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Outside Magazine: Kentucky Community Starts Hiking to Change their Outlook

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by Lindsey Gilpin 

One Sunday every month, always after church, the Breathitt County Hiking Club meets outside the public library in Jackson, Kentucky to caravan to a trailhead. On an afternoon in early June, Stephen Bowling, the library’s executive director, eagerly waited inside the glass doors for the group to arrive for their trip to Copperas Creek Trail in Red River Gorge, about 40 minutes away.

As people trickled in, Bowling happily fielded questions about the hike. “How long is it again?” asked Phyllis Light, a 74-year-old wearing clean white Skechers. Her friend Doris Newton, an outspoken middle-aged woman who works at the local hardware store, hopped out of the car with her dog. “What’s the difficulty level?” Newton asked as her husband took a drag of his cigarette and laughed about how he wore swim shoes instead of hiking boots.

Bowling, a 45-year-old father with a toothy grin, has been hosting these monthly field trips since the beginning of the year. An avid backpacker, he has hiked hundreds of miles on the Appalachian Trail and elsewhere in the Southeast, an experience he’s determined to share with others. Bowling’s new hiking club, sponsored by the Breathitt County Public Library, is his latest effort to get people in this rural town out into nature…

Read the article on Outside Magazine’s website »

Calling all West Virginia Women Leaders – New Podcast Asking for Guest Ideas

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Source: Flickr

A new podcast series is rolling out in the state of West Virginia and the creators are looking for your suggestions for guests.

The series, set to release its first episode in September, focuses on West Virginia women. The creators are looking for women who are leading in government, business, non-profits, schools, research labs, and in their communities and neighborhoods.

Leaders are also individuals who overcome hardship, challenge themselves, and develop their own recipe for life.

All backgrounds, all professions, and all stories are accepted, the creators just ask that the individual has ties to West Virginia, would be willing to be featured, and enjoys conversing.

Submit someone to be considered for a guest on this new podcast »

Questions may be directed to Hilary Kinney at hilarymkinney@gmail.com.

Mountain Statesman: WV Community Throws a Party to Bash Trash

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Getting Ready for the Party (All Aboard Grafton Facebook Page)

By Nicki Skinner, Mountain Statesman Editor

Two Taylor County citizens, frustrated with the illegal dumping of garbage, decided to organize an event, in conjunction with Taylor County Project HOP2E, to shed a light on the growing issue.

Sherri and Louis Friend were instrumental in organizing the first-ever Thornton Trash Bash, which was held on Saturday.

Despite the heavy rain and storms that moved through the area, S. Friend said that they felt really good about the turnout of people at the event.

“We were very happy with the community’s turnout for the bash,” shared S. Friend. “Throughout the day, we had probably 50 people who came to see what we were offering.”

During the bash, volunteers took the time to help pick up litter along Route 50, near the old Thornton School, and Tygart Valley Watershed volunteers took part in a creek clean-up.

Vendors were set up selling goods, and Nanny’s Ice Cream was present, offering a cool treat, on the humid summer day.

Guests were able to grab some food, while they visited booths or gathered information about the importance of recycling and properly disposing of trash.

In addition, Taylor County Project HOP2E held a food distribution, for families in need…

View the full article on the Mountain Statesman website »

Interactive Art Project in Charleston Focuses on Community

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Jack O’Hearn’s Interactive Public Art Project in Progress

This summer, the Charleston Area Alliance has hired me to create an interactive art project for their Streetfest block party series on Capitol Street in downtown Charleston. I am setting up at three Streetfest events this year, the final will be happening on August 26th, 4:30pm – 9pm.

Attendees at the block party find an arrangement of furniture that looks somewhat like a den or study room, but set up outdoors. They are offered paper and pencils, invited to sit at a desk or table, and asked to contribute a drawing based on the word “community.”

What does community mean, what does it look like, or what should it look like? Stencils, stamps, rulers and reference books are also made available to assist with the drawing process.

The end product will be a painting about community, created by the community of Charleston.

