Volume 16, Number 1 -- January 8, 2001

In This Issue

New Evansdale Facility/WVU Jackson's Mill Revitalization Project Update
'Be Smart' Program Receives $10,000 Grant
4-H Alumni Association Forming
Aquaculture Forum Set for Jan. 20 in Flatwoods
People and Places . . .

New Evansdale Facility/WVU Jackson's Mill Revitalization Project Update

By Larry Cote, Associate Provost and Director

A letter from the chairs of the CAFCS and Extension visiting committees-John Perdue and Dan Curry, respectively-will be mailed next week to key stakeholders, alerting them to the project. The letter also asks for those who share excitement for the project to write a letter to state legislators asking for their support for this initiative.

Extension faculty will receive an advance copy of the letter this week, along with a "fact card" about the project. Faculty are asked to share this information with others in their offices. If you know individuals or organizations who might send a letter of endorsement to legislators, passing along this information will provide an outline of our case for support.

As stated in the letter from the visiting committee chairs, the goal of the project is to build new facilities to better serve students and lifelong learners at the College in Morgantown and at the WVU Jackson's Mill Center for Lifelong Learning. If you have questions or would like more information, contact any of the following: Ann Bailey Berry, Denny Godfrey, Dan Curry, or John Perdue.

'Be Smart' Program Receives $10,000 Grant

The "Be Smart. Eat Smart." (BSES) program recently partnered with the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) to develop a behavior-based resource "Let's Play the Guidelines Way."

In connection with this new partnership, a $10,000 grant from the Stanley Hostler Foundation will be used to cover travel and training expenses for BSES program employees and partners. Workshops will train program instructors to implement the program. Some trainers will be BSES professionals.

Under the program, 10 participants will attend a three-day writing workshop to develop the resource book, which will be published by WVDE. Patterned after the previous successful resource titled "Let's Party," the book will feature a variety of family-friendly games, nutritious snacks, and activities. Included will be important messages relating the national dietary guidelines to each family's lifestyle choices.

4-H Alumni Association Forming

A new group is forming consisting of people who wish to give back to an organization that gave them so much as young people. The West Virginia 4-H Alumni Association will debut Feb. 2-4 at WVU Jackson's Mill.

The event, titled "Re-Engaging with 4-H," will be a celebration of 4-H. On tap are family-centered activities, including a 4-H camp for children of 4-H age, and many adult workshops.

The group will be open to all 4-H supporters, regardless of 4-H membership. Volunteers are needed to staff the camp, assist with child care, and serve as instructors for various adult classes and workshops.

For more information about the event's activities or about becoming a member, contact Jeffrey Orndorff (293-2694, ext. 3434, or jorndorf@wvu.edu). Registration forms for the debut can be obtained at local county Extension offices.

Aquaculture Forum Set for Jan. 20 in Flatwoods

The WVU Extension Service, the West Virginia Aquaculture Association, and the West Virginia Department of Agriculture are teaming up to sponsor the annual "Aquaculture Forum" from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at the Days Inn at Flatwoods.

Activities are divided into two sessions, with the initial session focusing on information about recent developments in West Virginia aquaculture. Several WVU faculty and staff will be featured speakers, including Cy Logar and Tom Ponzurick, who will discuss marketing; Dan Miller, agricultural economics; Brett Kenney, animal science; Melody Danely, fishery research; and Ken Semmens, statewide aquaculture. Other speakers include Jonathan Eya of West Virginia State College and Joseph Hankins of the Conservation Fund and Freshwater Institute.

The second session features two well-known leaders in the fish business: Bryan Plemmons and Arnold Sutterlin. Plemmons is managing partner of Casta Line Trout Farms, one of the oldest trout farms in Virginia. The business grew from a two-pond fee-fishing operation in 1965 to a live-stocking and wholesale one by 1977. Sutterlin has more than 30 years of fish farming experience. He operates a modern freshwater hatchery that is investigating the benefits of genetically modified fish for aquaculture.

Registration is $5 for WVAA members and $20 for nonmembers. For more information, contact Becky Casteel by e-mail (rcasteel@wvu.edu) or telephone (293-6131, ext. 4231). Registration information is available on the Web (http://www.wvu.edu/~agexten/aquaculture/aquacult.htm).

People and Places . . .

. . . Faculty/Staff Changes

Linda Casey became the new secretary in Fayette County's WVU Extension Office Nov. 29. She came to Extension after working as a cosmetologist at Fiesta Hair in Oak Hill for 11 years. She previously worked for Telespectrum Worldwide Inc., a telemarketing services company. She has taken computer coursework at the Fayette Plateau Vocational Technical Center. She is married to Stan, a Fayette County deputy sheriff. They have two children, Ashley, 16, and Mark, 7.

