Philippines Best Food in Williamstown is now open for the season!

A relatively new restaurant in Williamstown opened April 30 for its second outdoor season, serving Filipino food on site, for takeout and for delivery to Marietta and Williamstown. Philippines Best Food, the sister location to the original 7th Street restaurant in Parkersburg, serves up comfort food like burritos, fried appetizers, shakes and smoothies and even funnel cake fries. 

“We have more concession-style food,” said owner Ellen Lubuguin. “I am considering adding a Filipino-style hot dog.” 

While the 7th Street location, which is operated by Lubuguin’s husband, has an indoor dining room, the Williamstown location has a more summery vibe with outdoor lights surrounding tables and large tiki-style umbrellas over round tables. This outdoor seating model served Lubuguin well last summer when the location opened in June, since the COVID-19 pandemic limited many activities to outdoors. 

“With the pandemic, everyone wanted to be outside,” she said. 

The store overlooks the river and is accessible via boat dock. Customers can also walk or bike across the Williamstown Bridge from Marietta for lunch. Philippines Best Food is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. The Williamstown location was open from June through October in 2020, but Lubuguin decided to open the doors in April this year. She intends to remain open through October.

“People kept asking when we were going to open so we decided to open early!” said Lubuguin. 

Philippines Best Food started as a food truck before moving to a small storefront in 2010 she and her husband affectionately called “the cubby hole” next to their home and the hair salon she operates. The space was expanded into the current 7th Street location. It is a full dine-in space with a different menu from the Williamstown location. 

We were looking for a second location but God gave us something better.

Ellen Lubuguin

“It’s beside my house,” said Lubuguin. “The beauty shop is on one side and the cubby hole was right there.”

The location wasn’t even on the main drag, she said, but managed to be successful. She applied for the lot there to expand and accommodate their business’s growth. They purchased the Williamstown building on a gamble, banking on being able to get the space approved for a loan. They had been looking for a location in Marietta, but then the Williamstown location came up on their horizon instead. 

“We were looking for a second location but God gave us something better,” she said. 

While the menus between the two locations vary, both feature Filipino delicacies. At the Williamstown location, customers can enjoy a sweet shake made from ube, a purple yam from the Philippines. Also available is a boba drink made with passionfruit and a pineapple smoothie. Appetizers include coconut shrimp, egg rolls, sweet chili wings and much more. Entrees include rice or noodle bowls and burritos and a spicy seafood paella. 

Lubuguin took care in planning the aesthetic of the outdoor seating, which includes entertainment like a children’s playset and a large outdoor Jenga set built by her son. However, as a note to parents, the Jenga set is intended for adult use only, since the wood pieces are heavy. 

Lubuguin was sorry that the Mid Ohio Valley’s annual multicultural festival was cancelled, but said it was understandable due to the pandemic. She expressed interest in someday sharing not just Filipino food, but the country’s culture as well, through a Filipino American Culture Day, giving an introduction “to the culture, dancing, singing.”

In the meantime, Lubuguin is enjoying her surroundings at her job. “I like working at this location because of the view. I feel like I am on vacation.” 

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Child Care Center Raises Funds for iPads for Camden Clark through Kids for Kids Initiative

A Vienna child care center raised around $2,000 for WVU Medicine Camden Clark, which will go toward the purchase of several iPads for children to use during their hospital stays. Olivia and Friends owner Samantha Byers initially set out to raise funds for some new equipment for the center, but pivoted to splitting funds between the center’s needs and the needs of the community.

“We actually started this to raise funds for a playground and garden for our kids, and we turned it into a kids for kids initiative,” said Byers. “We fundraised with the goal of half going to an organization that supported kids, meaning kids helping other kids.”

Byers wanted to support an organization that was child- and family-based. She chose Camden Clark after hearing about the personal experiences of parents she knew who had either given birth there or those who have had to take their children there for surgical procedures. 

“They do a lot of stuff there to make kids comfortable and less scared,” said Byers.

In total, Olivia and Friends raised about $4,160, with half going to the hospital and the remainder going toward items for the child care center. These included a drum set, a mud kitchen, a large swing, an outdoor table, and the implementation of a raised garden bed. 

