My Morgantown! eMagazine

MORGANTOWN MUSIC SCENE EXPLODES LEADERSHIP MONONGALIA Tomor row’s Leaders HEALTHWORKS: Premier Wellness Facility

July-September 2013 Volume1, Issue 1

CONTENTS

FEATURES

08

Leadership Monongalia

22

HealthWorks

Tomorrow’s Leaders

Premier wellness facility

ARTS & CULTURE

12

Songwriters Showcase

14

Angel’s Perch

26

M. T. Pockets Theatre

Morgantown Music Scene

Feature film screening

26

Pushing the bounds of drama

COMMUNITY

07

Pearls For Girls

17

Financial Focus

18

Campus Connection

20

Wine A Little

28

Within 3 Hours

Black Diamond Girls Scouts Fundraiser Financial advice to keep our pockets full Transitioning to Graduate School

Need some cheese to go with that wine?

This quarterly feature will showcase exciting places to visit within 3 hours of Morgantown

28

INTRODUCTNG David Beach

Managing Editor David recently moved to Morgantown when he joined the English faculty at West Virginia University as the Associate Coordinator for Undergraduate Writing. For his entire life, he has been all about words and design and thought, working in corporate and non-profit training, publishing and education, notably in Washington, DC, for MCI and the National Geographic Society. Prior to West Virginia University, he was on the English and Business faculties at George Mason University. David holds a BA in English Literature, an MA in English/Linguistics and a PhD in Instructional Technology with a focus on composition and rhetoric. When not writing, teaching or a dministrating, he explores the areas around Morgantown and works with a community theatre.

Scott Frederick Music Scene Scott Frederick is a local lover of music and percussionist.

Editor’s Corner Welcome to our first edition of My Morgantown!

We have taken the foundation of our previous publication, The Morgantown Magazine, and expanded it to be both entertaining and an informational resource for anyone who lives in, is moving to, or frequents Morgantown.

As a recent transplant to Morgantown (I joined the WVU faculty in 2011), I saw a need for an all-in-one type of publication that is helpful to a newcomer instead of fifteen or so different magazines, brochures and maps. A one-stop publication is one of our aims.

But we also want to highlight what is great about Morgantown. In coming issues, we will spotlight long-time locals who have made their mark on Morgantown, highlight nearby areas for enjoyment, tap into the fine/performing arts scenes, review the hot restaurants and nightspots, profile the unique neighborhoods and focus on the synergies among the community, university and business/industry make Morgantown the great place it is.

We’ve also partnered with MyMorgantownWV.com which highlights local events and businesses.

Please visit its web page (www.mymorgantownwv. com) to see all the upcoming events and find local businesses to serve your needs.

We are always looking for contributors and ideas.

Feel free to contact me with suggestions and comments at david.beach@my-morgantown.com.

Your one-stop-shop for everything happening in and around Greater Morganown.

Visit mymorgantownwv.com for the area’s most comprehensive directory of restaurants, events, entertainment, shopping and more. Listings added daily!

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Vickie Trickett Managing Editor David Beach The Girl Scounts of Black Diamond Council are hosting “Girls In Pearls,” a unique, ladies-only event.

The “pearls” signify the correlation between Girl Scout founder, Juliette Gordon Low, and her selfess act of selling her precious heirloom pearls to raise the funds necessary to initiate the Girl Scout Movement over 100 years ago.

The reference to “girls” signifies the fact that this is a ladies-only event. No need for fancy gowns, just don your pearls and join us for a special LADIES NIGHT that you won’t soon forget! We encourage you to get involved, take the lead and invite your friends to enjoy a wonderful evening of fun and networking while supporting a great cause and advancing leadership opportunities for girls in our own community. Festivities will include a delicious assortment of heavy hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, auction and live musical entertainment.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available! If interested, get the details, or contact Princess Young, Director of Fund Development at princess.young@bdgsc. org.

Admission for “Girls In Pearls” are $50 per person and can be purchased online at at bdgsc.org.

Contributing Writers Jacqui Sikora Scott Frederick Carol Fox Collaborations David Stinson, MyMorgantownEvents.com Kirk Skasik, Edward Jones Financial Photographers David Beach Scott Frederick Bobbie Hawkins Vickie Trickett Advertising Executive Angela Kauffman

Questions, submissions and feedback: Submissions: Story ideas should be submitted to David Beach at david.beach@my-morgantown.com or mailed to My Morgantown eMagazine, 722 Brookhaven Road, Morgantown, WV 26508.

Photograph submission should be submitted on our web site or emailed to info@my-morgantown.com.

Advertising rates are available at www.my-morgantown.com.

