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What a Night!! July 2, 2008: By 5 pm the green in front of the bath house at Ferguson Memorial Park was already filling with people. The program of the evening was not scheduled to start until 7:45. The Swim Team Parents had already set up their fundraiser table of cookies, fudge, and snacks. Lines were forming at the concession stand at the pool for pizza and soda and water. Band members, knowing parking could get interesting were arriving and the sound men and lighting men were getting set up.

At 7:45, all sound-checks finished, Kelsey Jefferies, a 13-year old Community Band member in the Percussion Section, played guitar and sang several songs and then turned the stage over to the Dennis McClung Blues Band. What a night of music! They are an excellent group. Promptly at 9 pm the Community Band began the concert with the National Anthem followed immediately by Semper Fidelis by John Phillip Sousa. Among the selections played were the Big Band song String of Pearls, Stairway to Heaven, a medley from Wizard of Oz, the theme from The Simpsons, the salute to our military past and present with The Armed Forces Salute (I actually get to play melody in the Coast Guard section), and the beginning of the fireworks was signaled by the ending bars of Stars and Stripes Forever! The fireworks were the best, 45 minutes of colorful, noisy fireworks to please the fireworks aficionados.

Independence!! July 1, 2008: Today is the annual Independence Concert at Shinnston City Park. People will start coming to the Park by 4 in the afternoon to get a good parking spot and stake out a good section of green for their chairs or blankets. We had over 3000 people there last year.

About 7 pm a young member of the Community Band will play guitar and sing for about 15 minutes. She will be followed by a performance by the Dennis McClung Blues Band. About 8 pm or so, the Shinnston Community Band will perform their annual Independence Concert. There will be about 5 minutes after the concert for the band members to get their instruments put way and then the fireworks will begin. The Shinnston Area Development Association annually hires a certified fireworks person to purchase and set off a SOLID 45 minutes of fireworks. Come out to the Park. It is free. (The concession stand at the pool will be open if you want to buy supper or snacks.)

We are sorry we are booked for July 4-5 and cannot accommodate you for the holiday. We hope you will come another weekend (or for a week day) get-away.

And the Rain came down! June 17, 2008: West Virginia has been hit with rain as storm after storm came through. We thankfully are not as bad as the Midwest, but we have a few problems.

The West Fork River Rail-Trail is closed at the "washout" north of Shinnston. The rains came down and the Trail went out. It washed out on both sides of the culvert at the bottom of the washout. There is a wide and deep chasm on each side of the culvert. Marion County Parks & Rec who own that section of rail-trail has cordoned it off nicely - and totally. There is approximately 2 miles of trail open from Shinnston north to the "washout". If one accesses the West Fork River Rail-Trail in Enterprise the rail-trail is open to Fairmont.

So far, so good today, no rain. The roads are OK, the covered bridges, winery, and other sites are all here waiting for you.

We counted coffees last week and we have 14 countries of origin of regular green coffee beans and 4 for Decafe. Choose your country to be roasted tonight and have it fresh-ground for breakfast tomorrow

Stormin', Norman! June 7, 2008: You may have heard about us (north-central WV) in the news lately. Someone ticked SOMEONE off because we had some humdinger storms! May 31 we had a flash of lightning and a BOOM so close behind it was if it was at the same time. My uninterruptible power source kept the computer up and going, but the phone line (one of the few unprotected things on my system - voice line is protected) took out my modem! No Internet! I was lost.

To make things even worse for timing, my computer guru does not open until noon on Monday and by noon I have to be well on my way to Kentucky - I am a consultant. I was meeting with some executives on Tuesday regarding making a lovely historic house into a bed & breakfast.

We had more bad storm on Sunday, but the worst was Monday afternoon and Tuesday (and I missed that). The water came with such force that there are deep gullies along US Rt 19 and a lot of hillside came down along the road that goes to the community of Wyatt, but the City of Shinnston and the Gillum House are still here waiting for folks to come visit. I have had to call a lot of people to let them know there is a change in the directions to get here. Imagine my surprise Friday when I unroll the paper to see the road I bring my guests in on from the Interstate "above the fold" with a jagged edge where the road used to be! If you are coming to Shinnston from I-79, you now MUST use Exit #125, turn west at the top of the ramp, and then left onto WV Rt 131 at the Exxon station. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Discover Great American Traditions

