July 27, 2010: The Lord’s Pantry Food Bank is doing a Music Fest Saturday, July 31 as a fundraiser – it is going to be a “Pass the Hat”. We hope you come and enjoy the music. Bring your lawn chairs to the practice field for Lincoln High School – across from the State Police Headquarters. Ample free parking is available.
The Lord’s Pantry Music Fest
Line up
(Times are approximate)
11am———————–Nettie Southern
11:25am——————-Anna Clark
11:55am——————-Russ Harbert
12:10pm——————–4Given
1:15pm———————–I’m Free
2:00pm———————–Break
2:15pm———————–The New Prophets
3:15pm————————Followers of the Faith
3:45pm—————————–Break
4:00pm————————Dominion Quartet
5:00pm———————— Break
5:15pm————————–Psalm 150
6:15——————————Sticks of Fellowship
July 18, 2010: You know how you have those days that start off with joy to be alive and then discover a sadness? But then when you want to be sad, you cannot because there are too many happy things happening – all TODAY!!
This morning reading the obituaries online of my “home area” newspaper I was saddened to see the name Gino Quatrocchi, my 8th grade teacher. Our class was special – we were his first class as a teacher and we were the last 8th grade class to ever graduate from that school. He was a good teacher and rose through the ranks to be Superintendent of Schools in the district we had moved to in Ohio when I was a freshman. He was a good teacher.
Sad as that made me, I had to get ready for the Shinnston Community Band performance at the Glen Elk Festival in Clarksburg today. As we were about halfway through unloading the new Band Truck of chairs, stands, and large instruments the sky opened! It was a drencher for about 15 minutes (long enough to wet the back seat of my car with the slightly open windows) and then blew over. So we then set up for the band and played a very good concert!
As if that were not enough happiness for one day (getting to blow my brains out with my bari sax is wonderful!!!), I was notified about the Hungry-for-road-trip Blog by Claiborne House Bed & Breakfast (Rocky Mount, Virginia) innkeeper and blogger extraordinaire, Shellie who sent me a link to the blog she wrote after inviting innkeepers from around the Country to send her info about foods of their regions. Of course Gillum House had to send information about our own local region, the pepperoni roll. We invite you to take a Hungry-For-Road-Trip by visiting Shellie’s blog. http://claibornehouse.blogspot.com/2010/07/hungry-for-road-trip.html.
Mr. Q, you will be remembered caringly as you left us today with the things you thought of as being quite important – music and food. Please tell that lovely Mrs. Q I said hello.
July 12, 2010 : During the 4th of July holiday we had guests from New York who came in on a motorcycle for our And Awaaaaay We Go Special and they attended our annual Independence Concert. Mike wrote a ride report for his biker buddies and gave me permission to post it here:
This being my first ever ride report, I trust everyone will cut me some slack if it’s boring or too long (or both)…
This was the first real road trip for my wife and I on the bike, although I had done long rides before. In fact, I actually participated in the 2006 Utah 1088, but shamefully I wussed and got a DNF…I had a few good excuses reasons, but that’s a story for another time. This was her first time sitting pillion for extended periods, with an overnight or two away from home.
The trip was from our home in Eden, NY (about 30 miles south of Buffalo), down to Shinnston, West Virginia and back. The trip down on Saturday included a stop in East Liverpool, Ohio, to visit the Museum of Ceramics there (the wife collects Halls china and Halls was once made there). The goal was to hit the road by 9am…so we left around 10:30. Since I was aiming to get to Shinnston before it got terribly dark (it would be my first real experience with twisties in unfamiliar territory), we slabbed all the way to East Liverpool to save some time. Once there, we found ourselves in the middle of the town’s annual all-year high school reunion weekend! They were expecting 15,000 for this, and as the GPS tried to navigate us to the museum, we found streets cordoned off for the big parade.
Of course, the parade route started right in front of the museum…
Reunion Parade, East Liverpool, Ohio
We managed to find our way and were treated to a personal tour of the place. Not that ceramics and china are my thing, but it was actually a very interesting museum.
