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Letter

3 min read

On a recent fall day, right at the peak color of foliage, I punched the address of Jim and Linda Winegar, former owners of Artbeat Gallery in Waynesburg, into my GPS. From Washington, I started out on Route 18 South toward Graysville. I took my time, and let my mind – and my eyes – wander.

Sometimes my GPS can be a little glitchy, and I knew that cell service would be spotty at best, so the night before the photo shoot, my husband, who has done a lot of work in Greene County, particularly around Graysville, looked at the route on Google Maps and pointed out landmarks that I would see. He also gave me tips on the roads – a divot at the bottom of a hill or an unexpected sharp bend, for example. Each time I spotted the landmarks that he mentioned, I knew I was on the right track.

As I approached the Winegars’ driveway – half a mile long; you can’t see the house from the road – I became a little disappointed that my beautiful journey was coming to an end. But, you know how they say “save the best for last”? Well, in terms of beautiful views, that was certainly the case. There was still a lot of green, but the colors along that driveway went from bright pops of red and orange to a stunning yellow, broken up only by the tall, brown tree trunks as far as the eye could see.

Staff writer Trista Thurston and photographer Celeste Van Kirk soon joined me at the Winegars’ studio, and we shot the cover for this issue. When I looked at the photos, I had a problem – they were all so amazing I didn’t know how I was going to choose which one to run on the cover! In my world, that’s one of the best problems to have. You can read Thurston’s story about the Winegars’ 50 years in the pottery world – and see another one of the stunning shots – on page 18.

Staff writer Bob Niedbala, who recently retired from the Observer-Reporter, wrote his final magazine story as a staffer about the old Greensboro powerhouse and Monongahela River Lock No. 7. The building has been vacant since the closure of the lock in 1995. Various ideas for its use have been floated in the time since, but nothing has come to fruition. And will it ever? Read the piece on page 14 to learn more about the building’s fate.

Dan Wagner, culinary arts instructor at the Greene County Career & Technology Center, works hard with his students each year to prepare for the Annual Christmas Buffet. The event has become a holiday tradition, and on page 12, he shares the details for this year’s event – and you’re invited.

I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very happy holiday season. See you again in 2019.

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