WV Living Spring 2019

SPRING 19

SOAR THE SKY | SWIFT LEVEL FARM | WEST VIRGINIA ART

Hello Spring ECLECTIC shops power PARTNERS TASTE makers ground BREAKERS plus more

VOLUME 12

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ISSUE 1

Spring 2019 features

78

Farm Living

Corporate Responsibility An inside look at how The Health Plan celebrates West Virginia’s creative spirit.

90

The Greatest,s First Foe Long before his heavyweight title, Cassius Clay took on the police chief of Fayetteville.

NIKKI BOWMAN

Swift Level Farm makes providing high-quality, locally sourced products a family affair.

84

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VOLUME 12

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ISSUE 1

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67 24

43

71 discover 14 Folk Bil Lepp draws inspiration from his daughter and his home state for a feisty new children’s book.

40 Local Flavor WV Brick Oven Bistro’s

15 Events Do you favor fire, or think ice will

pickle pizza is really good. Or so we’ve heard.

suffice?

41 Restaurant This Huntington gun range

16 Made in WV Grant County Mulch recycles organic waste into a thriving business.

17 Mom and Pop Stops A business risk pays off for this favorite Chester hangout.

18 Book A new coloring book features West Virginia’s iconic critters, people, and places.

18 Something New Teaching Girl Scouts about Appalachia’s female heroes.

19 Sounds Morgantown band Hello June

is making great music by doing what comes natural.

20 Shop A Morgantown artisan opens a brick- and-mortar boutique to showcase regional talent.

21 Family Fun A podcast tells science fiction stories with an Appalachian twist.

22 Space A restored Mannington B&B

also serves up high-caliber diner food.

25 Technology Berkeley County is home

43 This Five fun spins on classic banana bread.

52 Town Taste Elkins at these eight eateries.

27 Power Partners Monica and Aaron

live

to a first-in-the-U.S. technology for turning household waste to a high-energy solid fuel.

Maxwell, co-owners of Harmony Ridge Gallery in Lewisburg.

28 Something New Now entering its

sixth season, West Virginia’s only touring Shakespeare troupe brings the bard to more and more of us.

30 Country Roads Martinsburg’s

downtown streets become a walkable art gallery.

taste 34 Makers Shepherdstown’s Bavarian

celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.

Inn pays homage to family history with its new brewpub.

23 Good News Leidos’ building now in

36 Libations A tiny coffee hub in Hundred

development anchors Morgantown’s position in the company as a software center of excellence.

24 Shop Beckley’s Blue Magnolia offers home decor and VIP fashion.

6 wvl • spring 2019

keeps locals and commuters fueled.

38 Restaurant This nonprofit is feeding

hungry people and helping addicts get back on their feet—while serving good food.

55 Away Top-notch accommodations are

popping up all around the Hatfield-McCoy Trails.

60 History A 75th-anniversary appreciation of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.

67 Out Loud Get your glide on at Eastern Soaring Center in Petersburg.

71 Creatively We asked some of the state’s

most gifted potters to share their unique takes on the most basic of kitchenware items: the bowl.

ON THE COVER Swift Level Farm in Greenbrier County is a fourth generation family farm. Photo by Nikki Bowman.

editor’s letter

Soaring to New Heights i recently read the Knight Foundation’s Soul of the Community survey. Here’s what they found when they questioned 43,000 people in 26 cities: What creates emotional bonds between people and their communities are not jobs and the economy, but rather “physical beauty, opportunities for socializing, and a city’s openness to all people.”

Physical beauty—West Virginia has this in spades. Want to see it from a new perspective? Visit Eastern Soaring Center in Petersburg and get a birds-eye view of this beautiful state (page 67). Or take a trip to the southern part of the state and experience the Hatfield and McCoy trail system (page 55).

Socializing—People want to get out and meet their neighbors, they want to feel connected to their communities, and they want places conducive for connecting with others. We have fabulous restaurants (pages 38 and 41), coffee shops (check out Lori’s Cup of Joe in Hundred on page 36), festivals (Fire and Ice on page 15), local hangouts, and college football games, but could we do a better job at creating environments that encourage more engagement? Probably.

Wouldn’t we all like to see more parks, community green spaces, playgrounds, and safe and fun nightlife options?

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Lauderdale 15 years ago. Not only did they Openness to all people—This one open a retail business, Harmony Ridge gave me pause. I try very hard not to share Gallery, but they’ve also been instrumental in my political or social opinions within the helping shape their community for the better. pages of this magazine. However, in light of Do you know of more power partners we the recent events involving an elected official should feature? If so, please email me. who equated the LGBTQ community with Another game changer in the state is the KKK and then implied that if his children The Health Plan. It is one of the most were homosexual he’d drown them, and then a hate-mongering poster that was displayed at our thoughtful companies I’ve ever come across.

State Capitol, I feel compelled to respond. These Not only did CEO and West Virginia native Jim Pennington move the company’s events made me weep for my beloved state. The firestorm that ensued locally and nationally made headquarters to Wheeling, building the first new stand-alone building in 30 years me hang my head. We are better than this. and helping to spark a renaissance in West In every issue we showcase the best of Virginia’s most historic city, but he has West Virginia—and we have so many stories crafted an incredible company culture. When to tell. My team and the publications we produce work very hard to change perceptions I stepped off the elevator at The Health Plan, there was a sign prominently displayed with of the state. And quite honestly, I dread a weekly notice of what fruits and veggies the first three months of the year because it were in season to promote healthy eating. The seems that everything we have done to move company offers yoga classes, free bikes for the needle is undone during each legislative use at lunchtime, and exercise and smoking session. We are better than this. cessation classes. And if that weren’t enough And I say “we” because we have to stop one quick glance around the lobby, with its this negativity, name calling, and hateimpressive display of West Virginia art, made spewing—we are all West Virginians. We me giddy. Read my story on their corporate need to move the pews and not have aisles— with the left on one side and the right on the art collection (page 84). I hope it inspires others to outfit work environments with other. We need to meet in the middle. We pieces created by our state’s talented artists. need to stop demonizing those who think We have our heart in art in this issue. differently than us. We need to stop reacting to anger with anger. Because when we do, we On page 71, we feature beautiful bowls become what we are fighting against. We are a by some of our state’s talented potters and ceramic artists. And the next time you are in better than this.

Martinsburg, check out the banners that hang We are all guilty of creating this divisive around town. Designed by area residents, environment in our state and in our nation. they bring vibrant public art to the streets I’m guilty. You are guilty. We need to for everyone to enjoy. To share another one stop and look in the mirror—who are we of my favorite quotes, from WVU President becoming? Is this who we want to be? What Gordon Gee, “The arts, quite simply, nourish has happened to public discourse? Why can’t the soul. They sustain, comfort, inspire. There we have different opinions about issues, but is nothing like that exquisite moment when discuss them civilly and respectfully? This isn’t a problem for the right or the left. This is you first discover the beauty of connecting with others in celebration of larger ideals and our problem. Martin Luther King, Jr., said it best, “Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, shared wisdom.”

It is time for us and West Virginia to soar adding deeper darkness to a night already to new heights. devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot Soar, drive out hate, only love can do that.” We can be better.

So in that same vein, in every issue we are going to start to highlight “Power Partners”—folks who are helping to NIKKI BOWMAN, Editor create can-do, inclusive cultures in their communities. People who are moving the needle, bringing people together, and building a better state. On page 27, we Follow us on , , , and . interview Aaron and Monica Maxwell, a facebook.com/wvliving twitter.com/wvliving pinterest.com/wvliving instagram @wvliving #wvliving couple who moved to Lewisburg from Fort

letters to the editor

I just received my latest WV Living magazine and noted that it is 10 years and 10 years of opportunity to celebrate. As always, I read the magazine from cover to cover and find everything in it just absolutely superb. And I try even to follow some of your admonitions and get a chance on occasion to really enjoy West Virginia, not only through your publication but through the travel suggestions you make—and I follow in person.

In this season of hope and light, Laurie joins me in sending you our best wishes for the holidays and the happiest of new years. e. gordon gee, via mail

Happy Birthday to Us

I remember it like yesterday! Thanks for the mention. Wishing you another decade of success! So happy you are promoting the products and places that make our state great! kim parrish, on Facebook

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I should be baking or wrapping packages but I can’t put the latest edition of WV Living down. I just keep reading from one article to the next, amazed about businesses and people I didn’t know about. I’m yawning but pushing forward to page 34 to read about chocolates. Congrats on 10 years of amazing success. susan hardesty, via email Proud to have been part of this magazine's extraordinary success. All cred to friend Nikki Bowman and here's to many, many more issues to come! anne meyer, via Facebook

“Congratulations on 10 years! Thank you for sharing the best of West Virginia.” tricia clendenen kingery, via Facebook

Congratulations, Nikki! Your courage and tenacity inspire us all. And your work is much appreciated to those of us born here and those who chose to live here. WV Living is THE BEST! ta reese, via Facebook

Mr. Smith Goes to Charleston

When we named Stephen Noble Smith—former executive director of West Virginia Healthy Kids and Families Coalition and current gubernatorial candidate—our 2018 West Virginian of the Year, some readers were excited about Smith’s candidacy. Others, not so much.

Outstanding article well worth the read.

Someone we will be getting to know a lot better in the next months. carolyn dean, via Facebook

As a conservative, I love what he stands for. shannon butler massey, via Facebook

Thank you so much for voting us “Best Bakery” in the Eastern Panhandle! a step in time bake shop, via Facebook

I like what this guys stands for and what he has accomplished so far. I think WV could really benefit from a person like him in office or just more people like him in general. april wolfe, via Facebook

Very stoked to announce that we have won “Best Burger” and “Best Butcher” for Best of West Virginia 2018! Love all y’all, thanks for all the support. farmer’s daughter market & butcher, via Facebook

Only actual platform statement was about free stuff. He's pandering and trying to buy votes with "free" trinkets. mark lewis, via Facebook

We’re honored to have been named “Best Campground” this year. Thank you and everyone who voted so much! twin hollow campground & cabins, via Facebook

Socialist. matthew mccarty, via Facebook

A Sweet Note

I think this is a great article and I’m excited to see what Stephen does with his campaign. I support him! lauren barker, via Facebook

Best of the Best

As always, businesses were excited to learn they won a place in our annual Best of West Virginia list.

Enjoyed the article (“A Recipe for Success,” Winter ’18) almost as much as the chocolate covered cherries. No, I can’t lie—nothing comes close to the chocolate covered cherries.

My favorite candy ever. Before trying these, I did not like chocolate covered cherries. evonna meadows, via Facebook

Welcome to the Family

Just received my first issue and I love it! tina harrison haynes, via Facebook

J. KENDALL PERKINSON

letters to the editor

In Memoriam

Noted lawyer, entertainer, and “Earl of Elkview” George Daugherty died on February 3, 2019. We featured Daugherty in our Fall ’18 issue (“Elkview’s Earl”). WV Living would like to convey our condolences to his family.

Let us hear from you. We want to know what you think about the magazine, and we’d love to hear your suggestions.

Email: info@newsouthmediainc.com Call: 304.413.0104 Mail: 709 Beechurst Avenue, Suite 14A, Morgantown, WV 26505 Take WV Living with you:

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12 wvl • spring 2019

Discover WEST VIRGINIA IS A PL ACE OF BOUNDLESS DISCOVERY. HERE’S YOUR GUIDE.

CARLA WITT FORD

Start Something These are the folks working to make something new—because every tradition has to start somewhere.

PICTURED: HOUSEWARES FROM HOOT & HOWL, PAGE 20 wvliving.com 13

discover ››

wonderful teenage girl with a sense of sarcasm that she uses for the power of good.

There was a truck in front of us with 10 mattresses piled on it, and I looked at her and said, ‘Do you think you could sleep on that?’ and she said, ‘Of course, Daddy, I’m a princess.’”

Within days, Lepp had the basic outline for a story about an independent, boot-sporting, messyhaired princess who challenges social expectations. “She’s her own powerful character,” Lepp says of the princess.

“She’s doing things the way she wants to do them.

She’s not sitting around, waiting on the world to come to her. She’s out there in the countryside, finding out what she can get into.”

FOLK Given the book’s Appalachian roots, Lepp wanted to produce the story with the help of fellow West Virginians. He chose to publish with the West Virginia Book Company in Charleston, with whom he had previously published his storytelling CDs. For the book’s illustrations, he enlisted the help of Lottie Looney, a Charleston-based artist and instructor.

“I wanted Lottie to have free rein to do the art that she wanted to do,” Lepp says. “We had a good relationship going back and forth to make sure the art matched the words.

She has such a folksy, free style of doing art, that, like the princess, is unconcerned with conventionality. I wanted her to be part of the process so that she could do bright, happy as a native appalachian, Bil Lepp has art that would fit the story.” storytelling in his blood. Lepp, who grew up Lepp says the finished product is exactly in South Charleston, started his storytelling what he envisioned. “I wanted it to be an career in 1990 at the West Virginia Liar’s Appalachian-based story that positively Contest at the Vandalia Gathering, an annual reflected on Appalachia and West Virginia, celebration of West Virginia arts, culture, and which I try to do in all of my stories. I want tradition. Now, nearly 30 years later, Lepp to make sure there’s a different view out there is releasing his second children’s book, The to challenge the stereotype.”

Princess and the Pickup Truck.

The Princess and the Pickup Truck is The tale puts an Appalachian twist on the available for purchase on Lepp’s website, popular children’s tale, “The Princess and the leppstorytelling.com, and through the West Pea.” Instead of a precariously placed pea, Virginia Book Company, wvbookco.com. however, the mattresses are piled onto a pickup written by lexi browning truck. “I was driving with my daughter, who was probably 14 at the time,” Lepp says. “A

Our Hillbilly Hans Christian Andersen

Bil Lepp draws inspiration from his daughter and his home state for a feisty new children’s book.

14 wvl • spring 2019

‹‹ discover

EVENTS

Break the Ice

COURTESY OF ADVENTURES ON THE GORGE

A new tradition asks: Do you favor fire, or think ice will suffice? each year, the new river gorge marks the end of Gauley Season with Bridge Day, the world-famous October BASE-jumping festival.

But until recently, there was no hallmark event to mark the beginning of the spring rafting season, when the rain and snowmelt turn the New River into a series of raucous rapids.

That changed in April 2018, when Anstedbased outfitter Adventures on the Gorge hosted its inaugural Fire and Ice Festival. The event featured a pig roast, ice sculptures, an ice carving demonstration, and live entertainment.

But the centerpiece of the evening was a 12-foot-tall chimney of ice. Organizers packed it full of wooden pallets and, at 8:30 sharp, set the pallets ablaze.

If the chimney collapsed before 30 minutes elapsed, fire would be declared the winner. If it was still standing, ice was the victor. In the meantime, attendees stood around watching the show, drinking beer, and placing gentlemen’s bets on the outcome. “I think fire was the favorite,” says Jay Young, media manager for the outfitter.

Fire indeed won the night, providing an appropriate au revoir to Old Man Winter. “It comes down in a giant cloud of sparks,” Young says. “It’s every bit as dramatic as you would want it to be.”

Young says the inaugural event was such a success, drawing hundreds of attendees, that Adventures on the Gorge is preparing to do it all again on April 27, 2019. Call Adventures on the Gorge for special Fire and Ice lodging and rafting packages. 219 Chestnutburg Road, Lansing, 304.574.4909, adventuresonthegorge.com, @adventuresonthegorge on Facebook written by zack

harold

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discover ›› M A DE IN W V

The Daily Grind

Grant County Mulch recycles organic waste into a thriving business. in the early 1980s, Janie Berg’s husband, Larry, worked as a coal truck driver. Once that work died down, he started hauling raw byproducts from West Virginia sawmills to a company in Fairfax, Virginia. The company then asked him to take one of their grinders to West Virginia and grind the material prior to transportation. Larry did exactly that and, by 1986, he founded Grant County Mulch.

At first, the Bergs had just one tractor trailer. They would pick up the bark left over from sawmills or have it delivered to their Petersburg plant and run it through a grinder to create the desired textured mulch. “I had to learn to run a loader, and Larry had to learn to run a grinder,” Janie says. She would

also inspect all of the mulch piles for quality.

“I wouldn’t ship out a load I didn’t like.”

In the decades since its foundation, the company’s fleet of trucks has grown to more than 25. The single plant has spread into eight sites across West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia to ensure better access to customers, who now include Lowe’s, Scotts, and independent landscapers.

Janie used to be excited if they made four loads of mulch a day. Now, the company sometimes does more than 380 loads. Peak season runs from February until July, since that’s when people spruce up around their homes. By early autumn, focus shifts to manufacturing the mulch and soils for next year.

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The company currently has 230 employees, three of whom are Larry and Janie’s daughters.

“A lot of our employees have been with us for 30 years,” Janie says.

The Bergs live on acreage adjoining the Petersburg plant, Janie’s office often feels like her living room, and Larry continues to act as the president of the GCM Corporation.

What are the Bergs’ plans for the future?

“I want to say retiring, but I don’t think that’s in my vocabulary,” Janie says. written by jess

walker bowman

photographed by nikki

‹‹ discover

the bank and I borrowed the money on my reputation alone,” she says. “And I took a big chunk of money because this is on a big corner lot. I can’t believe that they gave it to me.”

But what may have seemed like a risky business move at the time has worked out for Hissam. She rebranded the restaurant Connie’s Corner, and it has become a local favorite for its made-from-scratch food and a stillbooming catering business.

Hissam describes her restaurant as one of the few places around that still peels its own potatoes.

“We do everything homemade here, everything nearly 15 years ago, Connie Hissam was comes from scratch.” looking for a bigger kitchen for her catering The restaurant’s most popular item is its soups, business when she—and her bank—took with kitchen staff making 40 to 60 gallons of a chance on a restaurant venture in her three soups each day. “We make it year round,” hometown of Chester.

