Spring is always seen as a time of rebirth and renewing, and is often characterized by the beauty that comes with colorful spring blooms. This spring, the Mid-Ohio Valley was gifted an additional visual treat in the form of vibrant metal artwork created by the artists of the Wood County Society’s Artbeat Studio. Folks traveling down Market Street can now spot a bee, a butterfly, and flowers attached to city light posts. The pieces were installed last Wednesday, March 10th by Parkersburg city employees in a collaboration with Wood County Society and Artbeat Studio, and as part of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

These artful installations are the product of community partnership and took an average of 14 hours each to create, including the fabrication, sanding, priming, painting and sealing of the work. The City of Parkersburg funded materials, local artists conceived and painted the pieces, and Kincheloe Motors coated them with a sealant to ensure durability. This means that the pieces will be beautiful and rust free for years to come. 

As a collaborative partner, Wendy Shriver, Executive Director of Downtown PKB, said she was excited to see this project come together. “Downtown PKB is thrilled to be a collaborative partner with the City of Parkersburg and the artists of the Wood County Society’s Artbeat Studio to incorporate inclusive public artwork into our downtown’s landscape,” she said. “We thank the City for investing in this supportive employment opportunity and applaud the artists for their creative placemaking artwork.”

The idea for the artwork installation originated when Mayor Tom Joyce attended the grand opening of the Wood County Society in August of 2019. Seeing artwork completed by Artbeat’s artists, Mayor Joyce commented that he would love to see some of this art hanging in downtown Parkersburg. “This is when the magic started to happen,” said Wood County Society Executive Director, Brandon Gress, “and the collaborations were born between Wood County Society, Downtown PKB, City of Parkersburg along with Burkmerica Custom Designs to facilitate prototypes from the Artbeat Studio Artists original work.”

Public art with a direct link to the community provides an aesthetic focal point to the downtown.

“Public art with a direct link to the community provides an aesthetic focal point to the downtown,” said Mayor Joyce. “Coupled with the fact that the artists are not just local persons but those with a disability brings a level of authenticity that isn’t present with other commissioned artists.”

“Downtown Parkersburg has made great strides in the past 25 years and while there are challenges that remain, the downtown represents a large portion of the employment base for the MOV,” he continued. “This project is another piece of making it more walkable, livable and a destination for employment and enjoyment.”

Gress said that he hopes this installation will help the Society to continue to build its mission. “Wood County Society’s vision of ensuring all communities are united to ensure every individual is recognized and provided inclusive opportunities for their abilities is the central focus of all of our programs, resources and initiatives,” said Gress. “[We] continue to strengthen our mission and our impact by responding and collaborating with community need and impact. This industrial metal work project is just the beginning for our artists – and it is the desire that other communities will love their work as much as the City of Parkersburg – and we can continue to build our mission of igniting passion and the human spirit through the arts.”

Watching their pieces get installed, Gress said that the artists were overjoyed. “As one artist stated – ‘This is the best day of my life!’  and another had tears as the artwork was displayed along Market Street,” he said. “There is much to say in regards to providing compassion, inclusion and accessibility – because everyone should experience joy, satisfaction and fulfillment!”

Executive Director Wendy Shriver has been a catalyst of change for our revitalization efforts downtown… her commitment to our downtown and providing inclusive opportunities for our artists and the community at large is humbling

The artists’ reactions lend credence to the value of the efforts of the Wood County Society. The Artbeat Studio is a collaborative and adaptive community arts center located in downtown Parkersburg. The talented artists of the collective create their masterpieces from up-cycled materials in an environment that fosters accessibility, inclusion, abundance, and compassion. Gress said that since the Market Street installation, Artbeat artists have two new contracts for additional pieces under development. The studio is open to working with other municipalities or businesses that would like to display art done by participants.  

“Wood County Society and Downtown PKB have collaborated for the past two years to ensure the security and the development of this project,” said Gress. “Executive Director Wendy Shriver has been a catalyst of change for our revitalization efforts downtown, recognizing the beauty and need for streetscape design – and her passion is unwavering while her commitment to our downtown and providing inclusive opportunities for our artists and the community at large is humbling.”