From there we headed down Route 7 along the Ohio River and then took highway 250 just south of Martin’s Ferry into West Virginia. We started running into some real twisties, and Laura managed to snap this going around one of them:
Just a few marks there, thankfully I didn't add any of my own along the route.
Some great views
and some really nice roads:
We stayed on 250 south until just short of Farmington, WV, where we picked up 218 south to cut down to 19 south and on into Shinnston. Now, I hadn’t really had the opportunity to ride really ‘good’ roads on the FJR since my abortive attempt at the 1088 (didn’t own a bike until just last fall, and there aren’t a ton of twisties around Eden), so as I started into the turns in the hills, I had to remind myself of a few things here and there (don’t fixate on traffic in front of you, look ahead at where you want to be, speed kills, etc). I managed not to scare my wife or myself too terribly (really only clenched once or twice) and enjoyed some really tight turns as well as great sweepers. We arrived at the bed & breakfast that was our destination just around 7pm. The Gillum House B&B is a motorcycle-friendly inn run by Kathleen and John Panek, whom we can’t say enough of. They planned our route from East Liverpool for us, gave us a great day ride on Sunday along with a packed picnic lunch and even suggested a routing for the return on Monday that included my favorite stretch of pavement for the whole weekend. John used to be an owner/tuner for his BDA Gold Star flat-track racer back in the ’50s and will gladly talk BSAs and racing in general with anyone who shows an interest. He’s also a tremendous artist in several mediums, and vintage motorcycles are a favorite subject. Kathleen provides some of the best routing directions I’ve seen, plays a mean baritone sax in the Shinnston Community Band and provides some fantastic meals (including warm, home-made pretzels just before bed time!)
On Sunday, we set off on our ride around 11am (again, right on time for our 9am launch… 
) Kathleen provided a route that included several covered bridges. The first was the bridge at Phillippi, WV. This was the site of the first land battle of the Civil War.
Philippi Covered Bridge from Park
The bridge still carries traffic today
and we made our pass through it:
This wooden bridge has been restored, burned, restored again and flooded, but it’s still kickin’.
Another stop on Sunday was the West Virginia State Wildlife Center in French Creek. It was originally established to help repopulate endangered species into the wild, but since pen-raised animals don’t develop any real survival skills, that program wasn’t successful. Now it serves as a recreational and educational facility with examples of many native WV species, including elk, otters, bobcats, bears and more. We took several photos of the animals, but I won’t post them here for fear of exciting certain forum members’ prurient interests. 
We did take advantage of the picnic areas there to enjoy our packed lunches.
also managed to get a great shot of my Sweetie, together with my Baby:
The rest of the day included more great roads, and even an out of the way stop at a local winery in Weston. I of course refrained from any samples while there…now if this had been a brewery, I might have caved, but I stood firm for safety’s sake…
That evening we walked down to the town park and enjoyed an outdoor concert that included local artists and the aforementioned Shinnston Community Band, followed by fireworks.
It was a great small-town 4th of July celebration.
Monday morning we loaded up and said goodbye to our hosts,
then made our way north again following Kathleen’s excellent routing, up the slab on I-79/I-68 until changing to 119 North just north of Morgantwon, WV, then onto Route 857 to Uniontown, PA, where we got on US Route 40 East towards Farmington, PA.
Saying goodbye
We stopped at Fort Necessity State Park and spent an hour or so going through another nicely executed museum.
Fort Necessity was the site of the battle that started the French & Indian War in 1754 and it was George Washington’s first defeat as commander at 22 years of age.
And if we thought it was hot in our full gear in the 95 degree temps along the way, these guys had to be hating life just as much. At least we could crank it up to 60 or 70 to create a breeze.
At Farmington we picked up 381 North and I was initially unhappy to find miles of relativley fresh chip-seal, so the seemingly endless row of loose gravel in the center of my lane lead to seriously-sub-light speeds. However, after a while the surface changed and 381 became my favorite stretch of the whole weekend. Nothing too tight, just lots of excellent sweepers, and great scenic vistas in between.
