Local Pride Events Happening Across the Mid-Ohio Valley

In cities and towns across the USA and the world over, LGBTQIA+ folks and their allies are celebrating Pride Month. Set in the month of June to commemorate the 1969 uprising which took place at the Stonewall Inn in Manhattan, Pride Month is a chance for queer people (and those who love and support them) to celebrate their history, culture, and community. Like so much else, many Pride celebrations in 2020 were put on hold or moved to virtual spaces due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But this year, as the world and our communities begin to reopen, the Mid-Ohio Valley is turning it out with the largest number of Pride events to date.

One local organization, Parkersburg Pride, has already gotten the party started via social media. Each day since June 1^st, the PKB Pride Facebook and Instagram have been hosting photo hunts and  highlighting LGBTQIA+ icons such as Kate McKinnon, Elton John, and legendary Parkersburg drag queen and trans woman Amanda Love. Another local drag celebrity, Lucy Lipps, hosted an online trivia night via Facebook on June 4th.

Parkersburg Pride is no stranger to hosting local pride events. The non-profit organization was formed in 2018 in an attempt to give more visibility to the local LGBTQ community. “It kind of goes back to why we started, to try to normalize ourselves within the community,” said Parkersburg Pride President Chris Alfred. The group held Pride events at City Park in 2018 and 2019 with bands, drag queens, and tabling from other local non-profits. “The turnout was tremendous,” Alfred said. “More than we’d expected.”

As the pandemic halted large events and cast uncertainty on the possibility of gathering this year, PKB Pride made the decision to push their Pride celebration until fall. Their Pride celebration will be taking place again at City Park on October 2nd. However, as vaccination rates have climbed and spaces have begun to reopen, they recently announced that they will be hosting a summer pool party on Sunday, June 27th. The event, which will feature pizza and prizes, will take place at the Southwood pool from 5:30-7:30 p.m.. Tickets, which are free but limited due to capacity restrictions, are available via the Parkersburg Pride website.

We felt that there was just kind of a hole within the community for things that were needed.

Meanwhile, another group, Out MOV, has stepped up to host their first annual Pride in the Park on June 26th. The group, founded by Liz Hamperian, Jeanne Peters, and Kim Williams, was formed in August of 2019 with the intention of lobbying at the state and local levels.

“We felt that there was just kind of a hole within the community for things that were needed…when there were opportunities to go to the legislature there was nobody from Wood county that was able to,” said Hamperian. “We wanted to be able to say, ‘we are here, there’s a high population of us, and this isn’t going to work for us.’”

Though their origins were specifically political, Hamperian said they were looking forward to Pride in the Park being Out MOV’s, ‘coming out to the community.’ “We wanted to provide a free event, family friendly, to celebrate Pride Month,” she said. This year’s event, which takes place from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the City Park band shell, will feature a variety of local music acts including The Janes, Smokestack Betty, and Back Porch Alibi, plus appearances by charity group C8Cosplay and local performance artist Professor Bubblemaker. In addition, there will be tents set up offering community services (including free COVID-19 & HIV testing), a basket raffle, and a “wheel of fortune” that attendees can sign up via QR code to spin for prizes.

After the event in the park, an after party is scheduled at The Cocktail Bar, one of Pride in the Park’s main sponsors. Beginning at 9:00 p.m. (all ages welcome until 11) the party will feature drink specials and a live DJ. TCB owner Zak Huffman said he was happy to get involved after a previous Pride event, “was honestly the most fun we’ve ever had here.” “We want the LGBT community to feel celebrated,” he said. “And we’ve really tried to make [the bar] feel more inclusive all the time.”

In addition to all the festivities next weekend, two additional Pride events are scheduled for Thursday, June 24th. Out MOV is hosting, “The Pride is Right” trivia night (also at The Cocktail Bar beginning at 7:00 p.m.) with prizes as well as food and drink specials. Across the river in Marietta, 740 Social is hosting a POUND & Pour for Pride event. Kicking off at 5:00 p.m., the event begins with a 60 minutes of POUND (a fitness class featuring high energy cardio combined with drumming) followed by Pride-themed cocktails and mocktails along with trivia and prizes at 740 Social.