Kim Greathouse is a new secretary in the Center for Community, Economic, and Workforce Development. She has a three-way split assignment among the center's main office, Fire Service, and Safety and Health Extension. Kim previously worked for Fire Service Extension, Graduate Education, and the Parking office as a Mountaineer Temp. She also worked as a secretary at the law firm of Oliver and Yackel for a year and a half and at Fayette Bank in Uniontown, Pa. Kim earned a legal secretary certification at Laurel Business Institute in Uniontown. Her office is located in 710 Knapp Hall, and her phone number is 293-3323.

Jami Greene joined Extension as a graphic arts designer Dec. 18. She came to Extension Communications after serving for six years as the production and systems manager at the Daily Athenaeum, WVU's student newspaper. Before that, she worked in marketing at MWR at Camp Butler in Okinawa, Japan, for three years and as a printer at MWR Engraving and Printing in Camp Lejeune, N.C., for one year. She earned a Board of Regent's bachelor of arts degree from WVU, an associate's degree in printing technology from WVU Institute of Technology, and an associate's degree in secretarial science from Parkersburg Community College (now WVU at Parkersburg). Jami's hobbies include doing crafts, tole decorative painting, and dog training. Jami's office is in 513 Knapp Hall, and her phone number is 293-4221, ext. 3417.

Clint Hickman, who retired Dec. 31, had been a WVU Extension agent in Harrison County for four years and a WVU employee for 30 years. After working as a horticulturist and superintendent at the WVU agronomy and horticulture Experiment Station at Point Pleasant for 20 years, Clint served as an assistant professor of horticulture at WVU for six and a half years. During the last year of that appointment, he was an Extension horticulture specialist. After that, he moved to Texas and worked as the development and production manager of Texas Hill Country Orchards for seven years. Clint returned to West Virginia in 1995 to work for the Mingo County Redevelopment Authority as a horticulture consultant. He became Extension agent a year later. He earned his master's degree in horticulture from WVU in 1964 and his bachelor's degree in agriculture education from WVU in 1962. Clint's "ever growing" list of retirement plans includes producing plants and flowers in his new greenhouse on a contract basis, building a small barn on his farm near Flatwoods, and doing some maintenance work at his home and his mother's home. He plans to stay active with the Harrison County Master Gardener program, which he helped start. His other plans include working with the West Virginia Direct Marketing Association, Farm Bureau, West Virginia Cattlemen's Association, and West Virginia Horticulture Society. He and Lucille, his wife of 39 years, also hope to do some traveling around the United States and spend more time with their three (soon to be four) grandchildren

Jennifer Long has been on the job as secretary in the WVU Extension Service's Marion County office since Nov. 20. Jennifer, a Mannington native, has more than 10 years of experience in office work.

Carol Olson retired Nov. 30 from her position of Extension diabetes education specialist. She joined Extension July 16, 1998, after working as a consultant and diabetes dietetic education specialist with the Diabetes Control Program for the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health. She also had a private practice in nutrition therapy and diabetes education. Carol's previous experience includes serving as a dietitian for such companies as Endocrine Diagnostics Inc., St. Joseph's Hospital, and G.E. Plastics in Parkersburg. She taught a nursing course on diabetes offered via satellite by WVU and Bluefield State College. She also taught a human nutrition class to medical students at the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Carol earned a master's degree in home economics, specializing in human nutrition and food science, from Ohio University. Her bachelor's degree in microbiology is from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Robert E. Pitts became a clinical assistant professor/veterinarian with the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences on Dec. 1. With half of this position being funded by the Extension Service, his duties also include working with Extension faculty across the state. A native West Virginian, Bob earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in animal sciences at WVU. He received the doctorate of veterinary medicine from Louisiana State University. After completing his formal education, he worked with Dr. H. C. Spencer at the Valley Animal Clinic in New Martinsville. This was a mixed animal practice, which included ambulatory coverage in several West Virginia and Ohio counties. After establishing his own practice in Middlebourne in 1979, Bob made farm calls in a five-county area for all types of livestock. In 1989, he accepted a position with the West Virginia Department of Agriculture as veterinary supervisor in the Meat and Poultry Inspection Division. He supervised meat inspectors in southern West Virginia and had diagnostic responsibilities for the animals slaughtered in those plants. Bob may be reached by e-mail (rpitts@wvu.edu) or by phone (293-2631, ext. 4439).