Hissam says. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s Hissam approached the owner of a summer, winter. We’ll sell soup no matter what. downtown restaurant about a partnership that People call every day and ask, ‘What soup are we would allow her to use the kitchen facilities. having today?’”

She knew the space already. Years before, she And then there are the sandwiches. There’s had been a waitress at a previous iteration of the standard fare like turkey, roast beef, and meatloaf, restaurant. Hissam also knew the owner was but if you’re feeling especially hungry, try the struggling to make ends meet. triple-decker Connie’s Club. It’s topped with The arrangement worked so well that ham, egg, cheese, bacon, lettuce, and tomato. “It’s Hissam ultimately approached the owner a very well-liked sandwich," Hissam says about buying the space outright. “I went to The menu also features a selection of MOM AND POP STOPS

Cornering the Market A business risk pays off for this favorite Chester hangout.

appetizers, fresh salads, and chicken and fish baskets. It’s all served on brightly colored Fiestaware—made just down the road at the Homer Laughlin China factory—with a side of local charm. “We have locals, locals, locals all the time,” Hissam says.

“It’s just like everybody talks and everybody’s family. That’s just the way it is here. Everybody knows each other. We have the same people that come in every day and everybody looks forward to seeing everybody.”

This spring, Hissam plans to celebrate paying off that bank loan. “Fifteen years later we’re almost ready to have a mortgageburning party out on the sidewalk,” she says.

“The catering business just took off. And it grew and grew and now it’s phenomenal, and the restaurant does fine. It’s still a small hometown restaurant where everybody knows everybody and it just worked.”

256 West Carolina Avenue, 304.387.0770, “Connie’s Corner” on Facebook written by lori

kersey bowman

photographed by nikki

wvliving.com 17

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BO OK

Color Inside the (State) Lines A new coloring book features West Virginia’s most iconic critters, people, and places.

written by zack

harold

18 wvl • spring 2019

S OME T HING NE W

Scouts Honor Teaching Girl Scouts about Appalachia’s female heroes.

it’s always been part of the Girl Scout Law to be “honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, and courageous and strong.” But the Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council—which covers 61 counties throughout Maryland, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia—hopes to teach those traits by example through its “Mountain Mommas of Appalachia” program.

The curriculum, which debuted last October, covers a different woman each month. The list includes singer-songwriter Dolly Parton, NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, Mothers Day founder Anna Jarvis, and lesser-known heroes like Diana Baldwin, one of the first female coal miners. “We hope they gain some confidence in themselves through hearing these stories,” says Meghan Smith, the council’s external relations manager.

The stories are paired with activities to help the girls dive deeper into Appalachian history and traditions. Although the program was developed by the Black Diamond Council, it’s available for Girl Scouts nationwide. Smith says troop leaders from as far as away as Texas are implementing the program with their girls.

COURTESY OF GIRL SCOUTS OF BLACK DIAMOND COUNCIL

there’s never a lack of color in West Virginia, but Josh Miller wants to add a little bit more. With your help.

His coloring book, West Virginia: Coloring the Mountain State, features state symbols like the cardinal and black bear, iconic landmarks like Seneca Rocks and the Babcock State Park grist mill, and famous natives like Don Knotts and Jerry West, all rendered in beautiful black-and-white line drawings. It’s up to you—and your crayons or colored pencils—to bring the images to living color.

Miller says he likes all the illustrations in the book but he’s particularly proud of the cover, which features a red-bearded Mountaineer outfitted with a coonskin cap, buckskins, and musket. “It’s a pretty good representation of the Mountaineer spirit of the state,” he says.

Coloring the Mountain State began as an assignment for one of Miller’s graphic design classes at Pierpont Community & Technical College. He got an “A,” but that’s not all he’s gotten from the project. The book, which is available on Amazon, has sold copies all over the country. Miller has even sold a few copies overseas. “I sold 13 in one month in Europe,” he says. He expects they may have brought joy to a homesick West Virginian.

To order a copy of your own, visit amzn. to/2Rt6bQG.

‹‹ discover S OU ND S

Say “Hello” to Hello June A Morgantown band is making great

music by doing what comes naturally. music critics nationwide fawned when Morgantown-based duo Hello June released its self-titled debut album last fall. The reviews were overwhelmingly positive, and almost every one drew the same comparisons. National Public Radio described the album’s lead-off single, “Mars,” as a “pulsating slice of 1990s comfort food.” A review on the website Paste called the same song “an unforgettable dive into indie rock” and compared Hello June to The Cranberries and “other heroes of sweeping ’90s guitar rock.” Unsweetened magazine compared the album to “90s-era atmospheric pop.”

Which is funny—because Hello June members Sarah Ruby and Whit Alexander don’t really listen to that stuff. “It’s one of the things I’m least familiar with, in terms of music,” Alexander says.

You can see why music reviewers drew the comparisons to ’90s rock. While Alexander’s drums provide Hello June songs with a rocksolid foundation, the walls of sound are built by Ruby’s jangling electric guitar, calling to mind bands like REM and the Cowboy Junkies. And her moody, evocative voice is a little reminiscent of The Cranberries’ Dolores O’Riordan and Natalie Merchant–era 10,000 Maniacs.

Yet Hello June is not trying to be a Generation X throwback act. Their sound is just the result of Alexander and Ruby’s natural chemistry.

The pair first met around 2009 when they were both attending West Virginia University and living in the same apartment building.

Ruby was soon playing music with Alexander and his friends, although the collaboration never bore fruit. Everyone went their separate ways but, by 2013, both Ruby and Alexander found themselves back in West Virginia. They rekindled their musical collaboration.

Ruby and Alexander say Hello June is an easy environment in which to make music. When working up new material, they don’t have to talk much. Ruby writes the lyrics and comes up with a guitar part, Alexander invents a drum part, and a Hello June song is born.

The recording process for their first album followed a similar pattern. Producer Bud

Carroll—who has worked on albums for West Virginia acts like Goodwolf, William Matheny, and Ona—says when they started working on the first song, “Mars,” he took his usual approach and started coming up with signature riffs and fills to take up space not occupied

by Ruby’s vocals. But he could tell Ruby and Alexander weren’t happy with the results. “They were just not into it,” he says.

So Carroll started stripping the songs back.

Instead of inventing countermelodies and riffs, he built the tracks around Ruby’s guitar parts.

“Sarah’s guitar part is always really fully formed.

The whole thing is in there,” he says. “I tried to get the most out of the both of them playing together.” Ruby and Alexander would play through each song a handful of times until they had a take that felt good. Then they would stop.

Other than a few overdubbed electric guitars that were added to thicken the sound, the songs on the record sound almost exactly as they do onstage.

Hello June has now appeared on stages all over West Virginia, including a stop on Mountain Stage back in November. They have also played a few gigs across state lines and, after taking the winter off to work on material for their forthcoming second album, hope to play more out-of-state gigs in 2019.

While Ruby and Alexander sometimes incorporate other musicians into their live shows, the core of the band remains their drums and guitar. “We feel comfortable going out as a two-piece. We feel comfortable rocking out as a two-piece,” she says. “It kind of goes back to the way the material was written.” wearehellojune.com written by zack

harold wvliving.com 19

discover ››

SHOP

Local Color, Concentrated A Morgantown artisan opens a brickand-mortar boutique to showcase regional talent.

when stephanie swaim moved to Morgantown a decade ago, she couldn’t find the type of shops she remembered from her hometown of Winchester, Virginia. “There are these little stores that feature local artists and items,” she says. “A place for them to be besides just their Etsy accounts or their websites.”

So she started one.

Hoot and Howl, founded as a brick-andmortar in August 2018, features a wide variety of local artisans. The shop began with just 12 partnerships. In under a year, that number has exploded to more than 65.

Swaim is a woman on a mission to highlight local talent. “I think shopping small is about the experience,” she says. “You’re coming in and I can tell you a little bit about the artist or you might even meet them while you’re here.”

The variety of products at Hoot and Howl is wide and eclectic: vintage clothing, handmade baby items, refurbished furniture, artisan body products, unique notebooks, and other gifts. Swaim is an artisan herself. She makes jewelry and crochet items for the shop, among other handmade goods, which she sells under the brand name Hoot and Howl.

While Swaim has no hard-and-fast rules about what she’s looking for, the products at Hoot and Howl tend to follow a pattern.

Many of the body products are natural, organic, and chemical-free. The jewelry and stationery items are quirky and fun. Almost everything is locally made, either in West Virginia or in surrounding states.

Above all, Swaim emphasizes quality. “The craftsmanship has got to be there,” she says.

“People who are taking the time to learn how to properly do their craft—that’s important.”

This open-ended approach to inventory 20 wvl • spring 2019

has resulted in some highly specialized and creative products filling the shelves at Hoot and Howl. Lucid Wands crafts beautiful wooden wands—a popular handiwork for Harry Potter fans. The Salvage Nation makes vintage radios that are compatible with Bluetooth devices, resulting in speakers that are both unique and practical. “They’re crazy hot,” Swaim says. “Everybody loves those. I sold so many for Christmas.”

Though her partnerships have grown exponentially in the past year, Swaim isn’t finished expanding. “I’m still sourcing, I’m still looking around,” she says. In particular, she hunts for pieces that will complement what’s already available in the shop. But she doesn’t want any products that are too similar to what’s already available. “I don’t

want any competition in the store.”

Swaim plans to keep building connections and providing opportunities for local artists. She also hopes the storefront can double as a workshop space. “I did not know we had this much talent in this area when I started,” she says. “All these people come in, and they’re like, ‘Hey, I made this.’ And I’m like, ‘Where have you been hiding?’”

245 Walnut Street, 540.533.0189 shophootandhowl.com, @shophootandhowl on Facebook written by emilie

shumway

photographed by carla

witt ford

‹‹ discover FA MILY FU N

We’re All Ears

A family-friendly podcast tells science fiction stories with an Appalachian twist. in jonathan joy’s fictional town of Splendid, you’ll find time-traveling teenagers, kid superheroes, and giant bugs. And, if you listen closely to the podcaster’s stories, you may also find that Splendid sounds a lot like home.

The Huntington writer is the creator of Professor Theo’s Mystery Lab, a kids’ science fiction story podcast set in an imaginary West Virginia town. Joy started the podcast last fall with the help of his friend Justin McElroy, a fellow Huntington native and co-host of the popular My Brother, My Brother and Me podcast.

The episodes are based on short stories Joy has published in an Ashland, Kentucky, newspaper for the last three years. “Justin suggested that I put those in podcast form as a way of preserving them, and to kind of help get them out to more people,” Joy says.

Joy, 44, is an English professor at Ashland Community and Technical College in Kentucky. For the last 20 years, he was primarily a playwright. He says writing short stories for children is different because the audience and their attention spans are different. “With a play that’s written for adults, you can kind of hang out with the characters before you get to the conflict. Children’s attention spans are pretty short—you need to get in and kind of get their attention, make an impact right away.”

Joy has a secret weapon when it comes to capturing kids’ attention: his son, Levi, who helps him produce the podcast. “He’s 8, and he feeds me lots of ideas for story characters and villains that kid superheroes can battle,” he says.

In addition to these fantastical elements, Joy’s stories are filled with references to West Virginia landmarks. A January episode featured Barboursville icon Billy Bob’s Wonderland and its animatronic band, the Rockafire Explosion.

“Most of the characters in my plays live in this Tri-State area, so it makes sense that you get a lot of local references in there.

Look for Professor Theo’s Mystery Lab on your favorite podcast app. professortheo.com written by lori

kersey wvliving.com 21

discover ››

PL AC E S

This Old House

A restored Mannington B&B celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. gloria cunningham always liked old homes. On work trips, she’d stay in bed and breakfasts, admiring the charm of the old structures and the hospitality she’d wake up to each morning. So when a friend mentioned that an old, empty house was for sale in Mannington, she went to take a look—and ended up with a new project.

The house had sat empty for six years.

“There was wallpaper everywhere, even the ceiling,” Cunningham says. “There was old carpet on the floors. On the porch ceiling, all the boards were coming down. But once I saw it, I could see the vision.”

After purchasing the house in 2009, Cunningham spent five years incrementally making repairs and renovations. She pulled down the wallpaper, tore out the carpet, and buffed 22 wvl • spring 2019

up the original wood floor. At the time, she was still living in her hometown of Farmington and commuting back and forth to Charleston for her job at the state Department of Education.

When Cunningham finally opened the Rhododendron House in October 2014—so named for the fabric she used for the curtains in the sun and dining rooms, and for the fledgling flower bush outside—the structure was returned in many ways to its original charm.

Harry Haught, then-president of the First Exchange Bank in Mannington, built the house in 1919. One of the early Sears Catalog homes, parts were shipped in on the local rail.

Most of the original fixtures still remain, from the beveled glass French doors to the coffered ceilings to the ornate sconces.

The Rhododendron House has three rooms for guests, a sunroom, a library, dining and lounge area, and a pleasant front porch that draws guests in the summer.

Though she loved fixing up the old house, Cunningham’s favorite part of her relatively new role as a bed and breakfast proprietor is playing the host. She’s hosted guests from as far away as Australia and the United Kingdom.

“The people you meet, they’re fun and they have stories to tell,” she says. “And people appreciate

what you do. I try to accommodate if they left their charger at home, or if they need an iron or ironing board. Little things.”

In the spirit of accommodation, Cunningham lets guests decide when they’re ready for breakfast , and makes sure to check with guests about their dietary needs. She keeps a variety of breakfast options on hand but loves to serve a cream cheese-stuffed French toast with a side of fresh fruit.

Cunningham also offers the Rhododendron House up for events. So far, she has hosted a few Christmas parties, a baby shower, and some luncheons. She’s considering hosting a party of her own in the fall, to mark the house’s centennial.

But you don't need to be a paying guest to get a look at the Rhododendron House.

“Even if people just come by to look—that’s okay too,” Cunningham says. “I love showing it off and talking about it.” 306 Mead Avenue, 304.216.2622, rhododendronhouse.com written by emilie

shumway photographed by carla witt ford

‹‹ discover

GO O D NE WS

Investing in Excellence

COURTESY OF WESTRIDGE

Leidos’ building now in development anchors Morgantown’s position in the company as a software center of excellence. leidos is not a household name. But as an international provider of computer-based services to government agencies, it’s well-known in the tech industry, including along the I-79 Technology Corridor in the northern part of the state. Over the past two decades, Leidos has established offices in Clarksburg and Fairmont to provide biometrics, cybersecurity, and other information technology services to the FBI, the Department of Defense, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

At its two Morgantown offices, the company primarily develops software, says site manager Drew Formica. “We build commercial health care products, for example, and we build software that helps our men and women in uniform do their jobs.”

A few years ago, Leidos designated Morgantown the company’s “agile software center of excellence.” The designation recognized a confluence of favorable conditions: a university that provides a pipeline of software development talent in a location that offers a good quality of life. “That reputation spread across the company, and people decided they wanted to start collaborating with us,” Formica says. “So now we

collaborate across the entire Leidos enterprise to develop and contribute software to various contracts and products.”

And that has led the Morgantown operation to outgrow its spaces.

Leidos’ new building in development in Morgantown is designed to attract and retain the best talent. Concrete floors, exposed metal elements, and natural wood finishes give the design an appealing tech-industrial feel. And the layout encourages creativity and collaboration.

“It has different types of couches, chairs, lounges for doing software development somewhere besides a desk,” Formica says. “It has outdoor meeting areas, a fire pit, bocce ball, a basketball court, and a caffeine bar for all the caffeine we’re going to need to write the software.”

Leidos’ presence in West Virginia advances the state’s tech opportunities: as much as 80 percent of Leidos workers in the state are either from West Virginia or recruited from West Virginia’s colleges into jobs with median salaries of $76,000. The 30,000-square-foot center under construction now in the WestRidge business park off of Interstate 79 will house about 250 employees and is expected to open in about a year. written by pam

kasey wvliving.com 23

discover ››

SHOP

Coming into Bloom

Beckley’s Blue Magnolia offers home decor and VIP fashion. dana blankenship operated Chateaux Interiors, her Beckley-based interior design firm, for 15 years. But when a downturn in the coal mining industry caused the business to start slipping, the energetic entrepreneur decided to try something different.

She opened Blue Magnolia about two years ago, in the same building where her interior design business once lived. “That was the time that Chip and Joanna Gaines was such a hot deal,” Blankenship says. “So I thought, ‘Let’s play off of that. We don’t have anything around here that’s like that.’

So that’s what we did. And people loved it.”

Blankenship’s daughter, Jessica, a recent West Virginia University grad, came back to Beckley to help her run it. “I don’t know that she was excited that it worked out so well because, you know, when you graduate you think, ‘Oh, I’m out of here.’ But Beckley has served us well, and she sees that.”

24 wvl • spring 2019

The shop, located at 610 North Eisenhower Drive in Beckley, started out as a farm home decor store, but it’s evolved into selling lots of things. “It’s just a go-to place if you’re looking for something different,” Blankenship says. “And that could be for your home or a gift or clothing.”

Blue Magnolia prides itself on being one of the few places in the area where you can buy Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. There are also a lot of West Virginia-themed items, which Blankenship says they can’t get enough of.

“Anything West Virginia, we cannot keep it in the store,” she says. “If vendors don’t include West Virginia-themed items, we beg them to because people love our state.”

Blankenship’s 17 years as a business owner helps her understand what her customers want, and she keeps them in mind when she’s buying things for the store. “Being in business so long with both businesses we’ve really gotten to know our customers pretty good. I literally

go and say, ‘I know this customer would love this and, if she loves it, everyone else will, too.’

I think that’s one of the reasons they come back.”

With its antique truck named “Maggie” sitting out front and its unique offerings, Blue Magnolia has also become a destination for out-of-state visitors traveling Interstate 64.