“We’ve been planting vegetables,” said Byers. “We added a pollinator garden. Each kid made a bee and butterfly watering station. They decorated those.”

The center raised funds through a contest among their young clients: Each child who participated had a team and was allowed to choose a color for their team. Whichever “team” raised the most money was permitted to make a crucial choice for the center — whether they would get to celebrate with a pizza party, or an ice cream party.

“My daughter picked her favorite color, purple,” said Byers. “Friends and family could donate toward their team. Our winner picked ice cream, so we built ice cream sundaes. It was a mess in the best sort of way.”

As for the hospital donation, Byers said they were kind enough to come to Olivia and Friends.

“We did a big official check handoff to them,” she said. “They met the kids, who handed the check. I like having the kids do things so they understand about giving back, and how important it is to help other people. The initiative helps them see that giving back is important and makes a difference.”

“It was an honor to meet Samantha and the children that she cares for,” wrote Candace White, Director of Perioperative Services at WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center, in a statement. “This is such a generous gift and an amazing act of kindness from Ms. Byers, the children, and their parents. It is very heartwarming to see someone working to instill the value of helping others in children at such an early age. This donation will be split between departments to assist with the purchase of items to help comfort children during their stay with us. Some of the funds will be used to buy iPads for children to use before and after their surgical procedure. This will provide some fun stress relief for pediatric patients during a time that can be scary to them. “

Byers said she hopes to see Olivia and Friends’ new kids for kids initiative continue in other ways.

“We have a couple things lined up,” she said, adding that a family event for this summer is in the works. “It’s about families and kids in our community and learning to help other people equally.”

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Roseland Coffee Bar Hosts Fundraiser for Humane Society of the Ohio Valley

A Barlow coffee shop held a fundraiser for the local humane society, netting more than $300 in cash and several car-fulls of donated food, toys, and other supplies. Roseland Coffee Bar’s first-ever pet adoption event Saturday, benefitting the  Humane Society of the Ohio Valley, was well attended, with a steady stream of customers and adoption-curious visitors showing up throughout.

“We filled a cargo van with cat food, dog food, kitten and puppy chow,” said Collin Yost, part owner of Roseland Coffee Bar, adding that the event also attracted donations of cleaning supplies, pet carriers, blankets and more. “We were packed all day. We had all our parking full, people parking in the grass, and parked all the way down the road outside the shop entrance! [There were] easily hundreds of people throughout the day.”

Plus, a furry friend found a foster home as a result of the event, said Yost. 

“I think the highlight of the day was seeing how many people came out, and seeing at the end of the day just how huge the pile of donations was,” said Yost. “But overall, hearing that a dog from the event was being fostered for adoption from a couple who met the pup at our event. That was heartwarming.”

Yost said the coffee shop is interested in making this an annual event.

“Animals help us through some of the hardest times in our life,” he said. “So we felt that it’s important to help animals when they are going through a hard time in their own lives. A lot of the people helping at the shelter give their time and money and effort with nothing in return. We would love to make this an annual event.”

Humane Society volunteers at Saturday’s event praised the coffee shop for hosting an accessible, family-friendly outdoor event.

“It was a wonderful event, hosted by a lovely establishment owned by a community minded family,” said Esther Salem, a volunteer. “A large quantity of food, cleaning supplies and toys were collected.”

“We met many people in the community who seemed to already know they wanted to adopt, had adopted in the past, and were very sweet to our dogs and cats,” said Lisa Bush Gill. “The location seemed almost perfect for the townspeople.”

Another volunteer, Jennie Sherrard, noted that events like the one Roseland Coffee Bar held are crucial to a shelter’s well being. 

“The compassion and support of the community is what helps to keep the shelter open,” said Sherrard.

For those interested in similar events, an adoption event and bake sale is happening from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 24 at We Lov Pets (450 Pike Street) in Marietta.

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Bike racks, resources coming to Marietta thanks to Bike Marietta

A program years in the making is now a reality, allowing for the purchase and installation of 50 new bike racks for downtown Marietta. Through a partnership with the Washington County Department of Health and Marietta Main Street, the town will see the new bike racks installed this spring, along with kiosks offering cyclist resources. This new initiative, Bike Marietta, was the result of a 2020 grant of $10,000 from the Washington County Health Department.

