My Morgantown! eMagazine

May/June 2014 Volume2, Issue 2

H O RSES TO LEGEN DS H OGS & H ero es A TRI BUTE TO PARENTS

CONTENTS

FEATURES 6

Morgantown A Photoessay

12

A Glance Back in Time

24

Remembering Our

The Motorcycle in Morgantown

After They Are Gone

12

ARTS & CULTURE 24

A Father’s Son

32

Moving Above the Radar

by Shenendoah Thompson

Shenendoah Thompson, the Performer

COMMUNITY 8

24

Summer Fun

Morgantown Outdoor Activities

16

Heroes of the Highway

31

Dad’s Wisdom

37

It’s Happening! Downtown

The Hogs and Heroes Foundation

Sage advice from local Dads

Main Street Morgantown Update

16

Editor’s Corner From the Editor: We are moving to a bimonthly publica on with this issue. Every odd month, you’ll see a new My Morgantown filled with what’s going on in our area.

With this May-June issue, we are focusing on our parents in celebra on of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Whether our parents are s ll with us or long gone, we can s ll honor their memories and what they contributed to who we all are.

We also bring back local historian Marc Dibiase who gives us a profile of Ralph Furman, part of the Morgantown Motorcycle culture, and staff writer Lisa Romeo contributes a piece on the Hogs & Heroes Founda on, a charitable organiza on. These will be nice lead-ins to our July-August issue when we take a look at MountainFest Motorcycle Rally, the annual fundraising event that helps improve the quality of life of residents and visitors in North Central West Virginia.

As always, we welcome new ideas and contributors to My Morgantown! Please feel free to contact me with sugges ons and comments at david.beach@my-morgantown.com.

A er this brutal winter, have a splendid summer!

Your one-stop-shop for everything happening in and around Greater Morganown.

Visit mymorgantownwv.com for the area’s most comprehensive directory of restaurants, events, entertainment, shopping and more. Lis ngs added daily!

Publisher/Editor in Chief Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Vickie Tricke Managing Editor David Beach Contribu ng Writers David Beach Mark Debiase Jake Jarvis Lisa Romeo

On the cover: Seth Boyles, Sergeant at Arms, Hogs & Heroes WV-Chapter 2. Photo by Moments Captured by McGhee, McGhee Martinez.

Collabora ons David S nson, MyMorgantownWV.com Kirk Skasik, Edward Jones Financial Photographers David Beach Jake Jarvis Vickie Tricke Clint Wilson Adver sing Execu ve Angela Kauman

Questions, submissions and feedback: Submissions: Story ideas should be submi ed to David Beach at david.beach@my-morgantown.com or mailed to My Morgantown eMagazine, 722 Brookhaven Road, Morgantown, WV 26508.

Photograph submission should be submi ed on our web site or emailed to info@my-morgantown.com.

Adver sing rates are available at www.my-morgantown.com.

PUBLISHED BY FATE PUBLISHING COMPANY, LLC. 722 Brookhaven Road Morgantown WV 26508 Phone 304.212.4890 | Fax 800.123.4567 www.my-morgantown.com info@my-morgantown.com

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Photoessay Morgantown

By Clint Wilson

1. Woodburn Hall at WVU at sunset 2. Roo ops of Morgantown I 3. Roo ops of Morgantown II 4. Morgantown Farmers’ Market on Spruce Street 5. La e from The Grind WV on Willey Street 6. Water Tower at Seneca Center on Beechurst Avenue

Clint Wilson is a writer and photographer who is a graduate student at WVU.

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Outdoor Summer Fun in Morgantown

By Jake Jarvis Photos of Pathfinder by Jake Jarvis

Congratula ons, Morgantown! We’ve survived another year with our seasonal visitors from West Virginia University. For much of the year, it seems that everywhere you turn there are long lines of traffic and hoards of students parading down High Street at 2 a.m. Living in this city, we are treated to the best of both worlds – the hustle and bustle of a busy city and the token luxuries of a small town. But the sun is shining brighter, and with it, the promise of summer fun is just around the corner. Morgantown offers a wide variety of outdoor, summer ac vi es and events to suit all ages.

Michael Niemann, a recent WVU graduate and former president of the WVU Running Club, took some me to discuss his outdoor fun. Niemann spends most of his free me stretching his legs in the great outdoors and is an expert when it comes to knowing the best places to go for adventure in north and central West Virginia. For those wishing to hike, run, climb or even just explore, he said Coopers Rock is a great place to slowly ease into the outdoors – it’s close and has many spots for beginners to check out. From there, Niemann suggests going to the New River Gorge, Seneca Rocks or Dolly Sods, all within 2 hours away.

He said that his favorite outdoor summer memory was mountain biking in the Canaan Valley and Blackwater Falls Area. “It doesn’t get much be er than that.”

Niemann also spends a good amount of his me running and has competed in many local and regional races. If you haven’t no ced already, we’re in what I like to call the “5K Season.” It seems that every bulle n board I look at, there are at least 5 flyers for upcoming 5k races. For those who don’t know, a 5k is 3.1 miles, and depending on the race, can be walked, jogged or ran. While these are perfect for beginners, many experienced runners look for more challenging races with increased distances.

The 14th Annual Deckers’ Creek Trail Half Marathon will take place on June 7. This slight downhill course is great for those looking to go a step beyond the tradi onal 5K. Spanning 13.1 miles, the trail begins in Masontown, WV, and ends at the Hazel Ruby McQuain Riverfront Park in Morgantown with plenty of water stops along the way. Though the race is weeks away, be sure to start preparing now. Corey Brill, one of the par cipants from last year’s half marathon, said he spent months prior to the big day training with friends to increase his endurance. “A er the run was over, I felt rewarded that I was able to work towards my goal just finishing the half marathon. That alone was a big thing for me.” All par cipants must pay the $50 registra on fee by May 27, which can be done by visi ng h p:// montrails.org.

But running does have its drawbacks. For many, the high impact on the knees from hi ng the trail repeatedly proves to be too much. This is why cycling is a great alterna ve.