“They’re like ‘Oh, I saw you on Facebook and I just wanted to stop here.’ Or they see the truck outside,” Blankenship says.

Blue Magnolia recently added clothing to its inventory. It has gone so well that Blankenship recently started Blue Magnolia Clothing Company, an online boutique that sells clothing on a VIP Facebook page. “We just don’t have the space to accommodate home decor and all the clothing that people want,” she says. “So that’s why we have that.

Then they can do local pick up if they order online, so it brings to people into the store that way, too.” 610 North Eisenhower Drive, 304.256.7500, bluemagnoliahome.com, @bluemagnoliahome on Facebook written by lori kersey

photographed by amanda reed photography

‹‹ discover

T EC HNOLO GY

Waste Not

COURTESY OF BIOHITECH GLOBAL

Berkeley County is home to a first-in-the-U.S. technology for turning household waste to a high-energy solid fuel.

west virginia has a long and proud reputation as an energy state. So it’s not surprising that, when Berkeley County officials saw more and more people moving into the Eastern Panhandle early this century and less and less space for landfilling the waste those people would generate, they turned to energy as a solution.

The Berkeley County Solid Waste Authority looked into technologies for converting waste to diesel fuel. It researched turning waste to gasoline. It thought about compressing waste into briquettes.

Then the nearby Martinsburg manufacturer Essroc—now Argos Cement Co.—suggested a solution its sister cement companies in Europe were already benefiting from: High Energy Biological Treatment, or HeBioT (“hebbiott”), an Italian technology that converts household waste to a solid fuel that’s so energy-dense, it can meet the most demanding uses. Even uses like power generation and cement production.

With Essroc already an interested customer, county officials saw Entsorga Italia’s HeBioT process as a smart solution.

Of course, all good things take time— especially things that involve constructing a major factory around an imported technology.

Entsorga West Virginia finally broke ground in January 2016 on its $35 million facility outside Martinsburg. And in February 2019, the 50,000-square-foot automated sorting and processing plant, the first HeBioT facility in the United States, started accepting household waste from Berkeley, Hampshire, Jefferson, and Morgan counties through its big ladybug doors.

The HeBioT processing that takes place behind those doors is so commonsensical, it’s surprising it hasn’t come into use everywhere much earlier.

The first of two main processes is biological. Once delivered waste is massed into batches and large items like big cardboard and plastics are set aside, the majority of it—mostly food and yard waste and small paper and cardboard—is subjected to a monitored flow of warm air to stimulate natural composting and drying. After that runs its course in 10 to 14 days, the large pieces rejoin the main waste stream.

The second process is mechanical.

Materials that aren’t suited for the endproduct fuel, like metals and PVC, are removed using air currents, magnets, and other mechanical methods. What’s left, refined to a uniform, “fluffy” consistency, is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency– approved “solid recovered fuel,” or SRF, with a heat-generating carbon content of—well, no one knows yet.

“Because this is the first one in the country, I can’t give you an absolute,” says Emily Dyson, project manager for majority partner BioHiTech Global. The experience at the 11 plants running so far in Europe says it might be two-thirds or three-quarters the energy content of coal. “But I believe it’ll be better than that of Europe, because we have more paper and more plastics, which provide us with higher BTU (energy) content. I think we’re going to be really close to coal.”

That energy-dense fuel will be delivered two miles away to the Argos cement kiln.

It’s hard to list all of the good things that come of this. Here are just a few: • Only about 20 percent of 120,000 tons of waste that previously was destined for landfilling each year will now be landfilled, greatly extending the lives of local landfills.

• Up to about 10 percent will be diverted to recycling and to future productive re-use, increasing recycling in the region.

• With around 30 percent evaporated during drying, that leaves around 40 percent to become not the permanently landfilled waste it would have been, but a highly productive SRF. • The 50,000-or-so tons of SRF produced and burned annually will reduce Argos’s greenhouse gas emissions by more than 20,000 tons a year, amounting to a reduction of around 3 percent of the total.

• Trucks hauling waste will stay local, reducing their emissions, too.

• Clean, well-paid jobs are created: currently 16 to 20 in two shifts at the plant.

“It’s like the perfect story for this area,” Dyson says. “You have waste generated in the community manufactured into a fuel in that same community, which, when it’s burned, reduces greenhouse gas emissions at one of the largest employers in the area. You’ve created a closed loop of waste, turning it into a commodity that benefits the community. You don’t hear that anywhere else.”

Being first in the U.S. with HeBioT technology redounds to West Virginia’s reputation as an energy leader. BioHiTech Global owns the rights to the technology in 11 northeastern states and Washington, D.C.—all places that suffer the land-use challenges the Berkeley County Commission foresaw more than a decade ago. “We’ve had people come from as far as Canada to look at the facility,” Dyson says. “We’ve had people from various other states and a number of municipalities who’ve said, once we’re up and running, they want to come. It’s generating a lot of interest.” written by pam

kasey

wvliving.com 25

discover ››

P OW E R PAR TN E R S

Monica and Aaron Maxwell Co-owners of Harmony Ridge Gallery in Lewisburg. written by nikki

bowman

‹‹ discover

COURTESY OF RUSSELL WILLIAMS

meet monica and aaron maxwell.

Fourteen years ago, these California natives made their way to Lewisburg after owning a shop and gallery in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for 10 years. They had visited Lewisburg several times and, with each visit, felt more and more connected. In 2004, they packed their bags and opened Harmony Ridge Gallery in downtown Lewisburg. The town is better for it. From showcasing artful local- and American-made products to helping market local merchants to creating new festivals and events that draw thousands of tourists, these power partners exemplify the type of dynamic people you’ll find in our treasured small towns.

purple piece of paper with shops listed—not very engaging. We knew we needed to modernize it.

We spearheaded this effort and now it is more representative of the town.

Weren’t you involved with launching the first First Fridays after Five?

MM: First Fridays isn’t a new invention, but it wasn’t happening in Lewisburg. It really was an answer to the complaint that things closed so early. We talked to the city council 12 years ago about starting it—and our city was supportive. It was intended for locals—a community builder— so they could come into town and mingle or have a date night without being sold something. We wanted to keep locals connected to the town. It is still going strong.

How do you stay motivated?

MM: When we first moved here, there were already people doing really great things—lots of great energy. We just jumped in and started helping, but everyone gets tired and tapped out.

It’s a bit of a cycle. When there’s new people and Why did you choose to move to West Virginia? energy in town, you start to rally everybody and Aaron Maxwell: We love living here. It is a folks get more interested. But it’s important to beautiful place to live. People here really care keep bringing in that new energy and keeping about others. As an individual, you can have everyone engaged. a great impact. You get a couple of people together with an idea, and you can actually As a business owner, is the city of Lewisburg make something happen and create something supportive? that benefits the entire community.

AM: The city of Lewisburg is really pro-small Monica Maxwell: When we first came here, we business. This is a small-town dynamic. We can had a rental home. We would come and stroll go talk to a mayor—and that’s hard to do in a big through town. I remember every time we went city. If the city says “yes” to something, they can into the Old Hardware Gallery, Donna would see if it is working. We have been very fortunate welcome us back and say that it was so nice to that the city council and the mayor, John see us again. It made an impression. And that’s Manchester, have been extremely supportive and what I think all of our merchants do—we build have helped to finance marketing and events. The relationships with people. We want our visitors city has said “yes” to a lot of things they could to have that experience of being connected. have said “no” to. They’ve not been afraid to take some risks. Don’t get me wrong, owning a What are the advantages of living in and business isn’t easy, but having pro-small business owning a business in a small town? leadership is key.

AM: We love the sense of community. It is so easy to get together with friends. Small-town Are partnerships key to Lewisburg’s success?

America allows you to own a bigger space MM: Partnerships are key. Lewisburg is made than you can in a bigger city, where it is often up of hundreds of movers and shakers who are cost prohibitive. Everything is just much more making it happen. We have so many groups expensive and more of an effort in bigger cities. that are involved. The Lewisburg Foundation, for example, has been instrumental. For many Since opening Harmony Ridge, you’ve been years, the city would rent lights and Christmas very involved in the community. How did you decorations for the buildings. TAG Galyean, get involved? one of the founders of the foundation, had the AM: One of the first small things we did was idea that the town should purchase our own to join the (Lewisburg Downtown) Merchants decorations and create our own inventory and Association, and then we updated the marketing build on it every year. The city funds that effort brochure for the downtown shops. It was on a and maintains it. It has created a cohesive

theme that leaves an impression on visitors and locals. In the spring, the foundation plants 80,000 daffodils around town. All of these things matter.

AM: When Josh Baldwin asked me to help him start the Lewisburg Literary Festival, the city was very supportive. We paired short story writers with artists, and artists created installations. We yarn bombed the entire park.

We closed alleys and driveways for outdoor installations. The city could have said, “No. It is a liability,” but they didn’t. And we created something that was really unique.

MM: When Deva Wagner and I created Girls Day Out on the second Saturday in December, it was a simple concept. Every shop and restaurant offers something to the women.

It doesn’t take as much time and effort to organize, like other larger logistical events.

Most of our shops and restaurants joined in. It feeds off of itself.

None of the great things happening in Lewisburg would happen if it weren’t for the incredible group of people who believe in this town. There’s a long history of community here.

How do you create that Lewisburg experience?

MM: Our shops and restaurants are owned and operated by friendly people—so all of our visitors are going to have a positive reaction to the town. We want you to feel good, smile, and laugh. We want to know your story. Where you are from. We create relationships with people. We consider ourselves ambassadors for our town and our state. We spend a lot of time telling visitors all the other things they should do. We encourage people to shop at the other shops, eat at the restaurants, and enjoy our outdoor amenities.

You are married and business partners.

What’s the secret to making that work?

AM: I know who the boss is, and it ain’t me.

That’s why it works. Just kidding.

MM: It isn’t a challenge. We have very similar goals and objectives. We have very different strengths, so we focus on different tasks. We talk a lot. We don’t always agree, but we work everything out.

AM: We are a great team and we support one another. We each have our strengths and we complement each other well. wvliving.com 27

discover ›› S OME T HING NE W

All the State’s a Stage in 2014, west virginia was one of just two states that didn’t have a Shakespeare troupe or festival.

It was a lack that southern West Virginia native Jason Young and his friends from their theater days at Fairmont State University lamented. His best friend from college had gone off to Scotland and become a classically trained Shakespeare actor. And his friend Celi Oliveto had done her master’s work on Shakespeare at Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Virginia, home of the American Shakespeare Center, and had since returned to West Virginia.

But when Young and Oliveto revisited their lament in early 2014, Young was newly in a position to address it. Just the previous year, he’d founded Vintage Theatre Company to unite the very best teaching and performing artists in West Virginia. VTC already had an improv troupe, The Fearless Fools. Why not a Shakespeare troupe, too? He and Oliveto assembled seven actors and several support staff for a summer 2014 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream before they even had a name for their new ensemble.

What to call it? The ideal name for a Shakespeare troupe comes from the writings of the master wordsmith himself. “‘Mountaineer’ shows up two or three times in Shakespeare’s canon—mostly as an insult,” Young laughs—as in the jeering “Yield, rustic mountaineer.” They did like the word “rustic,” though. “We believed it described what we were trying to do, to take Shakespeare into every corner of West Virginia we could get it into.” Then they looked for words Shakespeare used for actors. “Players,” of course. But they also noted the use of “rude mechanicals” in Midsummer to describe actors. “We decided we’d be The Rustic Mechanicals: a bluecollar group of Shakespearean actors.”

28 wvl • spring 2019

Sean Marks as Lord Hastings in The Rustic Mechanicals’ 2018 production of Richard III.

The Rustic Mechanicals, 2019

The Mechanicals, as Young calls the troupe for short, holds open auditions every November and December at Vintage Theatre Company’s space in downtown Clarksburg.

All comers have to have ties to West Virginia—if not as natives, then through college, theater performance, or some other connection. By New Year’s each year, they’ve hired their troupe for the coming year.

In its first five seasons, the troupe performed 13 of Shakespeare’s thirty-plus plays—three each year after that founding year. The Mechanicals’ seasons do indeed take them all over the state: 2018 raised the curtain on 30 performances from Athens to Weirton and Martinsburg to St. Albans, in city parks, high schools, and historical playhouses.

To keep their shows accessible, The Mechanicals cut them to run from 90 to 100 minutes and present them intermission-free. “It’s like going to the movies,” Young says. “It makes everything a little more tight and intense and

fast-paced, which is good for a modern audience.”

It’s an approach that’s working: The troupe sustains itself through ticket sales, payments from groups that host its performances, and donations from generous supporters as well as side hustles like educational workshops. And it’s growing— in membership, from 10 that first year to 50-plus this year, counting a dozen high school apprentices, and in everything else, too. “Our audiences are growing and the number of venues is growing,” Young says. “And as the group gets bigger, the number of shows gets bigger and the number of people who see shows gets bigger.”

Heading into The Mechanicals’ sixth season, seven troupe members are from the founding season, and 10 are brand-new Mechanicals. “It’s a delicate balance, because you definitely want to honor the commitment of the people who’ve come before, and you

BEN QUEEN PHOTOGRAPHY, TYLER MAXWELL/LOST TRAIL STUDIO

Now entering its sixth season, West Virginia’s only touring Shakespeare troupe brings the bard to more and more of us.

‹‹ discover

The Summer’s Tale

In its first five seasons, The Rustic Mechanicals performed 13 of Shakespeare’s 30-some plays. In this sixth season, the troupe dives deeper into the canon. “We’re asking our audiences, after five years now, to take a chance on us,” says Vintage Theatre Company artistic director Jason Young.

He’s looking forward to it. “Really, it’s more freeing to do the lesser-known works.” Here’s the 2019 line-up.

BEN QUEEN PHOTOGRAPHY

MEASURE FOR MEASURE

Sarah Young and want people who’ve Aaron Harris been with you and in The Rustic Mechanicals’2018 understand what it production of means to go on tour,” Comedy of Errors.

Young says. “But new blood also changes the dynamic and usually increases our quality.

At this point, we’ve gotten bigger every year—we’ve added people who’ve brought positive contributions every year.”

The 2019 season, shows 14, 15, and 16, is made up of lesser-known works.

Lesser-known, but currently relevant: Shakespeare’s plays wax more and less topical with world events. “Everybody thinks Shakespeare wrote about kings and battles and wars, and he did,” Young says. “But, in his brilliance, he also wrote about people—people who were making decisions that we all face today. The difference is that, when a Shakespeare character makes a decision, it can topple a kingdom.” King Lear, he says, about an aging dad trying to deal with his three daughters, is a domestic drama—where the father’s actions affect his entire realm. “That’s how Shakespeare’s plays work, in my mind. As our world changes and different people rise to power, you can always take it back in some way to something Shakespeare wrote about.

That’s why he has stood the test of time.” vintagetheatre-wv.com, @vintagetheatreco on Facebook. written by pam

kasey

As The Rustic Mechanicals were choosing their 2019 plays, Brett Kavanaugh’s U.S. Supreme Court nomination and the #MeToo movement dominated the news. In response, Young put this play in the line-up.

“Measure for Measure is about a man in power who forces himself upon a female—a man who uses his power to try and manipulate a woman,” Young says.

“The character Angelo puts a man in prison and sentences him to death because he impregnated a woman out of wedlock, which is illegal. That man’s sister, a nun in training, goes to Angelo and says, ‘Why are you going to kill my brother? Everyone is doing this!’ Angelo says, ‘If you will sleep with me, I will not kill your brother.’

Shakespeare wrote this play 400 years ago, and nothing has changed in the way that men in power treat women. I think right now is a really good time for this play.”

The Mechanicals will tell the story and let audiences take it as they will. But they’ll hold discussions following their performances at Fairmont State University and West Virginia Wesleyan College, and possibly after others as well.

“I think it’s one of the most beautiful plays Shakespeare ever wrote,” Young says.

“We have a strong director, with kb saine helming that production, and I think she’ll bring an interesting take to it.”

AS YOU LIKE IT

“Our summer show is always a lighter comedy—you sit outside, we’re going to make you laugh,” Young says. “We had the chance to bring in Jim Warren, and he’s excited to direct As You Like It.” That’s a big deal. Warren is co-founder and former artistic director of the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, Virginia.

The ASC built and operates the Blackfriars Playhouse, the world’s only recreation of Shakespeare’s indoor theater and a thoroughly unique theatergoing experience.

Warren left the ASC recently after 30 years and is sharing his deep expertise with

Shakespeare troupes across the country. His West Virginia tie? He taught at Davis & Elkins College for a semester last year.

“We were also really lucky to secure Bridget Rue Esterhuizen as Rosalind, the largest female role Shakespeare ever wrote,” Young says.

Esterhuizen teaches theater at Davis & Elkins and was formerly with the ASC. As a rom-com, As You Like It is perfect summertime outdoor theatre. “Some of what’s cool about it is the way it explores what the play calls ‘court versus the country,’” Young says.

“There are rich people, the court, and they end up in the Forest of Arden with these farmers and people like that. So there’s this interesting dichotomy in the play between city folk and country folk—I think that’s something that people can plug into in a fun way.”

JULIUS CAESAR

“Fall will be one year before the next presidential election, so politics will be pretty hot by then,” says Young, who is directing the fall production. “I think that’s going to make Julius Caesar pretty relatable to a lot of people.”

The play is really the story of Brutus. “He’s this senator, statesman, who loves the empire so much that he would murder his friend because he thought his friend was going to negatively affect his country,” Young says. “That’s how Cassius convinces Brutus to do it. That’s amazing to me.”

