IN THE NEWS
MORGAN COUNTY FAIR 2007
from The
Morgan Messenger,
August 1, 2007
by
Larry
Lower
What do we celebrate about Morgan County? In the previous articles, we celebrated the arts, the public organizations that make Morgan County unique, and Morgan County youth. This week, in the last of this series, we emphasize the support by the business community. Not only do they make the Morgan County Fair what it is, but their continuing support for most of the non-profit organizations and events that take place in Morgan County is essential for many of the causes we support and events we enjoy throughout the year.
While non-profit organizations and events benefit from a significant number of generous and repeated donations from the largest businesses in the community, what is even more remarkable is the large number of small businesses who contribute generously, relative to their size. The Fair, like many other organizations, is able to continue only through the support of financial contributions by all sized businesses in our community. Sometimes the contribution is in the form of cash which allows us to pay our expenses, but often it is provided through in-services that help get the work done. Following the Fair as we usually do, we will publish and express our appreciation to all of these companies who have helped us to continue the Morgan County Fair as well as all of those who volunteer their resources and their time for this celebration in the county.
When you see the list, please take note of the givers in the business community, not so much for the amount they contribute, but that they have contributed what they could, generously and unbegrudgingly. Take a moment to thank those companies that you do business with for their support in the community.
Also, take the opportunity to attend the official Opening Welcome to the Fair and the Flag Ceremony and help us thank those businesses and organizations who have been long term supporters of the Fair as they receive recognition for helping with the Fair for the last seven, six and five years of the new Morgan County Fair.
Entertainment announced for
Morgan County Fair
from The
Morgan Messenger,
August 1, 2007
Morgan County Fair takes place at Berkeley Springs High School and Widmyer Elementary School on Saturday and Sunday, 4 – 5 August.
On Saturday, following the 12 noon Flag Raising and Recognition Ceremony on the outside stage, Kate Evans will lead off at 12:30 with a selection of rock, folk, blues, country and original music. Teal Steel, a fourteen piece steel band from Frankfort Middle School, returns to Morgan County, with two performances at 1:30 and 3:00. David LeFleur will provide an intervening change in beat with his acoustic roots music performance at 2:15. Mike Colyer and the Tonehounds will wrap up the afternoon performances at the High School with blues and swing at 4:15. During the afternoon, you can also watch Joe Santoro and the Wonderment Puppet Theatre in the media room at 3:00 and watch (or participate in) line dancing with 4-H in the gymnasium at 4:00 as the BSHS Boosters spaghetti supper begins.
At Saturday evening, the entertainment moves to the Widmyer Elementary School grounds, as the Fair initiates a new feature this year, the Fireworks Concert. Bring your lawn chairs or a blanket and enjoy the music of two great local groups doing a mix of favorites as well as a selection of their own original music before the fireworks. Lunar Stew leads off at 7:00 PM with blues, jazz and some of their originals. Sam Cubbage and the Allnighters will follow up at 8:00 with classic rock. The Fireworks display is scheduled for 9:00 PM. Food and drinks will be available at the show from the Boys and Girls Club and the Boosters, but attendees should feel free to bring their own food for an outdoor evening picnic while they enjoy the music. Rain date for the show and the fireworks is Sunday evening at the same time.
On Sunday, the entertainment continues on two stages at Berkeley Springs High School. Special favorites with Morgan County, will be the Stevens Family and the Sanders Sisters in concert in the Connie Perry Auditorium featuring country, bluegrass, gospel and traditional standards. The Stevens Family will lead off at 2 PM, followed by the Sanders Sisters at 3 and a final set by the Stevens Family at 4:00 until 5:00.
Concurrently on the outdoor stage, music will be provided from 12 noon until 5 PM by Youth Bands from Oasis – Substance Free Teen Events and performance by High Frequency. Sound for the Saturday and Sunday outdoor stage events will be provided by local artist Jonathon McBee.
Entertainment announced for
Morgan County Fair Week events
from The
Morgan Messenger,
July 25, 2007
Morgan County Fair Week begins 28 July at various locations around the county and leads up to the Morgan County Fair at Berkeley Springs High School and Widmyer Elementary School on 4 – 5 August.
