|
Vol. 4 No. 2 February 2005 | Serving SnowShoe Mountain, Slaty Fork, Green Bank and Cass "News you can resort to" | Second Section of The Pocahontas Times Post Office No. 436-640 ISSN No. 07388373 |
|
Vol. 4 No. 2 February 2005 | Serving SnowShoe Mountain, Slaty Fork, Green Bank and Cass "News you can resort to" | Second Section of The Pocahontas Times Post Office No. 436-640 ISSN No. 07388373 |
 February AROUND THE COUNTY Solar Viewing € NRAO, Green Bank. 456-2150. € Offered every sunny day at 2:45 p.m. at the science center. Get a SAFE peek at the sun through an optical telescope... and observe the sun with a radio telescope!! Free, no reservations required! Star Lab € Every Thursday at 2:00 p.m., NRAO, Green Bank. 456-2150 €Limited space: 15 participants/program. Who cares if it's cloudy! Guests will gather inside a portable planetarium for a fascinating look at the sky above. $3.00 charge per person Feb. 4 € Film Fest at NRAO, Green Bank. 456-2150. Come enjoy a great movie and discussion with the NRAO staff. Begins at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 5 € Star Party, NRAO, Green Bank. 456-2150. NRAO staff will orient you to the star-filled sky and then view the night sky on the Star Party Patio. Bring optical telescopes and binoculars - you won't believe your eyes. Feb. 9 € High Tech Wednesday, NRAO, Green Bank. 456-2150. Join us for a guided tour through parts of NRAO normally off limits to visitors, like lab areas where sensitive receivers are designed and built. Space is limited to 15; cost is $3.00 so make reservations early. Feb. 11 € Solazo € Pocahontas County Opera House, 818 Third Avenue, Marlinton, 800-336-7009. Hailing from Cuba, Argentina, and Chile, the five members of this extraordinary band deliver a unique blend of Latin contemporary dance music and soulful ballads that appeal to all ages and cultures. Performance begins at 7:30 p.m. with a $5.00 admission. 
Feb 18 € Selkie € Pocahontas County Opera House, 818 Third Avenue, Marlinton. 800-336-7009. This enchanting one-act play is inspired by Scotish myths of the seal people. An enchanting tale of tolerance and individual differences, this play will charm any age. Performance starts at 7 p.m. 
Feb. 26 Jimmy Costa at the Pocahontas County Opera House West Virginia master fiddler Jimmy Costa of Summers County will bring his mixture of music and folklore to the Pocahontas County Opera House in Marlinton for a performance on Saturday, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 and will be available at the door
On The
Mountain
Feb. 19 € Village Rail Competition € The 3rd annual Village Rail Comp will
feature some of the region's top freeskiers and riders battling it out on
the rails for cash and great prizes. With live music from area DJ's, right
in the heart of the Village Plaza.
|
Martin's Mist Winery currently offers two varieties of blueberry wine: the sweet Buckeye Blueberry, to the left, and Dry Creek Blueberry, right.
Photo by Drew Tanner
|
Drew Tanner
Staff Writer
Visitors looking for a taste of something local can please their palettes
with a bottle of the latest wines to be produced here in Pocahontas County.
Not far from U.S. Route 219 in Buckeye, Martin's Mist Winery has just
released its first batch of sweet and dry blueberry table wines.
Husband and wife vinters Melvin and Vicki Martin had been making hobby wines
for two years before deciding it was time to try their hands at making a
cottage operation of it.
"We're not wine connoisseurs ourselves,"notes Vicki, but when friends and
dinner guests began expressing an interest in having some of their berry
wine of their own, she and Melvin felt they were on to something.
Their first batch became available just before Christmas. By the end of
its production, Melvin estimates they will have distributed approximately
1000 bottles of their blueberry wine, which can be found at Liquors and
More, in Marlinton, or in the Stonehouse General Store in downtown
Lewisburg.
Melvin and Vicki say they hope to start offering their wine in local
restaurants as well.