The Wood County Society serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Wood, Jackson, Roane, Calhoun, Wirt, Ritchie, Tyler and Pleasants Counties in West Virginia and Meigs, Washington and Athens Counties in Ohio. In addition to grants funds and corporate sponsorships, the majority of the funding for the Wood County Society comes from their annual telethon which will be held Sunday, March 28th. This event is aired live on WTAP and runs from 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Community members, schools, and more participate to encourage donations, which can even be completed via text message. Gress said that he hopes to see a tremendous response since, “the more money we raise, the more we can do for the community!”

Gress also invites everyone to get creative and participate in the virtual “Rock Your Sock” event planned for March 21st, which is Downs Syndrome Awareness Day. To participate, simply wear mismatched socks, snap a picture, and send it to the Wood County Society via social media. The Society has many events and projects upcoming, including a return to Camp Echo, a respite care program that had to be canceled last year due to the pandemic. This year the camp will have a Broadway theme and feature a visit from Broadway performers. To learn more, visit the Wood County Society website.

The post Artbeat Studio Adorns Downtown Parkersburg with Artwork appeared first on Clutch MOV.

High School graduation is a seminal event in the life of students. The culmination of more than a decade of hard work, this event allows students, their families, friends, educators, and more the opportunity to mark the close of a long chapter of their lives. The COVID-19 pandemic has threatened this celebration but it appears students locally will be able to enjoy a ceremony, albeit a little delayed and perhaps a little differently.

Marietta High School filmed their graduation ceremony on May 14th. Belpre High School principal Sam Piper detailed the method they devised for their graduating Eagles which was held earlier in May. Students were given time slots 5 minutes apart and allowed 6 guests. The students walked across the stage and were given their diploma. Piper said the ceremony began at 9:00 am and finished at 4:30 pm. Though this made for a long day, it was important for students to have their time in the spotlight.  

Jane Smith, Interim Administrator of Wood County Christian School, said that their graduation originally scheduled for Friday, May 22 has been postponed to June 6th. The ceremony has also been moved to the Evergreen Bible Church, with preparations in place for social distancing. Immediate family only will be in attendance, but extended family and friends will be able to view the graduation via live-stream.

Wood County Schools Superintendent, Will Hosaflook, met online with student leaders from each of the three schools about the prospects. Students said unequivocally that what they wanted most was some sort of in-person graduation ceremony. Plans have been pushed back into June, but each of the high schools in the Wood County public school system have dates for graduation. The ceremonies are currently scheduled for June 25 (South), June 26 (PHS), and June 27 (Williamstown). 

Ms. Betsy Patterson, Principal of Parkersburg South High School, said that there are contingency plans in place, but the hope is to have outdoor ceremonies at the Erickson All-Sports Complex.  Should weather prevent this, a smaller scale ceremony will be held indoors with graduates receiving a certain number of tickets for family or friends. Plans were required to be approved by the State Board of Education in order to assure that proper precautions are being observed. The guidelines at the time of the ceremony will dictate specific efforts that may be observed to keep both students and those in attendance safe.  

Parkersburg Catholic will observe a graduation mass on June 18th.  The leadership has recommended that those in high-risk categories not attend and everyone attending must wear a face mask, with exemptions made for those speaking from safe distances. The ceremony will also be live-streamed, for those unable to be in attendance. Tickets will be issued until capacity is reached, with priority given to the graduates and their parents. 

Graduate Aidan Roberts said, “Simply put, anything short of a completely traditional graduation is not ideal. Our school administration has the important responsibility of creating and executing a plan that allows for a safe, yet meaningful, graduation ceremony.  I am very grateful for our small class size and our consequent ability to have an in-person graduation. Although I am slightly disappointed by the decision to have it indoors instead of outside, I am very thankful that it will not have to be online or pre-recorded. Regardless of the circumstances, I am looking forward to seeing my classmates and officially graduating high school!” 