PUBLISHED BY FATE PUBLISHING COMPANY, LLC. 722 Brookhaven Road Morgantown WV 26508 Phone 304.212.4890 | Fax 800-123.4567 www.my-morgantown.com info@my-morgantown.com

LEADERSHIP MONONGALIA: MOVING THE COUNTY FORWARD

BY PREPARING THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW

by Jacqui Sikora

What does a tour of the Star City Glass Factory, a meet and greet with the Monongalia County Circuit Court judges, and simulated surgery at Monongalia General Hospital all have in common? These are just a few of the fun and informative events that participants of Leadership Monongalia experience during the eight month leadership program. Since its inception, Leadership Monongalia, an intensive public affairs/ leadership development program, has groomed Monongalia County’s future leaders. The mission? “To identify, develop and sustain community leaders through a program that aims to develop and enhance personal leadership skills, provide knowledge enrichment of Monongalia County and to develop and cultivate leadership involvement throughout Monongalia County.” The program, comprised of eight sessions, provides participants with the opportunity to have face-to-face discussions with experts and key decision-makers in areas of vital concern to Monongalia County.

Bobby Hawkins, Leadership Monongalia Program Director, has been involved with the program since 2004.

“Leadership Monongalia introduced me to things about Morgantown and the surrounding communities that I never knew. It was a great way to familiarize myself with Morgantown so that I could make the best of my time here,” Hawkins recalls. “Leadership Monongalia also has assisted me in networking with other leaders and in growing my business,” says Hawkins.

2013 Class Project, Scott’s Run Settlement House Backpack Stuffing The process begins with an application for admission to the Leadership Monongalia class. Twenty applicants each year are carefully chosen with specific criteria in mind. Leadership Monongalia participants are individuals who are “active in business, labor, education, the arts, religion, government and community-based organizations and reflect the diversity of Monongalia County,” says Hawkins. But more importantly, Committee members are looking for individuals who are going to use their leadership skills for the long-term benefit of Monongalia County, and who share one common characteristic: an abiding interest in the future of Monongalia County and West Virginia.

Once chosen, participants engage in sessions focused on education, government, health care, entrepreneurial opportunities and the arts. Local community leaders, who have their finger on the pulse of the county, lead the sessions where leadership is the main focus. Participants are given the opportunity to ask questions, and in many instances given hands on experience. Inevitably, through the process, participants make friendships that are lasting and help strengthen their networking and business growth ef forts. Leadership Monongalia is an excellent opportunity to learn what makes Mon County a great place to live,” says Sarah Rotruck Glenn, Class of 2011. “My experience in Leadership Mon has been amazing and truly memorable.

Each session topic is interesting and applicable to today’s leaders. Thespeakers have shared a wealth of their first-hand knowledge with participants and activities we’ve participated in have kept the each session fun and engaging. The networking opportunities are countless and the relationships I’ve formed after such a short time are sure to last a lifetime,” recalls Jennifer Wotring, Class of 2011.

At the end of the 8-month session, participants have been transformed into leaders who continue to help Monongalia County grow and expand into the future.

If you have an interest in applying for the next class of Leadership Monongalia, check out their website at leadershipmon.org or contact Program Director, Bobbie Hawkins, at 304-216-5680.

Carl Cannon, Class of 2013

Beehive boxed lunches are made with the freshest ingredients. Named after Morgantown neighborhoods, gourmet sandwiches made on artisan bread are piled high with delicious meat, cheese, and toppings; all enjoyed with kettle cooked chips, a pickle spear, and crisp coleslaw. To finish the meal a fresh baked chocolate chip cookie will be sure to satisfy any sweet tooth and the lunches will always include a little surprise! Call the Beehive located at Pace Enterprises at Mylan Park at 304-983-2665.

Promoting and showcasing the beautiful and original work of talented West Virginia artisans.

240 High Street Morgantown WV 26505 304.296.6230 info@thewvmarket.com thewvmarket.com

MUSIC SCENE

SONGWRITERS SHOWCASE A Mini-Music Festival Every Tuesday Night

by Scott Frederick

M

organtown has experienced a musical renaissance of sorts in the recent year.

I’m not sure why, but I like where this once-vibrant musical city is going. Back to being a vibrant musical city. Musical venues are popping up all over Morgantown. Everywhere you look, there are announcements for live music.

Whether in well-established restaurants and bars, or new establishments, live music is now all around us.

There is even a new booking agency in town, poised to bring nationally-known acts to Morgantown.

Aside from WVU-produced concerts, appearances of nationally-known acts in this area have been rare.

While it is nice to know that Morgantown is supportive enough of live music to bring in the occasional touring act, I think it is important to see up and coming performers play to small crowds. Even the aforementioned national acts started somewhere.

Some stories you have heard involve hungry talent performing for change in the subway. Or, auditioning for a television show and winning. Other stories tell of someone getting a lucky break by being discovered performing in a club. I am excited to play a role in the latter. It is my hope that someday I might just be a catalyst for such a success story.

Musicans featured at Showcase night...(opposite page) Kim Thorne, Soup Camel, Scott Frederick and Chuck Snider; (this page) Aristotle Jones (top left); Clawhammered (bottom left); Billy Matheny (top right) playing an Andrew Whit Guitar).

