BROOKE BRIEFS

Class to cover dining with diabetes

WELLSBURG - The Brooke County West Virginia University Extension Service will hold a free "Dining with Diabetes" class beginning Aug. 4 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Brooke County Public Library.

The class will offer tips on planning meals that are tasty and nutritious, understanding diabetes-related medical tests and exercising to reduce the risks of complications.

It will meet once a week for four weeks, with a three-month follow-up class. It's open to anyone with diabetes or who has a family member with diabetes. Space is limited, so reservations should be made by calling (304) 737-3666 no later than Friday. The class is funded in part by the West Virginia Diabetes Prevention and Control Program, state Bureau for Public Health and U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Local country band to perform

WHEELING - Local country band Hank Vincent and Stonestreet Station will be the featured group at a Country Night to be held on Tuesday at the Vineyard Cafe's Up Close In Concert.

The group is comprised of Rob Freshour, Jay Marsh and Hank Vincent on guitar, Del Long on bass, Bill Dudash on lead guitar and Derek Vincent on drums. An open mic program will be held at 7 p.m., with the band to perform at 8:30 p.m.

The Vineyard Cafe is at Wheeling Vineyard Church at 647 Warden Road. For information, go to www.vineyard-cafe.com or call (304) 224-1782.

The cafe will be closed in August and will kick off the new season with a ladies night featuring all female artists on Sept. 8.

Church to hold special service

WELLSBURG - Henderson Chapel AME, at 844 Main St., will hold a Pastor Appreciation Day program at 3:30 p.m. Aug. 9.

Special guests will be the Rev. Robert Robinson and the choir and congregation of Friendship Baptist Church of Washington, Pa.

Archery shoot to be held today

BEECH BOTTOM - The Bison Archers Club on 49 Hill will hold a 3-D archery shoot today.

Sign-ups will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call (304) 394-5005 for information.

Free concert to be held

FOLLANSBEE - A free concert, featuring the Vince Villanova Big Band, will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 9 at Follansbee Park.

The concert is being sponsored by the Top of West Virginia Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Park to mark Kids Day, host circus

WELLSBURG - Brooke Hills Park will be observing National Kids Day at noon Aug. 2 with a cardboard boat race, games, music and free swimming, hot dogs and other snacks.

Area residents also will have a chance to win cash and prizes through the Pluck Duck contest at the park's pool. Participants may sponsor one duck for $3 or two for $5.

Call the park's office for information.

The Zerbini Family Circus also will be coming to the park on Aug. 16. Area residents can relive the days of the traveling circuses, with stunts, clowns, performing animals and camel rides for children during intermission.

Tickets are $8, with proceeds going to the Brooke County Fair. They may be purchased at the park or the Brooke County Senior Center.

Lot owners to meet

WELLSBURG - The semi-annual lot owners meeting of the Franklin Cemetery Association will be held at 7 p.m. Monday at the Franklin Cemetery Garage.

Families invited to Fun Night

WELLSBURG - Maryann Ehle and members of the Brooke County Reading Council invite area families to join them for an evening of creative projects, stories, games, songs, snacks and more at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Brooke County Public Library.

To register for the free program, call (304) 737-1551 to register. All ages are encouraged to attend.

Library to screen suspense film

WELLSBURG - The Brooke County Public Library will be showing the film "Knowing," starring Nicholas Cage, on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

The PG-13-rated film involves a college professor who opens a time capsule that contains some chillingly accurate predictions of disaster. Most of the events have already happened, but he must uncover the details of the next disasters in hopes of preventing them. Call (304) 737-1551 to reserve a seat and popcorn.

Students attend national event

BETHANY - With support from the West Virginia NASA Space Grant Consortium, Bethany College assistant chemistry professor Daniel J. Phillips took three of his research student, Chris Smurthwaite, Stacy Meeks and Ken Barrows, to the American Chemical Society Regional Conference in Cleveland, May 20-23.

Smurthwaite, a Brooke alumnus; and Meeks presented posters of their research work done in Phillips Laboratory at Bethany College.

