Third Annual Pioneer Showcase Winners Announced

The winners of the third annual Glenville State College Pioneer Showcase Creative Arts and Research Forum have been announced.

The showcase took place on Tuesday, April 16, 2013 and is a competition where GSC students present research and creative arts abstracts in a formal setting. The judges were made up of GSC faculty.

Seniors Andrea Minigh and Meagan Lesser won first place and $250 in the research category with their project about ‘The Effect of Temperature Shock on Integrin Distribution in the Aposymbiotic Sea Anemone, Aiptasia Pallida.’ Minigh lives in Glenville (Gilmer County), West Virginia and is a Biology major. Lesser, who is from Mineral, Virginia, is also a Biology major.

Sophomore Judith Urbanic and senior Marteney Jacobs won second place and $100 in the research category with their project about ‘An Inexpensive, Automated Apparatus for Measuring Consummatory Behavior in Restrained Honey Bees.’ Urbanic is from Chloe (Calhoun County), West Virginia and is a Biology major. Jacobs, also a Biology major, is from Flemington (Taylor County), West Virginia.

Junior Tiffany Tomey won first place and $250 in the creative arts category with her ceramic work titled ‘The Cycle of Life.’ Tomey is from Linn (Gilmer County), West Virginia and is majoring in Art.

Sophomore Ashley Gish won second place and $100 in the creative arts category with her work called ‘The Immortal Form: Pencil Sketches of Human and Animal Faces.’ Gish lives in Glenville (Gilmer County), West Virginia and is majoring in English.

“Thank you to all the students and faculty that participated in the Pioneer Showcase this year. This event is a great way to showcase GSC’s research on campus,” said GSC Assistant Professor of Art Liza Brenner who was also this year’s event coordinator.

For more information about the Pioneer Showcase, contact Brenner at or 304.462.6346.

G-Biz™: Log Cabin Crafts Open for Summer

GOVERNOR TOMBLIN INVITES STUDENTS TO ENTER STATE’S 150TH BIRTHDAY ART CONTEST

Governor Earl Ray Tomblin today invited students to enter a statewide art contest in celebration of West Virginia’s 150th birthday.

Winning artwork will be featured during West Virginia’s 150th birthday celebration at the State Capitol, June 20-23 2013.

The contest, organized by the Department of Commerce, is open to all school-aged children, kindergarten through 12th grade.

“This contest provides our students a wonderful opportunity to creatively celebrate West Virginia’s 150th birthday through the expression of traditional and modern-day, multi-media art,“ said Governor Earl Ray Tomblin. “I look forward to seeing their artwork during the birthday celebration at the State Capitol in June.“

Participants will be divided into three different groups. Those in grades K-5 will create a birthday card for West Virginia’s sesquicentennial birthday. Students in grades 6-8 and 9-12 will create two minute videos wishing West Virginia a Happy 150th Birthday. Themes for the videos are “Happy 150th Birthday West Virginia - What Makes West Virginia Unique” and “What Makes West Virginia Special?“ Winning artists will receive Kindles, and the winning student’s classroom will receive gift cards will for art supplies. 

Applications and information about the contest is available online at www.wvcommerce.org/art150.

Entries will be accepted through May 15, 2013.

For more information on West Virginia’s 150th birthday celebration at the Capitol or to find a celebration in your community, please visit: www.wv150.com.

Daily G-Eye™ : 05.06.13

GSC Announces 2013 Trilluim Reading - Friday, May 03, 2013 - Today

The 10th annual Glenville State College Trillium Reading is scheduled for Friday, May 03, 2013 at 4:00 PM in the Mollohan Campus Community Center Room 315.

The Trillium is a literary and arts journal that contains artwork, poetry, and prose created by GSC students, faculty, staff, and community members.

This year’s issue of the Trilluim will include not only works from GSC’s campus but also works from Rachel Peckham of Marshall University and Richard Schmitt of West Virginia Wesleyan College. In addition, there are works from John Hoppenthaler and Andrea Hollander who have both been visiting writers at GSC.

“I’ve been the faculty advisor to the Trillium since 2008. I’ve been proud of every single issue that our student editors have published, and this one is no exception. I’m particularly pleased that this year’s Trillium is featuring work from such an impressive diversity of writers and artists. I hope everyone can join us Friday in celebrating this year’s Trillium and in celebrating GSC’s creative spirit and talents,” said Glenville State College Associate Professor of English Dr. Jonathan Minton.