I am the host of a weekly live music event. I call it Songwriters’ Showcase at Schmitt’s Saloon.

Each week, I do my best to coordinate a lineup of songwriters and performers to sing their songs in front of a live audience. But it is not simply an open mic. It is a structured mini-music festival, if you will.

The venue is intimate, but equipped with a stateof-the-art sound system and professional audio engineer. The weekly show occurs on Tuesday nights at 8:00. So far, I have had a very wide variety of music, and I hope that it continues to exploit the raw talent that we have right here in our midst. I have been to Nashville many times, and I have watched and performed at songwriter showcases. The talent that continues to surprise me here each week easily rivals the talent I have had the pleasure of watching when I was there. Having just finished week number ten, I am convinced that Morgantown is more musical than it was back in the heyday I so fondly remember.

In the coming issues, I will endeavor to uncover some of the stories behind the music, and those people

who make it come alive. I already gather some basic information from each artist, so that I can proffer a proper introduction, rather than simply announce each performer as they take the stage. But I feel that I should actually interview some of the more unique artists, to be able to share their stories. In the meantime, I invite you to take a break from your weekly routine and spend a weeknight out at my songwriter showcase. You never know who you might see perform. And, perhaps more exciting, you may actually witness one of the first public performances of someone who will go on to be one of those national touring acts.

For more information regarding the Songwriters’ Showcase at Schmitt’s Saloon, please check out our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ songwritersShowcaseAtSchmittsSaloon.

For upcoming shows at Schmitt’s Saloon, check out the Saloon’s web page at schmittssaloon.com

Angel’s Perch 7:30pm - Tuesday, July 30th

Carmike Morgantown Mall 12 - Morgantown, WV TICKETS: http://angelsperch.com/tickets/

Homegrown Independent Feature Film Continues run in West Virginia ple who have watched this disease slowly take away a loved one and felt powerless to stop it.

We struggle to find an answer to the question, ‘What can I do?’ For us, the answer came in the form of making a film.”

After a hugely successful premiere as part of the 2013 FestivALL arts celebration in Charleston, and sold out screenings throughout West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Virginia, “Angel’s Perch” is now set to screen in Bridgeport and is also returning to Morgantown for one night only! An independent feature film shot primarily in Cass, WV in partnership with the West Virginia Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, Angel’s Perch examines the delicate relationship between past and present, memory and loss as depicted by a family struggling with Alzheimer’s disease.

The screenings will take place in Morgantown on July 30th and in Bridgeport on August 6th.

Both screenings are at 7:30PM. Though Arbogast grew up in Central Pensylvania, the inspiration for “Angel’s Perch” came from the his family’s roots in West Virginia and their experiences with Alzheimer’s disease.

“Everyone has an emotional home -­‐ the place that defines your happiest memories. For me, that place is a small town in the mountains of West Virginia,” says Arbogast. “In 2004, my grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and over the next few years I watched as she slowly lost her memories. It’s a story that is not dissimilar from the millions of peo-

Community involvement is the cornerstone of modern independent filmmaking, and with good reason—artists are discovering that their fans are just as interested in the process as the product. “This whole project began with a Kickstarter fundraising campaign in 2011. We believed we had something that people would want to see…want to be a part of,” says Dilts.

Building upon their crowdfunding success, the filmmakers took to a new method of screening the film too: they’re working with Tugg.com to release the film theatrically. A Theatrical-On­‐ Demand platform, Tugg allows audiences to bring independent films to their local multiplex— something that was not possible even a few months ago.

Large theatre chains often will not program independent films, fearing that the majority of the seats will remain unfilled. And most independent films lack the funds, clout, and star-­‐ power to market a project widely enough to fill those seats. This means that most independent films never reach their target audiences, and most audiences only get to see large blockbusters in their local theater. But, with Tugg, and through a strategic partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association, Angel’s Perch is planning a 30‐city screening tour. “It’s hard to find someone who has not been touched by this disease in some way. While statistics can inform our audience, film has the power to inspire people to action and, with the Alzheimer’s

“

I really liked Angel’s Perch! I thought it was a very true to real life representation of what living with Alzheimer’s or taking care of a person with Alzheimer’s is like.

My grandmother was diagnosed about 3 years ago and I could see a lot of her in Polly and it really made me feel for her.

Kudos to all those involved with making this movie a reality.

Cara Wallace

Association’s involvement through this National screening series and talkback events, we believe our film will have the opportunity to make an impact,” says Arbogast.

While the filmmakers hoped that the audience would embrace the film, they could not have been prepared for the success thus far. “It’s been really overwhelming,” says Arbogast. “For our first screening in Morgantown, they had to move us to the largest space they had because folks kept buying tickets. Hearing from people who have seen it and recognized it as their story...it’s the best compliment we could have asked for.”