Nestled in the middle of High Street is a small, local business called Pathfinder. This 41-year-old shop is the premiere des na on for all outdoor enthusiasts.

You might know Pathfinder as “that bicycle shop.” Just recently, a team of cyclists sponsored by Pathfinder (as well as The Real Juice Bar and Cafe, The Grind WV and the Morgantown Brewing Company), won two 1st, a 3rd, and 7th place awards in the Green County Road Race. So yeah, they know a thing or two about cycling.

People on the team include employees on the store, three na onal cycling champions and even a child of one of the employees, aged nine. Pathfinder knows that the love of cycling can bring people together and are excited to share that with their customers.

Yes, Pathfinder does have a full bicycle repair shop, but that isn’t the only service you can receive. The folks at Pathfinder specialize in a wide array of outdoor gear, including the following: camping, hiking, cycling, boating, climbing, skiing and just about anything else you could want. Andrew Walker, the store manager, said that it’s become a running joke that Pathfinder can’t decide which outdoor ac vity to focus on, so instead they feature all of them.

“One of the coolest things is it’s not just Morgantown we serve,” he said, “We serve people from all of north and central WV. We also serve people from out of the state, or even out of the country who may be traveling through the country looking for some guidance.”

And like the name suggests, if you’re lost at what to buy or where to go, Walker and his associates will help you find your path. Not sure what type of shoes you

should wear when running? Deciding between an external and internal frame backpack for overnight hiking trips? Want to know all the sweet spots in the area to climb? All of these ques ons and more can be taken to Pathfinder. Walker said that for those who want to start enjoying the outdoors, but don’t necessarily want to spend a lot of money at first, should try day hiking.

With almost no funds needed to get started, this is perfect for beginners.

Also, a good way to start being an ac ve individual this summer is to start taking course at your local gym.

Though classes may be out for students, the Senior Recrea on Center at Wiles Hill Community Center keep their doors open for those aged 50+ who wish to learn how to keep their body moving. Yoga classes, taught by instructor Yaskuko, are Monday 5-6 p.m. and Friday 9-10 a.m. Yoga is a good for all ages, but especially for seniors who have an increased need to stay flexible.

But who says seniors can only take a calm class like yoga? On Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10-11 a.m., Marlene Pope offers a Cardio Wellness for Seniors class. The number one cause of death for senior ci zens is heart disease. To prevent this, the Mayo Clinic suggests exercising at least 30 minutes a day “for most days of the week.” This class is designed so that most all senior ci zens can a end and adapt the easy to follow rou nes to suit their fitness level.

It’s easy to find an outlet to get outside and get moving. For families trying to include their li le ones on family ou ngs, it can seem like a hassle. But it doesn’t have to be all work and no play – in fact, ins lling the

importance of being physically ac ve to youngsters can make a family grow closer. I have many memories of my mother taking me to our community swimming pool and teaching me how to swim. I remember the smell of coconut sunscreen, squin ng underwater to see my friends, doggy-paddling across the pool for the first me without “floa es,” and best of all the heavy feeling in my limbs a er a long day of exercise.

The Krepps Pool (off Pa eson Drive near the WVU Coliseum) has programs to help your child gain their sea legs on summer mornings from 10-11:45 a.m. The program “Baby Splash” lets babies aged 0-36 months experience the pool for the first me in a safe environment. No older children are allowed in the pool during this me, so don’t worry about any older kids splashing and scaring your baby. “Water Play on a Summer Day,” however, is for those slightly older children ages 3-6.

The dates for these programs can be found at h p:// boparc.org/pools.html. The price is $5 per par cipant for both of these programs.

I’ll go ahead and speak for all of us when I say winter overstayed its welcome. As a fan of the colder months, even I was happy to see the final piles of snow melt.

The trees are green again and students are away so there is no be er way to relax than to get out and enjoy the wild and wonderful hills of West Virginia. No ma er how you do it – do it. Don’t think about doing it, don’t talk about doing it. Nature is calling. Will you answer?

Horses to Legends I took a brisk ride on my Harley Davidson motorcycle one morning recently, out across the Mileground Road and down the winding turns of Easton Hill, and then I headed out toward the Cheat Lake area. As I crossed the Mileground and began to descend Easton Hill, I wondered back to the summer of 2008, and a rare opportunity I had to sit and chat with one of Morgantown’s motorcycling enthusiast pioneers, Mr. Ralph Furman.

Ralph and I sparked up a special rela onship when I was researching early transporta on here in Morgantown. He was an ol’ sprint fellow possessing charm and wit.

It all began when I had located a photo of a group of motorcycle and roadster-enthusiasts in Morgantown da ng back to the 1930s. The photo had a name a ached to it—Ralph Furman. To get permission to use the photo for publica on, I grabbed the local telephone directory and started looking for Furmans. I had thought that I might get lucky and find perhaps his son or a family member.

And, there it was in the directory, RALPH Furman.

Bingo! Jackpot! Here we go!

I nervously dialed the number an cipa ng everything from tracking down the wrong family to a sharp “No!” Low and behold, Ralph himself answered the phone with a warm “Yeah!” He was a whippersnapper on the other end of the phone, and had a spark of life and range of excitement in his voice, which encouraged me to inquire further.

Not only did he want to talk, he wanted to talk then, and a lot.

Ralph was 91 years old in the summer of 2008, and he had much on his mind he wanted to share, with somewhat a sense of urgency. I promptly packed up my video gear and headed to Ralph’s that evening.

I had several opportuni es to sit and talk with Ralph during that summer at his home on West Run Road. Ralph’s homestead was situated between the Morgantown Airport, above him up on the hill, and the West Run Road, running down through the bo om of his property. Turns out, I lived less than a mile from him.

The Motorcycle in Morgantown: A Glance Back in Time

By Marc Debiase

Turning onto West Run Road headed to his home was an old building si ng there on the corner of West Run and the old Cheat Road. Dilapidated, but s ll standing to this day, I would learn later of its significance to the Morgantown area residents and the role it played in the area’s transporta on.

