Henry Ford, Thomas Edison and Harvey Firestone were joined by other innovators of their day to explore America in what was their idea of roughing it as campers. They came to West Virginia twice and documented their love for its beauty while being hailed by locals as they swept through Mountain State communities with their own personal flair.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  

Today is Wednesday, July 5 

A Martinsburg chocolate maker shares her secret to sweet success…the old Memorial Tunnel becomes a  mushroom farm…and find out why IT companies say #YesWV…on today’s daily304.

#1 – From INNOVATORS & ENTREPRENEURS – Brenda Casabona, Owner of Defluri’s Fine Chocolate in Martinsburg, shares why she decided to call West Virginia home and what makes her fine chocolates unique. 

“We visited Martinsburg a number of times and it was a great community. It has a small town feel while also having a big city feel, and that’s why we chose to move. I’ve found all of the governmental departments we have dealt with in West Virginia to be very, very helpful and very proactive for businesses and consumers.

Innovators and Entrepreneurs is a bi-weekly segment of the daily304 that features discussions and wisdom from West Virginians who have built their companies and launched new ideas here in the Mountain State. Subscribe to the daily304’s YouTube channel for updates!

Watch the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NP4dCwm2a_0

 #2 – From DAILY304 –  Tucked away inside one of West Virginia's beautiful mountains is where you'll find Hernshaw Farms. They use the Memorial Tunnel along the West Virginia Turnpike to grow a large variety of mushrooms. Learn how they supply local restaurants with gourmet mushrooms and give people across the country to grow their own delicious varieties at home.

Learn more at https://hernshawfarms.com.

Watch the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azstAi5e52k

#3 – From WV ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – Technology & Information Services is an emerging industry in West Virginia. This growing cluster of researchers and practitioners includes university research facilities, government agencies and commercial enterprises.

The concentration of Technology and Information Services, specifically our leading biometric organizations in north-central West Virginia, has been called the “Silicon Valley of America’s biometrics activity.

Learn more and view an interactive map of IT-related businesses in West Virginia.

Read more:

https://westvirginia.gov/industries/information-technology/

Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.

The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 

That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  

Today is Tuesday, July 4

“Almost heaven … West Virginia…” Find out how the John Denver classic made its way to becoming a state anthem…Cool off this summer with a stay at one of West Virginia’s lake resorts…and Latin American software developer Oktana says #YesWV.

#1 – From WOWK-TV – “Take Me Home, Country Roads” has become a song loved by West Virginians and the world. It has been featured in movies, TV shows, video games and more, but how did it get to the point?

In 2014, the John Denver classic was added to the lineup of West Virginia state songs. The song is alongside “This is My West Virginia,” “The West Virginia Hills” and “West Virginia, My Home Sweet Home.” In 2023, it was added to the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry.

Nowadays, “Take Me Home, Country Roads” is featured in media from movies to TV shows to video games, whether it be the Denver original or a cover. Google Trends data shows an uptick in searches for the song in June 2018, one month after a cover of the song was used for the “Fallout 76” trailer, a video game set in a post-apocalyptic West Virginia.

Read more:

https://www.wowktv.com/news/west-virginia/the-history-of-west-virginia-anthem-take-me-home-country-roads/

#2 – From WV TOURISM – Nestled in the mountains of West Virginia, you can find many beautiful, serene lakes that provide an escape into nature. Enjoy swimming, fishing, snorkeling, boating or simply relaxing by the water at any one of them. You don’t have to sacrifice comfort either; several locations offer an elevated experience and provide guests with the option of luxurious lakeside lodging.

Stonewall Resort State Park offers a secluded retreat, while being only minutes from I-79. Choose from the elegant, rustic lodge, cozy, fully equipped cottages or an amenity-filled campground, all lakeside

Summersville Lake is one of the most popular attractions in the Mountain State. The 2,800-acre lake with 60 miles of shoreline and clear waters provides visitors with a host of activities to choose from. 

Located in the heart of Mountaineer Country and just minutes from Morgantown, the  1,170-acre Cheat Lake offers a plethora of family-friendly outdoor activities. 

Tygart Lake State Park is beloved by outdoor enthusiasts for the recreation opportunities available here. Among classic lake activities, there is also an adventure lake with a sandy beach and 25 giant inflatables, perfect for letting loose and enjoying the summer sun. 

Visit www.wvtourism.com or www.wvstateparks.com and start planning your Almost Heaven getaway today!

