| October/2008 The News Gusher |
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Welcome to the Oil Region Alliance Newsletter
The Oil Region Alliance is pleased to send you its newsletter. If you have difficulty viewing this format of the newsletter via this email, it will be posted on www.oilregion.org soon. Also, depending upon your computer system, you may need to click on "view images" to see the pictures. Feel free to contact me at deaton@oilregion.org with questions and comments concerning the newsletter.
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Oil Region Alliance to Dedicate New Historical Marker
by Melissa Mann
On Thursday, November 6, the Oil Region Alliance, in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Oil 150, the Historic Franklin Preservation Association, and the Venango County Historical Society will host a dedication and unveiling ceremony for the new Samuel C. T. Dodd state historical marker. The ceremony will be held at 10:00 a.m. at the Barrow-Civic Little Theatre in Franklin. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend. Advance reservations are not necessary.
Speakers at the event will include Robert Heller, Mayor of the City of Franklin; Carolee Michener, local historian and author of the marker nomination; Susan Beates, Drake Well Museum Curator and PHMC representative; Randy Seitz, President and COO of the Oil Region Alliance; and Will Wingo, Oil 150 Director.
Following the dedication ceremony, guests are invited to  step outside to 1247 Liberty Street. The official unveiling of the Blue/Gold state marker will take place at this site where in 1880 Dodd constructed the existing three-story brick building to house his law practice.
A native of Franklin, Dodd worked as general counsel for the Standard Oil Company from 1881 through 1905. He represented the company in court, in the media, in published pamphlets, and in its inner circle. Dodd's landmark accomplishment came in 1882 when he authored the Standard Oil Trust, the document that helped propel the company to industry dominance.
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Another Replica Derrick Goes Up In Barkeyville by Mike Henderson
Quickly following on the heels of the construction of a 32-foot replica oil derrick in Titusville, the Barkeyville project has come to fruition. Just west of the Barkeyville exit on eastbound I-80 lies a three-acre parcel of land within the Alliance-owned Barkeyville Industrial Park. Plans for the project began over a year ago; several obstacles were encountered, specifically the existence of wetlands around the site. In 2007, DEP agreed to delineate the parcel, which presented two upland areas approved for construction. The only problem was that these two areas were still surrounded  by wetlands. In February of 2008, the landscaping firm of J.J. Wurst from Erie was contracted to clear the entire three acres in preparation for the construction of a derrick, without the use of any tracked or wheeled vehicles. Working entirely by hand, the Erie crew completed the project in preparation of construction of a derrick. The actual construction in such a restricted area had yet to be sorted out.
In August an Invitation For Bids went out and one firm, Heckman Landscaping, proposed a novel solution. By employing a team of Amish workers, materials for the construction of a derrick would be brought through the wetlands to the upland by a team of draft horses. With minimal impact to the wetlands, the construction work was finished by the end of September, and the finishing touches were completed in early October. Soon the remaining obstructing vegetation and trees will be removed, and we'll have another 32' replica derrick announcing to visitors their entry into the Oil Region!
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Titusville Historic Phase II Walking Tour Dedicated by Kim Harris
The Oil Region Alliance and the City of Titusville dedicated the "Titusville Historic Walking Tour - Phase II" on October 21. Elected officials and community members were in attendance. It was hosted by the University at Pittsburgh at Titusville in McKinney Hall.
 Phase II includes the addition of ten interpretive panels to the historic walking tour and a newly designed brochure that includes interpretive sites from both Phase I and Phase II of the walking tour. Brochures are available at the Titusville Chamber, Benson Memorial Library, Comfort Inn-Titusville, and the OC&T Railroad Station and will be at other locations throughout the Oil Region. Call Marie Rainey at the Alliance at 677-3152, extension 101, for other locations.
With the completion of Phase II of the tour, Titusville now boasts a tour with 22 interpretive sites complete with signage that provides visitors with a glimpse of historic properties of the "Queen City" home. This project was financed in part by a Pennsylvania Heritage Area Program grant from the PA Department of Conservation and  Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation via the Oil Region Alliance. Matching funds have been provided by the John Nesbit Rees and Sarah Henne Rees Charitable Foundation, the University of Pittsburgh - Titusville Campus, and Friends of Benson Memorial Library. In the top photo is Gail Myer of Benson Memorial Library who did the research for the panels and served on the committee.