Following my final Streetfest event in August, I will use all the collected drawings to create a large-scale, colorful painting, which will be displayed in a downtown storefront window. All of the contributors will be able to find their drawings somewhere in the painting and see how I interpreted them.

The end product will be a painting about community, created by the community of Charleston.

I’ll continue to post updates about the project on The Hub’s blog. You can also follow this and all of my other community art projects at facebook.com/jackohearnart.

New Community Art Classes to Begin in Wyoming County

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Many people think of art as a fun thing some people do on the side. Other people think that art can change your life.

Laura Burdette, the art instructor from The Hub’s Innovation Acceleration Strategy (IAS) Wyoming County Arts Team, believes that art is transformative.

“I forget everything when I’m painting or drawing,” Burdette said, “It takes me into my own little world, it’s euphoric.”

When we announced the winners of our IAS mini-grants program in January, you may recall that the Wyoming County Arts team planned to host a series of art classes. Their plans are now far enough along that they’re looking for students!

Laura Burdette Painting on Slate

Art classes will begin in Pineville on August 29th at 6pm at Power House East in the Happy Trails building at 27 River Drive. This is just across the road from the Pineville Fire Department and the Board of Education.

The first class will focus on slate painting from prep to making market-ready. Future classes will cover color, perspective, drawing, technique and more.

Burdette, who says she’s been drawing since she was old enough to hold a pencil, believes that anyone should feel comfortable to sign up for these classes, regardless of skill level.

“Some people don’t realize that they can do it and a lot of people don’t realize how helpful it can be to them,” Burdette said.

Classes will be $10 each or $60 for the whole 6 month course.  To sign up, contact Laura Burdette at 304-575-3817 or fill out this form online.

Share the word with anyone in the Wyoming County area you think may be interested, and if would like to learn how to travel to your own little world for a bit, don’t hesitate to give it a try.

Meet Kaycie Stushek – New to West Virginia and Dedicated to Making Change for the Better

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Kaycie in a kayak

I am from a small city in Wisconsin, and grew up to value how the community connected to land and water, whether through work or play. The local farming culture, and celebration around forests, lakes and rivers was one I grew to love, and one I was able to center my career around.

The support the community provided for each other helped me define what community was. Families and friends got together to help each other with projects, to celebrate, to learn, to give back, and to have a great time.

This helped me grow to understand that community is based on connection, fun, trust, and love.

That love for another person is was what brought me here to West Virginia.

Once I knew I was coming, I started looking for opportunities where I could be involved in work that supported community collaboration and growth. Right away, I found The Hub.  I interned here during the summer of 2016, and knew I wanted to join the change-makers I saw all around me. Fortunately, The Hub thought I could be one of those change-makers too, and I started on as the Community Development Network Coordinator this past June.

Those connections I felt in Wisconsin have been so easy and apparent here in West Virginia, and in the communities I am able to partner with. The collective energy around family, relationships, support, and fun has been one that West Virginians share so freely. I am overjoyed to experience this, and I can’t wait to grow into my role as a part of the community of  West Virginia.

Mountain Messenger: Local Artist Reimagines Once Vacant Lewisburg School

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Lewisburg by Connie Manchester (2014) – Source

by Reporter for Mountain Messenger

Nowadays, finding someone that inspires you can truly be a challenge. Coming few and far between, these are the kind of people that one wants to surround themselves with to feel motivated, on top of the world, able to handle anything.

Michael Christie, a local artist, is one of those people. Bruce Schweizer, Bob Worley, John Hirt, and Christie are all in a partnership to undertake some massive renovations at the old Lewisburg Elementary School campus.

Where some see nothing, Christie sees a blank canvas; where others see a burden, he sees a project. This mindset is what led him to being one of the four people involved in the complete overhaul of the site on Lee Street.

Sprawling over almost five acres of land, the seven old school buildings haven’t been in use for years, and have sat mostly untouched after being purchased by the New River Technical College Foundation when Lewisburg’s new elementary school opened in 2012. The grounds are a familiar spot for many, with thousands of local kids passing from grade to grade, growing and learning in the old halls like so many before. Over the next few years, however, it will be nearly unrecognizable.

