton
Best Industry Partner/Organization
The Venango Chamber of Commerce
Franklin Retail Association
Oil Region Library Association
Titusville Iron Works
Best Must Do Activity or Attraction
Historic Pithole City
The Venango Museum
Kayaking
Seneca Lanes, Seneca
Titusville Iron Works, Titusville
Applefest
Franklin’s Light Up Night
Two Mile Run County Park
Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad
Tattoo from Austin Ink
The Escape Room in Titusville
Ax Throwing at Allegheny River Retreat Center, Franklin
Farm to Fork Event Sponsored by Titusville Renaissance at Drake Well Train Depot
Best Landmark
The War Memorials at the Venango County Courthouse Parks in Franklin
Barrow Civic Theater, Franklin
Morrison Park, Seneca
Pipeline Alley, Oil City
Two Mile Run County Park
The Driller Monument in Woodlawn Cemetery in Titusville
Wildcat Mansion
Allegheny River Retreat Cent
There are no cash prizes for the winners, but nominees and winners will be promoted through the ORA’s social media and other marketing efforts. Winners and nominees are listed on OilRegion.org/Tourism/Calendar/ Winners receive a certificate and sign to hang in their business.
Altomare encourages everyone to visit the tourism amenities nominated during both years of the contest.
This is the second year for the awards.
“We will definitely hold the contest again in 2023,” Altomare said. “We may add or exchange some categories in the future to keep the contest fresh.”
For more information about the contest, please contact ealtomare@oilregion.org.
# # #
2022 Oil Region Tourism Awards Voting Now Open Through Sept. 16
Voting is open for the 2022 Oil Region Tourism Awards, the second annual contest hosted by the Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry, and Tourism.
From August 22 to September 6, the public nominated their favorites foods, places, and hospitality partners in the Oil Region, and now it’s up to you to choose the winners.
Follow this link to vote: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ORNHA2022
The link is also available on the ORA Facebook page and at https://oilregion.org/tourism/calendar/
“There is so much to be proud of in the Oil Region, and people have been very passionate about their nominations,” said Emily Altomare, Communications and Tourism Manager for the Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry and Tourism (ORA).
As the designated tourism marketing organization for Venango County and the manager of the Oil Region National Heritage Area (ORNHA), the ORA is facilitating the contest.
“The ORA is excited to recognize the best of the best in hospitality in our region,” Altomare said.
The 2022 nominees are:
Best Dish
Pecan Crusted Chicken at Bella Cucina in Franklin
BBQ Bacon Burger at Dawndi’s in Franklin
Liberty Street Burger at Trails to Ales in Franklin
Kale Salad at Iron Furnace in Franklin
Brisket & Gouda sandwich at The Well in Titusville
Smashburger at Curbside StrEAT Co. in the Mercantile in Titusville
Best Drink
Shaved Ice from Sprinklez in the Mercantile in Titusville and Seneca
Boba Drink from Sprinklez in the Mercantile in Titusville and Seneca
Brokenspoke Blueberry Beer at Trails to Ales in Franklin
Thai Iced Tea from Homegrown Kitchen in Franklin
Vanilla Iced Latte at Iron Furnace in Frankin
Best Room
The Witherup House in Franklin
Peddler and Paddlers Inn, Franklin
Haggerty Hollow, an airBnB outside of Franklin
Cottage and Farm House at Two Mile Run County Park
Best Shop
The Printer’s Cabinet in Franklin
Franklin Clothing Exchange
Amy’s Closet and Sassy’s Gifts in Franklin
Core Goods in Oil City
Cali Rae’s Haute Spot in Franklin
Stone House Jack in Titusville
Best Industry Advocate
Ashley Cowles Sheffer
Ronnie Beith
Maureen James
Wendy Thompson
Luke Kauffman
Chris Fiely
Kim Harris
JC Caton
Best Industry Partner/Organization
The Venango Chamber of Commerce
Franklin Retail Association
Oil Region Library Association
Titusville Iron Work
Best Must Do Activity or Attraction
Historic Pithole City
The Venango Museum
Kayaking
Seneca Lanes, Seneca
Titusville Iron Works, Titusville
Applefest
Franklin’s Light Up Night
Two Mile Run County Park
Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad
Tattoo from Austin Ink
The Escape Room in Titusville
Ax Throwing at Allegheny River Retreat Center, Franklin
Farm to Fork Event Sponsored by Titusville Renaissance at Drake Well Train Depot
Best Landmark
The War Memorials at the Venango County Courthouse Parks in Franklin
Barrow Civic Theater, Franklin
Morrison Park, Seneca
Pipeline Alley, Oil City
Two Mile Run County Park
The Driller Monument in Woodlawn Cemetery in Titusville
Wildcat Mansion
Allegheny River Retreat Center
Locations must be within the ORNHA, which includes all of Venango County, plus Titusville, Oil Creek Township and Hydetown in Crawford County.
Voting will run through September 16, and winners will be announced the following week.
There are no cash prizes for the winners, but nominees and winners will be promoted through the ORA’s social media and other marketing efforts.
This is the second year for the awards.
“We had a great response to the 2021 awards and look forward to growing the contest further in the future,” Altomare said.
For more information about the contest, please contact ealtomare@oilregion.org.
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Fall Tarbell Teas Return to Titusville Starting September 23
Step back in time for a multi-course Victorian tea and rub elbows with characters from the oil boom portrayed by student re-enactors at Titusville’s Tarbell House Friday, September 23 from 4-6 p.m.
Additional Tarbell Teas will be held Saturday, October 15 from 1-3 p.m., Saturday, November 19 from 1-3 p.m., and Friday, December 9 from 4-6 p.m.
Guests at Fall Tarbell Teas will also be treated to the Political Cartoons of the Oil Region Exhibit, a collection of impressive, humorous, and often scathing, artwork about the petroleum industry and its big names such as Tarbell and Rockefeller published in the popular press during the oil boom. Access to the exhibit is included in the cost of the Tarbell Tea ticket.
Cost is $20/person and pre-registration is required. Call 814.677.3152 or e-mail Grace at gstclair@oilregion.org.
The Tarbell House was the teenage home of journalism pioneer Ida Tarbell. The home is owned and operated as a house museum and event venue by the Oil Region Alliance, managing entity of the Oil Region National Heritage Area.
Information about additional upcoming teas and other events at the Tarbell House can be found on the Tarbell Facebook page at Facebook.com/TarbellHouse.
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Oil Region Alliance Seeks Nominees for 2022 Tourism Awards
The Oil Region Alliance is seeking nominations for the second annual Oil Region Tourism Awards.
As the designated tourism marketing organization for Venango County and the manager of the Oil Region National Heritage Area, the ORA is excited to recognize the best of the best in hospitality in our region.
“Last year’s inaugural Tourism Awards were about reminding people of just how much the Oil Region has to offer despite the pandemic,” said ORA Communications and Tourism Manager Emily Altomare. “Now we’d like to keep the positivity going by with even more nominees and new winners.”
Anyone can make a single nomination or multiple nominations for any or every category. However, winners from 2021 are not eligible for this year.
There are eight categories.
Best Dish is for the best restaurant meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner) available in the Oil Region. Nominations must include the restaurant name and the menu item.
Best Drink is for the best cocktail, coffee or other beverage and will need to include the menu item name and location in the nomination.
Last year both Best Dish and Best Drink were won by the Villa Italia Restaurant in Oil City for their Italian Sub and Peanut Butter Milkshake respectively. These menu items will not be eligible for 2022 awards, but anything else on the Villa Italia menu is fair game.
Best Room can be for a specific room or suite at a B&B or homeshare or any room at a specific lodging establishment such as a hotel or motel. The Caboose Motel in Titusville was the 2021 winner.
Best Shop is for retail locations of any kind and does not have to be directly related to the tourism industry. Cross and Co. Boutique won in 2021.
Best Industry Advocate is for an individual who regularly sings the praises of the Oil Region, someone who frequently shares hospitality info on social media and encourages attendance at community functions. Ashley Zaccari Smith was named Best Advocate in 2021.
Best Industry Partner/Organization can go to a specific hospitality industry business or an organization that contributes greatly to the offerings of the region. The Be Here program of the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce won in 2021.
Best Must Do Activity or Attraction requests nominations for the best places to go and things to do in the region, such as a museum, festival, or bike path. The bike trails were named the Best Activity for 2021.
Best Landmark will honor a specific location that guests shouldn’t miss during a visit, such as a monument, oilfield relic, architectural feature, or selfie site. Drake Well Museum and Park was named the Best Landmark in 2021.
Locations should be within the Oil Region National Heritage Area, which includes all of Venango County, plus Titusville, Oil Creek Township and Hydetown in Crawford County.
The nomination period begins Monday, August 22 and concludes Labor Day, Monday, September 5. Nominations can be made via e-mail to Altomare at ealtomare@oilregion.org or by commenting on Oil Region Tourism Awards posts on the ORA’s social media. Nominations will not be taken by phone, but can be mailed to the ORA office at 217 Elm St., Oil City, PA 16301.
Voting will occur via an online link available through the ORA’s social media as well. Voting will open Tuesday, September 6 and conclude Friday, September 16.
Winners will be announced the following week.
There are no cash prizes for the winners, but nominees and winners will be promoted through the ORA’s social media and other marketing efforts.
For more information about the contest, please contact ealtomare@oilregion.org.
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Oil Region Alliance Announces Finalists for Outdoor Rec Contest
The 2022 finalists of the Oil Region Alliance Outdoor Recreation Business Plan Contest have been selected by a panel of judges.
The finalists are:
- Adam Diem of Oil Valley Gravel, LLC. for the Roughneck Gravel Roubaix bike race based in Titusville over Memorial Day Weekend
- Hannah Gamble of Iron Furnace Coffee to expand the business with a coffee trailer to take to events, parks, and other offsite locations
- Theresa McQuaide of Ziibi Fins and Floats for overnight camping along the Allegheny River and pedal kayak rentals
- Erin Wanninger and Marcy Hall for outdoor seating, bike parking, bike fix-it station, and overlook of Allegheny River at Woods and Rivers Coffee Shop in Oil City
All four of the above finalists are in the running for either a $5,000 or a $10,000 prize.
Participants submitted a concept paper judged on the following criteria:
- Relevance/ Importance to Natural Outdoor Recreation Economic Development (10 points)
- Viability of the Business Idea (50 points)
– Need in the region for the product/service
– Thoughtfulness of applicant’s method to resolve the need
– Uniqueness of product/service or method
– Timeline Feasibility
– Assessment and Improvement
– Preliminary budget – associated costs and use of funding if awarded through the contest
- Economic Impact on the Region (20 points)
- Presentation Quality (10 points)
The next step in the contest is the submission of a business plan due October 28. Finalists will then make a presentation to the judges in mid-November. Winners will be announced Saturday, December 3 as part of Oil City’s Christmas Past.
Support for the contest is provided by Venango County Act 13 funds.
Follow the contest progress at ORAGOT.com.
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Oil Region Alliance Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Bridgeway Capital
The Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry & Tourism recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Bridgeway Capital, lending partners specializing in Western PA, to bring new funding opportunities to our area.
This partnership will help Bridgeway Capital connect and work with Oil Region businesses that might not normally qualify for traditional bank loans such as artists and entrepreneurs in hopes of revitalizing communities.
“I like the idea of more nonconventional lenders working in our area because they are able to look at the individual person and unique project,” said John R. Phillips, II, Oil Region Alliance President and CEO. “Bigger lenders can’t go outside of their parameters.”
Bridgeway Capital’s mission is to combat injustices and advance opportunities by building capacity, investing capital, and developing underserved areas to grow businesses and revitalize places.
Bridgeway Capital has offices in Erie, Pittsburgh, and Uniontown, and clients throughout western PA.