Free copies of the 2013 Trillium will be available at the reading as well as in the Mollohan Campus Community Center, the Robert F. Kidd Library, the GSC Department of Language and Literature in the Heflin Administration Building, and other locations on campus.

For more information about the Trillium reading, contact Minton at or 304.462.6322.

GSC Announces 2013 Trilluim Reading - 05.03.13

The 10th annual Glenville State College Trillium Reading is scheduled for Friday, May 03, 2013 at 4:00 PM in the Mollohan Campus Community Center Room 315.

The Trillium is a literary and arts journal that contains artwork, poetry, and prose created by GSC students, faculty, staff, and community members.

This year’s issue of the Trilluim will include not only works from GSC’s campus but also works from Rachel Peckham of Marshall University and Richard Schmitt of West Virginia Wesleyan College. In addition, there are works from John Hoppenthaler and Andrea Hollander who have both been visiting writers at GSC.

“I’ve been the faculty advisor to the Trillium since 2008. I’ve been proud of every single issue that our student editors have published, and this one is no exception. I’m particularly pleased that this year’s Trillium is featuring work from such an impressive diversity of writers and artists. I hope everyone can join us Friday in celebrating this year’s Trillium and in celebrating GSC’s creative spirit and talents,” said Glenville State College Associate Professor of English Dr. Jonathan Minton.

Free copies of the 2013 Trillium will be available at the reading as well as in the Mollohan Campus Community Center, the Robert F. Kidd Library, the GSC Department of Language and Literature in the Heflin Administration Building, and other locations on campus.

For more information about the Trillium reading, contact Minton at or 304.462.6322.

Attention Students: Celebrate West Virginia’s Birthday with Art

West Virginia is asking its students to help celebrate the state’s 150th birthday this summer by entering an art contest.

Students in kindergarten through fifth grade can create a birthday card, while middle and high school students can create videos.

Themes for the videos are “Happy 150th Birthday West Virginia — What Makes West Virginia Unique” and “What makes West Virginia special?“ Students should wish West Virginia a happy 150th birthday within the videos.

Prizes include Kindles and gift cards for each age group. The winning artwork also may be showcased in the rotunda during the West Virginia 150th birthday celebration at the State Capitol.

There is no entry fee and artwork can be submitted between April 01, 2013 and May 15, 2013.

Each artwork or video must have an official application. Applications are available online at www.wvcommerce.org/art150.

G-Comm™: Arts Alive Soothes the Soul and Celebrates the Arts

From Boston to Texas and in small and large towns around the globe, the last few days have left many unanswered questions. As we struggle to come to terms with these recent horrific events and search for a balm to heal our hearts think about these words of President Barrack Obama, who said, “In times of war and sacrifice, the arts ... remind us to sing and to laugh and to live.“

Our wounds as a nation are fresh. Still, life continues, and so do the arts. On Friday, West Virginia will celebrate the achievements of student artists from across the state as the West Virginia Department of Education and the West Virginia Department of Education & the Arts hosts the seventh annual arts showcase – Arts Alive at the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences in Charleston beginning at 6:30 PM. The free event features students in dance, theatre, visual arts and music.

From the Jefferson High School Thespian Troupe and the Shepherdstown Middle School Jazz Band in the Eastern Panhandle, to the Mary C. Snow West Side Elementary Drum Ensemble in Charleston and the Cabell Midland High School Trumpet Choir in Ona, all genres will be represented. Performances also will include members of The West Virginia All-State Chorus.

Years of research show that an education that includes the arts is closely linked to almost everything that we as a state and nation say we want for our children and demand from our public schools: academic achievement, social and emotional development, civic engagement, and equitable opportunity. A 2012 study of students in West Virginia found that those with an arts-rich high school experience scored higher in mathematics and reading/ language arts. This finding generally held true even for students of lower socioeconomic status or with disabilities.

Many arts advocates justify the importance of their subjects because they have the potential to increase student achievement in mathematics and language arts. But the arts do much more. The arts are where some students find they fit in. When students find a place where they can freely express themselves, schools become places where they want to be. A report by the Rand Corporation about the visual arts argues that the intrinsic pleasures and stimulation of the art experience do more than sweeten an individual’s life; they connect people more deeply to the world and open them to new ways of seeing. That’s why events like Arts Alive are so vital for our state. While Arts Alive is not an end in itself, it is a celebration of what happens in the classroom every single day, and a celebration of the humanity in all of us.

You can exercise your support of the arts and our talented children on Friday by joining me and others at Arts Alive.

~~  Jim Phares, Ed.D. - WV State Superintendent ~~

GSC Juried Student Art Show Winners Announced

The 6th Annual Glenville State College Juried Student Art Show is open through May 03, 2013 in the GSC Fine Arts Center Gallery.

