LIFETIME AWARD: Congratulations to Barboursville native Randall Reid-Smith, recently retired cabinet secretary for the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, who received the first Crescendo Lifetime Achievement Award at the 10th West Virginia Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on April 12 at the Culture Center in Charleston for his long-standing efforts to expand music education across the state and for raising awareness of the importance of music as part of each childƵs complete education. Among his achievements while serving as leader of the Ƶ Arts, Culture and History from 2006-24, he collaborated with VH1 Save the Music Foundation to award annual grants to middle schools to purchase musical instruments. More than 150 West Virginia schools have now received in excess of $6 million in free instruments. He also administered a host of programs and activities such as the Golden Horseshoe award, the History Bowl, grants to fairs and festivals, and initiated the annual statewide Ƶ State Marching Band Invitational. Reid-Smith is a 1976 Barboursville High School graduate who received a bachelorƵs degree in music and vocal performance at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and studied at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. For several years, he toured internationally as a professional opera singer. He is the son of the late Elsworth ƵBoogieƵ and Wilma Smith.
KNIGHTS: Cabell County middle school students who are 2025 Knights of the Golden Horseshoe are Gorgeous Easterling and Eli Brandlen from Huntington Middle School and Madison Jordan, Ayden Wiser, Aubry Jett, Leland McComas and Brooklynn Fannin from Milton Middle School. These students earned this prestigious award by their scores on the Golden Horseshoe test about West Virginia. They will be honored at a knighting ceremony in Charleston this summer with over 200 other West Virginia students.
TIPS: I enjoyed watching Kevin Gibson giving some good golfing tips to his granddaughter, Elin, a few days ago while they were on the putting green of Esquire Golf Course. Elin is a fast learner because her granddad admitted she was making more putts than he was. Elin is in the fifth grade and lives in Milton with her parents, Caleb and Jill Morris-Gibson.
DINNER: A free community dinner is offered today, April 25, from 5-6 p.m. at Olive Missionary Baptist Church, 2508 Merritts Creek Road, Huntington. The menu is a choice of a variety of soups, cornbread, crackers and dessert. The meal may be eaten in or taken out. Everyone is welcome to enjoy a free dinner.
BINGO: A vintage Longaberger basket bingo fundraiser to benefit the Boyd County Homemakers will be Thursday, May 1, at the Boyd County Extension Office, 2420 Center St., Catlettsburg, Kentucky. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and games start promptly at 6 p.m. You may pay at the door Ƶ $20 for 20 games. Door prizes, a raffle basket, a 50/50 and refreshments for purchase will be available. Make plans to attend and bring a friend.
WINE: Vineyard in the Village returns to Barboursville on May 10 and tickets are now available for $35 for general admission and $85 for VIP admission. The VIP hour from 5-6 p.m. will feature premium wines with complimentary food pairings and also includes admission to the general session. The general admission session will run from 6-9 p.m. and includes a variety of wine samplings, boutique vendors, live music and local food vendors. Check the Barboursville CVB Facebook page for information to purchase tickets.
BIRTHDAYS: Happy birthday this week to Gus Morgan, Vicky Savage, Andrew Racer, Mia Adkins, Pam Dutton, Kyle Frost, Andrew Steele, Steve Dillon, Bret Woodall, Vicky Newman, Kathryn Beth Adkins, David Clark, Robyn Rison Chapman, Hailey Eldridge, Jim Proctor, Jessica Wilks, Emily Hughes, Emaleigh Joelle Black, Diana Stiltner, Kim Nathan Lewis, Morgan Danielle Sims, Ƶhley Moore, Ginger Diane Smith, Janice Call, Jason Seay and Steve Burgh.
WISHES: Special birthday wishes to Mitchell Hall whose birthday was Sunday; to Garry Allen Byrd who celebrated his 43rd birthday Tuesday; to Betty Jean Eplin whose 76th birthday was Thursday; to Kenneth Earl Large who celebrates his 85th birthday Saturday; to Patrick Bundy, an employee of Moses Auto Mall, who will be 52 years old Saturday; and to Connie Rutherford who celebrates her birthday Tuesday, April 29.
Send items for this column to Joyce Spencer, 817 Main St., Barboursville, Ƶ 25504; email jcspencer25@gmail.com; or fax 304-736-4522.
Send items for this column to Joyce Spencer, 817 Main St., Barboursville, Ƶ 25504; email jcspencer25@gmail.com; or fax 304-736-4522.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.