May 14, 2008: Saturday, May 10 was the kick-off of the 25th Annual National Tourism Week and Discover Great American Traditions is the theme. The I-68 Welcome Center (coming into WV from Maryland) had a celebration of this and invited Gillum House to come participate. In view of the theme, Kathleen wore her 18th Century clothes to highlight that phase of history in West Virginia as well as to tell about our Thanksgiving package (also available for Christmas or New Year's Eve). Kathleen was also informed that the Gillum House will be included in an article in the November 2008 issue of Everyday With Rachael Ray. Prickett's Fort, just north of Shinnston is a recreated stockade 1774 civilian fort with appropriately attired interpreters. West Virginia, and Mountaineer Country as we are called, is rich with history, including Civil War history. Come see for yourself.

Tourism Proclamation!

April 30, 2008:

The alarm goes off at 5:30 because it takes John a looong time to get ready - unkink muscles that kink up even during a "short" night. We actually left the house on time! I wanted to be at the Capitol by 10 because John is not Speedy Gonzalez and for once did not want to be the usual "late" Kathleen.

By 10:15 we are in the Governor's Press Room. Once we establish who we are and why we are here - "can we get you anything? The Governor is running late so it may not be until after 11." I put 3 hours on the meter so no problem. About 11:30 we are about to start and suddenly WAH- Wah-WAH, dang! The Fire Alarm is going off. We kind of just stood there waiting for it to shut off (we are on the ground floor and there is a bank of windows if it actually is real). It keeps going. Then the Governor and the 2 troopers come out and say we are going outside. We will do it there. Great! Here is DH with 2 crutches and we have stairs. We manage to get outside - the risers of the stair are not high so he was able to use the mesh of the heat duct with one crutch to get out - no railing.

The State Trails Coordinator came over for the ceremony from his office. He was trying so hard to help John (he was worried John was going to fall), but I have learned it is best to just leave him to it. Bill took my camera and took some photos for me. Unfortunately, he was at the side most of the time. Tourism is going to send me some - will post a better photo when I get one.

Anyway, here we are all outside the Capitol and just then the WAH-WAH stops. That is OK. We will do it right here. (So much for ceremony.) So the Governor talked about the impact of Tourism in the State and in the Country, read the Proclamation and presented it to me, I said thank you on behalf of the entire Tourism Industry, the Tourism Commissioner told the Governor and everyone a lot of the stuff I am involved in, and the Secretary of Commerce said a few words to close. Photo op. Shake hands and he is off to the next appointment.

Here is the best of the photos I have

Horses are Wonderful!:

April 28, 2008 ? This month has been a big one with horses. We have had 2 groups from Canada heading south with their horses for various reasons. They liked the stables (and us) well enough that they booked here on the way back to Canada also.

People who own horses are responsible animal people. They are more concerned about the quality of the stable than they are of the human accommodations. I am happy to report they were impressed with both here. The second group had another couple on the return that had gone south separately. The gentleman had experience with coffees and kindly gave me a lesson about my coffee roasting. He also liked our Zimbabwe coffee. The rest of the group had tried Tanzania Peaberry and Java Estates on the way south. Cinnamon Apple with Chamomile was the tea chosen by the tea person in the group.

We also have a rail-trail ride package for equestrians that includes a packed lunch for the trail. The trail has direct access from the stable.

Call us at 888-592-0177 to make your reservation so you can choose your country of origin coffee.

Mother's Day and History:

April 19, 2008. When last we chatted, I told you of our Thursday outing to Wheeling and Pittsburgh. The next evening they were due to fly back to Chicago so we had a morning to explore a bit more. As I said, Linda loves history. This is the 100-year anniversary of Mother's Day and we are less than 25 miles from the Anna Jarvis House, the Mother's Day Shrine, and the first land battle of the Civil War. There is also a tie to this battle and the Jarvis house.

On the way to Webster (small unincorporated town where the Jarvis house is located), we stopped at the Humane Society to donate the bags of dog food, cat food, and litter the girls purchased for them. Then over to Rt 279 to US 50 East to Pruntytown where US Rt 250 parts company with US Rt 50. Webster, and the Jarvis house, are right on US Rt 250. During the Battle of Philippi, General George McClellan made his headquarters in the Jarvis house and those rooms have been restored as such. The $5 donation is well worth it. Then on to Philippi to the covered bridge that was the prize in that first land battle of the Civil War. Yes, it still stands and you drive across it to go to Philippi. We had lunch at the Medallion in Philippi, a nice but not fancy restaurant with good food.