It was important for us to always let them know that they are loved and supported, and raise money for a worthy cause.

The event is being organized by instructors Stephanie Sanderson and Amber Newlon with all proceeds going to The Trevor Project, a nonprofit focused on suicide prevention among LGBTQIA+ youth. “Amber and I are both allies, we both have people we love and care about in the LGBT community,” Sanderson said. “It was important for us to always let them know that they are loved and supported, and raise money for a worthy cause.” Tickets for the event are $25 and spaces can be reserved by Venmoing @Amber-Newlon-4 or sending a DM to @stephaniesandersonfit via Instagram.

Though 2021 marks some of the biggest Pride celebrations in the MOV to date, both Parkersburg Pride and Out MOV are hoping to expand their community outreach efforts well past the end of Pride Month. Both organizations pointed out the need to provide education and resources to young people, with Hamperian noting that the isolation of the last year and a half may have been particularly difficult for those still struggling with their identity or feelings of belonging. Alfred echoed this, pointing specifically to the need to assist young trans men and women with getting needed medical care.

“There are a lot of LGBT youths in the area who might not have a great support system,” he said. “We want to start creating those networks that they need.”

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Really Cheap Geeks Are Brightening Up the Parkersburg, One Wall at a Time

Even before the outer walls were covered in bright, colorful murals, the unmistakable building at the confluence of Emerson, Dudley, and West Virginia Avenues in Parkersburg was something of a local landmark. With its curving façade and glass block windows, you truly can’t miss it.

“A lot of people drive by,” said Edward Escandon, owner of Really Cheap Geeks and the building in question. “When I was a kid it was kind of an iconic building.”

It was, in part, this iconic status that would eventually motivate Escandon to transform his store into one of the Mid-Ohio Valley’s newest, most colorful and ever-evolving pieces of public art. Born and raised in Parkersburg, Escandon left the area after college. Bouncing around the country and spending time on both coasts, he ultimately found himself living in South America when he felt the pull to return to West Virginia 12 years ago.

“I never thought I would come back,” he said. “But like a lot of people in my generation, my parents are still here, and getting older…and then I just stayed. But now I love it again.”

It was after returning to the MOV that Escandon opened Really Cheap Geeks, originally working out of his basement repairing computers and smart phones. Ten years ago, he moved into the space on Emerson. At that time, much of the space was an antique store owned by local attorney and auctioneer Rock Wilson; Escandon occupied just one small table. Customers could browse the shelves full of vintage treasures while waiting for their iPhone glass to be replaced.

I realized there was no better way to have the place stand out than to cover the walls with art.

Eventually, the business expanded and with it, Escandon’s ideas of what could be done with his very unique building. “I realized there was no better way to have the place stand out than to cover the walls with art,” he said.

In the time since he began the mural project, Escandon has worked with several local artists. He’s already swapped out some of the art on his building and intends to keep doing so every few years in the future, hopefully attracting new and different styles of art. Though the mural work up to this point has been completed mostly by professionals, Escandon has also considered expanding to street or graffiti artists in the future.

One artist featured prominently at Really Cheap Geeks is painter Daniel Debellis. Originally from Salisbury, North Carolina, Debellis had a long and troubled journey to the Mid-Ohio Valley. As a child, Debellis spent many years in the foster care system. His young adulthood was spent in and out of prison; it was one of these stents behind bars when the self taught artist took up drawing. Ultimately, Debellis wound up in California, homeless and on the street. With supplies he’d found in a dumpster, he began decorating the signs he put out asking for help.

“I thought, ‘maybe if I make my signs look cool I’ll get better feedback,’ Debellis said. “It kind of made people respond to me differently.”

Debellis’ art would ultimately prove life-changing as folks began offering to purchase his signs and, eventually, other pieces. “My 3^rd painting I sold was for $800 on a piece of cardboard, and this CEO framed it and hung it in his office,” he said. “[The experience] gave me a reason to live. I just grew this hunger to paint.”

Daniel paints straight from the heart – he’s an incredibly open and honest person and that comes through in his art.

