Talking With Elders: ‘The Closest Thing to Time Travel’ Phyllis Sigal July 7, 2020 We can learn a lot from our elders; that’s something we’ve always heard. Wheeling Park High School social studies teacher Ryan Stanton decided to put that into practice with his students during the pandemic....
Wheeling’s Twentieth Man: 250 Years of Race Relations in the Northernmost Southern City of the Southernmost Northern State Seán Duffy July 6, 2020 Writer’s note: It's 2020, and we find ourselves still fighting the same injustices that a prior generation fought more than half a century ago. Why? If we really knew our history, we might understand. But...
SUSPENDED AGGRAVATION: Chapter 23 Nora Edinger July 5, 2020 Editor's note: Suspended Aggravation is an original, Wheeling-centric novel by Nora Edinger and is published exclusively through Weelunk. While some of the places mentioned in Suspended Aggravation are real (or...
McCarthy-Wheeling Connection Explored in a New Book Stacey Miller Sacco July 4, 2020 On Feb. 9, 1950, Sen. Joseph McCarthy arrived in Wheeling to give a speech at the annual Republican Lincoln Day Dinner celebration at the McLure Hotel. But which speech? He had two in hand that day.&nb...
Mount Wood Overlook: A Community Treasure Ellen Brafford McCroskey July 3, 2020 If you have driven up Mount Wood Road to bypass the recent interstate construction project, you’ve likely noticed the unique property. It appears to be the foundation of a castle-like structure, mysteriously le...
Have a Blast With Independence Day Weekend EVENTS Phyllis Sigal July 2, 2020 CAR SHOW AT THE PORT The 17th annual Wheeling Heritage Port Car Show will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, July 5, at the city’s Heritage Port, 12th and Water streets. Dash plaques will be given to the ...
Villamagna’s Epic ‘Shrine for a Mill Rat’ Finds Forever Home at the Library Seán Duffy July 1, 2020 Public libraries exist to provide free and equal access to resources, helping people to pursue knowledge and inspiration. And “Shrine for a Mill Rat,” the new permanent exhibit (courtesy artist Robert Villamagn...
Time Travel From Home With Historic Postcards Alex Warren June 30, 2020 Summer usually means beach vacations and traveling to exciting new destinations. This year, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, travel has been drastically affected. While it may not be advisable to fly off to far-away...
Fishing for the Perfect Social Distancing Activity? Laura Jackson Roberts June 29, 2020 If there’s one activity that seems to fit our current situation and its social requirements perfectly, it’s fishing. You’re outside, you’re in your own space, and nature has you in its stress-relieving clutches...
SUSPENDED AGGRAVATION: Chapter 22 Nora Edinger June 28, 2020 Editor's note: Suspended Aggravation is an original, Wheeling-centric novel by Nora Edinger and is published exclusively through Weelunk. While some of the places mentioned in Suspended Aggravation are real (or...
The Road From Small Town to Published Author: Two Marshall County Natives Release Books Kelly Strautmann June 27, 2020 Author’s note: It was a pleasure to write about two people from my small hometown — a younger schoolmate and friend, and my own brother. Cameron, West Virginia, a tiny town about 30 miles south of Whee...
Wheeling Heritage Trail: From Railroad to Walking Trail Alex Warren June 26, 2020 Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, getting out of the house for fresh air has become a necessity and, of course, Wheeling Heritage Trail has become a popular spot for walking, running and biking. This newfound p...
Eat, Explore, Listen, Learn at Area EVENTS Phyllis Sigal June 25, 2020 CROSSCURRENTS OPENS Oglebay Institute’s annual Crosscurrents exhibition will take place again this year at its Stifel Fine Arts Center. While no opening night reception will be held because of the COVID-19 cri...
Crosscurrents Art Exhibit Opens June 25th at Stifel Center Provided June 24, 2020 Oglebay Institute’s annual Crosscurrents exhibition will take place again this year at its Stifel Fine Arts Center. While no opening night reception will be held due to the COVID-19 crisis, the gallery will be ...
The West Virginia Snakes Club and its Historic Location Ellen Brafford McCroskey June 24, 2020 First of all, where in the world did the name “West Virginia Snakes Club” come from? And is “Snake” singular or plural? Although most people today refer to it as the Snake Club, the sign on the building at 923 ...
Through the COVID-19 Lens: Photographers Find Creative Ways to Keep Clicking Jennifer Materkoski June 23, 2020 Social distancing and other effects of Covid-19 have disrupted life as we knew it — especially the seasons of graduations, weddings and summer sports. And though we haven’t been able to gather as we did in t...