There are celebrations planned - high tea at the Mother's Day Shrine May 3 and a special program at the Jarvis House on May 10. Mother's Day weekend, we only have one room available but allow me to recommend the Covered Bridge Bed & Breakfast in Philippi as an alternate. They are located behind the Courthouse, one block from US Rt 250.

What a Day Trip!

April 15: Last Thursday we did a great day of showing our Chicago daughter and her history loving friend a day trip that was full and easy to accomplish. We even did a couple of personal side trips.

We did not get as early a start as I wanted (a certain male resident of the house did not get going) so it was 9:30 before we hit the road. We took the scenic route north (US Rt. 250) and started the history on Wheeling Island with the high water marks of the floods (1936 was the worst ever) and then crossed the historic Suspension Bridge back to Wheeling. (Sidebar: I remember this bridge with a wood floor!) By now it was lunchtime and Coleman?s Fish Market at Centre Market is an absolute MUST DO! They even do steamed so the low-fat or fat-free diet can eat there. Then it was into the building to the north for a hand-dipped cone (including sugar-free, fat-free for Himself).

Back to history, I took the Judge to see the Courtroom. The Courtroom of the Custom House was the first Capitol of West Virginia and is now a museum. Due to our late start and my side trips, we had to leave Oglebay Park and its delights for another trip. I wanted to show the ladies where I grew up and the oldest Church west of the Alleghenies that stands at the head of the road I grew up on. Then it was over to Steubenville, Ohio (just across the Ohio River) to visit my Daddy?s first cousin who is now 93 and went to a nursing home this year.

Now we were off for the reason the ladies came for a visit ? a CUB baseball game (I went to a Pirate game!) and we were at PNC Park, in our seats by 6:15 for the 7:05 first pitch. CUBS won and we were home and in bed by midnight.

More next time about what we did Friday before the ladies had to leave for the airport.

Museums March 31, 2008: Wednesday our City Manager, the Director of our Bice-Ferguson Memorial Museum, and I left for Huntington for the West Virginia Association of Museums Conference. We booked the farmhouse guesthouse (the Hollyberry Inn) at the Heritage Farm Museum and Village in Huntington. Since it is a 4-bedroom house, we offered the 4th bedroom to the Director of Fort New Salem, a wonderful period 1820 - 1840 museum of log structures that is just 23 miles from Shinnston.

This is a great place for a family gathering! They have 4 log guesthouses and the Hollyberry Inn has a 1st floor bedroom so it is handicap accessible - the log houses are not - and all have heat, A/C, complete kitchens w/dishes, pots and pans, and appliances including microwave, and a laundry room. There are 3 buildings filled with tools, room settings, carriages, wagons, cars, train sets, washing machines, etc. of tribute to the common farmer who made a life for himself and tried to make it a better life for his children. There is also a petting zoo, pool for registered guests, trails to walk, and this is near the Radio & Technology Museum, the Huntington Museum of Art, and about 10 minutes to downtown. I usually do not tout another area, but this one is worth it.

Come visit Shinnston and see our museum with telephone equipment dating from the 1880s to the current. It is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoons.

Happy Trails March 23, 2008: Well I had a wonderful 3-days at the Trails Conference representing West Virginia Rails-to-Trails Council. I have been interested in rail-trails because the West Fork River Rail-Trail is just 50 feet from the Gillum House. One of the workshops was on geocaching and it sounded like such fun. I was amazed to discover when I got home and looked it up, how many geocache sites are in this area. We are going to be creating a package for Geocachers very soon. I am going to have to get someone to give me my location first. It is wonderful to find out new things about our area. Come find the treasures of Mountaineer Country! And an added bonus this week is both the WVU Basketball teams, Men and Women, are going to the Sweet 16! Go 'EERS!