Left to right in the bottom photo are Representative Brad Roae; Kim Harris,Alliance Project Manager; Barbara Zolli, Site Administrator of Drake Well Museum and Park, Alliance Board Member and project committee member; and Mike Allyn Executive Director of Titusville Redevelopment Authority, Interim Titusville City Manager, and Alliance Board Member.
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| Oil Region to be Site of Multiple Conferences and Symposia in 2009
by Marilyn Black
In conjunction with the "Oil 150" celebration, several major conferences and symposia are already scheduled to be held in the Oil Region during 2009.
Randy Seitz, President of the Oil Region Alliance, announced, "We're pleased that oil industry organizations and statewide educational groups are selecting Crawford and Venango Counties as venues for their business meetings and  social gatherings. We welcome even more to do so and will provide coordination assistance to local/regional hosts as part of Oil 150."
April 30 - May 3
PA Outdoor Writers Association Spring Convention;
theme: "Wrapping History Into Your Story"
May 8 - 9
Victorian Architecture and Its Preservation Conference
May 14 - 16
Petroleum History Institute Annual Symposia and Field Trip;
theme: "Return to the Valley That Changed the World"
Early May
West Penn Energy Association Conference
Early Summer
International Oil Scout Association's Annual Conference
June
American Oil & Gas Historical Society's Annual Energy
Education Conference & Field Trip
September
PA Association of Resource Conservation and Development
Councils Annual Conference
November 18 - 19
Symposium: "The Philanthropic Legacy of the Oil Pioneers"
Dates and key details about these conferences are updated periodically on the www.oil150.com website.
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Alliance Presents Homans With Preservation Award
by Toni Kresinski
When John (Skip) & Suzanne Homan purchased the home at 304 Orange Street in Oil City, it was wrapped in the 1960's fad 8" aluminum siding and was very homely. They had no idea what was hiding behind that weathered façade. After much time and effort making renovations to the interior, they debated as to what to do to the exterior.
Skip removed the aluminum soffit from the front porch and discovered the paint ghosts of missing corbels, so he fabricated new ones with the help of Ron Gustafson. Skip and Sue then considered removing the weathered aluminum siding and replacing it with vinyl siding, which would have been the sensible choice.
 But in the process of removing the siding they discovered the remnants of a once beautiful Victorian home with a very unique patterned siding and trim detail. They knew they had to restore it and not just cover it up again.
Skip and Sue spent the next five years carefully stripping paint, selecting colors, and restoring this home to its once beautiful grandeur. They also constructed a new attached garage and utility space, with detailing to complement the house.
The end result of restoring this fine home is a tribute to Oil City's grand past and to these homeowners for all of their hard work.
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Welcome New and
Renewal Members
by Darlene Eaton
The Alliance appreciates all its members -- from individuals and small businesses to larger businesses -- and is pleased to list these new and renewed members.
All Seasons Temporaries, 437-2148, employment agency
Benson Memorial Library (new), 827-2913, public library offering services and materials
Brenneman, Dr. Mary (new), individual
Caboose Motel, 827-5730, Comfortable, unique lodging facility, cabooses with all amenities as in traditional lodging facilities
Collins Plumbing & Heating, 677-0215, plumbing and heating
Comfort Inn - Barkeyville, 786-7901, hotel at I-80 exit 29
Conair Group, Inc., The, 437-6861, Manufacturer of plastic processing equipment
Galaxy Federal Credit Union, 432-1207, a community credit union offering financial services to all of Venango County
Franklin Industries, 437-3726, manufacturer of steel fence posts and highway channel posts
Jones Party Magic, Inc., 432-7812, party and event supplies and rentals: inflatables, carnival games, wedding décor, tent/table/chair rentals
Pilewski, Dr. Robert, individual
Schiffer Excavating, 432-3448, sand & gravel, concrete products, excavating.
Titusville Area School District, 827-7815, promotes intellectual growth and educational experience which inspire students to succeed
University of Pittsburgh at Titusville, 827-4447, university
Venango Machine Products, 676-5741, tool and die job shop
Welding Technologies, 432-0954, fabrication; steel erection; serving the steel and forging industry
Wolfe, David (new), individual
It's Easy to Join!