Ralph was a unique individual in many ways. He was one of the first to ride his Harley Davidson on the local and rural roads of the greater Morgantown area and far beyond, star ng around the heyday of traveller groups, back in the early 1930s. Travel groups grew up around the new modes of transporta on and road travel enthusiasm was what it was all about to the youth of the day. It brought about adventures previously unknown, and was fuel for youth rebellion of the old and explora on into what would be.

Ralph was also an Air Force Veteran. He was the only Air Force soldier from West Virginia who served in the 509th on Tinian Island during World War II. And Ralph was also the son of one of Morgantown’s early Blacksmiths. That building sitng on the corner was his Father’s old Blacksmith

shop. Ralph was rich with informa on about the Morgantown area, warm at heart, and truly a local unsung legend.

When I arrived at Ralph’s he was wai ng pa ently for me on his porch surrounded by trees and singing birds. It was a surreal environment there just below the airport. If you didn’t know be er you would think you were out in the country on a rural farm. Ralph was somewhat situated on his own island, nestled in a city which was growing in all direc ons all around him and his small farmland.

Ralph held his own, living his life out in the simplest of terms, right where he was raised, on a small farm situated here in Morgantown.

He greeted me with a big smile and respec ully called me “Boy.” “How are you this evening, Boy?” I knew we would hit it off.

Ralph had already worked on his farm from sun up well into the evening that day, a remarkable feat for a 91-year-old man. Something told me he was a window into the simple historical life of a typical Morgantownite, and witness to a transforma on

few living could recall. He was a treasure of informa on and wisdom. I sat and listened contently with camera rolling as he reflected and spewed out story a er story.

Ralph grew up here in Morgantown back when the main mode of transporta on was s ll the horse.

His Father, as men oned, was a local blacksmith, who churned out horseshoe a er horseshoe. The shop sat there where it is currently located for decades, and locals would take their horses down to the shop for shoes, bits, and other necessary accessories only a blacksmith could provide. Ralph’s father knew no other lifestyle and pressed Ralph to also learn the trade. Ralph, on the other hand, was a rambunc ous youth, ready to explore and push the limits of his adventurous life. Ralph was seeing something his Father could only imagine, the onset of modern transporta on.

story with a smile on his face. The sheriff contacted Ralph’s father about the situa on, and Ralph’s father had told the sheriff to go ahead and keep him over night. While Ralph did not want to become a blacksmith, he never sped down High Street again.

I imagine it was the sound of those brick les rumbling under the res that led him to twist the thro le a li le more, and then just a li le bit more.

Those who owned motorcycles quickly gravitated into groups of youth with adventurous spirits with a willingness to see what was beyond every next turn, and what lay beyond each new mountain horizon. They usually gathered on weekends, much like motorcyclists do today. But the adventure was much more unsuspec ng and carefree. Finding gasoline, food and lodging were some of the ordeals of the day and new experiences were ever present when travelling beyond one’s comfort zone.

When Ralph got his Harley Davidson, the roads surrounding Morgantown were all s ll dirt pathways, and expansions of wagoner trails leading about all the nooks and crannies of the mountainous area.

The only paved streets were in the downtown district, and they were paved with bricks.

Much of the me, Ralph and his friends would ride the roads out to Uniontown, and out toward Masontown. They would explore the rural roads down toward Elkins, and took day trips on every passable path in the region. On one weekend adventure, Ralph and his friends decided to ride up and see what Niagara Falls looked like.

Ralph was what we might call “cool” during his era.

He quickly became a friend of the local sheriff for speeding around on his motorcycle, and actually spent a night in the county jail for speeding one too many mes down High Street. He told me this

They all gassed up their motorcycles, had apples and other foods in their saddlebags and headed north. Of course the Interstate road system was far off in the future. They travelled small rural routes up through Uniontown and then beyond into an

area they had never adventured through. They slept in barns along the way and kept tanks full at every opportunity. Ralph was firm in conveying to me that they always asked the farmers if they could sleep in their barns.

“How much was gasoline back in the day?” I interrupted Ralph. He snorted a wee bit and belted out, “Six gallons for a dollar!”

The group made it all the way up to Niagara Falls and spent some me there gazing at the wonders of nature while si ng in the saddles of their parked motorcycles. They made the journey up in a few days, a journey that would have taken Ralph’s father a week or so to make on a horse. They were covered with dust, had wet socks, and needed a stream or lake to wash in, but this was the spirit of adventure on the road and what it truly meant to be part of a traveller’s group.

Ralph’s genera on was a pivotal group of Americans who had witnessed and lived through one of the greatest transforma ons this world has ever gone through. He grew up a simple boy, on what was once a rural farm. He road horses down to town as a young boy, and would frequent the rural shops where farmers sold their goods for wholesome living. He was expected to become a blacksmith, but the motorcycle changed all that for him and all genera ons to follow.

Ralph enlisted in the Air Force and was sta oned on Tinian Island during World War II. He was an engineer and made sure the airfields were in tack for air defense. The Cruiser Indianapolis delivered the Li le Boy atomic gun barrel on July 26th at Tinian,

and the Enola Gay was one of 15 specially configured B-29s built at Mar n-Omaha for the 393rd Bomb Squad of the 509th Group. With the help of the 509th the Enola Gay flew a near flawless mission on August 6, 1945, laying its atomic bomb precisely on the primary target, the T-intersec on of the Aioi Street Bridge in Hiroshima, at 8:15 AM. This was the beginning of the end of World War II in the Pacific Theater.

Ralph showed me his military papers, and told me story a er story about his life in the Air Force.

I could only imagine this boy growing up here in Morgantown, who was raised as a youth in the saddle of a horse, later to adventure on his motorcycle roaming the countryside, and finding himself in a world of war.

He touched me on the shoulder and smiled as I was leaving on our last visit. He asked me, “You want some land, Boy?” I le feeling warm and comfortable. What a great guy he was. I planned on returning to archive his enlistment for the Na onal Veterans’ Archives a er publishing the documentary on transporta on, but learned he had passed away.

So, I reflect on Ralph and his stories when I ride my motorcycle through the streets of downtown, and out toward Uniontown, and down toward Elkins, and I smile. A er all, we can s ll enjoy our own personal adventures because of great Americans like Ralph Furman.