We are Gonna Tour! March 13, 2008: Sunday the local GWRRA Chapter (that is Goldwing Road Riders Association) had a pie and coffee over at Jimmy's Diner. Although I have been a member for over a year, I had been unable to get to any get-togethers or meetings until now. To make a long story short, a couple of the ladies said they would like to do a tour of the B & B. That made me realize it has been a while since we did one. So! this Spring (date to be announced) we will do a Tour du Gillum with a $1 donation at the door as a fundraiser for the Lord's Pantry. We hope folks will come - to help the Pantry if no other reason. We will have muffins and coffee refreshments.

We had an absolutely gorgeous day today. It was too pretty to stay home so we took care of a whole raft of errands in Morgantown - one of which was getting a supply of herbs and various other things for the B & B cooking and a supply of the juices we serve in addition to OJ. Pineapple Coconut (it is wonderful), Pomegranate nectar, Papaya Nectar, Pomegranate Blueberry! Come taste our yummy breakfasts....

March 8, 2008: Our Lincoln High School boys basketball lost the regional play-off by 2 points. However, our girls basketball team went to State as #3 seed. They won in the quarter-finals, beat Lincoln's nemesis team Winfield in the semi-finals, and lined up against the #1 seed team in West Virginia - Summers County this afternoon. Summers County has the #1 girl basketball player in the State on their team. Even though they were down by 30 points, our girls played as if they would win the game if they made that next basket. Our star player was interviewed after the game by the Statewide radio announcers. During the next game half-time, the announcers remarked that the interview with Kayla was one of the best interviews they had ever had. She carried herself so well and did not sound like a player who had just lost such a big game. We are proud of our girls!

Come on down and see this little City that has produced good sports teams and a high school Cheerleading Squad that has won the State Cheerleading Championship the last 3 years in a row.

March 2, 2008: It was a beautiful day today. It was perfect to go for a drive through the countryside. We had snow Wednesday night into Thursday morning. I thought I was going to be able to tell everyone - we have snow! Unfortunately, true to form for my patch of my beloved West Virginia, by Noon, it was gone. We are on the verge of "greening-up". We had some folks traveling with a horse stop in. Such a beautiful horse! The lady grabbed her camera very quickly because she said, "No one is going to believe me when I tell them we saw a camel in West Virginia." The stable owners also had a calf penned in with hay bales in the stable that is just a couple days old. Mama cow did not have milk for the calf so they are bottle-feeding it. Cookie said she thinks the calf is going to survive. The pot-bellied pigs are totally indifferent to the calf. I swear it looks as if they have not moved an inch since the last time I was out at the stable. We have another horse coming in within the next couple weeks. I will check to see if they have moved by then.

I am happy to report rehearsals have started with the Shinnston Community Band for our concerts this summer. July 1 will be the annual Independence Concert and Fireworks and the Band will also be performing a concert for the Shinnston-Lincoln Alumni festivities July 19. We may have another performance but it has yet to be announced. Until next time....

February 24, 2008: True to norm here, we had a lovely snow on Wednesday, VERY cold on Thursday morning (6F at the house) but in the high 30s by Thursday afternoon. By Friday the snow was gone and we were back in the 40s.

Although it was cold, I had a very pleasant drive to Charleston with the Director of our Bice-Ferguson Museum for History Day at the Capitol. Museums and history attractions from all over the State had tables and displays to tell of the history of their area. We took part of the David Hardesty (longest serving President of WVU who was from Shinnston - Class of 1963) memorabilia that he donated after stepping down as President of WVU.

Maxine tells me the Museum is changing their hours this year to Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoons. They have received more telephone equipment from the Telephone Pioneers to accompany Mr. Donald Bice's collection of old telephones (some dating to the 1880s). There is an old phone booth (but no Clark Kent or Superman). The exhibits in the center of the museum change every month. Come book in at the Gillum House and we will treat you to a visit to the Museum!

Almost forgot. John will get his staples out Monday. He is doing fine. Not even sore any more.

February 17, 2008: We had an interesting Valentine's Day. Since it was Thursday we went to Jimmy's Diner for spaghetti night. Although we were there for a late lunch, Jimmy had made his wonderful bread. Dinner comes with a loaf of Jimmy's bread, salad, and all the spaghetti (or rigatoni) you care to eat for $3.99 plus tax. Beverage is extra. It was nice to greet folks we knew and to meet new people. Jimmy's is the restaurant version of CHEERS. It truly is friendly.

