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Toys for Tots at Heston Farms

Toys for Tots Benefit Concert

Rockin’ Santa

Musicians from all over the area are coming together November 3^rd at Heston Farm Winery to donate their time and talents to support the efforts of the Toys for Tots Foundation.

The concert will take place from noon until 10:00 pm.

The cost of admission is the donation of a NEW unwrapped toy(s) with at least a $10 value.

About Toys for Tots

Toys for Tots began in 1947, when Major Bill Hendricks, USCR and a group of Marine Reservists in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children.

The idea came from Bill’s wife, Diane. In the fall of 1947, Diane crafted a homemade doll and asked Bill to deliver the doll to an organization, which would give it to a needy child at Christmas. When Bill discovered that no such agency existed, Diane suggested Bill start one. He did.

The 1947 pilot project was so successful that the Marine Corps adopted Toys for Tots in 1948 and expanded it into a nationwide campaign. That year, Marine Corps Reserve units across the nation conducted Toys for Tots campaigns in each community in which a Marine Reserve Center was located and have continued to do so every year.

The initial objective that remains the hallmark of the program today is to “bring the joy of Christmas to America’s needy children”.

Bill Hendricks, a Marine Reservist on weekends, was in civilian life, the Director of Public Relations for Warner Brothers Studio. This enabled him to convince a vast array of celebrities to support Toys for Tots. In 1948, Walt Disney designed the Toys for Tots logo, which is still used. Disney also designed the first Toys for Tots poster used to promote the nationwide program.  Nat “King” Cole, among others recorded the Toys for Tots theme composed by Sammy Fain and Paul Webster in 1956.

In 1995, the Secretary of Defense approved Toys for Tots as an official activity of the U. S. Marine Corps and an official mission of the Marine Corps Reserve.

Toys for Tots in Marion County

Can’t make it to the concert – not a problem!  Heston Farm Winery will continue to collect toys and money through November.

At present, there are no other toy drop-off sites located in Marion County.  However, by early November, additional sites will be established.  Visit www.toysfortots.org to find a complete list of locations.

In the meantime, enjoy a day of great music, food and friends and “bring the joy of Christmas to Marion County’s needy children”!

October 26

Marion County is Full of Treats (and Maybe a Few Tricks) This Halloween

Can you imagine Halloween with no trick-or-treating?  Well that’s what happened during World War II when sugar had to be rationed.

Oh, how times have changed!  Today, Americans spend an estimated $6 billion annually on Halloween, making it the nation's second-largest commercial holiday.

Well, there is certainly no shortage of sugary-treats in Marion County this Halloween.  Check out some of the fun activities planned throughout the area.

“Halloween Town” in Mannington, October 27

Participating businesses will place pumpkins on their doorsteps for trick-or-treaters from noon until 2 pm. A Halloween party and dance will be held in the Mannington Elks Lodge Ballroom from 2 – 4 pm. Treats and costume prizes will be given away. Adults and kids alike can take part in the fun here.

The Middletown Mall is hosting a costume parade and trick-or-treating inside the mall from 6 – 8, Monday, October 29

This is the last weekend for Halloween at Coal Country Miniature Golf, October 26 - 28

Play mini-golf amidst Halloween decor, scary music, dim night lighting, and a few SURPRISES! The level of scariness here is moderate, so plan ahead for those in your group.

Friday 4-10 pm, Saturday 12-10 pm, Sunday 12-8 pm

Schedule of Trick-or-Treating throughout Marion County:

Tuesday, October 30:

Barrackville  6 – 7pm

Wednesday, October 31:

Farmington   Costume parade begins at 6 pm.  Trick-or-Treating is from 6:30 – 8:00 pm

Prizes for costumes and treat bags will be given to children participatin

Fairview 6 - 7

Fairmont  6 – 7:30

Colfax  6 – 7:30

Mannington 6 – 7:30

Pleasant Valley  6 – 7:30

Rivesville  6 – 7:30

White Hall  6 – 7:30

Monongah  6 – 7:30

How are you celebrating Halloween this year in Marion County?

2nd Annual NightGLOW race

Ready to get your Glow on?