“A few years back, Hallie Taylor [owner of the Marietta Adventure Company] had proposed this opportunity to Main Street and we began working on this initiative,” said Marietta Main Street Executive Director Cristie Thomas. “However, with a lack of funding and capacity at the time, we weren’t able to get it off the ground. Thanks to the Washington County Health Department, we made quick work of both proposing the Bike Marietta program and coordinating the materials for its implementation. I can’t wait for the bike racks to be installed this spring!”

Thomas said the initiative fit Marietta Main Street’s mission in several ways: The organization seeks to make downtown inclusive and accessible, and aims for its small businesses to thrive. “We want downtown to be at the forefront of people’s minds with shopping, dining, and enjoying our community,” said Thomas. “We have a robust trail network in Marietta and we want it to be crystal clear that people can enjoy our trails AND enjoy our downtown shops and restaurants.”

The program also meets some of the needs of Creating Healthy Communities, a program directed by Sherry Ellem at the Washington County Health Department.  “Creating Healthy Communities Coalition is committed to increasing opportunities for physical activity,” said Ellem. “Bike Marietta allows our community to make the healthy choice the easy choice through active transportation.”

With the grant, Bike Marietta also designed a Bike Marietta Resource Guide, coordinated a bike-friendly business initiative, and will soon launch a Bike Marietta web page and install kiosks with trail maps and other resources. “Sherry Ellem contacted us with the idea and said there was some funding there for cycling activities,” said Marietta Main Street board member Bret Allphin, who worked with others on the board and in the community to put together the grant application. 

We have mountain bike trails in the immediate vicinity. Outdoor recreation is a huge driver for the area.

Taylor took on a large role in planning, along with Allphin, Thomas, and Michael Bond of Marietta Main Street. “Cristie and I and some other folks on the board hatched the idea knowing that we have a wonderful downtown that has a great bike and pedestrian path,” said Allphin. “We have mountain bike trails in the immediate vicinity. Outdoor recreation is a huge driver for the area.”

Allphin said the plan centered around what could be done to bolster Marietta’s biking assets and also bring visitors to the downtown area in an accessible way. “We have infrastructure for cars and pedestrians, but we know biking is a big deal downtown, so we wanted to build on that,” he said.

Racks are anticipated to be installed in the first quarter of 2021. Spots for them have been chosen around downtown Marietta, said Bond. “They will be put in front of restaurants and other spots of interest downtown,” Bond said. “We biked and walked around to figure out exactly where the bike racks could go, where there was concrete. Hallie did a bunch of work scouting out places.”

In addition to the racks, kiosks designed by Just A Jar Design + Press will be installed in Marietta and Beverly, offering cyclists bike maps and other resources, including information on the rights and responsibilities of riders, listing local and state codes. Bike Marietta will also install fix-it station locations, where riders can access tools along the route to perform basic bike repairs and maintenance, like fixing flat tires and adjusting brakes. Resources will also include a list of bike-friendly businesses, letting riders know where they can use restrooms and refill water bottles. “People will seek out bike-friendly businesses,” said Allphin. 

When retail shops, offices, and public buildings are convenient to walk or bike to, it increases the opportunity for physical activity.

Prior to the formalization of Bike Marietta, two professional bike rides took place this past fall to encourage discussion about Marietta’s existing bicycle infrastructure. Clutch MOV Owner and Publisher Sarah Arnold participated in one and spoke to some riders to get their input.

“Recent studies have shown that one-third of home buyers prefer homes located in areas that offer transportation alternatives,” said Deana Clark, Executive Director of the Marietta-Washington County CVB, at the event. “When retail shops, offices, and public buildings are convenient to walk or bike to, it increases the opportunity for physical activity. It also makes it easier for low-income, senior citizens and disabled folks to navigate your community.”