The Fair at Paw Paw on 28 July from Noon to 5 PM will kick off a week of entertainment provided by local and regional artists. With sound provided by Justin Litten, Mike Clement and Friends will perform classic and modern rock at 1:00-2:00, New Moon will perform traditional and modern bluegrass 2:30-3:30 and the Cindy Born and Friends will perform rock, blues, folk and country 4:00-5:00.
Later the same day from 4 to 8 PM, Pleasant View Community Center will keep the beat going with Jonathan McBee providing sound support for the Sanders Sisters, Alan Weinber, Colbie MaCabe and other local talent. The Sanders Sisters, NBT Recording Artists, well known for performances throughout the region and returning to the Morgan County will lead with traditional, classic and gospel music. (TAKE PHOTO FROM 18 JULYISSUE OF THE MORGAN MESSENGER) Alan Weinberg will move to traditional and Irish folk music.
Many other activities take place during these two events in Paw Paw and Pleasant View.
MORGAN COUNTY FAIR 2007
from The
Morgan Messenger,
July 25, 2007
by
Larry
Lower
What do we celebrate about Morgan County? In the last two articles, we celebrated the arts and many public organizations that make Morgan County unique. This week we emphasize youth in the County. Youth is who we were, who we are and what we will be in Morgan County.
If a County Fair appeals to anything, it is the youth in all of us – to show off our best efforts whether it be a 4-H cake or our restored antique tractor, our best tomato or the quilt we labored over. But also to ooh and aah over the beauty of fireworks, music that we like to tap our toes to, and a chance to win the pedal pull. The Fair creates the opportunity as a parent or grandparent to take the kids to the Fair, but also to enjoy the kid in ourselves.
The Fair has some great opportunities for kids:
ride the trolley
check out Onyx the black snake from Cacapon nature center
participate in the ice cream and watermelon eating contests
enter the pedal pull
check out the Boy Scout camping area
visit the History Wagon
pet the animals in the Humane Society room
show off your dog in the Peoples Dog Show
check out the winners in the FAST exhibit room
watch the Civil War firing demonstration
help the Morgan Arts Council paint the mural of Morgan County
attend the flag raising ceremony by the 4-H members
listen to the youth music groups on Sunday afternoon
eat spaghetti for supper
see the puppet show
and more!
And this year take part in the Morgan County Partnership activities and find out What to Encourage your Kids to Get Involved in . . . and Why!So regardless of your calendar age, we will see you kids at the Fair – in Paw Paw, Pleasant View and under the big tent in Berkeley Springs
Morgan County Fair
from the County Agent's Corner
by Robert W. Knight, WVU Extension Agent for Morgan county
in The
Morgan Messenger,
July 25, 2007
Summer is speeding along. It is getting closer to the opening of the Morgan County Fair. This year we will have several new events surrounding the fair. A number of activities will take place on Saturday, July 28. A family centered run-walk will take place at Cacapon State Park beginning at 8 a.m. Paw Paw will host their fair event also on Saturday from noon until 5 p.m.
This will include music, food, and other activities to be held at the school. This year we are adding a day of family fair fun at Pleasant View Community Center also on Saturday, from 4-8 p.m. and will include lots of music, games, and food. Saturday August 4-5 will be the Morgan County Fair located at the Berkeley Springs High School. Check out the many exhibits and activities.
A copy of the county fair book is being distributed throughout the county. We have them at the Extension Office located at 129 Fairfax St. It has all the entry forms and other details of the fair.
MORGAN COUNTY FAIR 2007
from The
Morgan Messenger,
July 18, 2007
by
Larry
Lower
What do we celebrate about Morgan County? Last week we celebrated the arts. This week we celebrate the many public organizations that make life in Morgan county unique, yet universal. The Morgan County Fair is only one example of what organizations in our community achieve by working individually and together to create much of the cultural environment and many of the activities that we enjoy. Many of these are non-profit groups, but government organizations and the news media support are critical as well.
From Paw Paw to Pleasant View to South Morgan, these organizations make us safer, more enlightened, more entertained, and healthier among other things. The individuals who volunteer for non-profit organizations, contribute hours of their time to make things happen. And what do they get in return? A job well done, a child’s enjoyment, the pleasure of working with others, a goal achieved.