GSC Assistant Professor of Art Liza Brenner said, “Every year, the competition for this show becomes more competitive. I feel just getting into the show is a real honor. The judges did a great job selecting the work and also creating a very cohesive show with a somewhat dark theme.”

Fifty-seven works of art were submitted to the judges for their deliberation this year. Twenty-five pieces of two-dimensional art were submitted as well as sixteen three-dimensional pieces. Forty-one works were chosen to be displayed in the gallery.

There are a variety of mediums in the gallery as well. Traditional drawings, paintings, and photography line the walls while handmade creations fill the remainder of the room.

The winning submissions for this year’s gallery were announced during the opening reception on March 25, 2013.

•  The Provost’s Award went to Amber Lane, a senior GSC marketing major from Glenville (Gilmer County), West Virginia.

•  First place went to Toni Doman, a sophomore business major from Cameron (Marshall County), West Virginia.

•  Second Place went to Jullian Malone, a sophomore studio art major from Alum Bridge (Lewis County), West Virginia.

•  The third place winner was Asa Witte, a junior psychology and sociology major from Cox’s Mills (Gilmer County), West Virgina.

•  Honorable Mention was awarded to Elora Shock, a senior studio art major from Rosedale (Braxton County), West Virginia.

•  The Linda Abraham Memorial Award was granted Alizabeth Bailey, a freshman interdisciplinary studies student from Hinton (Summers County), West Virginia.

“I’ve been coming to the gallery shows for many years. The judges did a great job at creating a theme, and the whole gallery feels like it all goes together well,” said senior GSC art major Sarah Norman of Glenville (Gilmer County), West Virginia.

The public is invited to visit the gallery and enjoy the creative works on display.

For more information, contact Brenner at or 304.462.6346 or Sheri Skidmore in the GSC Fine Arts Department at or 304.462.4130.

Sutton: Elk River Music and Arts Festival - April 19-20, 2013 - This Friday and Saturday

Art Contest to Celebrate West Virginia’s 150th Birthday

West Virginia is OLD—older than grandma, grandpa or anyone else you know—but getting better with age.

If you are in kindergarten through 12th grade, you are eligible to enter a statewide art contest to celebrate West Virginia’s 150th birthday.

Children in grades K-5 will create a birthday card for West Virginia’s special celebration.

Students in grades 6-8 and 9-12 can create videos by themselves or in teams of two. Videos must not be longer than two minutes.

Themes for the videos are “Happy 150th Birthday West Virginia - What Makes West Virginia Unique” and “What makes West Virginia special?” Students should wish West Virginia a happy 150th birthday within the videos.

Prizes include Kindles and gift cards and will be awarded in each age group.

Winning artwork may also be showcased in the rotunda during the West Virginia 150th birthday celebration at the State Capitol.

There is no entry fee and artwork may be submitted between April 01, 2013 and May 15, 2013.

Each artwork or video must have an official application.

Applications are available online at www.wvcommerce.org/art150.

Sutton: Elk River Music and Arts Festival - April 19-20, 2013

Sutton: Elk River Music and Arts Festival - April 19-20, 2013

“It’s Not Just Thread” Special Lecture at Blennerhassett Museum Quilting Event, March 23, 2013

The Blennerhassett Museum of Regional History’s 9th annual Mid-Ohio Valley Heritage Quilt Show, sponsored by the Friends of Blennerhassett and WesBanco, opened March 16 and runs through Sunday, March 24, 2013.

There are 65 quilt entries in the show this year that showcase the artistic work of local quilters and needle workers.

Doug Kreinik of Kreinik Threads Manufacturing Company of Parkersburg is presenting a lecture, “It’s Not Just Thread,” on Saturday, March 23, 2013, beginning at 2:00 PM.

The lecture will be held at the Blennerhassett Museum 3rd floor conference room. Seating is limited and is first-come, first served basis. The cost for the lecture is $5 per person.

Kreinik Mfg. is a locally owned business started in 1970. They make a variety of silk and metallic threads for quilts, needle workers, fiber artists, crafters, scrapbookers, and fishermen (lures). Kreinik will also have samples and kits available at the lecture for individuals to purchase.

For more information about the Mid-Ohio Valley Heritage Quilt Show, call the Blennerhassett Museum of Regional History office at 304.420.4800 or visit www.blennerhassettislandstatepark.com and click Events/Deals.