Thank you for your service Ralph. Rest well, my friend.

For further reading and informaƟon used to write this arƟcle, reference the following: History of Morgantown: hƩp://morgantownhistory.org/ Motorcycle History: hƩp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Motorcycle_history Harley-Davidson Motorcycles: hƩp://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/Harley-Davidson Rogers, J. David. “The Use of Tinian Island during World War II”: hƩp://web.mst.edu/~rogersda/umrcourses/ge342/Tinian%20Island.pdf

Heroes of the Highway

by Lisa Romeo

As spring me returns buzzing bees and song birds to our area, you may have also no ced another sound that comes with these sunny days. The rumble of pipes has begun to fill the air as motorcycle enthusiasts take to the open road. While some may choose to ride alone or with a buddy, others look for a group or club to join that fulfills a greater sense of purpose by sharing their love of riding with helping others in the community. One such organiza on in our area is the Hogs & Heroes FoundaƟon which is a community of motorcycle riders that plan and par cipate in fundraising and riding-related events.

Hogs & Heroes is not a “motorcycle club” but a charitable 501c3 founda on that supports Public Safety workers, U.S. Military members and Veterans, the Wounded Warrior Project and various charitable organiza ons. They also perform honor missions for fallen Police Officers, Firefighters, Emergency Medical Workers, Members of the Military killed in combat opera ons and U.S. Military Veterans, as well as, strive to set an example of good Ci zenship for the youth of the United States.

The founda on began in 2007 in Maryland when its founders realized that the op ons for joining a riding group that supported Public Safety and the U.S. Military were limited. Since then, the organiza on has spread throughout Delaware, Maryland, New

York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. While many of its members work in Public Safety, the U.S. Military, or are Military Veterans, it is not a requirement to be a Police Officer, Firefighter, or an Ac ve or Prior Military Member to join. Basically, any American ci zen that wants to support their cause is welcome in the organiza on.

Even if you don’t ride a motorcycle, you can join as an associate member and support the Founda on’s cause by par cipa ng in organized events and missions.

West Virginia currently has three chapters of the Hogs and Heroes FoundaƟon. Chapter 1 is based out of the Weston area, Chapter 2 covers the Clarksburg/Bridgeport area, and Chapter 3 has developed over the past year to serve the Morgantown area.

The three chapters par cipate in both area-specific events and combined-chapter events for larger venues, such as MountainFest and Ocean City Bike

Week. They also enjoy casual group rides and road tours to Na onal events.

HHFWV Recent Fundraisers & Events

On April 5, HHFWV sponsored the Lewis County Spring Fling Expo at the Weston City Parking Lot.

On a Saturday in March, HHFWV Chapter 1 held a fundraising event to benefit the Weston Fire Department. This event recognized and exhibited appreciaon for all Public Service Workers.

HHFWV Chapter 3 held a raffle in March that raised over $400 for the 328th Quartermaster Army Reserves Detachment Family Readiness Group. Chapter 3 will also be pu ng together “care packages” to send to the troops from the 328th that are deployed in Afghanistan.

On March 12, HHFWV and the Patriot Guard paid honors at the funeral of U.S. Marine Veteran Mitchell Leroy Miller, Sr. who passed away on March 9, 2014.

He was born August 1, 1922 and was the grandfather of Lisa “Bunns” Miller-Co rell of Chapter 3. The mission took place at the Dean Whitmarsh Funeral Home in Fairchance, PA. Mr. Whitmarsh presented Chapter 3 with a dona on a er the ceremony.

On Saturday, April 19, members of HHFWV held a dedica on at the Genesis Alta Vista Youth Center in Clarksburg, WV. Members of Chapter 2 had worked at the Center earlier this spring to assemble the playground equipment for the children. The dedicaon celebra on included a Pizza Party and Bike Display for the children in the parking lot of the facility.

HHFWV Upcoming Fundraisers & Events May 10 – Patriot Guard/HHFWV Mission – Overpass at I-79 Saltwell Exit – Honoring Electronics Warfare Technician 2nd Class Kevin Shawn Rux killed aboard the USS Cole in 2000.

May 23 – Flag Display at the American Legion – Philippi WV – 9 am – HHFWV and Patriot Guards meet at the Philippi Covered Bridge at 8:30 am

On Saturday, April 26, HHFWV Chapter 3 held a “Helmet Drive” from 8 am to 2pm to benefit SteppingStones of Morgantown. SteppingStones is a non-profit recrea onal center for people with disabili es. Chapter 3 presented a check for $2170 to the SteppingStones facility on May 7.

May 24 – Big Dog’s Last Ride - leaves Weston Moose Lodge at 11 am – In honor and memory of one of the Chapter 1 brothers, Wayne “Big Dog” Donaldson who passed away on Nov. 25, 2013.

June 8 – HHFWV Youth Chapter MeeƟng – 1 pm @ Jane Lew Park – First mee ng for a chapter that will serve member’s children that are ages 12-18.

July 23-27 - Wild and Wonderful MountainFest “10th Anniversary” - Mylan Park, Morgantown, WV – Security for event will be provided by HHFWV Chapter 3 – For more info. on the event go to www.wvmountainfest.com/ July 24 - Country Roads Motorcycle Tour – Sponsored by HHFWV and others – (See ad on the next page for more details.)

Aug. 2 – Farmington Poker Run – Sponsored by the City of Farmington with proceeds to benefit HHFWV and the Farmington VFD

On May 3, the Patriot Guard and HHFWV were present at a “Bridge Dedica on” on Rt. 270 in West Milford, WV, in honor of USMC Corporal Gene William Somers, Jr. who was killed in ac on (3/19/69) by hos le fire while bravely serving his country in Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam.

DATE TBD – Welcome Home Ceremony for the 328th Quartermaster Army Reserves Detachment returning from Afghanistan in Fall/Winter 2014 - Sponsored by HHFWV Chapter 3

Hogs and Heroes photos by Moments Captured by McGhee, McGhee Martinez.