After reconnecting with his birth mother, Debellis came to West Virginia around three years ago to help her with recovery after a surgery. It was here that Debellis made the decision to dedicate himself full time to his art. Debellis had set up shop painting on a grassy patch outside a local Wal-Mart when he attracted the attention of Edward Escandon.

“Daniel paints straight from the heart – he’s an incredibly open and honest person and that comes through in his art…he’s a fighter, and he’s a joyful person,” Escandon said.

Escandon approached Debellis about possibly working on a mural but Debellis, having been disappointed in the past by other opportunities that never came to fruition, was hesitant. Escandon was eventually able to lure him to the shop after purchasing one of his paintings, and again pitched the idea of a mural. Though he’d never taken on a project of such scale, Debellis went for it. “I had no clue what I was going to do. I was nervous. But I got in there, I turned my music on, and I let my mind go…I always go in with a blank mind and whatever comes out, comes out. It’s my way of expressing myself.”

Two additional sides of Escandon’s shop are currently occupied by artist and Parkersburg High School teacher Emma Romanowski. Born and raised in the area, Romanowski attended PHS herself, joking with her art teacher Steven Morningstar (a distinguished local artist himself) that he couldn’t retire until she came back to take his job. Six years ago, after studying graphic design and education at West Liberty University, she did just that.

Her style is very illustrative. I love the way that her figures have individual life.

Romanowski is not new to large scale projects, having previously worked on both a “selfie station” in downtown Parkersburg and 14 total murals at Boxer’s Bed & Biscuits in Belpre. She then approached Escandon with samples of her work and ideas of what she could bring to his building. “Emma is so professional,” Escandon said. “Her style is very illustrative. I love the way that her figures have individual life.”

In stark contrast to Debellis’ free-wheeling style, Romanowski took a more analytical approach. “With murals I really like to sketch in a sketchbook, then color it in photoshop, get feedback, do corrections digitally, and then project it on the wall,” she said. Romanowski worked largely at night, getting help from some of her PHS students and fellow teacher Randi Wilson. “I actually had to have a couple of police block off the road,” she said, laughing.

Romanowski and Escandon share a passion for expanding public art in the Mid-Ohio Valley, one that goes beyond the walls of Really Cheap Geeks. Escandon is the driving force behind plans to paint the Parkersburg flood wall. He’s also been in contact with other businesses near his about possibly expanding the mural project down the street. “We want to carpet this city in murals,” he said.

For her part, Romanowski is hoping to start a mural club with her PHS art students. She’s also in the planning stages of a project involving the parking meters in downtown Parkersburg, and potentially the steps leading to Quincy Hill park.

“It’s so nice to come back to the area I grew up and see art just…blooming,” she said. “It reinforces my decision to stay here and try to make things better.”

Check out Really Cheap Geeks at: Really Cheap Geeks

See more of Daniel Debellis’ work at: Daniel Debellis Fine Art

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Barlow, Ohio has a bridge to nowhere. Just off the intersection of routes 339 and 550 on the fairgrounds, sits a classic, all-American, covered bridge. The kind you’d find on a New England postcard. Long used as a backdrop for engagement photos or senior portraits, the bridge was already iconic in the small village. Recently, however, visits to the area have reported the sweet smell of garlic and basil in the air.

Since June of this year, Nonnie’s LIttle Italian Kitchen has been setting up shop on the bridge every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The brainchild of Haldin Tessum (who does the cooking) and his wife Kelly (who handles the money), Nonnie’s is an Italian-themed “pop-up” restaurant – meaning the kitchen, counter, and seating area are set up in a space for only a short time.

Staple menu items include pasta, Italian sausages, and thick and hearty potato soup. On a recent visit, the standouts were the meatball crumble flatbread, with a soft, chewy base topped with the spicy meatballs, fresh basil, and cheese, and the less traditional poppy slaw salad, which was lightly dressed with apples, dried cranberries, and mandarin oranges. The kitchen also serves up a weekly special; recent options were tortellini with cajun alfredo and the Italian BLT.

Tessum, a bartender by trade and long a staple behind the bar at Applebee’s in Vienna, said he was inspired by the do-it-yourself nature of a pop-up. “I find a new spot and I immerse myself and my kitchen into it,” he said. The small, intimate nature of the space and limited seating allows the Tessums to give friendly, personalized attention to their customers. Haldin’s jovial, easy nature with customers is indicative of his years slinging drinks.