“The ability to connect businesses in our region with the funding opportunities and support of Bridgeway Capital is just one of many roles the ORA can fulfill with our capacity as a Rural Development Hub Organization,” said Phillips.
“Bridgeway looks forward to identifying more opportunities for shared impact with the Oil Region Alliance. Partners like the Oil Regional Alliance help us invest in local projects and entrepreneurs that revitalize communities and strengthen economies across Western Pennsylvania,” said T.J. Bogdewic, Bridgeway Capital President and CEO.
“Among all of the many amazing programs Bridgeway provides,” is the Creative Business Loan Fund, a partnership between Bridgeway and the PA Council on the Arts, according to Sarah Merritt, Director of PA Creative Communities at PA Council on the Arts.
PA Council on the Arts also runs the Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program, which is administered in our region by Erie Arts & Culture. Bridgeway Capital is a referral partner for the program.
Representatives from Bridgeway Capital will be visiting the Oil Region soon to meet with stakeholders and assess business needs.
If you are interested in working with Bridgeway Capital, contact the ORA at 814-677-3152 or jgorman@oilregion.org to start a conversation.
You can also learn more about Bridgeway Capital by visiting their website at BridgewayCapital.org.
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Oil Region Alliance Requests Content for Next Oil Region Guide
The Oil Region Alliance is making some changes for the next Oil Region Guide, and they want your input.
The ORA is looking for photos, special event information, and advertisers from throughout the Oil Region National Heritage Area to best represent the region to locals as well as tourists planning a trip or already visiting the area.
The next Guide will hit brochure racks in January and be used for all of 2023 and 2024. This extended shelf life will help make the most of ORA staff members’ and volunteers’ efforts while reducing production costs.
Those interested in contributing can contact ORA Communications and Tourism Manager Emily Altomare at ealtomare@oilregion.org. Advertising contracts and additional details can also be found at OilRegion.org/tourism/visitor-guide/.
The Guide will be developed and produced in-house again this year by ORA staff members and the process continues to incorporate a lot of input from community members and volunteers including those who serve on the ORA’s Tourism Advisory Promotion Council.
Since the ORNHA includes all of Venango County and Titusville, Oil Creek Township, and Hydetown Borough in Crawford County, the Guide covers the same geographic footprint. The community of Foxburg, which is adjacent to the southern border of the ORNHA, is also included.
The Guide is distributed locally at visitor centers and points of interest as well as in response to direct requests and leads generated through advertising. It is also available at stops on the Pennsylvania turnpike, several rest stops, Welcome Centers, and select AAA offices across the state in addition to three spots on I-95 in Delaware and Maryland thanks to an ORA contract with Getaways on Display.
The new Guide will also be available to download or flip through virtually online at the ORA’s website. The 2022 Guide is currently available at OilRegion.org/tourism/visitor-guide/.
September 30 is the deadline to submit materials, but Altomare encourages advertisers to reserve their space early.
“The 2022 Guide filled its quota for advertising space, and we expect the same for the next issue,” said Altomare. “There is an element of first come, first served in terms of advertising space.”
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Oil Region Alliance Receives $20,000 PHMC Keystone Historic Preservation Grant
The Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry & Tourism recently received a $20,000 Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Keystone Historic Preservation Planning Grant to assess non-profit owned historic buildings with rental potential in the region.
“The idea for this project began in January 2020 during an ORA-sponsored Town Hall Meeting led by Partners for Sacred Spaces,” said Jennifer Burden, ORA Heritage Program Manager.
Approximately 70 people attended that meeting to discuss how to address preserving the region’s historic houses of worship.
“The best received idea was to find new uses for spaces within existing buildings that could be available for short- or long-term rent, thus providing new sources of income,” Burden said. “Many of the attendees asked how many buildings like this there are in the region. Since no one could fully answer that question, ORA recommended that a cultural resource survey would be the most efficient way to make that determination.”
ORA applied for the PHMC Keystone Planning grant in Spring 2022 and learned of the award June 1.
ORA will hire a consultant to complete a survey of approximately 100 historic buildings within the Oil Region National Heritage Area that are owned by non-profit organizations that have the capacity to take on rental opportunities. The survey data will then be marketed to groups looking for short- and long-term rental spaces. The overall goal of the project is to bring new sources of income to non-profit organizations so that they may be able to afford to preserve historically and culturally significant buildings within the Oil Region National Heritage Area.
The project will likely start in early 2023 after a consultant is hired.
One of the first steps will be to have a kick-off meeting to introduce the project to the public and solicit input from interested parties.
Three other organizations within Venango County also received Keystone grants this cycle. Historic Franklin Preservation Association received $30,000 for the Old Lutheran Church. Venango County Economic Development Authority received $100,000 for Cornplanter Square, formerly the Oil City National Bank Building. Oil City Civic Center received more than $24,000 for the National Transit Building.
Only Allegheny, Erie, and Philadelphia counties had more awards per location.
PHMC awarded 47 grants selected from 93 eligible applications. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $25,000 for planning grants and $5,000 to $100,000 for construction projects. All grants require a 50/50 cash match and were awarded through a competitive selection process. These grants receive funding from the Keystone Recreation, Park & Conservation Fund, which is supported annually from a portion of the state realty transfer tax revenue.
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State Director of USDA Rural Development to Address Public in Oil Region June 21
State Director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Bob Morgan will visit the Oil Region Tuesday, June 21 and address the media and general public at 3 p.m. at the Franklin Industrial and Commercial Development Authority’s Emerging Technology Center Building at 191 Howard St., Suite 100.
Anyone interested in learning more about Rural Development programs, especially funding opportunities, is welcome to attend.
Director Morgan will tour several sites throughout the region including FICDA, which was recently awarded a USDA Rural Development grant for repairs to Howard Street, the main access to the complex. Other grant-awarded locations on the tour include the Barkeyville Municipal Authority and the Downs Building in Oil City, which is owned by the Oil Region Alliance. Morgan will also visit Titusville Dairy Products, Co. at the northern end of the Oil Region National Heritage Area.
The tour of the Oil Region is part of a larger trip to familiarize Morgan with Northwestern PA.
“As State Director, he will use his leadership experience to oversee Rural Development programs to provide greater economic opportunities throughout the Commonwealth,” Morgan’s profile on the USDA website states. “As a lifelong Pennsylvanian and a resident of a rural community, he is committed to extending greater access to programs designed to upgrade the economic engine driving investment in our rural communities.”
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Oil Region Alliance Hires New Project Coordinator
The Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry & Tourism is pleased to announce the hiring of new project coordinator Grace St. Clair.
St. Clair interned at the ORA during the summers of 2019, 2020, and 2021 while she was pursing a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in Spanish from Clarion University’s honors program.
“Grace has demonstrated a passion for helping the region and her contributions have been extremely valuable throughout her college career,” said John R. Phillips, II, ORA President and CEO.
St. Clair graduated summa cum laude in May and started at the ORA June 6.
“I’m very excited to be here,” said St. Clair.
Her activities within the ORA will include social media, events, historical research, and projects at the ORA’s historic properties within the organization’s focuses of heritage, tourism, outdoor recreation, and economic development.
St. Clair is interested in writing and theater and is a proud past participant in the Red Eye Theatre Project. She already has plans to incorporate re-enactors and performances into the ORA’s interpretation of the area’s oil heritage.
“I’ve always been interested in history in general and when it’s something that you can find around you, that’s even better,” said St. Clair. “It’s history you can touch.”
Working at the ORA means St. Clair can stay close to her parents, Sharon and Eddie St. Clair, owner-operators of West Park Rehab in Franklin and Seneca, and her brother Reed, a 2022 graduate of their mutual alma mater Christian Life Academy in Seneca.
“I like that this job is local, and that I can stay involved,” she said. “This is a beautiful area – it’s my home.”
St. Clair can be reached at gstclair@oilregion.org or at 814-677-3152 x 118.
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Study Shows PA Leaving Billions of Dollars on the Table Due to Lack of Investment in Tourism
Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association, along with tourism partners throughout Commonwealth, renew call on General Assembly to fund tourism at $20 Million. The effort has bi-partisan support in PA legislature.
A new economic impact study conducted by Tourism Economics shows that Pennsylvania has experienced a significant decline in tourism market share, and that the commonwealth does not have sufficient funds to adequately market itself.
The study was commissioned by the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association (PRLA), along with many of the state’s destination marketing organizations, and shows that travel’s total impact supports nearly seven percent of jobs in the state and $4.8 billion in state and local taxes, despite a lack of meaningful investment from the state.
“Pennsylvania’s travel and tourism sector in recent years has not realized its full potential,” Adam Sacks, President of Tourism Economics said. “Instead, Pennsylvania has experienced a significant decline in tourism market share, with its share of visitor spending among eight competitive states declining 6.3 percent between 2010 and 2019.”
The travel and tourism sector is essential to the Pennsylvania economy and its residents.
“Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, travel’s total impact supported 6.6 percent of jobs in the state, including 348,661 direct jobs, and $4.8 billion of state and local taxes,” the report reads. “The effects of the pandemic were significant, resulting in job losses that have only partially been recovered, and making the future of the sector even more critical to the future of the commonwealth.”
“In the competitive market to attract visitors, Pennsylvania does not have sufficient funds to adequately market itself,” the report said. “Considering its size, Pennsylvania spends much less than virtually all other states on state tourism promotion activities.”
Research conducted by Tourism Economics shows that Pennsylvania’s tourism budget in 2020-2021 ranked 35th of 41 states. Furthermore, the commonwealth is 40th of 41 states by amount of tourism budget per leisure and hospitality job, and 40th out of 41 states by amount of tourism budget as a ratio to earnings in the accommodations sector. States that have large tourism sectors like Pennsylvania tend to have tourism marketing budgets greater than $20 million. Unfortunately, the budget for Pennsylvania hasn’t been close to $20 million since FY 2008-09, when tourism received nearly $30 million (including grants).
“In our assessment, destination marketing of Pennsylvania is substantially underfunded and the tourism budget excluding grants should be increased to $39 million,” the research suggests. “This would be closer in line with the size of the state’s tourism industry.”
Some of the key highlights of the study include:
- Between 2015 and 2019, shortfalls in the PA tourism budget have caused Pennsylvania to lose $9.7 billion of visitor spending, which is an average of 11,300 jobs per year, $4.5 billion of labor income, and $679 million of state and local tax revenue. Meanwhile, the state only saved $151.7 million of tourism budget expenditures. In other words, for every dollar saved on tourism spending in the budget, PA has lost $4.48 in combined state and local tax revenue.
- If the state increased funding to $39 million excluding grants, a five-year future period Pennsylvania stands to gain $9.6 billion of visitor spending, an average of 9,300 jobs per year, and $660 million of state and local tax revenue. The net tax benefit would save each Pennsylvania household $100 on combined state and local taxes.
- In 2019, Pennsylvania visitors generated $46 billion of traveler spending and 348,661 direct travel economy jobs.
- According to the report, “If state tourism marketing had been more competitive, growth would have been even stronger. As estimated in the scenario analysis in this study, had state tourism marketing received additional funding, visitor spending would have been $9.7 billion higher in total between 2015 and 2019.”
- Pennsylvania’s state and local governments would have to tax each PA household an additional $950 per year to replace the taxes generated by travel and tourism.
After reviewing the report, Representative David Millard, Representative Mary Jo Daley, Senator John Yudichak, and Senator Amanda Cappelletti, majority and minority Chairs of the PA House Tourism Committee and the Senate Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee agreed:
“The report produced by Tourism Economics definitively shows the positive impact tourism can have on our state’s economy, but also highlights the missed opportunity our state has seen when it comes to potential tourism revenue. Based on its size, Pennsylvania spends much less than virtually all other states on state tourism promotion activities. Yet, we have so much to offer. With the right investment in travel and tourism, Pennsylvania stands to generate billions of dollars more in travel spending and close to 10,000 additional jobs per year. It’s clear that tourism is drastically underfunded in the Commonwealth. It’s important that we seriously invest in the industry in order to maximize tourism’s full potential as the revenue generator we know it to be.”