We made a short traverse of 30 East at Ligonier, PA over to Route 219 North just south of Johnstown, which we were able to ride all the way up through PA and into NY, just about to our own back yard by around 8:45pm. Total mileage for the weekend was about 875 miles. No Iron Butt, but an otherwise great weekend with my wife and a memorable celebration of our nation’s independence.
July 6, 2010: Have you ever wanted to learn about the rifles Davy Crockett and Dan’el Boone carried on the Frontier? Have you ever wanted to experience a black powder, muzzle-loading rifle? The Appalachian Rangers Muzzleloading Club Ltd. Is making it possible for you – and children 12 and older – to have that experience.
On Saturday, August 7, 2010 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p,m, will hold a basic introduction to muzzleloading and black powder shooting. LIMITED PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED!!! There is a maximum of 60 registrations.
This is a basic introduction to muzzleloading and black powder shooting. It will be offered in a group setting, with information on the correct principles of properly loading, handling, and shooting black powder firearms.
For information and registration (PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED) contact Jeff Mills (304-672-2104) or John Lamb (304-622-1036). Remember the maximum limit is 60 people. This event is open to men, women, and children 12 years old and over however, any child under age 18 MUST have a parent or guardian present and WITH THE CHILD at all times!
When: Saturday, August 7, 2010
Time: 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Appalachian Rangers Muzzleloading Range – located on Lambert’s Run
Pre-registration required. Refreshments available.
Rifles and accouterments will be supplied for this event!!
July 6, 2010: July 18 will be a day of mixed feelings in Shinnston. That is the day The Wright Stuff Works will be auctioning wookworking and stained glass tools and inventory. For more details www.wrightstuffworks.com.
Sunday, July 18, 11:ooam
229 Pike Street
We wish them a good auction as we are saddened to see the auction taking place.
July 4, 2010: I got to thinking that people may not know how to get to the Bice-Ferguson Memorial Park (Shinnston City Park) for the Concert and Fireworks tonight. So here are the directions.
From I-79, take Exit # 125, turn WEST toward the Exxon station and turn LEFT at the Exxon onto WV Rt 131 (Saltwell Road). Drive to the traffic light and turn right onto US Rt 19 north. Go to *
From US Rt 19 (Fairmont and the north) – go south on US Rt 19, cross the West Fork River Bridge then STOP at the STOP sign before going straight at the Veteran’s Memorial. *
From US Rt 19 (Clarksburg and the south) – Go north on US Rt 19 then Go to *
* At the Veteran’s Memorial turn right (do NOT cross the bridge over the West Fork River) and then left at the top of the hill. Turn left at NORTH ST and this will lead you into the Park or to wherever parking is available.
The opening act is Kelsey Jeffries at 7:20 p.m., followed by the Demotivators at 7:30, and Chelsea Boyles at 8:00. The Shinnston Community Band will perform at 9 p.m. with fireworks starting with the final bars of Stars and Stripes Forever!
The Pool Concession Stand will be open and the Swim Team will be having their annual Bake Sale.
June 26, 2010: The Shinnston Community Band has had to change the date of the annual Independence Concert and Fireworks. The concert will take place at Shinnston City Park as usual but it will be on Sunday, July 4! The band has a great program planned with a good mix of music, from the traditional annual favorites to some soft music to some special themes. Suffice it to say, this will be a great event. Expect to have to walk a few blocks because parking in the area will fill quickly.
There will be food for sale at the pool concession stand and the Swim Team will have its annual bake sale. Come to the concert and fireworks for a pleasant ending of out Nation’s Birthday! (and yes, once again, Gillum House guests will be attending!) Psssst! Come to the Glen Elk Festival on Sunday, July 18 for another opportunity to hear a Shinnston Community Band performance.
June 15, 2010: I just had an e-mail from the Marion County Convention and Visitors Bureau about an event that is coming in July!
