
Hero: Someone who, in the face of danger, combats adversity through feats of ingenuity, courage, or strength, and those who perform great deeds or selfless acts for the common good.
We believe that the best approach to 2021 is one of gratitude and positive spirit. We want to lift up and recognize those who have served us so well, making Venango County a better place to live, even in a pandemic. These are Venango’s Heroes.
We have received more than 100 nominations for Community Heroes and it is evident that our community is made up of thoughtful, kindhearted, and helpful people and organizations. We are no longer accepting nominations, but will continue to recognize heroes for the next few weeks.
We’ve been sharing our region’s heroes on this page, in our newsletter, on our social media, and through the local media.
THANK YOU SPONSOR:

NOMINATED HEROES:
*Click the hero’s name under their photo to find an article or social media post about them*

LISA WINGER
AseraCare Hospice & Citizen of the Year
DAN FLAHERTY
Oil Region Library Association
LAURA BLAKE
Venango Regional Catholic Schools
REBEKAH DEAL
Community Volunteer
OIL CITY ROTARY
Community Organization
TRAILASANA
Yoga Studio
SISTER TINA & SISTER MARIAN
Catholic Rural Ministry
JOYCE FRENZ
Good Hope – Zion Lutheran Ministries
BRIAN DURNIOK
UPMC Northwest
CATA
Regional Transportation
JUDY ETZEL
Derrick Publishing
KAT THOMPSON
CareerLink & FLEX
OIL CITY YWCA
Community Organization
ASHLEY SMITH
Community Volunteer
HOWARD & JACOB FAUNCE
Oil City Public Works
HEATH’S MARKET
Neighborhood Market
COREY SCHWAB
Pennsylvania State Police
GARY DITTMAN
Community Volunteer
ZONTA CLUB OF OIL CITY AND FRANKLIN
Community Organization
PASTOR RANDY POWELL
First Baptist Church of Franklin
SUSANNA GIESEY
Community Volunteer
KIMBERLY & CALEB WILSON
Healthcare Workers
CONNIE SHULL
Community Volunteer
GRANDVIEW GRILLE FAT DOGS
Local Business
JOE DROZDO
Veteran & Volunteer
ANN WINGER
Guardian Healthcare
STACIA FENNICK
Oil City Area School District
CEC LINEMEN
Essential Workers
MARK ELLISTON
Christ Episcopal Church
VENANGO REGION CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Faculty & Staff
AMBER FELLOWS
Oil City Area School District
CHIEF PAUL MARSH
Seneca Fire Department
LORI HORN
UPMC Northwest
DEACON DAVE BETZ
Emmaus Haven
ASTORINO PHARMACY
Local Business
COMMUNITY SERVICES
Community Organization
CRANBERRY FOOD BANK
Community Organization
DOUG VOLMRICH
Feldman Jewelers & Community Volunteer
SCOTT SNOW
4 Your Car Connection
ALLISON GERWICK
City of Franklin
AMY MOOK
Bridge Builders Community Foundations
BILL LAMBERTON
Oil City Fire Department
DAN & BETH MYERS
Healthcare Workers
KIT WOODS
Human Services of Venango County
OIL CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT
Community Organization
SCOTTY & DOTTY GREENE
Community Volunteers
OIL CITY HEALTHCARE & REHAB CENTER
Healthcare Organization
ANGEL PRICHARD
Venango Technology Center
ANDREW ECKEL
Firefighter, Nurse, Coast Guard Member & Health Inspector
ANNE CURRAN
Oil City Area School District
HASSON HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Teachers & Staff
CINDY STEWART
Teacher & Mom
LINDA HENDERSON & HOLLY GIBBONS
Porch Music Store & Gibbons Business Solutions
TERRI WINGER-WITTREICH
Community Volunteer
HILLARY WISNIEWSKI
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
SCOTT STAHL
Oil City Area School District
UPMC RADIOLOGY
Healthcare Workers
PETE GROVE
UPMC Northwest
LAURIE HEBNER
UPMC Traveling Nurse
CAROL WILLIAMS
Williams Travel
SUSAN HILTON
Community Volunteer
CASA
Organization Volunteers
CHAZ & TODD ZEHNER
Business Leaders
LISA RILEY
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
KEN BARRON
Paramedic & Firefighter
PRIMARY HEALTH NETWORK – OIL CITY HEALTH CENTER
Local Health Center
BEN SCHWAB
City of Oil City
TROOPER FRANK GRZASKO
Pennsylvania State Police
VINCE & SHERRY BASTECKI
Community Volunteers
MELISSA MANN
Drake Well Museum
LISA MORITZ
Community Volunteer
NATHAN STELLITANO
Community Ambulance Service
CHARLIE & AIMEE COTHERMAN
Oil City Vineyard Church
WILLIAM WOODS
Pathways Adolescent Center
ST. ELIZABETH CENTER
Staff & Volunteers
KOBE KAHLE
Firefighter & Paramedic
CHERYL SIVERLING
UPMC Northwest
HEATHER MCKEEL
Nurse Practitioner
LINDA LUSHER
Galaxy Federal Credit Union & Rotary
JOY ZUCK
Oil City Area School District
LYNDSEY KING
City of Oil City & FLEX
VENANGO COUNTY ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND
Staff
CHRISTINE BINGMAN
UPMC Northwest
LOCAL FUNERAL HOMES
Directors & Staff
SUGAR VALLEY LODGE
Personal Care Home
JENNY MUMFORD
Oil City Area School District
LOCAL VETERAN VOLUNTEERS
Community Supporters
JOYCE HUGHES
Community Volunteer
OIL CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT
Oil City Police
HOLLY JOHNSON
Franklin Area School District
JESSICA WALTERS
Youth Connection
JAMIE’S KIDS
Community Volunteer
THE CARING PLACE
Nursing, Rehabilitation & Personal Care Home
CHARLIE HOOBLER
Fireman & Paramedic