The Morgan County Fair is a great example. Elsewhere in this newspaper you will find a list of activities organized and put on by local organizations as part of the Fair. They have taken the opportunity to help celebrate Morgan County. However, many others serve as well. The Sheriff’s Reserves, the Board of Education, Parent Teacher organizations, the Volunteer Fire Departments, the Morgan County Highway Department, the Towns of Paw Paw and Bath, Morgan County Commissioners, history groups, bridge clubs, antique car and tractor clubs, the American Legion, the WV Forestry and the WV Department of Natural Resources, the Loyal Order of Moose, many health organizations, conservation and natural resource groups, art and music organizations, senior centers and many, many more contribute to the Fair.
So enjoy the Fair and take time to express your appreciation to these organizations for their efforts every day and their participation in the Fair. Better yet, step up and volunteer for one of Morgan County’s excellent organizations and help make things happen.
Celebrate Morgan County and we will see you at the Fair!
MORGAN COUNTY FAIR 2007
from The
Morgan Messenger,
July 11, 2007
by
Larry
Lower
What do we celebrate about Morgan County? Many things and one of those is the arts, particularly music. This year the Morgan County Fair committee decided to add a focus on music in the county and nearby areas. Of course, we are only touching the tip of the iceberg in showcasing some of the many forms of music that are all around. us. The Fair gives us a natural way to focus attention on the role that music plays in our celebration of life here. The point is that music of every kind is part of what Morgan County is, whether it is fiddling on the back porch or performing in concert or jamming in the garage or sitting beside the Springs and enjoying great music brought to you for many years by the Morgan Arts Council. Music is a vital part of who we are and what we enjoy. So we hope that Fair Week shows off bits and pieces of the past, present and developing musical scene that is Morgan County. Check out the advertisement in this newspaper for a list of musical and dance events during Fair Week.
Let me summarize a few. This year we will have the return of the Stevens Family and the Sanders Sisters, who have been packing the auditorium at the Fair every year. They have been great supporters of the Fair and music in Morgan County.
We are building on last year’s addition of music at the Fireworks Show, by adding a two hour pre-fireworks concert at Widmyer Elementary School with Lunar Stew and Sam Cubbage and the Allnighters . So eat spaghetti at the High School to support the Boosters, then cheer your favorite team at the Farm Olympics on the football field and then bring your lawn chair and blankets to Widmyer to listen to music and watch the fireworks. Or simply pack a picnic supper and come on down!
And watch what the younger set is doing in music. Teal Steel , a great steel drum group from nearby Frankfort Middle School, will be doing two shows on Saturday afternoon and local youth bands will be performing on Sunday afternoon at the Fair.
And don’t miss out as we revisit the big band era that made what is now the Country Inn the swing center of Morgan County in the 1940’s. Buy your tickets at the Country Inn or the Fair Office at the WVU Extension Office and come listen, dance, eat and revisit the music of the mid decades of the 1900’. Net proceeds benefit the Fair.
Of course, along the way there is a bit of music for almost everyone’s taste and it runs from Paw Paw to Pleasant View to Berkeley Springs to Union Chapel. If you have another musical event that’s happening during Fair Week, please let us kow and we’ll add it to our list. Fair Week begins on 28 July and ends on 5 August.
Celebrate Morgan County with song and dance!
MORGAN COUNTY FAIR 2007
“Celebrating Morgan County”
from The
Morgan Messenger,
June 27, 2007
by
Larry
Lower
Summer is officially here in Morgan County. And the Morgan County Fair, a major summer event in the County, is only a few weeks away.
Fair Week begins on 28 July with the 5K Run and Walk at Cacapon State Park, the Fair at Paw Paw, the Fair at Pleasant View, a Concert in Berkeley Springs State Park and a new event, an old time (unless you happen to remember those days) Big Band Dance at the Country Inn. Events continue through the week throughout the county. The Main Fair takes place on August 4 and 5 at Berkeley Springs High School and Widmyer Elementary School grounds.
So how do you join the Celebration of Morgan County?
