Thread by @JusticeHudson97

The Ohio County Solid Waste Authority held its 2nd annual Earth Day block party on April 22 at @WhgHeritage Artisan Center. More than two dozen vendors greeted hundreds of Wheeling residents to celebrate the occasion. Let's meet some of them! #folkreporters

1/10

I spoke with OCSWA's Executive Director, Rebecca Friend, who said “I want people to know there’s hope, and there’s other people fighting to make our home better." Their booth diverted plants from the landfill, repotted them, and gave them to the community. #folkreporters

2/10

Students from @westlibertyu Zoo Science taught the community about ball pythons and hissing cockroaches from Africa, as well as aquatic insects from local streams. "These are not pets-they're ambassadors," one student told me. #folkreporters

3/10

Colleen Cominsky of Colleen's Crafty Creations started her business selling homegrown loofahs. She now uses foraged and gardened plants to make soaps, natural deodorants, and lip balms. She encouraged people to support @ovfarmersmarket Saturday 9-12 starting in June.

4/10

Volunteer Wheeling, a project of @WhgHeritage, encouraged people to volunteer around the city. The group is known for their weekly litter cleanups. Founder Gano said “things aren’t always as pretty as we’d hope, but there are things we can do to change that.” #folkreporters

5/10

Councilor @RosemaryKetchum said she was there to "meet people where they are." "Democracy doesn’t just happen twice a month," Councilor Ketchum said of City Council meetings, "it happens every day." She believes it's important to be present in the community. #folkreporters

6/10

HoH Share, Inc, offered guests art demonstrations, interactive toys, a chess clinic, and issues from @msmpaperwv. Kate Marshall told me about UPLIFTWV.org, which helps pay for IDs and birth certificate copies for those in need. hohshare.org

7/10

Dr Darrin Cox of the @northwvmp told me the @mountainpartywv is the “only party in West Virginia that has historically cared about the environment." Cox said “the people here are picking up what we’re putting down,” when asked about the public's reception. #folkreporters

8/10

The Ohio County Virtual Lions Club started in 2020 due to the pandemic. Since then they have worked to divert 21,000lbs of plastic trash from landfills, turning them into 42 benches that now sit across Wheeling. They also run the Warwood Farmers Market. #folkreporters

9/10

Make sure to read my full article to meet more of the vendors, and to hear from the ones featured here in a more detailed way! Become a free or paid subscriber to support the work I do. And remember, good things do happen in West Virginia!

10/10 thehudsoneditorial.substack.com/p/oscwa-hosts-…

@threadreaderapp unroll! Also @FolkReporters you are the real ones always. Wouldn't be doing this without seeing your guide in January and being like "okay, you know what, I CAN do this."