Last year, following the dedication of the Alan B. Mollohan Gateway Connector, Fairmont hosted the first Gateway NightGLOW race.   163 people participated with hundreds more enjoying the fireworks display afterwards.

The event was such a success, that Main Street Fairmont and the Associated Businesses of East Fairmont decided to host Fairmont’s 2^nd Annual Gateway NightGLOW 5K Run and 2 Mile Walk.

On Saturday, October 27th the race will start at 8:00 pm (hence, Night Glow).

Here’s what you need to do.  .  .

Those interested in participating in either race can pre-register at www.runsignup.com and pay the early registration fee of $15.

Or you can register the day of the race at C J Maggie’s from 8 – 10 am or at Pavilion 1 between 5:30 – 7:30 pm.  Same day registration fee is $20.  C J Maggie’s is located at 207 Jefferson Street (the former American Legion building).

Glow in the dark t-Shirts are included in the registration fee.

C J Maggie’s is hosting a carb-loading pancake breakfast Saturday morning from 8 – 10 am.  The cost is $5 and proceeds benefit the Associated Businesses of East Fairmont.

Timing is everything  . . . .

Timing of the event will be provided by the Miles of Smiles Training Services.  Chip timing will be used.

The Course (which will be well marked) . . . . .

The starting line will be between Stony Road and the Veteran’s Bridge. Runners and walkers will use the far left lane (southbound) of the Connector. They will stay in this lane until reaching the 2nd traffic light then proceed to the sidewalk.  Racers will continue on the sidewalk until the bottom of the hill where they will turn left on Merchant Street / 310.

Mile 1: Shortly after the turn, runners and walkers will cross the street, go past the Auto Zone store and turn right down the hill. Racers will turn left on Water Street but as they go underneath the bridge, runners and walkers will separate.

Runners will turn left on the sidewalk which goes to the bridge then turn left again as they enter the bridge. They will continue on the bridge sidewalk all the way across the river and then turn left. They will run by the rescue squad on Virginia Street and turn right on 4th Street. They will run up 4th Street to Fairmont Avenue and turn right.

Walkers will go out Water Street. Near the intersection of Water and Diamond Street, they will turn around. Walkers will proceed to Palatine Park. They will finish using the same finish line as the runners.

Mile 2: This is on the South Side Bridge, which goes over the parking lot. Runners will continue onto Adams Street then will turn right on Monroe Street and continue onto Washington Street. Runners will turn right onto the High Level Bridge. On the East Side, they will turn right, briefly retracing their steps. After passing the Auto Zone they will turn right down the hill towards Water Street and turn right (instead of left).

Mile 3: Runners will pass this mark near the entrance to Palatine Park. The common finish line is at the other end of the park.

And the winner is . . . .

For the 5K, the top three female and male finishers will receive an Alan B. Mollohan Gateway collectible coin.  The coin features the Connector on one side and the Visitor Center building on the other.

Prizes will also be awarded to the top two age group winners.

For the 2 Mile Walk, the top three female and male walkers will receive an Alan B. Mollohan Gateway collectible coin.

More importantly. . . . .

Three sets of bathrooms will be available at East Marion Park and a stunning firework display will start and end the race!

Are you planning to run?

October 8

Things to Do in Marion County For Kids (or the Kid-at-Heart)

School is in full swing and some days there is not a free minute in the schedule, but occasionally you hear “I’m bored, there’s nothing to do!”

That’s when you need a plan of action.  But do you find yourself having a hard time coming up with fun area activities? Never fear, we’re got the answers.

In fact, we’ll help you give your kids something to brag about when their friends ask, “What did you do over the weekend?”

Get Active

Valley Worlds of Fun boasts both indoor and outdoor activities.  From bowling, laser tag and bumper cars to a rock climbing wall, valley free fall to a sky glider, kids of all ages will have the time of their life.  What better way to burn off all that energy?

Valley Worlds of Fun also offers great party packages.  Just think, you don’t have to clean your house before OR after the party!

Open through October, Coal Country Miniature Golf and Batting Cages provides fun while giving kids a glimpse into the life of the coal mines.  Each miniature golf hole highlights a piece of equipment or aspect of a coal mine. In addition, there is a mining museum that also gives kids a peek into the life of a miner.  The can even see what it is like to shovel a ton of coal. What a good way to get them primed for snow shoveling.