Their blueberry wine is made completely from blueberry juice. This first
batch was made from blueberries picked in Renick, according to Vicki.
Water, sugar and stabilizers are then added to the juice and the pulp is
added in fine mesh bags to give the wine its color, says Melvin.
After a day of settling, yeast is added and the fermentation process
begins. Being table wine, the Martin's aim for an alcohol content between
10% and 12%, which takes approximately three months, according to Vicki.
The pulp is then removed and the wine is ready for bottling, which the
Martins also do themselves.
The distinctive, monogramed Martin's Mist Winery labels– blue for the Dry
Creek Blueberry and purple for the sweet Buckeye Blueberry– were designed by
Vicki and their son, Kyle. Each bottle's label is applied by hand.
The name, says Vicky, was inspired by the mist that frequently blankets
their 12 acres atop one of the ridges of Rodgers Mountain.
What began as a hobby has now grown into a cottage business. The couple
began making five gallon batches in their glass hobby casks. Now their wine
is fermented in stainless steel tanks imported from Italy.
Photo by Drew Tanner
Originally from Fort Worth, Texas, the Martins have made themselves at
home during their eight years in Pocahontas County.
"We've developed more friendships and roots here than we did in 40 years
down there,"noted Vicki.
Vicki is now a member of the Pocahontas County Arts Council and Melvin
volunteers with the Hillsboro Fire Department and was appointed last year as
the county's Emergency Services Director.
The Martin's first discovered Pocahontas County while vacationing with
friends. After visiting Cass, Beartown and the Falls of Hills Creek, they
fell in love with the area.
"This place is so far off the beaten path,"Melvin says. "It's very quiet
and very nice."
"I could never go back. I complain about the traffic in Marlinton now,"he
adds. "You couldn't pry us out of here now."
"Neighbors really are neighbors around here,"Vicky observes. "They're
very hardworking, down to earth, friendly people. Everyone we've met has
been so giving."
Those who know and enjoy the fruit wines produced in West Virginia will
find that those offered by Martin's Mist Winery are with the best of them.
For those seeking an introduction to berry wines, uncork a bottle of Dry
Creek Blueberry and enjoy. Cheers! ‡
The woods look lovely, dark and deep...
The forest around the Nordic
Center is transformed by a fresh blanket of powder, making for the perfect
morning trek through the woods.
Photo by Drew Tanner
Walking in a winter wonderland
Drew Tanner
Staff Writer
Are you looking for a way to enjoy the outdoors this winter but are a
little wary of downhill skiing?
Or perhaps you are a skier looking to try something new.
If so, you should check out the Nordic Center at Snowshoe Mountain.
Located near Silver Creek, the Nordic Center offers a beautiful network of
trails and equipment rentals for cross-country skiers or snowshoers.
Vince Fox, who runs the Nordic Center, can give the first-time visitor
descriptions of the trails, recommended routes and a quick primer for those
just starting out on snowshoes or cross-country skis.
For those looking to learn something new, Fox recommends trying out
cross-country skis. For those who just want to see the woods, he recommends
strapping on a pair of snowshoes; it's as easy as walking.
Seeking an introduction to the Nordic Center's trail network, my wife,
Maribeth, and I took Fox's advice to try our snowshoes out on a loop
incorporating the Yew Pine Trail, Lake Connector and Yew Plateau Loop.
For the next hour and a half, we were the only ones in the woods. While
the wind was howling and snow was coming down sideways atop Snowshoe
Mountain, the air was calm and the snowfall gentle as we made first tracks
on the newly fallen powder.
If you have never experienced the hushed beauty of hiking through the
woods in midwinter, the Nordic Center's trails are an excellent place to
start.
The snow completely transforms the landscape from what you might see
during warmer months.
Maribeth wondered for a while at some of the pillowy piles of powder
along the trail before finally tapping on them with one of her poles and
realizing, "oh! They're rocks."
Rime ice transforms bare branches into glass-like modern sculptures along
the trail.