Young took some chances with casting in this male-dominated show. “I had a lot of really talented female actors on my list. I thought about regendering, but if I turn Brutus or Caesar into a woman, everyone’s going to go, ‘HiIlary Clinton!’” Of course, Shakespeare cast men in his female roles, and Young once saw a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream where a woman played Oberon, a male, as a man. After a few minutes, he says, it was just Oberon. “So I cast a female Brutus, a female Cassius, and a female Cinna, and they’re going to play them in pants. I was comfortable doing this because of the strength of the actors. Caesar is so much about patriotism, and that’s pretty genderless, I think. It’s a little risky. But in my mind, it’s really exciting.” wvliving.com 29

discover ››

C OU N T RY ROA D S

A Banner Season

Martinsburg’s downtown streets become a walkable art gallery. written by zack

harold

more than a decade ago, Randy Lewis, executive director of Main Street Martinsburg, was looking for a way to bring more color to his Berkeley County hamlet’s downtown streets. “We thought, we should utilize our artists,” he says.

In 2006, the group started a project that enlisted local artists to decorate wooden pallets that were attached to downtown lampposts. It was popular with the public but caused some problems. Drivers occasionally crashed into the pallets. Thieves nabbed them under cover of night. “One time we didn’t attach one well enough, and there was a wind storm, and it blew into a brand new car,” Lewis says.

So Main Street Martinsburg switched from pallets to canvas banners in 2009. Now, each February, the group asks local artists to submit designs for the banners. “We decline maybe one or two or three each year, but most of them are wonderful, so we take them,” Lewis says. Volunteers cut and sew the 24-by68-inch canvases, which are then distributed to artists.

The number of banners is determined by the number of approved designs—last year, the city commissioned 32 banners.

The artwork debuts at the West Virginia Wine and Arts Festival, held Memorial Day weekend at Boydville, The Inn at Martinsburg. “It’s nice to see a blank canvas go out and, in three months, come back with something amazing on it,” Lewis says.

After the festival, city workers hang the banners from lamp posts along Queen Street.

Main Street Martinsburg organizes “banner walks” to show off the year’s creations. It also prints brochures for local businesses so visitors can have their own selfguided walking tours. The banners remain up until the end of August, when they are auctioned off on Martinsburg’s town square. Banners have sold for as much as $3,500.

Lewis says the project has been a success for Martinsburg and would be easily replicable for towns throughout the state. “It stimulates the arts in the community. These banners have really brought art to our downtown.”

30 wvl • spring 2019

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COURTESY OF MAIN STREET MARTINSBURG

Artists featured in Main Street Martinsburg's 2018 Banner Project are:

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1. Elizabeth Quintas 2. Nathan Atlier 3. Ava Quintas 4. Catherine Brant 5. Letitia Wertz 6. Aaron Lewin 7. Stephanie Hull 8. Kathy Gerkin 9. Apollo Youth Theatre

10. Donna Gray 11. Jeanne McClure 12. Jeanne McClure 13, Billie Fox 14. Kim Taylor 15. Pat Simpson 16. Miranda Hull 17. Lannie Mullenax

17 wvliving.com 31

discover ››

32 wvl • spring 2019

Taste NO MEAL IS COMPLE TE WITHOUT A GOOD STORY

Order Up

NIKKI BOWMAN

When their communities were hungry for something new, these enterprising entrepreneurs found a way to make it happen.

PICTURED: FOR A FUN-SIZED FUEL-UP CHECK OUT LORI’S CUP OF JOE, PAGE 34

wvliving.com 33

Heart inWest Virginia JEWELRY COLLECTION

“Heart in West Virginia” Necklace silver $175, 14K gold $475 Available in silver, yellow or white gold. Available in all birthstones.

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KIND HEARTED

Calvin Broyles Jewelers puts their heart in West Virginia and gives back to the state they love.

W

hen third-generation jeweler Beau Broyles of Calvin Broyles Jewelers wanted to make a piece of jewelry celebrating West Virginia, he knew it would revolve around a heart. “We, as a family and a company, have a lot of love for our state,” he says. “Our heart is in the state of West Virginia.”

For more than 70 years, Calvin Broyles Jewelers has been one of the most trusted names in the jewelry industry. Beau says, “When my grandfather founded this store, he built it on honesty, integrity, quality, and personal service. And to this day that is our hallmark. We are a family that treats our customers like family.”

And to West Virginians, family and community are important. “West Virginians have a lot of pride in their roots,” Beau says.

“And the ‘Heart in West Virginia’ necklace, which contains a gemstone heart in the outline of the state, is a perfect way to showcase that pride.” Each piece—available as a necklace or a bracelet in sterling silver, white, rose, and yellow gold—is customized by choosing the gemstone that is placed in the heart.

The “Heart in West Virginia” jewelry collection, which ranges in price from $115 to $475, has struck a chord with their customers.

One such customer, Vonda Roberts, received it as a gift. She says, “Several years ago, my husband played in a golf tournament and, when given the option of a golf outing or a West Virginia necklace as a prize, he chose a necklace that is now one of my most memorable pieces of jewelry. It is certainly a memory of thoughtfulness on my husband’s part, but as a retired elementary school teacher, it also represents the artistic talent of one of my favorite former students, Beau Broyles! I wear my necklace frequently, and it continues

to amaze me how many strangers comment on its craftsmanship, simplicity, and beauty.”

Jewelry is the perfect gift for any occasion.

With Mother’s Day right around the corner, show the most special women in your life where your heart is. Need a unique graduation gift? “We sell a lot emeralds and blue sapphire hearts as graduation gifts,” Beau says. “People give it as a gift to show school pride. People buy it with birthstones for birthdays. It’s a way for our customers to remember where they came from.”

But the “Heart in West Virginia” story doesn’t stop there. In fact, its heart beats on and on. With every purchase, Calvin Broyles donates 15 percent to a scholarship fund to help deserving West Virginia students go to college.

“We are a West Virginia family and a West Virginia business, and we wanted to help our West Virginia kids stay in the state and go to college,” explains Beau. Every year, with proceeds from the “Heart in West Virginia,” Calvin Broyles Jewelers awards four graduating West Virginia high school seniors from around the state $1,500 each. Applicants must be graduating from a West Virginia high school, attending a West Virginia university, college, or community college, and have at least a 2.5 GPA. “Our minimum is a bit lower than most scholarships. But we believe that just because a kid might not have the highest grade point average doesn’t mean he or she won’t be successful, “ Beau says. “We really wanted to try and help those who demonstrated a need and those who sometimes fall through the cracks.”

One of the questions on the scholarship application form, available at calvinbroyles. com/scholarship, is to describe personal circumstances that might have challenged the student’s achievement in school. The selection committee also looks at work experience and community service. “We want to learn about them, especially if they’ve had to overcome some challenges or difficulties,” Beau says.

“And some of these essays bring tears to my eyes. It makes the scholarship all the more meaningful to be able to help kids who really deserve it.” The students also have to submit one-page essays on what they hope to achieve in school, what their goals are, and why they chose to stay in West Virginia. Beau says, “We think it is important to encourage our young people to stay in the state—not that there is anything wrong with going out of state to college—but we are losing so many of our talented kids. This scholarship rewards those who can articulate why they want to stay in West Virginia.”

If you’ve been to one of Calvin Broyles’ three locations around the state—South Charleston, Teays Valley, and Beckley—you know that the customer service is friendly and welcoming and that their selection of quality jewelry, from diamonds and gemstones to watches and fine accessories, is vast. But one thing you may not know is that, by purchasing this special “Heart in West Virginia” line, you are putting your heart in West Virginia and helping our children step into the future.

Doesn’t that make your heart skip a beat?

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Heart to Heart

“Heart in West Virginia” Scholarship recipients share what West Virginia and the scholarship means to them.

LAUREN E. PHILLIPS, South Charleston Lauren E. Phillips, of South Charleston, a 2018 “Heart of West Virginia” recipient, had played soccer since she was four years old. But in the fall of 2016, she suffered a life-changing injury. After several MRIs and a referral to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, it was believed that she had a rare condition called avascular necrosis and was facing a total hip replacement or core decompression of the hip. After a surgery, it was discovered that rather than avascular necrosis, she had a labral tear, but her competitive days of playing soccer and swimming were over. Although she was upset that she could not play sports her senior year of high school and compete for scholarships, she stayed involved by assisting her sports teams and joining other organizations, like the National Youth Organization for Youth Safety (NOYS), to learn more about sports and recreation injury prevention.

In Phillips’ scholarship application, she pointed out that her injury caused her to miss several days of school and, as a result, her grade point average suffered. But she was determined. “The injury that was defining my existence will not be the curve ball that strikes me out,” Phillips says.

ZANE PINKERTON, Cottageville Zane, a Ripley High School graduate, wants to be a dentist and is currently attending Fairmont State University. “I have chosen to stay in West Virginia to continue my education because I love this great state. I was born and raised here. I feel that my generation needs to take pride in West Virginia. It is up to us to gain the knowledge necessary to propel our state forward. We must be able to provide the skilled workforce of tomorrow. More and more people are leaving to find work elsewhere, but I think it is important to stay and become a part of the solution to improving the opportunities in West Virginia. My family goes back generations in this state as coal miners and power plant, steel, and trucking union workers. I am proud of that history and look forward to continuing my family roots in this great state that I call home.”

CAITLIN HARDMAN, Buffalo Buffalo High School graduate Caitlin, who attends West Virginia University, is majoring in pre-veterinary medicine and after college plans to remain in West Virginia and work as a large animal veterinarian. “West Virginia is a wonderful state to live in, despite what others may say. All I hear from others my age is that they can’t wait to leave this place, which I truly have never understood. When I attended Rhododendron Girls State, Senator Joe Manchin spoke to 400 girls and explained that our state needed strong leaders such as us. Hearing this made my heart grow bigger for West Virginia, because our state needs love and support to be great.”

TO APPLY FOR THE

“Heart in West Virginia” Scholarship visit calvinbroyles.com/scholarship

“

I feel so fortunate to have received the Calvin Broyles’ “Heart in West Virginia” Scholarship.

Receiving this scholarship reminded me how blessed I am to have the opportunities I do. I also think it’s amazing the Broyles family is willing to provide assistance to so many students in West Virginia and make an impact on the ability of our state’s youth to receive higher education.”

LAUREN E. PHILLIPS WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY STUDENT

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Heart inWest Virginia SOUTH CHARLESTON

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HURRICANE

calvinbroyles.com

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BECKLEY

taste ›› makers

makers ‹‹ taste

A Storybook Beginning Shepherdstown’s Bavarian Inn pays homage to family history with its new brewpub. interviewed by zack

harold

for more than four decades, Bavarian Inn has provided elegant accommodations in an alpine-style hotel that looks like it jumped straight from the pages of your favorite children’s book. But in February, the Shepherdstown resort started a whole new chapter with the grand opening of Bavarian Brothers Brewery.

Workers converted the hotel’s former garden patio and a portion of its fine dining space into a brewpub and lounge. Chef Alyson Zimmerman concocted a new menu with casual entrees like burgers and salads as well as shareable plates of bratwurst sliders, duck spring rolls, and ahi tuna nachos.

The main character of this story, though, is the beer. With help from Falling Waters Brewery Consultants, Bavarian Brothers has set up a microbrewery that will crank out six beers: four flagship brews along with two rotating seasonal selections. They don’t plan to can or bottle their beers, at least not at first, so you’ll have to make a trip to the Eastern Panhandle to enjoy the fruits of Bavarian Brothers’ labor.

Before anyone asks, owners Christian and David Asam did not name Bavarian Brothers after themselves. Once upon a time—the 1700s to be precise—there was a pair of Asam brothers who built a church in Munich, Germany. Here’s a neat touch: the brewery’s sunburst logo is based on an emblem that still graces that church’s front door. How’s that for a prologue?

WV Living recently sat down with the modern brothers Asam to talk about how this brewery came to be. 164 Shepherd Grade Road, 304.876.2551, bavarianinnwv.com, @thebavarianinn on Facebook CHRISTIAN ASAM: About five years ago, we noticed a change in our guests. We had 300 seats of fine dining but the demand wasn’t there. Tastes had changed.

COURTESY OF BAVARIAN INN

DAVID ASAM: People saw it as a special occasion place. We decided to go the way the world is going—really good food in a more relaxed atmosphere.

CA: I was at the governor’s conference on tourism. The speaker was talking about beer tourism. I said, ‘That’s it! We have a German place, we should make beer.’ That’s when we came up with the concept.

DA: Our architect was also designing a house for a gentleman who had just moved to the area, who was also looking to open a

brewery himself. She said ‘You guys need to talk.’ His name is Bob Daniels. He’s going to be our brewmaster for the first couple years until our in-house person gets up and going.

We’re not trying to be Sierra Nevada.

Everything is going to be on-site. We’re going to have growlers people can take with them.

in the beer-making process itself.

DA: My father-inlaw, Harry Wright, is going to be our future brewmaster, and I’m learning under his tutelage. We’ll leave it to CA: Our father, Irwin, is a German immigrant the experts for now. Currently, I only know and acts like a German immigrant, so one of the basics, so they’re probably not going to let the ales is Irwin’s Angry Ale. My mom’s from me play with the toys.

England, so we’re doing Carol’s Royal Stout. CA: It’s always been a very buttoned-up, I think they’re real proud of us. Last night I wear-a-suit-and-tie-every-day business. was having a beer with them and they were We’re excited this gives us a chance to be a like, ‘Wow, slam dunk.” little more lighthearted.

My mind has always been more towards marketing. David’s the put-his-head-down, hard work kind of guy. He is very interested wvliving.com 35

taste ›› libations

Shot of Warmth A tiny coffee hub in Hundred keeps locals and commuters fueled. written by emilie

shumway

In photographed by nikki

bowman

a sleepy hamlet of about 280 people, a refurbished trailer off the side of a highway seems an unlikely place for a thriving business. But that’s where you’ll find Lori’s Cup of Joe, off route 250 in Hundred, keeping this tiny community caffeinated.

This coffee shop on wheels was a birthday gift to Lori Allen from her husband, Joe (get it?). After purchasing the trailer from a local police officer, Joe, an excavator by trade, tore into the old frame and rebuilt it completely.

The resulting structure has the feel of a rustic log cabin—albeit a tiny one.

“I’ve had a lot of people say, ‘Those little tiny houses, you ought to start building them!’” Joe says. He helps Lori during the morning rush, before heading out to do his own independent contracting work. Many of those opportunities have come from customers impressed by the coffee shop.

36 wvl • winter 2018

The Allens came to the area in 2014 from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, to be closer to family. At the time, Lori worked in life insurance, but she noticed the dearth of coffee shops right away. “There was nothing here and, to get a good cup of coffee—it was kind of hard,” she says. She began dreaming of a place that might fill the gap. “I was just kind of getting feedback from people, like, ‘What would you think about a coffee drivethrough?’ ‘Oh, I love that idea!’”

Lori started with just four drinks, but demand quickly grew. Though she’d never been trained as a barista, she was undaunted.

She taught herself to make fancy, Starbuckscaliber drinks, a few at a time. “I had no idea how to make a frappe. They’re like ‘Are you gonna have frappes?’ And I said, ‘Yep, it’s coming.’”

Lori’s hunch about a coffee deficit proved to be right. Despite the small size of the community, thousands of commuters

make the drive through Hundred daily. The busiest hours are from 7 to 9 in the morning, when Lori sees a variety of regulars—from oil and gas workers on their way to Ohio to the teachers who work at Hundred High School, just across the highway.

As of now, the business only accommodates drive- and walk-through traffic. But the Allens are looking for ways to foster the unlikely social scene Lori’s Cup of Joe has created. Lori and Joe dream of expanding the structure to include a walkin lounge area, a deck, and even a stage to accommodate music nights.

Though the business has grown quickly in the two years since it opened, the Allens’ journey hasn’t been without setbacks. After floods raged through the area in July 2017, they found the cabin partially submerged.

“It actually just looked like a little boat out on the water,” Joe says. They were surprised to find it hadn’t moved. Lori took it is a sign.

“God has his hands on this baby—it’s not going anywhere,” she says. “It’s a beacon here, so we’re gonna have to stay.” 57 Four Seasons Drive, 304.775.4059, @loriscupofjoe on Facebook

wvliving.com 37

taste ›› Cafe Appalachia

A Space for Grace This South Charleston nonprofit is feeding hungry people and helping addicts get back on their feet—all while serving up really good food. written by zack photographed by

harold carla witt ford

Cafe Appalachia ‹‹ taste Cafe Appalachia is located in the former St. John’s United Methodist Church in South Charleston, which merged with

H

ere is the church. Here is the steeple. Open the doors, and see charmingly mismatched tables and chairs, a coffee bar, and a cafeteria-style buffet line serving up hearty dishes made from locally grown produce and locally raised meat.

Oh, and see all the people? In the back, there’s a long table of white-haired ladies, chatting and catching up. At another table sit two businessmen having a meeting. At another, a husband and wife enjoy lunch together. See how everyone’s eating the same thing? There’s no menu here—just a set meal that changes daily.

There’s one thing you can’t see: Some of these people might not have paid for their food.

This is Cafe Appalachia, a nonprofit, paywhat-you-want restaurant located in a former Methodist church in South Charleston. It’s a project of Pollen8, an organization meant to help people struggling with addiction

throughout their recovery. How does a cafe fit into that mission? Well, in addition to providing hungry people with great food— regardless of their ability to pay—Cafe Appalachia is also providing job training to one of the area’s most vulnerable populations: women struggling with addiction.

Pollen8 partners with Recovery Point of Charleston, a rehab facility that requires residents to get jobs during their last three months. Employees start working in Pollen8’s agriculture program, which grows food for the cafe. “I think it’s healing to dig in the dirt,” says Pollen8 and Cafe Appalachia founder Cheryl Laws.

Laws hopes Cafe Appalachia will eventually be self-sustaining, growing all its own produce on an off-site farm property and in the raised beds and greenhouse on a grassy plot next to the restaurant. Some of these fruits and vegetables will be served fresh, while the ugly ones will be canned for later use. She hopes the restaurant will eventually

nearby St. Paul’s United Methodist.