Call Darlene at 814-677-3152 extension 117
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The Alliance's Major Members
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The Oil Region Alliance Board of Directors
James Hawkins, Chair
Barr's Insurance
Michael Klapec, Vice Chair
Klapec Auto Body
Betsy Kellner, Secretary
Venango Museum of Art, Science, and Industry
Lynda Cochran, Treasurer
Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce
Neil McElwee, Assistant Secretary-Treasurer
Oil Creek Press
Jonathan Crawford, Immediate Past Chair
Kapp Alloy & Wire Co., Inc.
J. Michael Allyn, Titusville Redevelopment Authority
Kathy Bailey, Cranberry Mall
Dennis Beggs, Central Electric Cooperative
Dr. Timothy Brooks, Venango County Commissioners
Fred Buckholtz, Cranberry Township
John Cramer, Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad
Rodney Griffin, Specialty Fab. & Powder Coating
Stephen Hanna, National City
James Krellner, Joy Mining Machinery
Joseph Nichols, Farley's Services
David Pascale, First Energy
Frank Przybycin, Team Hardinger Transportation
Dr. Christopher Reber, Clarion Univ-Venango Campus
Edward Sharp, individual
Dr. William Shields, Univ. of Pittsburgh at Titusville
Warren Thomas, Baytree Farm
Peter Winkler, Congressman Peterson's Office
Maryann Yochim, National Fuel
Barbara Zolli, Drake Well Museum
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Upcoming Events in the Oil Region
October 30,31
House of Terror by Sleepy Hollow Amusements, Inc. 657-3864
November
Sue Clark, featured artist at Transit Fine Arts Gallery,
677-3707.
November 1
Old Time Radio Show
at Barrow Little Theatre,
437-3440.
November 8
Oil City Garden Club
Flower Show
"Shades of Oil" at National Transit building, 676-9763.
November 9
Birthday Party for George Bissell at Venango Museum by Neil McElwee 676-2007.
November 7, 8, 9
Odd Couple (Female Version)
Community Playhouse dinner theatre at Arlington Hotel,
677-SHOW.
November 13
Annual Dinner Meeting of
The Venango County Historical Society at Christ United Methodist Church, Franklin, 437-2275.
November 14
3 Rivers Mandolin Concert at National Transit Building, Oil City Arts Council, 678-3017.
November 15
Allegheny Sounds,
Barrow-Civic Theatre, Franklin, 432-5196.
November 20
Card Party Luncheon,
Venango Museum, 676-2007
November 20
Harvey Center Lecture, Steve Weinberg, "Taking on the Trust," Clarion University-Venango Campus, Oil City, 676-6591 ext 1215.
November 21
"Branson Country Christmas"
Ozark Jubilee, Barrow-Civic Theatre, Franklin. 437-3440.
November 22
Light-up Night®
Franklin, Franklin Fine Arts Council, 437-1619 ext 1
November 22, 23
Twas One Crazy Night Before Christmas, Barrow-Civic Theatre, Franklin, 437-3440.
November 28
Holiday Concert, The Silver Cornet Band, Barrow-Civic Theatre, Franklin, 437-3440.
November 28 - December 30
Holiday at Burgess, Christmas Light display, Titusville, Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce, 827-2941.
November 29
Breakfast with Santa at Cross Creek Resort, 827-9611.
November 29
Jeffrey Michael Lloyd Christmas Concert, Barrow Civic Theatre, Franklin, 432-5196.
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Time Saving Tools Using Google Search submitted by Don LeGoullon, Penn State Technical Assistance Program
1. Package Tracking - Enter the tracking number of the order and shipper (FedEx, UPS or USPS) into the Google search bar.
2. Flight Tracking - Type the airline name or code, (space) and the flight number to check your flight status.
3. Calculations & Conversions - Use Google's built-in calculator function by entering the calculations in the search box. This works for geometry, trigonometry and advanced math functions.
4. Weather - Just type the word "weather" followed by the city, state and zip code for the location you want.
5. Time - If you want to know the time in some other part of the world, enter the word "time" followed by the name of the city or country.
6. Dictionary - Type "definition" followed by the word or words you want to define.
7. Movies - You can find movie times through Google search by entering "movies" or the film title followed by the zip code.
8. UPC Codes - Find information on any item by typing in the UPC Code of the item in the Google search box.
9. Phone Book & Residential Listings - Enter the person's name, city, state, or zip code and if they are listed, Google will display up to three matching results.
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