Paramount awarded grant from Marathon Oil Corporation

Ashland, Ky. — Marathon Oil corporation recently awarded $42,000 in charitable grants to nonprofit organizations worldwide as part of its employee-based Global Volunteer Award Program.

Of that amount, a $1,000 award will be made to the Paramount Arts Center in honor of one of Marathon’s employees, Dianne Clement, for outstanding achievement as a community volunteer. Clement was one of 44 Marathon employees honored with a Global Volunteer Award.

“At Marathon, we are proud of the many ways our employees make a difference in their communities by volunteering their time and talent in support of worthy organizations,” said Clarence P. Cazalot, Jr., Marathon’s president and CEO. “We call this ‘living our values’ and the Global Volunteer Award Program is a way for us to recognize our employees’ efforts, while at the same time providing support to the communities in which we live and conduct our business.”

Launched in 2003, the annual Global Volunteer Award Program provides up to 50 grants of $1,000 each to the nonprofit organizations designated by the Marathon employees chosen to receive the awards. Eligible employees perform significant volunteer service during the prior calendar year at a single eligible organization.

Nominations may be submitted by the volunteer or by their co-workers. Eligible service includes volunteer activities that benefit the general community, including committee work, fundraising, tutoring, mentoring or neighborhood revitalization.

The quality of the volunteer work performed is important, as well as the overall commitment to the organization. Applications can be downloaded from the Marathon website, www.marathon.com.

To be eligible in the United States, organizations must be recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as tax-exempt and designated as a public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code. International organizations must be charitable in nature and adhere to the local laws governing non-profit organizations.

In addition, eligible organizations must fit into one of the following categories: arts and culture, civic and community, education, environment and conservation or health and human services.

CHH Children’s Hospital project receives $5,000 donation

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Cabell Huntington Hospital Children’s Hospital project today received a $5,000 donation from the Young Professionals Committee of the Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The Young Professionals Committee presented the donation to Cabell Huntington Hospital Foundation Vice President and Chief Operating Officer David Graley Wednesday morning at the Chamber offices. The donation comes from the group’s Black, White & Red Carpet Ball held on News Year’s Eve at the Pullman Plaza Hotel.

“This gift is an example of the type of “grass roots” generosity that will cause our Children’s Hospital to become a reality,” Graley said. “Literally thousands of people, businesses and charitable foundations have made donations. Our community as a whole should be very proud of what it is accomplishing.

“We truly thank these young leaders of tomorrow for doing this for our children.”

The proposed $12 million Children’s Hospital at Cabell Huntington Hospital will create a child-friendly environment that will be comforting to children and their families, as well as a state-of-the-art facility for the region’s most comprehensive pediatric team.

For more information about the Children’s Hospital project or to learn how you can become involved, please call (304) 526-6314 or visit www.cabellhuntington.org and click on the Children’s Hospital logo.

Soil and Water Conservation District hosting tree sale

LINNVILLE — The Lawrence Soil and Water Conservation District’s Annual Tree Sale is now underway.

The office will be taking orders until 4:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25.

Tree species, wildlife packets, and other items for sale include: Northern Red Oak, Black Walnut, Sugar Maple, Black Cherry, Scotch Pine, Eastern White Pine, Colorado Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, Canadian Hemlock, White Spruce, Douglas Fir, Homeowner’s Tree Packet, Wildlife Tree Packet, Flowering Tree Packet, Granny Smith Apple, Red Haven Peach, Heritage Red Raspberries, Shiitake Mushrooms, English Ivy, Pachysandra, Crownvetch, Erosion Control Seed Mix, Wildflower and Grass Mix, Bird and Butterfly Seed Mix, Wildlife Food Plot Seed Mix, Bat Houses, Eastern Bluebird Boxes, Tree marking flags, Plantskydd-ready to use spray and Plantskydd-soluble powder.

Those interested may contact the Soil and Water Office at 740-867-4737 or visit http://www.lawcoswm.org/formsanddownloads.htm for pricing information and for any other questions about the tree sale.