Gillum House Bed & Breakfast is located one block west of US Rte. 19 just 10 miles south of Fairmont State University (also located on US Rte. 19). It takes approximately 15 minutes to get to the campus! Check availability and make your online reservations or call us 888-592-0177.
June 14, 2010: Yesterday we took a ride to Charleston, West Virginia – to the Cultural Center located across the lawn from the Capitol and the Governor’s Mansion. The reason we went was the opening of a Motorcycle Show that will be there for 2 weeks – until July 8, 2010.
One side of Lobby from balcony
There are many vintage and antique motorcycles on exhibit and a great video on the evolution of the motorcycle, especially in West Virginia. As Governor Manchin says, “West Virginia has great motorcycling roads…” (And Gillum House knows where many of them are!)
And the other side of the Lobby
Frank and Janet Roberts 2010
In the video there is a clip of Frank “Buzz” Roberts as a young man riding his motorcycle in a bit of an unusual way – standing on the seat. His Father had been involved in motorcycles early on and passed the love of bikes on to Buzz.
The Charleston Motorcycle Exhibit is basically a precursor to the Vintage Motorcycle Show at MountainFest July 22-25, 2010. This exhibit is just a fraction of the exhibit at MountainFest – but this is worth going to see. The price cannot be beat – it is FREE. Held in the Lobby of the Cultural Center, the hours are Monday thru Saturday 9 to 5:30 and Sunday, Noon to 5.
Tom McKee and his wife Debbie are among the major organizers of the Vintage Motorcycle Show at MountainFest and they brought many of their vintage motorcycles to the Charleston Exhibit. John and Tom talked for quite a while and then Debbie joined them and talked with some other visitors as Tom and John found something new to say. They were probably discussing the exhibit of John Panek 2-Wheel Classics (paintings) that will be seen at MountainFest.
Tom McKee and John Panek dicessing motorcycles - Again!
Debbie McKee also talks motorcycle.
While we were there, Jane Bostic, Administrative Assistant to Tourism Commission Betty Carver visited with us and introduced us to her brother, Jack who works at the Cultural Center. They actually convinced John to use a Jazzie. The State Museum has a few wheelchairs and a couple Jazzies available for mobility challenged people – like John. We had been talking about seeing the State Museum that has been open for almost a year now, but just never had the time (and I did not relish trying to enjoy it while worrying that he was tiring himself out with all that walking). I do wish I had taken a photo of it. Jeff Morrison brought the Jazzie to us, showed John how to use it, and then took us down on the elevator to the entrance of the State Museum. Once he got the hang of that “joystick”, John was off to the races! We had such an enjoyable afternoon. We were short on time so we did what for us was a “skim” of the museum. The folks at the Museum say it takes about 2 hours (we are of the variety of museum attendees that would normally take all afternoon). All I can say is if you have a couple hours (or make the time – it is worth it) go see it. Starting from the beginning of plants and rocks all the way to modern times and everything in between one gets an overview of the history of West Virginia and its involvement in the world.
West Virginia is full of culture, history, industry, the arts, politics, military, space…. Go see it and take the kids and grandkids. Then take them around the State to see its beauty and the places exhibited in the Museum. Show them why West Virginians are such a proud people. We have a right to be!
June 12, 2010: What a beautiful day! We had a short cloudburst but it did not dampen the afternoon at the bocce courts! Willard and the Silver Foxes (his helpers) built the bocce courts at Shinnston City Park and said from the beginning there would be a roof, lights, and a fence around it to keep it nice. With about $2000 seed money for materials from the City of Shinnston, Willard West and 20 of his best volunteers using borrowed or donated equipment/time started the bocce courts Fall of 2009. Then they had to “winter”. The Courts were finished in May 2010.
Willard West - Bocce Court Builder & WV Volunteer of the Year
Willard went to the County Commission for money – and got it. He sold plaques to be affixed to the inside of the roof for $100 each until he had enough money to pay for materials. Lee Reger Builds, a local contractor, supplied the labor to put up the roof and fence. Jimmy Scudere and the Orioles Club purchased two sets of bocce balls. The courts are beautiful. Willard West was nominated for West Virginia Volunteer of the Year in the Senior Category – and he won the award! He certainly deserved it.
