Author Archives: moundsville11

As we grieve the loss of restaurants and ballgames, I recommend a book: Frank Santoro’s graphic memoir, Pittsburgh. An initial print run of 4,000 has sold out, but you can still buy the book at CopaceticComics. Santoro is a 47-year-old author and cartoonist who grew up in a neighborhood of Pittsburgh called Swissvale, boomeranged toContinue reading “Beautiful Mourning: What the Rust Belt Can Teach the World About Loss — ‘Pittsburgh’ Cartoonist Santoro Sees Off-Beat in Colors — “There will not be a resolution””

For 30 years, Fred Wilkerson, Sr., 79, was a proud union glassworker for Fostoria Glass in Moundsville. He started as an apprentice out of high school in 1958 and never stopped, except for a stint in the Air Force, 1959-1963. He belonged to the American Flint Glass Workers Union, paying his dues and collectively bargainingContinue reading “Dad Handed Profession to Son, But Not Union Card — ‘We Do the Same Job’ — On May 1, Amid Walkouts, Americans Wonder: Can Unions Stage a Comeback?”

We picked up a cool endorsement this week, from the West Virginia Council of Teachers of English, an “organization dedicated to serving the students and teachers of WV through language arts and literacy.” The WVCTE’s co-director, Jessica Salfia, wrote a blog post recommending the film (available for $2.99 here) to the state’s teachers. She callsContinue reading “‘Moundsville’ Recommended as ‘Refreshing Change’ from ‘Hillbilly Elegy’, by West Virginia Council of Teachers of English Co-Director — ‘Put on Watch List’”

Rose Hart is worried about catching Covid-19. But when a flood hit Ohio County in the northern part of the state a couple weeks ago, the retired West Virginia United States Post Service mail carrier got in her Ford pick-up truck and drove to help her neighbors. Wearing a mask, she joined the Red CrossContinue reading “Small-Town USA During Covid-19: Rose Hart, Wearing Mask, Delivers Aid in Ford Pick-Up Truck — In Resilient West Virginia, ‘Neighbor Helping Neighbor’ — ‘You Don’t Give Up’”

When we were shooting Moundsville, our favorite places to eat were the New Great Chinese Buffet and Acapulco Mexican Restaurant, both on Lafayette Ave, and Bob’s Diner, where we shot some scenes, on 3rd street. (The other options were fast food joints like Burger King and McDonald’s.) Dave loved the Reuben at Bob’s, and IContinue reading ““These Are Slow, Weird Days” — In Covid-19 Crisis, Restaurants in Moundsville, WV Cope With Layoffs, Takeout, Bandanas Instead of Masks — Chinese Buffet Closed — Shortage of To-Go Containers”

Carrie Conners was born in Moundsville, WV in 1979, and is now a professional poet who teaches at La Guardia Community College-City University of New York. This week, her collection Luscious Struggle (which you can buy here or here or here) was selected as a finalist for the prestigious 2020 Paterson Poetry Prize. Growing up onContinue reading “How Moundsville, WV Made A Poet — Interview with Paterson Prize Finalist Carrie Conners — Even in Hard Times, “Joy and Humor and Life Keep Happening””

Q: First, most importantly, you earned some fame by proposing to your fiancée Lindsey Baker a few weeks ago, before the last WVU basketball game of the year, against Baylor. How long had you been planning that? And is it true you’ve been dating since 8th grade? I had the idea my freshman year ofContinue reading “EXCLUSIVE: Moundsville WVU Hoops Hero Chase Harler on Covid-19, Coach Huggins And Proposing to Fiancée He’d Dated Since 8th Grade — “Coach Huggins always talks about how tough West Virginia people are. It may take toughness to stay inside.””

This is a hard time for everybody. If you’re stuck at home, you need books to read, and movies to watch. To help out the people of the Moundsville/Glen Dale area, we’re offering a free copy of ‘Moundsville’, which will be on PBS starting in April. To obtain your free copy, send me an emailContinue reading “Special Offer for Residents of Moundsville/Glen Dale: Get Free Copy of ‘Moundsville’ (On PBS Soon) To Watch At Home”