Other Upcoming Rides & Events May 24 – Mountaineer Military Museum “Vet-Together” – 345 Center Ave., Weston, WV @ 9 am – Lunch provided by Kathy’s Riverside Restaurant & VFW Post 1976 – FREE for Veterans – Memorial Wreath laying at 1 pm June 10-15 – Gypsy Tour and Big Mountain Run 5 – Sponsored by Triple S Harley-Davidson – Kick off at Triple S on 10th / tour leaves 10-11 am on 11th

Contacts & Mee ng Informa on Officers

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June 14 – 2 Annual Memorial Dice Run for Michael “Gator” Freeman – Registra on: 10 am – Noon – Last bike out @ 12 pm/Last bike in @ 5 pm – Sponsored by and Benefits 1376 Riders Group July 4-8 - Hub City Bike Week – Hagerstown, MD – www.HubCityBikeWeek.net

 WV State Director – Mike “Boonie” Jarvis  Asst. State Director - Joe “Bug” Spray III  Ch. 1 President - Robert “Ryder” Taylor  Ch. 2 President - Joe “Superdoublebuzz” Dadisman  Ch. 3 President - Ralph “50 Cal” Co rell

July 23-27 - Wild and Wonderful MountainFest “10th Anniversary” - Mylan Park, Morgantown

 State Youth Director - Steven “Reeper” Kennedy  Na onal President - Andrew “DevilDoc” Mutchler Websites/Online Contacts:  Na onal site: www.hogsheroesfounda on.com  WV Chapter 1: www.hogsheroesfounda on.com/Chapters/ WV1/WV1.html or click here to find Chapter 1 on Facebook  WV Chapter 2: hogsandheroesfounda onwv-2.weebly. com/ or click here to find Chapter 2 on Facebook  WV Chapter 3: hogsandheroeswv3.org or click here to find Chapter 3 on Facebook Monthly Mee ngs:  Chapter 1 (Weston) meets the 3rd Sunday @ 1 pm at the Homewood Bar & Grill, Weston  Chapter 2 (Clarksburg) meets the 3rd Sunday @ 3 pm at Knuckleheads, 4th St, Clarksburg  Chapter 3 (Morgantown) meets the 3rd @ 7 pm at Triple S Harley Davidson, Morgantown

“The Father’s Son”

by Shenendoah Thompson Ever unsure, that you could be more Than just a child, wait ‘ l you have yours.

They show you the world, unveil every pearl, Erupt like an ocean of joy, this cherub so pure.

And you swear to give into this frightening feeling of love.

Ever prepare, to act like you never get scared. To pretend you were never aware it could go that way.

Ever afraid, to relive mistakes parents made, to never know what’s right to say, don’t be ashamed.

This is just your learning curve.

Father of mine, I’m proud of my son.

I’m sorry that me gets away, we’ll all get together soon.

Teacher of mine, don’t think of me gone.

I’m always as close as a heartbeat away.

I’ll always be thinking of you, whatever I do.

Father of mine, I’m proud of my son.

Look at me now, I’m be er and we all can see how, It’s no fault of my own.

I owe all to my boy.

This calm I embrace, and knowing my place, all of these things I face are now easier ‘Cuz he’s my reason to succeed.

So one day he can say to me...

Father of mine, I’m proud of my son.

The CatasĂşs family from Sweden, Boston, 2006

Photos of parents and children by David Beach.

Silvia Farano and her father, Milano, 2005

A Maasai mother and her child, Kenya, 2010

Remembering Our Parents After They’re Gone

by David Beach As many celebrate mothers and fathers in May and June, many of us now only have memories of our parents. A er they’re gone, we learn things about them—from their friends, from others, from going through their homes. And when me passes, the grief turns into memories, some happy, some not-so-happy.

I’ve had the privilege of eulogizing both my parents. My rela onship with my mother was at first warm, then conten ous for a long period, then warm again. My father was always a fun pal.

Their marriage was the second for both, and I have siblings from both their previous marriages. They were separated more than together during 29 years of marriage, some mes by the military, some mes by choice. Mom spent over four years in a nursing home with demen a before succumbing to lung cancer; Dad worked the night before he had a stroke and died a week later, at age 90.

As a writer, when I create characters, I look backwards from the end to develop human complexity. As a human, though, it becomes a beau ful challenge to construct a story about someone I’ve known my en re life me, and tell it in fewer than ten minutes. Tears and choking up are fine, as are laughter and wis ulness. Our memorials to our parents can some mes help the grief subside.

For my mother (2005) There are many ways we can describe Jacqui.

Of course, the rela onships: daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, niece, aunt, cousin, motherin-law, step-mother, friend. Then there are the adjec ves: beau ful, eccentric, charisma c, bizarre, gregarious, crazy, artsi c, crea ve, some mes happy, some mes not, a gourmand, ppler, Demo-

Last picture with Mom, May 2004

crat, Chris an, fascina ng, stubborn, civic-minded.

But one thing you could never say about Jacqui was that she was boring.

In the last week, I’ve had some great laughs, talking with friends and family, about Mom. Like all of us, she had her quirks. One was never to divulge her age. “Twenty-nine again!” And later, “thirtynine again!” Well, I’ll rat on her—she almost made it to 77. The Orlando SenƟnel reported her age a bit younger, 75. When I told that to Dad yesterday on the way to the airport, he quipped, “Well, that should make her happy!”

Mom could not carry a tune, but that didn’t stop her from warbling in the church choir in England.

All us children were known to fall asleep quickly— really to escape the “music.”

She loved her family—despite all our collec ve and individual faults. She loved her two husbands, too. When I was young, we’d make a weekly trip to Ho eimer’s shoe store where her first husband, Dale, worked. She’d fill him in on their children. In these final years, a bit addled, she always wanted to know about Frank, her second husband. Always, though divorced to them both, I saw the love she had for them both. And she could s ll, despite the demen a, lovingly skewer them. Two years ago, as I sat with her at the Mariner Nursing Home, she asked about Dad. The conversa on went like this: “How is your father?”

“Well, he’s ge ng old like the rest of us.”

