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

Today is Saturday, Feb. 18  

Enjoy a 4-course meal paired with craft beer or spirits; Stonewall Resort is hosting these special dinners in the coming weeks…Make plans for the WV Small Farm Conference in Charleston from Feb. 22-25…and what do you know about WV’s ancient history? Learn more about fossil hunting in Almost Heaven…on today’s daily304.

 #1 – From WV FOOD GUY – If you’re looking for a great food and spirits-filled weekend nestled in relaxing and gorgeous surroundings, set your GPS to Stonewall Resort in the rolling hills of Central West Virginia near Weston.

Steven Keith aka “The Food Guy” scored a ticket to the recent sold-out Big Timber Brewing Co. craft beer pairing extravaganza, the first in a group of four Appalachian Dinner Series events taking place at the resort this winter.

Guests at Lightburn’s Restaurant were treated to a special evening featuring a four course meal prepared by Stonewall Executive Chef Corey Pickens, with exclusive beers paired by Big Timber brewer Matt Kwasniewski.

Ever heard of Walter Stew? Think of it as a Reuben soup, and it’s delicious paired with Big Timber’s Logger Lager.

Get your tickets now for more upcoming special dinner pairings with Jackie O’s Brewery, Greenbrier Valley Brewing Company and Smooth Ambler Spirits. Visit www.stonewallresort.com and click on the Events tab.

Read more:
https://www.wvfoodguy.com/post/stonewall-resort-s-appalachian-dinner-series-is-a-spirited-hit 
 
#2 – From WVU EXTENSION – Local farms are vital to West Virginia’s food system, but despite the growing demand for locally sourced foods, the small farm community still faces plenty of challenges.

To continue supporting our state’s producers, the West Virginia University Extension Small Farm Center will host its annual West Virginia Small Farm Conference from Feb. 22-25 at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center.

Attendees will learn how to adapt their enterprises to meet the rising demand for local foods. There also will be more traditional offerings to help small farmers increase the profitability of their operations, from vegetable production to value-added products.

Registration information and other conference details can be found at https://extension.wvu.edu/small-farm-conference.

Read more:
https://extension.wvu.edu/news/2023/02/06/2023-small-farm-conference 

#3 – From A-Z Animals – Long before West Virginia became a state, prehistoric animals called the land home. Check out some of these fascinating species:

Dimetrodon lived around 295–272 million years ago during the Cisuralian Period. This unique extinct animal had neural spine sails with elongated spines protruding from the vertebrae. Scientists have found their tracks in West Virginia.

The Edaphosaurus means “pavement lizard.” This large animal is one of the earliest known four-legged land-living vertebrate herbivores, weighing over 600 pounds and measuring up to 11 feet long. Archeologists have uncovered their fossils in West Virginia.

A common and popular fossil hunting spot in the state is the Lost River. This is a roadside quarry near Wardensville. It is a 390-million-year-old Devonian reef that was perched at the Kaskaskia Sea. Read on to find more fossil hunting spots in Almost Heaven.

Learn more:
https://a-z-animals.com/blog/dinosaurs-that-lived-in-west-virginia-and-where-to-see-fossils-today/ 

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, Feb. 17

An Elkins resident lands a role in the Tom Hanks movie “A Man Called Otto.” A Morgantown High School student launches a program to get books into the hands of preschoolers. And the state reports 1,535 new business registrations in January -- #YesWV! … on today’s daily304.

 #1 – From THE INTER-MOUNTAIN – Veteran actor and Elkins resident Cindy Jackson has landed a role in the Tom Hanks movie “A Man Called Otto,” currently playing in theaters.

Hanks, playing a grumpy senior citizen, berates a UPS driver (Jackson) for parking on his street while delivering packages. 
“I’ve been very fortunate,” Jackson said. “I feel very lucky to be paid to act, which is something I’ve always loved to do and have done for free many times. It’s my passion and I love it.”