Jason Pyles, GIS Coordinator at Buckeye Hills Regional Council, also participated on the ride — his second, following one he’d done in Meigs County a couple years prior. “I was quite happy with how the drivers handled us, especially on the busier roads,” Pyles said of the Marietta ride. “I never felt completely overwhelmed by the traffic, even around 7th and Greene, and it was nice how there was always a quiet street you could move to fairly easily. Even with some of our hills, it seems you could get around most of the city on a bike without tremendous effort.”

Thomas said that one facet of the program she appreciated is that it is accessible to bike riders of all levels — not just those who have been riding for years.

Bike Marietta connects our commercial district with those trails, and Marietta Main Street wants to promote and support downtown.

“We have a tremendous amount of outdoor assets, including hiking and biking,” said Thomas. “A bike rider at any level can come and enjoy our town. We have all kinds of trails of different skill and experience levels. Bike Marietta connects our commercial district with those trails, and Marietta Main Street wants to promote and support downtown.”

Thomas added that a celebration is in the works once Bike Marietta is ready to formally launch.

“We will celebrate big time,” she said. “We will coordinate a celebration with the city and bring together all the folks who helped make this dream a reality. We also have a few events we’re currently planning – like, Bike Marietta Day, Bike to Work Day, and more.”

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Creating Healthy Communities Coalition Projects Meet Local Needs in 2020

This year was a big one for the Creating Healthy Communities Program in Washington County, as the Coalition balanced a number of projects related to meeting needs like providing healthy food, encouraging safe and accessible transit, and bringing new playground equipment to a township that needed it. The CHC is committed to preventing and reducing chronic disease statewide. Through cross-sector collaboration, they are activating communities to improve access to and affordability of healthy food and increase opportunities for physical activity where Ohioans live, work, and play. By implementing sustainable evidence-based strategies, CHC is creating a culture of health.

The Coalition is made up of a diverse group of more than 40 partners and affiliates that work together to make the coalition’s projects happen. “It’s a big group of us working together to make this happen,” said Sherry Ellem, Creating Healthy Communities Program Manager. “It’s not just the health department.” Together, organizations like OSU extension, Washington County, GoPacks, the Washington County Behavioral Health Board, and AmeriCorps Seniors (formerly the Retired Senior Volunteer Program or RSVP) are major contributors to helping work toward Creating Healthy Communities Coalition’s ongoing initiatives and goals.

Washington County and Beverly Active Transportation

2020 was the first of a two-year project with the Buckeye Hills Regional Council to get more places to walk and bike safely and comfortably in Washington County. The Coalition conducted a survey this summer to gauge interest in where residents would like to have shared-use paths and trails, bike lanes, paved shoulders, and better crosswalks and sidewalks. To promote the program this year, Jim Ullman, the mayor of Beverly, hosted a How We Roll Ride. “We made a bicycle comfort map showing what kinds of roads folks might be comfortable riding on, and the mayor even shared his route,” said Ellem. Check out their “Enjoy the Walk and Ride” guide for more information. Additional work on this project will continue in 2021.

Bike Marietta

Thanks to a $10,000 grant to Marietta Main Street, Bike Marietta will be able to install 50 bike racks throughout the city. Additionally, 2021 will see several downtown kiosks providing cycling information, and a new business partnership program so bike-friendly businesses can connect with riders. “We thought, what can we do to bolster our assets and bring folks downtown?” said Bret Allphin, a board member of Marietta Main Street. “We also focused on accessibility. We have infrastructure for cars and pedestrians, and we know biking is a big deal downtown and something we wanted to build on.” Thanks to the grant, Bike Marietta was able to design a resource guide. A website is coming in 2021 as well.

AmeriCorps Seniors Food Policy Guidelines

In 2020, AmeriCorps Seniors committed to providing volunteers with more healthy, accessible, easy to eat food. Per their recently-updated memorandum of understanding, the organization will ensure at least 50 percent of any food offered to volunteers is a healthy option, like a salad along with pizza or a fruit basket in addition to a donut tray. “The whole model is always with making the healthy choice be the easy choice,” said Ellem. Lisa Valentine, Director of Americorps Seniors, said this new change impacts around 200 volunteers. She added that, after the pandemic ends, she suspects most people will be thinking about being more healthy.