Today was bocce sign-up and lessons day. There was a nice crowd. The innkeeper at the Gillum House Bed & Breakfast, for the first time in her life, played bocce! And won a couple games!!!
The Men watch the scoring for the ladies
Green Wins - closest to the white ball
The Italian Heritage Festival will hold a Bocce Tournament at the Shinnston Bocce Courts on Sunday, August 29.
Come to Shinnston! We have something for everyone!
June 1, 2010: We have tried to keep folks appraised of what is happening in Shinnston through this Blog. There is one very tired City Clerk typing this tonight. It has been a VERY long day. (It will be even longer because we are blessed with guests tonight who very kindly waited until AFTER I finished my City Clerk duties to arrive.)
Ward 1 (East Shinnston) and Ward 2 (Downtown) were the only contested races. The results are NOT official until Monday night (June 7) at 7 p.m. when the official Canvas takes place. The unofficial totals are: Sammy J DeMarco – 132; Mike Feathers – 44 in Ward 1. The unofficial totals for Ward 2 are: Mary Jane Wright – 17; Lance Vernon – 35. Ward 3 (Pleasant Hill) will be represented by incumbent David Signorelli. Ward 4 (West Side) will continue to be represented by incumbent Rodney Strait.
May 31, 2010: We are blessed that the Gillum Family keeps in touch with us at Gillum House Bed & Breakfast. Last year, Troy and Anna’s great-granddaughter (grandson Michael’s daughter) Erica graduated from Veterinary School in the State of Washington.
Last week we received the announcement of Michael’s grandson Tyler’s graduation from Northeast High School in Clarksville, Tennessee. There are several things that make this a special event. Tyler’s Dad, Paul, will be at the graduation since he is home from Iraq. Paul Gillum followed in the footsteps of his Grandfather Paul and great-uncle Virgil as career military, except he is Army instead of Air Force.
Future baseball star: Tyler Gillum
The other thing that makes this special is the announcement that was in the announcement – Tyler Lee Gillum Northeast Class of 2010 has accepted a full baseball scholarship to Roane State College in Harriman, Tennessee.
Tyler, we wish you success in your college and baseball careers and in whatever you do in life.
May 30, 2010: Thursday, June 3 begins the annual Blue and Gray Reunion in Philippi, West Virginia. The covered bridge at Philippi (longest of all the covered bridges in WV) was the site of the first land battle of the Civil War. The battle was for possession of the bridge that crossed the Tygart River.
Battle Flags; Battle of Philippi
If one stops in at the park just south of the bridge on the west side of the river, the battle flags of each unit that participated in that battle are displayed with plaques at the base of each flag pole telling which unit’s flag is flying there.
Friday is Kids Day with approximately 40 “stations” set up to depict Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad, the Civil War, and life on the home front during the Civil War. At 7:30 p.m. Friday the Reunion Parade will be held. Line-up begins at the Subway on Main Street. The evening will end with a candlelight tour of Philippi’s Historic District. Registration (required) will begin at 8:45 at Sutler Row. Tours, beginning approximately every 15 minutes, will be take place from 9 to 10 p.m.
Registration for the Blue and Gray 5K Run will begin at 7:00 a.m. Saturday at the gazebo. The Run starts at 9:00 a.m. The Civil War camps will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Registration for the Little Soldiers Battle (ages 6 to 12) will start at 9:30 a.m. with the battle at the Covered Bridge area at 10. An artillery demonstration will take place at the Bridge at 11 a.m. and the skirmish at 1 p.m.
For the ladies, there will be a Ladies Tea at Adaland Mansion (US Rt 250 north and turn left onto WV Rt 76) at 10 a.m. Saturday. Ilene Evans will portray Harriet Tubman in a presentation titled, “Behind Enemy Lines”. The Civil War Ball will be on the Courthouse lawn at 8 p.m.