Jackson is an Elkins High School graduate who studied theater at West Virginia University. She landed her first TV role while still in college -- playing a dead body on the iconic show “Law & Order.”
She said Hanks was a pleasure to work with. The two chatted on set about West Virginia and he said he would be interested in visiting the Mountain State some day.

Read more:
https://www.theintermountain.com/news/local-news/2023/02/elkins-own-movie-star-star/ 
 
#2 – From WV PUBCAST – High school student Rania Zuri has made it her mission to end book deserts in West Virginia.
A senior at Morgantown High School, Zuri founded the LiTEArary Society to provide books to preschool children across West Virginia.

“I decided to combine my book club with my passion for ending the book desert into the LiTEAary Society, which is a play on words of literary and tea,” she said. 

This past year the group gifted a brand new book to every single preschool child in Head Start across West Virginia -- almost 7,000 books total.

“I held reading circles with the children. Many of the children in Head Start didn’t have any books at home … Some of the children, when I handed out the books, they were jumping up and down with excitement. That was truly a delight.”

Visit www.liteararysociety.org to learn more about the program.
Read the interview.

https://wvpublic.org/high-school-student-uses-music-nonprofit-to-raise-w-va-literacy-rates/ 

#3 – From WV BusinessLink – The West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office registered 1,535 new businesses statewide during January -- YesWV!.

Wetzel County led the state in the percentage of new business growth through January with a total of 19 new business registrations, a 3.58% increase. The Secretary of State’s Business & Licensing Division reported that Clay, Morgan, Taylor, and Tyler Counties also experienced notable growth during the month.
Counties that led the state in total businesses registered for January were Kanawha, Berkeley, Monongalia, Jefferson and Cabell. Kanawha County successfully registered 155 businesses while Berkeley County reported 136 new registrations.

Monongalia County reported 133. Jefferson County reported 84 and Cabell County totaled 74 new registrations.

Read more:
https://wvbusinesslink.com/2023/02/08/secretary-of-state-mac-warner-reports-1535-new-wv-business-registrations-for-january-of-2023/ 
 
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.

Mary Smith McClain was not an overnight sensation in the world of Blues music like her half-sister Bessie Smith, but she became a respected journeyman who paid the proverbial dues to become known as one of the stalwarts of the musical form. The Huntington native gathered many nicknames for her style but ‘Diamond Teeth Mary’ is the one that stayed with her in her near century of living and contributing to American culture, reflecting her luxurious artful style.  

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

Today is Thursday, Feb. 16
 
Businesses, tell your story to connect with customers…The History Project pays a virtual visit to the Swiss mountain town of Helvetia…and a snow tubing park opens in Harpers Ferry -- whee!...on today’s daily304.

 #1 – From WV BusinessLink –  Telling your own company’s story can be a powerful tool for connecting with potential customers and creating a loyal following. Mark Burdette, program coordinator for WV BusinessLink, offers some tips.

The first step is knowing who you are talking to. What kind of person makes up the majority of your customer base? 

It’s also important that you focus on the benefits rather than just giving facts and figures about your product or service. For example, if you sell a type of clothing, don’t just talk about how stylish it is--talk about how wearing it will make someone feel more confident or professional

And remember, People want stories they can relate to; so make sure yours feels genuine and authentic. 

Read more:
https://wvbusinesslink.com/2023/01/27/crafting-your-companys-story-to-appeal-to-your-ideal-customer/ 
 
#2 – From THE HISTORY PROJECT – Appalachian heritage is known to be spread among German, English, and Scots-Irish cultures, but a tiny town in West Virginia represents a different European union, Switzerland. 

Helvetia was founded by Swiss immigrants after the Civil War to create better lives for themselves in a new mountainous home. Their traditions and culture still survive as visitors make a purposeful visit to, or perhaps stumble upon, Helvetia, to find a place set apart not just from the state but from the nation as well.
Learn more about this charming mountain community on the the Daily 304’s presentation of famous people, places and events that shaped West Virginia. And don’t forget to like and subscribe to the YouTube channel!