Believing in founder Cheryl Laws’ mission, the church donated the space.

raise its own livestock, too. Cafe Appalachia is already raising chickens to provide both eggs and meat.

After some weeks on the farm, employees transition into the restaurant. This gives the women interviewing and job experience, not to mention a food handler’s card. Employees also meet regularly with Pollen8’s staff psychologist—but Laws says just interacting with customers is its own kind of therapy for addicts who have been shut off from wider society. “People talk to them, and they get social skills again,” Laws says.

Cafe Appalachia has no religious affiliation, but Laws says the restaurant does have some relation to the building’s original tenant. “We’re a space that offers grace to people,” she says. 206 D Street, South Charleston, 681.265.5160, pollen8solutions.com, @cafeappalachia on Facebook wvliving.com 39

taste ›› local f lavor

Dill with It WV Brick Oven Bistro’s pickle pizza is really good. Or so we’ve heard.

C

written and photographed by zack

harold

onsider, if you will, this completely hypothetical situation.

Let’s say you’re a writer for a statewide lifestyle magazine and your friends are all talking about this Cross Lanes restaurant called WV Brick Oven Bistro and the “pickle pizza” it serves. You are slightly skeptical, but you also know it’s your journalistic duty to try it.

At first you have some trouble finding the place, because it’s actually located inside T&M Meats, a neat little shop where gas grill gourmands pick up fresh-cut meat, deli cheese, and craft beer. You eventually find it, though, walk in the front door, and grab a seat at one of the few empty tables.

A nice waitress takes your drink order and returns with a chilled fruit jar full of ice cold pop. But you’re panicking. The paper menu on your table doesn’t list a pickle pizza. You realize you might have made a terrible mistake. Pickle pizza? Who ever heard of such a thing?

To save yourself embarrassment, you consider ordering one of the delicious-looking hot dogs everyone else seems to be eating. But you have a mission to complete. So, in a hushed voice, you ask the waitress “Is this the place with the pickle pizza?”

She says “yes.” She doesn’t ask if that’s what you want for lunch, though. She just says, “You won’t regret it” and she heads toward the kitchen.

The nice waitress is back in no time. She plops down a metal pizza stand, and on it rests a 12-inch thin crust pizza covered in mozzarella and big slices of pickle, sprinkled with chopped fresh dill.

You stand up from your seat and, acting like a complete weirdo, start snapping photos of the pizza with your big magazine camera. You notice this is making people uncomfortable. “Wow, this guy takes his Instagram really seriously,” they are probably thinking. But you are not worried about this right now.

The first slice leaves behind a stringy trail of melted mozzarella on its way to your paper plate. You lift the slice to your mouth and take a tentative bite. “Pickle pizza?” you think. “Am I really eating pickle pizza?” But the pickle flavor is balanced nicely with the creaminess and saltiness of the cheese and the brightness of the fresh dill. “Hmm,” you think after that first bite. “Mmm,” you think after the second.

Half of the pizza is gone before you know it. You ask for a to-go box, because it would be piggish to eat the whole thing right there.

So here’s the (purely hypothetical) question. If you ate the entire rest of the pizza standing in your kitchen at 1 a.m., would you admit it? 5254 Big Tyler Road, 304.776.4809, tandmmeats.com, @wvbob on Facebook

40 wvl • spring 2019

Bare Arms ‚‚ taste

Shoot for Your Supper

This Huntington gun range also serves up high-caliber diner food. written by jess

gardner bowman

photographed by nikki

taste ›› Bare Arms This restaurant pays homage to veterans with World War IIera decor. Come to shoot the breeze over a burger or practice your aim at the indoor shooting range.

W

hen Billy Bare decided to pull the trigger and open his second indoor gun range in Huntington, he noticed something about his customers. His clientele—mostly local military personnel and police officers—were bringing takeout with them to practice.

Sighting an opportunity, Bare and his wife, Christy, opened Bombshells Burgers and BBQ , a World War II-themed restaurant, inside their Bare Arms Gun Range. “People will come out and make a date night or an evening out of it,” Christy Bare says. ”It's very good entertainment and something we don't have around here.”

42 wvl • spring 2019

all of our meats in-house,” she says. “Every night, the smoker is piled with fresh meat. Nothing we have is frozen. We have fresh beef for hamburgers. We have ribs, we have brisket, we have pulled pork.”

Bombshells is also known for its pizza—“Any kind of specialty pizza you can imagine,” Christy Bare says—as well as its loaded appetizers.

The diner serves heaps of french fries as well as nachos topped with slow-smoked pulled pork, white queso blanco, green onions, jalapenos, tomatoes, and Aunt Connie’s coleslaw. Each portion is drizzled with barbecue sauce and served with a side of ranch dressing.

The restaurant is now as popular as the gun range which, as a result, has brought new customers to that side of the business as well.

“We have people who come in all the time who would probably never go into a gun store to look for a gun, but then when they come in and they see people shooting guns on camera, they see that it can be a fun sport. They see that it doesn’t have to be scary, and you can have a fun evening shooting,” Christy Bare says.

Billy Bare opened his first climate-controlled gun range near his home in Kentucky as a way to fill free time following his 2016 retirement from the Ashland Police Department. But he doesn’t see shooting only as a form of entertainment. “A lot of people own guns but they never shoot guns.

They never train, they never practice. So I wanted to get people out and shooting,” says Bare, who is an expert marksman, police firearms range master, and National Rifle Association instructor. He also wanted to create a range accessible to people like his father, who is getting older and has difficulty accessing outdoor gun ranges.

Customers can rent lanes and a variety of guns at an hourly rate. Bare Arms also offers An Army and Air Force veteran himself, annual memberships, hosts a variety of shooting Billy Bare wanted the restaurant to pay tribute to leagues for all ages, and often holds special events veterans. He’s paired diner decor with bombshell including ladies’ nights and date nights. nose art from the World War II era, and the Christy Bare says the range and restaurant restaurant makes a point to recognize veterans try to take special care with new shooters. “Our when they visit. “We have a lot of things and perfect customer is someone who comes in the memorabilia that honor (WWII door and has never shot a gun,” she says. “We veteran and Medal of Honor recipient) can take them in and show them the parts of the Woody Williams, and he comes and gun, show them how the gun works, give them a eats at our restaurant all the time,” concealed carry class, and when they leave, they Christy Bare says. feel like they can protect themselves if they ever Christy, who worked as a nurse for needed to use it.” more than 18 years, has little experience with And if they work up an appetite in the firearms. But that didn’t stop her from leaving process, the Bares have that covered, too. 2134 health care to help create the menu and run the 5th Street Road, 681.204.3994, bombshellsbbq.com, food side of the Bare family business. “We smoke @bombshellsburgersandbbq on Facebook

Going Bananas written by zack

harold photographed and styled by carla witt ford

Why do we love banana bread? For one thing, it’s handy.

Just combine a few pantry staples with some really ripe bananas— what kitchen counter doesn’t have a few of those?—and soon you’ve got a sweet treat perfect for breakfast, or dessert, or a late night snack.

But as much as we love that tried-and-true recipe from Grandma’s cookbook, it’s good to switch things up every now and then. Here are our favorite spins on classic banana bread.

Buckeye Banana Bread filling 4 ounces cream cheese, softened ⅓ cup peanut butter 1 large egg ⅓ cup sugar bread 4 ripe bananas ½ cup butter, melted 1 cup sugar 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup flour ¼ cup cocoa powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 cup chocolate chips Pinch of salt 1. Preheat oven to 350°. Line a 9x5 loaf pan with parchment paper. Set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, peanut butter, egg, and sugar.

Using a hand mixer, beat until smooth.

Place in refrigerator while making banana bread batter.

3. In a large bowl, mash bananas with a fork.

Add butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Whisk until smooth. Add flour, cocoa powder, and baking soda. Stir again until smooth and no flour remains. Fold in chocolate chips until fully incorporated.

4. Add half the batter into prepared loaf pan, add peanut butter layer on top in a smooth layer, then top with the rest of the chocolate batter. Smooth top and place in the oven to bake, 1 hour and 5 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

5. Let cool 15 minutes. Slice and serve. yield: 8 to 10 slices 44 wvl • spring 2019

Banana Bread Blondies blondies 1 cup butter, melted 2 cups light brown sugar 2 large eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla ½ teaspoon salt 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup banana, mashed

browned butter frosting ¼ cup butter ½ cup light brown sugar 2 tablespoons milk 1 cup confectioners’ sugar 1. Preheat oven to 350°. Line a 9x13-inch baking dish with foil and spray with cooking spray. Set aside.

2. In a bowl combine melted butter and sugar. Using a hand mixer, mix until combined. Add eggs and vanilla and continue mixing until incorporated.

Stir in salt, flour, and banana until batter is smooth.

Spread evenly in prepared pan.

3. Bake 25–30 minutes until center is set. Cool before frosting. browned butter frosting 1. In a medium saucepan, melt butter. Add brown sugar and milk and stir until mixture comes to just a boil.

Remove from heat, allow to cool 5 minutes.

2. Whisk in confectioners’ sugar.

3. Spread on top of blondies quickly—frosting begins to set fast. Allow frosting to set completely before cutting into squares. yield: 2 dozen blondies

taste ›› this

Banana Bread Griddle Cakes with Caramelized Banana-Walnut Caramel Sauce griddle cakes ¾ cups milk 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar 1 cup all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 tablespoon vegetable oil ½ cup bananas, mashed ½ cup toasted walnut pieces caramelized bananas 2 teaspoons coconut oil or vegetable oil ¼ cup sugar ½ cup maple syrup 1 large banana, sliced ¼ cup toasted walnut pieces 1 pinch salt 1. Combine milk and vinegar in a small bowl and set aside 5 minutes.

2. Whisk together dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Add oil, banana puree, walnuts, and milk mixture. Whisk until smooth.

3. Heat a griddle or nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Grease griddle with coconut or vegetable oil over medium heat.

4. Pour cakes and cook for about 2 minutes, or until little bubbles form on edges of cakes. Flip and cook another 1–2 minutes.

Reduce heat if needed to allow cakes to cook through without getting too brown.

Serve immediately or keep hot in a warm oven until ready to serve.

5. For sauce, add coconut oil and sugar to medium nonstick pan over medium high heat. Let sugar melt. When it starts to turn golden brown, add syrup, which will bubble. Add bananas, walnuts, and salt.

6. Stir gently until mixture has a golden crust.

7. Top griddle cakes with hot caramelized sauce.

Serves 4 46 wvl • spring 2019

this ‹‹ taste

Banana Bread Cheesecake crust 4 bananas, as ripe as possible ¼ cup vegetable oil 1 egg ½ cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1½ cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon filling 32 ounces cream cheese, softened ½ cup sugar 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 1 cup milk 1 tablespoon gelatin powder caramel sauce, for drizzling

1. Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, mash bananas with a fork. Add oil, egg, sugar, and vanilla. Stir until combined.

2. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Stir until just combined. Don’t over-mix.

3. Pour banana bread batter into greased 9-inch springform pan. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until top is set.

4. In a large bowl, add cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla.

Whisk until combined.

5. Microwave milk until hot, about 2 minutes, then add the gelatin powder. Stir quickly until gelatin is completely dissolved, about 4 minutes.

6. Pour gelatin mixture over cream cheese and whisk again until smooth. Pour the cheesecake mixture over the baked banana bread crust.

7. Chill cheesecake in springform pan for at least 3 hours, or overnight.

8. Release cake from springform pan. Slice and serve, drizzled with caramel sauce.

wvliving.com 47

taste ›› this

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread 3 medium ripe bananas ⅔ cup sugar ⅓ cup vegetable oil 2 eggs 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla 1⅔ cups flour ½ teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon baking soda ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 tablespoon brown sugar 48 wvl • spring 2019

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a loaf pan with cooking spray.

2. In a large bowl, mash bananas with a fork.

Add sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla. Mix with spoon or hand mixer until well blended.

3. In a separate bowl, add flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Mix well.

4. Add dry ingredients to banana mixture, stirring to create batter just until blended.

Add semi-sweet chips.

5. Pour batter into loaf pan, spread evenly.

Bake bread for 45 minutes, testing with a toothpick for doneness. Remove bread from oven and sprinkle top with brown sugar.

6. Gently run a butter knife around interior edges of loaf pan to help release bread. Place loaf pan on its side on a wire rack. Let cool before serving.

Makes one loaf

EAT + DRINK + BE LO CA L |

wvliving.com 49

taste ›› town

Eight Eateries in Elkins written by

E

nikki bowman

lkins may be the gateway to the Potomac Highlands, where opportunities for outdoor adventure are at every corner, but it is also home to some dining destinations worthy of the trip in their own right. Here are eight of editor-in-chief Nikki Bowman’s favorite spots to eat in Elkins—and yes, she can vouch for them all.

1. 1863 APPALACHIAN BISTRO 1863 Appalachian Bistro serves up the most mouthwatering cinnamon rolls you’ll ever taste.

I swear. Tuesday through Friday, enjoy differently themed lunch buffets, and for dinner, you can choose from entrees that include prime rib, barbecue, or pasta. 830 Harrison Avenue, 304.637.1863, 1863appalachianbistro.com, @1863elkins on Facebook

4. EL GRAN SABOR I will drive an hour and half to this authentic Venezuelan restaurant just to enjoy chef and owner Derdlim’s cachapas—fluffy sweet pancakes made with ground corn folded over a generous helping of melted cheese and savory meat and served with Latin rice, black beans, and soup or salad.

The tostones, arepas, and crispy empanadas are also popular. 413 Kerens Avenue, 304.636.8200, elgransabor.com, @elgransaborwv on Facebook

2. BEANDER’S RESTAURANT AND TAVERN This local hot spot is known for good Americanstyle food and even better spirits. For lunch or dinner, you can’t go wrong with one of their sandwiches or salads, but start your meal with the Buffalo Crack or a bowl of Beander’s Beans. 314 Davis Avenue, 304.636.6000, beanderswv.com, @beandersbar on Facebook

5. SCOTTIE'S OF ELKINS Where does Elkins go to eat breakfast? Scottie’s, of course. An Elkins institution known for its tasty hamburgers and breakfast platters, this friendly diner is a local favorite. Sourdough buckwheat cakes are to die for and, for those who travel the state looking for liver and onions, I’m told that Scottie’s is the place to go—although I cannot personally verify that rumor. 800 7th Street, 304.636.7500, “Scottie’s of Elkins” on Facebook

3. C.J. MAGGIE'S The fun atmosphere and attentive service of C.J. Maggie’s combined with an extensive menu of wood-fired pizzas, piles of pasta, tasty sandwiches, ginormous salads, and even Tex Mex, make this a family-friendly spot where everyone will find something good to eat. But save room for Peanut Butter Bliss—it is as good as it sounds. 309 Davis Avenue, 304.636.1730, cj-maggies.com, “C.J. Maggie’s” on Facebook 52 wvl • spring 2019

6. SMOKE ON THE WATER This comfortable barbecue joint, located right off Route 33 and Isner Creek Road, is always hopping.

Maybe the smoker sends out a tantalizing signal?

Start with the Pulled Pork Wontons or the Drop Dead Trout Spread, and then enjoy one of their many specialties—beef brisket, a rack of ribs, or the Smoked Meatloaf Grilled Cheese. 1455 Allegheny Highway, 304.636.9669, smokewaterbbq. com, “Smoke on the Water” on Facebook 7. THE FORKS INN Located right outside of town, The Forks Inn is a family-owned dining destination. On clear evenings, the breathtaking view from the veranda on its perch atop Kelley Mountain competes with the food. One of my favorite trout dishes in the state is their Popcorn Trout: fresh trout fillets crusted with popcorn, sautéed golden brown, and finished with lemon garlic butter.

You also can’t go wrong with the Mojo Chicken or Veal Scalopini. Don’t rush your meal—sunset over the mountains is the best dessert ever. Kelly Mountain Road, 304.637.0932, attheforks.com, @theforksinn on Facebook

8. VINTAGE RESTAURANT AND WINE BAR Open for lunch and dinner, Vintage is another great option. I’ve had terrific meals, from salads and sandwiches to dinner entrees of Beef Wellington and Wild Game Mixed Grill. I’ve not made it to Sunday brunch, but the Vintage Benedict has piqued my interest. 25 Randolph Avenue, 304.636.0808, vintageelkinswv.com, @vintage.elkinswv on Facebook

Live

E XPLORING THIS E X TRAORDINARY PL ACE WE CALL HOME

Up and Away

NIKKI BOWMAN

Whether riding muddy trails, soaring through the skies, or retracing history—thrills await in these pages.

PICTURED: GLIDER AT EASTERN SOARING CENTER, PAGE 67

Josh’s own creation

wvliving.com 53

COURTESY OF BUFFALO TRAIL PROPERTIES

away ‹‹ live

Muddy by Day, Luxury by Night Top-notch accommodations are popping up all around the Hatfield-McCoy Trails. written by emilie

shumway

wvliving.com 55

live ›› away

W

Almost Heaven Cabin Rentals LOGAN

Almost Heaven Cabin Rentals lives up to the name. The seven luxury cabins are custombuilt, and each has unique amenities. Cabins sleep anywhere from eight people all the way up to 20.

Depending on the cabin, comforts can include outdoor fire pits and saunas, hot tubs, pool tables, fully stocked kitchens with stainless steel appliances, a basketball court, and even— in the case of the “Stix-N-Stones” cabin—a theater room, bowling arcade game, and karaoke machine. Two cabins are pet-friendly.