Fortunate Fall

Wind chimes and stillness punctuated by peals of laughter—this is the background music to Matt Thomas’ new life. Most mornings he gets up at 5 AM, walks to work, and spends a few hours adjusting the jigs he needs to build an accent table or fits thin pieces of walnut inlay into unfinished cutting boards. By 7:30 AM, the sound of little feet scurrying down the hall next door signals break time. He doesn’t need to get up so early—his trip to work consists of a 10-foot walk from his front door to the door of his woodworking studio, which overlooks a quiet little valley in Gilmer County dotted with farms—but he likes to be there when his wife Terri and their four children wake up.

Matt Thomas owns Thomas|work, a small studio on a 13-acre plot in the Mountain Lakes region, where he designs and builds custom furniture and sought-after retail pieces. His signatures are the graceful swoop of inlaid wood and the organic curve of iron. In his most daring pieces, the natural softness of wood and strength of metal seem to shift roles—hard wooden edges brush up against slithering iron vines in a wonderful interplay of form and function. “The process is what’s interesting,” he says. “To take the very rigid wood and wrap the ironwork around it—I just try to find different ways, from a design standpoint, to combine these two very different substances.” His furniture often has angular, Shaker-style bodies.

Quickly becoming one of Tamarack’s most celebrated artisans, Matt is still a little taken aback at the idea of being called an artist. Although he considers himself semi-retired, he often works 50-hour weeks, puts out hundreds of products at a time, and was featured as an emerging artist by NICHE magazine. He insists his passion is not for the art but for the lifestyle itself—a lifestyle that allows him to see his children grow and change every day. “Honestly, I’m a businessman, a craftsman, not really an artist. I worked for about 10 years in construction, putting in 14-hour days. I know how physically intense it is, and I know the wage I can get out of it. This is a lot less physically demanding. I’m not as drained at the end of the day, and my kids are right here playing. But even if this paid minimum wage, I would still choose it. This is the best job I’ve ever had. It’s a little stressful when the phone isn’t ringing and there aren’t orders to fill, but it’s worth it because I get to be right here. It’s a no-brainer.”

Turning from an everyday career in construction to life as an artisan wasn’t an easy transition. For Matt, it took a brush with death. Although he’d always nursed a love of the craft—his work was in a jury session at Tamarack when he was just 16 and he apprenticed under internationally recognized blacksmith Jeff Fetty for nearly four years—his work had always lived on the periphery. “I just never thought I could take the plunge,” he says. Then one rainy afternoon in July 2011, Matt was finishing up a metal roofing installation when he took a wrong step and fell 16 feet to the ground. It wasn’t until he found himself lying immobile in a hospital bed that he realized his whole world was about to change. Matt had fractured a vertebra in his lower back, and there was a very real chance that he would never be able to return to his job as general contractor. “Immediately, I couldn’t walk. I couldn’t build. I couldn’t do anything. And I had a wife and three kids to support, which made it that much more traumatic.”

When Sally Barton of the Tamarack Foundation came to visit him in the hospital and offered to help him get his woodworking business off the ground, Matt jumped at the chance. The Tamarack Foundation, an organization that works to preserve West Virginia’s cultural heritage, support the arts, and assist in the development of a strong, creative economy, sent Matt and seven other artisans to the 2012 Buyer’s Market of American Craft in Philadelphia. There he received nearly enough orders from gallery owners to fill his production schedule for a year. He took one glance at the numbers and never looked back. “When I broke my back, I had to take the chance.”

Both Matt’s woodworking and metalsmithing are gaining recognition across the country. He was recently named a finalist in the 2013 NICHE Awards and regularly fills orders for galleries from New York to San Francisco, including a custom cherry bench presented to the former West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Gus Douglas. And he’s happy to share his knowledge, regularly taking on apprentices and opening his studio to admirers and dreamers alike.

“It would be wrong for me to turn them down when so many people helped me get to where I am,” he says. “That’s how I learned. I still call up my friends from Tamarack. They’re good as gold to me because if I have questions, problems, or anything, I can ask them for help.”

In his tiny shop on top of the hill—he calls it his “cramped man cave”—Matt designs timeless pieces as large as a custom bed and as small as a pair of chopsticks. The challenge isn’t just in the design. Matt takes great care to distill the process of creating each piece down to the most economical steps, approaching each product like it’s a puzzle. “It’s all very meticulously planned out,” he says. “It’s been a process of constant refining to find the most efficient way to make each piece. Then I can pass those savings on to the customer.”