Photo by Drew Tanner
Snow-covered boulders, rime ice clinging to bare branches, spruce bows
bending under the weight of the snow and the muffled gurgle of brooks
flowing under ice and snow gave the forest a storybook feel.
The feeling of tranquility on our early morning walk through the winter
woods would have been inspiration enough for even the most diehard
adrenaline junkie to cultivate a sense of inner peace.
With the Nordic Center's network of trails, visitors have a variety of
options. The scenery along the mostly level Yew Pine, Yew Plateau and Lake
Connector trails are hard to beat. The 3D trail offers more challenging
terrain, and Duncan's Loop, at 0.7 miles is a brief, level trail suited for
those who might want a trial run to see if snowshoeing or cross-country
skiing is for them.
Of course, you could also make a day of it, pack a drink and some snacks
and travel all of the trails, which are very well marked.
A regular visitor to the Nordic Center. Arrive early in the day and you
might get a glimpse of the local fauna.
Photo by Drew Tanner
Another option is to take the Lake Connector Trail down to the Boathouse,
which serves breakfast and lunch on Shavers Lake. In the morning you can
enjoy homemade waffles or stop in later in the day and choose from burgers,
chicken, hot dogs, soups, salads, wraps and more.
Or how about making a reservation for a four-course dinner at the Sunrise
Back Country Hut and trekking out to the hut along the two-and-a-half mile
Cheat Mountain Ridge Trail?
The possibilities are endless.
To get to the Nordic Center, take the road to Silver Creek and take the
first right after Snow Creek Mountain Sports. Shuttle service is also
available, as are guided tours. For more information, call the Adventure
Center at (304) 572-5477.
And happy trails. ‡
A rough-legged hawk riding the air currents.
Photo by Gail Hyer
Winter Wonderland for Birding
Gail Hyer
Contributing Writer
Nothing can be as invigorating as a winter walk watching for birds
flitting around in their natural habitats. Nature never disappoints. The
winter woods‹or at least somewhere safe and away from development‹holds
plenty of activity for the observant eye. Beyond the general impression of
silence, there's a lot of natural activity going on in the woods.
Winter is an excellent time to view birds here in Pocahontas County. The
trees are absent their leaves, hence the views are more revealing and
detailed than when covered with summer's lush green leaves. With sugar-white
snow as background, many birds which might otherwise be obscure, will stand
out to accommodate easy viewing.
Birds are among the easiest wildlife to locate and study because they are
relatively easy to find. Many are colorful or have songs which direct
attention to where they might be settled on a tree branch. Some travel in
large groups, are active during the day and can be studied from a reasonable
distance, sometimes even without binoculars.
Beginners can bird watch with the simplest of equipment such as warm
clothing, a pair of binoculars and a small notebook for listing sightings. A
good birding book such as "A Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern and Central
North America" or "National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American
Birds" can be helpful, too.
Bird identification basics.
Photo by A Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern and Central
North America
The books have range maps that tell birders which species is found in the
area‹extremely helpful when trying to eliminate similar appearing species.
The Monongahela National Forest website has a detailed inclusive list of
birds in the forest at fs.fed.us/r9/mnf. Click on recreation and then to
birdwatching.
Birds are not perfectly adapted to their living conditions and sometimes
leave common area to find food and shelter. Bird migration is generally
thought of as a north-and-south movement, with the lanes of heavier
concentration following the coasts, mountain ranges and principal river
valleys.
The topography of the Allegheny Mountains encourages birds to travel
along the fronts of the mountain as they migrate short distances or fly to
reach the Atlantic Flyway.
Strange as it may seem, several bird species actually migrate to
Pocahontas County and stay for the winter. These include Wood Ducks,
Mallards and several species of hawks including the Red-shouldered,
Red-tailed and Rough-legged.
Depending on where you are in Pocahontas County determines which birds
you may encounter.
In the northeastern portion of the county, Thornwood, off highway 28, is
a good place for both the experienced and novice birdwatcher.
This route will reveal the Dark-eyed Junco, or commonly called "Snowbird"
with its slate-gray body and white underbelly. Other species such as the
Black-capped Chickadee, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Barred Owl and Eastern
Screech Owl, are also in the area.