On Sunday activities begin with an 1800-style church service at 10 a.m. at the Presbyterian Church. The re-enactment of the Battle of Philippi will begin at 2 p.m.
There will be activities on the square all weekend including a car show Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Shinnston is just 35 miles from Philippi, a lovely scenic drive that takes one past the Anna Jarvis House in Webster where General George McClellan made his headquarters during the Battle of Philippi.
May 19, 2010: When I told my co-workers in Illinois that I was house hunting in West Virginia they asked what I was looking for in a house. My answer was it MUST have a big front porch. If it has a porch, the house will tell me when I find it. The house did just that! We walked up on the porch, opened the door and walked in. The house told me, “Stop looking. I am yours!”
Although the house I grew up in did not have a front porch, to me a porch was a place to sit and relax reading a book or chatting with the neighbors or just enjoying being alive. I knew I needed a front porch, especially since I knew I was going to make this house into a bed & breakfast.
The front porch has become the “common area” of the Gillum House Bed & Breakfast. It is a place where guests love to sit chatting and enjoying the peace and quiet of Shinnston. There have been many times our guests met each other on the porch and chatted sipping iced tea or the beverage of choice into the night. One lady who comes as often as she can wants to have her breakfast on the porch as she reads and relaxes in the tranquility of West Virginia.
The porch invites relaxation.
We have even served candlelight dinners for two on this porch. The first couple who dined there talked for hours (the candles burned to nothing!) as they got to know each other – she came to a festival and since he was here on business planned to return to her home but ended up getting a room also. The porch was part of the beginning of a relationship that blossomed into a wedding.
While Rev. Anderson was the minister at the First United Methodist Church here, he referred to the Gillum House as the guestrooms of the parsonage because his family always stayed with us. When his daughter married, after the reception many of the extended family drifted over to sit on the porch reminiscing for several hours with so many people on the porch – on chairs we brought out, on the glider, the porch railing, and the steps – that you felt the step back in time to when the family gathered on a Sunday afternoon! It was wonderful, the kind of thing that an innkeeper makes a notch on her broom handle for.
It seems many bed & breakfasts agree with me – a front porch is as important as a comfortable bed and a wonderful breakfast.
The porch at Claiborne House in Rocky Mount, VA
The innkeeper at Claiborne House Bed & Breakfast in Rocky Mount, Virginia has collected photos of B & B porches as she puts it “from Louisiana to Saskatchewan”. Here is the link to her Blog – http://claibornehouse.blogspot.com/ .
May 18, 2010: Shinnston is a forward-moving small City. Not only is it moving forward to be a city where people want to live in the 21st century while retaining its identity with the past, but it is a fiscally responsible city.
Yesterday I had the privilege of appearing on a local talk radio program in my capacity as City Clerk with our City Manager to talk about the up-coming City Election. We wanted to make sure the word was out regarding the City Election on June 1, 2010, training for our poll workers on May 26, that financial statements of the candidates being due was given to all candidates, and notice of early voting was given. News Director Reuben Perdue asked about Shinnston’s plan to “piggy-back” future elections with the County’s Primary elections.
This shows how fiscally responsible Shinnston’s City Council and City Manager are. They no longer want to spend as much as $3000 to run an election in the manner proscribed by State Law (required number of poll workers of Political Party even though it is a non-partisan election), when often no candidate is opposed. The first reading of the Charter Change required to allow this has taken place. There will be a Public Hearing before the second and final reading takes place. The change will allow all candidates to be At-Large (County is planning to combine precincts and there is no way to break out voters by Ward) and to allow the election to take place with the Primary instead of in June.
Why am I talking about the politics of Shinnston? Because it is my hope that folks will recognize what a great place this is, come see, and perhaps decide to stay. With our Museum, Rail-Trail, Activities Park,
City Park seen from large pavilion
City Park with walking trail, playground, pool with waterslide, bocce courts, and other amenities in planning, history, Festivals, Shinnston Community Band, civic organizations, excellent school system, and businesses,
Shinnston's past begins (circa) 1778
Shinnston is a place with a past that is moving with the future.