30 October - Make a Difference Day

Good evening,
Today we were assisted by 7 United Way volunteers (and 1 from Tau Beta Pi) in kicking off the Christmas Toy Drive effort.  Volunteers helped sort and move bikes (35 counted so far) and clean/ inspect/ repair 16 of them.  Special thanks to all who showed up, and Brandy (along with an anonymous assistant) who dropped off the lunches.  This week we'll be turning on the gas heat, starting the Fall Bike Collection, having a retreat at the Black Bear (Tuesday 6pm) and teaching a class at MTEC on Thurday morning. Call if you can volunteer to help or attend any of the events.
This past weekend, right above the shop there was a Cyclocross race going on.  Read here if you want to learn more:   http://www.wvucycling.com/ (more pictures on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/bstephens?v=photos)

This Thursday nite at 8:30pm there's a great mountain biking flick at the Hollywood theater:  http://www.raceacrossthesky.com/  It tells the story of the annual Leadville 100 race, and the woman who won it this year.

Publish Post

27 Oct - Today's events

It's been a few weeks since I've updated the blog.  These are a few pictures from our Grand Opening Party on Oct 22 where Jim Savarino provided entertainment for a small but enthusiastic crowd.  Due to media coverage since then our donations volunteering levels are picking up again and we've been accomplishing a lot.  Come and be a part of it.  Here's what else is going on.

On Sunday Channel 12 WBOY-TV just aired a great story about us , highlighting how our bikes help Bartlett House residents find homes of their own.   The good news is that the residents who were interviewed have been taking good advantage of their bikes to find work and other supportive opportunities.  The bad news is that the person who was scheduled to show up didn't make it because he went on a drinking binge and his bike was stolen.  I know this has happened before, I'd like to find a way we could keep it from happening again.  Any ideas?


This week the statewide Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) conference is happening in Morgantown.  After today's sessions there was a bike ride around town to show local successes and challenges for bike transportation.  Since the ride ended early there was time to tour Positive Spin before the picnic dinner.  A surprising number of conference attendees bike, several commute by bike and one rode the unicycle and tallbike in our shop.  At the picnic afterward (in Marilla Park) I got to know some of the attendees a little better (their kids too).

These events are coming up in the coming weeks:
Friday Oct 30 - Bike Board education committee meeting (I'll be attending to suggest ways to put youth bike education in the next Transportation Enhancements grant application)
Saturday Oct 31 - Make a Difference Day - We'll have 25 volunteers available to do work we need done around the place from noon to 4pm.  I could use some additional (experienced) volunteers to help supervise this group.  Please call the shop if you can help out.
Saturday Nov 13 - Our Fall Bike Drive starts next week and we hope to start getting bikes donated in large quantities again.  We've arranged with Mon County Solid Waste to collect bikes at the Football game against Cincinnati.  They'll have volunteers rounding up bikes at the parking lots, but we'll need help at the shop to process them when they're brought in.  Please consider helping out.

Oct 20 - Grand Opening Party this Friday

 

UPDATE:  Live music will be provided by local folk singer Jim Savarino from 6-8pm.  See samples of his music at his website:  http://www.jimsavarino.com/

Good afternoon,

It's been 5 years since we started helping Morgantown citizens go places under their own power and along with the fact that we're in a new location it seems like a good time for a celebration.  If you can help with setup, publicity, music or anything else please call the shop.  If not, please print the poster and put it up at your favorite hangouts.  Either way come join us on Friday for the celebration.