From a neat stack of native West Virginia lumber along one wall, Matt looks over pieces of walnut, cherry, and maple with the eye of a businessman and the eagerness of an artist. These pieces might become a beautiful cutting board or a fine sushi set, or they might become the body of a brand new design—something with clean lines and elegant ironwork in that mixture of beauty and practicality that sets his work apart. When he looks back on how far he’s come in just a few years, he still has trouble believing it. “What I did before was just fine. It paid the bills. It was a job. This is a change of pace, but as a line of work, it is so much more controllable. I can put a dollar figure on it and say it netted me a certain amount, but what I can’t put a price on is how much it improved my quality of life. Now I’m glad I fell.”

~~  Written by Mikenna Pierotti - Photographed by Matt Thomas - WVLiving  ~~

West Virginia Artist’s Work Chosen for Stamped Envelope

A Charles Town artist’s work is featured on a new stamped envelope approved by the U.S. Postal Service.

The 58-cent Bank Swallow Forever Stamped Envelope was unveiled Friday.

It features a large illustration of a bank swallow perched on a reed, and a smaller image of the bird in flight, by artist Matt Frey.

According to the Postal Service, nearly 40,000 suggestions for stamp ideas are received each year, but only about 20 are deemed worthy of pursuing.

Frey also illustrated the Purple Martin Forever Stamped Envelope in 2012.

The 58-cent Forever stamped envelopes are good for mailing one 9-ounce first class letter anytime in the future, regardless of postal price changes.

They are only available online at www.usps.com/stamps, or by calling 800.782.6724.

Glenville: Free Imagery and Clay Workshop - Thursday, February 21, 2013

Ceramic artist Jason Kiley will visit the Glenville State College Fine Arts Center on Thursday, February 21, 2013 to give a free presentation about his art.

Kiley is a ceramic artist who creates working pottery and sculptures. He is the Ceramic Technician at Marshall University in Huntington.

The Imagery and Clay seminar will take place from 12:30 PM until 1:15 PM in the GSC Fine Arts Gallery.

It will be followed by a workshop and demonstration which will take place from 1:30 PM until 2:15 PM in Room FA 237.

During the artist talk, Kiley will talk about his influences in art and how he uses imagery in his work to create implied narratives. Following his talk, Kiley will go into the specifics on how he puts imagery into ceramic form during the workshop/demo.

“One common thread that runs through all the work that I create is an implied narrative.  Whether I am using two dimensional imagery or three dimensional forms, when viewed together, the imagery seems as if it tells a story.” said Kiley.

For more information on this event, contact GSC Assistant Professor of Art Liza Brenner at “Liza.Brenner@glenville.edu” or 304.462.6346.

WEST FORK CONSERVATION DISTRICT: 2013 Speech and Poster Contest

“Where Does Your Water Shed?” will be the theme for the West Fork Conservation District’s Annual Speech and Poster Contests.

These contests give youth a voice to express their thoughts and feelings about our environment and the effects, good and/or bad, that we as a society have on it.

The theme is taken from the National Association of Conservation Districts Annual Soil Stewardship week.

The public speaking contest is open to all students in grades 4th through 12th. Students will compete in school, county and District levels. All school winners receive $10.00. County winners receive $25.00. District first place winners will receive either a savings bond for $200.00 or a scholarship to a conservation camp.

The poster contest is open to all students in kindergarten through 12th grades. Students compete in school, county and District levels. All school winners receive $10.00. County winners receive $25.00. District first place winners will receive either a savings bond for $100.00 or a scholarship to a conservation camp.

Teachers of county first place winners will be given $50.00 to be used towards classroom enhancement.

Both contests are open to public and private schools as well as students who are home schooled.

The dates are as follows:

•  School Contests – before March 08, 2013

•  County Contests – March 15, 2013

•  District Contest – March 22, 2013

If you have a student that wishes to participate in these worthwhile contests please contact your local school for materials or Robin Ward, Education Outreach Coordinator for the West Fork Conservation District at 304.627.2160 or “robinward.wfcd@gmail.com”.

Glenville: Free Imagery and Clay Workshop

Ceramic artist Jason Kiley will visit the Glenville State College Fine Arts Center on Thursday, February 21, 2013 to give a free presentation about his art.

Kiley is a ceramic artist who creates working pottery and sculptures. He is the Ceramic Technician at Marshall University in Huntington.

The Imagery and Clay seminar will take place from 12:30 PM until 1:15 PM in the GSC Fine Arts Gallery.

It will be followed by a workshop and demonstration which will take place from 1:30 PM until 2:15 PM in Room FA 237.