Kids can also practice their swing using their automatic feed batting cages. They have baseball or softball in a variety of speeds. You can bring your own equipment or use theirs.  Call and ask about setting up a practice for your child’s team or just rent a machine for their friends!

A Different Kind of Golf

Carry on that competitiveness at the Seth Burton Memorial Disc Golf Course. Located at Morris Park, this course includes two 18-hole premier disc golf courses.  Kids can play as a team or as individuals.  You’ll have to bring your own discs as there are none available on site.  Not sure how to play? Rules are easy and you can review them before heading out.

Hit The Water

For the young fishermen of the family, the Marion County Youth Fishing Park, located about a half mile past the BMX Park, is a great fishing opportunity for all the children in your life.  The pond is situated so that it is easy access for those little ones. The park is owned and operated by the Marion County Commission and is open to the public each year from March 1 to October 31. The pond is stocked regularly with bass, hybrid bluegill and catfish.

Kick it Old School

Take a step back in time (before the Wii) and move to the music at Skate-A-Way.  Now when is the last time you did the hokey-pokey – on skates? Have the kids ever even been in a roller rink? Skates and rollerblades are available to rent, or you can bring your own. Skate-A-Way is also a great party destination.

Get Dressed Up

If you are looking for something to do between adventures, stop by The Illusive Skull Costume Castle.  This is one store where imaginations can run wild.  They offer hundreds of costume rentals as well as retail merchandise for every occasion. And with Halloween just around the corner, you’ll have a blast checking out the costumes and coming up with a creative disguise this year.

Ah, to be a kid again! Where else do you take kids for fun in Marion County?

October 1

History of the Visitor Center Building

The new Marion County Visitor Center, located off of exit 136 of I-79, has a rich history. The facade of the facility is covered with the original stone used to build the former Children’s Shelter.

Then . . . .

Prior to 1929, the Marion County Children’s Shelter was located on what is commonly known as the Poor Farm on Montana Road. In 1929, the Shelter moved to Country Club Road where it maintained three buildings.

The Shelter soon outgrew these facilities and a campaign for a new site began. In 1941, with a sponsor fee of $20,000 from the Courts, the new Marion County Children’s Shelter was built on 60 acres of property on State Street Extension. The labor for this project was provided by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). This was one of the last WPA projects in West Virginia.

And Now . . . . .
So in the spring of 2001, this historically significant structure stood in the path of the Gateway Connector. The original idea was to move the entire building to a suitable location. After review and consideration, this plan was determined to be technically unfeasible. A decision was made to dismantle the Children’s Shelter, stone by stone, store the material, then reassemble the stone on the exterior of the new Marion County Visitor Center.

The Marion County Visitor Center is owned by the Marion County Commission and contains the offices of the Convention & Visitors Bureau of Marion County and the Marion County Parks & Recreation Commission.

Within the historic structure, visitors can find a variety of brochures highlighting Marion County’s many attractions such as Civil War and Frontier Days sites, relaxing bike trails and beautiful parks, and great places to eat, drink and unwind.

Have you visited the new Center?

September 18, 2012

8 Things You Don’t Want to Miss This Fall in Marion County

September 22 may signal the start of the fall season, but the cool, crisp mornings and the bright sunny afternoons tells us that fall has already arrived in Marion County.

Want to get out there and really enjoy the season? You’ve come to the right place. Here are 8 ways for you to make the most of autumn in our beautiful piece of West Virginia.

• West Virginia Storytelling Festival, Friday, September 28 - Prickett’s Fort State Park Amphitheater, 7:00 pm

Join the West Virginia Storytelling Guild for a one-day storytelling festival in the park’s outdoor amphitheater.  More details can be found at www.prickettsfort.org or www.wvstorytellers.org.

• Halloween at Coal Country Miniature Golf, October weekends, Friday 4-10 pm, Saturday 12-10 pm, Sunday 12-8 pm

Play mini-golf amidst Halloween decor, scary music, dim night lighting, and a few SURPRISES! The level of scariness here is moderate, so plan ahead for those in your group.