The Refreshing French 75: Best of Both Worlds Matt Welsch June 22, 2020 Summertime is finally here, and with it brings lemonade on the back porch or maybe a nice gin and tonic. But what if you could have the best of both worlds? Well, my friends, you can. And it’s called the French...
SUSPENDED AGGRAVATION: Chapter 21 Nora Edinger June 21, 2020 Editor's note: Suspended Aggravation is an original, Wheeling-centric novel by Nora Edinger and is published exclusively through Weelunk. While some of the places mentioned in Suspended Aggravation are real (or...
A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT: A Tale of Two Capitals Taylor Abbott June 20, 2020 Editor's note: Throughout Wheeling's history, one aspect has remained a constant — the Ohio River. From the birthplace of the first western-style steamboat to laying claim to the Ohio River's first suspension b...
Pandemic Mask Battle Is Nothing New Fred Connors June 19, 2020 West Virginians slipping out of COVID-19 exile are ripping a page out of history concerning face coverings. During the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, people resisted wearing masks in public, which prompted many ...
Speakers, Performers and More Part of Virtual Juneteenth Celebration on Friday Phyllis Sigal June 18, 2020 Resilience. Endurance. Commitment. That’s what we’re seeing in the Ohio Valley — as is proven by the fact that a Juneteenth celebration is taking place. Even if it is being held virtually this year. The Y...
Treat Dad to a Variety of Area EVENTS Phyllis Sigal June 18, 2020 CELEBRATE DAD Oglebay will host a Father’s Day Celebration from Friday, June 19, through Sunday, June 21, that will include fireworks on June 20, a silly Dad’s Belly Flop Competition and a variety of other act...
WEEAsked: Owens Brown, President of the West Virginia NAACP Ellen Brafford McCroskey June 17, 2020 George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor. These three are the latest to be sacrificed for the inequities of our society. Their senseless deaths reflect our failures —failure to learn, failure to change, fail...
Art in the Time of Coronavirus Phyllis Sigal June 16, 2020 Whether their work documents the period or adds commentary or levity, five Wheeling artists who are creating art throughout this COVID-19 time report the same ends to their artistic means. Peace. Artists ...
DOWNTOWN DO-OVER: Connors ‘Cornering’ the Market Nora Edinger June 15, 2020 Editor’s note: In this occasional series, Weelunk has looked at downtown’s re-development — from the biggest catalysts to block-by-block changes. In today’s post, we tighten the focus further to one re-develope...
SUSPENDED AGGRAVATION: Chapter 20 Nora Edinger June 14, 2020 Editor's note: Suspended Aggravation is an original, Wheeling-centric novel by Nora Edinger and is published exclusively through Weelunk. While some of the places mentioned in Suspended Aggravation are real (or...
WEELUNK BOOK REVIEW: The Clarinet Polka Ellen Brafford McCroskey June 13, 2020 Author - Keith Maillard Author Keith Maillard was born right here in Wheeling in 1942, where he lived until eventually moving to Canada in opposition to the Vietnam War. He has utilized his vast knowledge o...
RED Launches CO.STARTERS Rebuild Program to Help Small Businesses Recover Provided June 12, 2020 Regional Economic Development Partnership (RED) is accepting applications for CO.STARTERS Rebuild, a 10-session, live and virtually facilitated program that helps small businesses impacted by COVID-19 refocus, ...
Face Masks: Fashion Statement and Sign of the COVID-19 Times Phyllis Sigal June 12, 2020 The Rolling Stones lips logo, political statements, camouflage, the American flag, designer logos, humorous sayings (“like a good neighbor, stay over there”), rainbows, dogs, cats, vegetables, flowers, leopard ...
Upcoming EVENTS Feature Adventures, Art, Fun, Books and More Phyllis Sigal June 11, 2020 AROUND THE WORLD WITH BOOKS Dr. David Javersak will launch the online Ohio County Public Library’s Summer Reading for Adults series, People's University: Around the World in Literature & Language, at 6:30 ...
Travel Around the World and Through Time Without Leaving Your Living Room Provided June 10, 2020 For Summer Reading 2020, the Ohio County Public Library in Wheeling will offer a new People's University Livestream series to be broadcast simultaneously on YouTube, Facebook,and the library's website. The seri...
From the Yard to Your Plate — Adding Flavor to Your Salad Melissa Rebholz June 10, 2020 Disclaimer: Weelunk cares about your health and safety. Before touching or eating anything out in the wild, we recommend seeking the input of a naturalist or other certified expert. If you have concerns about a...
Support Black-Owned Businesses in the Wheeling Area Betsy Sweeny June 9, 2020 As our community continues to support our Black neighbors by condemning institutional racism and advocating for positive change, many wonder how they can do more. One way is to support small businesses owned by persons of color. Weelunk has compiled a list of Black-owned businesses ranging from hair salons to construction companies that you can support in the Wheeling area.