During the artist talk, Kiley will talk about his influences in art and how he uses imagery in his work to create implied narratives. Following his talk, Kiley will go into the specifics on how he puts imagery into ceramic form during the workshop/demo.

“One common thread that runs through all the work that I create is an implied narrative.  Whether I am using two dimensional imagery or three dimensional forms, when viewed together, the imagery seems as if it tells a story.” said Kiley.

For more information on this event, contact GSC Assistant Professor of Art Liza Brenner at “Liza.Brenner@glenville.edu” or 304.462.6346.

The West Virginia Postcard Project

West Virginia Artist Returns to GSC Fine Arts Gallery - Reception Today

‘Ceramics,’ the work of Zack Orcutt is being featured this winter in the Glenville State College Fine Arts Gallery.

The show opened on January 14, 2013 and will run through March 8th.

An opening reception for the show will take place on Tuesday, February 05, 2013 beginning at 5:00 PM and lasting until 7:00 PM.

GSC Assistant Professor of Art Liza Brenner said, “On behalf of our fine arts department, it is great to have Zack Orcutt back in the GSC Fine Arts Gallery. In this exhibition, Zack includes a wide variety of pottery such as serving bowls. All of his items will also be for sale!”

Orcutt is a Professor of Art at West Virginia University at Parkersburg where he teaches ceramics, bronze casting, and art appreciation. He received his Bachelors of Fine Art from Syracuse University and Masters of Fine Art from Bowling Green State University. Orcutt resides in Parkersburg, West Virginia (Wood County).

For more information about this event or upcoming art exhibits, contact Brenner at “Liza.Brenner@glenville.edu” or 304.462.6346.

West Virginia Artist Returns to GSC Fine Arts Gallery

‘Ceramics,’ the work of Zack Orcutt is being featured this winter in the Glenville State College Fine Arts Gallery.

The show opened on January 14, 2013 and will run through March 8th.

An opening reception for the show will take place on Tuesday, February 05, 2013 beginning at 5:00 PM and lasting until 7:00 PM.

GSC Assistant Professor of Art Liza Brenner said, “On behalf of our fine arts department, it is great to have Zack Orcutt back in the GSC Fine Arts Gallery. In this exhibition, Zack includes a wide variety of pottery such as serving bowls. All of his items will also be for sale!”

Orcutt is a Professor of Art at West Virginia University at Parkersburg where he teaches ceramics, bronze casting, and art appreciation. He received his Bachelors of Fine Art from Syracuse University and Masters of Fine Art from Bowling Green State University. Orcutt resides in Parkersburg, West Virginia (Wood County).

For more information about this event or upcoming art exhibits, contact Brenner at “Liza.Brenner@glenville.edu” or 304.462.6346.

WVDOF Sponsors Arbor Day Poster Contest for 4th and 5th Graders

The West Virginia Division of Forestry (DOF) is calling on teachers to showcase their students’ talents in the DOF’s 2013 West Virginia Arbor Day Poster Contest.

This year’s theme is “Trees Are … Energy Savers!“

The contest is open to all fourth- and fifth-grade public-, private- and home-schooled students in the Mountain State.

One state winner from each grade will receive a $50 cash prize from the West Virginia Forestry Association.

In addition, an awards ceremony will be held at the school of each winner and a tree will be planted in his or her honor.

“Not only are trees beautiful and beneficial to wildlife, they also are a valuable source of renewable energy,“ said Andy Sheetz of the Division of Forestry. “By properly locating and planting trees around their homes, people can conserve energy, lessen the use of nonrenewable fossil fuels, save money, increase property value and help the environment.“

Contest submissions are being accepted now through March 01, 2013.

Contact Andy Sheetz at “andy.i.sheetz@wv.gov” or phone 304.558.1264 for a poster contest guide that contains educational activities.

Information may also be downloaded from www.wvforestry.com/arbor.cfm.

Posters must meet contest rules to be eligible for prizes.

WEST FORK CONSERVATION DISTRICT: 2013 Speech and Poster Contest

“Where Does Your Water Shed?” will be the theme for the West Fork Conservation District’s Annual Speech and Poster Contests.

These contests give youth a voice to express their thoughts and feelings about our environment and the effects, good and/or bad, that we as a society have on it.

The theme is taken from the National Association of Conservation Districts Annual Soil Stewardship week.

The public speaking contest is open to all students in grades 4th through 12th. Students will compete in school, county and District levels. All school winners receive $10.00. County winners receive $25.00. District first place winners will receive either a savings bond for $200.00 or a scholarship to a conservation camp.