Haldin, a native of Barlow, had been selling his food at community events for some time when he got the inspiration to try setting up something ongoing and semi-permanent. He went to the Barlow fair board with a request to use their famous landmark. “I’ve always loved that bridge,” he said. Thus far, the community has embraced the unique eatery. It doesn’t hurt that outdoor dining and the convenience of take-out were popular amenities this spring.

Like most local businesses, the Tessums have felt the effects of the pandemic on their business. Despite their outdoor location and limited seating, Haldin said that things have been, “feast or famine,” with unpredictable waves of customers followed by long lulls. However, in just the three months since their opening, the Tessums have already garnered a handful of regular customers. In particular, one “happy hour couple” like to purchase two of the spinach artichoke flatbreads each weekend and then post pictures with their cocktails of choice on social media.

Nonnie’s is a true family business in every sense.  The name, Kelly said, was a play on the Italian word for grandmother and a reference to the woman who taught her husband to cook. When asked about the decision to focus on Italian cuisine, Haldin pointed to a story about his son. Tasked with writing about his family’s heritage, Haldin asked the boy what he’d learned from his father. They both agreed: he had learned how to cook.

“Heritage is what you know, what your family passes along,” he said. “That’s found in the kitchen.”

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With the start of August, we are now in the sixth month since the global pandemic began to directly affect our country and our community. Long gone are the Zoom happy hours, hobbyist bread baking, and cultural zeitgeist of Tiger King. Gone with it, it seems, is the collective hope and belief that if we all just hunker down for a few weeks, a month, that we would get through this together. That initial optimism has calcified into something harder, more fractious. Now, social media feeds are dominated by arguments about face masks as a political hot button, and the moral and ethical implications of dining out in restaurants.

The Mid-Ohio Valley has not been immune to this. Like much of the country, there have been sharp increases in the number of cases since reopening began around Memorial Day. As of August 10th, the Ohio Department of Health reported 205 total cases in Washington county with 22 deaths; the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources reports 247 total cases for Wood County with five deaths.

According to Carrie Brainard of the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department, these cases are actually trending in the right direction. Responding via email on July 29th, Ms. Brainard advised that, though there had been a spike of 8 to 10 new cases per day, they were now seeing only 2 or 3 per day. She advised that what we’ve been seeing over the summer constitutes a “second wave” of cases, exacerbated locally by out of state travel. Ms. Brainard also wrote that she believes that we will see another spike, possibly even a third wave, when schools reopen in the coming weeks.

Sherry Ellem, Program Manager of the Washington County Health Department, expressed similar sentiments. Responding via email, Ms. Ellem wrote, “Many in our community are taking the pandemic seriously and practicing a lot of the preventative measures. Could we do better? Yes! That is why the term ‘practice’ is so fitting.” She also pointed to the website rt.live as a great resource for tracking infection rate rather than simply tracking cases. If a state’s Rt rating is above a 1.0, the virus will spread quickly through the community; below, it will slow or even stop. As of August 5th, both WV and OH were below a 1.0

Despite the worry for another potential spike when children return to school, both women felt strongly that continuing to adhere to established guidelines is the best course of action. Ms. Brainard wrote, “Although it is controversial, it appears that when more people wear masks, the exposures are more limited and the cases are fewer.” Sherry Ellem pointed to a study that forecasted that, if 80% of a population committed to wearing masks in public, it would be even more effective to reduce spread than another strict lockdown. “If this study proves true, masks seem like an easy choice,” she said. She also pointed to avoiding the “Three Cs”: crowded places, close-contact settings, and confined and enclosed spaces.

Despite the rise in cases, the seemingly unending list of closings and delays, and the looming question of what will happen when schools begin to reopen, both women saw positives in how our communities have handled the pandemic thus far. When asked what advice she could give as we move forward, Carrie Brainard wrote, “Be kind – care about your neighbor, check on them, and see if they need something when you are out.  Follow the guidelines as well.  If you see someone not wearing a mask, remember that we don’t know their circumstances, and if you see someone wearing a mask, be thankful that they are trying to help limit your exposure.”