Read more:

https://wvtourism.com/soak-up-the-sun-with-these-4-lakeside-stays-in-west-virginia/

#3 – From WV DEPT OF COMMERCE – Primarily located in Latin America, Oktana was drawn to West Virginia because of its sense of home. Oktana is a software developer within the information technology industry that provides custom app development. The company specializes in design, implementation, optimization, and integration to Salesforce, including Heroku and MuleSoft. In January of 2020, they opened their first onshore development office in Downtown Charleston, West Virginia.

Watch the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJibjaOxrpA

Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.

The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 

That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  

Today is Monday, July 3 

A southern chef and caterer brings her tasty tamale recipes to the Capital City…Crave WV pays a visit to downtown Charleston’s award-winning vegan restaurant…and Orion Block Systems’ co-founder discusses building up the block chain…on today’s daily304.

#1 – From TASTE WV – Authentic tamales in the capital city of West Virginia might seem like a far-off dream for many, but Amanda Ivy has brought them to reality.

Ivy has offered variations including Salvadoran chicken, chicken mole, green chile pork, pork chile verde, chorizo pastor and more. There are even vegan options, including ancho mashed potato; jackfruit carnitas; sweet potato and collard and more. 

The Mississippi-born chef was raised in California and educated in Arkansas before she brought her tamale and catering home businesses to Charleston: Delta Tamalero and Low Ivy Catering.

She’s also of Mohican heritage, from a small tribe called the Stockbridge Munsee. Check out Taste WV for her Native American Fry Bread recipe.

Read more:

https://tastewv.com/amanda-ivy-delta-tamalero-charleston-wv/

#2 – From CRAVE WV – Meatless Monday...is that a thing? Well, it is now! Crave WV takes you to The Loopy Leaf in downtown Charleston to show you that vegan dishes can truly pack a punch in the flavor department. See for yourself! 

And don’t forget to subscribe to the daily304 channel on YouTube so you won’t miss the next episode!

Watch the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJ_LFrPWotY

#3 – From INNOVATORS & ENTREPRENEURS – Jacob Lysick is co-founder and COO at Orion Block Systems. He discusses how his company works to increase security in the blockchain by solving key security issues within the process. “We are providing the security of knowing that your biometrics, your residual self-image of your storage, is unhackable,” he says.

Innovators and Entrepreneurs is a bi-weekly segment of the daily304 that features discussions and wisdom from West Virginians who have built their companies and launched new ideas here in the Mountain State. Subscribe to the daily304 YouTube channel for updates.

Read more:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEEy-_YR8XY&feature=youtu.be

Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.

The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 

That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  

Today is Sunday, July 2 

Have fun while learning about nature at WV state parks…Learn more about WV’s higher ed training and job opportunities…and “West Virginia Makes” showcases the state’s diverse arts community…on today’s daily304.

#1 – From WV STATE PARKS – Who says education has to be boring? Bring the kids to a state park nature program and they’ll have so much fun they won’t even realize they’re learning something. These programs are suitable for all ages from toddlers to grownups, so bring the whole family along!

West Virginia state parks and forests host a variety of nature-based activities, including interpretive hikes, wildlife programs and star parties, not to mention crafts and games and other fun activities.

If the park you’re visiting has a Nature Center, be sure to stop by to view exhibits pertaining to local plants and animals and chat with the park naturalist about fun things to see and do. You can also check the events calendar at www.wvstateparks.com.

Read more:

https://wvstateparks.com/state-park-nature-programs-the-best-way-to-experience-nature-while-learning/

 #2 – From JOBCASE –  West Virginia is home to a diverse higher education system that offers many opportunities for students seeking a college degree or technical training. With 12 public baccalaureate institutions and nine public community and technical colleges, West Virginia's higher education system is uniquely positioned to provide affordable, career-driven education to students across the state.

One of the critical strengths of West Virginia's higher education system is its close collaboration with businesses to meet workforce needs. By partnering with local companies, community and technical colleges can tailor their programs to meet the needs of the local job market, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared to enter the workforce and contribute to the state's economy

Learn more:

https://www.jobcase.com/articles/west-virginia-higher-education-system

#3 – From WV BUSINESSLINK –  “Years ago, decades now — I staked my claim in these hills as a business owner,” writes Diana Sole. “Women who lead production companies are rather oddities still today, imagine 36 years ago when MotionMasters was formed. And formed, no less, far from the production hubs of New York or L.A.”

Since 1987, MotionMasters has produced a number of documentaries about the history of our people and the forces that forged our state. Those stories include “Outlier: The Story of Katherine Johnson” and “Treason Island: The Blennerhassetts and Aaron Burr.”

The company’s latest endeavor, “West Virginia Makes” is a television/social media project showcasing the best of West Virginia. Designed as a multi-episode series which will initially air on West Virginia Public Broadcasting, “West Virginia Makes” features a team traveling the nooks and crannies of West Virginia to showcase the astonishing assortment of handcrafted and manufactured goods that are made here. 