The poster contest is open to all students in kindergarten through 12th grades. Students compete in school, county and District levels. All school winners receive $10.00. County winners receive $25.00. District first place winners will receive either a savings bond for $100.00 or a scholarship to a conservation camp.

Teachers of county first place winners will be given $50.00 to be used towards classroom enhancement.

Both contests are open to public and private schools as well as students who are home schooled.

The dates are as follows:

•:  School Contests – before March 08, 2013

•:  County Contests – March 15, 2013

•:  District Contest – March 22, 2013

If you have a student that wishes to participate in these worthwhile contests please contact your local school for materials or Robin Ward, Education Outreach Coordinator for the West Fork Conservation District at 304.627.2160 or “robinward.wfcd@gmail.com”.

WEST FORK CONSERVATION DISTRICT: 2013 Speech and Poster Contest

“Where Does Your Water Shed?” will be the theme for the West Fork Conservation District’s Annual Speech and Poster Contests.

These contests give youth a voice to express their thoughts and feelings about our environment and the effects, good and/or bad, that we as a society have on it.

The theme is taken from the National Association of Conservation Districts Annual Soil Stewardship week.

The public speaking contest is open to all students in grades 4th through 12th. Students will compete in school, county and District levels. All school winners receive $10.00. County winners receive $25.00. District first place winners will receive either a savings bond for $200.00 or a scholarship to a conservation camp.

The poster contest is open to all students in kindergarten through 12th grades. Students compete in school, county and District levels. All school winners receive $10.00. County winners receive $25.00. District first place winners will receive either a savings bond for $100.00 or a scholarship to a conservation camp.

Teachers of county first place winners will be given $50.00 to be used towards classroom enhancement.

Both contests are open to public and private schools as well as students who are home schooled.

The dates are as follows:

•:  School Contests – before March 08, 2013

•:  County Contests – March 15, 2013

•:  District Contest – March 22, 2013

If you have a student that wishes to participate in these worthwhile contests please contact your local school for materials or Robin Ward, Education Outreach Coordinator for the West Fork Conservation District at 304.627.2160 or “robinward.wfcd@gmail.com”.

West Virginia Seeks Submissions for 2014 Wildlife Calendar

It may be only January, but West Virginia natural resources officials are thinking 2014.

The state’s Division of Natural Resources is looking for original wildlife art for next year’s edition of its annual wildlife calendar.

Paintings can depict popular game and fish, or illustrate lesser-known species such as snakes, frogs, bats, salamanders and small mammals.

A $100 prize is awarded for each painting chosen.

A $500 prize goes to the artist whose artwork is chosen for the cover of the division’s 29th edition of the popular calendar.

The deadline for submitting artwork is February 18, 2013.

Artists are reminded that the calendar format is horizontal. Paintings not chosen in previous years can be submitted anew.

Google: Doodle Wanted from West Virginia

Students throughout West Virginia are being asked to draw their best days ever for a chance to see that artwork on Google’s homepage.

Submissions of redesigned Google logos, based on that theme, are now being accepted for the Doodle 4 Google contest.

“It can be an imaginary day, something that may even be impossible or may be possible one day.  It can be based on a memory, so something nostalgic or something that you would like to have happen someday soon,” Google Doodler Mike Dutton said.

His official job title is ‘Google Doodler’ and, in that role, he tells MetroNews he finds inspiration in a lot of places.

“A lot of it comes from the occasion itself.  We look at a lot of these doodles that we do on a quarterly basis and, as we dive into the research, we learn from something new and become inspired by that,” Dutton said.

The 2013 winner will see his or her artwork featured for a day at Google.com.  The student will also receive a $30,000 scholarship and his or her school will pick up a $50,000 technology grant.

The Doodle 4 Google contest is now in its sixth year.

It is open to students from kindergarten through the 12th grade.

Doodles must be submitted by March 22, 2013.

Katie Couric, Brian Henson and Chris Sanders, the creator of Disney’s Lilo & Stitch, will help select the top designs.

For more information on how to submit redesigned Google logos, go to www.google.com/doodle4google.

~~  Shauna Johnson ~~

Glenville: Craft Show and Baked Steak Dinner - December 15, 2012 - This Saturday

Glenville: Craft Show and Baked Steak Dinner - December 15, 2012 - This Saturday

Glenville: Craft Show and Baked Steak Dinner - December 15, 2012

Glenville: Craft Show and Baked Steak Dinner - 12.15.12 - Saturday

Operation Wildflower 2013 Calendar Available

West Virginians already looking forward to the sights of spring and summer can get some early satisfaction by ordering an Operation Wildflower 2013 “Roadsides in Bloom” calendar from the state Department of Environmental Protection.