The post Where We Stand: The State of the Valley and COVID-19 appeared first on Clutch MOV.

On Wednesday, leadership from Memorial Health System held a virtual community meeting via live streaming video to update the local press and community on how the Washington county healthcare provider intends to move forward following Ohio governor Mike Dewine’s May 1st lifting of restrictions related to COVID-19.

The meeting was kicked off by MHS President and CEO Scott Cantley, who took time to thank Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton, and the hardworking front line staff at all  Memorial Health System facilities. Mr. Cantley specifically MHS’s nursing staff, pointing out that May 6th is National Nurses Day.

The meeting was then turned over to Dr. Dan Breece, VP of Physician Services & Chief Medical Officer for Memorial Health System. Dr. Breece began by pointing out how well the guidelines put in place had helped to flatten the curve of the virus, stating that at no time did their facilities have any more than eight COVID-positive patients at any one time. He then went on to speak on some of the steps being taken with the resumption of non-emergent services. “We are definitely respecting physical distancing,” he said. Dr. Breece also stated that patients would be allowed to have one additional visitor to accompany them to their appointments at MHS clinics. Most importantly, Dr. Breece said, was that folks not allow concerns about the COVID-19 virus to prevent them from seeking out needed care. “All of our services are available,” he said.

Next up, Chief Nurse Executive Paige Smith took to the podium to speak more about what the facilities are doing to keep community members safe. Ms. Smith stated that they are recommending cloth masks for all patients, as well as requiring masks for all visitors. To ensure proper precautions are taken, staff will be taking temperatures and providing masks at all facility entrances (MHS is still accepting donations of cloth masks from the community). Ms. Smith went on to say that they are using signage in waiting areas to encourage physical distancing and using Xenex robots, which use UV light as a disinfectant, to help with their cleaning processes. Perhaps most importantly, Ms. Smith stated that admitted patients would also be allowed to have one visitor or representative, though she stressed that there would be restrictions placed on who was allowed to make visitations.

Before taking press questions, Mr. Cantley returned to the video to give his final comments. “We are built to handle infectious diseases,” he said, echoing Dr. Breece’s statements that MHS facilities had more than enough capacity to handle the ongoing crisis. Mr. Cantley then went on to again call out the hard work and effort of the Memorial Health System staff by saying, “There was an incredible amount of courage….I want to say thank you.”

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Local makers step up to help during the COVID-19 pandemic

For weeks now, the Mid-Ohio Valley has been quiet. Shops are closed, parks emptied, and restaurants shuttered. But listen closely, and all across the valley, you can hear the steady whirring of machines being put to good use.

Several local organizations have come together to try and assist with some of the needs that the COVD-19 crisis has created in our community. From the beginning, lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare and other frontline workers has been an issue. In an effort to combat the shortage, the Building Bridges To Careers (BB2C) Makerspace in Marietta has begun creating protective face shields through a combination of 3-D printing and laser cutting. “We became aware that there was a shortage,” said Jared Wittekind, Makerspace Coordinator for BB2C. After learning of the need for face shields, a “small handful” of makers at the Marietta facility began working to create equipment for Memorial Health Systems. As of April 23rd, Wittekind stated that roughly 1200 face shields had been completed.

BB2C has also coordinated with other local makerspaces at West Virginia University at Parkersburg and the Boys and Girls Club on the project. The Ross Foundation has provided some financial assistance with materials, as well as helping to coordinate the effort between the three groups. According to Tres Ross, Executive Director of the foundation, “what we’re going to target is the smaller groups.” Ross stated that many of the larger health systems are now being assisted by larger corporate donors. As such, the local makerspaces are working to provide shields for fire departments, non-profits, and hospice care centers that may still be struggling. Wittekind said that the Lowell fire department and Family Tree Dental were just two of the local groups they had been able to assist.

I’m retired now, and I didn’t like sitting at home feeling helpless.