Farm-to-School Program at Fort Frye Local School

A local school district took on a program that allows its cafeteria to connect with local farms to get fresh produce onto school lunch tables. Vienna Indoor Aquaculture, a small farm in Lowell, and Wittens Farm Market provided kale, greens, peppers, tomatoes, and fresh corn on the cob to Fort Frye. The project also allowed for the purchase of a commercial food steamer. Denise Gerber, Fort Frye Local School food service coordinator and head cook, described adding kale and curd, a green leafy vegetable, into an iceberg lettuce salad for kids, along with fresh tomatoes. Peppers and tomatoes were served to kids with vegetable dip. “They especially enjoyed the fresh corn on the cob,” said Gerber. “They liked the green in the lettuce a lot more than I thought they would. We love the steamer.”

Greater Marietta Community Food Pantry

The addition of a freezer to this food pantry made all the difference before a busy holiday season. Sherry Hill, director of the Greater Marietta Community Food Pantry, said the commercial freezer was delivered on site just before the holidays, meaning the pantry could provide hundreds more Thanksgiving turkeys and Christmas hams in 2020 — two of the pantry’s most requested items each year. “This year, it was about getting food to the people who needed it, and this provided more space,” said Ellem. Hill described the pantry as Washington County’s largest, and one affiliated with the Southeastern Ohio Food Bank and the Feeding America program nationwide. It serves more than 2,700 households a year, or around 6,700 people.

“We reach out to pockets in the county we believe are underserved,” said Hill, adding that the freezer from the Coalition enabled the pantry to accept more donations and to purchase more food through grant monies. “We are very grateful to have the freezer,” said Hill. “Yesterday, I accepted a very large donation of red velvet ice cream, a rare commodity, and the freezer is packed with ice cream now. We are very happy about that.” Items currently needed at the pantry include ramen noodles, Lysol and disinfecting wipes, egg noodles, baked beans, tuna, deli, and toiletries like face soap and toothpaste. Thanks to their partners, Hill assured that the pantry is set on one major 2020 commodity: toilet paper.

Palmer Township Playground

Like many rural areas, Palmer Township had a lot of old equipment. Due to safety reasons, it had to be completely removed. But now, thanks to initiative taken by Palmer Township and its trustees, The Ladies Aid Group, the Sisters of St. Joseph’s Foundation, the Marietta Community Foundation, the Washington County Health Department, and other donors, what was previously a gravel lot is now a recreational spot for children. Volunteers helped install new playground features including a swing set and slide on a very cold Saturday. Shannon Hill and Darlene Lukshin were instrumental in securing funding and bringing community partners together to make this project happen.

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A student-driven effort to get a Parkersburg High School’s mascot removed has gained traction via a change.org petition. Rose Schock, 18, of Parkersburg, is a high school senior at PHS who started the petition this summer, asking the Wood County Schools Board of Education to do away with its “Big Red” mascot, which the petition describes as “ offensive, obsolete, and outdated.”

Earlier this year, Schock took an ancestry test confirming her own indigenous heritage, which made her think about what representation of Native Americans in current culture means to her and her family.

“It’s always been a thought for me and my family, but especially in the wake of the Washington Redskins changing their name to the Washington Football Team and these other schools and institutions moving away from these harmful stereotypes that kept being perpetuated,” she said.

Schock said a common argument in support of the school’s mascot is the tradition behind it. However, Schock discovered in her research that, while the school adopted its “Big Red” colors in 1915, the mascot did not become a part of the school’s legacy until the 1960s.

“Our own high school is less than 1 percent Native American and it’s really strange that this mascot … does not represent this area, nor the original people who were here in this area,” she said. 

Schock said she has felt supported in her efforts to get the mascot removed, though she knows dissent is there. A counter-petition to her own exists, and the administration has remained silent on the matter. A request for Principal DeMoss to comment on this article went unanswered earlier this month.

“I’ve had a lot of people that have been kind about it, signing, supporting, getting the word out,” Schock said. “But there has been opposition, specifically from older people who have lived in the area for a long time or were PHS graduates. The main argument against it is the tradition and that they never experienced anything against it when they were in school. But West Virginia has a low Native American population, especially in Parkersburg.”