Already, the “E” building that many remember as the gym has begun to turn a new leaf, housing the brand new Lee Street Studios Centre for the Arts…

Read the complete article on the Mountain Messenger website »

Photo Series: A Day in Matewan, WV

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A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of introducing my co-worker at The Hub Kaycie Stushek and my dear friend Daniel Raines to one of my favorite West Virginia communities, Matewan. I started working in Matewan about four years ago and have been in love ever since. We got lucky that day in that Daniel had his camera with him and happens to be a wonderful photographer.

I would like to offer a few of those photos with you here so you may share in the beauty of Matewan…

The first time I drove into Matewan, all I could think of was how the buildings along the main stretch made me immediately think of a movie scene – cardboard cutouts of buildings. I know – weird thought and it still makes me laugh when I think about it today.

These photos capture Matewan’s Visitors Center which happens to be the train depot. The community has worked endless hours to keep the visitors center open to the public and has done a tremendous job of making improvements along the way.

During our visit, we made some time to take a ride on the Hatfield McCoy Airboat. If you haven’t been on an airboat, it is a must do!

The next two photos are of the Historic Matewan Jail. There is an amazing group of folks working to reopen the jail to the community and visitors. They have come a long way from where they have started!

I love this photo for two reasons – 1) It showcases the massive flood wall and 2) It gives a beautiful glimpse into the town of Matewan.

And of course you can’t visit Matewan without seeing at least one, two, six trains pass through while you are there…

Hi, Amanda.

Artist Association in Grafton Brings a Community Member’s Dream to Life

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Stitchers with a Purpose from the Buffalo Flats Facebook page

A Grafton couple, Tom and Donna Hart, are following the dream and motto of the late Larry “Butchie” Bartosh and working to make that dream a reality for the Grafton and Taylor County area. Larry Bartosh had a vision for a Main Street location where everyone could come and learn a variety of art forms from painting and sewing to theatre and yoga.

After Larry’s passing in 2016, Tom and Donna Hart acquired the Main Street location from Larry’s wife Bette. The Hart’s knew without a doubt that bringing the dream of an artist association to life was their main goal and focus and quickly started to brainstorm.

The Hart’s knew without a doubt that bringing the dream of an artist association to life was their main goal and focus and quickly started to brainstorm. 

In 1773, William Robinson claimed over 400 acres of land in what was then called Buffalo Flats. Larry knew of the historical information, which many others did not, and always referred to the Main Street location as Buffalo Flats. So the couple knew immediately that the only proper name for this venture would be “Buffalo Flats Artist Association.” Once the couple had gathered a group of dedicated community members to join them in their efforts, they all shot off into action.

A group of WVU Reed College of Media students were assigned to help brand Buffalo Flats. They enjoyed visiting Grafton and learning more about the community as a whole and what the Artist Association was planning. They developed a logo in which the community was able to vote on during Grafton’s first Earth Day Celebration in April. Once Tom began working on the cosmetic upgrades to the building, the students were enthusiastic to come and lend a hand.

The Association houses a group of locals who call themselves “Stitchers with a Purpose.”  They get together the first Thursday of every month to crochet, knit, quilt, and sew comfort blankets for Hospice patients. There is a range of skill levels from seasoned to beginners where everyone teaches each other.

Buffalo Flats Artist Association will also be the lead organization for Grafton’s second annual ArtStock event where local and area artists come to set up and display and sell their art in a peaceful and loving country setting. The event will be held Saturday, September 9, 10 am – 6 pm, with a band to follow at 7 pm.  Potential vendors are encouraged to contact Donna Hart or Breanna Collins for details by August 15.  Buffalo Flats will also house yoga classes and much more.

They are always in search of new teachers and instructors and those wishing to learn new forms of art to become members and help support their mission.

The Association plans to grow continuously and offer new things on a regular basis. They are always in search of new teachers and instructors and those wishing to learn new forms of art to become members and help support their mission. Larry’s art and way of life was to inspire others to be creative and make the world a better place, and this local group has taken the phrase, “Be kind, be generous, make the world a better place,” to heart and hope to make a difference in their own community with art and creativity.

Hi, Breanna