Watch the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bR9AnWL09g 

#3 – From THE HERALD-DISPATCH – The snow tubing resort Snow Riders is now open for business near Harpers Ferry after a weekend cold snap allowed the resort to fire up its snow guns and lay down a base layer for its 12 tubing lanes.

With the purchase of a ticket, tubers will have unlimited rides down the hill for a 90-minute period, and will be taken back up the hill via a “magic carpet” conveyor belt. Nighttime tubing comes with the added bonus of disco lights and music. 

Check out snowriders.com for ticketing information.

Read more:
https://www.herald-dispatch.com/_zapp/snow-tubing-resort-near-harpers-ferry-now-open-ahead-of-schedule/article_667ba3c4-da02-57bf-8212-2b5fe16e1129.html 

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 Wednesday, Feb. 15

 
An injured bald eagle is nursed back to health and returned to the skies over Bluestone Lake… WVDOH employs a new weapon in patching winter potholes…and WV officials are considering a blue hydrogen hub in #YesWV…on today’s daily304.

 #1 – From THE GAZETTE-MAIL – Last October, a 3-year-old bald eagle hunting for prey over an expanse of farmland in Monroe County flew into a game farm’s tall wire fence, became entangled and struggled to free itself, breaking a wing in the process. 
West Virginia Natural Resources Police Officer J.C. Wheeler drove the injured bird to Three Rivers Avian Center in Summers County, about 25 miles away.

Aside from its broken wing and lacerations, the bird was suffering from lead poisoning. Wendy Perrone, executive director at Three Rivers, was hopeful the eagle’s wing could be saved but she was doubtful the bird would ever fly again. 

But last week, at the edge of Bluestone Lake, the eagle, named Monroe IV, demonstrated how far he had progressed since October. An instant after Wheeler opened the door to its cage, Monroe IV flapped his way into the sky as a small crowd of onlookers watched and cheered. 

“Here, he’ll have plenty to eat and lots of buddies to hang out with,” Perrone said. “He hasn’t established a territory yet, so he’ll have some time to jazz around and see where he wants to be.”
Visit www.tracwv.org to learn more about Three Rivers Avian Center.

Read more:
https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/eagle-takes-flight-after-near-death-experience-in-monroe-county/article_96ce527d-0980-5924-92a6-8cc163ef53ba.html 
 
#2 – From WVDOT – Although April is the cruelest month, February is worse for potholes. This year, the West Virginia Division of Highways has added a weapon in its fight against the freeze and thaw cycles that destroy the roads we share. 

Asphalt plants typically shut down in November and don’t reopen until spring. During the winter it’s  often too cold for asphalt to stick even if plants were open, but winter is when potholes form most frequently.

This year, the West Virginia Division of Highways has added a new defense.

“During the winter months, we use cold mix,” said WVDOH Chief Engineer of District Operations Joe Pack, P.E.  "It’s a mixture of cold asphalt we can use to make temporary repairs.  It's not going to last as long, but it’s a temporary measure we can use until we can make permanent repairs in the spring.”

To make a proper wintertime pothole repair, crews first use tools to try to make the pothole as square as possible. They then remove all the old debris and heat the hole to make the cold mix stick better.

Finally, the cold mix is tamped down with hand tools or a roller. These repairs should last several months until asphalt plants reopen in the spring.

Read more:
https://transportation.wv.gov/communications/PressRelease/Pages/Its_February_Potholes_are_forming_How_is_WVDOH_fighting_back.aspx 

#3 – From WVTAP – Several prominent figures in West Virginia politics are touting the idea of building a blue hydrogen hub in the Appalachian Region.

Among those who have expressed support for a blue hydrogen hub in West Virginia include senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito and Governor Jim Justice.