Angel’s Perch is the story of Jack, a successful young architect living in Pittsburgh, who must make the trip to his tiny hometown of Cass, WV to move his grandmother into an assisted-­care facility after she is found wandering outside her home. But what was intended to be a two day, under-­the-­radar trip becomes more complicated when Jack is unable to move her into an assisted living facility nearby. Torn between the career opportunity of a lifetime, caring for his last living relative and running from his own painful memories, Jack is forced to choose between standing still or facing the pain of his past, so that he can finally move forward.

The film stars Joyce Van Patten (The Danny Kaye Show, The Bad News Bears, The Good Guys, Grown Ups), J.T. Arbogast (30 Rock, When in Rome), Ally Walker (Sons of Anarchy, The Profiler, The Protector), Ashley Jones (True Blood, The Bold and the Beautiful), Ellen Crawford (ER, The Man from Earth), and a supporting cast of talented local West Virginia actors.

MORGANTOWN SCREENING: Tuesday, July 30th at the Morgantown Carmike Cinemas. 7:30PM screening. Tickets must be reserved by July 23rd and are available at www.angelsperch.com/tickets/ or www.tugg. com/events/4823.

BRIDGEPORT SCREENING: Tuesday, August 6th at the Cinemark 10 Bridgeport . 7:30PM screening. Tickets must be reserved by July 28th and are available at www.angelsperch.com/tickets/ or www.tugg. com/events/4824.

financial Avoid “Cramming” for College Savings If you have children, you’re keenly aware that it’s getting close to back-to-school time. Today, that might mean you need to go shopping for notebooks and pencils. But in the future, when “back to school” means “off to college,” your expenditures are likely to be significantly greater. Will you be financially prepared for that day?

It could be expensive. The average cost for one year at an in-state public school is $22,261, while the comparable expense for a private school is $43,289, according to the College Board’s figures for the 2012–2013 academic year. And these costs will probably continue to rise.

Still, there’s no need to panic. Your child could receive grants or scholarships to college, which would lower the “sticker price.” But it’s still a good idea for you to save early and often.

To illustrate the importance of getting an early jump on college funding, let’s look at two examples of how you might fund a college education. A 529 plan is one way — but not the only way — to save for college. (The following examples are hypothetical in nature and don’t reflect the performance of an actual investment or investment strategy.)

Example 1: Suppose you started saving for your child’s college education when she was 3 years old. If you contributed $200 a month, for 15 years, to a 529 plan that earned 7% a year, you’d accumulate about $64,000 by the time your daughter turned 18. With a 529 plan, your earnings grow tax free, provided all withdrawals are used for qualified higher education purposes. (Keep

Kurt A. Skasik, Financial Advisor

Edward Jones Investments

935 Cheat Road Morgantown, WV 26508 (304)284-9122 www.edwardjones.com

focus in mind, though, that 529 plan distributions not used for qualified expenses may be subject to federal and state income tax and a 10% IRS penalty.)

Example 2: Instead of starting to save when your child was 3, you wait 10 years, until she turns 13. You put in the same $200 per month to a 529 plan that earns the same 7% a year. After five years, when your daughter has turned 18, you will have accumulated slightly less than $15,000.

Clearly, there’s a big disparity between $64,000 and $15,000. So, if you don’t want to be in a position where you have to start putting away huge sums of money each month to “catch up” on your college savings, you’ll be well advised to start saving as early as possible — specifically, during the first few years of your child’s life.

Of course, given all your other expenses, you may find it challenging to begin putting away money for college.

And with so many years to go until you actually need the money, it’s tempting to put off your savings for another day. But those “other days” can add up — and before you know it, college may be looming.

Consequently, you may want to put your savings on “autopilot” by setting up a bank authorization to move money each month into a college savings account. And, as your income rises, you may be able to increase your monthly contributions.

Save early, save often: It’s a good strategy for just about any investment goal — and it can make an especially big difference when it comes to paying for the high costs of higher education.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

We’ve all been told the four years we spend in college is the pinnacle of our youthful self-exploration. We’re meant to gain knowledge, discover our dreams, find ourselves and what we value and realize our goals. What happens, though, when your goal becomes a career that requires further education? What unique challenges do you face? How demanding can the transition be—it’s just more college, right? And how can you make this transition smoothly?

Six years ago, as a freshman entering West Virginia University for the first time, I’ll admit I was absurdly nervous about striking out on my own and trying to find my way, unguided, in a sea of new faces. I was still immature, a child really, no matter how much I insisted upon the contrary during discussions with my parents.

For me, the move from high school to undergraduate education was one fraught with new experiences (good and bad), the necessity for adaptation and plenty of lessons learned. But, when you decide to pursue graduate studies, you might be under the impression that the novelty has worn off, college is “old-hat”, you’ve got the whole experience on lockdown.

This is, of course, not necessarily true, as grad school brings with it equally stressful challenges.