- Register your exhibits. Catalogs are available at the WVU Extension Office, libraries and on the Fair website, www.morgancounty-wv.org. Earn ribbons, money and recognition for things you love to do.
- Sign up for a table if you are a vendor or an organization. You can have a booth at either Paw Paw or Berkeley Springs or both. Sell, take donations, show off, educate others, have fun.
- Walk the Paw Paw Tunnel when you attend the Fair at Paw Paw. The National Park Service has scheduled two special walking tours. Then eat, play games, listen to some great music, see quilts.
- Listen to the Sanders Sisters – twice! Once on July 28th at Pleasant View and again the next week along with the Stephens Family at Berkeley Springs High School on August 5th. Other great music, food and entertainment at Pleasant View Community Center.
- Buy tickets and dance the night away on July 28th at the Country Inn or just come listen to the music of the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. Three groups for one price. Tickets go on sale June 28th at the Country Inn and at the Extension Office. Get out those wide skirts and narrow ties. Celebrate the return of the Country Inn and the Big Band Sound to Morgan County. Net proceeds support the Fair.
- Park your car at Widmyer and ride the trolley to the Fair on August 4th and 5th. The slow tractor race returns and there is the kid’s pedal pull, animals, food, lots of indoor and outdoor music both days, kid’s day activities, the WVU History Wagon, your dog show and the Health Fair and more. Watch the Farm Olympics and stay around for great music and fireworks.
- Join the bidding and buy a cake for the Morgan County 4-H program at the auction. Eat it or share it, and help celebrate this year’s honored organization, 4-H.
- Take an early morning run or stroll at Cacapon State Park for fun, health, young kids and old kids. Proceeds support the Fair and the Alzeimers Research Fund. You get food, drink, a great time and a T-shirt designed by local artist Carol Hsu. Run fast or take your time or pause on a tree stump and listen to the birds. The park is lovely and shaded for a trip by foot.
Watch the Morgan Messenger for ads each week in July about the Fair and for the full schedule prior to the Fair.
As always, information is available at the WVU Extension Office at 129 Fairfax Street or call the Fair at the Extension Office at 258-8400 if you have questions.Summertime, summertime, sum-sum-summertime!
MORGAN COUNTY FAIR 2007
“Celebrating Morgan County”
from The
Morgan Messenger,
May 23, 2007
by
Larry
Lower
Do you have that prize winning tomato growing in your garden already? One of the primary functions of a County Fair is to provide the opportunity for folks to show off items which they have produced during the year. These items are judged, awarded ribbons and often cash premiums. Often the greatest prize is getting the “blue’ or better yet, best in show. Winners in all categories will be listed in the newspaper.
There are entry classes especially for 4-H, FFA and Scout projects and there are adult entry classes and youth entry classes on all other subjects. Everyone who has a farm, a garden, cooks, cans, sews, crafts, quilts, paints, takes photographs and builds things can find a category to show off the results of their endeavors. It can be small or huge. The Fair Committee will find a place to exhibit it. There is even a category for the largest weed!
The major categories are livestock (rabbits and poultry), agriculture produce (small grains, forage crops, and weeds). Horticulture includes cut flowers, arrangements, potted flowers and plants, gourds, herbs and garden products. Baked goods include bread, cakes, candies, cookies and pies. Food preservation includes fruit, meats, vegetables, dried foods, jellies, jams, preserves, butters, marmalades, pickles, syrups, salsa, herbal vinegars and vinaigrettes, juices and dried herbs. The pomological department includes honey and beeswax, apples, pears, grapes, peaches, plums, nuts and small fruits. Clothing categories include sewn garments, crocheted, knitted and smocked items. Needle arts includes animals and dolls, cross stitch, crocheted, knitted, embroidered, needlepointed and quilted items. Arts and crafts include carpentry, crafts, taxidermy, ceramics, art and photography.Entry forms, rules and directions are included in the 2007 Fair Catalog distributed throughout the county and available at the WVU Extension Office at 129 Fairfax Street. You can also find entry forms on the Fair website, www.morgancounty-wv.org. Call the Extension Office at 258-8400 if you have questions. Details of registration, check-in, cost and judging are contained in the catalog and online. Enter as many items as you like, but no more than one per class. It is inexpensive, shows off your work and what Morgan County can produce. All entries will be exhibited at the Fair on Saturday and Sunday, August 4-5.