The hub would use natural gas to produce hydrogen for use as a clean source of energy. Blue hydrogen proponents argue that it’s a way to create jobs and economic growth in the region and cleanly derive energy from natural gas because its process includes carbon sequestration, or storing carbon before it can be released into the atmosphere.

Read more:
https://www.wtap.com/2023/02/13/blue-hydrogen-hub-could-be-store-west-virginia/ 

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, Feb. 14

Hurricane’s new skate park is filling up with riders…Green Bank is the setting for a new sci-fi horror movie…and Vantage Ventures partners with Huntington Bank to offer more options to startups…on today’s daily304.

 #1 – From WSAZ-TV – Skateboarders and scooter riders now have a new place to test their skills in Hurricane.

The brand new skate park near the entrance of Hurricane City Park is all concrete and has a bowl--an improvement over the old skate park that was torn down years ago.

Cindy Cragg lives in the area and says the new skate park means she doesn’t have to take her son to Charleston to ride his scooter.

“We can throw a scooter in the back of the car, we can pick him up from school, and we can be here in 15 minutes, so it’s really made it so much more accessible for us,” Cragg said.

Read more: https://www.wsaz.com/2023/02/07/hurricane-celebrates-brand-new-skate-park/

#2 – From COLLIDER – A new science fiction horror movie called “Green Bank” takes place in an American town where all Wi-Fi, cell signals, and radio broadcasts are strictly forbidden for mysterious reasons.

Sound familiar? It’s modeled after the West Virginia community that’s home to the Green Bank Observatory.

“Green Bank,” directed by Josh Ruben and starring Tatiana Maslany and Jasmin Savoy Brown, is being shopped at the European market. In the meantime, you can visit the real deal and tour the facilities. Check it out at https://greenbankobservatory.org/.

Read more: https://collider.com/tatiana-maslany-jasmin-savoy-brown-cast-green-bank/?es_id=a79c48b6f2

#3 – From VANTAGE VENTURES – Vantage Ventures has partnered with Huntington Bank to build more support for present and future startups in West Virginia.

Both organizations are striving to build a more inclusive and sustainable financial services industry and enable driven entrepreneurs in underserved areas like West Virginia access to the customers, talent, and capital they need to build their companies. The launch of the West Virginia Start-up Fund will expand Founders of investable companies’ financing options and diversify the state’s economy.

Chad Prather, president of West Virginia at Huntington National Bank, talks about the bank’s efforts to strengthen the growing West Virginia entrepreneurial community. Check out the interview at Vantage Ventures.

Read more: https://vantageventures.io/huntington-bank-collaborates-with-vantage-ventures-on-its-first-credit-fund-supporting-high-growth-start-ups/

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, Feb. 13

Entrepreneurs, get set for Bridging Innovation Week in Wheeling…Toyota WV solves a camshaft issue and saves the company a bundle of money…and the Department of Agriculture is recruiting dairy cows…on today’s daily304.

 #1 – From WV Entrepreneurship System – Sign up now for Bridging Innovation Week, set for April 17-21 at Oglebay Resort and Conference Center in Wheeling.

Bridging Innovation integrates meaningful networking opportunities to connect entrepreneurs with the multitude of resource organizations that exist in the Mountain State. The full week of events features activities ranging from entrepreneur vendor fairs, pitch competitions, educational conferences, and hands-on training sessions.

Learn more: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/bridging-innovation-week-1446339

 #2 – From TOYOTA WV – Some 2,000 team members at Toyota West Virginia in Buffalo make nearly 1 million engines and transmissions annually. A key component in their output is the camshaft which must be machined to very tight tolerances to function properly.

“Just one failed test can cause a quarter of production — or about 135 engines — to be placed on hold,” said Cheryl Rollins, team leader in Quality Control at the plant.

Rollins and her team set out to come up with a way to identify cam chatter earlier in the production process. By applying Toyota Production System principles, the team drilled down to the root cause of the problem and came up with an elegant and incredibly affordable camshaft chatter checker tool.

