The ‘Hills’ Hold His Heart Ellen Brafford McCroskey July 18, 2019 Editor's note: Here in the Ohio Valley, the third weekend in July has meant an annual pilgrimage to Jamboree In The Hills for a lot of local country music fans. But for the first time in over 40 years, Jamboree...
Blame My Roots: Show Up in Your Boots Ready for a Good Time Ellen Brafford McCroskey July 12, 2019 "Change your leaves; keep your roots intact." — Victor Hugo It's been said that everything has roots in the past, and that is certainly true of the new Blame My Roots country music festival set for Thursday,...
Eagle Scouts Pour Sweat Equity Into Pig Path, Picnic Shelter Ellen Brafford McCroskey June 26, 2019 “Do a good turn daily.” That excellent advice is the slogan of the Boy Scouts of America. Local Eagle Scouts have taken that motto to heart over the past few months by working together to upgrade two separate g...
WHEELING@WORK: Ward 6’s Dave Palmer — a Good Neighbor Ellen Brafford McCroskey June 19, 2019 Editor’s note: Our series, “Wheeling@Work,” is an effort to provide readers with insight and information into our city government, highlighting the personalities, programs and processes at work within the City ...
WHEELING@WORK: Ward 5 Representative Loves his Neighborhood Ellen Brafford McCroskey June 4, 2019 Ty Thorngate loves Ward 5 — and his family’s neighborhood in particular. “Now I know this might be coming from a place of bias,” he smiles, “but I'd go as far to say that my home turf, Dimmeydale, is the best n...
WHEELING@WORK: Wendy Scatterday Born Into Leadership Ellen Brafford McCroskey May 7, 2019 Editor’s note: Our series, “Wheeling@Work,” is an effort to provide readers with insight and information into our city government, highlighting the personalities, programs and processes at work within the City ...
AS I SEE IT: Animal Instincts Ellen Brafford McCroskey May 4, 2019 Work responsibilities, aging parents, motherhood, menopause — I don't know about you, but for me, midlife can be stressful at times. When my world gets overwhelming, and I need to stop and take a moment to rela...
Local Secret Worth Sharing: Home for Men Celebrates 90 Years of Service Ellen Brafford McCroskey May 1, 2019 "One of the secrets of life is that all that is really worth doing is what we do for others." — Lewis Carroll One of Wheeling's best-kept secrets, the Home for Men in Warwood, is celebrating its 90th ann...
WHEELING@WORK: Koslik Is the City’s Newest Council Representative Ellen Brafford McCroskey April 24, 2019 Editor’s note: Our series, “Wheeling@Work,” is an effort to provide readers with insight and information into our city government, highlighting the personalities, programs and processes at work within the City ...
WHEELING@WORK: Ward 1’s Chad Thalman — Wheeling’s Youngest Vice Mayor Ellen Brafford McCroskey April 2, 2019 Editor’s note: Our series, “Wheeling@Work,” is an effort to provide readers with insight and information into our city government, highlighting the personalities, programs and processes at work within the City ...
Holy Local Superhero, Batman! (And Happy Birthday!) Ellen Brafford McCroskey March 30, 2019 Editor's note: Today, Saturday, March 30, is Batman's 80th birthday! In honor of the Caped Crusader’s birthday, the Ohio Valley Batman is encouraging participants at the #selfiestation at Macy’s at the Ohio Val...
David Sheff Shares ‘Beautiful’ Message of Hope Ellen Brafford McCroskey March 25, 2019 Editor's note: David Sheff, author of the New York Times bestseller, "Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction," will be the guest speaker at West Liberty University’s Hughes Lecture Series...
Government Shutdowns Adversely Affect the Smallest Victims Ellen Brafford McCroskey March 9, 2019 Government shutdowns such as the one that occurred earlier this year have a far-reaching effect. Not only do families employed directly by the government suffer, but so do those who receive direct services from...
AS I SEE IT: The Devastating Diagnosis of Dementia Ellen Brafford McCroskey March 2, 2019 Mom’s dance with the devil named dementia began around 2004. Dementia is a cunning fellow when he first appears — a forgotten word or two, a misplaced set of keys, a question repeated once too often — all these...
The ‘Hope Factor’ Drives the WIND Recovery Program Ellen Brafford McCroskey February 20, 2019 Laura Albertini-Weigel calls it the "hope factor." It's the belief that addiction can be overcome. And that is what keeps her going. Laura is the director of the Women In New Directions (WIND) program at the...
Wheeling’s Human Rights Commission Ellen Brafford McCroskey February 13, 2019 Recent social media posts would suggest that some local residents are unaware of the existence of the City of Wheeling’s Human Rights Commission. The HRC consists of nine members, all of whom are Wheeling resid...
Health Department Works to ‘Reduce Harm’ Among Drug Users Ellen Brafford McCroskey February 5, 2019 To those not suffering from substance use disorder, the solution to the current opioid epidemic seems perfectly obvious — users should pull themselves up by their proverbial bootstraps, kick their addictions co...
Beloved Wheeling Company Receives Outpouring of Community Support Following Fire Ellen Brafford McCroskey February 2, 2019 While Ziegenfelder’s success lies primarily in icy treats, their warm hearts are clearly another major ingredient in their famous recipe. It’s said that “what goes around, comes around,” and it seems that ...
Pennies From Heaven … Thanks to Kenny? Ellen Brafford McCroskey January 16, 2019 Call it karma, or cause and effect, or the result of living by the Golden Rule. However you label it, good things often come to good people. That was certainly the case this week when Project HOPE received a...
AS I SEE IT: Cold Hands Helped by Warm Hearts Ellen Brafford McCroskey January 12, 2019 If you happened to be in the area of 20th and Eoff streets in Center Wheeling recently, you may have spotted something heartwarming through the falling snow showers. Attached to the fencing of the bridge spanni...
