She Bought the House ‘Because It Felt Like Home’ Betsy Sweeny August 12, 2020 I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about home lately. First, because I’m stuck in mine, and mostly, because I bought one. Well, sort of. I bought a house, because it felt like home. ...
BYGONE COMEBACKS: Creating an Old-Fashioned Summer With the Help of Mother Nature Megan Huff August 11, 2020 Editor’s note: Have you noticed lately that bits of the past are creeping into the present? We’re gardening more, going to drive-in movies, spending time with nature, putting jigsaw puzzles together. We are fin...
Unity in Diversity: Black Lives Matter Movements Take Shape in Ohio Valley Nora Edinger August 10, 2020 Editor’s note: In an ongoing commitment to sharing Wheeling’s stories in their diversity, here’s an overview of recent community responses to the Black Lives Matter movement. If you are involved with other loca...
SUSPENDED AGGRAVATION: Chapter 28 Nora Edinger August 9, 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: Seceding From Secession — The Civil War, Politics and the Creation of West Virginia Jon-Erik Gilot August 8, 2020 Editor’s note: This book was featured at a recent Lunch With Books Livestream from the Ohio County Public Library. Authors Judge Edmund A. Sargus Jr., originally from Belmont County, Ohio, and Eric J. Wittenber...
Ginger Margaritas: From Snow-Tipped Mountains to You Matt Welsch August 7, 2020 Margaritas conjure up images of sun-soaked beaches, fancy glasses, and froth-tipped waves. My favorite margarita, on the other hand, was first consumed not on a wooden dock, but on a wooden deck surrounded by s...
Got the Summertime Blues? There’s a Cure for That at Area EVENTS Phyllis Sigal August 6, 2020 VIRTUAL BLUES Usually on the second weekend of August, the Heritage Port on the banks of the Ohio River is jam-packed with blues fans, enjoying the music and camaraderie at Heritage Music BluesFest. This year,...
The First Time I Was Called the N-Word Darlene Stradwick August 5, 2020 A few years ago, my students did a research project on emotional memory. They explained to me what emotional memory was. Ask a person: “Do you remember what you were doing on February 10, 2017?” They probabl...
Chef Finds Bounty at Local Farmers’ Markets Melissa Rebholz August 4, 2020 As a chef and a relatively new resident of Wheeling, I was so excited when the farmers’ markets began to open up for the season. I immediately wanted to make a project out of attending them all. Besides grow...
BYGONE COMEBACKS: Bakers Baking Up New Traditions Jennifer Materkoski August 3, 2020 Editor’s note: Have you noticed lately that bits of the past are creeping into the present? We’re gardening more, going to drive-in movies, spending time with nature, putting jigsaw puzzles together. We are fin...
SUSPENDED AGGRAVATION: Chapter 27 Nora Edinger August 2, 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: Appalachia North — A Memoir Christina Fisanick August 1, 2020 Appalachia, even to us West Virginians, seems at times like a foreign place. Appalachia is over there, not here. Appalachians are them, not us. In reality, Appalachia, as defined by the Appalachian Regional Com...
HILLS AND HOLLOWS: Raising a Pint to West Virginia’s Moonshine Heritage Kyle Knox July 31, 2020 In the deep woods, along the cool creek (pronounced crick), the moon rises over the sugar maples, locusts, elms and sycamores of West Virginia and bounces off the copper twisting tubes of a still. That’s when a...
Cool, Magical, Fun EVENTS for Summer in the Ohio Valley Phyllis Sigal July 30, 2020 A COOL HIKE Meet at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1, at Lowe’s in Wheeling to begin a City Cave Hike, hosted by the Ohio River Valley Council. This dark and sunlight hike goes through a railroad tunnel, the woods, ...
BYGONE COMEBACKS: COVID Revives Sew Much History Nora Edinger July 29, 2020 Editor’s note: Have you noticed lately that bits of the past are creeping into the present? We’re gardening more, going to drive-in movies, spending time with nature, putting jigsaw puzzles together. We are fin...
LIKE NIGHT AND DAY: Funeral Director Finds ‘Pocket’ of Community in Roller Derby Cassie Bendel July 28, 2020 Editor’s note: People aren't always defined by their day jobs. There are plenty who have quite fascinating second jobs or pastimes. Our series, Like Night and Day, shines the spotlight on those who are finding ...
City of Wheeling CARES About Small Businesses Nora Edinger July 27, 2020 Does a hairstylist working on her own qualify for a new round of federal assistance to small businesses? Can a corner store get reimbursed for more than $3,000 spent on plexiglass shields, disposable gloves and...