Still, Schock hopes to see a change made at her school as well as others in similar circumstances down the road.

“On Indiginous Peoples’ Day, there was an NPR article talking about the effects [of these stereotypes], the vast amount of schools that still use these slurs and stereotypes,” she said. “It’s really harmful to showcase an entire community in this way that is so old now.”

The post Parkersburg High School Senior Seeks to Change School’s Mascot appeared first on Clutch MOV.

Sweetapple Farm Continues October Traditions with New Pandemic Safety Measures

What began as a dairy farm in 1940 is now the go-to spot to pick your own pumpkins in Vincent, Ohio operated by a local woman and her three children. Sweetapple Farm owner Mona Barrett, 73, is enthusiastic about this year’s corn maze on the farm’s property, which is Mother Goose-themed. 

“My son cut it over four days,” said Barrett, adding that this is the twenty-first year the farm has had a different designed corn maze. Plus, those who visit the farm after dark are encouraged to bring flashlights to play games in the maze.

“People love it, and I love to watch it because you can see all these lights up in the air,” said Barrett, adding that social distancing is still important even when inside the maze. “We ask everybody to be careful walking.”

Barrett, a registered nurse, assured that social distancing measures as well as masks are required throughout the farm. Hand-washing stations and sanitizer stations are also available. In an additional measure, to control the number of visitors on-site at any time, those who come to the farm must purchase tickets online, reserving an entry time. Tickets are $5, with add-ons available, such as a $4 paint-your-own-pumpkin option or fifty cents to feed the goats at the farm. 

“Our whole idea of doing this was to educate people about farming,” said Barrett of the decision more than two decades ago to make a large part of the farm open to the public. “We have information about farming and we take questions about what cows do and where milk comes from.”

We just feel very honored that everyone wants to come see us and learn about agriculture.

In a large cattle barn, there is a hay maze for smaller children made of hay bales. Barrett said there are also several full-size wooden cutouts of cows, where kids can pretend they are milking them, allowing for plenty of photo opportunities. Food, including Sloppy Joes, hot and cold cider, and pumpkin and caramel lattes, is available for purchase in the farm’s market, where visitors will find picnic tables for outdoor dining. 

Barrett said her sons are farmers. While they have other jobs, she said they love farming and enjoy finding ways to invite people to come to the farm, which is so named for their first milk cows. She said those who once came as kids are now bringing their own children to visit.

“A lot of them are now bringing back their kids and they are so grateful we are open,” she said. “We just feel very honored that everyone wants to come see us and learn about agriculture.”

Open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in the fall, the season officially ends each year at the farm on Halloween. This year, although Halloween falls on a Saturday, the farm will remain closed so employees can enjoy the holiday with their loved ones. That means there are four more weekend days to enjoy the farm, on Friday, October 23, Saturday, October 24, Sunday, October 25, and Friday, October 30. The flashlight maze is not available on Sunday, as the farm will close at 6 p.m. rather than 9 p.m. like the other nights. Visit the farm’s Facebook page for the most up-to-date details.

Barrett, who will turn 74 next month, continues to enjoy seeing visitors come in from places like Zanesville and McConnellsville, especially to see the new corn maze design each year.

“People come back every year to do it,” she said. “So, many people know me.”

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During Marietta’s First Friday, a young artist and entrepreneur will be offering three different children’s T-shirts she designed and helped print — with a little help from her dad. Eight-year-old Elle Rosenstock will be on site from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at JustAJar, father Bobby Rosenstock’s print shop on Front Street, selling kids’ size versions of her three custom designs. Extra stock will be available for purchase online after the downtown Marietta event.

Inspired by a nature TV program, Elle Rosenstock drew her first shirt’s illustration on paper. “We watched a documentary about sloths,” she said. “The next day, I made a drawing of a sloth.”

Elle took it to the next level by imaging the drawing as a T-shirt, with the word “Chillin’” below it. Her father helped make it a reality by transferring his daughter’s drawing to wood and carving it as a print block. He and his daughter then printed the designs on an etching press with inks.

