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StepStone Family & Youth Services’ annual ‘Wrapped in Love’ blanket drive is under way

As winter settles in and temperatures drop, StepStone Family & Youth Services of West Virginia is encouraging the community to provide warmth and comfort to foster youth in need through its annual “Wrapped in Love” blanket drive. StepStone will be accepting donations of new and gently used blankets from through Feb. 14 at locations across the state. “A warm blanket can be a symbol of hope and security. That’s why we’re excited to host our annual blanket drive again this winter to support our foster children and teens in needs,” said Tina Gray-Russell, recruitment ...

Asphalt plants get early start with new pothole patching operation

BY JARETT LEWIS CHARLESTON — Operation R.I.P. Potholes will commence this month. Gov. Jim Justice and the West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) said crews will be tending to some really bad potholes while the weather is getting warmer. “We’re gonna launch an all-out assault to take care of the worst,” said Justice during a media briefing this past week. Temperatures over the next few weeks are expected to be in the 50s and 60s. With that, WVDOH said asphalt plants in Princeton and Morgantown are open, which is earlier than normal. Potholes in southern and ...

YCF announces 2024 board officers

Your Community Foundation of North Central West Virginia Inc. (YCF) recently announced its 2024 Board of Directors leadership team: Chair Joshua Rogers (Monongalia County), Vice Chair Jenny Weaver (Taylor County), Treasurer Nathan White (Monongalia County), Secretary Perri Jo DeChristopher (Monongalia County) and Immediate Past Chair Martin Howe (Harrison County). “I am honored to have been selected to serve as chair of the YCF Board of Directors,” said Rogers. “YCF fills a vital role in the five counties it serves by providing donors with multiple choices for supporting the ...

Mon Arts Center announces programs, camps

The Monongalia Arts Center has announced its programming schedule for the first half of 2024, including kids’ summer camps. Dedicated to bringing fun, affordable arts and creativity to the local community, MAC’s lineup offers adult and kids’ classes for every artistic level. Weekly workshops and one-off classes include photography, painting, watercolor and acrylics, Valentine’s Day activities to do solo or with that special someone, Easter designs, dance classes and more. The MAC is also launching weeklong art camps in June and July for ages 7-13. These fully supervised ...

Inaugural arts program brings out artists and patrons

Downtown hosted its inaugural First Friday last night, designed to highlight the city’s artistic side. From 6-9 p.m., folks could visit exhibitions at Andrew White Guitars, the Monongalia Art Center, the Morgantown Art Party and the Pleasant Street Co-Op. The event will be held on the ...

Groundhogs say spring on the way

BY CHRIS LAWRENCE About 200 folks looked on Friday under cloudy and overcast skies at the West Virginia Wildlife Center. All eyes were on a brown box on stage held within a chain-link pen. The winter burrow of French Creek Freddie is what everybody had come to see as Wildlife Center Manager Trevor Moore coaxed the drowsy critter from his lair. “I don’t see any shadow, looks like early spring,” said Moore as he and Freddie took a look around. The ceremony, which is a 47-year tradition, almost didn’t happen in 2024. The zoological facility in Upshur County is ...