Remember, at one time Morgan County was famous for its tomatoes. So if your tomato plant isn’t in the ground yet, you better start planting. Frost is past – no excuses!
County Fair 2007
by Larry Lower
from The
Morgan Messenger,
April 4, 2007
That prize winning tomato plant may not be in the ground yet, but planning for the Seventh Annual Moran County Fair where you can win the prize, is well underway. And it looks to be bigger and better than last year with several new and expanded features.
The main fair will be on August 4 and 5 and will again be held at Berkeley Springs High School and Widmyer Elementary School. But the fun actually begins a week earlier and at many other places! Fair Week, a week long celebration of Morgan County, will actually kick off on Saturday, July 28 with the fourth annual 5K Run and Walk and Family Fun Run at Cacapon State Park.
Last year the fair was on the road and had an event in Paw Paw. This year the Morgan County Fair in Paw Paw will be on Saturday afternoon, July 28. That same evening, they are taking the fair to Pleasant View Community Center with activities, food, and entertainment and will finish up the day with a Big Band Dance at The Country Inn. There will be other activities throughout Fair Week and for the whole week we are going to be featuring music of every kind everywhere in Morgan County. Maybe they are looking at the first annual Morgan County Fair Music Festival?
How about helping out?
- The next fair board meeting is Monday, April 9, 1:30p.m. in the WVU Extension Office, 129 Fairfax Street. Help with entertainment or site planning, youth activities or history activities, line up food vendors or help with promotion, find animals or be a judge. There is lots to do, and many hands make light work.
- Any organization or group with an event or wants to have an event in fair week, let us know. Maybe we can help promote it. We particularly want to know of any musical or entertainment events.
- To be a vendor, advertise wares, sell homemade goodies or feed the masses, let us know. Letters have gone out to all organizations and vendors that are on our mailing list. If you did not get an invitation, call the fair office at 258-8400.
- Start thinking of your exhibits, photos and furniture, biscuits and bouquets, quilts and quinces, cucumbers and cantaloupes.
There is a category for you to show off almost everything . Fair catalogs will be out next month.
Contact us if you wish to be a vendor or wish to have a commercial booth. If you are an organization, does Morgan County know who you are? Make sure by having an activity at the fair, raising funds for your group or just doing something fun and making others want to join you.
Watch this column over the next few months to learn about all the events at the County Fair, the Farm Olympics, the People's Dog Show, Children's Pedal Pull, the 4-H Cake Auction, the Musical Festival, the Health Fair, quilting, gardening, art, science, technology, tractors and the trolley.
by Larry Lower
from The Morgan Messenger, July 19, 2006
A DOZEN WAYS TO DO THE FAIR!
Enter
an exhibit,
show off,
win a ribbon
and take
home the
money. You
got to
play
to win. Take
a photo, make jelly,
pick a tomato, bring
a bouquet.
Field
a team for the Farm Olympics,
no entry fee, and win cash, get
straw
down
your shirt and egg on
your head.
Support
4-H, win the bid at cake auction
and eat cake. Invite
the neighbors.
Enter
Fido in the People’s
Dog Show
and show
who
really is in charge. Maybe
we
should
call it the Dog’s
People Show?
Take
a hike at the 5K, walk or run,
bring the kids, get a T-shirt,
and take a breather.
Refreshments,
great music, awards for
every age. Best
award is that you did
it for
yourself
and a good cause.
Bring
the kids to the soccer clinic,
the pedal pull, the watermelon
eating contest, pet
the
ponies, watch the puppets,
see the snake and eat
ice cream. You
can be a kid until
your
64. Then
you get to start over!
Ride
into the fair in your antique
Ford, or your antique John
Deere, or park the SUV
and
ride in on the trolley.
Party
in Paw Paw, dine on gourmet
barbecue chicken, sing along
with some old tunes
and
tap your toes to great
steel band music played
by great young musicians.
