West Virginia
Putting faith into action: Geneva Methodist volunteers repair rural West Virginia homes in 42nd annual mission trip
United Methodist Church of Geneva volunteers repair a home in rural Charleston, West Virginia, during a 42nd annual Appalachian Service Project June 15-22.
Courtesy of United Methodist Church of Geneva
United Methodist Church of Geneva went a little bit country at the July 21 service.
A half dozen congregants sang and played “Rocky Top” and “Take Me Home, Country Roads” to accompany reflections from a recently completed mission trip to Charleston, West Virginia. The tunes accompanied speeches from leaders and videotapes of volunteer testimonies and projects.
Thirty youth and adults from the Geneva church put faith into action with their 42nd annual Appalachian Service Project June 15-22.
Geneva UMC members Mike and Julie Popplewell co-coordinated the church’s participation in Appalachian Service Project. Team members carpooled in five 15-passenger vans to Kanawha County for a week of repairing four rural homes.
Appalachian Service Project, a Johnson City, Tenn.-based nonprofit, serves Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
Mike Popplewell said, “We worked daily Monday through Friday from about 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Work included weatherizing homes and mobile homes with insulation and underpinning, applying vinyl siding, and installing interior flooring and a bathroom replacement.”
A main project involved gutting a formerly vacant house and preparing it to be completely rehabbed into a new home to be gifted to a deserving applicant through a partnership with the city and Appalachian Service Project.
Julie Popplewell, Katy Howell and their crew were tasked with removing all walls and ceilings down to the studs.
“We came back each day covered in dust and soot and worked each day wearing masks and eye protection, so when we took off our goggles and gloves there were lines where the dirt stopped and our skin began!” Julie said.
Mike Popplewell added, “Group evening activities included reflecting on what it means to live and work in an economically depressed area like the Appalachian Mountains. Each night we circled up at 10 p.m. and shared our thoughts from the day — it helps us all process what we are seeing and doing- especially for the youth.”
“Midweek activities included a picnic with local homeowners and their families, with food and fellowship and delicious ice cream desserts at a local dairy bar.”
Appalachian Service Project volunteers support the local economy when possible by purchasing snacks, gas and other supplies locally.
Volunteers were housed at a local downtown church, sleeping on cots and air mattresses in a gymnasium. Appalachian Service Project lined up local volunteers to cook meals Sunday evening through Friday evening.
According to Popplewell, Geneva UMC volunteers contributed a minimum $300 each for transportation, gasoline and tolls. He added, “The church offers need-based scholarships because we wouldn’t want anything to get in the way of a student participating if they’re interested!”
Pre-trek group fundraisers included car washes, write-a-letter-home campaigns and selling chocolate-covered strawberries for Valentines day. Other fundraisers included a chili cook-off and a meat sale with Geneva’s local Country Village Meats, where the market donated a portion of the proceeds.
Additionally, congregants contributed donations for doughnuts served after worship services and some members sponsored individual participants.
The team gathered at the church on June 14 for a potluck dinner. After dinner, volunteers packed vans and met with adult leaders for last-minute details. The team departed at 7 a.m. June 15.
Geneva UMC Pastor Rob Hamilton led a send-off ceremony for the team during the previous Sunday’s service.
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Cape Coral (Fla.) 2030 athlete Noel Devine Jr. already held an offer from West Virginia but participated in the final one-day camp of the summer.
ELKINS, W.Va. (WBOY) — Davis and Elkins College is home to the Flynn Planetarium, which is the host of different events showcasing the mysteries of the universe. This past weekend, guests were able to grab some snacks and learn about stars, planets and galaxies.
Jerod Caligiuri, an assistant professor of astronomy at the school hosted the series of events. He believes the space is an important place for people to learn about the unknown.
“It’s a great resource. It’s a small planetarium but it’s a great resource for the community,” Caligiuri said.
Since launching a Facebook page for the planetarium, he said hundreds have come to see what it is all about. Caligiuri added that nobody knows everything about the universe and that adds to the fun of exploring it.
“Nobody knows everything and that’s what makes it exciting” Caligiuri said. “So, there’s always more to learn, always more to discover, and it’s a really big universe out there,”
He added that over the years, the planetarium has seen some upgrades, but he is still looking to lift up it’s capabilities.
“If donations come in, I would love to upgrade the projection system,” Caligiuri said.
He finished by encouraging people to check it out next time they have an event.
By Brett Dunlap
For The Parkersburg News and Sentinel
Parkersburg – Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park will commemorate West Virginia Day on Saturday with a variety of activities.
Park Superintendent Craig Pyles said the park is partnering with the Blennerhassett Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution to put on a variety of programming to mark the anniversary of West Virginia becoming a state on June 20, 1863.
“This year, we have crafters doing things of the time period, which will make it that much more interesting,” he said.
The event will have an information booth that includes things like flag codes, Constitution booklets, patriotic pins and thank-you cards for veterans utilizing an America 250 backdrop. People can sign a copy of the Declaration of Independence, and there will be goodie bags for kids, as well as information on the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Demonstrations and activities around the flag will be done by Shannon Sams-Harper, Melody Zimmerman and Catherine Sams. Sams will also be doing a cooking demonstration on an open fire utilizing dutch ovens to cook soup beans and sweet potato pecan biscuits.
Mary Ellen Brown will present a demonstration in which participants can make their own candle. People will be able to participate in the hands-on use of a washboard, organizers said.
A writing/coloring station will include writing with a quill and ink on parchment paper and a patriotic coloring book with crayons.
There will be a spinning wheel demonstration with Angie Wilson and a blacksmithing demonstration with John Schlicher.
Brian Clary will offer an interpretive program entitled “A Messenger in the Ohio Country.” This first-person program focuses on the American Revolution in the Ohio Valley and aligns with America 250 commemorative programming.
Dick and Martha Hartley will also be doing interpretive programs. Martha will examine the roles and functions of hats and what the wearer may be doing while wearing a specific hat. Dick Hartley will portray Peter Taylor, the Blennerhassetts’ English gardener, and discuss who Taylor was and what the gardens he planted and maintained on the island were like.
At 12:30 p.m., Pyles will read a West Virginia Day Proclamation, followed by free cake and ice cream for those in attendance.
Activities will be going on throughout the day, before and after the proclamation ceremony.
Pyles suggests people wanting to be there for the proclamation come over on the 11 a.m. boat to allow plenty of time to take in some of the sights and demonstrations.
“That would give people time to wander the grounds and see the crafters before the start of the ceremony,” he said.
Regular tours of the island and its usual attractions will be going on throughout the day.
All special West Virginia Day program events on the island are free but the boat ride over is $12 for adults and $8 for children 3-12. Wagon rides are $13 for adults and $11 for children. Guided mansion tours are $5.
Read more from The Parkersburg News and Sentinel, here.
The post Blennerhassett Island to commemorate West Virginia Day Saturday appeared first on West Virginia Press Association.
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