The presses aren’t really meant to be printed onto fabric but it can be done, Bobby Rosenstock admitted. They kept the quantity small, making just 30 T-shirts of each of the three designs, ranging in children’s sizes from extra small to extra large. During First Friday only, each shirt will be for sale for $10.

The second design is an amphibian over the word “Toadally,” and the third is a cow with “Cowabunga” emblazoned below it.

“I thought of the animals first and then the words,” said Elle Rosenstock of her creative process. “All of the prints we made are of animals.”

Bobby Rosenstock is glad to encourage his daughter’s creative instincts.

“We thought it would make a cool T-shirt,” he said of the initial sloth drawing. “She just started coming up with other ideas of funny T-shirts.”

When they finished their print run, they took photos of Elle showing off all three designs.

“We had a lot of fun doing a photoshoot in front of the new murals in Marietta,” said Bobby Rosenstock.

While this is their first T-shirt venture together, it is not the father and daughter’s first creative partnership. “We made posters before,” explained Elle Rosenstock.

Elle said her favorite part of the project was drawing the illustrations. Her father added that she is becoming an experienced printer as well.

“She already knows how to do a lot,” Bobby Rosenstock said. “She helps crank the press. She’s a good helper in the print shop.”

The post Marietta Eight-Year-Old Girl Designs, Prints Animal T-Shirts for Kids appeared first on Clutch MOV.

Testing Through Marietta Memorial’s COVID-19 Drive-Thru Clinic is Simple

Those who wish to do so can get tested for COVID-19 with relative ease and convenience, especially if they are already part of the Marietta Memorial Health System. I was tested June 30 at Marietta Memorial’s COVID-19 Drive-Thru Assessment Clinic, which is open from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The testing site is located at 800 Pike Street in Marietta, in front of Walmart and behind Marietta Physicians Care Express. At the testing site, I was told I will receive results in 3-5 business days, which was the case. I got my test on a Tuesday morning and received a call back the following Monday with the news that my test was negative. I suspect the Fourth of July weekend might have slowed down my results slightly, which is understandable! 

The testing process itself was simple. I showed up in my car and texted my name and date of birth to the number posted on the side of the building. I was sent an online form, which I was able to complete on my phone in under five minutes, confirming my current health insurance information. Once confirmation of receipt was sent, I was told to pull around to the tent where I could be tested. I was asked a few questions about symptoms. The health professional at my driver’s side window used a tongue depressor and a throat swab to take an oral sample, which was a relief because I had heard that the nasal tests can be uncomfortable. On the phone later in a follow-up call, I was told that the Marietta site I visited just does oral samples, which is good to know for folks who might also hope to avoid a nasal test. (FYI, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognizes five types of viral tests when it comes to checking for COVID-19. Four are nasal, and one is oral.)

This testing site is just one of many in the area, so I cannot speak to the experiences of others at different locations. I can share that I have Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance and that I was already in the Marietta Memorial Health System’s records. If these things describe your situation as well, I would hope you would have a similar, easy experience. One great thing I was told about the Marietta Memorial Health System testing site is that it is government-funded, meaning there is no out-of-pocket cost even for those without health insurance. 

The CDC doesn’t say those who are asymptomatic and have not had known exposure to a person with COVID-19 should not or cannot be tested. However, I would say I would probably not have gotten tested if I were in a place currently experiencing testing shortages, such as cities in Arizona or Texas. At this time, the Mid-Ohio Valley does not appear to be in that camp. At the time of my test, only one other car was waiting, and no one appeared to be waiting when I drove by the site Wednesday, July 8. Of course, this can change at any time, so be mindful of this if you choose to be tested without exhibiting symptoms and without known contact with someone who has COVID-19. To err on the side of caution, West Virginia governor Jim Justice recommends getting tested upon returning from travel to places like Myrtle Beach, where cases are currently rising. And in any case, it is advised individuals get tested if they have reason to believe they may have been exposed to COVID-19.