TRANSITIONING TO

GRAD SCHOOL

by Carol Fox Ms. Fox is a graduate student in English and is on the staff of the Daily Athenaeum

And now, after returning to WVU to get my master’s degree, even with my previous years exposure to Morgantown student life, I’ve faced some of the same challenges—scheduling, adapting, and learning from each experience—more acutely, and I’ve uncovered an entirely new way of experiencing Morgantown alongside my tenderfoot colleagues.

Students seeking graduate education at WVU, will undoubtedly experience some transitional butterflies when making the move from their undergraduate institutions to the rolling hills of West Virginia.

A new location, away from family and friends and the places you haunted, upsets the status quo you developed during undergrad. Add to that the mountains of coursework, research hours and a potential assistantship,

“...grad school requires focus and dedication, that can be difficult to maintain...but downtime is also essential, so make sure you plan that too.” grad school requires focus and dedication that can be difficult to maintain. There are, of course, more than a few ways to mitigate potential burn-out disasters, though, and it’s all about balance.

When you enter grad school, you know instinctively that it’s absolutely important to maintain a high amount of devotion to your studies, and this means spending more time in your workspace with your colleagues. The best way to maximize the amount of productivity is to plan as much as possible— keep a planner or use a calendar app—but be willing to adapt to the unexpected. One of the most difficult tasks for some grad students is realizing that downtime is also essential, so make sure you plan that too.

Even if you have a pretty good support system when you enter grad school, because you spend great swaths of time and share some of your most specific common interests with them, your new colleagues become some of the most important people in your life, so it won’t be difficult to find a niche community to which to belong. And, you will always find help and encouragement from your program coordinators, professors and mentors.

The key to success at the graduate level at WVU is finding your own personal balance. You will figure out pretty quickly the amount of dedication your program requires, and, as long as you’re managing that, you can fill the rest of your time doing the things you love with the people who mean the most to you.

Because WVU is a large university situated in a small town, there is a unique, natural balance to the atmosphere here. You can enjoy the beauty, the quiet, and the tight-knit community experience that this relatively rural setting offers while also being exposed to innumerable opportunities for growth and development that typically come with a larger city.

And Morgantown offers many prospective downtime activities. Generally, because of its pastoral location, some of the most unique pasttimes are outdoors, and after spending weekdays couped up in an office, some fresh air and sunshine are a welcome escape. Places like Cooper’s Rock, Spruce

Knob, and the WVU Arboretum are all local favorites useful for hiking, biking, camping, or even just a gentle walk through the forest.

In addition to two major movie theatres that occasionally bring in a limited release or two, WVU’s Creative Arts Center, local theatre company M. T. Pockets, and music venues like 123 Pleasant Street offer live entertainment from musicals to local, avant-garde productions to the hottest death metal bands, so there is something for everyone.

And, it’s impossible to talk about life in Morgantown, even grad school life, without mentioning the Mountaineers. Whether it’s football, basketball, tennis, or soccer, Mountaineers are some of America’s most enthusiastic fans, and attending a WVU game at least once is an absolute must.

However, most graduate students find that their favorite places to hang out in Morgantown are those quieter places less frequented by the large undergraduate population. Coffee shops like Café Mojo and Jay’s Daily Grind are among some of the graduate student favorites. Restaurants like the Blue Moose and Black Bear also provide a calmer atmosphere.

Of course, Morgantown is well-known for its active nightlife, and graduate students aren’t omitted.

Casual bars like Gibbie’s Pub & Eatery, and more intimate spaces like Apothecary and Morgantown Brewing Company are great places to unwind after a strenuous week.

Morgantown isn’t necessarily one of those selfexplanatory locales with neon signs advertising things like “the best coffee in town,” and though it doesn’t appear to be brimming with options for entertainment. First-time students, especially graduate students with a smaller, less-connected community, will need time to explore and find the city’s hidden gems.

When in doubt, always ask someone. You can cheat a little and get hacker’s guide to the city by talking to some of the full-time University staff and locals.

The best thing about going to WVU is that students will always find a friendly face to point them in the right direction.

Wine a little…it can’t hurt !

Hot summer days are the perfect time for wine coolers, particularly since it is the one time of year when even the most dedicated vinophile is tempted to drop ice in a glass.

Recently while going on about a recipe I had seen for a Watermelon Sangria, the friend I was with asked what was the difference between a wine cooler and sangria? Good question!

With a little big of digging, this cocktail conundrum is easily solved. A wine cooler is a wine spritzer is a wine cocktail is sangria!

On this very subject, Mike Dawson, senior editor at Wine Enthusiast, says, “Mixology has been raised to this new chef-like heights and wine, in a way, is the bartender’s hottest ingredient right now. Cutting-edge bartenders are taking these wine-based drinks to new heights, and creating these New Age coolers, along with countless variations of the sangria and classic wine cocktails...”