Though the research suggests that $39 million, excluding legislative grants, is the funding necessary for tourism to reach its full potential in Pennsylvania, it has been an uphill battle securing any additional funding from the General Assembly at all. As recently as FY 2008-09, Pennsylvania had a budget of $29.8 million for state tourism marketing. By FY 2014-15, this has been reduced to $7.3 million, of which only $2 million was available for destination promotion, excluding grants. Over the past five years, PA’s tourism budget excluding grants has ranged from $4 million to $9 million, well below the recommended level.
PRLA, along with tourism partners across the entire state of Pennsylvania ranging from hotels to amusement parks to destination marketing organizations, are calling for the state to increase funding for the tourism office to $20 million.
“Ultimately Pennsylvania should invest $39 million into tourism, a proven revenue generator,” John Oliver, President & CEO of Visit Erie and Chair of the PRLA Tourism Coalition said. “However, $20 million will be a very significant step in the right direction.”
Visit www.prla.org/tourismstudy to download the full report and executive summary.
The PRLA strives to promote, protect, and improve the hospitality and tourism industries in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. PRLA conveys the unified voice of these industries to the Commonwealth’s citizenry and elected officials. For more information, visit prla.org and find us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
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Oil Region Alliance Receives $500,000 EPA Grant for Brownfields Assessment
The Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday that the Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry & Tourism was selected as a 2022 Brownfields recipient for a $500,000 Assessment Grant.
In 2020, the ORA completed a Community Wide Assessment on several brownfield sites in the Allegheny-Clarion River Valley and a site in Oil City thanks to a $300,000 EPA grant. This next phase will fill in the gap between these sites by focusing on the Sugarcreek basin of the Allegheny River.
“As a Rural Development Hub Organization this award will enable the Alliance to continue to develop, assess, and work to implement this extremely important program in the Oil Heritage Region,” said John R. Phillips, II, ORA President and CEO. “These former industrial sites need to become once again an asset to the communities they are located in.”
According to the grant application prepared by ORA Redevelopment Manager Selina Pedi, the prosperity of this region once depended on the oil industry. Today, true prosperity and long-term resilience for the Oil Region includes the balanced development and use of the Allegheny River. With the support of an EPA Community Wide Assessment Grant, the ORA can continue its mission to equitably and strategically nurture the resources and opportunities along the river for the benefit of all who call this area home.
“The ORA’s brownfield redevelopment strategy is centered on strengthening our communities and providing accessible and equitable opportunities,” said Pedi.
The vision that first drove the ORA’s brownfield redevelopment strategy, of vibrant waterfront communities linked by history, water, and trail, has been validated and strengthened as new partners are added and new sites are selected for redevelopment. Community by community, the vision of revitalized, walkable and rideable town centers, accessible green spaces, and educational opportunities for residents and visitors of all ages and abilities, investment in sustainable and regenerative infrastructure and industry, and protection of natural resources now extends to new corners of the Oil Region National Heritage Area.
“We very much want to thank our partners at the Environmental Protection Agency for having the confidence in our expertise with this work,” said Phillips.
“We are so pleased to have the EPA as a partner as we continue to find, remediate, and work toward purposeful redevelopment of these sites, and we are committed to developing projects focused on resource sharing, entrepreneurship, and community amenity where everyone has a chance to be a part of the next wave of innovation for our region,” Pedi said.
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Oil Region Alliance Announces 2022 National Travel & Tourism Week Giveaway Winners
The Oil Region Alliance celebrated National Travel and Tourism Week May 1-7 by joining nine other Western PA counties to give away $100 prize packages highlighting amenities and tourism destinations.
Those who signed up for Venango County’s drawing through a link on the ORA’s website and social media pages were eligible for prizes from Beaver, Butler, Crawford, Erie, Indiana, and Lawrence counties as well as Fayette, Somerset, and Westmoreland counties, which make up the GO Laurel Highlands region.
“This was a great opportunity to spotlight several of the Oil Region’s premiere destinations to our tourism counterparts as well as the general public,” said Emily Altomare, ORA Communications and Tourism Manager. “I look forward to participating in this National Travel and Tourism Week event annually and working to grow it every year with our neighboring counties.”
Here are the winners for the Venango County NTTW giveaway.
Stacey R. of Titusville won a $100 gift card to Mines & Meadows ATV/RV Park in Wampum, PA (where she can ride more than 800 miles including underground limestone mines) courtesy of Visit Lawrence County.
Emily H. of Franklin won a $100 Butler County Gift Certificate that can be redeemed at more than 100 locations in Butler County, including hotels, restaurants, shopping, and attractions courtesy of Visit Butler County.
Todd C. of Warren won a prize package including 2-hours of free play for a family or group of 4 to Pinball PA in Aliquippa, (one of the largest collections of video games and pinball machines in the country), $25 gift card to Bowser’s Restaurant in Monaca (one of the restaurants on the Beaver County Soul Food Trail), $25 gift card to Fermata Brewing Co. in Ambridge, (Beaver County’s newest brewery), and a $25 gift card to Katie’s Korner Homemade Ice Cream in Beaver Falls, courtesy of Visit Beaver County.
Mary L. of Lucinda won a $100 gift certificate for the Smicksburg Amish Community of Specialty Shops courtesy of Visit Indiana County. Visiting during the following seasonal festivals and special events is encouraged: Strawberry Saturday, Peachy Saturday, Apple Fest, Fall Festival, Potters Tour, Old Fashioned Country Christmas Open House, Small Business Saturday, or Annual Cookie Tour.
Sara B. of Seneca won a prize package from GO Laurel Highlands, which includes a $15 gift certificate to Greendance Winery, part of the Laurel Highlands Pour Tour, two tickets to Living Treasures Wild Animal Park in New Castle, two tickets to Frank Lloyd Wright’s House on Kentuck Knob, four admission tickets to Jennerstown Raceway, and a $25 gift certificate to Out of the Fire Café in Donegal.
Karen P. of Tyrone won a $100 prize pack from VisitErie, including four general admission passes to both the expERIEnce Children’s Museum and the Erie Zoo.
Anthony Z. of Franklin won $50 in Downtown Dollars that can be used at more than 20 locations in downtown Meadville and $50 to Silver Shores Restaurant on the water at Conneaut Lake, courtesy of Visit Crawford County.
Prizes donated by the ORA to represent Venango County and to be given away by partner counties included gift certificates to Barrow Civic Theatre, Bella Cucina, Benjamin’s Roadhouse, TrAils to Ales, Olive Vault, DeBence Antique Music World, Venango Museum, Core Goods, Karma Coffee, Transit Art Gallery & Gifts, Drake Well Museum & Park, Cross Creek Resort, and Emlenton Brew Haus. Prize packages were grouped by community for Franklin, Oil City, Titusville, and Emlenton.
Altomare encourages all to stay tuned to the ORA for more information on future National Travel and Tourism Week events, which will take place the first week of May.
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US Senate Committee Approves Key Legislation for NHA Funding
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources advanced an amended version of the National Heritage Area Act, or S. 1942, that will provide long-term authorization for America’s National Heritage Areas (NHAs) and a steady stream of federal funding for these critical designations, including the Oil Region National Heritage Area comprised of Venango County and southeastern Crawford County in northwest PA. The Committee approved the legislation Tuesday, May 3, without opposition through a bipartisan voice vote.
- 1942 is originally sponsored by Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Roy Blunt (R-MO) and has 15 bipartisan co-sponsors. Representatives Paul Tonko (D-NY) and David McKinley (RWV) are sponsoring similar legislation in the House. “Long term authorization is vital to the heritage preservation and economic development activities of the Oil Region National Heritage Area,” said John R. Phillips, II, Oil Region Alliance President and CEO. “Alleviating the worry of sunsetting would allow us to focus more of our energy and resources on forwarding the mission of our organization, instead of having to fight for re-authorization every few years.”
The National Heritage Area Act establishes standard criteria for the funding, management, and designation of National Heritage Areas across the country and sets an annual authorization of up to $1 million for all National Heritage Areas. S. 1942 takes aim at a challenge that as many as 45 existing NHAs will experience in the next two years, when their authorization sunsets and must be approved by Congress, typically through an individual bill. If enacted, the National Heritage Area Act would prevent future funding cliffs.
The Oil Region National Heritage Area was congressionally designated in 2004 because of the area’s significance as the birthplace of the modern petroleum industry and is managed by the Oil Region Alliance. The mission of the Alliance is to increase the prosperity of the Oil Region by enticing all people to live, work, learn, and play in “the Valley that Changed the World” through the preservation, promotion, development, and support of historical, educational, natural, recreational, residential, commercial, and industrial destinations. The Alliance focuses on heritage preservation, economic development, tourism promotion, and outdoor recreation development.
President Ronald Reagan established National Heritage Areas in 1984 when he signed a bill that created the Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Area. Since then, 54 additional NHAs have been created across the United States, all through community-led efforts. Rather than an enclosed park as is typical of other programs administered by the National Park Service (NPS), NHAs are lived-in spaces that often span large geographic areas that cross multiple jurisdictions, including a total of 591 counties in 34 states.
NHAs are administered by a local coordinating entity and receive matching funds through the National Park Service but are not National Park units. Importantly, they do not impact the private property rights of existing landowners within or adjacent to an NHA designation. In addition to Congressionally authorized matching funds, NPS provides technical assistance and a strong partnership. A 2012 study determined that NHAs are responsible for a nearly $13 billion economic impact in the communities they serve – a nearly 500% return on their federal funding.
Over the last several years, the Alliance of National Heritage Areas (ANHA), of which the Oil Region National Heritage Area is a member, has worked to pass legislation that would secure the future for all of America’s National Heritage Areas and has strongly supported the National Heritage Area Act. The organization developed a short video to explain the importance of NHAs and the need for a uniform system of funding and reauthorization. View it on YouTube under the title “Support the National Heritage Areas Act” or visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=JOWjZNCUnno.
“The Alliance of National Heritage Areas applauds the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and in particular Chairman Manchin and Ranking Member Barrasso, for giving a stamp of approval to the National Heritage Area Act,” said Sara Capen, Chair of ANHA.
“This legislation will ensure that our members can continue to do what they do best: explore and celebrate the people and places that made America what it is today. We are also deeply indebted to Senators Stabenow and Blunt, whose tireless efforts are why the National Heritage Area Act is one step closer to crossing the finish line.”
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Oil Region Alliance Celebrates National Travel & Tourism Week May 1-7 with Multi-County Giveaway Promotion
Celebrate National Travel and Tourism Week May 1-7 through a special promotion hosted by the Oil Region Alliance and eight neighboring counties.
Venango County is teaming up with Erie, Crawford, Mercer, Lawrence, Butler, Beaver, Indiana, and the Laurel Highlands region to highlight the importance of tourism to local economies and our quality of life.
“This program is an excellent opportunity for each county to help spread the word about our neighbors and the variety of wonderful attractions we each have close to home,” said Emily Altomare, ORA Communications and Tourism Manager.
Each day of National Travel and Tourism Week, the ORA will feature a neighboring county and a $100-value prize in and supplied by that county on the ORA’s Facebook and Instagram pages. Each post will include a link to follow to be entered in the prize drawings.
Prizes to be given through Venango County include gift certificates to an ATV park, lakeside restaurant, pinball arcade, and children’s museum.
Likewise, each day of the week Venango County will be featured on a different neighbor’s social media.
Prizes within Venango County include gift certificates to Barrow Civic Theatre, Bella Cucina, Benjamin’s Roadhouse, TrAils to Ales, Olive Vault, DeBence Antique Music World, Venango Museum, Core Goods, Karma Coffee, Transit Art Gallery & Gifts, Drake Well Museum & Park, Cross Creek Resort, and Emlenton Brew Haus. Prize packages are grouped by community for Franklin, Oil City, Titusville, and Emlenton.