Drumming Up Better Health Ellen Brafford McCroskey January 8, 2019 “My goal is to help at least one person every day to be positive and focused on their health,” says Kyle Lewis, co-owner of the Healthy Vibes for You nutrition club at 2137 Market St. in the Centre Market area ...
Social Activism Alive and Well in Wheeling Ellen Brafford McCroskey January 4, 2019 "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has." — Margaret Mead Social activism is alive and well here in Wheeling. Nee...
Recovery Center Puts the UNITY in CommUNITY Ellen Brafford McCroskey January 2, 2019 “People are making positive choices every single day when they walk through our doors,” says Mary Hess, executive director of the Unity Center in Benwood. The Unity Center is a place of community, support and e...
AS I SEE IT: Farewell, Red D — Jamboree In The Hills ‘Hiatus’ Marks the End of an Era Ellen Brafford McCroskey December 22, 2018 For the first time in many years, Santa will not be leaving four-day passes to Jamboree In The Hills in my family's stockings, and for this reason, I feel certain that LiveNation is near the top of Santa’s Naug...
Recovery Coach Certification Now Offered Locally Ellen Brafford McCroskey December 12, 2018 “Transformed people transform people.” Those words coined by spiritual author Richard Rohr are the motto of the Center for Addiction Recovery Training’s Recovery Coach Academy, now being offered locally. ...
All Things Under the Rainbow — A Discussion and Support Group Ellen Brafford McCroskey November 20, 2018 LGBTQ+ friends and neighbors, meet Heather Sexton, CT (counselor trainee). Heather, a wife, mom and native of eastern Kentucky, has relocated to Wheeling and is finishing her master's degree in counseling. Once...
Good Grief! Dr. William Mercer Unveils ‘Joe Nailer’ Ellen Brafford McCroskey November 13, 2018 Dr. William Mercer is well known in the local area as a driving force behind the Clean Indoor Air Regulation that banned smoking in most public spaces in Ohio County back in 2005. What may not be so well known ...
When the Spirit Moves You — The Evolution of a Psychic Medium Ellen Brafford McCroskey October 30, 2018 Amanda DeShong feels a spiritual connection to the great outdoors. Admit it — when it comes to psychic mediums, you’re curious but perhaps skeptical. How does it work, exactly? Does it work, or is it merely...
AS I SEE IT: Lessons Learned From the Trump Administration Ellen Brafford McCroskey October 7, 2018 Anyone who knows me is well aware that I am not a fan of President Trump. But as my husband keeps reminding me, he is my President, regardless of whether or not he has my support. I attended the recent Morri...
HOPE for the Homeless — Street Medicine Team Cares for Wheeling’s Most Vulnerable Ellen Brafford McCroskey October 3, 2018 1 Imagine that you’ve just had your leg amputated. It’s an emotionally devastating and life-altering event that will change the way you go about your daily routine. Staying mobile, performing simple self-care and...
‘Recovery Boys’ Screening Launches Community Discussion on Addiction Ellen Brafford McCroskey September 26, 2018 As a mom myself, my heart kept breaking for their mamas — the mothers of these four young men. Jeff, Adam, Ryan and Rush are profiled in “Recovery Boys,” a Netflix film depicting the struggles of recovery in We...
AS I SEE IT: Acknowledging the Addicts Among Us Ellen Brafford McCroskey September 22, 2018 By now, most of us are well aware of the enormity of the opioid crisis in our state. But I've noticed that plenty of people believe that their lives haven't been touched by it personally. I would argue that we ...
Mother Finds Her Passion Along Road To Recovery Ellen Brafford McCroskey September 18, 2018 “Sometimes, the strength of motherhood is greater than natural laws.” – Barbara Kingsolver No mother plans to raise a child who struggles with substance use disorder; that is not among the hopes and dreams o...
Hope and Community in Abundant Supply at Lazarus House, Mary & Martha House Ellen Brafford McCroskey September 10, 2018 Pat Condron, co-founder and executive director of Lazarus House and Mary & Martha House, believes that addiction is a “disease of isolation.” Recovery, he has come to learn, is best achieved in a setting of...
AS I SEE IT: Love Is Love — Especially Between LGBTQ Youth and Their Parents Ellen Brafford McCroskey September 1, 2018 It was announced last month that former Vice President and long-time LGBTQ advocate Joe Biden is launching a campaign to promote family acceptance of LGBTQ youth. The Biden Foundation, with the help of Grammy A...
House of Hagar Sees Christ in Each of Us Ellen Brafford McCroskey August 21, 2018 “I call them ‘transients,’ but you call them ‘friends.’ And we’re talking about the same people.” Kate Marshall, who operates the House of Hagar-Catholic Worker in East Wheeling, heard these words recently f...
AS I SEE IT: Adventures of the Dog-Catcher’s Wife From the Shotgun Seat Ellen Brafford McCroskey August 11, 2018 People either love my husband or hate him, depending upon the circumstances of their introduction. Doug has been the Ohio County Humane Officer and Dog Warden for over 20 years now, so plenty of local residents...
AS I SEE IT: It’s All Good in the Neighborhood Ellen Brafford McCroskey July 28, 2018 When I was in first grade, I spent what seemed like an eternity home from school recovering from chicken pox. It was during those long days of boredom that I first discovered the gentle wisdom of Mister Rogers....
Dancing Down Memory Lane (Part 2): Park Dances — the ’70s Ellen Brafford McCroskey July 5, 2018 1 Those were the days — the decade of love, disco, equality, environmental awareness. Those of us who came of age in Wheeling in the 1970s remember that era well. One of the teenage rites of passage here in the F...