As we were retiring for the night, my husband fell and managed to cut his head open. Heads do seem to bleed "like a stuck pig" as my Mom always said. As the cut was particularly long but shallow, I bundled him into the car for a trip to ER. 4 hours, 10 staples, and a CT scan later (due to his medications they wanted to be safe), we returned home. As by now it was Feb. 15, it was the anniversary of his proposal many years ago. Personally, I could do with a bit less excitement. Nothing broken, on him or in the house so all is well. Sore, but well.

Our guests who arrived a few hours after we got home got settled and got their directions to Lambert's Winery. They were thrilled with it. She told me they found the perfect wine rack. They had been looking for it for a long time. Jim Lambert took them on a tour of the winery himself. Come check it out. That fireplace in the tasting room is beckoning....

February 10, 2008

Today the big, bad wolf is huffing and puffing. It is extremely windy today.

It has been a busy week here at the Gillum House. Wednesday was Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Lenten Services here in Shinnston. For the next five weeks there is a Service at Noon at the First United Methodist Church with a different Pastor each week and the Service is followed by a soup (provided by the ladies of that week's pastor) and cracker lunch. As President of the Shinnston Area Council of Churches, I am there every week.

This week was also the WV Hospitality & Travel Assoc. Legislative Reception Thursday evening in Charleston and Tourism Day at the Capitol on Friday (all the tourism entities set up a table in the Capitol Building to show how big tourism is in WV - Legislature is in Session). As Marketing Chair for our State B & B Assoc., I serve breads at the reception so I went to the Lenten Service with 2 kinds of breads raising. Made 3 - whole wheat, Swedish rye, and white - kinds of breads and my Cranberry Triple Sec muffins using Splenda and Carrot Muffins using Stevia so they would be sugar-free and also fat-free of course.

As the reception wound down, I discovered the wonderful foods that were left were going into the trash! A friend mentioned a Women's Shelter in town and while she found the phone number and got directions, I made the rounds to the chefs. It was too late for some, but we took 3 bags of food (including my breads) to the Shelter. We are going to try to make it an annual ending to this reception.

Until next time, have a great week.

Feb. 3, 2008 - My goodness! It has been longer than I thought since checking in!

We had a family come for our 18th Century Thanksgiving and then had a quiet Christmas and New Years. As usual, we have had very little snow. Winter is an excellent time to visit the area.

Shinnston is getting ready for a new year of activity. With an Easter Egg Hunt up-coming to kick things off, it is going to be a fun year. 2008 is the year of the Shinnston-Lincoln Alumni Reunion so July will not only bring the annual July 1 Independence Concert by the Shinnston Community Band, but I think there will be a second concert for the Reunion. Rehearsals start this month!! Whoopee!! Dust off those instruments you local folks that visit here and come to the Lincoln High School Band Room Tuesday, Feb 19 at 7 pm. Come join us as we "blow our brains out!"

September 18, 2007

Just wanted to let you know about something new at the Gillum House. You hear commercials about "how fresh is your coffee?" and the Gillum House can now answer that question unequivocally!

.We now have green coffee beans from at least 9 areas of the coffee growing world. Choose your coffee tonight, we will roast it and serve it to you in the morning. We still have the over 100 varieties of tea for those who prefer tea.

September 1, 2007

We have been out of touch for a while. Between catching up after the wedding and John having a medical "episode" with a 6-way by-pass on July 12 and catching up from that... He is fine now, almost back to normal.

Shinnston is reviving Frontier Days! September 19 thru September 23 Frontier Days is back. Guests at the Gillum House will have a "front row seat" to the carnival! It will be located in the parking lots in front of and beside the Gillum House. There will be a Civil War Camp, quilt show, car show, therapy dog demonstration in the side yard of the Gillum house, food, entertainment, and lots of fun.

May 22, 2007

I had an e-mail from Kathy Witt today. Kathy writes books and articles about dolls and doll collections. She wanted me to know Gillum House is included in an article published in Southern Travel News

I hope you like the article. The Margaret Panek dolls were made by my late Mother-in-law Margaret Panek. We have some of her carvings too. Dolls are found all over the house, but the main collection is in the dining room.

This bush will bloom in May. Right now the azaelas are budding. Daffodils are up and blooming.