Turning it into a cooler/spritzer makes it a little easier for non-wine drinkers to drink. And it is so easy—a white wine, mixed with ginger ale or a lemon-lime soda add a lemon wedge. Whether you call it wine cooler or spritzer, it’s a great summer drink.

What do you use to make a wine cooler/spritzer/sangria?

Most suggest starting with a Sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio for white; a Spanish wine for red, after all that is where sangria originated. Tempranillo tops the list.

Now the fun part. Get creative, but keep it light. Fresh fruit is abundant this time of year, so your options are endless.

Start with a recipe or gather some friends for an afternoon and come up with your own version. Either way, drink and stay cool!

Cheers!

Here’s the Watermelon Sangria recipe that started the whole thing: 12 cups cubed watermelon, divided 1 (750 mil) bottle of dry white wine 1 cup vodka 1/2 cup triple sec 1/2 cup simple syrup 1 medium line, quartered 1 orange, cut into wedges 1 cup fresh blueberries

Place 9 cups of watermelon cubes in a blender; blend on high until very smooth. Strain juice through a mesh strainer into a large pitcher. Pour the wine, vodka, triple sec, and simple syrup into the pitcher.

Stir to combine. Mix the remaining 3 cups of watermelon cubes, the lime quarters, orange sections, and blueberries into the sangria. Chill for 4 hours before serving. Makes 16 servings.

The selection you want.

The expertise you need.

The exceptional wine you’re searching for.

The Wine Rack.

Tired of wandering around trying to decide on the right wine?

The Wine Rack offers a wide selection of wines at a great price – and you’ll be greeted by a true wine enthusiast who can answer all your questions.

Whether you’re choosing the perfect wine for a dinner party, a hostess gift or something special for your best client, you’ll love the friendly, helpful service.

And we do special orders and daily samplings too.

Forget self-service wine purchases.

Come discover wonderful new wines and pairings at The Wine Rack.

Wine – Beer – Cigars Gift Baskets – Chocolates 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Monday – Saturday Closed Sunday 1225 Pineview Drive Morgantown, WV 26505

304-599-WINE (9463) www.thewinerackwv.com

Integrated approach keeps members returning.

The Aquatics Program has a two-lane lap pool and an adjacent warm pool for aerobics and therapy.

HealthWorks physical therapists aim to help clients become functional with an overall goal of making their lives better.

MORGANTOWN’S PREMIER WELLNESS FACILITY

by David Beach

HealthWorks Rehab & Fitness Works Makes Its Clients Lives Better

HealthWorks provides industrial therapy for employment screening and work readiness.

In between Mon General and WVU Hospital on Maple Drive just off Chestnut Ridge Road is HealthWorks Rehab & Fitness. Its location is appropriate; in 1997, Morgantown Physical Therapy Associates (MPTA) partnered with Monongalia Health Systems and West Virginia University Hospital to form HealthWorks Rehab & Fitness.

From its start in 1979, MPTA focused on a sports medicine approach to musculoskeletal injuries, working with patients so they could become functional in as little time as possible. Jack Brautigam, the vice president and clinical director of HealthWorks, says this philosophy is based on early intervention, evaluation, and treatment based on what’s wrong with the client.

Now, HealthWorks is a center of wellness for the body. Its physical therapy program is complemented by fitness, massage, orthotic, and industrial therapy programs.

Greg Dahmer, the staff orthotist and an athletic trainer, said Morgantown is lucky to have a wellness facility that houses so many specialties under one roof. “When I travel to other cities [the] size [of Morgantown], I see these small places that don’t have this integrated approach.”

This integrated approach is what keeps members returning. “Experts take a look at what’s going on and address

Orthotist Greg Dahmer measures elements of the foot in order to create a custom orthotic.

other issues,” said fitness member Nathalie Singh-Corcoran. “They can troubleshoot any problem.” Singh-Corcoran had been experiencing some pain, talked to the HealthWorks staff who suggested the pain might be caused from tendonitis or planter fasciitis, and she was able to take that information to her primary care physician for further diagnosis and treatment.

Linda Manley, physical therapist and patient management coordinator, indicated the fitness program developed out of the physical therapy patient care program so patients could do the exercises they couldn’t do at home. Despite that connection, the fitness program has continued to grow.

Fitness specialist Joe Garrett works with clients in numerous capacities. One of his areas of focus is corrective exercise specialization. “Similar to physical therapy, we look for muscle imbalance, and we find ways to tone down muscles which are overactive and work on the muscles that are underactive to balance them out.”

Garrett also works on physical performance with different populations—notably with youth and seniors.

“Each population has a different need. With youth, you don’t want them to lift weights too heavy. We work on coordination, body weight stuff. They’re growing, and their growth spurts can mess up their neuromuscular

coordination, so instead of athletic training, we work on patterns for fitness.”

He noted that seniors typically do not have enough water in their diet, which also causes their reactions to heat to be different. He provides exercise recommendations for those with osteoporosis and osteopenia.

