Here in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle, we are blessed with an abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities. When The Observer asked, we jumped at the chance to spotlight a few of our favorite activities for the fall.
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Community
Still Cooking Family Recipes
Today Ortega’s Taco Shop is still busy, but with a different atmosphere. The same approach to the food, but a lot of rethinking about the operations.
History Afoot
The Certified Guide Tours, operated by the volunteers of the Harpers Ferry Park Association, are once again available with some modifications due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Arts & Entertainment
Words Plus Images
The idea of soliciting poems to combine with art seemed to fit perfectly with he Washington Street Artists’ Cooperative’s goals of expanding participation in art.
Angry Politics
Populism is typically analyzed by political scientists, who look at the ideological frameworks and political dynamics at play; historians, who delve into the roots of the different movements; and journalists, who take a more contingent approach to the parties and personalities. Beyond Populism enriches these perspectives with a primarily anthropological view of the political projects typically labeled as populist.
An Artist’s Journey
It took a few years of wandering for Tim Clayton to discover his passion for painting. When describing his path, Tim focuses on the evolution of his approach to art and his style of expression.
Education
Online, Distant, Together, Ready
Shepherd University is moving forward with virtual and in-person instruction starting August 24, with an accelerated semester that reclaims Labor Day and Fall Break as instructional days and ends just before Thanksgiving.
Government
How To Vote in Jefferson County
The West Virginia Secretary of State maintains the GoVoteWV.com website portal to assist with voting questions, registration, and absentee ballot requests. Here are some quick tips and links to help navigate key dates and actions so you can make sure your vote gets counted.
Economy & Environment
Sustaining Plastic Recycling
Clint Hogbin has been focusing on trash and recycling for three decades. Now he’s looking back at how the Berkeley County Solid Waste Authority has evolved over that time and what the future holds – especially for plastic recycling.
Sparking A Converstation: Local Farmers Discuss Large-Scale Solar Development
Pastoral landscapes may be easy on the eyes, but farming them is a hard life. Todd Hough of Oakwood Farm has been working the land since he was a child. He and his brother are the fourth generation to run the family farm in the Kabletown District of Jefferson County.
Public Health
It’s OK to Ask for Help
The Brian O’Neill Jr Foundation has a simple mission: to empower individuals and their families to help prevent suicide in youth and young adults. For Lee O’Neill, the president of the foundation, this mission is personal.
Pandemic in the Panhandle
Reidy observes that there is sometimes almost too much news coverage. “Every little new suggestion gets equal weight because it’s new — every drug that might work or something that might work. With new treatments, it takes time to find out what really does work — things like antibody testing and how long people are immune. It’s hard because we want answers now.