Read more:

https://wvbusinesslink.com/2023/06/22/the-melody-hiraeth-celebrating-west-virginias-makers/

Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.

The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 

That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  

Today is Saturday, July 1 

“The Main Thing” host reveals how a potential setback led him to starting his own podcast…Holy Batman! Huntington’s caped crusader receives the Distinguished West Virginian award…and WV arts communities reveal the secret to their success…on today’s daily304.

#1 – From WV BUSINESSLINK – Entrepreneur and a podcaster Skip Lineberg reveals how he paved his own path after his first podcast was canceled. 

“My response was to launch my own podcast. It would be my show. My niche. My format, on my terms,” he says. 

“Heading into summer 2019, I clearly saw a niche for short-format podcast providing valuable wisdom in a less-than-15-minute package. “The Main Thing Podcast” was born in July 2019. It offers listeners an “aha moment” in the time it takes to unload the dishwasher or brew a pot of coffee.”

“Why wisdom?” You might wonder. Simply put, I believe we are all drowning in information, while starved for wisdom. As you’ll hear me say in the podcast intro, wisdom is more precious than gold.

Read more:

https://wvbusinesslink.com/2023/06/21/wisdom-unleashed-embracing-no-and-paving-your-own-path/

#2 – From WCHS-TV – The West Virginia Batman received the highest honor a civilian in the Mountain State can receive.

Secretary of Homeland Security Jeff Sandy presented the Distinguished West Virginian Award to the man behind the mask, John Buckland, at Buckland’s church in Huntington recently. 

It's been 11 years since Buckland decided to put on the cape, and he's still visiting hospitals, fundraisers and schools in his Batmobile. He said it's to inspire others and put a smile on children's faces.

“I think the reason that the inspiration was there for Batman is because so many people can relate to his story,” Buckland said. “He learns to take his pain and turn it into power. He uses his sadness and anger as a way to change the world.”

Read more:

https://wchstv.com/news/local/wv-batman-receives-distinguished-west-virginian-award

#3 – From WV EXPLORER – What makes for a good arts community? According to John Villani, the author of “The 100 Best Small Art Towns in America,” good arts communities are those in which affordable housing, entrepreneurial spirit, and the availability of arts venues—such as galleries and coffeehouses—are reversing economic downturn.

“In places that got their start as agricultural crossroads, lakeside retreats, mining towns, and fishing villages," Villani writes, "local artists and business owners have transformed off-the-beaten-path hamlets into vibrant art towns.”

Which West Virginia towns number among its best art communities? Six have been certified by the W.Va. Division of Culture & History as qualified arts communities—Elkins, Wheeling, Lewisburg, and Berkeley Springs and the counties of Wood (including Vienna, Parkersburg, and Williamstown) and Mercer (including Athens, Bluefield, and Princeton).

To learn more, visit www.wvtourism.com and start planning your Almost Heaven road trip to these arts communities. 

Read more:

https://wvexplorer.com/2023/06/17/west-virginia-arts-communities/

Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.

The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 

That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  

Today is Friday, June 30 

A $25 million grant will help expand broadband in WV…It’s a food-o-rama in the Kanawha Valley, with a new restaurant opening and loads of food trucks setting up for Regatta…and the owner of Sutton’s Bigfoot Museum says folks have made him a believer…on today’s daily304.

#1 – From METRO NEWS – With a $25 million grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, Appalachian Power will be able to expand its fiber optic data network and make broadband access available to thousands of more households in southern West Virginia.

The NTIA grant will go towards constructing 658 miles of new “middle mile” fiber optic cable. It was also to utilize fiber strands along another 297 miles of the company’s existing fiber in parts of McDowell, Mercer, Raleigh, Summers, and Wyoming counties.

Phil Moye, Appalachian Power Corporate Communications Manager, says the middle mile infrastructure will reach 22,000 unserved residents.

Read more:

https://wvmetronews.com/2023/06/25/ntia-grant-for-appalachian-power-will-expand-broadband-access-to-more-rural-households/

 #2 – From WV FOOD GUY –  If you’re heading into Charleston this weekend, you’ll find some new dining options. 

Dem 2 Brothers and a Grill has opened its new location in downtown Charleston, adding another option for diners craving the restaurant’s mouthwatering barbecue, homestyle sides and desserts. The restaurant is located at 189 Summers Street in the storefront that formerly housed Nosh.

Live music, carnival rides, cold drinks and more aren’t the only things to enjoy at the Charleston Sternwheel Regatta along Kanawha Boulevard downtown this Friday through July 4. The annual river festival also offers quite the food-a-palooza with a whopping 40 food trucks and vendors serving up tasty treats.