Five of the the Hatfield-McCoy’s seven trails systems are within a 30-minute drive of Almost Heaven. Bearwallow is the closest, at just 10 minutes away—assuming campers don’t forget about the trails entirely and decide to just hang out in their palatial abodes. 298 Rocky Branch Road, Chapmanville, 304.784.3885, wvagetaway.com, “Almost Heaven Cabin Rentals” on Facebook

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56 wvl • spring 2019

Ashland Resort McDOWELL COUNTY

Settled deep in the woods, Ashland Resort features a tranquil atmosphere with lodges that sleep six to eight people, timber cabins for four to six, and cottages for four or five. There are also tent and RV sites with full hookups.

Recently upgraded Internet and cable give campers the opportunity to stay plugged in, but those who want to disconnect can take advantage of the cabins’ porch swings or gather around one of the fire rings. A camp store on the property gives riders access to anything they might need, from groceries to firewood to gasoline.

For those who can’t bear to leave Fido at home, Ashland Resort offers pet-friendly accommodations and a walking trail for dogs. Four miles from Flat Top Mountain, Ashland Resort provides direct connections to the Indian Ridge, Pocahontas, and Pinnacle trails.

681 HC 76, Northfork, 304.862.2322, atvresort.com, @ashlandresort on Facebook

COURTESY OF ALMOST HEAVEN CABIN RENTALS, ASHLAND RESORT

With more than 600 miles of off-road adventure, the HatfieldMcCoy Trails in southern West Virginia are an ATV lover’s paradise.

Riders may get dirty during the day, but that doesn’t mean they have to rough it at night.

away ‹‹ live

Devil Anse ATV Resort MINGO COUNTY

l

Built specifically with ATV travel in mind, the Devil Anse ATV Resort provides direct access to the Devil Anse Trail System. It features an ATV wash for muddy vehicles, and even sells permits on-site. The resort features five cabins that sleep four to six, including the charming “Moonshine Shack” with memory-foam mattresses and a full kitchen and bath. Beyond the cabins, the resort includes a luxury RV camper for rent as well as sites for RVs and tents. Devil Anse ATV Resort is expanding all the time, with a large camp store just added to the property providing a coffee bar for tired riders. There’s also a pond stocked with catfish and bluegill available for catch-andrelease fishing. 342 Muncy Drive, Delbarton, 304.426.5080, devilanseatvresort.com, @devilanseatvresort on Facebook

Buffalo Trail Properties Buffalo Trail Properties can rightfully claim the superlative of “most unique lodging option.”

One of the larger estates on the trails, Buffalo Trail features more than 20 cabins, including one that can sleep up to 22 people. Campers can also choose to stay in one of the “tree houses”—vaulted cabins with decks on the front. While the “rustic” tree houses are simple, with just a set of bunks, the “ultimate” tree houses feature bathrooms with showers, kitchenettes, central heating and AC, and even cable-connected flat-screen TVs,, fulfilling every kid’s clubhouse dream. There are also camping spots with RV hookups.

Buffalo Trail Properties features a full-service restaurant and bar, and while there is no direct access to the trails, the Pocahontas Trail System is only a 3.5-mile drive away.

But cool accommodations and amenities aren’t the only thing that sets this property apart. True to the name, there really are bison onsite. When the owners needed to keep the pasture under control, they considered cattle but went with a less common alternative. 190 Buffalo Trail, Bluefield, 304.324.3204, buffalotrailcabins.com, @buffalo.trail.wv on Facebook

Twin Hollow Campground and Cabins GILBERT

Located on a mountaintop outside Gilbert, Twin Hollow offers mistladen views and accommodations from the primitive to the plugged-in.

On the more luxurious end of the spectrum, there’s Papaw’s Place—a three-bedroom house with washer and dryer, flat-screen TV, Wi-Fi, and other modern amenities. The mountaintop cabins are barely a step down, with central air and heating and fully stocked kitchens. Twin Hollow also offers campsites with water, electric, and sewer hookups, with a shower house, laundry facility, and Wi-Fi access nearby.

Hungry riders will appreciate Trail 12, the on-site barbecue joint, which serves up hickory-smoked ribs, pulled pork, smoked bologna, chicken, and more. Twin Hollow provides direct access to Rockhouse, Devil Anse, and Buffalo Mountain trail systems, with three other trail systems a short ride away. Boasting spectacular views and comfortable lodging, Twin Hollow has snagged a Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence Award the past two years running. 703 Twin Hollow, Gilbert, 304.664.8864, twinhollowcampground.com, @twinhollowcampgroundandcabins on Facebook

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COURTESY OF BUFFALO TRAIL PROPERTIES, DEVIL ANSE ATV RESORT, TWIN HOLLOW CAMPGROUND AND CABINS

MERCER COUNTY

wvliving.com 57

live ›› history

At the Confluence of History A 75th-anniversary appreciation of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. written by

zack harold

60 wvl • spring 2019

CHRIS WEISLER

In 1761,

the Virginia General Assembly approved Robert Harper’s request to run a ferry near the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers. The legislature dubbed the town “Shenandoah Falls at Mr. Harper’s Ferry.” Two decades later, a young future president Thomas Jefferson passed through the area. fter surveying the area from the site known today as Jefferson Rock, he wrote, “This scene is worth a voyage across the Atlantic.” In 1796, Harper’s heirs sold 125 acres of land to the U.S. government. The feds built an armory and arsenal on the site—a move that would etch the little town’s name into United States history forever.

history ‹‹ live

NIKKI BOWMAN, CHRIS WEISLER

In October 1859,

radical abolitionist John Brown and his 21-member Provisional Army of the United States led a raid on the Harpers Ferry armory, intending to seize the 100,000 weapons held there before retreating into the Blue Ridge Mountains. Once there, they planned to engage in guerilla warfare to spark a slave uprising.

Needless to say, it didn’t go as planned. Brown and his men quickly found themselves in a stand-off with troops from Maryland, Virginia, and The District of Columbia. The conflict lasted three days and was only brought to an end once U.S. Marines stormed the fire engine house where Brown was holed up.

The structure is now known as “John Brown’s Fort.” wvliving.com 61

62 wvl • spring 2019

CHRIS WEISLER

Although Brown’s revolution

did not come to pass, the episode only deepened divisions in the country, helping to spark the American Civil War. Both North and South recognized Harpers Ferry’s strategic value—not only because of its proximity to major waterways, but also because it was located along the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. As a result, the town changed hands between Union and Confederate forces eight times between 1861 and 1865. This would prove ruinous for Harpers Ferry.

When Virginia voted to secede from the United States of America—putting the town in enemy territory—Union soldiers set fire to the armory as they retreated to keep the weapons it held out of Confederate hands. Southern troops were able to put out the flames and salvage some of the equipment but, when the Union later reclaimed the town, the Confederate Army burned most of factories and demolished a railroad bridge.

history ‹‹ live

The years following

CHRIS WEISLER

the War Between the States brought more changes to Harpers Ferry. Decades of development destroyed much of what was left of its historic architecture. But local historians pushed to protect the town. West Virginia’s Congressman Jennings Randolph took up their cause and, after several failed attempts, convinced Congress in 1944 to designate Harpers Ferry as a National Monument. This brought nearly 4,000 acres into the National Park Service, which began returning the streets to the way they looked in John Brown’s day. It was 19 years later, in 1963, that Congress officially declared the area a National Historical Park. The park is now renowned for its walking trails and serves as the midpoint of the 2,178-mile-long Appalachian Trail. But more than that, it gives visitors an opportunity to catch a glimpse of one of the most tumultuous times in American history. ➻ nps.gov/hafe

wvliving.com 63

listings From historic houses to picturesque farms to quaint cottages, there’s a special place in West Virginia calling your name. Check out these extraordinary properties from around the state.

3906 Westlake Drive, Morgantown - $2,495,000 MLS: 10117669

5BR, 6 full & 2 half Baths - Magnificent estate of Elegance & Grandeur! Extravagant waterfront property nestled among 2.78+/- AC, in one of the most exclusive communities Cheat Lake has to offer. Window flanked walls set the tone to truly capture the tranquil lake setting. Gracing over 11,200 sq.ft. finished (inclusive of 3177 sq.ft. LL garage). Home showcases custom limestone exterior, salt water pool, 10 car garage, gym, media room, guest en-suites, California closets, in-wall surround sound, 20 ft. ceilings, library, executive study & so much more.

Listed by Howard Hanna Premier Properties by Barbara Alexander 304.594.0115 Listing Agent Victoria Shuman 304.282.8288

listings From historic houses to picturesque farms to quaint cottages, there’s a special place in West Virginia calling your name. Check out these extraordinary properties from around the state.

214 Mystic Drive, Morgantown - $2,950,000 MLS: 10124643

5BR, 4.5BA - Handsome contemporary home wrapped in rustic charm capturing the heart of the Mountain State. Light-filled rooms, lofty ceilings, and simplistic design all describe this unique home situated on 3.62 acres and built using CTL construction. Spacious main house and detached guest suite ensure this home has ample space for all occasions. Owners’ suite accessible in private wing hosting dramatic window-flanked walls, while secondary en-suites, loft, and sundeck complete level two. Don’t miss the chance to reside in this unparalleled work of art.

Listed by Howard Hanna Premier Properties by Barbara Alexander 304.594.0115 Listing Agent Victoria Shuman 304.282.8288

home marketplace

66 wvl • spring 2019

out loud ‹‹ live

Catch the Wave

Get your glide on at Eastern Soaring Center in Petersburg. written and photographed by

A

couple years ago, I was driving through Petersburg.

It was a beautiful and crisp day cast in the green sheen of spring, and I spotted a sleek white sailplane elegantly dancing in the sky. I pulled off on the side of the road and watched as it dipped and climbed, gracefully performing figure eights. It was alone in the wild expanse of blue, sailing the sky over imaginary waves. I knew right then, I had to try it. What I didn’t know was that those waves weren’t imaginary.

Motorless glider planes or sailplanes are the aircraft used in the sport of gliding. Although these slender, bullet-like aircraft have been popular since the 1920s, they are beginning to see a resurgence.

Take a drive through Grant County on a weekend and look up. The Grant County

nikki bowman

Airport has become a hub for soaring. Many soaring clubs use it as a base. Just ask Brian Collins, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel and owner of Eastern Soaring Center, why he landed in Petersburg. He’ll say the waves brought him.

“This is a really great place for flying—one of the best spots on the East Coast,” he says. “We have great thermals during the spring, summer, and fall, and from the fall through the spring, we have what is called Mountain Wave. It’s when the wind blows strong through the west and creates a literal wave in the sky. You can literally surf up over 20,000 feet high.”

And then there’s the unrivaled scenic beauty—another major draw. If you think West Virginia is beautiful by land, you should see it from the air. After a glider experience, you’ll know why eagles spend so much time flying.

The other necessary ingredients for good

gliding are the ridges. When the westerly flow of air pushes against the ridge, it creates a lift.

“We have great lifts and thermals. Good hills and plains are essential to creating the two forms of lift and to have the Mountain Wave,” Collins says. “This place is special.”

When Collins was searching for a spot to retire to, he fell in love with Petersburg. “The Grant County Airport was a big draw for me.

It was not commercially busy—quiet enough and big enough to be able to run a business giving tours and lessons, and it has a long and flat grassy airstrip to accommodate my winch launching system.”

Winch? Think slingshot—sort of. You aren’t catapulted in the air like a Warner Bros. cartoon, but the technique takes you from 0 to 60 mph in as little as 1.6 seconds, like a drag racer. Collins’ winch uses a mile-long cable that is connected to a stationary engine, which wvliving.com 67

live ›› out loud

MENTION

W V LIVINEGA

TO RECEIV

1DIS0CO%UNT

The Eastern Soaring Center offers the only comercial operation in the mid-Atlantic region exclusively offering winch launching.

68 wvl • spring 2019

winds the cable around a drum at lightning speeds. While some glider planes are towed into the air by biplanes and then released once they have reached a certain height, Collins has the only commercial operation in the mid-Atlantic region exclusively offering winch launching. It allows him to book tours or lessons without the need to involve another plane or pilot. “Our operation is modeled after successful winch operations at nearly a dozen other U.S. public airports, and it is based on industry-standard winch operation procedures in the U.S., U.K., Germany, and Australia,” he says.

Rest assured, this pilot knows what he is doing. Before Collins launched the Eastern Soaring Center, he was a glider instructor at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Since then he has accumulated more than 2,700 hours and 6,000 flights in gliders, including thousands of cross-country miles. He has set over 20 state and two national records.

I admit, it is a bit unnerving when you think about being so high in the sky with

no engine or gas, with only Mother Nature as the fuel. When I express concern about heights, Collins quickly puts me at ease.

“Believe it or not, I’m afraid of heights,” he says. “This won’t bother you at all. When you aren’t connected to the ground, your body doesn’t respond like it would if you were standing on the top of a building. You’ll have no sensation of heights.”

He was right. Take me to the top of a 30-story building and my knees will buckle.

Put me in an engineless sailplane 3,000 feet in the air and I’m fine.

We walk the ultra light Twin Lark glider with its 57-foot wingspan to the end of the runway, where it is connected to the winch with a rope. I climb into the front seat as if it is a skinny bathtub. We pull the plexiglass top of the narrow cockpit down until we are fully enclosed. Collins assigns me a job.

“Your responsibility is to be on the lookout for birds or other planes. We don’t want to hit them,” he says. I take my job very seriously.

Collins gives the signal and the winch

out loud ‹‹ live

Looking for a new adventure? Soaring above Petersburg in a glider or sailplane provides a unique perspective on the state's scenic beauty.

rockets us up into the sky. When we reach about 2,000 feet, Collins releases the cable and it drops back to the ground using a parachute. Once we level off, the mountains roll out beneath me.

The 360-degree views are pristine— forested ridges, rocky crags, the North Branch of the Potomac River snaking its way through a variegated green patchwork of fields, and Dolly Sods and Seneca Rocks looming in the distance.

But the most striking thing—there is no noise.

Nothing.

Nada.

No engine grumble.

No humming of traffic.

Just quiet.

Peace.

That’s when you realize how noisy life is.

“Where there’s lift, there has to be sink,” Collins says, bringing me back to reality. We swoop to the left. We swoop to the right, looking for thermals to take us higher and higher. Not finding them, we start our descent.

I clench my teeth, expecting to be rattled when we land belly-down on grass,

but the landing was as smooth as butter— not anything like the landing of commercial planes. It was so smooth, in fact, I wasn’t even convinced we had really landed.

Eastern Soaring Center’s location makes it the closest year-round, weekday, and weekend operation serving Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Northern Virginia, and the surrounding areas. You’ll need to make reservations, and flights are dependent on weather. A 10- to 15-minute ride will cost around $125, and a 20-to-25minute ride will cost $175—and if you ask me, it is worth every dime. If the weather is questionable, you’ll want to call ahead before departing to confirm field conditions. You can even purchase a gift certificate—it makes a unique gift.

Mention WV Living magazine and you’ll even get a 10 percent discount!

For more information, call 304.851.4106, email gliding@easternsoaringcenter.com, or visit easternsoaringcenter.com.

W

To view our video visit www.wvliving.com/spring-2019/ catch-the-wave wvliving.com 69

creatively ‹‹ live

Bowled Over WV Living asked some of the state’s most gifted potters to share their unique takes on the most basic of kitchenware items: the bowl. We also talked with them about their individual processes and sources of inspiration—and their answers were as creative and original as their pottery. written by jess

walker

photographed by carla

witt ford

JOY BRIDY JOY BRIDY POTTERY Joy Bridy found herself in Washington, D.C., a phone in front of her. She’d decided to cold-call potters from around the country to ask if she could fire pieces with them. “Each time, I had to sit with the phone for an hour to get the courage to dial the number,” she says. Once she did, she found nothing but support. Now Bridy always agrees to chat with a fellow artist, often with a cup of coffee or tea handy.

Bridy has made her studio and home in Jefferson County. Once or twice a year, she’ll fire up her wood kiln. It’s a three-day process where Bridy—along with her husband and two other people—constantly monitor the fire. “Each piece tells a story of the firing because the pieces affect each other in the kiln,” she says. Bridy likewise lets her surroundings affect her work, drawing inspiration from hikes and connecting with her community. joybridy.com

earth + fire

live ›› creatively

MICHAEL RAY WEST FORK POTTERY Michael Ray’s mother gifted him a toy potter’s wheel when he was nine years old. He’s been throwing clay ever since. While in a graduate program at Fairmont State, Ray bought his own wheel—a real one, this time—and set up a makeshift studio in his apartment. “I like the functionality of clay, and the fact that you can make things people can use,” Ray says. “It’s also limitless what you can do artistically.”

fired up In 2013, Ray met coffee roaster Bob Layne, who introduced the idea of a hybrid coffee shop and pottery studio. One year later, Joe N’ Throw Co-Op—a partnership of Layne’s Stone Tower Joe coffee roasting and Ray’s West Fork Pottery—was born. The studio has space for artists to work and offers classes to the public. Ray draws inspiration for his own pieces from a myriad of sources and, as a former history major, enjoys studying local potteries and artists of the past. westforkpottery.com

BETSY COX ECHO VALLEY POTTERY Every time Betsy Cox fires a new piece of pottery, it feels like Christmas.

Cox primarily uses primitive firings such as saggar, raku, pit, and wood.

In saggar firing, a pot is fired within another container—the saggar— which leaves the final product under wraps until it’s finished. “You never know what you’re going to get each time,” Cox says. “I’m thrilled when I pull out a pot and think, ‘Wow, I did that.’”

depth

A connection to earth and nature is essential for Cox. She digs local clay, whips up glazes from raw materials, and uses old wood and tree fungi on handles. As a nod to her passion for archaeology, Cox even makes horse hair pottery. In this traditionally Native American technique, the artist throws horse hair onto fired pots to create charred patterns. The results are unreplicable, creating a special memento for horse owners. “The more you delve into clay, the more you realize how it’s involved in our everyday lives,” Cox says. echovalleypottery.com, @echovalleypottery

creatively ‹‹ live

NOELLE HORSFIELD FULL CIRCLE CERAMIC For Noelle Horsfield, being a self-taught ceramic artist means nothing is off limits. Instead of using a wheel, she hand-builds pottery from hunks of clay. With a background in printmaking and illustrating, Horsfield treats each piece as a blank canvas that she can carve with vibrant images and phrases.

