Power of 32 event coming to county on Tuesday

Power of 32, the regional visioning initiative that includes 32 counties in four states, will launch its public input phase with simultaneous Community Conversations across the region on Tuesday.

The goal is to create a forum for all residents to voice their vision for the region’s future. The 32 counties are located in the Maryland panhandle, eastern Ohio (including Jefferson), southwestern Pennsylvania, and West Virginia’s mid-central and panhandle.

Jefferson County’s Community Conversation will be held in Eastern Gateway Community College’s Pugliese Training Center. Registration will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the actual event will run from 6-8:30 p.m.  The local event is being co-sponsored by Progress Alliance and EGCC.

To register, visit www.powerof32.org or contact Progress Alliance at (740) 283-2476.

Regional development officials will meet in county

Economic development officials from East Central Ohio will visit Steubenville on Tuesday for their quarterly meeting. The session will run from 1-3 p.m. at the Fort Steuben Visitor’s Center, 120 S. Third St.

Hugh Quill, director of the Ohio Department of Administrative Services, will share his perspective on issues which impact business and economic development with those attending.

The meeting is being coordinated by Lisa Duvall, the regional director for Gov. Ted Strickland in East Central Ohio.

Harrison County winery signs on for local festival

And now, there are five!

Coffee Cake Winery, located in Hopedale, has become the fifth Ohio winery to sign up for the first Friendship Wine and Food Festival.

More information regarding Coffee Cake is available by visiting www.coffeecakewinery.com.

Earlier, the following wineries agreed to participate in the festival--Raven’s Glenn Winery, located on U.S. 36 between Newcomerstown and Coshocton; Terra Cotta Vineyards, located in New Concord; It’s Your Winery, based in Akron; and Myrddin Winery, located in Berlin Center.

The festival will run from 5-10 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 10, and 1-11 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 11.

More information can be obtained by visiting www.friendshipwinefest.com

Deadline nears for fourth Bridge Invitational

The deadline to enter the fourth annual Bridge Invitational Golf Classic is Friday, July 30. The event is scheduled for Aug. 6 at the Steubenville Country Club.

The 2010 event is being billed as the Jefferson County Corporate Challenge.  The corporate team with the lowest score in the four-person scramble will win the opportunity to proudly display the brand new Bridge Invitational traveling trophy.

Sponsors for the Progress Alliance outing include:  Apex Environmental Services, New Horizons, the Steubenville Electrical LMCC, Sodexo, DPS Penn, The Herald Star, Choice Brands, The Laurels of Steubenville, H&H Artworks, Tri-State Financial Services and Wal-Mart Distribution Center 7017.

The cost to enter a four-person team is $600. Several sponsorship opportunities remain available.  The event starts with registration at 8:30 a.m. with a shotgun start to follow at 10 a.m.

For more information, contact Ed Looman at (740) 283-2476 or via e-mail at elooman@progressalliance.com.

Changes made to CIC meeting schedule

Several changes have been made to the Community Improvement Corporation Board of Trustees meeting schedule for the remainder of 2010.

The Aug. 17 meeting has been moved to Steubenville’s new municipal building. The Sept. 21 session will be hosted by Tri-State Financial Services in Wintersville. The remainder of the 2010 calendar is as follows:

• Oct. 19—hosted by John Riley of Kwik King; Nov. 16—hosted by Grae-Con Construction; Dec. 21—year-end meeting and holiday party hosted by the Center of Music and Art in Wintersville.

The meetings start at 3:30 p.m.  Locations currently are being sought for 2011 meetings. Those interested in hosting a CIC gathering should contact Ed Looman, (740) 283-2476 or via e-mail at elooman@progressalliance.com.

BHJ seeking nominations for annual awards

The Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission will hold its annual awards dinner on Thursday, Sept. 16 in Bella Hall at the EM Media Center on Sunset Boulevard.

As the dinner approaches, the BHJ staff currently is accepting nominations for various awards. The categories include:

• Public Service:  recognizing public leaders who have furthered regional and community development.
• Volunteer:  recognizing volunteers who have willingly given their time to the cause of regional planning and whose contribution has expanded community and regional opportunities.
• Special Recognition:  this award recognizes outstanding contributions which have advanced regional planning.

The deadline for submitting nominations is July 30. They can be mailed or hand-delivered to Linda Taylor at the BHJ office, 124 N. Fourth St., Steubenville, Ohio 43952.  They also can be e-mailed to ltaylor@bhjmpc.org.

For additional information, contact BHJ at (740) 282-3685.

Corridor steering committee will visit Coshocton

The Columbus-Pittsburgh Corridor Steering Committee will gather in Coshocton County on Friday, July 30.  The meeting, scheduled to start at 10 a.m., will be held in the Central Ohio Technical College facility located in historic Roscoe Village.

Ed Looman, executive director of Progress Alliance and Tony Guida of Guida Realty represent Jefferson County on the committee. Looman serves as co-chairman along with T.J. Justice, executive director of the Coshocton County Port Authority.

Country night is planned at the Fort

Tonight is Country Night at the Historic Fort Steuben in downtown Steubenville.

Katie Oriofske, the 2007 winner of West Virginia’s Colgate Country Showdown, will appear also with Tristen “T-Bone” Smith, a 16-year-old country guitarist and singer from St. Clairsville.

The country concert will begin at 7 p.m.

Tribute Night is planned for Thursday, July 29.