New main doors to the school already have been installed on the playground side of the structure — or what was previously known as “the back of the school,” said Ohio County Schools Assistant Superintendent Rick Jones. A main area for parking is being established close by facing the Bridge Street Plaza, and a sidewalk is being poured to lead visitors to the main entrance.

The work is part of the beginning of $76 million in property improvements throughout Ohio County Schools made possible by a $42.2 million school bond issue passed by voters last year. About $3,126,160 is being directed to Bridge Street Middle School.

At the moment, it appears as if a moat is being constructed in front of the new entrance –but that’s not the case. Jones asked Brian Harto, director of maintenance for Ohio County Schools, why the massive hole in the ground existed, and Harto told him it was so the foundation for the new entrance could be solidified.

Those wanting to enter the school will have to be buzzed in, where they will see stairs leading to the main hallway and a second set of locked doors. This area is called a “man trap,” a security measure meant to keep an intruder from entering the school, Jones said.

To the visitor’s right will be an entrance to the central office, and a window for the school secretary to look out and see who is in the man trap. The secretary will decide whether the visitor will be allowed further into the school.

Throughout the building, classrooms are getting new windows, ceilings, doors, paint and general renovation. Science rooms are seeing upgrades, as our locker rooms and the school’s cafeteria.

The old floor in the cafeteria was determined to contain asbestos, and has now been remediated, according to Jones. Because the old floors previously had not been disturbed, they have not posed a safety threat, he said.

In the basement, a large space is being turned into two learning areas. On one side will be a new place for strings students to learn and practice, while the other side will be a maker space for students.

A new roof also is being placed on the building.

Jones said the former main entrance to the building — on the W.Va. 88 side of the building — will be open in the mornings, and buses will drop students off at that entrance. Once the school day has started, the door will be locked for security purposes.

http://www.theintelligencer.net/news/top-headlines/2019/07/bridge-street-renovations-underway/

A graduation luncheon, hosted by the Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce, which organizes Leadership Ohio Valley, was held at Williams Golf and Country Club, with class members surrounded by friends, family and coworkers.

“I want to be the first one to say congratulations,” Chamber President Brenda Mull said. “You made it.”

Noting the class has worked diligently throughout the program, displaying creativity and originality, Mull expressed her hope to see them continue taking steps forward into leadership roles.

“We don’t want your experience to come to an end today,” Mull said, encouraging the class to remain active in their communities and continue with the relationships they have built.

Previously known as Leadership Weirton, the program provides a series of monthly sessions, each one planned by members of the class, to provide an introduction to aspects of local communities and encourage involvement.

Sessions focus on areas of government, health and human services, education, history and culture, and business and economic development.

The class also participated in a “simulated society” exercise, a personality quiz known as True Colors and a team-building event at Escapeworks in Weirton. They currently are working to complete a group community project.

Guest speaker Anthony Mougianis, president and CEO of Apollo Pro-Cleaning and Restoration, encouraged the class to look within no matter what role they take on, discussing the importance of respect, love and kindness toward others.

“Love is synonomous with leadership,” he said, explaining many of the great leaders of the world base their philosophies on love.

He told them it is more important to remember why they do things than what they do, to care about each other and to support each other.

“You’re all together in this thing. The key to success is doing it together,” Mougianis said. “We are much stronger as ‘we’ than we are as ‘I.’”

Class coordinator Joyia Lytle also encouraged the class to continue working for others and their communities, noting her own time as a Leadership participant had been life changing.

“Don’t let this be the end of your Leadership adventure,” she said.

Graduates of this year’s Leadership Ohio Valley class, and their sponsors include: Anthony Bernardi, Greco-Hertnick Funeral Home; Tom Bowman, Weirton Heights Rotary; Staci Breen, WMC Physician Practices; Deidra Edwards, Hancock County Savings Bank; Kerri Freshwater, Weirton Geriatric Center; Joe Lombardi, Lombardi Development; Missy Mikula, Howard Hanna; Stephanie O’Brien, Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce; DeeAnn Pulliam, City of Weirton; Kaylee Richter, Hancock County Savings Bank; and Alexis Russell, Follansbee Chamber of Commerce.

https://www.weirtondailytimes.com/news/local-news/2019/07/11-graduate-chamber-program/

“The chamber has marked 83 proud years, with a proud past and a vibrant future,”chamber President Brenda Mull said. “Weirton is moving forward.”

Mull announced 34 new businesses had joined the chamber in the last year, presenting a PowerPoint presentation with 100 photographs of various chamber and community events. She also highlighted some of the regular programs, including Youth Leadership Weirton, Leadership Ohio Valley, the Dr. Barbara A. Matey High School Business Symposium, the Weirton Christmas Parade and Christmas in July Golf Scramble and the Wine and Dine at Williams, which will feature a Memphis theme this year.

“Our goal is to always bring you value for your membership,” Mull said, announcing several new programs launched during the last year.