For the schools planning later graduations, special considerations needed to be made for the students who will not be in the area in June. One example of this are the students who are heading to the military. Housecalls Hospice put together a small ceremony for these students and their families in order to allow them to both have a graduation experience and enable them to leave on time to start the next chapter of their lives. 

PHS graduate Colin Blosser was one of the students who participated. His sister Maddie who is a PHS incoming junior said, “It meant a lot. It was really special to see all the boys that were leaving early get to have this ceremony because they won’t be able to walk at graduation. It was really nice of them to do this for them since they are going to help fight in different areas to make our country safer.”

The post Class of 2020 Graduates with Pomp Under New Circumstance appeared first on Clutch MOV.

Each year since 2014, the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation has hosted an online fundraising event called Give Local MOV. Julie Posey, the PACF’s Development and Communications Officer, said that since the founding of Give Local, more than $1.5 million has been raised for charitable groups in the region. Last year, Give Local MOV 2019 raised more than $361,000! 

A full list of the generous community supporters who sponsor Give Local MOV, led by Superior Toyota, can be found at www.GiveLocalMOV.org. Their generous commitment to funding this day of giving inspired others in the community to make their own gifts to support local nonprofits. “Our sponsors and the local donors who contribute are critical factors in the success of Give Local MOV,” said Posey. “It’s amazing how much can be achieved when we work together. The Foundation’s Board and staff are proud to be part of such a giving community.”

Now in its seventh year, Give Local MOV 2020 features 55 different nonprofits. Each nonprofit is assigned a share of the matching funds which match the donations given online during the event. Donors can browse the different charities by visiting the website, returning to complete their donations on the Day of Giving which runs for 24 hours, from midnight to midnight. This year, that day is May 5th. Those who wish to support all nonprofits equally can give their gifts to the Stretch Pool. Matching funds and prizes totaling more than $100,000 are available to the nonprofits. Should any nonprofit not claim their full allocation of matching funds, the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation will proportionately allocate them among the nonprofits that exceeded their initial share.

With COVID-19, many of the area nonprofits are seeing new needs and increased financial strain. Organizations providing direct assistance require more resources than usual to fulfill their missions. All nonprofits, even those not directly responding to COVID-19 concerns, are feeling the pressure since regular programming and fundraising efforts can’t go on as planned.

The Foundation suggests that along with making donations to these organizations if possible, community members can volunteer and advocate. The groups rely heavily on volunteer support which has also been hampered by the stay-at-home efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19. Many have adjusted their efforts to ensure volunteer safety. Some of the agencies have added volunteer opportunities to their pages on the www.GiveLocalMOV.org website. In addition, spreading the word about organizations helps them reach new potential donors and volunteers, as well as individuals who may need their help. 

Give Local MOV 2020 event can be found (and shared!) on Facebook.  Interested individuals can also check out, like, and follow the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation’s Facebook page.  The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity that works in partnership with local affiliates to provide leadership and develop philanthropic resources to meet the needs of the 11 county area it serves. The Parkersburg Area Community Foundation has been serving local citizens since 1963. More information can be found at www.pacfwv.com or by calling 304-428-4438. 

For those who prefer to give by check, the Foundation’s mailing address is PO Box 1762, Parkersburg, WV 26102-1762. For donations to go to a specific nonprofit, simply write the name in the memo line. These donations do not, however, count toward the matching funds or prizes.  If you have any questions, call the Foundation office.   

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The novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, has impacted every state.  The number of positive cases continues to rise faster by the day as more people are tested. Many people feel unsure of what to do to help while also keeping themselves safe. The Red Cross may have an answer for that.

Most of the blood drives for the Red Cross are hosted by schools and colleges. With these institutions on shutdown status, 4,500 drives have been cancelled. This will result in 150,000 fewer donations. The American Red Cross now faces a severe blood shortage due to this unprecedented number of blood drive cancellations during the coronavirus outbreak. During this shortage, healthy donors are desperately needed. Many patients count on this life-saving treatment. 