Whatever program is encountered, the organization operates based on five core values: servant attitude, integrity, excellence, growth and teamwork. “To anyone who we come into contact with, make their life better,” says massage department coordinator Cliff Royse, a statement repeated over and over by staff members. Dahmer said that the servant attitude was instilled long ago

by Brautigam and founder John Spiker.

“It’s all about service, about the person you’re working with, not about profits.

It’s about helping people, and if you help them, they’ll end up becoming your friend and coming back.”

The concept of teamwork prevails throughout the organization. Royse said he works frequently with patients who are referred from the physical therapy clinic or the fitness floor. “We [the staff ] work well together and have good communication patterns, to talk about the people we are working together with.

[This is] good for the patients…they know we’re trying to problem-solve with them. The clinic operates with people who have different viewpoints on therapy. With human beings being unique, sometimes we need to try different things for different people, so we have mutual respect for different therapeutic approaches.”

This teamwork extends to the management office. “The clinical staff cares about what’s going on in the office, the fitness staff cares about what’s [happening] on the clinical side,” Brautigam said.

One of his goals as manager is “to take care of the people [we] supervise—motivate and train them, help with day-today stuff, education and home.”

HealthWorks’ mission extends outside its and the hospitals’ walls. For years, HealthWorks has been involved in community outreach. Royse noted that the outreach is “not just for exposure of the business, but to educate the public on health and how they can improve the quality of their life.” Nutritionists have held workshops at local supermarkets, trainers work with clients in the PEIA Weight Management Program, and clinicians work with the local school system, providing health and wellness activities and services.

HealthWorks also partners with WVU’s College of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences to oversee and guide graduate students who work as intern athletic trainers in Morgantown, University, East Fairmont, Fairmont Senior, North Marion, Albert Gallatin, Clay-Battelle, Grafton and Buckhannon-Upshur High Schools.

The students are first certified through the National Athletic Trainers’ Association before they are assigned to a high school. Once there, they work 20 hours per week handling recognition and treatment of injuries, prevention and rehabilitative treatment. “We get young, bright people coming from great places around the country—Purdue, Ithaca, Penn State, Georgia Southern—who

then provide a great community service for our high schools,” noted Brautigam.

Another area that could potentially grow is industrial and occupational therapy. Parker Grimes directs the occupational therapy program, and Brautigam stated that Grimes “does an outstanding job going onsite and making recommendations” to organization regarding their workplace layout. Many organizations conduct pre-employment and placement screenings through HealthWorks. “We have a dummy downstairs for nursing aides to train on transferring patients from bed to bed.

The dummy is all dead weight, so if the aides can transfer the dummy, they can transfer a human,” Brautigam said. He also mentioned that organizations are beginning to understand wellness benefits, ensuring that healthy employees are also productive employees.

The staff always focuses on integrated, holistic wellness, rooted in a team which works together well. Manley says “the working atmosphere is so great. People get a job and stay here.” Garrett echoed this sentiment. “We’re [the fitness staff ] never uncomfortable asking the physical therapists questions, and they’re not uncomfortable asking the fitness staff questions” when working with clients.

HealthWorks Rehab & Fitness has five satellite locations which offer physical therapy in Blacksville, Buckhannon, Cheat Lake, Fairmont and Smithfield, Pennsylvania. To learn more about HealthWorks Rehab & Fitness, visit its web page at www.healthworksrf.com/.

CENTERING

PRECISION

CONCENTRATION CONTROL OF MOVEMENT

B R E AT H

F LO W

Morgantown’s ONLY traditional Pilates studio offering private, semi-private and small group equipment classes for: Reformer Tower

Cadillac EXO Chair

Group Mat Classes Pilates is a unique method of movement exercise that combines muscles strengthening and lengthening with breathing to develop “the powerhouse” of the body.

Classes offered daily.

I personally feel that up until recently, Pilates has been the best kept secret.

It has proven to be my favorite can’t-do-without workout ever! It keeps me strengthened, toned, flexible and even helps relieve stress. Kendra, from the Pilates Studio of Morgantown, is a great teacher...she has the beat equipment, she’s always upbeat, keeps us motivated, explains each move & how it’s beneficial and gives individual attention even in group classes. I always leave class feeling like a better, more relaxed version of me. I strongly encourage anyone who’s curious to give it a try!

Jennifer Beattie

1101 About Town Place Morgantown, WV 26508 www.pilatesofmorgantown.com

Local Theatre Tests the Bounds of Drama M. T. Pockets Theatre

by David Beach

Tucked on the third floor of a building surrounded by a pizza joint and a parking garage, you will find M. T. Pockets Theatre Company. An intimate, 50-seat performance space, the 100% volunteer theatre company produces new and established plays, with an aim towards promoting women in the arts.

and for which he won both the West Virginia Theatre Conference and SETC Community Theatre awards for Best Actor.