Churches to team for Bible school

Several Wellsburg churches will team to hold a vacation Bible school for children, age 4 through sixth grade, July 27-31.

Bible school for pre-schoolers will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at St. John Catholic Church, 1300 Charles St., and Bible school for children entering grades 1-6 will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at Wellsburg First Presbyterian Church, 901 Charles St.

The theme will be "Crocodile Rock" and there will be crafts, music and Bible lessons. Children are encouraged, but not required, to wear a specific color each day: gold or yellow on Monday, red on Tuesday, blue on Wednesday, green on Thursday and orange on Friday.

In addition to the two churches, the effort involves children, volunteers and clergy from Christ Episcopal Church, Wellsburg United Methodist Church, Franklin United Methodist Church, Wellsburg Christian Church, Community of Christ Church and New Day Christian Center.

The program is the continuation of a collaboration that started with a handful of downtown churches many years ago that has expanded to include others.

Monetary collections will go to A Child's Place Court-Appointed Special Advocate, a program that represents the interests of children involved in abuse and neglect cases in Brooke and Hancock counties.

Collections also will benefit the New Day Christian Center's food pantry.

Children also are asked to bring canned goods for that food pantry and the food pantries of the Brooke County Salvation Army and Holy Family Catholic Mission in Beech Bottom.

For information, call (304) 737-0751.

Kiwanis report on barbecue

WELLSBURG - Members of the Wellsburg Kiwanis Club reported on their chicken barbecue fundraiser, which was held June 25.

The group expressed appreciation for the tremendous community support, noting they were sold out before their usual 6 p.m. closing time, while expressing regret to those who were unable to purchase chicken before that.

Proceeds from the sale will go to various community projects and the group's youth clubs: K-Kids at Wellsburg and Franklin primary schools, Key Club at Brooke High School and Circle K at Bethany College.

The Wellsburg Kiwanis Club welcomes new members.

A anyone interested in joining is encouraged to call its president, Audrey Bryant, at (304) 737-1579 or past president, Marilyn McGowan, at 737-2198.

Bethany chaplain, pastor named

BETHANY - The Rev. Scott Thayer has been named to the dual position of chaplain of Bethany College and pastor of Bethany Memorial Church.

Thayer received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Central Michigan University, and a Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School.

He has completed coursework in theology from the University of Bonn in Germany and earned his doctorate at Emory University in Biblical studies.

He recently served as senior minister at the First Christian Church in Tuscaloosa, Ala., where he also served as president of the Campus Ministry Association at the University of Alabama.

Thayer will be arriving in Bethany with his wife, Jeanne and 12 year-old son, Michael, in mid-August.

Brooke County AARP chapter meets

WELLSBURG - The Brooke County AARP chapter met July 17 at the Wellsburg Moose Lodge.

President Bill Konkle introduced new member Martha Brownlee. Madeline McGowan served as greeter, and Alice Atkinson delivered the invocation.

The guest was Brooke County Dog Warden Jim Andreozzi, who told the group donations from everyone are the real key to success for the dog pound. He said there is a leash law in Brooke County and county officials are working on a noise nuisance law to address barking dogs.

Konkle reported the group will have a booth at the Wellsburg Applefest, and volunteers are needed. He appointed the picnic committee: Eileen Wood chairman; Louis Hensler, Clarence Maloney, Renee Konkle, May Cay Lyle and himself.

In October the ways and means committee will hold an auction, and everyone was invited to contribute items. Nancy Patterson reported on the following tours: Sept. 25, "The Story of Ruth"-Amish Door Restaurant; Oct. 5-8, Pigeon Forge/Dollywood; and in November, Pittsburgh to see the Radio City Rockets.

Linda Bunn, an AARP state officer from the Foundation of Medicare Fraud, spoke on identity theft. She said to get a free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call (800) 799-1468, adding individuals should check their credit report about three times a year.

The 50/50 drawing was won by Martha Brownlee, Valeria Lazear amd Jackie Griffith. Ways and means chairman Francis Cunningham donated $50, and it was won by Virginia Hensler.

The next board meeting will be held Aug. 5 at the library. The next regular meeting will be the group's picnic and will be held Aug. 20.