Krista Farley, with the Red Cross, said that the Donation Center at 3210 Dudley Ave. in Parkersburg, WV (26101) will have collections today, Friday, March 20. Next week they’ll have appointments on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. They are taking extra precautions to ensure donor safety, from taking temperatures and providing sanitizer before entry to spacing beds further apart. 

Restrictions on giving can be found at www.redcrossblood.org.  Donors are encouraged to make an appointment on that website, by phone at 1-800-RedCross, or via the free donor app (under Red Cross in the App Store). On the app, donors can get a Rapid Pass by completing a questionnaire. The app will give a QR barcode, which the staff will scan when the donor arrives, saving time and limiting exposure. Donation usually takes no more than an hour – often less if the donor completes the survey in advance.

If you have never given blood before, know that your donation can help save up to three lives and the need for blood is constant. To give, you need to be in good general health, be at least 17 years old in most states (16 years old with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds, and have not donated blood in the last 56 days.

The post One Way to Help? Give Blood. appeared first on Clutch MOV.

It all began with a little kid and a bucket.  If you had told five-year-old, (or even 15-year-old), Zac Cerqueda that the day his papa put him on an upside-down bucket and taught him to do dishes at the family restaurant would be the start of his culinary career, he wouldn’t have believed you.  The youthful dream of playing soccer was young Zac’s plan.

It wasn’t until he came home and realized that working at Rubi’s, his dad Ricardo’s restaurant on 7th Street in Parkersburg, didn’t really seem like work. He enjoyed it!  So, he enrolled in the culinary program at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh.  After nearly four years of training, Chef Zac would go on to work for nearly a decade in some of Pittsburgh’s most notable restaurants. During his time at the Duquesne Club, Carmella’s, Bar Marco, & All in Good Taste Productions, Zac would prepare food for guests including Brad Pitt, Elton John, & Pittsburgh royalty – professional athletes, team owners, and members of the Heinz family.

Now Zac is back home for the new Rubi’s Salad Haus venture.  The Haus features the same level of deliciousness as the original restaurant with an intense focus on the freshest ingredients and the ability to customize dishes to suit each customer’s taste and dietary requirements.  Anyone, from a vegan to the most consummate carnivore, can find something to enjoy. 

As a couple sat feasting on the charcuterie, a meat and cheese tray with complements that transports the consumer out of the small, warm storefront into a five-star experience unrivaled in the MOV, another customer stood at the nearby register picking up a takeout order. (Yes, that’s an available option!) An employee asked, “Were you here yesterday?”  The customer chuckled and said, “Yes, I’m here every day!”  And therein is the beauty of the Salad Haus.  With more than 60 ingredients as an option, a diner could eat there every day of their life and never have to have the same combination. 

In a short conversation with owner Ricardo and his wife Martha, (who co-manages the restaurant) it is easy to see that love of family and food runs deep. Ricardo’s life included meandering from his native Mexico and a possible career as an engineer to the northeastern US, where he learned from the family of friends the business of running a pizzeria.  As Martha refilled glasses of a delicious Tempranillo, a Spanish red that pairs well with the smoked meat offerings on the charcuterie, she and Ricardo recalled the culinary experiences they enjoyed on a trip to Paris. 

Zac, Ricardo, and Martha are excited to bring something very new to the Mid-Ohio Valley.  Cerqueda is working with Mid-Ohio Valley suppliers to have the freshest, locally-sourced ingredients.  Seasonal changes will bring new wines, meats, cheeses, and desserts to the menu making Rubi’s Salad Haus a place where even the most frequent guest can take their taste buds on new epicurean adventures. Open from 10:00 a.m.to 7:00 p.m. every day except Sunday, the restaurant is busiest during the typical lunch span of 11:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m.  While dining in ultimately affords the best experience, for ease of choosing ingredients and enabling tasting of the delicious housemade dressings, call ahead or takeout orders are welcome at (681) 315-3312.  Follow Rubi’s Salad Haus on Facebook and Instagram, where posts include daily specials, featured menu items, and new offerings.

Looking for a special treat this weekend? A one-day, special Valentine’s Day dinner is being offered, reservations required, that will include an upscale tasting menu.  Call to get your seats for this experience!

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