Sashay
into the Senior Games, strut
your stuff, show off your legs
(sorry, gentlemen
only
in the Ugly Leg Contest)
and find out what those
seniors are really doing. All
ages
encouraged, no discrimination
here.
Listen
to great music all week long
during Fair week, whether it
is at Cacapon State
Park,
by the springs, at the
Red Guitar coffee house
or at the Castle.
Eat
spaghetti, pepperoni rolls,
snow cones, Italian sausage,
country ham, ice cream,
pizza,
but not all at once.
Strike
up the band, enter the Battle
of the Bands and discover the
Big Band Sound,
Morgan
County style.
Bring
your lawn chair, get your popcorn
and watch the fireworks stop
traffic on 522.
I
know that’s
more than
a dozen,
but ‘hey,
who’s
counting
when you’re
having
fun?’
Celebrate
Morgan County
See
you at the Fair.
MORGAN COUNTY FAIR
by Larry Lower
from The Morgan Messenger, July 12, 2006The Morgan County Fair is all about celebrating Morgan County. It is a diverse county, full of history, culture, great beauty and dedicated and active organizations that make it a very bustling place for such a small county. There is a lot going on and the person who says there is nothing to do, is not looking very hard. It won’t be difficult to find many interesting and rewarding things to do during Morgan County Fair Week. If you are a visitor to the county, plan on staying the week. If you have a weekend home in the county, plan a few extra days. If you live here full time, take some time to enjoy the summer, play some games, watch some fireworks, eat some good food and hear some great music.
Kick off Fair Week with a run or walk at our premier Cacapon State Park on Saturday, 29 July. With events planned for all age groups, it can be a family affair. It starts early in the cool morning mountain air and ends late morning with some hot music by Cheyenne, a local Morgan County group. You don’t have to run the race to participate. Cheer on your favorite runner whether they are eight years old or eighty, enjoy the park and listen to some great music.
Five wonderful music events are taking place in Fair Week, not counting all the music at the Fair itself. There are two Saturday evening concerts sponsored by the Morgan Arts Council in Berkeley Springs State Park on July 29 and August 5 (how many other counties in West Virginia have TWO state parks?) Dip your toes in the springs, tap your foot to the beat and listen to the music. A special benefit for the Morgan Arts Council takes place on Wednesday evening, August 2 at the Castle and a special benefit by Red Guitar for the Humane Society takes place on Sunday, July 30 at Cacapon State Park. Never been in the Castle or to the Red Guitar? Support MAC and Berkeley Springs Coalition for the Performing Arts and listen to some great music. Want some late evening entertainment? Visit the Red Guitar on Saturday, July 29 at 8 PM and hear some great old time banjo and fiddle music.
Celebrate the natural environment of the county with an Ecology Coalition bird walk along Sleepy Creek on Saturday, July 29. Celebrate downtown Berkeley Springs with First Friday, August 4. Try your duplicate bridge playing skills and benefit the Fair on Tuesday, 1 August with an Old Dogs Bridge Club special event.
Best of all, celebrate Morgan County by attending the Fair. This year the fair starts in Paw Paw on Friday, August 4 from 3-8 PM with food, games, 4-H activities, the WV History Wagon and more. Justin Litton will be providing the sound and a wonderful youth group, Teal Steel, from Ridgely, WV will be providing the Caribbean beat on steel drums and trumpets. So pack a lunch, visit Paw Paw, walk the tunnel and head over to the school for an afternoon and evening of fun, food and some great music. If your organization would like to participate in the Paw Paw event, please contact 258-8400.
The Fair moves to Berkeley Springs for two days of fun filled activities on Saturday and Sunday, 5 and 6 August. More detail on all the events will be presented in the coming weeks, but rest assured that with the Fox XPress, the Battle of the Bands, the Sanders Sisters and the Stevens Family there will be a lot of great music!
So join your neighbors and Celebrate Morgan County.
MORGAN COUNTY FAIR
by Larry Lower
from The Morgan Messenger, June 18, 2006
One of the primary functions of a County Fair is to provide the opportunity for folks to exhibit items which they have produced during the year. These items are judged, awarded ribbons and often cash premiums. Often the greatest prize