Horsfield opened Full Circle Ceramic two years after moving to Huntington in 2014. “At that point, I didn’t know if it would work as a business. I just knew I was tired of working in an attic or basement,” she says. Full Circle Ceramic now attracts visitors from across the country, and has even moved to a larger space. Some customers buy pieces as modern heirlooms they can pass down, which Horsfield takes as a great compliment.

“Nothing makes me happier than to be working in the shop and to see how much people are enjoying themselves.” fullcircleceramic.com, @fullcircleceramic on Instagram

texture + pattern

live ›› creatively

JEFF DIEHL LOCKBRIDGE POTTERY Although Jeff Diehl’s formal ceramics training began at Berea College in Kentucky, his passion for pottery started years—if not generations—prior. Growing up, Diehl played in piles of clay as his grandfather crafted pots. Then, during a yearlong apprenticeship in Germany, he worked near where his great-grandfather had a pottery. In 1980, Diehl added to his ancestors’ legacy and, with his wife Donna and their friends, revamped an abandoned schoolhouse into Lockbridge Pottery.

A mentor once told Diehl that making pottery would get easier after his first thousand pots. He’s long since passed that milestone, but Diehl sees his craft as ever-changing.

He’s constantly learning new skills and finding new inspirations.

“Making pots is like an exciting road trip,” he says. “Every kiln load is a destination, and then the open road lies ahead to choose where to go and how to get there.”

Lockbridge Pottery holds three shows annually in Summers County to display Diehl’s wide array of work. lockbridgepottery.com

flow + music

74 wvl • spring 2019

creatively ‹‹ live

MARY BETHUNE & JOHN ACKISON GAULEY RIVER POTTERY Each piece of Mary Bethune’s pottery perfectly captures the simple beauty and power of West Virginia’s rivers. “If I have a choice of what I’m going to do in a day, it’s going to be kayaking or making pottery,” Bethune says. Her wave bowls—which come in “class III” or “class VI”—tie together those two loves. Earthy glazes splash down the sides of each bowl, and the swirling rims twist together like rapids.

During and after college, Bethune spent her summers on the whitewater and winters in the pottery studio. Once she started her family, she transitioned into making pottery full-time and opened Gauley River Pottery with her husband, John Ackison, in 2002. The couple had no customers on opening day, but they persevered. Now, Gauley River Pottery is a one-of-a-kind tourist attraction where visitors can watch pottery making and browse a gallery of stoneware. wvpottery.com

swirling water

live ›› creatively

HANNAH LENHART HANNAH’S CLAY CREATIONS For Shakespeare, all the world was a stage. For Hannah Lenhart, all the world is potential pottery. Lenhart draws inspiration from teapots at restaurants and architectural touches on houses to make her travel mugs, teapots, and treat jars. “I focus on functional wares that are still whimsical and bring light into the home,” she says.

Lenhart graduated from Fairmont State in 2017 with degrees in studio art and business administration. Soon afterward, she bought a potter’s wheel and transformed her parents’ basement into a studio. Starting a business has been a trial-and-error experience, but she credits her success to her support system of family and friends as well as social media where she connects with other artists. “Every day I ask myself if I want to continue pursuing this,” she says. “Then someone might leave a comment on Instagram, and it keeps me going.” hannahsclaycreations. com, @hannahsclaycreations on Instagram and Facebook

unique + playful

Farm Living Swift Level Farm proves providing high-quality, locally sourced products is best when it’s a family affair.

written by Jess Walker photographed by Nikki Bowman

The land for Swift Level Farm has been in Jennifer "Tootie" Jones’ family since the 1930s when her grandfather Oscar Nelson purchased the property.

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very summer during her childhood, Jennifer “Tootie” Jones woke up, pulled on her boots, and ran around her grandparents’ farm in Greenbrier County with her siblings and a crew of cousins. Some days, the kids packed a lunch, saddled up, and explored Morlunda Farms—now called Swift Level Farm—from dawn to dusk. Other days, they cooled off in the pool or slept under the stars.

The kids were also expected to help with chores and tend to the cattle and horses.

Jones rode with genuine cowboys before the era of cell phones and ATVs. “All of us kids were included in everything, even from a young age,” she says. A home-cooked meal from Jones’ grandmother, better known as Granny Nelson, was a thrice-daily incentive for a job well done.

The history of the land Jones traversed every summer wasn’t lost on her. Before the turn of the century, her grandfather Oscar Nelson had immigrated to the United States from Sweden with a mere $19 in his pocket.

In the 1930s, he bought the West Virginia property because the rolling hills mirrored those of his homeland. That land became home to generations of his own family, alongside the cattle they raised.

In 1994, Jones returned to her grandfather’s property—all grown up with a husband and two young children in tow. “Although I’d lived in other places, it was a dream come true to move back into the home I grew up in and raise my own children there,” she says.

That dream required some work, though.

The farm had fallen into disrepair, and Jones had to invest much of herself—financially and emotionally—into its renovation. She was eventually able to start a bed and breakfast on the property, offering horseback riding trips and attracting guests from around the world.

Then Jones decided to bring back the cattle.

But, unlike her grandfather who bred and sold his livestock, she got into the beef business to stay with the animals throughout their lives and sell directly to the customers.

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“The better the land and the grass are, the better our beef is going to be.” jennifer “tootie” jones

In the 1990s, Jones renovated the farm to run a bed and breakfast. Now, Swift Level raises cattle for its beef line and hosts special events.

Setting Up Shop

On any given day, Jones gets up before daylight and pulls on her boots to venture out to the barns. In the winter, she fuels a wood fire, breaks ice from water troughs, and sets out bales of hay twice a day. In the warmer months, rather than set out hay, she moves cattle from pasture to pasture. While some farmers use ATVs to herd cattle, Jones opts for a more familiar technique. “I call the cattle, and they get to know my voice,” she says. “They learn to associate me with bringing them new hay or leading them to a new pasture.”

Swift Level specializes in all grass-finished beef, which means the steers are never fed any grain. Instead, they journey between pastures to eat the grass and fertilize the soil. Doing so requires constant monitoring and diligence. “I don’t go by the calendar. I go by Mother Nature,” Jones says. Just like her grandfather, she continues to keep the land chemical, pesticide, and herbicide-free. “The better the land and the grass are, the better our beef is going to be.”

After Jones tends to the cattle, she often heads down to her latest business venture—Swift Level Fine Meats.

Opened in 2017, the retail shop features locally sourced beef, pork, poultry, and lamb. The shop also serves fresh seafood and prepared meals.

If Jones herself isn’t behind the counter, her son Everett O’Flaherty will be. As a teenager, he spent Saturdays setting up Swift Level’s stand for farmers’ markets. Now, at Swift Level Fine Meats, he says he’s honored to be part of a business that enables farmers to retail their goods six days a week instead of just on weekends. “The shop is a wonderful service I wish we would have had ten years ago,” O’Flaherty says. “I’m glad to see it’s here now and making it more viable for people to hold onto their family farms.”

Whether he’s curing ham or whipping up a pot of bœuf bourguignon, O’Flaherty sees interaction with customers as the glue that holds together all the other tasks of the day. “A lot of our customers are more friends at this point than customers,” he says. “They may come in to get a pound of beef, but then stay for 20 minutes.”

Through these conversations, O’Flaherty advises customers how to prepare a certain cut of meat or shares how the animal was raised. Occasionally, someone may question the prices, which O’Flaherty understands. “If you aren’t educated about how much it costs the farmer to raise that animal, it’s hard to see a grocery store sell ground beef for 99 cents versus $9 a pound,” he says. “Once people know how much wvliving.com 81

Swift Level’s cattle are never fed grain, and instead graze among the pastures. Weddings and dinner parties are frequent occasions in the summer.

Guests can sleep in the nearly 200-yearold house property, or enjoy bonfires underneath the night sky.

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The Big House has welcomed decades of family members and guests. Recently opened in 2017, the Swift Level Fine Meats

shop retails local meats, fresh seafood, and hot dishes six days a week.

it takes to produce that meat, they have a very different outlook.”

That’s why Swift Level Fine Meats strives for strong relationships with both its farmers and its customers. “It’s a wonderful time to be in the food economy here in West Virginia. It’s not always easy, but it’s wonderful nonetheless,” O’Flaherty says.

He knows firsthand the sacrifices local farmers make to create high-quality products. He also sees his role in butchering, curing, and cooking for West Virginian families as a way to continue honoring the animals’ lives and give customers an avenue to support their community. “Having a business you feel good about is worth far more than anything else.”

Leaving a Legacy

The Swift Level family business doesn’t just stop with animals, either. The land is a destination for agritourism and serves as the backdrop for weddings and dinner parties. Visitors journey to Swift Level to rent the nearly 200-year-old house property and dine on regional cuisine with tastings from the local cidery, brewery, and distillery.

Jones’ daughter, Rece Nester, who lives on an adjacent farm with her three children and husband, Will, acted for several years as the events director.

She remains active with the farm and, together with Will, raises a herd of cattle to produce calves for the Swift Level beef line.

O’Flaherty says growing up in a place with a history of family members saying “yes” to any challenge inspired in him the belief that he could achieve anything he set his mind to. “That determination has passed through the generations, especially with my mother,” he says. “She has gone above and beyond in not only making a name for the farm again, but also caring for the animals so tenderly.”

Jones credits the strong women who came before her. When Jones was little, she remembers her mother loading crates with food and clothes and then driving around surrounding counties to deliver them to neighbors in need. Through her example, Jones learned caring for your community is just something you do.

Now, Jones watches her grandchildren run around as she once did. They make the fifth generation on a land filled with cattle, history, and—perhaps most of all—perseverance. wvliving.com 83

RESPONSIBILITY An inside look at how The Health Plan celebrates West Virginia’s creative spirit. written by nikki

bowman

June Kilgore, "Untitled"

“Out of Line” by George Snyder, “Grasshopper Summer” by L. Anna Forbes, “Horse Farm” by Henry Isaacs

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orporate art collections are not a new concept. David Rockefeller is credited with starting the movement in the 1950s when he decided that Chase Manhattan Bank should acquire art. Other banks and businesses quickly followed suit. Today, more than 60 percent of Fortune 500 companies have art collections, and businesses around the world are finding more reasons and innovative ways to incorporate art into their buildings.

Facebook, for example, has an Artists-inResidence program that employs local artists to create site-specific artwork in their offices.

Progressive, a company that believes art is an extension of its mission and owns more than 10,000 artworks displayed in 300 offices across the country, hosts a company-wide juried art show every two years. Progressive even hires an artist to create innovative and thoughtprovoking artwork for its annual reports.

So this got us thinking—wouldn’t it be incredible if West Virginia companies only outfitted their businesses with West Virginia art? Wouldn’t that be a socially responsible and financially beneficial way to have a lasting economic, creative, and social impact on the state?

Guess what—we found a company doing just that. Join us as we take a tour with The Health Plan’s President and CEO Jim Pennington of The Health Plan Collection, a celebration of West Virginia’s creative spirit.

Artistic Vision

In 2018 Jim Pennington opened the doors to his company’s newly built $16 million headquarters in downtown Wheeling for the first time. It was a momentous occasion. Dignitaries were present.

The Health Plan was bringing nearly 400 new jobs to West Virginia—a big deal. The stateof-the-art building, designed by Mills Group, was the first new construction in downtown Wheeling in 30 years and had become the beacon for Wheeling’s downtown revitalization efforts. And if that wasn’t enough, this nonprofit health insurance company was unveiling an impressive art collection that showcased West Virginia artists and artisans.

“We wanted to create an artful and vibrant space that gives employees and clients an opportunity to see West Virginia art at its best,” says Pennington.

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Scattered throughout the four-story, 53,000 square-foot building in the 1100 block of Main and Market streets are more than 60 pieces of artwork. “When we started building this building, I thought it would be nice to have original art,” says Pennington. “We wanted to make it friendly and fun.”

Pennington credits the initial inspiration to his time with a previous employer. “At McDonough Caperton, I had a client called Progressive. Progressive’s Peter Lewis was a friend of Gaston Caperton’s from the Young Presidents’ Organization.

Peter and his wife were big art collectors.

They turned their office in Cleveland into an

art gallery, and that really stuck with me.”

Lewis’ goal in founding the Progressive Art Collection was to create a creative and cost-effective environment that made the company’s offices more visually interesting, challenged employees to think outside the box, and communicated the company’s respect for creativity, all while supporting young artists. Pennington shares this mindset. “We are a non-profit organization.

Giving back to the community is part of our DNA,” he says. “By showcasing West Virginia artists—and we have a variety of mediums, designs, styles, artists, and locations—we’ve made a social investment.”

“Fishing, Greenbrier Co.” by Brittain McJunkin,“Beautiful Poppies” by Pamela Gatens, “Maple Tailed Blue Belly” by Chris Dutch and Robin Hammer,“Open Backyard 4”by Stephen Smigocki

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Art is More Than Decoration It Changes Office Culture

“Fallen Trees & Ferns” by Susan Poffenbarger, “Untitled”

by Grace Martin Taylor

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You don’t need to be a Fortune 500 company to have an art collection. “Art gives the business personality,” explains Lisa Fischer-Casto, owner of The Art Store in Charleston and The Health Plan Collection’s curator. “Art in the workplace makes for a more pleasing and friendly environment.

Compared to blank walls and bad art, it has a whole different feeling to it. What Jim has done in The Health Plan building is special and he is incredible for doing it.”

Good art doesn’t go out of style. If your space showcases fine art, it will never need to be replaced when trends change. It’s an investment that works on many levels. Art evokes emotion. It creates meaning. It’s a conversation-starter and gives a space energy and inspiration. Art can also be healing and transformative.

The Health Plan’s conference room overlooks Main Street and is flooded with light. In the middle of the room is a magnificent live-edge wooden table that was handcrafted by DJ Shalvey that seats 14, while a vibrant assemblage piece by George Snyder hangs on the wall. “A lot of people wouldn’t go out and buy George Snyder, but it is one of my favorites. It works really well in this room, and people love this space,” Pennington says.

Art goes beyond enhancing the environment.

There have been studies about the impact of art on employees’ satisfaction and creativity.

Art provokes conversation and encourages employees to push themselves to think outside the box. Many companies use it to promote their company’s culture.

Health Plan employees appreciate being surrounded by beautiful art. “I love being greeted by a gorgeous piece of artwork when I step off of the elevator each morning,” says employee Ashly Taylor. “The Health Plan’s art collection has helped make my work days more colorful, calming, and inspiring.

I’ve found that since we moved into our new location in downtown Wheeling, certain pieces have served as a great conversationstarters among co-workers. I feel lucky to work for a company that cares about intentionally creating a workspace that can be both comforting and energizing all at once.”

The company has even taken it a step further.

As a gift at the end of the year, The Health Plan designed calendars that featured 12 pieces from the collection to give to employees and clients.

In 2018, the company also commissioned a West Virginia artist, Matthew Hackworth of Hackworth’s Wood and Steel, to create a metal ornament using their logo to be included in their greeting cards.

“Day Two” by Ellie Schaul

It’s a Community Builder

It Boosts Your Brand

Being thoughtful and deliberate about outfitting your corporate space with local art is also a brand builder. It sends a message about who you are and what you value to employees, clients, and community members. Art can help humanize a corporate image. It makes a statement about your mission as a company and helps you connect with clients. It makes you memorable.

In The Health Plan’s case, their company statement states that they strive “to provide service that is vibrant, personal, and energetic.”

After a tour around their headquarters, you can’t help but feel energized—spirited and vivid artwork coupled with natural light helps impart that important aspect of their brand.

The company’s website states, “The Health Plan is a community-based health maintenance organization with roots that have been growing for 40 years. We don’t just provide health care for our members. We build relationships throughout our members’ communities, because they’re our communities too.” Those aren’t just words. It is evident by The Health Plan’s actions that they are deeply rooted and vested community members. The art collection, which

showcases local art from all over the state, is just one way that they demonstrate their values represented by their brand.

“When giving a tour of the facility, we try and take a moment for each piece. We like to explain the pieces and the thought behind why it was chosen and why it was placed in that particular spot,” says Wendy Hodorowski, director of marketing. “When you visit the third floor and see the painting of the candles and flowers from the Paris bombing memorial, you don’t know what you are looking at until you hear the story behind the painting. We then explain it was chosen for this spot because the floor is where all of our clinical nurses are located. They are at the heart of much of what we do. They are on the phones every day with members walking them through programs, helping them with medications or services, and getting them the help that they need to navigate through the rough waters of healthcare. We want our clients to see how we truly care about each and every one of our members because for us, it is personal. We take pride in being in West Virginia and being able to make a difference in someone’s life.”

By showcasing local art, companies illustrate social responsibility. Whether you are supporting emerging, mid-career, or established artists, it is a way to give back. By supporting artists, it allows them to make a living, putting money back into the state’s economy.

What may seem like a simple act—hanging West Virginia art on their walls—The Health Plan is making an intentional, yet subtle, statement that they are proud of their roots, their workforce, the state, and their community.

Art and creative expression has become a part of the company’s fabric.

In 2018, the company created a beautiful art book highlighting and telling the stories of each piece of art and the artists. This book showcases the variety within the collection, serves as an educational tool, and is a memorable takeaway for clients.