Norman Schwertfeger became a clinical assistant professor in the Center for Community, Economic, and Workforce Development Jan. 2. His home base is the WVU Extension Office in Brooke County. Norman most recently served as the vice president of Health Ways, a behavioral health care agency based in Weirton. In that position, he developed programs for persons with disabilities. Earlier, Norman was the supervisor of the West Virginia Youth Advocate Program in Wellsburg. He also was a consultant and instructor of the BRIDGE Program at West Virginia Northern Community College. Norman has served as a member of the Brooke County Commission for 14 years. He earned a master's degree in public administration from WVU and a bachelor's degree in psychology and sociology from West Liberty State College. He and his wife, Jeanne Kay Schwertfeger, have three sons-Jacob, 16; Zachary, 14; and Cody, 8.

. . . Have You Heard?

Stacey Harper's son, Jackson Rodney, was born Dec. 14. He weighed 8 pounds, 12 ounces. Cards may be sent to Stacey and Jason at this address: 3015 Evergreen Lane, Morgantown WV 26505.

Dick Hartley and his wife, Martha, officially opened the Log House Homestead Jan. 1. The bed and breakfast, located near Cornwallis, was built from trees felled at the Hartleys' farm, and then cut to length and hand hewn by Dick. The Ritchie Gazette featured the new bed and breakfast in its Dec. 7 edition. The project started with a simple sketch drawn by the pair in 1990. Dick worked on the house's construction in his spare time for eight years. "It is a remarkably accurate re-creation of a log house of the 1820s," wrote editor Kent Spellman. Located near the North Bend Rail Trail, the home was included in the local Humane Society's Christmas Tour of Houses in December. For more information on the Log House Homestead, contact the Hartleys at 628-3249.

Robert Massey has been elected chairperson of the Region 1 Youth Council of the Workforce Investment Board. The seven-region board was established by Gov. Cecil H. Underwood to serve as the lead agency on all statewide labor issues and to guide the implementation of the Workforce Investment Act. Region 1 includes Fayette, Greenbrier, McDowell, Mercer, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Raleigh, Summers, Webster, and Wyoming counties.

Brian Westfall and Valerie Cusick were married Saturday, Dec. 30, at Valley United Methodist Church in Huntsville, Ala. Valerie is an elementary school teacher in Dorchester County, Md.

An 8-pound, 5-ounce newborn was named the 2000 Putnam County Future 4-H'er in a contest sponsored by the WVU Extension Service, the Putnam County 4-H Leaders' Association, and the county's 19 4-H clubs. The contest is held annually to celebrate National 4-H Week. Zane Richard Eugene Lanham III was born Oct. 5 at Thomas Memorial Hospital in South Charleston. Zane arrived just hours ahead of other soon-to-be-born babies registered for the contest. Among the gifts the family received were a handmade afghan and quilt. Members of all the county's 4-H clubs decorated the quilt's fabric squares. A photo of Zane and his parents, Richard and Kiley Lanham, was featured on the front page of the Nov. 16 edition of the Putnam Democrat. Eight other Putnam County children were named Future 4-H'ers in previous years.

. . . Health Newsletter Discontinued

Extension has provided the bimonthly "Wellness Newsletter" to its employees and their families for the past five years. Recently, the WVU Extension Service decided to suspend its subscription to this publication because many health newsletters are available from the Public Employees Insurance Agency, health maintenance organizations, and various Internet sites.

Distribution of the newsletter was recommended by a group of faculty who became concerned about employee wellness after conducting several health assessments during annual conferences. Many issues of the newsletter included a health or safety column written by Extension specialists. Extension appreciates the efforts of those faculty and staff who have supported the publication, notably Elaine Bowen, Jan Della-Guistina, and Magdy Akladios. Persons interested in obtaining information from the producers of the newsletter, HOPE Publications, can visit their Web site (http://www.hithope.com).

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Our Continuing Mission . . .

The mission of the West Virginia University Extension Service is to form learning partnerships with the people of West Virginia to enable them to improve their lives and communities. To these partnerships, we bring useful research- and experience-based knowledge that facilitates critical thinking and skill development.

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Extension Focus is a publication of the Office of the Associate Provost for Extension and Public Service. News items should be sent to the Office of Communications, 506 Knapp Hall, P.O. Box 6031, Morgantown, WV 26506-6031.

Issues of Focus are archived on Extension's Intranet
http://intranet.ext.wvu.edu/intouch/orgnews/focus/focus.htm

Programs and activities offered by the West Virginia University Extension Service are available to all persons without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, national origin, and marital or family status.

Submitted by Joyce Bower.