The 78-mile Greenbrier River Trail is a great place to spy different
birds during the winter months. The trail is easily accessible, even in
winter, from either the Cass terminus or at Marlinton near the historic
train depot, now the Pocahontas County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
A few of the avian species that might be spotted along the trail include
the Canada goose and the pigeon-sized Belted Kingfisher. The low-whistled
"tweedle, tweedle, tweedle" of the Carolina Wren, a common inhabitant along
the bank areas and overgrowth adjacent to the river, can be heard. The
attractive Mallard and the American Black Duck are found in several places
along the river.
The American Robin and Brown Creeper are common along the trail, while
the Pine Siskin and Great Blue Heron are bit more elusive but worth the
painstaking efforts.
One of the best areas in Pocahontas County for winter bird viewing is
along Cranberry Glades. An afternoon stroll around the half-mile boardwalk
can result in a plethroa of species include the wren cousins‹Brown, Carolina
House and Winter. Observing the Red-breasted Nuthatch walking down a tree
may even bring on an outburst of laughter. Pine Warblers, although rare, may
also be spotted.
The Highland Scenic Highway, 22-miles of isolated roadway off U. S. Rt.
219 north of Marlinton, is closed to vehicular traffic during the winter and
is a great place to birdwatch.
Along the deciduous forests, Red-bellied Woodpeckers and Yellow-bellied
Sapsuckers abide, as do Black-capped Chickadees, Cedar Wax-wings and the
Northern Cardinal.
The Cranberry Nature Center on Rt. 39 is one of the few places in the
country where a Red Crossbill can be spotted. Pocahontas County and a
limited number of other spots in West Virginia and a few areas of New York
are the only spots these elusive birds show up, as most of the species makes
its home in Canada.
A male Red Crossbill.
Photo by National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American
Birds
Along the outlooks, Eastern Towhees, Golden-Crowned Kinglet, Rock Doves
and Pileated Woodpeckers are visible to lucky‹and patient‹birdwatchers.
We notice birds because they are different from one another. Identifying
new birds will be easier by having a "standard bird."
Use a common bird with no specific marking, such as a pigeon. When new
birds are spotted, either in flight or sitting on a branch, compare its
marking and physical attributes against the standard bird.
Try to find at least four different markings on the bird: the size and
shape of the beak, the size and shape of the tail, the overall size and
color. Using a comparison to the standard bird, along with the range map in
the bird guide book, new birds are more easily identifiable.
If you haven't tried "spishing," you might find it produces a bird
sighting for you. Spishing is the production of a special shhhhh-shhhh-shhhh
sound, or a similar squeak or hiss, in order to cause a bird to show itself.
Spishing doesn't work with all birds, but with some it's almost magical.
Any good visitor knows there is a proper etiquette when visiting
another's home and the forest is no different. Stay on established pathways
and roads, avoid harassing and disturbing birds, don't trespass on private
property, leave no trash or litter and take nothing but pictures.
After a winter wonderland visit in Pocahontas County and listing many new
bird sightings you'll be able to keep precious memories for a lifetime. ‡
Both the scenery and the bird sightings along the Thornwood Road are
exceptional. The area has a reasonable incline to it, easy to find, a looped
hike and plenty of birds.
Map by Patrick Westerfield
Jimmy Costa brings music and folklore to the Opera House
West Virginia master fiddler Jimmy Costa of Summers County will bring his mixture of music and folklore to the Pocahontas County Opera House in Marlinton for a performance on Saturday, February 26, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 and will be available at the door.
The Opera House in Marlinton privodes an
entertainment venue offering music, drama and dance.
Photo by Drew Tanner
In addition to his fame as a singer and performer on the fiddle and banjo, Costa is also passing along his love of traditional mountain music to a new generation by teaching at The Allegheny Echoes Workshops in Pocahontas County, the Augusta Heritage Workshops at Davis and Elkins College, and other workshops and festivals around the state. He is also a craftsman and curator and conservator of antique farm implements and tools of this region..