Celebrated annually the first full week in May, National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) was created by Congress in 1983 to elevate the economic power of travel in the U.S.
This year’s 39th annual NTTW has a theme of “Future of Travel.”
“After the difficulties associated with the pandemic over the past two years, our individual communities as well as the tourism industry at large are ready to get back to sharing all we have to offer and having new experiences,” Altomare said.
Follow the Oil Region Alliance on Facebook and Instagram to enter the contest May 1-7 and to see the full list of winners Monday, May 9.
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Oil Region Alliance Celebrates Historic Preservation Award Winners May 4 in Oil City
The Oil Region Alliance will celebrate the winners of the Historic Preservation Awards Wednesday, May 4.
The in-person event, which is free and open to the public, will be held at the Christ Episcopal Church at 16 Central Ave., Oil City, beginning at 6 p.m. and will include hors d’ oeuvres, a tour of the church, and presentation of certificates to the winners.
“After canceling 2020’s event because of the pandemic, I’m pleased that we are holding the Oil Region Historic Preservation Awards in person for 2022,” said event organizer Jennifer Burden, Oil Region Alliance Heritage Program Manager. “It’s important to recognize and celebrate historic preservation efforts throughout the Oil Region.”
Nominations were accepted in March and voted on by a panel of judges representing the following sponsor organizations: Crawford County Historical Society, Franklin Preservation Association, Friends of Drake Well, Inc., Heritage Society of Oil City, Oil City Main Street Program, Oil Region Alliance, Titusville Historical Society, Titusville Renaissance, Inc., Venango County Historical Society, and the Venango Museum of Art, Science & Industry.
The 2022 Oil Region Historic Preservation Award Winners are:
Hidden Heritage publication for Historic Appreciation, nominated by the Heritage Society of Oil City
Grove Hill Cemetery Publications and Tours for Historic Appreciation, nominated by the Heritage Society of Oil City
St. Titus Roman Catholic Church for Preservation Stewardship, nominated by the Titusville Historical Society
The Brundred Carriage House for Reconstruction by Roberta and Gerald Kahler and Elizabeth Giuseffi, nominated by Ron Gustafson of Gustafson General Contracting
Lynn Cressman for Historic Appreciation, nominated by Titusville Renaissance, Inc.
Olive Vault, Homegrown Kitchen, and Coffee in Between for Preservation Stewardship of their building at 1247 Liberty St., Franklin, nominated by Venango County Historical Society
Barr’s Insurance for Preservation Stewardship for its building at 257 Seneca St., Oil City, nominated by Oil City Main Street Program
The Oil Region Historic Preservation Awards is part of the ORA’s celebration of Historic Preservation Month, held each May. The program recognizes appropriate preservation, restoration, and rehabilitation projects, as well as individuals and groups committed to historic preservation. It creates an advocacy for historic preservation and enhances a regional historic preservation ethic within the Oil Region National Heritage Area.
The region includes all of Venango County, the Borough of Hydetown, the City of Titusville and Oil Creek Township in Crawford County.
Eligible structures must be within the Oil Region and at least 50 years old. Eligible projects include interior and exterior work in public buildings and exterior work in privately owned buildings. Once an individual or project has received an award, it is not eligible again for another five years.
The evening will begin with hors d’oeuvres at 6 p.m., a tour of the building/sanctuary at 6:45 p.m., and the awards ceremony at 7 p.m. There is no cost to attend the award ceremony, but pre-registration is appreciated. E-mail jgorman@oilregion.org to register.
The program has presented more than 150 awards since 1997.
Please contact Burden at jburden@oilregion.org or 814-677-3152 x 116 for more information.
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Oil Region Alliance Hosts Kids’ Earth Day Celebration at Tarbell House April 23
The Oil Region Alliance will hold a family-friendly Earth Day Celebration 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 23 at the Tarbell House in Titusville.
Children ages 4 -11 and their families can partake in hands-on ecological themed activities and learn about backyard scientist and 1880 Allegheny College biology graduate (and later investigative journalist) Ida Tarbell at her childhood home at 324 E. Main St.
This event will feature a story time with Miss Becky from Benson Memorial Library. Titusville Council on the Arts Executive Director Sarah Miller will lead a craft. Representatives from the PA Bureau of Forestry will provide displays and activities about trees. Earth Day-themed take-home items and snacks will also be offered.
This event is free and open to the public. Registration is not required.
The Oil Region Alliance is the managing entity of the Oil Region National Heritage Area, and owns and operates the Tarbell House as a house museum.
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Oil Region Outdoor Rec Business Contest with $10,000 Prize Kicks Off April 12
The Oil Region Alliance will kick off its 2022 Outdoor Recreation Business Contest, which will award a $10,000 grand prize, Tuesday, April 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the Iron Works in Titusville.
Those interested in competing should attend this informative introductory event to get additional details on the contest, hear from past participants, and receive helpful tips from small business support resources.
“Our hope is that the increased prize money will attract even more entrants than we’ve had in the past and will allow the winners to tackle a bigger project than ever before, too,” said Kim Harris, ORA Project Manager and Outdoor Recreation Specialist.
A second-place prize of $5,000 will also be awarded.
“Outdoor recreation is a major contributor to the local economy,” said John R. Phillips, II, ORA President and CEO. “It is easy to see the number of users by looking at our trails and waterways.”
While some outdoor recreation users are local, many come from Erie and Pittsburgh, and others from Ohio, New York, West Virginia and beyond, even internationally, according to Harris.
“There is great opportunity to capitalize on outdoor recreation dollars by starting or expanding an outdoor recreation-related business in the Oil Region,” Phillips said.
New or existing businesses within the Oil Region (Venango County, Titusville, Hydetown, and Oil Creek Township), and Foxburg are eligible. Contestant concepts must demonstrate ways to improve recreational opportunities in the region.
Finalists will be selected by a panel of judges based on concept papers due in July. Finalists will need to submit a complete business plan in October and make presentations to the judges in November. Winners will be announced in December.
Full details including application forms are available at ORAGOT.com.
Attendance at the kickoff is not mandatory to enter the contest, but is encouraged.
The event is free and open to the public. Pre-registrations are appreciated as refreshments will be served. Call the ORA at 814.677.3152 or e-mail jgorman@oilregion.org to RSVP.
The contest is generously funded by Venango County Act 13 funds.
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Tarbell Teas Return to Titusville March 26
Step back in time for a multi-course Victorian tea and rub elbows with characters from the oil boom portrayed by student re-enactors at Titusville’s Tarbell House Saturday, March 26 from 1-3 p.m.
Tarbell Teas have been a favorite event in Titusville for several years, but like so many other activities, they were paused during the pandemic.
Now they’ve returned and are sure to sell out.
Cost is $20/person and pre-registration is required. Call 814.677.3152 or e-mail Jessica at jgorman@oilregion.org.
The Tarbell House was the high school home of journalism pioneer Ida Tarbell. The home is owned and operated as a house museum and event venue by the Oil Region Alliance, managing entity of the Oil Region National Heritage Area.
Information about additional upcoming teas and other events at the Tarbell House can be found on the Tarbell Facebook page at Facebook.com/TarbellHouse.
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ORA Seeks Historic Preservation Nominees to Celebrate at May Event
It’s time to recognize the people and projects preserving the Oil Region’s history through the Historic Preservation Awards.
The Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry & Tourism is accepting nominations through April 1.
“After canceling 2020’s event because of the pandemic, I’m pleased that we are holding the Oil Region Historic Preservation Awards in person for 2022,” said event organizer Jennifer Burden, Oil Region Alliance Heritage Program Manager. “It’s important to recognize and celebrate historic preservation efforts throughout the Oil Region.”
The Oil Region Historic Preservation Awards is part of the ORA’s celebration of Historic Preservation Month, held each May. The program recognizes appropriate preservation, restoration, and rehabilitation projects, as well as individuals and groups committed to historic preservation. It creates an advocacy for historic preservation and enhances a regional historic preservation ethic within the Oil Region National Heritage Area.
The region includes all of Venango County, the Borough of Hydetown, the City of Titusville and Oil Creek Township in Crawford County.
Any person or group may submit a nomination for a Historic Preservation Award. Eligible structures must be within the Oil Region and at least 50 years old. Eligible projects include interior and exterior work in public buildings and exterior work in privately owned buildings. Once an individual or project has received an award, it is not eligible again for another five years.
Nomination forms and lists of past winners are available at the OilRegion.org Historic Preservation Awards page. (https://oilregion.org/heritage/historic-preservation-awards/)
Digital “Before & After” photographs are required with each nomination. They can be sent to jburden@oilregion.org, noting “Historic Preservation” in the subject line. Photographs help illustrate the nature and impact of the project work to the Awards judges and will be incorporated into the awards ceremony. Up to ten photos of the nominated project may be submitted.
Nominations must be submitted by Friday, April 1 to jburden@oilregion.org or Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry & Tourism at 217 Elm St., Oil City, PA 16301.
The awards ceremony will take place Wednesday, May 4 at Christ Episcopal Church in Oil City.
The evening will begin with hors d’oeuvres at 6 p.m., a tour of the building/sanctuary at 6:45 p.m., and the awards ceremony at 7 p.m. There is no cost to attend the award ceremony, but pre-registration is appreciated. E-mail jgorman@oilregion.org to register.
Sponsors of the Historic Preservation Awards are the Crawford County Historical Society, Franklin Preservation Association, Friends of Drake Well, Inc., Heritage Society of Oil City, Oil City Main Street Program, Oil Region Alliance, Titusville Historical Society, Titusville Renaissance, Inc., Venango County Historical Society, and the Venango Museum of Art, Science & Industry.
The program has presented more than 150 awards since 1997.
Please contact Burden at jburden@oilregion.org or 814-677-3152 x 116 for more information.
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Oil Region Alliance to Host Cemetery Preservation Workshops April 5 & 6
The Oil Region Alliance will host two hands-on cemetery preservation workshops this spring to teach participants how to properly clean and maintain headstones with instruction by cemetery preservation expert Jason Church.
The first workshop will be Tuesday, April 5 at Pioneer Cemetery in Franklin. The second will be Wednesday, April 6 at Woodlawn Cemetery in Titusville. Both will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude around 3 p.m.
“After being delayed for more than one year, the ORA is excited to finally welcome Jason Church from NCPTT to the Oil Region to lead these workshops on the proper techniques for caring for our historic cemeteries,” said Jenn Burden, ORA Heritage Manager.
Church is Chief of Technical Services at the National Center for Preservation Technology, which is part of the National Park Service. He holds degrees in Historic Preservation and Building Science and serves as a Professional Associate of the American Institute for Conservation.
In addition to cleaning techniques, Church will also demonstrate how to make some repairs to headstones.
Preregistration is required by calling the ORA office at 814.677.3152. Cost is $50 per person and includes lunch and materials and tools to use during the workshop and to take home for future use. Space is limited.
The ORA appreciates the support and partnership of the Venango County Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and Woodlawn Cemetery in this event.
Questions can be directed to Burden at jburden@oilregion.org.
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Tarbell Teas Return to Titusville March 26, April 8, and May 14
Step back in time for a multi-course Victorian tea and rub elbows with characters from the oil boom portrayed by student re-enactors at Titusville’s Tarbell House on three dates this spring.
Teas will be held Saturday, March 26 from 1-3 p.m., Friday, April 8 from 4-6 p.m., and Saturday, May 14 from 1-3 p.m.
Tarbell Teas have been a favorite event in Titusville for several years, but like so many other activities, they were paused during the pandemic.
Now they’ve returned and are sure to sell out.
Cost is $20/person and pre-registration is required. Call 814.677.3152 or e-mail Jessica at jgorman@oilregion.org.