“Well that’s the truth! No, really, how is he?”

“He’s okay. He’s wearing a hearing aid now.”

“Does it work?”

“When he remembers to put it in and turn it on.”

A pause. Pursed lips. Then she said, “I don’t know why he bothered. He never listened.”

We laughed for a full minute because it was true—a lucid moment amidst the turbulence. Then she asked me about my dental prac ce. In and out these past four years, but when she was “in,” she was sharp as ever.

She took pride in her children and grandson.

She’d talk about us to anyone who walked by. Mike, her grandson, told me that she always supported his ar s c endeavors even though they both knew he’d never be the ar st she was, that she was always proud of what he did. Her art students would echo that sen ment.

Her pride extended to her home and city as well. In Norfolk, she reigned as the Fire Preven on Queen, also known as “Mrs. Norfolk,” two years in a row. Jacqui was a fashion ar st and commentator, radio and TV personality, and designed sets for the local theatres. Here in Orlando, she was a lifelong member of the Orange County Democra c Society, and she was president of the local AARP chapter.

Jacqueline Beach, modeling at Ames & Brownley, Norfolk, Virginia, 1954

Her neighbors, Gil and Rosita, told me if she ran for mayor of Orlando, they’d vote for her because whenever anything needed to be done in the neighborhood, Jacqui made sure it was accomplished, usually the next day.

These are rosy stories. As I men oned, “stubborn” also described Mom. I admire anyone who stands firm on principle, and that she always did— even if it meant pu ng her high heels in cement!

For many reasons, she and my grandmother, Ka e Beach, were never on the same page. My cousin, Catherine, told me when she married, another aunt painted a s ll life for a wedding gi . Mom and Grandmother were looking at the pain ng.

Mom said the colors were a bit harsh, but that gave Grandmother enough steam to keep her pumped up the rest of the weekend.

I think the word “nego ate” might have crept in her vocabulary from me to me, but not too often. Some mes, this was good, for example when she had to defend her children. It backfired somemes, as it some mes does. Nevertheless, you never had to guess where you stood with Mom. In the final analysis, though, we’ll always remember her for her great and infec ous laugh—squinty brown eyes, wide toothy grin. We’ll remember her ar s c talent. When I cleaned out her house a few years ago, I came across a le er she had wri en to my dad. She wrote if she had some tubes of paint, a brush, and some canvas, she felt like the richest woman in the world. We’ll remember her quirks and eccentrici es—like shaving her hair off to see the shape of her head, then taking pictures and sending them to folks. Or dancing naked in the rain in the backyard. Or trying pot with me in my apartment in DC. (She claimed nothing happened, which really was funny!) Or my favorite—her seeing the leprechaun in the yard dancing with six-foot tall white chickens. She immortalized this on canvas.

And in this spirit, she deserves the last laugh. I couldn’t come down here without one ar fact in hand. I searched through several boxes yesterday before I found it. A photograph she had taken about ten years ago—right here where we stand— lying on the ground above her res ng place, just about where she is right now.

And here we are, to celebrate her life, to mourn, to come together. My favorite quote about death comes not from the Bible or from any sage, but from an English poet, Julie Burchill: “Tears are

some mes an inappropriate response to death.

When a life has been lived completely honestly, completely successfully, or just completely, the correct response to death’s perfect punctua on mark is a smile.”

So let us smile. Remember Jacqui, Aunt Jacqui, Grandma, Mom. And she always told me to dance on her grave. So when we’re officially finished here, take a moment to do a li le jig or a Highland fling. This Sco sh lass will look down from heaven and smile.

For my father (2011) “Flying off to the next adventure.” That’s what Dad wanted as his epitaph. So I’ll start with an appropriate story.

Down below the surface of a quiet pond lived a li le colony of water bugs. They were a happy colony, living far away from the sun.

For many months they were very busy, scurrying over the so mud on the bo om of the pond. They did no ce that every once in a while one of their colony seemed to lose interest in going about. Clinging to the stem of a pond lily it gradually moved out of sight and was seen no more.

“Look!” said one of the water bugs to another. “One of our colony is climbing up the lily stalk. Where do you think she is going?”

Up, up, up it slowly went....Even as they watched, the water bug disappeared from sight. Its friends waited and waited but it didn’t return...

“That’s funny!” said one water bug to another. “Wasn’t she happy here?” asked a second... “Where do you suppose she went?” wondered a third.

No one had an answer. They were greatly puzzled. Finally one of the water bugs, a leader in the colony, gathered its friends together. “I have an idea”. The next one of us who climbs up the lily stalk must promise to come back and tell us where he or she went and why.”

“We promise”, they said solemnly.

Frank Beach, on the wing of a PT-17 during training, Douglas, Georgia, 1944

One spring day, not long a er, the very water bug who had suggested the plan found himself climbing up the lily stalk. Up, up, up, he went. Before he knew what was happening, he had broken through the surface of the water and fallen onto the broad, green lily pad above.

When he awoke, he looked about with surprise. He couldn’t believe what he saw. A startling change had come to his old body.

His movement revealed four silver wings and a long tail. Even as he struggled, he felt an impulse to move his wings...The warmth of the sun soon dried the moisture from the new body. He moved his wings again and suddenly found himself up above the water.

He had become a dragonfly!!

Swooping and dipping in great curves, he flew through the air. He felt exhilarated in the new atmosphere. By and by the new dragonfly lighted happily on a lily pad to rest. Then it was that he chanced to look below to the bo om of the pond. Why, he was right above his old friends, the water bugs!

There they were scurrying around, just as he had been doing some me before.

The dragonfly remembered the promise: “The next one of us who climbs up the lily stalk will come back and tell where he or she went and why.” Without thinking, the dragonfly darted down. Suddenly he hit the surface of the water and bounced away.

Now that he was a dragonfly, he could no longer go into the water...

aging, never discouraging. And I think he advocated more for peace than for war himself, but he knew what I did come to know—that we live in a complex world, strife with conflict, needing jus ce. He served his country honorably, admirably, without hesita on or complaint. And he held his country dear to his heart. We talk of patriots; he was a tested and true patriot of the first order.

