
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 YearDAN FLAHERTY
Oil Region Library AssociationLAURA BLAKE
Venango Regional Catholic SchoolsREBEKAH DEAL
Community VolunteerOIL CITY ROTARY
Community OrganizationTRAILASANA
Yoga StudioSISTER TINA & SISTER MARIAN
Catholic Rural MinistryJOYCE FRENZ
Good Hope – Zion Lutheran MinistriesBRIAN DURNIOK
UPMC NorthwestCATA
Regional TransportationJUDY ETZEL
Derrick PublishingKAT THOMPSON
CareerLink & FLEXOIL CITY YWCA
Community OrganizationJESSICA BABBITT
Social WorkerASHLEY SMITH
Community VolunteerHOWARD & JACOB FAUNCE
Oil City Public WorksHEATH’S MARKET
Neighborhood MarketCOREY SCHWAB
Pennsylvania State PoliceGARY DITTMAN
Community VolunteerZONTA CLUB OF OIL CITY AND FRANKLIN
Community OrganizationPASTOR RANDY POWELL
First Baptist Church of FranklinSUSANNA GIESEY
Community VolunteerKIMBERLY & CALEB WILSON
Healthcare WorkersCONNIE SHULL
Community VolunteerGRANDVIEW GRILLE FAT DOGS
Local BusinessJOE DROZDO
Veteran & VolunteerANN WINGER
Guardian HealthcareSTACIA FENNICK
Oil City Area School DistrictCEC LINEMEN
Essential WorkersMARK ELLISTON
Christ Episcopal ChurchVENANGO REGION CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Faculty & StaffAMBER FELLOWS
Oil City Area School DistrictCHIEF PAUL MARSH
Seneca Fire DepartmentLORI HORN
UPMC NorthwestDEACON DAVE BETZ
Emmaus HavenASTORINO PHARMACY
Local BusinessCOMMUNITY SERVICES
Community OrganizationCRANBERRY FOOD BANK
Community OrganizationDOUG VOLMRICH
Feldman Jewelers & Community VolunteerSCOTT SNOW
4 Your Car ConnectionALLISON GERWICK
City of FranklinAMY MOOK
Bridge Builders Community FoundationsBILL LAMBERTON
Oil City Fire DepartmentDAN & BETH MYERS
Healthcare WorkersKIT WOODS
Human Services of Venango CountyOIL CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT
Community OrganizationSCOTTY & DOTTY GREENE
Community VolunteersOIL CITY HEALTHCARE & REHAB CENTER
Healthcare OrganizationANGEL PRICHARD
Venango Technology CenterANDREW ECKEL
Firefighter, Nurse, Coast Guard Member & Health InspectorANNE CURRAN
Oil City Area School DistrictHASSON HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Teachers & StaffCINDY STEWART
Teacher & MomLINDA HENDERSON & HOLLY GIBBONS
Porch Music Store & Gibbons Business SolutionsTERRI WINGER-WITTREICH
Community VolunteerHILLARY WISNIEWSKI
Licensed Clinical Social WorkerSCOTT STAHL
Oil City Area School DistrictUPMC RADIOLOGY
Healthcare WorkersPETE GROVE
UPMC NorthwestLAURIE HEBNER
UPMC Traveling NurseCAROL WILLIAMS
Williams TravelSUSAN HILTON
Community VolunteerCASA
Organization VolunteersCHAZ & TODD ZEHNER
Business LeadersLISA RILEY
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)KEN BARRON
Paramedic & FirefighterPRIMARY HEALTH NETWORK – OIL CITY HEALTH CENTER
Local Health CenterBEN SCHWAB
City of Oil CityTROOPER FRANK GRZASKO
Pennsylvania State PoliceVINCE & SHERRY BASTECKI
Community VolunteersMELISSA MANN
Drake Well MuseumLISA MORITZ
Community VolunteerNATHAN STELLITANO
Community Ambulance ServiceCHARLIE & AIMEE COTHERMAN
Oil City Vineyard ChurchWILLIAM WOODS
Pathways Adolescent CenterST. ELIZABETH CENTER
Staff & VolunteersKOBE KAHLE
Firefighter & ParamedicCHERYL SIVERLING
UPMC NorthwestHEATHER MCKEEL
Nurse PractitionerLINDA LUSHER
Galaxy Federal Credit Union & RotaryJOY ZUCK
Oil City Area School DistrictLYNDSEY KING
City of Oil City & FLEXVENANGO COUNTY ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND
StaffCHRISTINE BINGMAN
UPMC NorthwestLOCAL FUNERAL HOMES
Directors & StaffSUGAR VALLEY LODGE
Personal Care HomeJENNY MUMFORD
Oil City Area School DistrictLOCAL VETERAN VOLUNTEERS
Community SupportersJOYCE HUGHES
Community VolunteerOIL CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT
Oil City PoliceHOLLY JOHNSON
Franklin Area School DistrictJESSICA WALTERS
Youth ConnectionJAMIE’S KIDS
Community VolunteerTHE CARING PLACE
Nursing, Rehabilitation & Personal Care HomeCHARLIE HOOBLER
Fireman & Paramedic