The Tarbell House was the high school home of journalism pioneer Ida Tarbell. The home is owned and operated as a house museum and event venue by the Oil Region Alliance, managing entity of the Oil Region National Heritage Area.
Information about additional upcoming teas and other events at the Tarbell House can be found on the Tarbell Facebook page at Facebook.com/TarbellHouse.
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Oil Region Alliance Releases 2022 Oil Region Guide
The latest Oil Region Guide, the premier tourism publication produced by the Oil Region Alliance (ORA), hits literature racks, visitor centers, and the Internet this week.
The 52-page magazine highlights the Oil Region National Heritage Area (ORNHA)’s history, outdoor recreational offerings, arts and culture, hospitality amenities, and more through articles and advertisements.
“The Guide is a terrific resource for locals as well as guests who have already arrived in the area or those who are planning to visit,” said Emily Altomare, ORA Communications and Tourism Manager.
The ORA is Venango County’s designated tourism marketing organization. Since the ORNHA includes all of Venango and Titusville, Oil Creek Township, and Hydetown Borough in Crawford County, the Guide covers the same geographic footprint. The community of Foxburg, which is adjacent to the southern border of the ORNHA, is also included.
This is the first time the Guide has been designed in-house at the ORA, however the process continues to incorporate a lot of input from community members and volunteers including those who serve on the ORA’s Tourism Advisory Promotion Council.
“I am so appreciative of the collaboration between our staff and committee members as well as the participation of our advertisers,” said John R. Phillips, II, ORA President and CEO. “That’s what makes this publication so valuable.”
An example of teamwork is front and center on the Guide’s cover. It features the OC&T Railroad excursion train crossing over kayakers in Oil Creek and a cyclist on the bike path all within Oil Creek State Park, a feat that took a lot of cooperation from Alliance staff members, several volunteer models, and drone photographer Garey Scott, Jr. of Scott Airborne Imagery.
The 50,000 hard copies of the Guide were once again printed by Seneca Printing Express in Franklin.
The Guide is distributed locally at visitor centers and points of interest as well as in response to direct requests and leads generated through advertising. It is also available at stops on the Pennsylvania turnpike, several rest stops, Welcome Centers, and select AAA offices across the state in addition to three spots on I-95 in Delaware and Maryland thanks to an ORA contract with Getaways on Display.
The Guide is also available to download or flip through virtually online at OilRegion.org/tourism/visitor-guide/.
Thanks to the technical support of Bull Moose Marketing, the digital version allows readers to link directly with events and advertiser websites or social media pages with just a click.
While a Guide was not produced in 2021 because of the pandemic, it is normally an annual publication. Development of the 2023 Guide will begin in June with the recruitment of advertisers.
“We filled our allotted space for display ads in the 2022 Guide and are already holding a spot for an advertiser in the 2023 Guide,” said Altomare. “We will need to rethink our feature stories and possibly add pages to next year’s Guide to make room for everything we want to cover. It’s a good problem to have.”
Anyone interested in participating in the Oil Region Guide can contact Altomare at ealtomare@oilregion.org.
“We’re very proud to have this new marketing piece that so thoroughly highlights all our area has to offer,” Phillips said.
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Oil Region Alliance to hold Chocolate Making Workshop at Tarbell House
A sweet way to celebrate Valentine’s Day is being offered by the Oil Region Alliance.
A chocolate making workshop will be held at the Tarbell House (324 E. Main St., Titusville) Sunday, February 6 from 2 to 4 p.m.
Workshop leader Sara Jones will teach attendees how to make three different types of chocolates, including chocolate covered strawberries, which participants can take home to enjoy or give as gifts.
Cost per person is $25 and seating is very limited.
Please contact Jessica Gorman at jgorman@oilregion.org or 814.677.3152 to register.
The Tarbell House, home to investigative journalism pioneer Ida Tarbell in the 1870s, was obtained and restored by the Oil Region Alliance and is now operated as a house museum and special event space.
The Oil Region Alliance oversees the Oil Region National Heritage Area, comprised of Titusville and Venango County, and congressional designated in 2004 because of the birth of the oil industry’s significance to U.S. history.
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Route 6 Alliance to Host Public Meetings on
Erie and Crawford County Façade Grants
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The Lumber Heritage Region and Oil Region Alliance Present Boom Heritage
Two of the state’s twelve heritage regions are joining forces to share information about two prominent industries that built America during their boom days — lumber and oil. These presentations will be virtual and available to everyone.
The idea of the project is to highlight the links between the two industries and share the stories of the past, present, and future. “We are hoping to educate the public about these two industries and the impacts they have made in our regions,” said Holly Komonczi, LHR Executive Director.
These third Tuesday Boom Heritage presentations will start January 18, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. with the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum and the Drake Well Museum giving a show and tell of the tools and artifacts used during the boom era in one or both industries that are not always on display at the museums.
Next, on February 15, A Roust About and A Wood Hick will reenact their tales from their boom days with participants able to ask our reenactors about a day in the life of these characters.
In celebration of Women’s Month, Women in the Lumber and Oil Industries will be showcased on March 15 highlighting the roles of women during the height of the oil and lumber booms. These often-overshadowed stories will illustrate the importance of women in the industries.
Lastly April 19, the presenters will share the environmental impacts of oil and lumber extraction in Western PA. What it was like before and after the laws and legislation were put in place for the two industries.
“The Oil Region National Heritage Area is excited to work with the LHR to illustrate how much history the two regions have in common,” said Jenn Burden, Oil Region Alliance Heritage Program Manager.
Lumber has been influential in Pennsylvania since the arrival of the first European settlers. Pennsylvania hardwoods are still highly sought around the world even today. We recognize the potential for growth in the Forest Products Industry and hope continued education will mentor this idea, comments Komonczi.
Each presentation will be unique.
Sign up for one or more presentation by visiting https://lumberheritage.org/discover/boom-heritage-presentations/.
All presentations will begin at 6:30 pm.
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Our News from 2021
Below please find articles on our news items from 2021, in chronological order, beginning with January articles at the bottom and December articles at the top.
Media requests and questions can be directed to Emily Altomare at ealtomare@oilregion.org.
The Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry and Tourism will dedicate a new Visitor Center at the Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce Wednesday, November 10 from 4-6 p.m.
The public is invited to attend.
This is the fourth Visitor Center in the region developed by the Alliance. The others are in Oil City at the Venango Museum of Art, Science & Industry, Titusville at Perry Street Station, boarding site of the Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad, and Emlenton at the Crawford Center.
The new Visitor Center includes maps and a literature cabinet of brochures to orient travelers to attractions in Franklin and throughout the Oil Region. What sets this center apart is its focus on the history of Franklin, which is about more than just oil history.
From the four forts integral to the town’s founding to visits by future and sitting U.S. Presidents, the exhibit depicts aspects of Franklin’s rich heritage that may surprise locals as well as guests.
“The ORA is excited to have a Visitor Center in Franklin to welcome guests who may be here for events or just strolling down Liberty Street,” said Jenn Burden, ORA Heritage Program Manager. “We hope to pique their interest and encourage them to explore more throughout the region.”
A committee of Alliance volunteers worked with HW Exhibits of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina to develop the content, layout, and design in 2019. During Spring 2021 Steel City Displays of Phoenixville, PA was selected to fabricate the exhibit, which includes information panels, photo banners, and artifact display cases. They completed the installation in October, transforming a corner of the Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce into a mini museum.
“We are fortunate to partner with the Chamber to have this excellent location for the exhibit,” said John R. Phillips, II, ORA President and CEO. “A stand-alone Visitor Center would not be feasible, but cooperation makes these projects possible.”
The project was funded in phases by National Park Service and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
The Visitor Center will be open during the Chamber’s regular business hours, free of charge, at 1255 Liberty Street.
RSVPs for the dedication are appreciated. Please e-mail JGorman@OilRegion.org or call 814-677-3152 by close of business Monday, November 8.
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The Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry and Tourism announced the winners of the inaugural Oil Region Tourism Awards at its annual meeting Thursday, September 23.
Here are the nominees and winners for each of the eight categories.
Best Dish
Nominees:
Dill Pickle Pizza from Trails to Ales, Franklin
Trail Boss Burger from Trails to Ales, Franklin
Fried Shrimp Taco from Taco Shack, Oil City
Nashville Hot Fried Chicken Sandwich from Curbside StrEAT Co., Titusville
Smashburger from Curbside StrEAT Co., Titusville
Pecan Crusted Chicken from Bella Cucina, Franklin
Wild Mushroom Pizza from Trails to Ales, Franklin
Shrueben Sandwich from Trails to Ales, Franklin
Italian Sub from Villa Italia Restaurant, Oil City
Fettucine Alfredo from Leonard’s, Franklin
Flat Iron Steak from Fat Chad’s, Titusville
Eggplant Parmesan from Maria’s, Titusville
Rise & Shine Breakfast from Sam’s Restaurant, Titusville
Chicken Parmesan Sub from Bud’s Pizza, Oil City
Winner: Italian Sub from Villa Italia Restaurant, Oil City
Best Drink
Nominees:
Iced Latte from Karma Coffee Company, Oil City
Holiday Cookie IPA from Scierka’s Tavern, Oil City
Razzmanian Devil from Trails to Ales, Franklin
Smoked Old Fashioned at Trails to Ales, Franklin
Peanut Butter Milkshake from Villa Restaurant, Oil City
Coffee from Sam’s Restaurant, Titusville
Winner: Peanut Butter Milkshake from Villa Restaurant, Oil City
Best Guest Room
Nominees:
Caboose Motel, Titusville
The Crawford Suite at the Barnard House B&B, Emlenton
Peddlers & Paddlers Inn, Franklin
Winner: Caboose Motel, Titusville
Best Shop
Nominees:
Stonehouse Jack, Titusville
Core Goods, Oil City
Olive Vault, Franklin
Cali Rae’s Haute Spot, Franklin
The Printer’s Cabinet and Curiosities, Franklin
Something Clever, Franklin
Liberty Street Antiques, Franklin
Amy’s Closet, Emlenton
Crisman’s Little Britches, Franklin
Titusville Market Square, Titusville
Cross & Co. Boutique, Seneca
Winner: Cross & Co. Boutique, Seneca
Best Advocate
Nominees:
Ashley Zaccari Smith
Diane Harrison
Leah Carter
Kim Harris
Winner: Ashley Zaccari Smith
Best Industry Partner
Nominees:
Be Here (Program of the Venango Chamber)
Friends of the Railroad
Oil City Main Street Program
Winner: Be Here
Best Must Do Activity
Nominees:
Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad
A Bite of History Food Tours, Franklin
Barnard House B&B, Emlenton
BridgeFest — Oil City Festival in August
Tiffany Window Tours at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Franklin
DeBence Antique Music World, Franklin
Venango Museum of Art, Science and Industry, Oil City
Kayaking with O.A.R.S., Franklin
Unlock the Adventure Escape Experience, Titusville
Oil Creek State Park
Drake Well Museum & Park
Bike Trails, throughout the Region
Oil Valley Film Festival, Oil City
Winner: Bike Trails
Best Landmark
Nominees:
Drake Well Museum and Park, Titusville
Driller Monument at Woodlawn Cemetery, Titusville
Belmar Bridge on the Allegheny River
Civil War, WWI, WWII, Korean and Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Monuments near the Venango County Courthouse in Franklin
Venango County Courthouse courtrooms 1, 2, and 3 with Deac Mong murals (Riding into Fort Machault, Looking over Franklin, and Drake Well)
Freedom Falls, Kennerdell
Kennerdell Overlook, Kennerdell
Murray Scenic Overlook, Oil City
National Transit Building, Oil City
Heisman Monument, Titusville
Winner: Drake Well Museum and Park, Titusville
“After more than a year of canceled events and limited activities, we wanted the people of the Oil Region to focus on all the fantastic things our area has to offer,” said Emily Altomare, ORA Communications & Tourism Manager. “The Tourism Awards were developed to shine a spotlight on community favorites and to let us brag about the features we’re proud of.”