“I can’t return!” he said in dismay. “At least, I tried. But I can’t keep my promise. Even if I could go back, not one of the water bugs would know me in my new body. I guess I’ll just have to wait un l they become dragonflies too. Then they’ll understand what has happened to me, and where I went.”

His Commitment Frank’s commitment to his family—or I should say, his families—may be the hallmark of his life.

My cousin, Randy, remarked last week about this.

Just last month, when Dad was at the memorial service for my cousin, his nephew, Jim, Dad was there, suppor ve, caring, part of the gang. Randy said, “That’s what your dad did—happy occasion or sad, if it had to do with the Beach family, he was there with a posse.”

This commitment was central to his own family but extended to other families easily—the Carawans, his first wife’s family; the Russells, his second wife’s family, the families of his children’s spouses and partners, and extended families, too. Randy’s wife, Cyndy, said, “He always made me feel like a lifelong family member.” Many of you here, especially the folks from the Barton House, considered him one of your own. He was every person’s father, grandfather, uncle, brother, friend. And because of that, we all become brothers and sisters.

I asked my sister, Deborah, if I could share one story— probably the most poignant story I know of Dad. I’m grateful she has allowed me to tell this story. When Dad wanted to marry our mother, Jacqui, he took Dale and Deborah to the park and separately had conversa ons with them about wan ng to marry their mother. It’s no secret that Mom wasn’t the easiest person on Earth! So Deborah wondered about the future. Dad said, unequivocally, that despite whatever the future held, if he and Jacqui were to ever

And the dragonfly winged off happily into its wonderful new world of sun and air.......

An apt story. A metaphor for so many things.

And we take solace knowing Frank is skimming the water’s surface, tripping the light fantas c, soaring way above us, wai ng for us to become dragonflies one day.

A man is o en judged by his ac ons. If that is the case, Frank can be judged as one righteous man worthy of praise. I want to touch on some of his quali es—his honor, his commitment, his humor, and his friendship. We all are privileged to have known Frank, and know of these quali es firsthand.

His Honor Dad rarely spoke to me about his military service— the stories were always about the places, not the job. The funny events that happened, not the serious work of war. He held those close to the vest—at least with me. I’ve always advocated peace, not war, and in those rebellious teenage years, I certainly let him know that. But he was paent with me, never dispar-

Last picture with Dad, on my 50th birthday, February 2011

split, he would always be her father, un l the day he died. Deborah told me this not long a er Mom died, and to me, that was the realiza on of what I knew about Dad deep within, bubbled to the surface.

So a good man. But also a funny man. Someone, and I’m sorry I can’t remember who, quipped, “Frank will make God laugh.” Yeah, but not before Frank makes Frank laugh. THEN, God will laugh.

He had his own sense of humor which o en people didn’t get. When he was the building manager at the Orlando Museum of Art, a collec on of Leroy Neiman’s works was on exhibit. In a room full of artsy folks, he said, “These Neiman Marcuses are pre y good!” Then he laughed. Then others laughed. The clued-in got the joke. But it was fun, nonetheless.

I won’t talk out of school, and I wasn’t privy to these stories, but I heard about his hilarious storytelling of senior love. When he had his hernia surgery a few years back, he didn’t think twice about dropping trou to show off…..the results of surgery.

And on our trip to New Zealand, when he was 85, and I insisted on good, comprehensive travel insurance for him, he gleefully gloated as I was put in the ambulance: “And he thought I needed the insurance!”

And then there is the Friendship he gave to everyone.

I’m really privileged to not only have had Frank as a father, but also as a friend. This happened, of course, a er I was on my own. We didn’t talk about everything—there were, a er all, some things a father and son just don’t discuss—but I can say it was an easy friendship, borne from our familial rela onship.

When Dad and I were in Sweden in 1993, I took him to meet my friend, Gunilla, a re red schoolteacher, whom I met one a ernoon, a few years earlier, and had become friends with. When I told her last week that he had died, she wrote back: “The thing is that we became close friends in one a ernoon and kept going…”

I think Gunilla’s words echo with most of us, if not all of us, here. And despite our sadness that we no longer hear his laugh, or that common gree ng on the phone “Hi there, Frank here,” he has infected all of us with his good nature and enduring friendship. Charlene, one of his neighbors, said last week, “I was very sad for a while because it is such a loss.

But later I found myself doing rou ne things around my apartment and beginning to smile—and the smile increased as I remembered his humorous and insigh ul comments on death, life, and any topic that came up.”

Many have told me of their friendship with Dad, especially his friendships with children. He wanted all children to experience some of the wonders he experienced in his life me. We all felt as if he had known us forever and would do anything. My cousin, Bob, expressed quite well what we all feel: “I just plain liked Frank.”

I’m grateful I got to know a man who had a ready sense of humor, a quick smile, a welcoming handshake, one whose focus was steadfastly on his family, a man who was loving, welcoming and open, funny and endearing, and one who was a good, good man. And when I think of my father, those are the quali es that I think of. Accep ng and honorable, laughing and loving. The core of his faith and his essence.

And while we aren’t happy that he is gone, we will be okay, and we can be happy knowing his quali es and spirit remain within each of us. Qualies of a righteous and good, good man worthy of being praised.

Parween Sultany Mascari and her father, Wazir Sultany “My dad always would tell me that you can’t enjoy anything if you haven’t earned it. He first told me that when I complained because everyone else was getting a new car for their 16th birthday and I was working part-time at his hardware store after school to earn a used Chevy Beretta.

It turns out it’s great advice.”

Sage Words

Jen Hoke and her father, T. P. Williams Dysfunction 101 - an amazing gift !!

“Always be who you are - doesn’t matter what others thinks.”

Father of the year- never; yet I received an even greater gift from my dad. In the midst of total pain, chaos and dysfunction , I learned that love calls me to a much higher expression. I had to forgive my dad not for the things he has done or not done; not because he was right in making me feel wrong - not because he couldn’t give me what I needed, simply because my heart had a great void and he did the best he could whether I believed or not My dads choices gave me the gift to know that the judgement you hold will eventually break your heart and erode your soul! From that pain I am now able to be there for him and make a new story!! I love you for that !!!

from Dad!

