Sixty-Eighth Annual West Virginia Strawberry Festival

Established in 1936 and held in late May each year, the Strawberry Festival attracts nearly 100,000 people to Buckhannon each year. Folks enjoyed a Friday night and Saturday parade complete with floats and marching bands.

The Strawberry Festival Grand Feature Parade, is one of the largest parades in the Eastern US. First-class bands and performance groups from across America were invited to participate in the celebration activities.

The Festival is a unique, traditional celebration to promote thestrawberry harvest. Enthusiastic volunteers provided good, family style entertainment that offered exciting educational and cultural events for everyone.

Friday WV LIVING Magazine was there enjoying the sidewalk traffic and catching attention from subscribers and fans. We found Gary Bonnett and his band walking down Main Street before the Firday evening show. They particularly took interest in the newly released WV Wedding magazine as they eagerly posed for a picture.

The southern culture has a long history of producing many talented singer/songwriters who intertwine their various musical influences. West Virginia native, Gary Bonnett, pictured in the withe tee shirt, carries on that tradition. He mixes together his personal brand of southern red dirt music to include Bluegrass, Folk, Country, Southern Rock – all wrapped around lyrics that sound too insightful for someone his age. After a couple of years honing his craft and graduating from Marshall University, he started into song writing. The band played in front of lots of local and new listeners Friday evening at the street party on Main Street. Check out "The Long Road Home" on lonestarmusic.com, cdbaby.com, and itunes. "Created in WV, recorded in Texas, and enjoyed by everyone around the world."

Gary played many of his songs Friday night including West Virginians are Coming Home, Hillbilly Ways, and Rock Cave (as in his hometown in Upshur County neighboring Buckhannon). The crowds love it! Gary also announced his story released in the May 11th issue of Country Music Weekly .

G2 celebrates one year anniversary

At WV LIVING, we love G2, the hip gallery and gift shop located at the bottom of High Street in Morgantown.  Patrick and Elias have created a unique shop worthy of New York City's SoHo district. From decorative items to baby gifts to that unique present for the hard-to-buy-for friend, this shop has it all!  To help kick off their one-year celebration, You Tube sensation Chris Cendana performed, and talented jewelry designer Laura Wetzel of Cerca Jewelry was also on hand displaying her striking pieces. Congratulations!

WV Wesleyan College Performance Art in Education

The WVWC Department of Theatre and Dance presented the Danceworks XVIII and Musical Theatre Performance Recital in the new Virginia Thomas Law Center for the Performing Arts on the 22nd and 23rd of April in Buckhannon, WV.

Students displayed dynamic gestures in their song, music, choreography, and dance.

Someone once said, that in some way, all art is a physical act.

The performers kept the audience focused as they seem to float on top of the stage creating magnificent images that will last in our memory for some time to come.

I will ponder the meaning and I appreciate the stimulation.

Spring Mountain Tonic

They tell me that the ramp was used as a spring tonic. I am not sure about that but it is the first fresh green that is usually dug up directly underneath the the last snow. Most locals are eating these fresh greens in late March through April with trout, ham, beans, and cornbread.

Maggie Gain, a student in high school, already understands the cooking secrets and spends her sunny afternoon here in the community hall volunteering.

The Helvetia community comes together to clean 82 bushels of ramps for their annual "supper" sponsored by the Helvetia Farm Women. This is a wonderful place to hear all kinds of stories from days gone by and to catch up after a long winter.

For more information about Helvetia and their annual celebrations check the website at HelvetiaWV.com.

CD Release Party - Jim Savarino

On March 7, 2009, friends and fans of folk singer and songwriter Jim Savarino gathered at the Metropolitan Art Theatre in Morgantown to celebrate his highly anticipated 3rd CD titled Sun Dreams. It seems even Mother Nature was pleased to see it released as she treated everyone in Morgantown to sunny seventy-degree weather.
Guests in attendance were delighted to be the first to hear the new songs performed. In addition to being on hand to meet and mingle with fans, Savarino performed all the songs in the order in which they are listed on the CD. During his performance, one guest was overheard saying, “It adds a whole other layer of enjoyment when you hear the songwriter explain the story behind each song, “ and I have to say, I couldn’t agree more.

Accompanying Jim on backup vocals was Laura Robison. Her melodic voice lent a rich and soulfully enchanting harmony to the poetic lyrics of each and every song.
Watching Jim, a son of Wheeling, strum his guitar and sing songs such as “Where Have the Mountains Gone,” and “Northbound (to West Virginia),” I found myself thinking that the “life is good” logo on his t-shirt must have been coined just for him. Of all the wonderful songs I heard on Saturday evening, the absolute show stealer was “Surface of the Sun, ” which lulled the entire audience into an attentive and awed silence.
To sample all the tracks of “Sun Dreams” or to order a copy, visit http://cdbaby.com/cd/savarino3
--Joy Bell

Governor Manchin's Inauguration Celebration

January 18, 2009 -- During the eve of Governor Joe Manchin’s inauguration, friends and supporters gathered at Charleston’s Clay Center for a black tie celebration honoring his election to a second term in office.  Spirits were high as guests dined on rack of lamb, raw oysters, and carved roast beef.  The popular Bobby Nicholas band kept the party going well into the evening. 

--  Joy Bell

Morgantown Boutique Throws Holiday Party

When Shannon Coombs, owner of Vance’s Blues of Morgantown, decides to have a sale, she does more than just throw a sandwich board out in front of her shop.   She rolls out the red carpet. 

On December 15, 2008, customers of the trendy denim boutique were treated to a holiday party and accompanying sale.  Visitors were greeted at the door with a warm welcome and chilled glass of white wine.  Once inside the loft-like shop, the air was filled with an energetic buzz made up of laughter, music, and conversation as guests mingled among one another exploring the boutique’s clothing and other eclectic treasures. The first twenty guests were treated to a fragrant Tyler Candle. 

Vance’s Blues, located at 111 Walnut Street in Morgantown, is well known for their large selection of designer jeans, but that is not all you’ll find. They also stock an impressive selection of accessories, novelty items, and candles.  The lower level of the boutique houses a collection of wine from around the world and gourmet food items from Stonewall Kitchens. The next time you are in Morgantown, stop by Vance's Blues -- we guarantee you won't leave empty-handed! -- Joy Koritkowski-Bell