Winners in attendance were awarded a certificate and sign and given an opportunity to address the crowd from the podium.
Barb Ives accepted Best Guest Room for the Caboose Motel of Titusville as a member of its board of directors.
Ashley Zaccari Smith was present to receive the Best Advocate Award and gave an emotional and inspiring acceptance speech.
Ashley Sheffer received the Best Industry Partner Award on behalf of Be Here, a program of the Venango Chamber of Commerce.
Kim Harris, ORA Outdoor Recreation Specialist and Erie to Pittsburgh Trail Association member accepted the award for Best Must Do Activity on behalf of the region’s bike trails.
Erin Wincek of Friends of Drake Well and replica operator and re-enactor Bill Stumpf accepted the Best Landmark award for Drake Well Museum & Park.
The awards presentation along with the entire ORA annual meeting will be available to stream online soon as well as aired on local cable television.
Winners who were not present will receive their certificate and sign later this month.
The public was invited to make nominations for the eight categories via the ORA Facebook page during the month of May in conjunction with National Travel and Tourism Week. Once nominees were established, voting ran online June through August.
The contest received votes from 1,038 people.
Voters who included their names and addresses were eligible to win an Oil Region National Heritage Area t-shirt. Shelby Daugherty of Titusville was the lucky winner.
“We’re very pleased with the participation we had this first year of the tourism awards,” Altomare said. “We plan to run the contest again next year, with a call for nominees going out in May and voting to begin again in June.”
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The Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry and Tourism will hold its annual meeting Thursday, September 23 at 8 a.m. at Cross Creek Resort in Titusville.
“We are excited for this opportunity to share our progress as an organization with our members, stakeholders, and the general public,” said John R. Phillips, II, ORA President/CEO.
The ORA did not hold a public meeting during 2020 because of the pandemic so this will be the first gathering of the membership since the annual meeting September 2019.
In addition to Phillips’ review of the ORA’s activities during the past two years, a keynote presentation will be given by Amy Camp, a trails and tourism consultant, Trail Town Program developer, and the author of Deciding on Trails, a call to action for trail communities.
“Amy is a dynamic speaker who relates the importance of outdoor recreation opportunities to communities,” said Kim Harris, ORA Project Manager and Outdoor Recreation Specialist.
“Trails offer so much more than a positive economic impact; trails offer a healthy, active lifestyle, a place for socialization and learning,” Harris said. “I am sure those who hear Amy speak will take pause and give greater thought to how we can better connect our communities to the outdoor recreational offerings abundant in the Oil Region.”
In accordance with ORA tradition, the Partner of the Year and Volunteer of the Year will be recognized.
This year’s Partner of the Year honor is being shared between Precious Paws Animal Rescue and the Venango County Humane Society. Both organizations have partnered with the ORA on #adoptableoilregion, a social media campaign that features a pet up for adoption from one of the shelters visiting a location in the Oil Region on a weekly basis. The shelters alternate weeks, and posts are uploaded each Thursday on the ORA Facebook and Instagram pages.
“The #adoptableoilregion campaign has been a great partnership,” said Emily Altomare, ORA Communications and Tourism Manager. “We’re able to help the shelters with their mission of finding homes for pets, and the cats’ and dogs’ photos are so cute that they get shared all over and help us spread the word about all of the great places to visit in the Oil Region.”
The Volunteer of the Year is Sarah Reynolds, who has been actively assisting with projects in the southern portion of the Oil Region National Heritage Area. Reynolds volunteers for the Allegheny Clarion River Valley Region Blueprint Communities program whose activities include the River Roots Community Farm project and Fuchs Fest as part of SummerFest 2021 in Foxburg. She regularly assists with fundraising and community engagement.
“Sarah is an integral member of the volunteer crew,” said Selina Pedi, ORA Redevelopment Manager and Blueprint Community Coordinator. “We are so fortunate to have her in our community and on our team!”
New to this year’s annual meeting is the announcement of the 2021 Tourism Awards. After public nominations were collected during May, voting was conducted via an online survey between June and August. Winners will be announced for the following eight categories: Best Dish, Best Drink, Best Guest Room (hotel, motel, B&B, or other lodging), Best Shop, Best Industry Advocate/Individual, Best Industry Partner/Organization, Best Must Do Activity or Attraction, and Best Must See Landmark.
More than 1,000 surveys were completed.
“We are very pleased with the response we’ve had to the contest,” Altomare said. “It’s a fun way to honor local favorites, and we hope to run it again next year.”
Also on the agenda for the ORA annual meeting is the acknowledgement of major members and the election of the Board of Directors. Only paid members of the ORA will be eligible to vote, but there is still time to renew memberships prior to the meeting. Contact Altomare at ealtomare@oilregion.org for more information on membership or visit
OilRegion.org/the-alliance/membership/.
Thanks to the ORA’s generous sponsors, there is no cost to attend, and a complimentary breakfast buffet will be provided.
All are welcome to attend the meeting, but registration is required. Please e-mail jgorman@oilregion.org by September 10 to register.
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The Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry and Tourism is giving away copies of the Sketchbook of Victorian Architecture of the Oil Heritage Region, a publication intended for youth, which provides examples of the architecture existing in the region, along with the history of the structures and maps to find the remaining buildings.
Educators and other interested parties are welcome to pick up sketchbooks in bulk at the ORA office, but anyone is welcome to stop by to pick up a copy or two for personal use.
“The books are great for any one of any age who is interested in architecture, history, or art,” said Jenn Burden, ORA Heritage Program Manager.
Stop by the ORA office at 217 Elm St., Oil City between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. No appointment necessary.
The 46-page publication was developed by Lynn Pacior-Malys for the ORA in the early 2000s and has been distributed to fourth through sixth graders throughout the region.
Questions can be directed to Burden at jburden@oilregion.org.
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The Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry and Tourism is pleased to announce the hiring of Abigail Watson-Popescu as Assistant Project Manager. Abbe will be working on heritage and outdoor recreation projects, which immediately include a revision of the Oil Region National Heritage Area driving tour.
This is not Abbe’s first involvement with the ORA. She volunteered early on in the Tarbell House restoration project at 324 E. Main St., Titusville.
This introduction to preserving historic buildings led to Abbe earning an A.A.S. in Building Restoration and Preservation from Belmont College in addition to her English Literature and Medieval/Early Modern Studies B.A. from Dickinson College and graduate coursework in English Literature from the University of Virginia.
“We are thrilled to have Abbe join the team,” said John R. Phillips, II, ORA President and CEO. “Her experience and education are very complimentary to the projects and mission of the organization.
Abbe’s previous roles include assistant curator of an art museum, independent archivist, and independent proprietor of an historic preservation consulting business.
She currently volunteers as a member of the Titusville Planning Commission, the Titusville Historical Society collections committee, and Board President for the Greater Titusville Development Foundation. Abbe lives in Titusville with her husband and their three children.
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It’s time to vote for the first ever Oil Region Tourism Awards!
Through the month of May, the public nominated their favorite foods, partners, and places in the Oil Region, and now it’s up to you to choose the winners.
The link is also available on the ORA Facebook page and via the accompanying QR code.
“There is so much to be proud of in the Oil Region, and people have been very passionate about their nominations,” said Emily Altomare, Communications and Tourism Manager for the Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry and Tourism (ORA).
As the designated tourism marketing organization for Venango County and the manager of the Oil Region National Heritage Area (ORNHA), the ORA is facilitating the contest.
“The ORA is excited to recognize the best of the best in hospitality in our region,” Altomare said.
There are eight categories. Best Dish is for the best restaurant meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner) available in the Oil Region. Best Drink is for the best cocktail, coffee or other beverage. Best Guest Room is for the best place to spend the night in the Oil Region. Best Shop is for retail locations of any kind. Best Industry Advocate is for an individual who regularly sings the praises of the Oil Region, someone who frequently shares hospitality info on social media and encourages attendance at community functions. Best Industry Partner/Organization is for a specific hospitality industry business or an organization that contributes greatly to the offerings of the region. Best Must Do Activity or Attraction is for the best places to go and things to do in the region, such as a museum, festival, or bike path. Best Must See Landmark honors a specific location that guests shouldn’t miss during a visit, such as a monument, oilfield relic, architectural feature, or selfie site.
Locations must be within the ORNHA, which includes all of Venango County, plus Titusville, Oil Creek Township and Hydetown in Crawford County.
The nomination period ran from May 2, which coincided with National Travel and Tourism Week, and concluded Memorial Day, Monday, May 31.
Voting will run through August 31, and winners will be announced during the ORA’s annual meeting in September.
There are no cash prizes for the winners, but nominees and winners will be promoted through the ORA’s social media and other marketing efforts.
The ORA hopes to make the awards an annual event.
For more information about the contest, please contact ealtomare@oilregion.org.
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The Oil Region Alliance is pleased to announce the call for nominees for their first ever Tourism Awards.
As the designated tourism marketing organization for Venango County and the manager of the Oil Region National Heritage Area, the ORA is excited to recognize the best of the best in hospitality in our region.
“This is an opportunity for the public to share their favorite parts of the Oil Region and the things they brag about,” said Emily Altomare, ORA Communications and Tourism Manager. “It’s also a chance for businesses to throw their hats in the ring for consideration.”
Nominations can be sent via e-mail to Altomare at ealtomare@oilregion.org or by commenting on the call for nominees posts on the Oil Region Alliance Facebook page during the month of May. Nominations will not be taken by phone, but can be mailed to the ORA office at 217 Elm St., Oil City, PA 16301.
Anyone can make a single nomination or multiple nominations for any or every category.
“There is so much to be proud of in the Oil Region,” Altomare said.
There are eight categories. Best Dish is for the best restaurant meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner) available in the Oil Region. Nominations must include the restaurant name and the menu item. Best Drink is for the best cocktail, coffee or other beverage and will need to include the menu item name and location in the nomination. Best Room can be for a specific room or suite at a B&B or homeshare or any room at a specific hotel or motel. Best Shop is for retail locations of any kind and does not have to be directly related to the tourism industry. Best Industry Advocate is for an individual who regularly sings the praises of the Oil Region, someone who frequently shares hospitality info on social media and encourages attendance at community functions. Best Industry Partner/Organization can go to a specific hospitality industry business or an organization that contributes greatly to the offerings of the region. Best Must Do Activity or Attraction requests nominations for the best places to go and things to do in the region, such as a museum, festival, or bike path. Best Must See Landmark will honor a specific location that guests shouldn’t miss during a visit, such as a monument, oilfield relic, architectural feature, or selfie site.
Locations should be within the Oil Region National Heritage Area, which includes all of Venango County, plus Titusville, Oil Creek Township and Hydetown in Crawford County.
The nomination period begins May 2, which coincides with National Travel and Tourism Week, and concludes Memorial Day, Monday, May 31.
Voting will open in June and end August 31, 2021. Details will follow. Winners will be announced during the ORA’s annual meeting in September.
There are no cash prizes for the winners, but nominees and winners will be promoted through the ORA’s social media and other marketing efforts.
The ORA hopes to make the awards an annual event.
For more information about the contest, please contact ealtomare@oilregion.org.
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The Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry and Tourism is pleased to announce the 2021 Historic Preservation Award Winners.