It isn’t just face shields that are in high demand. Cloth face masks, the kind being used by civilians rather than front line workers, have seen an increased need since the CDC’s recommendation that all Americans be masked when leaving their homes. At BB2C, fiber arts coordinator Ann Siegfried and some of her students have begun sewing masks at home using materials donated by the makers. A larger effort has also been coordinated by the United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley. Stacy DeCicco, Executive Director at UMAMOV, said that her organization’s mission has been to act as a “conduit,” bringing together individuals who want to contribute in a meaningful way and ensuring that their contributions get to the right places.

The nationwide need for face masks has created a scarcity in elastic. To assist with the need locally, the UMWMOV, drawing from their MOV Covid-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund, managed to locate a vendor in Indiana selling athletic headbands.  Using the materials they procured from that vendor, they have begun putting kits together (per CDC guidelines) with no-contact delivery, for those who would like to help sew masks at home. Completed masks can be left at one of five local drop-off locations, which includes the Parkersburg and Vienna Piggy-Wiggly stores. According to DeCicco, the response has been overwhelming. “It’s keeping our Americorps staff hopping!” DeCicco said. Collectively, the United Way has been able to collect and distribute over 5,500 cloth masks.

One group tapped by UMAMOV to assist in the effort has been the Actor’s Guild of Parkersburg. Ann Simonton, Nancy Bloomer, Betty Dotson, and Betty Kelley, who are collectively known as, “The Costumer Shop Ladies,” recently came together at the Guild (adhering to all social distancing guidelines) to help create several dozen masks. When asked what drove her to get involved, Simonton said, “I’m retired now, and I didn’t like sitting at home feeling helpless.” Echoing that, Dotson said, “I just love to volunteer. And I’m not one to sit around when something needs done.” According to their Facebook page, Guild member Joshua Woodard has also gotten in on the effort, working to make 56 masks using the UMAMOV’s kits. In addition to those made for the United Way, Simonton has also completed seven dozen masks for the Wood County Society, and Bloomer has created 100 for the staff at the YMCA.

But it isn’t just larger organizations and non-profits who are driving this effort. All over the area, individuals have been stepping up, firing up their sewing machines to create much-needed protection for themselves, their families, and their communities. Harrisville resident Meggan Merritt, along with her mother Kim Boggs, began sewing masks on March 21st. “I saw a Facebook post from a friend’s daughter who is a nurse. She was terrified,” Merritt said. Using a pattern she found on the CDC website, the pair begin working in earnest out of their homes. As word of mouth spread, requests began coming in not just locally, but from all over the country. They have shipped masks as far away as a police department in South Carolina, and a rural hospital in Oklahoma. To date, the pair (with assistance from their family) have completed over 1,400 cloth masks.

It was a way to cope, being able to pour my heart into something I knew he’d be proud of.

As their project grew, they began receiving small financial donations from the community. Though they plan to wrap up their effort at the end of April, any remaining funds will be going towards a scholarship for a Ritchie County High School Senior as part of  the BoggsStrong Foundation, the charity Merritt founded in memory of her brother, Matt Boggs. In fact, it was the anniversary of her brother’s death which motivated Merritt to begin the mask sewing project in the first place. “It was a way to cope,” she said. “Being able to pour my heart into something I knew he’d be proud of.”

To Get Involved:

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Most folks in the Mid-Ohio Valley would not think of Saint Mary’s, WV as a culinary destination.  However, since 2015 the small town just 25 minutes up Route 2 (or Route 7 if you’re on the Ohio side) has been home to The Boxcar, a local restaurant focused on fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

The Boxcar was opened by Chef and owner Kristian Lenard. Originally from San Diego, Lenard took a circuitous route to the MOV. Lenard was born into a military family, moving around often and spending many years in Texas before coming to the area to be closer to family. With a background cooking in country clubs, Lenard found that he was tired of working for other people and was ready to open his own place. Rather than look for spaces in the larger nearby cities, Lenard saw an opportunity to create, in his words, “one great place to eat” in the small community of Saint Mary’s. “I didn’t want people to have to drive to Parkersburg to get this kind of stuff,” he said.

With a motto of, “Eat Locally,” The Boxcar’s menu focuses on accessible food prepared in a gourmet way. Lenard works with local vendors to source as many of his ingredients as possible. Produce comes from farmer’s markets, beef from nearby farms. They also try to make as much as possible, right down to the salad dressings, “in house.” The goal at the Boxcar isn’t fine dining; rather, Lenard and his team work to create hometown food in an elevated way.