Keeping Music Live – A Musician’s Life During COVID-19 Kyle Knox June 9, 2020 Wearing a vintage concert T-shirt, singing every word to every song, dancing indiscriminately and connecting with people who enjoy the exact same music — collectively it makes up the beautiful harmony of the li...
Ron Scott: I Knew I Had to Go — It Was Too Important Not To Ron Scott Jr. June 8, 2020 Editor’s note: Protesters in cities across the country came out last week to make their feelings known in regard to the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Here, Ron Scott, YWCA cultural diversity and commun...
American Legion Post 89 Making Community Proud NIck Musgrave June 7, 2020 Editor’s note: This week, Weelunk will pause our normally scheduled programming to highlight stories that feature Black narratives. We have chosen to take this time to amplify those voices that are so often sil...
SUSPENDED AGGRAVATION: Chapter 19 Nora Edinger June 7, 2020 Editor's note: Suspended Aggravation is an original, Wheeling-centric novel by Nora Edinger and is published exclusively through Weelunk. While some of the places mentioned in Suspended Aggravation are real (or...
We Wish You a ’70s Christmas Ellen Brafford McCroskey June 6, 2020 Editor’s note: This week, Weelunk will pause our normally scheduled programming to highlight stories that feature Black narratives. We have chosen to take this time to amplify those voices that are so often sil...
Getting to Know the OV Hip-Hop Scene Glynis Board June 5, 2020 Editor’s note: This week, Weelunk will pause our normally scheduled programming to highlight stories that feature Black narratives. We have chosen to take this time to amplify those voices that are so often sil...
Learning to Do Better — Lessons on Race Relations From Ron Scott Jr. Ellen Brafford McCroskey June 4, 2020 Editor’s note: This week, Weelunk will pause our normally scheduled programming to highlight stories that feature Black narratives. We have chosen to take this time to amplify those voices that are so often sil...
The Inspiration, Wisdom, And Courage Of Ann Thomas Steve Novotney June 3, 2020 8 Editor's note: This week, Weelunk will pause our normally scheduled programming to highlight stories that feature Black narratives. We have chosen to take this time to amplify those voices that are so often sil...
Blackout Tuesday Weelunk Staff June 2, 2020 Weelunk was formed around a central tenet: “Do Something.” Right now, what we are doing is standing in solidarity with those working to combat inequality and institutionalized racism, and unequivocally condemni...
Surfing the Ohio River: A Look at Inland Surfers Nora Edinger June 2, 2020 Bryan Murray has surfed in the zone. Deep inside a tube of rushing water and light. So removed from the rest of the world that he can see individual droplets of water tumble slow-mo like so much dande...
Wheeling Steel’s Roots Still Run Deep in the Ohio Valley Ellen Brafford McCroskey June 1, 2020 Wheeling Steel opened in 1921 & during its time in Wheeling, WV its name changed several times leaving a history that runs deep throughout the OH valley.
SUSPENDED AGGRAVATION: Chapter 18 Nora Edinger May 31, 2020 Editor's note: Suspended Aggravation is an original, Wheeling-centric novel by Nora Edinger and is published exclusively through Weelunk. While some of the places mentioned in Suspended Aggravation are real (or...
WEELUNK BOOK REVIEW: Rocket Boys Ellen Brafford McCroskey May 30, 2020 Sixty-odd years ago, no one expected kids from Coalwood, West Virginia, to be whip-smart. Coalwood produced football stars and coal miners, not rocket scientists. “Rocket Boys” is the story of how the book’s au...
Female Rollers: The Great Depression and the Infiltration of Women in Production Alex Warren May 29, 2020 The Great Depression (1929-1941) is commonly thought of as a time of doom and gloom, with high unemployment, reduced wages and “Hoovervilles” (crude houses built on the outskirts of a city typically populated b...
EVENTS: Music, Art, and Warm Weather Phyllis Sigal May 28, 2020 HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! The Wheeling Symphony Orchestra will end its season virtually with A Night With the WSO – a 90th Anniversary Virtual Concert and Fundraiser, featuring Music Director John Devlin, musicians o...
Corey Kidd Finds Balance During COVID-19 … On a Unicycle Phyllis Sigal May 27, 2020 Nope, she didn’t want to join the circus as a kid. But, as an adult, Corey Kidd decided to take up the “super fun skill” of learning to ride a unicycle. “ looked like a challenge, and I love a challenge,”...
Community Gardens: Green and Growing in Wheeling Laura Jackson Roberts May 26, 2020 With Victory Gardens springing up all over the Ohio Valley and residents reconnecting with the land and the time-honored tradition of working it, it’s a good time to take a look at community gardens. THE...