For those thinking of Mother?s Day, Gillum House is 22 miles from Grafton, birthplace of Mother?s Day and the closest B & B. The annual Mother?s Day Quilt Auction has grown so large, it has moved to the Taylor County Fairgrounds. A special program is held at the Jarvis House in Webster, WV - just a few miles from Grafton. This house was also the headquarters for General; McClellan during the first land battle of the Civil War in Philippi. WVU Graduation is the same weekend as Mother's Day again this year.

Shinnston is holding an Easter Egg Hunt at the park on April 7. The kids from the Vo-Ag class at Lincoln High School were doing a cleanup and planting over at the Library this morning. They are planning a few more "spruce up" details this Spring. The Chapel of Perpetual Adoration will close on Maundy Thursday for its annual cleaning and getting ready for the glory of Easter. The Midnight April 7 to 1 AM Sunday, April 8 (Easter morning) vigil, the Chapel reopens for the year.

March 10, 2007:

The snow is all gone, just as predicted. We had temperatures in the 60s yesterday and today.

The St Patrick?s Day Parade will be on March 17! It should be a good one. Sponsored by the Shinnston Volunteer Fire Department, there will be a Color Guard from Parkersburg and also from Parkersburg, a Highland Bagpipe & Drum Corps. The Museum will be open just for the parade goers from 2 to 5 pm. In honor of her Irish heritage (Kathleen Moran is as Irish as you can get I think), the 5 Cans Because You Can offer is in effect for St Pat?s Day. Bring 5 cans of green veggies for the Lord?s Pantry and get the second night free, but if you bring 6 we will give you $15 in Jimmy?s Diner Dollars toward Saturday night?s dinner. Stay a 3rd night for an extra $50 plus tax.

March 7, 2007:

It has been a while since I have talked to you folks. The Director of the Bice-Ferguson Memorial Museum received a History Hero Award in Charleston on History Day at the Capitol and Gillum House served as chauffeur. Then it was the annual Conference for the MountainState Association of Bed & Breakfasts in Beckley with the BBAV (Bed & Breakfast Assoc. of Virginia). The CEO of Virginia Travel Corporation was keynote speaker and she showed the up-coming TV commercial of WV Tourism Division and Shinnston & Gillum house as part of her speech. That was nice!! That was followed by Tourism Day at the Capitol.

We have snow again! It melted quickly last month and I believe this snow will be gone by Friday. It is, according to the weather channel, going to be in the 50s by Friday. Another beautiful weekend.

Last weekend while I was in southern WV teaching an Aspiring Innkeeper Seminar on Saturday, we had guests checking out our wonderful roads for their motorcycle club for the Spring/Summer/Fall season. I think they liked what they saw because they did some more checking out of roads on Sunday (they visited the winery Saturday too) and asked about parking for a 24-ft. trailer full of motorcycles. No problem. We have it available.

John Ellis tells me they may have the Sunset Drive-in open in April this year. Watch for it on our What?s Happening in Shinnston button. Until next time?.

February 7, 2007

Yesterday we had an all-time low temperature for Feb. 6, it went to ?5! Lucky us, our water lines froze. It took all day, but thanks to a little electric heater, we finally got everything flowing nicely without the plumber. He told me there were 30 people ahead of me on the list who did not have heat. THAT we did have. The innkeepers at Faith Lodge in Hogesville (near Buckhannon) were kind enough to bring us a 5 gallon container of water, bless them.

It snowed last night. I think we got about 4 inches. Everything looks so pretty.

We are still offering our 5 Cans Because You Can special. We are also offering a VERY special package for Thursday, Feb. 15. The Alderson-Broadus Jazz Band will be performing at the Lighthouse and we are offering a special for Thursday night with hand-dipped local chocolates (I am a chocoholic and attest that they are wonderful) and a great breakfast in the morning served at whatever time you like. If you want to extend the stay to include Friday and Saturday night, we have a JAZZ Special of an extra $50 per night. Keep warm.

January 21, 2007

We have snow!! We have had a dusting prior to this, but today we had our first real snow. Everything looks so pretty bathed in a blanket of white. The rail-trail looks like a winter wonderland with the snow on the trees.

January 18, 2007

Wow, that was a haul! Up at 4 AM and actually did leave the house by 5 to go to Trail Day at the Capitol. Shinnston Activity Director John Greco and one of my WVRTC (rails-to-trails council) Board members went with me.