The space itself is warm and inviting, with heavy wood tables and booths accenting the railroad-themed decor (the restaurant’s name is a reference to the trains that still run through Saint Marys’ downtown). The Boxcar has also recently had an expansion, nearly doubling the size of their dining room. “We waited patiently for the other tenant to leave, and then we knocked down a wall,” Lenard said, laughing. With the expansion of the square footage has also come an expansion of their menu, adding some additional pasta options again with the intention of giving locals an option nearby.

The Boxcar has also, for the first time this year, created two special three-course menus as part of MOV Restaurant Week. Lenard said that he was interested in the “3 for $30” concept, specifically the chance to offer a high-end entree at a still-reasonable price. At a recent sampling of their restaurant week offerings, the lobster bisque was sweet and buttery while still perfectly smooth and creamy, and the side salad was simply but surprisingly fresh for February, with just the right amount of peppery bite from the honey mustard dressing. The highlight, however, was the chili-rubbed pork tenderloin with root beer bbq sauce.  The heat of the chili rub added flavor without becoming overwhelming while pairing perfectly with the sweetness of the root beer bbq. The pork was paired with garlic potatoes and several huge and perfectly cooked asparagus stalks.

Lenard said that, just as he strives to keep Saint Marys locals in town, that the special menus would be, “a good opportunity for people to come in,” from Parkersburg or Marietta, to see what they have to offer. 

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For those in the know, a quiet stretch of highway between Marietta and Devola has long been home to some of the best dining in the Mid-Ohio Valley.  The House of Wines, a combination restaurant and retail space specializing in craft beer, cigars and, of course, wine, was purchased by Chef/owner Sally Oliver in June of 2012. Oliver, a Marietta native, is a classically trained chef who returned home after studying at the New England Culinary Institute and spending some time cooking in Boston. “I wanted to do my own food,” Oliver said.

In the years since purchasing the space, Oliver has seen the community embrace her French-inspired menus and casual, relaxed setting. One of the things Oliver is most proud of is that the business’s shopping + dining combination allows diners to shop for their wine pairings before their meal, and then enjoy them at the table for a retail price. “There’s no markup and no corkage fee,” she said.

As in previous years, the House of Wines will once again be participating in MOV Restaurant Week, which takes place between February 24th – 29th. A supporter of the event from the beginning, Chef Oliver said she likes to see big city food trends making their way into our small community. Plus, she said, “three-course prix fixe menus is how I was taught. It goes back to my training.”

Unlike some area restaurants, which offer dessert, the House of Wines has opted for a more traditional three-course menu of soup or salad, appetizer, and entree. Options from this year’s menus include a carrot curry bisque, salmon cake with lemon aioli, and “surf and turf” with grilled flat iron steak and shrimp.

The Chef said she’s most excited to offer burrata, an Italian soft cheese (think Mozzarella with a creamy center) served with sauteed mushrooms, arugula, and truffle oil. As with all MOV Restaurant Week participants, the special menus will be available for $30, plus tax (where applicable) and tip. Additionally, the House of Wines will be offering wine pairings with their dinners for an extra $12.

The popularity of the House of Wines (and their delivery service, available within city limits) has led Chef Oliver to recently branch out into fully prepared “grab and go” meals. Inspired by home delivery meal kit services such as Blue Apron and Hello Fresh, the Chef takes the concept one step further by preparing the full meals and then portioning them into individual vacuum-sealed bags. Customers can purchase the meals from a cooler in the wine shop for a flat rate of $15. Once home, the bags need only be placed into a pot of boiling water for six minutes and voila! Hot, chef-prepared food at home.

Options include salmon, statler chicken breast, or flat iron steak (cooked by Oliver to a perfect medium-rare). Though the sides may change, Oliver says that the same three proteins will always be available. In the few short weeks since the to-go meals were introduced, Oliver says she’s had nothing but positive feedback, even selling out on several occasions. Extra stock has been donated to a local fire house. Customers who wish to save their meals for later are provided with both an expiration date and a “freeze by” date.

“If you can boil water, you can do this,” she said. “You can’t mess it up!”

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