In closing, here are some reminders from Marietta Memorial: Per the health system, if you are experiencing symptoms, they are able to assess all patients presenting with fever and/or upper respiratory symptoms and test those appropriate. Symptoms of upper respiratory illness include:

• Cough
• Nasal congestion
• Runny nose
• Shortness of breath
• Sore throat

If you are going to the clinic for COVID-19 symptoms, they encourage you to register prior to going to make sure their experts have your information as soon as you pull up. To do so, you can use this online form.

The post No Need to Fear Testing appeared first on Clutch MOV.

This is part of a series on Community Heroes, in which Clutch MOV asked readers for stories about their neighbors stepping up in different ways to help others get through COVID-19. Submit stories here.

One of the most basic but crucial needs during the spread of COVID-19 is a mask, as it is recommended that all wear one when out in public. To help meet this essential need, many in the Mid Ohio Valley have begun making and donating cloth masks.

One Woman Show

One such community member is Sheila Parks, a child care provider in St. Mary’s, WV. She has made more than 2,000 masks with her sewing machine and has primarily distributed them among Wood and Washington Counties. That said, she has also sent some as far as Germany. 

Curtis Hall knows Parks through her nephew Rick, a close friend of Hall’s. He knew what Parks was doing and has helped her get materials and deliver completed masks.

“I help run and get elastic for her if she needs it,” said Hall. “She is a very compassionate person.”

Hall said Parks even made a series of marks for hairstylists at Ray’s Barber Shop on the southside of Parkersburg in order to help them meet new rules for re-opening the business. 

“That’s just how she is,” said Hall. “She’s making ones with longer elastic in them in case stylists can’t have them on their ears. That way they don’t pinch as much.”

Hall said Parks tries to accommodate as many people as she can while also making them as comfortable as she can. 

“This is definitely a one-person kind of thing for her, it’s all her,” said Hall. “People will donate money, but she goes and buys fabric. She pre-washes and irons everything. It’s very labor-intensive. She puts everything in individual Ziploc baggies. She’s efficient at what she does.”

Debby Carouthers is a friend who has known Parks for eons. “She is fun-loving,” said Carouthers of Parks. “She’s just an all-around great gal.”

Carouthers said she admires Parks’ level of commitment. 

“Just that she can find the time to do something like that,” she said. “She had that urge to contribute to her communities. She is just a good lady. Her thoughtfulness and generosity are just overwhelming.” 

Parks started making masks in March once shutdown orders began. She said she saw a news report about how hard masks were to find, so she sought out a pattern online. 

“It seemed easy enough,” she said. “It has to be 100% cotton, the tighter the weave the better. Elastic is the hard thing to find. I’ve gotten some I ordered but an order from April 3 still hasn’t come in.”

Parks posted on Facebook that she had made some masks and offered them free of charge.

“People messaged me or commented and it just blew up from there,” she said. “I get messages every day. It’s all I’ve done. I sit at the sewing machine.”

Parks has donated masks to individuals, nursing homes, rehab centers, senior centers, the Department of Health and Human Resources, and more. 

“If they call, I do what I can,” she said. 

Answering the Call

Another mask maker is Toni Brown, a woman who was alarmed to learn that not all inmates and staff at the Washington County Jail had access to masks, despite being in a setting particularly prone to outbreaks. 

Ginger Brown, Toni’s sister, commended Toni for her compassion toward those in society who might not get the same level of consideration as most.

“Toni is very community and humanity oriented,” said Ginger Brown. “She’s always trying to work for the best of living beings in general: humans, animals.”

Toni Brown knew an inmate at the jail and, when the pandemic hit, she reached out to him and a couple of other inmates to hear about their status.

“I asked if they had masks and they said no,” she said. “They said the COs also did not have masks. I reached out to the administrator there and offered to get them some hand-sewn masks.”

Toni posted on Facebook asking for donations and got a large response. She also set up a donation box in Parkersburg City Park.

“It was almost full,” she said. 

Toni learned that she would need 100 masks in order to cover inmates and personnel. In total, she was able to donate 85 at the end of April. Per the jail’s request, no masks containing metal were donated.

“I was really happy with the turnout even though they didn’t meet 100,” said Toni. 

Her sister agreed.

“She did all this for a population not highly recognized without any consideration of being thanked herself,” said Ginger Brown. “These people needed it.”

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