The chamber has teamed up with First Microloan West Virginia to relaunch a series of educational seminars, which, to date, have focused on areas such as Robert’s Rules of Order, digital marketing and customer service. It will return April 24, working with the Business Development Corp. and the City of Weirton for an economic outlook conference.

New business and restaurant guides were recently released, showcasing several area establishments. This year, the chamber also is working with Pierce Media on a legacy video program, where businesses will have an opportunity to tell their own stories, and then share them online.

“We have so many businesses here with longevity, why not tell about it,” Mull said.

Along with the topic of legacy, Mull recognized 22 businesses with landmark anniversaries Tuesday. Those included Tudor’s Biscuit World, Fairfield Inn and Suites, J. Austin Heating and Cooling, R.E. Saxon Jeweler and Theo Yianni’s with 10 years; Crystal Clear Window and Gutter Cleaning, Lombardi Development Co., Woodland Trails Greenhouse, Pepsi-Cola Roadhouse and Autism Society-WV Northern Panhandle with 20 years; Washington County Council of Economic Development, Aladdin Signs and Guida Law Offices with 30 years; General Rental with 40 years; Selletti Properties, Hancock County Sheltered Workshop and Gas For Less with 60 years; D’Anniballe & Company with 70 years; First Choice America Community Federal Credit Union and Cattrell Companies with 80 years; James White Construction with 90 years and Hancock County Savings Bank with 120 years.

Also presented were four new awards, voted on by the members. Those awards and recipients were: Jonathan Beynon, the Chamber All-Star Award; Be Spa, Salon & Yoga, the Rising Star Award; Gus’s Goodies, the Proven Success Award; and Theo Yianni’s, the Best Hang Out Award.

Those in attendance heard from Joyia Lytle, of Lytle & Associates-Allstate Insurance, on “The Power of Not Saying No.”

Lytle shared some of her personal story, about the difficulties she has faced in life and learning of the importance of learning from your failures, and of not turning down an opportunity when it is presented.

“If you’re waiting for the right time, it may never happen,” Lytle said.

She relayed of how, while she was a chamber member for several years, and was running a successful business, there still were people who didn’t know of her or her business.

“I was invested in me. I was invested in my business. I wasn’t invested in my community,”Lytle said.

She resolved to accept whatever opportunity came to her, joining the Rotary Club of Weirton Heights, taking part in the chamber’s Leadership program and getting involved in the Weirton United Way among other things.

“I was either going to be really busy or I was going to make the most of every opportunity,” she said. “There is a power to saying yes.”

Chamber Board President Barb Barkley also encouraged those gathered to find ways to get involved in the chamber and their community.

“If you give of yourself, you will get something in return,” Barkley said.

https://www.weirtondailytimes.com/news/local-news/2019/03/chamber-recognizes-achievements-of-area-businesses/

While the name of the program has changed, the goal remains the same as Friday and Saturday saw the kickoff of the new class of Leadership Ohio Valley.

“This year’s class if filled with bright, energetic and enthusiastic men and women,”Chamber President Brenda Mull said during a welcome dinner held Friday at Undo’s in Weirton.

Mull explained she believes everyone has some leadership qualities within them, although most don’t know they exist or how to use them.

“Leaders are not born. They are made,” she said.

Good leadership qualities, she said, included hard work and determination, a clear vision, being honest, having integrity, courage and an encouragement of teamwork.

This year’s class, and their sponsors, is comprised of: DeeAnn Pulliam, City of Weirton; Alexis Russell, Follansbee Chamber of Commerce; Anthony Bernardi, Greco-Hertnick Funeral Home; Deidra Edwards, Hancock County Savings Bank; Kaylee Richter, Hancock County Savings Bank; Melissa Mikula, Howard Hanna; Joe Lombardi, Lombardi Development; Stephanie O’Brien, Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce; Kerri Freshwater, Weirton Geriatric Center; tom Bowman, Weirton Heights Rotary; and Staci Breen, WMC Physician Practices.

Up until now, the program had been known as Leadership Weirton. Organized each year by the Weirton Chamber, it includes a series of sessions focusing on various segments of the community, including government, education, history and culture, health and human services and business and economic development.

Classes also are tasked with attending two local government and civic meetings, completing six hours of individual volunteer work and, as a group, planning and implementing a community service project.

Newly rechristened as Leadership Ohio Valley, it is expanding its reach to more fully include all communities in Hancock and Brooke counties, with participants also required to attend events sponsored by the chambers in Weirton, Follansbee and Wellsburg.

Mull encouraged the class to think outside of the box when planning their activities, to step outside of their comfort zone and to have fun.

“This is Leadership, not ‘Survivor,’” Mull said. “We’re not here to intimidate you.”

Joyia Lytle, a 2018 graduate of the program, is serving as the class coordinator. Session advisors are Jeff Davis, Patrick Ford, Clayton Henderson, Pam Makricosta and Larry Tackett.