Volunteering is a great way to become part of your community. Coming together for the benefit of a common cause enriches both those who contribute and those who will directly benefit. Generation Charleston’s community outreach team will host its first quarter service project on Saturday, April 19, from 9:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. Volunteers may [...]

Posted in Culture, West Virginia 2 Comments »

West Virginia’s tourism sector has become a significant economic engine, given the state’s natural beauty, outdoor recreational opportunities, and proximity to major markets such as Washington D.C., Pittsburgh and Charlotte. Tourism-related industry employs 44,000 workers and contributes $532 million to state tax revenues, according to Tourism Commissioner Betty Carver, who presented at a recent West [...]

Posted in Business, Culture, Economy, Tourism, West Virginia 2 Comments »

The West Virginia Young Leadership Conference is scheduled for April 23 in Morgantown. While retaining and attracting talented youth is a challenge for West Virginia, the movement to change such has been gaining momentum.
Young people across the state are coming together to expand business opportunities, build professional networks, and enhance the quality of life in [...]

Posted in Business, Culture, Economy, West Virginia 2 Comments »

The former Weston Hospital had capacity to provide for up to 2,000 mental health patients until it closed in 1994. This National Historic Landmark remained quiet until 2007, when a contractor purchased it for $1.5 million. The new owners recently decided to market the location by its pre-Civil War name, the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum.
That [...]

Posted in Culture, Tourism, West Virginia 5 Comments »

The 31st annual Appalachian Studies Conference will be held March 28-30 on the campus of Marshall University. Scholars and citizens from across the region will discuss activism, arts, diversity, economy & power, education, film, identity, and history.
The conference program features over 100 concurrent sessions, such as “Appalachian Identity: Existence, History & Communications,” “Women & Appalachia,” [...]

Posted in Culture, Education, Media, West Virginia 2 Comments »

Generalizations are often made about more rural states within America, and West Virginia is no stranger to being portrayed stereotypically. Skewed representations of this state have existed since its inception, were proliferated during the early days of industrialization, and remain part of the local and national subconsciousness today.
On occasion, circumstances arise that illustrate the need [...]

Posted in Culture, Government, Media, West Virginia 10 Comments »

West Virginia has always possessed many forward-thinkers, but 2007 could mark a turning point in the state’s cultural and economic future. A significant number of community, business, and opinion leaders are shifting from traditional approaches to development given the realization that a “new economy” has arrived, and if measures are not taken to adapt, many [...]

Posted in Business, Culture, Economy, Government, Tourism, West Virginia 16 Comments »