Upcoming productions: Aug 28-31: Karen Brody’s “Birth” Sept 13-21: Yasmina Reza’s “Art”

This community theatre, founded by artistic director Toni Morris in 1999, showcases local actors and theatre professionals in a range of productions from adultoriented social dramas to youth dramatic ensembles.

This past summer, M. T. Pockets held its first Ten Minute Play Festival. After receiving almost 300 submissions, the selection committee decided to produce 18 productions over two weekends. The first weekend included nine plays by local playwrights, and nine non-local short plays were produced the following weekend.

A recent production, Becky Mode’s “Fully Committed,” featured local actor Robert Wolfe in a one-person role in which he plays over 40 characters. Wolfe appeared in 2011 in the company’s production of Doug Wright’s “I Am My Own Wife,” in which he played 30 different characters

Sept 26-29: “Roll Call: Stories from the Brave Black Regiments of the Civil War” Oct 24-26: Glenn Clifton’s “Paul and Erin Go to Bed” Nov 8-16: Edward Crosby Wells’ “ Three Guys in Drag Selling Their Stuff” Dec 6-14: Jeff Goode’s “Seven Santas” Dec 18-22: Alchemy Dance Project and Red Stone Dance Initiative Check M. T. Pockets’ web site for upcoming productions and auditions at www.mtpocketstheatre.com.

To read or listen to Ardeth Osborne’s story on M. T. Pockets which was broadcast on West Virginia Morning (West Virginia Public Broadcasting) on June 14th, click on http://www.wvpubcast.org/ newsarticle.aspx?id=30459.

(Link provided with permission of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.)

Kevin Ford and Cliff Wilson in Reginald Rose’s “Twelve Angry Men” Anthony Edwards and Cynthia Ulrich in John Patrick Shanley’s “Doubt” Travis Teffner and Sean Marco in Donald Fidler’s “Elk and Wolf” Toni Morris, Chris Adducchio, Charlotte Swiger and Hannah Barnes in “The Dixie Swim Club.”

Glacial outcrops at Bear Rocks.

All photos by David Beach.

Within 3 Hours...

Dolly Sods Wilderness Area Ranked by TripAdvisor as #2 of 8 attractions in Elkins, Dolly Sods Wilderness Area in the eastern Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia is part of the Monongahela National Forest and is a designated U.S. Wilderness Area. A high-altitude, rocky plateau, Dolly Sods derives its name from an 18th century German homesteader Johann Dahle, a Hessian soldier fighting for the British Army during the Revolutionary War, who settled in what was later Pendleton County. (“Sods� is a local term for an open mountaintop meadow.)

Dolly Sods is 2.5 hours SSE of Morgantown. Go south on WV-92 to WV-24, then east to US 219-S, then south on WV-32.

(Map courtesy of Mapquest.com)

Prevailing westerly winds cause the branches of the red spruce to grow only on the eastward side.

The name derives from an 18th-century German homesteading family —the Dahles — and a local term for an open mountaintop meadow — a “sods”.

Now, Dolly Sods Wilderness is home to stunted spruce trees, cranberries bogs and the occasional unexploded ordinance leftover from WWII. (The U.S. government bought the land from Johann Dahle’s descendants at the start of WWII as an artillery and mortar range.)

The highest plateau east of the Mississippi River, Dolly Sods Wilderness ranges from an altitude of 2,700’ at Red Creek to 4,000’ on the Allegheny Front. Forty-seven miles of hiking trails branch out from Forest Service Roads 75 and 19 which border the east and south sides of the Wilderness. (These roads are typically closed January 1 through April 15 because of extreme winter weather.) Many of the trails are abandoned logging trails strewn with rocks. The best view of Dolly Sods is from Lion’s Head Rock, a three-mile climb from the nearest road.

A unique feature of Dolly Sods is its microclimate. Air masses collide on the Allegheny Front resulting in extreme weather conditions year-round. Westerly prevailing winds cause the branches of the red spruce trees to grow eastward, giving an eerie look to the flora. One of the windiest spots east of the Mississippi, the area around Dolly Sods is now home to wind farming to produce energy just north of Bear Rocks.

“Leave-no-trace” walk-in camping is allowed, though off-road vehicle are prohibited. During the summer, people flock to the Wilderness to pick blueberries and huckleberries. Occasionally, bears are seen, and cautionary placards with instructions on how to react when encountering bears are found at all trailheads.

For more information, see the Dolly Sods Wilderness Brochure from the U.S. Forest Service at http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5090664.pdf.

In the summer, flowers cover the paths.

This microclimate also produces the temperate canopy forest found throughout the area. The sphagnum (cranberry) bogs and heath barrens make the area look as if it should be in northern latitudes. The southern section of Dolly Sods has hardwood forests—northern hardwoods on the ridges and cove hardwoods in the tributaries of Red Creek. Ramps can be found in the deeper forests.

A scenic view of Seneca Rock from Dolly Sods

Ferns and pines cover the temperate canopy forest