United Way now accepting letters of intent for funding

Huntington, W.Va. — United Way of the River Cities will accept letters of intent for its upcoming 2011-2012 funding cycle.

Letters of Intent are due Feb. 18. Qualified applicants will be invited, by email and letter, to submit a full application. Full applications must be submitted online by April 18.

Any 501(c)(3) non-profit health and human service organization in United Way of the River Cities’ service area of Cabell, Wayne, Lincoln and Mason counties, West Virginia and Lawrence County, Ohio is eligible to apply.

To obtain a letter of intent packet, contact United Way at 304-523-8929, ext. 1, email laura.gilliam@unitedwayrivercities.org or visit www.unitedwayrivercities.org.

Local funeral home offers web casting of its services

Huntington, W.Va. — Time and distance no longer have to separate family and friends from being at a funeral or memorial service.

Beard Mortuary is proud to be the first and currently only local funeral home to offer funeral web casting service. This unique service allows for a discreet live broadcast of the funeral service via the Internet. Friends and family members who are unable to attend in person can click on a secure link to view the service. The family is in complete control as to who may view the service.

Further, if the family desires, a recorded video of the service may be made available on its website, www.beardmortuary.com, for viewing by those who aren’t available to watch at the exact time of the event. A complimentary DVD of the service is given to the family to keep as a treasured heirloom.

Free healthy heart, EKG set for Feb. 11 in Proctorville

PROCTORVILLE — February is American Heart Month – and to celebrate, King’s Daughters Medical Center is offering a free healthy heart and EKG screening from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11, at Kroger, 6306 County Road 107, Proctorville.

The screening includes an EKG, total cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar and blood oxygen levels, and is sponsored by King’s Daughters in cooperation with the Kentucky Heart Foundation. Appointments are not needed.

“People should take the time to know their numbers,” said nurse Tracy Woods of King’s Daughters Community Services, “because they can be indicators of potential heart problems, and early detection is the key.”

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for more than 34 percent of all deaths annually. Every 38 seconds, an American dies of cardiovascular disease, according to the American Heart Association.

KDMC is a locally controlled, not-for-profit, 465-bed regional referral center, offering comprehensive cardiac, vascular, medical, surgical, maternity, pediatric, rehabilitative, psychiatric, cancer, neurological, pain care, wound care and home care services.

For additional information, visit us online at kdmc.com or call 1.888.377.KDMC (5362).

Teen pajama party Feb. 8 at BCPL

ASHLAND, Ky. — Local teens are invited to a Pajama Party at the Boyd County Public Library in February.

The event, which is part of the monthly Teen Tuesdays programming, is Tuesday, Feb. 8, at 6 p.m. at the Main Branch. Teens will tie-dye pillow cases, play games and make their favorite pancakes – blueberry, strawberry, pecan or chocolate chip. Pajama attire is encouraged.

Teen Tuesdays takes place the second Tuesday of each month during the school year. Any local teen is welcome. Most programs are planned by the Teen Library Council, which meets at 5 p.m. on the same day. The March Teen Tuesday program is a virtual visit from author Carrie Ryan.

TLC is open to any teen interested in planning library programs and selecting materials for young adults. For more information, contact Kellie Nunley at (606) 329-0518, ext. 1810, or knunley@thebookplace.org

To learn more about library programs and services, visit the online branch at www.thebookplace.org

Cabell Library to host book sale

HUNTINGTON, W.Va — The snow is falling – and so are the prices at the Friends of the Cabell County Library’s Fall Book Sale.

Gently used books of all type will be on sale Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 3-5, on the fourth floor of the downtown library, 455 Ninth Street. Sale hours will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. In addition to books, the sale also will offer magazines, audio and video tapes, CDs, DVDs and more. Buyers who purchase $20 worth of books will receive a “Book Buck,” a coupon worth $1 at the group’s next book sale in June.

On Saturday only, buyers can fill a grocery bag with books and other sale items and pay only $2 for the filled bag. (Only bags provided by the Friends can be used.)