The winners are:
Benson Memorial Library — Preservation Stewardship of the Library building
Dr. Stephen Cenedella — Historic Appreciation for dedication to several preservation projects in Franklin
City of Oil City – Structure for the repair of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument
City of Titusville – Preservation Education/Initiative for the Titusville, PA Design Guide for Historic Structures & Features
Heritage Society of Oil City – Structure for the restoration of a 1923 Reid Gas Engine
David Weber – Historic Appreciation for years of research of the Oil Region’s history
Windfall Rod Shop – Reconstruction of the Sun Oil Co. Gas Station
“After cancelling last year’s event because of the pandemic, I’m pleased that we are holding the Oil Region Historic Preservation Awards in 2021,” said event organizer Jennifer Burden, Oil Region Alliance Heritage Program Manager. “Though the ceremony will be held virtually, it’s important to recognize and celebrate historic preservation efforts throughout the Oil Region.”
The awards program recognizes appropriate preservation, restoration, and rehabilitation projects, individuals and groups committed to historic preservation. It creates an advocacy for historic preservation and enhances a regional historic preservation ethic within the Oil Region National Heritage Area.
Winners will be presented their awards by their nominators during a private ceremony at the Transit Building in Oil City, which will be filmed and broadcast over local cable and available via streaming media thanks to Luke Ruot and The Stream Media. The ceremony will premiere Thursday, May 20. Details on how to view the ceremony will be available on the ORA Facebook page.
The ORA has given more than 150 Historic Preservation Awards since 1997 with the exception of 2020 when no awards were given because of the pandemic.
Sponsors of the Historic Preservation Awards are the Crawford County Historical Society, Franklin Preservation Association, Friends of Drake Well, Inc., Heritage Society of Oil City, Oil City Main Street Program, Oil Region Alliance, Titusville Historical Society, Titusville Renaissance, Inc., Venango County Historical Society, and the Venango Museum of Art, Science & Industry.
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It’s time to recognize the people and projects preserving the history of the Oil Region through the Historic Preservation Awards.
The Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry & Tourism is accepting nominations through March 31.
“After canceling last year’s event because of the pandemic, I’m pleased that we are holding the Oil Region Historic Preservation Awards in 2021,” said event organizer Jennifer Burden, Oil Region Alliance Heritage Program Manager. “Though the ceremony will be held virtually, it’s important to recognize and celebrate historic preservation efforts throughout the Oil Region.”
The Oil Region Historic Preservation Awards program recognizes appropriate preservation, restoration, and rehabilitation projects, individuals and groups committed to historic preservation. It creates an advocacy for historic preservation and enhances a regional historic preservation ethic within the Oil Region National Heritage Area.
The region includes all of Venango County, the Borough of Hydetown, the City of Titusville and Oil Creek Township in Crawford County.
Any person or group may submit a nomination for a Historic Preservation Award. Eligible structures must be within the Oil Region and at least 50 years old. Interior work in public buildings and/or exterior work are eligible. Once an individual or project has received an award, it is not eligible again for another five years.
Nomination forms are available at the OilRegion.org Historic Preservation Awards page.
Digital “Before & After” photographs are required with each nomination. They can be sent to jburden@oilregion.org, noting “Historic Preservation” in the subject. Photographs help illustrate the nature and impact of the project work to the Awards judges and will be incorporated into the awards ceremony. Up to ten photos of the nominated project may be submitted.
Nominations must be submitted by Wednesday, March 31 to Jenn Burden at jburden@oilregion.org or Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry & Tourism at 217 Elm St., Oil City, PA 16301.
The awards ceremony will occur in May via a virtual event. Details will follow.
Sponsors of the Historic Preservation Awards are the Crawford County Historical Society, Franklin Preservation Association, Friends of Drake Well, Inc., Heritage Society of Oil City, Oil City Main Street Program, Oil Region Alliance, Titusville Historical Society, Titusville Renaissance, Inc., Venango County Historical Society, and the Venango Museum of Art, Science & Industry.
The program has presented more than 150 awards since 1997. All previous winners are listed here.
Please contact Jenn Burden at jburden@oilregion.org or 814-677-3152 x 116 for more information.
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The Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry and Tourism invites the public to attend the dedication of Oil Creek Memorial Landing, the trailhead and water access on Route 8 in Oil City, Saturday, April 24 at 10 a.m.
The ceremony will include a ribbon cutting and remarks by Kim Harris, ORA Project Manager and Outdoor Recreation Specialist, John R. Phillips, II, ORA President and CEO, and Oil City Mayor William Moon.
The site includes 12 parking spots, (two of which are ADA-compliant), benches, bike racks, stairs leading to the business next door, and a pollinator garden designed to nurture butterflies and bees.
Oil Creek Memorial Landing provides excellent access for anglers to fish Oil Creek. Kayakers can put in and take out. Families with kids and folks of all ages can wade into the creek to explore and connect with nature.
“This project touches my heart,” said Harris, who grew up just a few blocks away. “This was the perfect place for this type of development. It’s nice and green and good for the community.”
The project came to be during another ORA project in the early twenty-teens. The ORA was designing the McClintock Trail and needed to widen the sidewalk area in front of five properties owned by three families along Route 8. Instead of negotiating to purchase slivers of each lot along the roadway, the ORA worked with the owners to either donate the properties or sell the land. The timber and remaining foundations had no real value, and all five properties were in a designated flood plain.
“Memorial Landing is a great example of making a flood plain property useful,” said Phillips.
“The property can’t be used for much else, but it allows Oil Creek waters to flow up onto the site during high water, if needed, without damaging personal property,” Harris added.
This portion of the industrial corridor was designated a greyfield, not a brownfield, but the property owners did not want the area to be developed for commercial or industrial use.
The ORA recognizes the families of Louis Shakespeare, Kenneth E. Kulling, and Stella Truscott as the former property owners and appreciates their cooperation in this project.
The EADS Group, a construction consulting firm out of Clarion, PA, handled the design and construction oversight of Memorial Landing, which has been useable since 2016. There is still one more element to be added to the site. A kiosk that will include maps of the adjacent bike trail and historic images of the site is currently being designed and will be installed later this summer.
The project was funded through the National Park Service, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, PNC, First Energy, PennDOT’s transportation alternative funding, and Western Pennsylvania Conservancy’s Canoe Fund along with private donations.
Dedication attendees are encouraged to bring bikes and kayaks to add a ride or float to their day. Suggested routes include the McClintock Trailhead, Coal Oil Johnny House, and Oil Creek State Park to the north and a ride through Oil City to the south by bike, and downstream to the Oil City Marina or further on the Allegheny toward Franklin by kayak, weather permitting.
Oil Creek Memorial Landing is located at 575 N. Seneca St., Oil City, next to Dollar General.
Masks and social distancing in accordance with current mandates are required.
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A ceremony recognizing the career and retirement of Oil Region Alliance Vice President of Heritage Development Marilyn Black is now streaming on the ORA YouTube channel here.
Black retired June 11, 2020 and was supposed to be recognized during the ORA annual meeting scheduled for September. However, the pandemic caused the meeting to be canceled.
Government officials gathered November 19 at the Tarbell House in Titusville (in compliance with all COVID safety protocols) to honor Black with citations and remarks. The ceremony was recorded by The Stream Media and is now streaming on the ORA YouTube channel and being broadcast on local cable television.
The ceremony includes acknowledgements from Congressmen Thompson and Kelly, Senators Hutchinson and Brooks, Representative James, Venango County Commissioners, Oil City and Titusville mayors, ORA board chairman Dr. Cressman and ORA President and CEO John R. Phillips, II.
Black also took to the podium to express her thanks for the well wishes and to reflect on her time with the ORA.
A small in-person celebration was held with the ORA board of directors in the spring at which June 13 was declared “Marilyn Black Day” in Oil City by Mayor William Moon.
During her time in Heritage Development, Black served as vice president, program manager, planner, executive director, grant writer, project manager, and supervisor. Some of her most notable achievements are her work on the designation of the Oil Region National Heritage Area and the preservation of notable properties including the Tarbell House, Coal Oil Johnny House, and Neilltown Church.
Black continues to contribute articles and photographs to PA Magazine, PA Angler and Boater Magazine, and Recreation News and is enjoying her hobbies of fishing, boating, hiking, biking and bird watching in retirement.
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How do you feel about four-wheelers, dirt bikes, and other all-terrain vehicles?
The Oil Region Alliance (ORA) wants to know for a public survey as part of its ongoing ATV Trail Feasibility Study for Venango County.
“The Oil Region has room for all outdoor activities,” said Kim Harris, ORA project manager and outdoor recreation specialist leading the project. “We’re interested in learning more about how we can create and sustainably manage trails for side-by-sides, four-wheelers, snowmobiles, and the like.”
The survey will run from March 30 through Earth Day on Friday, April 22, 2021.
Surveys can be accessed and completed online by following the link on the OilRegion.org homepage (on the left side, under the AVT photo) or here. Hard copy surveys can be picked up just outside the ORA office at 217 Elm St., Oil City, PA 16301 and at World of Wheels at 2572 PA Route 257, Seneca, PA 16346. Completed hard copy surveys must be returned to the ORA office.
Results of the survey will be shared during a public meeting, details of which will be advertised once determined.
“The economic impact of ATV and OHV trails to communities who have them is well documented,” said John R. Phillips, II, ORA President and CEO. “Adding such trails here can continue to diversify the Oil Region’s outdoor recreational assets. They bring visitors to stay and customers to local businesses. These trails also enhance the quality of life for residents by giving them a dedicated place to ride their vehicles safely and legally.”
The ORA is partnering with consultant firm Laird Landscape Architecture of Roaring Springs, PA on the study. Phase I, which includes the public survey, is examining community support, demand, and potential locations within the Oil Region National Heritage Area, as well as the possibility of connecting to trails in adjacent counties.
Phase II will further appraise land availability and appropriate locations for tracks.
Any design and development of actual ATV trails will be bid out and contracted as part of a separate project with new funding sources. The Feasibility Study is funded through the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resource’s ATV fund and Venango County Act 13 funds.
Questions about the project can be directed to Kim Harris at kharris@oilregion.org.
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The Strategic Plan for the Oil Region National Heritage Area, which will steer the ORA’s focus and future activities, developed by consultants The Walker Collaborative is now available.
Download the Executive Summary here.
ORNHA Strategic Plan 2021 Exec Summary
Request the full document by e-mailing Jenn Burden at jburden@oilregion.org.
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Our News from 2020
Below please find articles on our news items from 2020, in chronological order, beginning with January articles at the bottom and December articles at the top.
Media requests and questions can be directed to Emily Altomare at ealtomare@oilregion.org.
Winners of ORA Get on the Trail Business Plan Contest Announced
Three new recreation opportunities in the region are a little richer today, thanks to the Get on the Trail Business Plan Contest.
The contest, run by the Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry and Tourism, was open to new or existing businesses within the Oil Region, Foxburg, and Parker. Contestant concepts had to demonstrate ways to improve recreational opportunities along or near the area’s trail network.
The winners are:
- Allegheny River Rentals who received $2,500 for a plan to purchase and maintain a fleet of E-Bicycles to start a rental program. Bicycles would be loaned to Two Mile Run County Park for the 2021 mountain bike season to test the viability of E-Bike rentals in Venango County.
- Trailasana who received $2,500 for a plan to provide another option for outdoor recreation in the form of Paddleboard Yoga. Funds would be applied to equipment expenses including paddleboards, paddles, and anchors.
- Valerie Perry who received $5,000 for a plan for ‘Oil Region Food Tours’. Food Tours are typically a 2-3 hour experience that combines a walking tour of a destination with food and drink tastings at 5-7 establishments. Trail users who overnight in Franklin will likely have only one day to sample all that this town has to offer. While it would be impossible to taste all the culinary goodness of Franklin in a single day, Oil Region Food Tours would let participants sample several different restaurants while giving an overview of the history and attractions in the rest of the town.
“We’re excited for these new opportunities in the Oil Region and applaud their potential to expand our local economy,” said contest organizer Kim Harris, Oil Region Alliance Project Manager.