Ben Adducchio (far right) with Scott McCutcheon (brother), Gail McCutcheon Swartz (sister) and their father, Bob McCutcheon My dad taught me “Anything worth doing is worth doing right.” That advice stays with me today. He was a hard worker and I feel that if you follow that motto, you get invested in your work and it only makes you want to do it to the best of your ability.

Bobbie Hawkins and her father, Bob White “Never aim so high that when you land in the cow pile, the shit flies everywhere.”

By David Beach

Shenendoah MacRyland Taapken Thompson. It’s a mouthful. But this performer who has his roots in Ireland, Austria and the Blackfoot Sioux has crea ng soulful music in the Morgantown area for quite some me.

Born and raised in Morgantown, Shenendoah Thompson, who goes by Sheamus or merely Shea, has been performing since four when he was in a preschool play. Shortly therea er, he joined his mother at an open mic night, singing along with her on John Hia ’s “Perfectly Good Guitar.” From that point, it was hard to get Shea off the stage.

And since he got hold of his mother’s Mar n 12 string guitar at age 13, he has rarely been off the stage.

“It’s definitely home. I’m more at home on stage than anywhere else. Something about the energy, the give and take. If you’re playing music then you’re naked and raw right in front of so many strangers and you’re asking them ‘catch me’ and they do.”

Shenendoah credits many as having influenced his music, from the blue grass groups that have played in Morgantown to the rockers found at 123 Pleasant Street. He says his mother had a profound influence on how he plays. “She plays folk music, and I picked up her palmmu ng, finger-picking, folky style.” He tunes into all musicians and groups to create his own style.

“Everybody on the radio –the rock bands, U2, Steven Tyler, with his wiggling and flir ng—you incorporate all that, you see Dave Ma hews doing this and you go, I can do that.”

With his musical roots in folk, rock and reggae, Shenendoah is transforming his music to “acous cal portraits of life.”

But to classify it puts him in an awkward spot.

“Because I’m [performing] it, I can‘t really describe it. I rely on everyone else to tell me what it’s about.”

Folks do tell him. One friend told him that his music helped him get through some troubling mes out of high school. “It’s actually very interes ng because [high school is] when I wrote most of those songs.”

A rela ve sings Shenendoah’s “Bed me Traffic (goodnight moon)” to his infant daughter as a loving lullaby.

Shenendoah finds inspira on from the universe and the people he spends me with, especially his two-year old son, Shannon. He recently wrote a new song, “The Father’s Son,” inspired by Shannon. (See the lyrics in My Morgantown’s tribute sec on to mothers and fathers.) But it’s not necessarily those in his immediate circle that inspire him. When asked to pick one person who inspires him at random, the immediate situa on and response shed some light into how Shenendoah connects to the universe.

“I’ll just pick Jared Leto because he just came on the radio. He’s honest and outspoken for his beliefs and is inclusive of everyone. He lived in South Africa and witnessed atroci es and began to understand the human component in all of it. And he says look, we’re very similar, we’re not as dissimilar as some people would like us to think, and it feels the arts are unifying of the masses. They [the arts] bring people together from millions of miles away— for a concert, or with a movie that goes around the world and becomes a phenomenon. It’s the undercurrent of soul’s expression. And I think that Jared Leto is a boisterous version of one side of my expression – the rocker side, the punker, skater side.”

Some musical career highlights include recording his first CD, “Under the Radar,” and playing in a New York City cabaret on New Year’s Eve 2009. “I got to work with Ken Lundie, the pianist at Radio City Music Hall.”

Another side of Shenendoah can be found performing on stage and direc ng. A fixture in the Morgantown theatre scene, he has over 200 roles to his credit in musical theatre (Stephen Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd”), straight drama (Sarah Ruhl’s “In the Next Room, or The Vibrator Play”), and experimental and new plays. He will be seen in July in John Logan’s play, “Red,” as Ken, the assistant to painter Mark Rothko, at the Monongalia Arts Center’s Tanner Theatre.

Shenendoah has been recently working towards more of a group dynamic with his music. Recently partnering with Levi

Reynolds and Stephanie Olcese, he describes their collabora on as an “ethereal connec vity” that just works. The music “grows from a ny seed, thought, emoon, downstroke, and it’s based in a feeling.”

You can catch some of his musical stylings at different venues around Morgantown. Check h p://www.mymorgantownwv. com/ to find where Shenendoah Thompson will be playing next.

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News & Updates fom Main Street Morgantown Annual Mee ng and Volunteer Recogni on Celebra on Main Street Morgantown held their 30th Annual Mee ng & Volunteer Recogni on Celebra on on May 14, 2014 at The Historic Clarion Hotel Morgan. Members and volunteers were recognized for all the hard work they did in 2013.

In addi on to elec ng new Board Members, reviewing the 2013 ac ons and recognizing volunteers, downtown businesses and individuals were recognized for new signage, business development, interior renova ons and volunteerism. Also awarded was the 2013 President’s Award which will be presented by Main Street Morgantown Board President, George Papandreas.

Re-Branding Project Main Street Morgantown (MSM) is in process of rebranding it’s organiza on. Throughout this me, MSM will work with Arne Muldrow & Associates, a city planning and marke ng firm that specializes in community branding, downtown revitaliza on, economic development and historic preserva on. This firm has a focus on expanding communi es’ customer bases, a rac ng new visitors and recrui ng new businesses based on demand. The firm will create a marke ng package for MSM to implement over me, all copy rights to which will belong to MSM.

MedExpress Kids’ Day July 19, 2014 From 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. kids will take over the downtown with more than (70) scheduled events. Kids of all ages will learn about safety, play games, receive free goodies from area businesses, make cra s, and play in the giant sand box. Enjoy live entertainment, free trolley trips and more. There will be a safety area located in the BB&T parking lot (496 High Street). The FBI, Morgantown Police and Fire Departments, EMS, and a Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicle will be present.