Proceeds from the sale, one of three conducted by the Friends of the Library each year, will be used to improve library services and facilities. Members of the public are invited to join the Friends for an annual donation of $5 or more.

Information on the book sale or on joining the Friends may be had by calling the library at (304) 528-5700 or logging on to its website at www.cabell.lib.wv.us.

Musical featured at first dinner-theater at Shawnee State

PORTSMOUTH — Theater students at Shawnee State University present a light-hearted musical, “The Boy Friend,” that will be featured in the first dinner-theater production at the university on Valentine’s Day, Monday, Feb. 14.

The musical comedy by Sandy Wilson ran in London in 1954 for 2,078 performances, more than five years. The scene takes place on the Riviera in France in the Roaring 1920s at a girl’s finishing school.

“The music is delightful,” said John Huston, associate professor and coordinator of the theater program at SSU. “It’s real upbeat jazz of the 1920s.”

The fun begins when Polly Browne, daughter of a millionaire, is attracted to a poor errand boy and she pretends to be a secretary because she doesn’t want him to know about her inheritance, thinking that he was poor.

In the end, she finds out that he is really the son of Lord and Lady Brockhurst, who had left home to try to make his own way in the world.

“It’s all about people finding love,” Huston said, “It’s light-hearted, toe-tapping and just a fun play.”

Julie Andrews made her American debut performance on Broadway as Polly in 1954. That launched her career in America and in 2003, she made her directorial debut with a production of “The Boy Friend” at the Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor, N.Y. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sag_Harbor,_NY>

The play has had several revivals including a production played in 2006 at the Open Air Theatre at Regent’s Park, London. This also proved to be a highly acclaimed production, and was revived during the Open Air Theatre’s 2007 season.

“The Boy Friend” will be playing at the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts for six performances at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 10 through Saturday, Feb. 12 and on Thursday, Feb. 17 through Saturday, Feb. 19.

A special dinner-theater is planned for Valentine’s Day, Monday, Feb. 14 with reservations only at $24 each. A limited number of reservations are available.

General admission for the play only is $8 and for students, faculty and staff, admission is $6.

To make reservations for Valentine’s Day or for more information, call the McKinley Box Office at (740) 351-3600.

St. Mary’s Medical Center presents Masala Bhangra Workout Class

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — St. Mary’s Medical Center will present a Masala Bhangra Workout Master Class on Friday, Feb. 25 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Field House in Huntington.

The class will be taught by Sarina Jain, creator and founder of Masala Bhangra Workout. She has been featured on Fit TV’s “All-Star Workouts”, the Today Show and CBS Early Show.

The goal of the Masala Bhangra Workout is to offer a fun way for participants to become more physically active and stay fit, while introducing them to the music and dance of the Indian culture.

The workout introduces high-energy Bhangra and Bollywood dance movements in an easy-to-follow fitness format.

Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 25.

The event will include free health screenings provided by St. Mary’s Medical Center, complimentary massages, guided yoga stretching, prize drawings, complimentary water, samples of Indian cuisine and henna painting.

Tickets are $25 in advance ($30 at the door) and may be purchased at the Veterans Memorial Field House box office from 10 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. To charge by phone, call (304) 528-5183, ext. 300.

The following groups will receive a 20 percent discount on tickets: Students under the age of 18, college students (must present ID) and seniors over the age of 60.

For more information, call Toni Karle at (304) 208-4525, e-mail tksaints@zoominternet.net or visit www.masaladance.com.

To encourage a healthy lifestyle, physical fitness and cultural exchange with the youth in our community, Sarina Jain, founder of Masala Bhangra, will visit several schools in the Tri-State on Feb. 24 and Feb. 25.

Children at the following schools will be invited to participate in the Masala Bhangra workout:

Feb. 24 — Fairland West Elementary, Proctorville.

Russell Middle School, Russell, Ky.

South Point High School, South Point.