Winners were announced Friday during the Christmas Past festivities in downtown Oil City. ORA President and CEO John R. Phillips, II and Harris spoke at the ceremony along with Venango County Commissioners Mike Dulaney and Sam Breene.
The contest has been graciously funded by the County of Venango with Act 13 funds for the last five years.
If these business plans spark inspiration in you, stay tuned to OilRegion.org and the ORA’s Facebook page for details about the next contest coming in 2021.
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Oil Region Alliance Seeks Public Feedback Via Survey on National Heritage Area for Strategic Plan
The Oil Region Alliance (ORA) is conducting an online survey now through October 21 to get the public’s opinion on the Oil Region National Heritage Area (ORNHA), which will inform a Strategic Plan to guide the region’s management.
The ORNHA, which consists of all of Venango County and the City of Titusville, Hydetown Borough and Oil Creek Township in Crawford County, is managed by the ORA. The ORA focuses on natural and cultural preservation, historic interpretation and education, tourism, and economic development.
Through the consultant firm of The Walker Collaborative, the ORA is developing a Strategic Plan that will guide the focus and activities of the ORA moving forward. Members of the firm have already visited the region, met with stakeholders, and held two virtual public meetings in early September.
“The updated plan will factor in accomplishments of earlier recommended projects, changing economic factors, feasibility considerations, and other relevant issues,” said Jenn Burden, ORA Heritage Program Manager. “Public input for the Strategic Plan is needed to make the report successful.”
Now anyone can take the survey and provide feedback on topics including the natural environment, outdoor recreation and trails, how history is interpreted, development of historic buildings, tourism features such as shops, restaurants and lodging, and the best asset of the ORNHA.
It only takes about 10 minutes to complete and is anonymous. Feel free to share the link with others. The more responses, the better.
The survey closes Wednesday, October 21.
The information collected through the survey will be consolidated by the consultants and reviewed during the next round of public meetings in late October.
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Oil City, PA – The public is invited to provide input in two virtual meetings for the Oil Region National Heritage Area (ORNHA) Strategic Plan Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.
The Oil Region Alliance (ORA), managing entity of the ORNHA, is working on a Strategic Plan that will guide future projects, policies, and decisions over the next several years in accordance with legislation authorizing the ORNHA and the PA Department of Conservation and National Resources (DCNR) Heritage Areas Program.
“The updated plan will factor in accomplishments of earlier recommended projects, changing economic factors, feasibility considerations, and other relevant issues,” said Jenn Burden, ORA Heritage Program Manager. “Public input for the Strategic Plan is needed to make the report successful.”
To avoid issues with COVID-19, the meetings will be held virtually via Zoom. Anyone wishing to participate in either meeting should follow this link to register or e-mail jgorman@oilregion.org by noon Tuesday, Sept. 1 to receive a link to attend.
“The purpose of these meetings is to introduce ORA staff and consultants completing the project, to provide an overview of the Strategic Plan’s intent and process, and to solicit public input on topics relevant to the project,” Burden said.
After these meetings, a public survey will be distributed online and available in hard copy from the ORA office at 217 Elm Street, Oil City. The results of the survey, which will be based upon the discussions at the public meetings, will further guide the findings for the Strategic Plan.
The public meetings and survey are opportunities for Oil Region community members to participate in guiding the future direction of the Oil Region National Heritage Area. Please contact Jenn Burden with questions or comments at 814-677-3152.
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ORA Promotes Two Staff Members
The Oil Region Alliance recently promoted two staff members to new roles.
Selina Pedi, who began with the ORA in May 2019 as the part-time Blueprint Communities Coordinator for the Allegheny Clarion River Valley Region, will now serve as the full-time Redevelopment Manager. Jennifer Burden, who has been with the ORA since January 2018 as the Historian Educator, is taking over as Heritage Program Manager.
“These promotions demonstrate the Oil Region Alliance’s commitment to improving the quality of life and economic development of our area in addition to our contribution to enhancing our status as a National Heritage Area,” said ORA President and CEO John R. Phillips, II. “Professional development opportunities like these are key for my entire team.”
Pedi will continue to manage the Blueprint Communities program within her position, but she will be devoting a large portion of her time to develop the ORA’s new brownfield redevelopment program. She will be the liaison with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) with support from Phillips.
“She is exploring some workforce training dollars through EPA for underemployed people in green industries through a little known program, so it’s very exciting what possibilities can come from our new grant relationship with EPA,” said Phillips.
Pedi’s promotion coincides with the ORA’s recent receipt of a $300,000 Community-Wide Assessment Grant from the EPA to assess and redevelop several brownfields along the Allegheny River. The ORA’s testing and assessment of brownfield sites will start in October and continue through 2023 with grant writing for cleanup and redevelopment efforts ongoing throughout.
She will continue to be based in the AC Valley, but will work on Brownfields throughout the Oil Region National Heritage Area.
Pedi holds an Agribusiness Management degree from Penn State University and is currently a master’s degree candidate in Sustainability at Harvard University, with a focus on Community Resilience and Green Building.
“We have a tremendous opportunity to honor the spirit of innovation that gave birth to the Oil Heritage Region and carry it forward into a new era, learning from the mistakes of the past and building our communities ever stronger and more prosperous,” Pedi said.
With the retirement of Marilyn Black, Vice President for Heritage Development in June, Burden has taken over the Heritage Program. She is responsible for all grant administration, budgeting and programming for the heritage arm of the ORA, which includes oversight of historic properties, education and preservation efforts.
Burden will be the liaison with the National Park Service (NPS), PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR), Heritage PA, and the Alliance of National Heritage Areas (ANHA) with Phillips’ support. They are constantly working toward the Heritage Area’s reauthorization and funding for long term sustainability of the ORA and all National Heritage Areas.
Most immediately, Burden is spearheading the Heritage Area’s Strategic Plan, which will outline and prioritize the heritage activities for years to come.
“Our designation as one of only 55 National Heritage Areas in the country is significant,” said Phillips. “And I am pleased to have Jenn’s experience at the helm of this integral component to our mission.”
Burden holds a History degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master’s in Historic Preservation from Ball State University.
“I’m excited to lead the charge in taking the Oil Region National Heritage Area on new adventures and spreading the word about our significant history and unique opportunities,” Burden said.
In a year of unprecedented events, the Oil Region Alliance continues to pursue its mission “to increase the prosperity of the Oil Region by enticing people to live, work, learn and play in ‘the Valley that Changed the World’ through preservation, promotion, development, and support of historical, educational, natural, recreational, residential, commercial, and industrial destinations.”
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Oil Region Featured in Alliance of National Heritage Areas Newsletter
The Alliance of National Heritage Areas recently featured the Oil Region and its recognition of Chief Cornplanter in their newsletter, Heart & Soul.
You can check out the full article on page 5 along with the rest of the newsletter in the following PDF:
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ORA Announces Mini Grant for Tourism Rack Card and Brochure Printing
The Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry and Tourism is offering mini grants for printing brochures and rack cards for tourism destinations in the Oil Region.
Both non-profits such as museums and for profits like shops and restaurants are welcome to apply for half the cost of printing a brochure or rack card up to $500. Applicants are required to match the cost. Only one grant may be awarded per cycle per location.
To apply, submit a final copy of the product to be printed (with the acknowledgment of funding support by the ORA specified in the rules,) a copy of the quote or proposal for the printing cost, and a completed W-9 and application. Rules and applications are available at the ORA office at 217 Elm Street, Oil City and online on this page.2020 Mini Grant Application FINAL
Applications are due by Friday, March 13, 2020 in hard copy form to the ORA office or via e-mail to Emily Altomare at ealtomare@oilregion.org.
The ORA will respond to applicants by Friday, March 20, 2020.
The Oil Region Alliance must review and approve all materials before they are printed and reserves the right to not fund the grant if the final product does not adhere to the guidelines.
Printing should be completed and stock should be delivered to the ORA office by Friday, May 1, 2020 for distribution throughout the Oil Region, which includes all of Venango County and sites in Titusville and Foxburg.
Questions can be directed to Emily Altomare at ealtomare@oilregion.org.
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Town Hall Meeting for Faith and Civic Leaders – January 30, 2020
A Town Hall Meeting will take place on Thursday, January 30, 2020 from 6 – 8 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, 1041 Liberty Street in Franklin, PA.
The Meeting is a workshop to connect faith and civic leaders to:
1) brainstorm ideas and create opportunities to partner on space-sharing concepts between churches and various organizations;
2) provide an opportunity to network with regional faith, non-profit, educational, and civic groups; and
3) establish a sustainable plan to continue working towards creative partnerships between faith and community organizations.
In the Oil Region, we have numerous large historic churches that are looking for ways to adapt to smaller memberships and funding sources while continuing to play integral roles in their communities. As this issue extends beyond the Oil Region, anyone is welcome to attend to learn more or to share their experiences.
The Town Hall Meeting will be presented by Partners for Sacred Places (Partners), of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with support from the Oil Region Alliance and Bridge Builders Community Foundations. Partners, founded in 1989, is the only national, non-sectarian, non-profit organization focused on building the capacity of congregations of historic sacred places to better serve their communities as anchor institutions, nurturing transformation, and shaping vibrant, creative communities.
Please direct questions about the meeting to Jenn Burden, Oil Region Alliance at jburden@oilregion.org or 814.677.3152 or to Trenton Moulin, Bridge Builders Community Foundations at trenton@bbcf.org or 814.677.8687.
RSVPs are appreciated to jburden@oilregion.org. The meeting is free to attend.
Off street parking is available behind the church from Buffalo Street.
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Our News from 2019
Our new OilRegion.org website went live in October 2019, so we only have one news item to post for the year — but it’s a big one!
If you are looking for information and can’t find what you need, please contact Emily Altomare at ealtomare@oilregion.org.
Signed Appropriations Bill Solidifies Oil Region National Heritage Area Federal Funding for Next Three Years
The Oil Region Alliance is pleased to announce last week’s passage of Fiscal Year 2020 Interior Appropriations Act. Among other provisions, the federal funding authorization to the Oil Region National Heritage Area (ORNHA) is extended for three more years.
“We thank all our friends in the House and Senate, their staff, and, of course, the President, for their confidence in the Alliance and the work we have done for the last 15 years. These actions by Congress and the President ensure our continued work on Economic Development, Heritage Preservation, Outdoor Recreation Development, and Tourism Marketing in the Oil Region,” said John R. Phillips, II, President and Chief Executive Officer of the ORA which administers the ORNHA.
Friday, December 20, 2019 President Trump signed the FY 2020 Appropriations Acts; the domestic package set includes the U. S. Department of the Interior and its National Park Service, thereby including an extension of federal funding for the Oil Region National Heritage Area through September 30, 2022.
“I was proud to lead these efforts in the House with my colleague Congressman Mike Kelly (PA-16). The extension of the Oil Heritage Region designation is critical to economic development and tourism efforts in the Oil Region and an appropriate recognition of our heritage,” said Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson.
An independent study conducted in 2013 credited the ORNHA with directly and indirectly generating $21.2 million annually in the regional economy, creating and supporting 313 jobs, generating $1.5 million in state/local tax revenues, and partnering with local attractions hosting more than 239,000 visitors each year.
Senator Robert Casey remarked, “The Oil Region National Heritage Area is an exemplar for the type of public-private partnerships that enrich local communities and carry forward the tradition of the National Park Service. I am pleased Congress passed legislation extending the authorization of Oil Region, which will ensure it can continue its important work in northwestern Pennsylvania.”
The ORNHA was initially designated by Congress in 2004. It consists of Venango County and the communities of Titusville, Hydetown, and Oil Creek Township in Crawford County. The mission of the Oil Region Alliance is to manage the ORNHA and to increase the prosperity of the Oil Region by enticing people to live, work, learn and play in “The Valley That Changed The World” through the preservation, promotion, development, and support of historical, educational, natural, recreational, residential, commercial and industrial destinations.
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