The free calendar is sponsored by the DEP and the state Department of Transportation.

It includes the 13 best photos—as judged by state officials—of West Virginia wildflowers, photographed by West Virginia citizens and others.

The calendar features photos of flowers growing naturally along state roads or in Operation Wildflower beds planted by the state Division of Highways.

Twelve winning photos were selected to represent the months of the year and a grand prize winner’s photo is displayed on the calendar cover.

David Arroniz, of Kearneysville, is this year’s grand prize winner for his photo of cherry blossoms growing along Childs Road in Jefferson County.

Other winners include: Ann Walker, Hillsboro; Lynn Carr, Cool Ridge; Penny Johnson, Charleston; Gladys Mullins, Elkview; Kathryn Davis, Hambleton; Savannah Cantrell, Alkol; Cheryl Dalonges, Ridgeley; Raymond Harr, Franklin; Pamela Manning, Culloden; Eugene Walker, Hillsboro; Gary Bolt, Beckley; and Randy Timm, Webster Springs.

To order a calendar, click here; call 1.800-.22.5530; or email “dep.aah@wv.gov”.

If you call and get voicemail, please leave your name and address on the mailbox.

West Virginia’s Operation Wildflower beautification program is a joint effort between the DEP and the DOH.

It includes more than 250 acres of wildflowers grown along West Virginia’s roadways.

Glenville: Craft Show and Baked Steak Dinner - 12.15.12

Letter Gap: Log Cabin Crafts Christmas Open House 2012 - 11.24.12 - This Saturday

A ONE of Kind Craft Shop featuring Country, Primitive and Unique Home Decor Items.

Handmade Dolls * Angels * Patchwork Items * Arrangements with Electric and/or Battery operated candles * Barn Stars * Tobacco Lathe Stars and Ladders * Snowmen * Wreaths * and So Much More.

BUSINESS HOURS MOST WEEKDAYS AND SATURDAYS OPEN FROM 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM.

CLOSED SUNDAY Feel free to call before traveling long distances

Annual Christmas Open House Will be on Saturday November 24, 2012, from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM.

Gilmer Public Library Photo Contest 2012

Letter Gap: Log Cabin Crafts Christmas Open House 2012 - 11.24.12

A ONE of Kind Craft Shop featuring Country, Primitive and Unique Home Decor Items.

Handmade Dolls * Angels * Patchwork Items * Arrangements with Electric and/or Battery operated candles * Barn Stars * Tobacco Lathe Stars and Ladders * Snowmen * Wreaths * and So Much More.

BUSINESS HOURS MOST WEEKDAYS AND SATURDAYS OPEN FROM 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM.

CLOSED SUNDAY Feel free to call before traveling long distances

Annual Christmas Open House Will be on Saturday November 24, 2012, from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM.

Letter Gap: Log Cabin Crafts Open Weekdays and Saturday

Annual Christmas Open House Will be on Saturday November 24, 2012, from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM.

Gilmer Public Library Photo Contest 2012

Vendors Sought for WVU Jackson’s Mill Craft Fair - 1207.12 - 12.08.12

Winter Lights at WVU Jackson’s Mill near Weston has come to mean decorated buildings and grounds, hundreds of candles, and great food. This year the annual holiday celebration, scheduled for December 07 and 08, 2012, will expand to include a craft show as well as a second night of the popular buffet.

“We’ve been doing Winter Lights at WVU Jackson’s Mill for more than a decade,” said Dean Hardman, program specialist. “The event has had such great support over the years that it seemed only logical to expand it a little.”

“We’ve always done the candle lightings on two nights. Recently we’ve had requests to increase the buffet to two nights as well. As we looked at making that change, we thought adding a craft fair would give people another reason to come out to Jackson’s Mill.”

Vendors are currently being sought for the craft fair, which will be held on Saturday, December 08, 2012 from 10:00 AM until 8:00 PM. The cost is $20 per 6’ table. Table covers are not provided. Full payment is due at setup on Saturday morning. There is no percentage charged on sales, and there is no admission charge for the public.

To reserve space, contact Dean Hardman at 304.406.7012 or by email “Dean.Hardman@mail.wvu.edu” by December 01, 2012.

Weston: Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital Craft Show - 11.09.12

The tenth annual Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital Craft Show will be held on Friday, November 09, 2012 in the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital boardroom and classroom from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

The public is invited to check out the local crafts, baked goods and jewelry, just in time for Christmas.