Feb. 25 — Central City Elementary School, Huntington

St. Joseph Catholic Grade School, Huntington

Southside Elementary School, Huntington.

‘Lord of the Dance’ Tour Visits SSU’s Vern Riffe Center

PORTSMOUTH — Bill Clinton was President when Chicago native Michael Flatley created and launched “Lord of the Dance.”

Fifteen years later, the world’s highest grossing Irish dance show is still selling out arenas and theaters around the world. Generations of audiences — more than 60 million people from 68 countries — have seen “Lord of the Dance.”

The show last appeared in Portsmouth at Shawnee State University’s Vern Riffe Center for the Arts in 2006.

Presented by Magic Arts & Entertainment and Global Entertainment Group, the “Lord of the Dance” tour will perform one show at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 5 at the VRCFA.

“Lord of the Dance” is a classic tale of good versus evil, based on Irish folklore that brings a passionate love story to life. Flatley, along with dance Director Marie Duffy-Pask, hand-picked the cast of more than 40 dancers. Each has achieved individual recognition as a national or worldwide dance champion.

“Fans appreciate that our dancers deliver a stunning interpretation of Ireland’s most famous legends via an eclectic blend of dance styles rooted in traditional Irish dance,” Flatley said. “Our dancers connect with the audience and have captivated a new generation.”

The story is based upon mythical Irish folklore as Don Dorcha, Lord of Darkness, challenges the ethereal Lord of Light, the Lord of the Dance.

Battle lines are drawn, passions ignite and a love story fueled by the dramatic leaps and turns of dancers’ bodies begins to build against a backdrop of Celtic rhythm.

The action is played out over 21 scenes on a grand scale of precision dancing, dramatic music, colorful costumes and state-of-the-art staging and lighting.

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, “Lord of the Dance” is offering a contest to U.S. residents.

One lucky winner and a guest will win roundtrip airfare, hotel and VIP tickets (including a meet and greet with cast members) for the Trenton, N.J. performance on Thursday, March 17.

Visit the “Lord of the Dance” Facebook page to find out how to enter and win.

Tickets for the show are from $26 to $48 with special discounts for seniors, students and children under 12. Discounts are also available to all SSU employees and alumni as well as current SOPAA season subscribers.

Tickets are now on sale at The McKinley Box Office located in the lobby of SSU’s VRCFA, Kroger’s and all Ticketmaster locations or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

For more information or for reservations, call the McKinley Box Office at (740) 351-3600.

FireSide Grille to open Feb. 21 in Teays Valley

Teays Valley, W.Va. — Three local entrepreneurs have set the opening date of a new restaurant in Teays Valley. The FireSide Grille is slated to open on Monday, Feb. 21.

Marc Brown, Rob Sydenstricker and Judie Sydenstricker, the three partners of the FireSide Grille, have been busy renovating the property that formerly housed Uno’s Chicago Grill at 4170 State Road 34 in Hurricane since late November of last year.

The name of the restaurant was originally tabbed as the Firehouse Grille.

The FireSide Grille will feature an American menu with both lunch and dinner services.

The 10,000 square foot facility sits on a 2.6 acre lot with access off I-64. The restaurant will have the capacity for 300 plus diners.

The building features an outdoor patio dining area as well as a room complete with large doors that can open to the outside for a fresh air dining experience.

The restaurant includes a children’s area, featuring video and arcade games, televisions and more. The children’s area is completely accessible only from inside the building – intended to allow parents to enjoy a casual evening while their children are entertained within the designated children’s area.

“We are excited. We listened to the community and we are making every effort to give them what they want in a restaurant. We recognized that the area was underserved for casual dining in a sit-down, comfortable atmosphere and seized the opportunity,” said Judie Sydenstricker.

In addition to the dining and event areas, the restaurant will feature a full-service bar that will also serve a limited late-night menu for those looking for a quick place to stop before finishing the evening.

“In less than a month we open the doors to an exciting new experience for area diners. I am very confident that people will enjoy the new restaurant,” said Brown.