In hard costs, Rollins says the impact of an assembly line shutdown due to cam chatter was in the neighborhood of $500,000 per incident. Even if the cam chatter checker has prevented just one such occurrence, it has already paid for itself many times over.

Read more: https://one.toyota.com/member/post/b87b52e4-ef20-450c-af48-2605674d3f5a?uc=34056&g=0b9dfe58-8e94-4af7-844f-bbc087b21599&f=123773&fbclid=IwAR3R6SYKXhSsItbaUCikN_BOKJReQX_a6Yv6NkcOxq76MvhaRCuE5KVDgXw

#3 – From AMERICAN FARM – Wanted: Dairy cows. Lots of them.

The West Virginia Department of Agriculture is looking to meet the demand of a massive dairy beverage business setting up shop in the Morgantown Industrial Park.

Mountaintop Beverage announced in the fall that it was establishing a 330,000-square-foot processing facility with the capacity to eventually expand to 750,000 square feet and 400 workers.

“Their goal is to rebuild the dairy economy in the state of West Virginia,” said Crescent Gallagher, an agriculture department spokesperson.

The state will need to double its dairy output to 75 million pounds of milk per year. In a state with fewer than 50 operating dairies, that means West Virginia would need to welcome roughly 6,000 additional cows.

Strategies could include the recruitment of farmers from neighboring states, Gallagher said. With the help of West Virginia University, the state is also identifying areas where it could grow its industry, either with new farms or expanding existing operations.

Read more: https://americanfarmpublications.com/west-virginia-wants-more-dairies/

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, Feb. 12 

Happy birthday! A Wheeling hair salon celebrates 40 years…a WV film company lands two more big projects from Lifetime cable network…#YesWV… and what’s that sound? Could it be spring peepers coming soon to the wetlands of Almost Heaven…on today’s daily304.

#1 – From WTRF-TV Wheeling – Wheeling’s history shines through the businesses that have stood the test of time, and for some – they never would have dreamed that they would see their success flourish into what it is today.

 Frederick’s Day Spa Salon recently celebrated its 40th birthday with balloons, cupcakes, and a fun ’80s theme to take it back to where it all began. Fred DeChiazza was just 23 years old when he opened his first hair salon in Elm Grove, and later expanded to the former Zien’s restaurant on Edgington Lane, where he has remained for 16 years.

DeChiazza says that with the great help of his family and employees, he is confident that they are going to take Frederick’s Day Spa Salon for another 40 years into the future. Check them out at www.fredericks-salon.com.

 Read more: https://www.wtrf.com/wheeling/wheeling-salon-celebrates-40-years-of-business-in-the-ohio-valley/

 #2 – From C21 MEDIA– It’s good news for the West Virginia film industry as Lifetime cable network orders two more movies inspired by best-selling true crime author Ann Rule’s books.

“Desperate Hours” (working title) is adapted from Rule’s “Last Dance, Last Chance” true crime collection. A+E Networks-owned Lifetime has also green-lighted “A Rose For Her Grave” (working title), which follows the crimes of real-life serial killer Randy Roth and the woman who finally brought him to justice.

The movies are produced by West Virginia-based production company Allegheny Image Factory and Best On Best and will both debut in 2023 on Lifetime. Conor Allyn and Benjamin Anderson serve as writers/executive producers and Jeff Tinnell and Bob Tinell serve as producers for both films.

Read more: https://www.c21media.net/news/lifetime-orders-two-more-movies-based-on-ann-rule-crime-books-for-2023/?fbclid=IwAR3Tny4WWRDvZCT1ymns5usezuGeFbETwrl7fiNk7z2l3H8TGWfyMumg3e0

#3 – From WV Explorer – Forget groundhogs … everyone knows you can’t trust their weather predicting skills. The REAL harbinger of spring is the spring peeper.