There’s also a Low Country Boil coming up at Gritt’s Farm in Buffalo and a women’s farm-to-table dinner at J.Q. Dickinson Salt-works in Malden. Check it out!

Read more:

https://www.wvfoodguy.com/post/dem-2-brothers-and-a-grill-opens-new-location-downtown

#3 – From WV EXPLORER – Locals know there's a Bigfoot, or several of the creatures, living in the forests of central West Virginia, according to the curator of the West Virginia Bigfoot Museum in Sutton.

David Petolicchio says that when he established the museum in the town's historic district in 2021, he had only a vague idea of how residents of the Elk River Valley might feel about tales of the monster. But soon after it opened, he found out.

“There are farmers and hunters who will tell you that they believe in Bigfoot and that they’ve seen it or heard it or have seen signs of it,” Petolicchio said, “and I believe them. These are not crazy people. These are serious people and respected members of the community.”

Inspired by tales of a Bigfoot that had haunted the region since the 1940s (in which it was referred to as a “wild man”), David and his mother, Laurel, opened the museum in 2021 alongside their downtown shop, Mountain Laurel Country Store, which carries home decor, health and beauty products, apparel, games, and toys.

Read more:

https://wvexplorer.com/2023/06/21/west-virginia-bigfoot-museum-now-a-believer/

Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.

The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 

That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  

Today is Thursday, June 29 

The “King Coal” documentary debuts at the Culture Center next month…Brad Smith is takingAscend West Virginia to a new level with two vertical programs…and ya gotta Regatta! The festival kicks off tomorrow in Charleston…on today’s daily304.

#1 – From WV EXPLORER – “King Coal,” a feature-length documentary by West Virginia-raised and Academy Award-nominated filmmakers Curren Sheldon and Elaine McMillion Sheldon, makes its home-state premiere at the West Virginia Culture Center in Charleston next month.

The West Virginia International Film Festival presents the event at 6 p.m. July 8. The event includes the 75-minute film screening, a live Q&A discussion with filmmakers, food, and music. The film is rated "Y" and is appropriate for families and children.

A lyrical tapestry of a place and people, “King Coal” meditates on the complex history and future of the coal industry and the communities it has shaped. The film remixes present-day moments of life in the coalfields with archival footage and atmospheric invocations of the land to alchemize something new — a rare, nuanced depiction of the community.

Read more:

https://wvexplorer.com/2023/06/20/king-coal-premier-at-charleston-west-virginia/

#2 – From WV NEWS – The Ascend West Virginia program soon will go to the next level, according to Brad D. Smith.

Smith, the former CEO and later executive chairman of Intuit and the current president of Marshall University, and his wife, Alys, developed the program to attract remote workers to the Mountain State.

Since launching in April 2021, the program has brought 142 new residents to the state, who in turn have brought 172 others with them. There have also been five brand-new West Virginians born.

The program’s success has inspired a pair of what Smith calls “vertical programs.”

First Ascent will help recent West Virginia college graduates find remote work and placement in remote worker programs, while offering them the same sort of outdoor-based incentives to continue living in the state. Another program, Military Ascent, is designed to attract those who served our country to move to West Virginia.

More details of the “vertical programs” will be announced during the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s 2023 Annual Meeting and Business Summit at the end of August.

Read more:

https://www.wvnews.com/news/wvnews/brad-d-smith-looks-to-take-ascend-west-virginia-program-to-the-next-level/article_7a598c7e-11c0-11ee-81e7-5fbede0bc7c6.html

#3 – From CHARLESTON REGATTA – Ya gotta Regatta! Make plans for the annual Charleston Sternwheel Regatta returning to the Capital City on June 30 through July 4. 

Highlights include concerts, car shows and even wiener dog races. The event includes food vendors and a carnival and of course, sternwheelers. 

This year’s live music lineup features Better Than Ezra, Flo Rida, Kool and the Gang, Jo Dee Messina. 

Download the app Visit Charleston WV for a full schedule of events!

Learn more:

https://charlestonregatta.com/

Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.

The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 

That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

Most politicians come and go without leaving an impression, while some either rise to great fame or fall to great infamy. Governor William C. Marland managed to achieve both in his four-year term from 1953 to 1957. He proposed a severance tax on coal while the industry was at its height in West Virginia’s economy, which would set in motion a rebellion that changed the course of his career.

What Makes You Wonderful talks to Ripley, WV, Mayor Rader about everything you and your family can get into this weekend at the 4th of July Celebration! Parades, tributes, music, food, and so much more takes over the city Thursday, July 29, through Tuesday, July 4.

You can find more information here: https://www.ripleyfourthofjuly.com/