• Harvest Festival & Antique Fair, October 13-14 – Prickett’s Fort State Park, Saturday 10 to 4 pm, Sunday 1 to 4 pm

Enjoy a fall weekend that focuses on 18^th century foods, including demonstrations and displays about wild game, food production, harvest, preservation, cooking, and customs. Shop the Antiques Fair in the Visitor Center. There is no charge to shop, but regular admission is required for the historic attractions and festival.

• “Halloween Town” in Mannington, October 27

Participating businesses will place pumpkins on their doorsteps for trick or treaters from noon until 2 pm. A Halloween party and dance will be held in the Mannington Elks Lodge Ballroom from 2 – 4 pm. Treats and costume prizes will be given away. Adults and kids alike can take part in the fun here.

• Valley Falls State Park

There’s nothing more beautiful than West Virginia in the fall (and yes, we know we’re biased). The forests and trees are ablaze with color, and the crisp fall air is perfect for some outdoor exploring.

The beauty of Valley Falls State Park is enhanced by the spectacular series of foaming falls that were created by the dark, rushing waters of the Tygart Valley River.  The prevalent rock formation known as the Connoquenessing Sandstone forms the cap of the falls over which the river plunges and swirls.  It appears both as ledges and huge room size boulders for more than a mile down the narrow canyon floor.

This 1,145-acre day-use park hosts a variety of outdoor recreation including fishing, picnicking, and hiking and mountain biking trails. So bring your hiking boots and picnic lunch and enjoy a fall day in the park.

• Rail Trails

Built on former railroad corridors, our rail trails offer a beautiful place for biking, hiking walking, jogging, in-line skating and cross country skiing. There are plenty of trails to choose from.

And you and your pet will both enjoy the outdoors at the Dog Park at East Marion Park.  Separate areas for large and small dogs will keep you and Fido happy. With over 3 acres to play, your dog will have a blast exploring the area and maybe even meeting some new friends.

• Golfing

There are many reasons West Virginia is called the outdoor recreation capital of the East.  Golf is one of them.  Marion County has courses located among rolling hills, along raging rivers and in peaceful valleys. These hills and valleys make for a different type of golfing experience: challenging but fun.

No matter where you play, the scenery is spectacular, the mountain air is fresh, and your golf clubs will take you away from the stress of life.

• Seth Burton Memorial Disc Golf Course

Located at Morris Park, this course includes two 18-hole premier disc golf courses.  If you’ve never tried disc golf, now is the time.

These are just a few of the fall activities you can take part in this fall in Marion County. Like to do something different? Tell us about it in the comments!

September 18:

September 18:  National Cheeseburger Day

Adding cheese to hamburgers became popular in the late-1920s to mid-1930s, and there are several competing claims as to who created the first cheeseburger. Lionel Sternberger is reputed to have invented the cheeseburger in 1926 at the age of 16 when he was working as a fry cook at his father's Pasadena, California sandwich shop, "The Rite Spot," and "experimentally dropped a slab of American cheese on a sizzling hamburger.

An early example of the cheeseburger appearing on a menu is a 1928 menu for the Los Angeles restaurant O'Dell's which listed a cheeseburger smothered with chili for 25 cents.

Other restaurants say they invented the cheeseburger. For example, Kaelin's Restaurant in Louisville, Kentucky, says it invented the cheeseburger in 1934. One year later, a trademark for the name "cheeseburger" was awarded to Louis Ballast of the Humpty Dumpty Drive-In in Denver, Colorado. According to Steak 'n Shake archives, the restaurant's founder, Gus Belt, applied for a trademark on the word in the 1930s.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheeseburger

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBsPZV14I-k

September 17:

September 17: M*A*S*H debuted

M*A*S*H is a television series adapted from the 1970 feature film MASH, which was itself based on the 1968 novel MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors, written by Richard Hooker. The medical drama/black comedy series premiered on September 17, 1972 and ended February 28, 1983.

The final episode became the most watched television show in U.S. television history with 105.97 million viewers.

In 2002, M*A*S*H was ranked #25 on TV Guide’s 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.

http://pdxretro.com/2011/09/17/page/2/

In 1960, Play-Doh Pete, a boy garbed in a beret and artist's smock, was introduced as the modeling clay's mascot. Today, Pete graces cans of Play-Doh wearing a backwards baseball cap and a t-shirt.