For those who are looking for trails, West Virginia has rail-trails, mountain trails, water trails (creating more of these every year), and equestrian trails. The Gillum House has a rail-trail 50 feet from the door and the Monongahela River (which is formed by our West Fork River and the Tygart Valley River meeting in Fairmont) is designated a water trail. There was a nice showing of trail representatives around the State.

Speaking of trails, the West Fork River Rail-Trail has been paved from Fairmont south to Monongah and Marion County Parks has the grant and will be paving onward south to Worthington. This trail usage includes bike, hike, and equestrian. The stable we use for your horses has direct access from their farm (no roads to cross) to the rail-trail. The unpaved part of the trail is in great shape and since we have little or no snow here (usually), the trail can be used year-round.

So if you want to get away from snow and slush, Shinnston is the place for you! The rail-trail is here, the craft shops are open, the glass factory and shop is open, and Lambert?s Winery tasting room is calling. We offer the Bike N Winery package year round. Your sandwiches will be on your favorite bread! Till next time?..

January 15, 2006

The schedule for the Lenten Services was set. The Lenten Services will be at the First Baptist Church of Shinnston on Rebecca Street. The service is Noon to 12:30 and followed by a soup & cracker lunch with soups provided by members of the church of the Pastor of the Week. This year, the Council of Churches voted for the "love offering" to be given to the Lord's Pantry for non-food items that are needed. The schedule is:

Feb. 21 - Pastor Lyn White, Charles Street Christian Church

Feb. 28 - Rev. Jody Carroll, First United Methodist Church

Mar. 7 - Father Karl Wohinc, St. Ann's Catholic Church

Mar. 14 - Rev. Brian Plum, Enterprise and Victory Chapel Methodist Churches

Mar. 21 - Ivan Hawkins, First Baptist Church of Shinnston

Mar. 28 Rev. Jenny Williams, Lumberport and Otterbein Methodist Churches

Apr. 4 - Pastor Orvil Wright, Koon's Run Baptist Church

I even made it to the City Council meeting! I was quite happy to be told Shinnston has been selected as a participant in the Federal Home Loan Bank's Blueprint Community project. Our team of volunteers will attend 3 2-day training sessions on how to create a plan and implement it to revitalize the community. The team submitted by the City Manager in the application had to submit resumes as part of the application. This city has some people with great volunteer experience. Yes, I was asked (and agreed) to be part of this team. Wednesday the Activity Director is going with me to Charleston for Trail Day at the Capitol. Till next time, the rail-trail is open and waiting for you, the glass factory is operating, and the winery tasting room is open...

January 8, 2006

I am told blogs are IT so I am going to try to let everyone know what is happening in Shinnston and the area. the Gillum House is starting the new year with a special to help stock the Lord's Pantry Food Bank. 5 cans of food will get the second night of a 2-night minimum free and a 6th can will get a Jimmy's Diner Dollars certificate for $15 at Jimmy's Diner. Only the Gillum House has Jimmy's Diner Dollars.

Tonight is the Shinnston Area Council of Churches quarterly meeting. As President I cannot skip it for the City Council meeting which I usually attend. Shinnston is getting to be quite a place to visit. The new Activity Director has something planned for every month in 2007. It is going to be an exciting year. He and I will be at the State Capitol January 17 for Trail Day at the Capitol. John will be telling people about the West Fork River Rail-Trail that has its southern trailhead in Shinnston and I will be there in my capacity as Executive Director of West Virginia Rails-to-Trails Council.

See you next time. Back to reviews from 2006.

Thank you so much for making our 1st B & B experience so special. We actually stopped at another B & B before we got here, but your enthusiam over the phone was so convincing I had no doubt it would be worth our while to venture on down to Shinnston......

Alyson & Norman. Baltimore, MD

Thank you for the one of the best bed & breakfast stays we've ever had! The dinner our first night was absolutely exquisite as were our two breakfasts - best B & B meals we've ever had (not to mention the wonderful tea selection!)....

Mike & Colleen, MD

How does one say thanks for making this the bestest celebration Joe & I have ever, ever had. You made my dreams come true........

Joe & Judy, IN

Discovering the Gillum House was a delightful experience. I slept so well; the bed is wonderful, as are the other amenities....

Jody, Pittsburgh