It’s an Investment

The value of fine art typically increases over time. “I would never tell someone to buy art like stocks. You aren’t going to get a 12 percent return on your investment in two years,” says Fischer-Casto. “But the value of most art appreciates over time just given inflation. By buying art, you have the opportunity to live with it, love it, and be better for owning it. And that’s worth everything. How do you put a number on how much you enjoyed the piece?”

Art provides other financial benefits, too.

Although Pennington didn’t acquire his artwork with return on his investment in mind, he is formulating a plan to add more pieces to the collection. He says, “We need to make sure we keep it fresh, and I’d like to add a few new pieces each year. Our common areas have original artwork hanging in them, but some of our offices have prints. I’d like to systematically replace prints with originals and move some pieces around. We also want to incorporate some outdoor sculpture. We will continue to evolve our collection.” wvliving.com 89

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

The

GREATEST’s FIRST FOE

FIFTY-FIVE YEARS AGO, MUHAMMAD ALI BECAME THE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD FOR THE FIRST TIME. But long before he stepped into the ring with Sonny Liston, Ali’s career was launched with help from the police chief of a small town in West Virginia. .written by

Zack Harold

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

★★★

In

early October 1960, Associated Press teleprinters clattered to life in smoke-filled newsrooms across the United States. The harried editors assigned to monitor the machines couldn’t have known it at the time, but the rapid-fire hammers were pounding out words that would change the history of sports forever.

LOUISVILLE — Cassius Clay, the Olympic light-heavyweight champion, today signed for his first professional bout, a six-rounder against Tunney Hunsaker. Hunsaker, 29-yearold police chief of Fayetteville, W.Va., has a 15–7 record.

Although only 18 years old, Clay was already a global celebrity—not only for his gold-winning performance at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, but also for his outsized persona. After his medal ceremony, he treated members of the press to a celebratory poem that began, “To make America the greatest is my goal, so I beat the Russian and I beat the Pole and for the USA won the medal of gold.”

Now that he was turning pro, Clay agreed to be managed by a coterie of 11 businessmen from his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. Choosing the first professional opponent for their star required careful consideration. Naturally, they wanted someone their man could defeat. But the opponent also needed to provide enough competition to showcase Clay’s fistic talents.

Although Hunsaker’s name probably did not ring any bells with newspaper readers, he was exactly the kind of boxer Clay’s people were looking for.

This is the story of a tobacco farmer’s son, a lifelong public servant, and a middling boxer whose athletic career might have been forgotten if not for a chance meeting with a man who would become the most famous athlete of all time. born in 1930, hunsaker grew up on a tobacco farm in Caldwell County, Kentucky, about 170 miles southwest of Clay’s native Louisville. His father was a fight fan, naming his son for the 1920s heavyweight champ Gene Tunney.

It must have come as no surprise, then, when Hunsaker fought his first bout at age 14 in a makeshift ring at his high school. He continued boxing after joining the U.S. Air Force and became base champion at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, a title he held from 1951 until he was honorably discharged two years later.

Hunsaker was also the 1951 Golden Gloves champion in San Antonio, Texas. After going pro in 1952, he fought to a 12–2 record and was named “Prospect of the Month” in the June 1953 issue of Ring magazine.

But just as his career was gaining momentum, Hunsaker threw in the towel. His hitch with the Air Force was up and his mother-in-law—who lived in Oak Hill, West Virginia—informed him that nearby

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clockwise from top Hunsaker on the job in Fayetteville, his widow Pat Hunsaker-Gray flips through scrapbooks, Pat and Tunney Hunsaker with Muhammad Ali at the longtime police chief ’s retirement party in Fayetteville, Hunsaker as a young policeman.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF PAT HUNSAKER-GRAY

★★★

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left A poster from Ali and Hunsaker’s final joint autograph signing in 1992. rightAli and his first pro opponent playfully spar before their first joint autograph signing in 1987.

Fayetteville was looking for a police officer. Hunsaker got the job in late 1955, packed up his wife and young daughter, and headed for the hills.

There was little time now to think about boxing.

Hunsaker became chief of the town’s two-man police force after less than a month on the job, and his days were filled with rounding up AWOL soldiers, breaking up fights at football games, and ticketing license-less drivers. He hunt-and-pecked his own reports on a manual typewriter and, because his office was not equipped with a telephone, answered calls in a phone box outside the Ben Franklin five and dime.

While working the beat, Hunsaker met Skippy Gray, the 16-year-old son of the local grocer. Gray was a scrappy kid, always getting in fights. Hunsaker offered to train him for the Golden Gloves and the two began working out in a makeshift gym in Oak Hill.

He found his way back into the ring in 1958, winning five of his first seven fights. In the year leading up to the Clay fight, though, Hunsaker’s hot streak had cooled.

He lost each of six fights leading up to the bout. Yet he remained optimistic. Writing to a childhood friend, Hunsaker predicted he would knock out the loudmouthed young fighter in an early round. “I have fought men whose record proved that Cassius Clay shouldn’t even be in the same town as them.”

No one else was quite so confident in Hunsaker’s ability, but sportswriters admitted he would not be easy prey.

“Hunsaker is no Sonny Liston, but Hunsaker’s no cream puff,” wrote the Louisville Courier-Journal, referencing the then-reigning heavyweight champion of the world. “He hasn’t been dug out of the graveyard at midnight either and propped up on a Halloween broom to furnish Clay a target to shoot at.” ★★★ hunsaker drove to louisville with his friend John Witt, who would later become Fayetteville’s mayor. The fight was to take place at Freedom Hall. Hunsaker had fought in the cavernous arena twice before, winning the first time but losing the second. They arrived to a less-thanpacked house. The building could seat 20,000 but only 6,200 people showed up to see the fight.

This didn’t seem to bother Clay, who acted as if the house was packed to the rafters. He arrived at the ring surrounded by a large entourage. Hunsaker, by contrast, was accompanied only by a few men working his corner.

But as the opening bell approached, everyone else slipped into the darkness of the arena. Only Clay, Hunsaker, and the white-shirted referee remained.

One wonders if Clay, looking at Hunsaker in the opposite corner, thought back to another boxing policeman—Joe Martin, the Louisville officer who taught him to box and changed the course of his life forever. There is no way to know.

If Clay had any warm feelings toward his opponent, it is not evident in the newsreel footage that survives of the fight.

The jittering black-and-white film shows Clay’s impressive speed on full display. He deftly avoids Hunsaker’s blows, sometimes sending the older boxer stumbling when a punch fails to connect. He is also quick wvliving.com 93

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to invade Hunsaker’s space, delivering a jab and then getting out of the way in a blink. This was four years before the phrase “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” would forever establish itself in the national consciousness.

Clay concentrated his punches on Hunsaker’s face. His jabs busted the blood vessels in Hunsaker’s nose so that, by the end of the third round, it was bleeding freely. The bell clanged and the fighters returned to their corners for a short respite—too short for Hunsaker. In an instant they were back in the middle of the canvas to begin the fourth round. Clay continued his assault on Hunsaker’s face. By the end of this round, both of his eyes were nearly swollen shut.

Still, Hunsaker fought on. He continued absorbing Clay’s jabs throughout the next two rounds, taking a beating but mostly remaining on his feet. At the end of the sixth and final round, Clay’s pristine white trunks were stippled with blood. It was not his own.

The judges tallied their score sheets and the result was unanimous. The hometown hero had won every round. Clay’s professional record now stood at 1–0.

Although the fight would go down as an “L” on Hunsaker’s record, it did provide one point of pride. Of the 20 fighters Clay defeated on his way to the title, Hunsaker was one of only six who went the distance with the future champ.

Displaying his usual bluster, the “Louisville Lip” was a sore winner. “That Tunney Hunsaker I fought Saturday was too easy—I was fresher after the fight than I was before,” he said to one interviewer.

Hunsaker, though, was generous with praise for his opponent. Although he said Clay, who turned up to the fight in a pink Cadillac, was too “spoiled” by his backers, Hunsaker told Charleston Daily Mail sports editor Dick Hudson the 18-year-old had real talent. “He’s very fast and can hit,” he said. “The kid can be the heavyweight champion of the world some day. He’s that good, if he settles down to hard work.” ★★★ this prediction came true, of course. On February 25, 1964, Clay defeated Liston by technical knockout to gain the world heavyweight title.

Then things began happening that no one could predict.

Two days after the fight, Clay confirmed rumors that he was a member of the Nation of Islam. The following week, Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad announced that Clay would now be called Muhammad Ali. Three years later, Ali was stripped of his heavyweight title—not because he lost a boxing match, but because he refused to be drafted into the U.S. military in protest of the Vietnam War. For better or worse, Ali né Clay was more famous than ever.

Hunsaker, meanwhile, had stepped away from the spotlight.

In February 1961, he left the Fayetteville police department to become an inspector with the state beer commission. He continued boxing but success eluded him, just as Ali had. He gained some national recognition in September 1961 when he traveled to the West Virginia State Penitentiary to fight inmate Thomas Dejarnette, the heavyweight champion of the prison. He lost by technical knockout in the eighth round.

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This was becoming standard for Hunsaker. He won only two of his next six fights, which is why some worried how he would fare during 10 rounds with Joe “Shotgun” Shelton, scheduled for April 6, 1962.

Shelton, who hailed from Cleveland, Ohio, weighed in at 192 pounds and stood six-feet-one-inch tall, with 17-inch biceps and a body that looked like it had been chiseled from marble. One reporter described his physique as “more like a bodybuilder than a boxer.” Hunsaker was two inches taller than Shelton, but his 32-year-old body now weighed about 200 pounds, nearly 20 pounds heavier than he had been against Ali. Although he was fit, his frame belonged to an earlier generation of pugilists.

Raleigh Register sports editor Greg McLaughlin, a friend of Hunsaker’s, told readers the fight would be difficult for the former police chief, although victory was not out of reach. “Just flip a coin,” he wrote. “It’s going to be that close.”

This prediction also proved frighteningly accurate.

Three photos ran at the top of the front page of the April 8, 1962, edition of the Raleigh Register. In the first, the camera captures the aftermath of a rushing righthand blow by Shelton. Hunsaker’s face is contorted from impact. In the second, Shelton stumbles from the force of a left from Hunsaker. In the third photo, we see the

A scrapbook page showing Hunsaker leaving the hospital after his fight with Joe “Shotgun”Shelton.

★★★ Dr. E. Lyle Gage told members of the media the outcome was uncertain. “In 48 hours, we’ll know,” he said.

Once again, Hunsaker made headlines. His fight with Shelton had occurred on the same day former welterweight champ Benny “Kid” Paret was laid to rest. Paret had died the previous Tuesday, 10 days after suffering a similar brain bleed in a nationally televised fight. The coincidence was too much for the public, and many called for boxing to be banned. This included Hunsaker’s wife, Phyllis. Speaking to reporters as she exited her husband’s hospital room, she said, “I hope they ban boxing, I’m against it all the way.”

Cards, prayer cloths, and flowers poured into Hunsaker’s room as newspapers worldwide followed his progress. He was finally released from the hospital 17 days later. Gage offered one piece of advice as he left: “Do not return to the ring.”

Later, in an interview with McLaughlin, Hunsaker conceded he would be “stupid” to return to the sport— although the money wouldn’t hurt, given the medical bills he had incurred.

Hunsaker had no memory of his fight with Shelton and asked his newspaperman friend how it had gone.

McLaughlin told him the crowd had applauded after each round. “If that was going to be my last fight, I’m glad it was a good one,” he said. “I wanted to please the crowd.” ★★★

large posterior of referee Cotton White. He is counting out Hunsaker, who lies face-down in the ring, his legs splayed unnaturally.

The headline: “HUNSAKER HAS A 50–50 CHANCE.” The fight had been a brutal one, with both men sustaining significant damage but staying upright. By the beginning of the 10th and final round, it appeared the winner would be determined by judges’ decision. Then, with less than 30 seconds to go, Shelton caught Hunsaker with a hard left to the right temple. He collapsed onto the canvas.

When White reached the end of his 10 count, ring attendants lifted Hunsaker onto a stool where he regained enough consciousness to tell McLaughlin, “I want to fight him again. I’m OK.” But while being examined by fight doctor I. Braxton Anderson, he collapsed again.

By the time Hunsaker arrived at the Bluefield Sanitarium, still shirtless and wearing his trunks and boxing shoes, Hunsaker sported a black eye and a bruise on the side of his head, and his right side was paralyzed.

Doctors discovered a bleed on the outside of his brain and rushed him into emergency surgery to relieve the pressure. After the two-hour procedure was complete,

hunsaker had no trouble building a life outside the boxing ring. He left the beer commission in 1967 to return as Fayetteville’s police chief—a job he would hold for the next 25 years.

Around that same time, he met a young woman named Patricia Halstead. He and Phyllis had divorced shortly after the Shelton fight and, though Halstead was 13 years his junior, the two became smitten with one another and eventually married.

While he had once been a brash young police officer, Hunsaker now became Fayetteville’s homegrown version of Andy Taylor, driving widows home from the grocery store, directing traffic for the local elementary school, and spending so much time walking the beat that his wife was continually buying him new shoes. The children of Fayetteville, when asked what they wanted to be when they grew up, did not say “policeman.” They wanted to become “a Tunney.”

Hunsaker also became a Sunday School teacher at the Oak Hill Church of the Nazarene, taking over the junior boys’ class. “He wasn’t a scholar, but he got that Bible and he tried the best he could. He taught by example more than anything,” Pat Hunsaker-Gray remembers now.

He took his students on camping trips to Bluestone Lake, invited them to his big Victorian home on Fayette Avenue to bake cookies, and, when the boys kept up good attendance or invited friends to church, gave them cheap watches he bought at the local auction house. “They would work for those watches,” Pat says.

The church named Hunsaker “teacher of the year” for the 1983-84 and 1984-85 school years and, in 1987, he was named “teacher of the year” by the Nazarene organization’s West Virginia South District. wvliving.com 95

★★★

Hunsaker’s gravestone in Fayetteville’s Huse Memorial Park

Still, his six rounds with the fighter formerly known as Cassius Clay followed Hunsaker like a shadow. It became local lore, the kind of story fathers would tell sons when they passed Hunsaker on the street. It was international lore, too. Decades after the fight, Hunsaker still received fan mail from all over the world. He was featured on the game show To Tell the Truth, where Soupy Sales correctly identified him as Ali’s first opponent. Then, in the 1980s, the couple drove to Ottawa, Canada, for Hunsaker to appear on a similar show called Claim to Fame. This time he stumped the panel, winning $500—more than he’d made for the Ali fight itself. He used the money to take his wife out to dinner at one of those French restaurants where the waiters wear white towels across their forearms. ★★★ it was more than a quarter-century after their original meeting that Hunsaker again crossed paths with the man who made him famous.

Ali retired from boxing in 1981 following a disastrous showing against Trevor Berbick in the Bahamas. But, like Hunsaker, he had little difficulty transitioning into life outside the ring once his fighting days were finally over. Time had tempered his once-radical views on race, religion, and politics. He now traveled the world promoting peace, even as Parkinson’s Disease slowed his movements and snatched away his smooth speech. “I’ve always wanted to be more than just a boxer," Ali once told an interviewer. "I wanted to use my fame, and this face that everyone knows so well, to help uplift and inspire people around the world.”

In 1987, Ali used his face and fame to help out some boxing boosters in Charleston, West Virginia, who were trying to revive local interest in the Golden Gloves. Event promoter Bill Picozzi booked Ali for an autograph signing at the Charleston Civic Center to raise awareness and

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money for the effort. Picozzi also invited Hunsaker, in an effort to lend the event some historical gravitas.

Although they had not seen one another for 27 years, the former opponents acted like old friends, joking and throwing fake jabs. The event went so well that the autograph signings became a regular occurrence.

During what would prove to be the final one, in February 1992, Ali learned that Hunsaker was retiring from his position as police chief, and he wanted to do something special for his foe-turned-friend. “Ali said, ‘I want to come to your hometown.’ Well, we had nothing prepared,” Pat says. The Hunsakers rushed home that afternoon, booked a conference room at the local Comfort Inn for the next day, and called everyone they knew to invite them to the impromptu retirement party.

After the party, the outgoing police chief treated the former champ to a grand tour, even stopping traffic on the New River Gorge Bridge so Ali could walk out to the middle. They visited a local flower shop, where the proprietress pinned a bud to Ali’s jacket. When the champion noticed a school bus of special needs children passing by, Hunsaker flagged it down so Ali could climb aboard and interact with the students.

As they ended their day together, Ali remarked that he would like to come back to Fayetteville for something less public, like dinner at the Hunsakers’ home. Pat told him he was always welcome, but the meeting never came to pass.

Like Ali, Hunsaker was beginning to see the aftereffects of so many punches to the head. He would get lost while driving on his own. Later, when Pat took his keys away, he’d wander out of the house and walk through town. She would follow him, walking for miles until he collapsed from exhaustion. Then she would get someone to drive them home. People were always happy to help, she says. Hunsaker had spent so many years watching over the town, now it was time for the town to repay the favor.

Doctors at West Virginia University in Morgantown eventually diagnosed him with dementia. Still, he told Pat he did not regret his time as a boxer. “I regretted it for him,” she says.

When Hunsaker died in April 2005, his name appeared on the Associated Press newswire for one final time— although the clattering teleprinters had now been replaced by websites and emails. At the wake, Pat listened for hours as mourners shared memories of her late husband. “Anyone who ever met him, even briefly, had a story,” she says.

Hunsaker was laid to rest at Fayetteville’s Huse Memorial Park. He is buried in the veterans’ section of the cemetery beneath a tombstone carved from highly polished black granite, not unlike the material that was eventually used for Ali’s own grave marker when he passed in 2016.

On the left side of the gravestone, Pat had two engravings made. On top is a portrait of Hunsaker in his police uniform. Below that is a drawing of a much younger man ducking a punch from Cassius Clay.

At the bottom of the marker, there is a scripture from the New Testament.

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”