The Pocahontas County Opera House is located at 818 Third Avenue in Marlinton. Opera House performances are informal, family-friendly and open to all. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to attend; special accommodations can be arranged upon request. For further information, call 800-336-7009, or (304) 799-4636.
This concert is part of the 2004-05 Performance Series sponsored by the Pocahontas County Opera House Foundation with financial assistance through a grant from the West Virginia Division of Culture and History and the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts. Financial support is also provided by Pocahontas County Drama, Fairs and Festivals. ‡
In celebration of Mountain Times 3rd year online,
we thought you'd like to review the earlier postings.
Feb. 2002 |
March 2002 |
Apr. 2002 |
May 2002 |
June 2002
Jan. 2003 |
Feb. 2003 |
March 2003 |
Apr. 2003 |
May 2003 |
June 2003
Jan. 2004 |
Feb. 2004 |
March 2004
|
April 2004
|
May 2004
|
June 2004
July 2002 |
Aug. 2002 |
Sept. 2002 |
Oct. 2002 |
Nov. 2002
July 2003 |
Aug. 2003 |
Sept. 2003 |
Oct. 2003 |
Nov. 2003 |
Dec. 2003
July 2004
|
August 2004
|
Sept. 2004
|
Oct. 2004
|
Nov. 2004 |
Dec. 2004
|
Building Supplies Gas 'n Groceries Gifts |
 is sponsored by the advertisers you see on our pages. Please take time to patronize their businesses! |
Burton ~ Salomon ~ Nitro ~ New and Used Demos | experienced snowboard outfitters. Store Sale 20 - 50% OFF Ski and Snowboard Rentals and Sales 1 mike south of WV 66 ~ 304 572-4173 |
 Largest Ski and Snowboard Rental Co. in the Southeast | Located at the corner of Rt. 219 and Rt. 66 LOWER RATES ~ FRIENDLY SERVICE All Ski & Snowboard Clothing and Equipment ON SALE!!! Entire 2nd Floor DISCOUNTED |
 | Great Quality, Great Prices
|
 Restaurant at the Inn at SnowShoe | SHOW COOKERY & BUFFET STATION Room service available 6:30 am- 1 am Lounge hours Mon. - Fri. 4:30 pm - 1 am Sat. amd Sun. 1 pm to 1 am Menu Items available daily 'til 1 am ~ 304 572-1000 ~ |
| Home of the $4 breakfast! Located on the corner of Rt. 219 and Rt. 66 |
|
Featuring an International Buffet with live local music each Thursday nite. 5 miles south of WV 66 on US 219 Open Thursday thru Monday evenings For reservations call: 304 572-3771 Privately owned and operated Since 1982 |
 |
Douglas S. Keith, Broker Christine Butler, Assoc. Broker Beverly Figg, GRI ~ Matt Matthews Raymond Godwin 304 572-5687 P.O. Box 364 Snowshoe, WV 26209 |
 |
Presenting the Height of Luxury Allegheny Springs at Snowshoe Mountain Yours to own 1-800-489-1943 |
 | Mountain Country Properties 304 572-4663 mcpinfo@sunlitsurf.com David Curtis, Broker Sales Associates: Jeanette Canada, Bet Curtis |
P.O. Box 7 Slaty Fork, WV 26291 on Rt. 219, about 1 mile south of Rt. 66 intersection. |
|
Glades Hardware Marlinton WV 304 799-4912 |
 |
|
 | Calhoun & Kipp Unique Items from around the world. Mon. thru Sat. 10 am 'til 9 pm Sunday 9 am 'til 8 pm 304 572-5250 |
Read our other
Sections:
Local News
|
50 Years Ago
|
Home(index)
Obituaries
|
News Archives
|
Obituary Archives
The Pocahontas Times Online Bookstore
|
Electronic Responses
Legal Ads and Notices
|
Classified Ads
~
~
~
~
~
~
Thank you for your time.
shgiven@pocahontastimes.com