"If you're listening, it's the first frog you're going to hear in the spring," says Lauren Cole, the naturalist at Chief Logan State Park. 

The tiny frogs typically begin their chorus in late February or early March when temperatures start to warm up. It’s a welcome sound in the Appalachian Mountains and signals that spring is just around the corner.

Read more: https://wvexplorer.com/2023/02/03/groundhog-day-spring-peepers-west-virginia/

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.

Balancing family and a career, President and CEO of A3L Federal Works LLC. Roya Maher has made her mark in the Mountain State. Maher moved to West Virginia with her husband and not only raised her family here but also created a sustainable, profitable business in Fairmont.

"I started my company in Fairmont, #WestVirginia, which was the best decision I could have made,” Maher said. “The most important thing, at least for me, and I will suggest for all the other people planning on starting their own business, is to learn the fundamental aspects of running a business.”

Maher also notes another reason she’s been so successful over the years - being passionate about “creating jobs for other people.”

Learn more at: https://www.a3lfederalworks.com/

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 #MountainState.

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

Today is Saturday, Feb. 11 

Toyota manufacturing in Buffalo demonstrates “flower power” with its new solar garden…Have a business in the New River Gorge area? Take advantage of some low-cost training workshops…and everybody wants a piece of the pie--pizza, that is. Check out these tasty pizzerias in Almost Heaven…on today’s daily304.

 #1 – From TOYOTA – The new “garden” near the main entrance of Toyota West Virginia supercharges the idea of “flower power.” Outside the Buffalo manufacturing facility, five SmartFlower solar arrays now help power the employee services buildings. The flowers also help power three EV charging stations.

 “This is just one more way Toyota West Virginia is embracing alternative energy and reducing our ecological footprint here in the Mountain State,” said David Rosier, Toyota West Virginia president. “Our environmental team is always working to make our plant more efficient and guiding our efforts to create a more sustainable future.”

 It’s one of the many projects aimed at helping Toyota West Virginia meet the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050. Facility grounds include a nature trail, pollinator garden, an outdoor classroom, bird houses, bat houses and a nesting platform to support avian species in the area. The nature trail and the outdoor classroom can be used by outside groups.

Read more: https://pressroom.toyota.com/solar-power-continues-to-bloom-at-toyota-west-virginia/

 #2 – From NRGDA – The New River Gorge Regional Development Authority encourages business owners, employees, and individuals to register for discounted training courses offered in February and March by the West Virginia University Industrial Extension Program in partnership with NRGDA.

 The low-cost training courses take place in Beckley for citizens in counties represented by NRGRDA and the WV Hive, including Summers, Nicholas, Fayette, Raleigh, Webster, Pocahontas, Greenbrier, Monroe, Mercer, Wyoming, McDowell, Mingo and Logan County.

Courses offered are Leadership 101 (Feb. 16), Lean Manufacturing (March 2) and OSHA 10 Hour General Industry Training (March 22-23). Visit nrgda.org to register.

 Learn more: https://nrgrda.org/nrgrda-encourages-registration-for-upcoming-wvu-industrial-extension-program-discounted-training-courses-in-beckley/

#3 – From PHILLY BITE – Whether you're looking for a traditional Italian pie or something a little more adventurous, you’ll find plenty of options in West Virginia. Whether in Fayetteville, Martinsburg, or Nebo, there's a great pizza place near you.

 Have you tried DiCarlo’s Pizza with its famous cold cheese? The shop is a landmark in the Wheeling area. Or how about Lorobi’s Pizza in St. Albans, known for its “Big O” deluxe pizza. Enjoy woodfired artisan pizzas at Pizza & Cream in Nebo while you watch several friendly chickens stroll around the rural yard.

Find more suggestions at Philly Bite. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg … Head over to wvtourism.com and search “pizza” to find some great dining options in Almost Heaven!

Read more: https://www.phillybite.com/index.php/travel/65-eat/8175-8-must-try-pizza-shops-in-west-virginia

 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.