SUSPENDED AGGRAVATION: Chapter 26 Nora Edinger July 26, 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: Practicing Silence — New and Selected Verses Laura Lynn Brown July 25, 2020 What is silence? Our first thought is usually absence of sound. In Bonnie Thurston’s poetry collection “Practicing Silence,” silence is that, but it’s other absences as well, some of which have nothing to do...
Quarantine Comics and Cartoons Wheeling Heritage Media July 24, 2020 At Weelunk, we’re all about keeping you connected to your community. Since that looks a little different right now, we’re bringing you ways to engage while staying safe and healthy. We hope Weelunk ca...
Hunt for Ghosts, Dragonflies and More at Ohio Valley EVENTS Phyllis Sigal July 23, 2020 ON LOCK DOWN Spend two days (and nights!) exploring the West Virginia State Penitentiary! The event, hosted by Odyssey Events, is set for 9 p.m. Friday, July 24, through 4 a.m. Sunday, July 26. Attendees ca...
BYGONE COMEBACKS: The Magic of a Creek Jessica Broverman July 22, 2020 Editor’s note: Have you noticed lately that bits of the past are creeping into the present? We’re gardening more, going to drive-in movies, spending time with nature, putting jigsaw puzzles together. We are fin...
‘Stretched to Their Limits’: Foundation Comes to Aid of Health Departments Ellen Brafford McCroskey July 21, 2020 When the COVID-19 pandemic hit our area in March, no one was prepared for what was to come. No one could have predicted the shortfall of personal protective equipment, tests and other supplies that healthcare a...
A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT: Disaster on the Ohio on July 4, 1882 Taylor Abbott July 20, 2020 On July 4th, 1882, the steamboat Scioto would make its final journey down the Ohio River. Taylor Abbott, a descendant of the boat's captain, tells the story of the disaster that would grip the nation.
SUSPENDED AGGRAVATION: Chapter 25 Nora Edinger July 19, 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: Riding on Comets Anna Cipoletti July 18, 2020 In her memoir Riding on Comets, born-and-bred West Virginian Cat Pleska recalls coming of age in the 1950s and ‘60s in a story that, at its core, is about a family trying to stay together. At first look, Pleska...
Master Gardeners Make a Difference in Community Earl Nicodemus July 17, 2020 Did you like to play in the dirt when you were a little girl or boy? Do you still like to play in the dirt? If so, then you are a good candidate for the Master Gardener program. The Master Gardener pro...
Drive-In, Drive-Thru, Learn and Zoom at Upcoming EVENTS Phyllis Sigal July 16, 2020 MOVIE MAGIC Drive on over to Wheeling Park on Friday, July 17, for this month’s free Drive-In Movie. Gates open at 7 p.m., and the movie begins at dusk. Visitors are invited to grab a parking spot in front of ...
Reuben Rouse: ‘Raised on Love’ Nora Edinger July 15, 2020 Editor’s note: Weelunk is committed to sharing the city’s diverse stories, including those that combat systemic racism. Today’s post features Reuben Rouse, a Wheeling man whose dedication to full-on fatherhood ...
Bottled Treasure: Discovery Leads to Investigation Alex Warren July 14, 2020 The Stratford Springs Bottling Company may have been closed for over 50 years, but their glass bottles can still be found. One Wheeling family discovered a massive collection in their own backyard.
April 1865: A Burst of Historic Events Barb Pirhalla July 13, 2020 April 1865, was a month long remembered in history. Richmond, Virginia, fell; April 9, Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered to Gen. U.S. Grant; April 15, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated; April 26, John Wil...
SUSPENDED AGGRAVATION: Chapter 24 Nora Edinger July 12, 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 Third Rainbow Girl — The Long Life of a Double Murder in Appalachia Christina Fisanick July 11, 2020 West Virginia’s history is often not well represented in books that tell stories from our hills and valleys. In The Third Rainbow Girl: The Long Life of a Double Murder in Appalachia, Emma Copley Eisenberg buck...
Positive and Progressive: Wheeling Makes Change Happen Ellen Brafford McCroskey July 10, 2020 Wheeling has received national attention after voting in West Virginia’s first openly transgender elected official, Rosemary Ketchum. Now, we reflect on the significance of recent steps taken by the city to be more inclusive.
Chill Out With Summer EVENTS Phyllis Sigal July 9, 2020 OMMMMMM … • Need an infusion of chill in your life? Join Generation Wheeling, in partnership with Wheeling Parks and Recreation, for a free Outdoor Yoga Series at Market Plaza. Generation Wheeling member Betsy...
The Monastery Rebuilds: A Look Inside Mount Carmel’s Changing Walls and Beating Heart Cassie Bendel July 8, 2020 On just about every corner in Wheeling, you’ll find something that reminds you of a time that came before you. Drive around long enough and your mind will start to ask, what wonders wait behind the façade? What...
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 ...
