Local assisted living center honored

The West Virginia Assisted Living Association has announced that two assisted living facilities in Huntington have been named "Assisted Living Home of the Year" for 2010.

Woodlands Retirement Community at 1 Bradley Foster Drive received the honor in the category for homes with more than 25 beds. And Hall's Assisted Living Home at 2910 3rd Ave. was honored in the category of homes with less than 25 beds.

Also, 42 homes throughout the state were honored for being "deficiency free." Those included the Woodlands in Huntington and Midland Meadows Senior Living at 100 Weatherholt Drive in Ona.

Proffit honored by forestry association

Proffit Logging, which works throughout Mason and Putnam counties, has been selected as West Virginia's 2010 Area 5 Outstanding Logger. It's owned and operated by Sheldon Proffit of Patriot, W.Va.

The award was presented to Proffit by the West Virginia Forestry Association.

Proffit is committed to safety and is environmentally conscious, Bob Radspinner, association president, said in a press release. Nominees are judged on safety practices, as well as community involvement and their use of Best Management Practices, which are soil erosion prevention measures used to minimize soil erosion and sedimentation of creeks and streams.

7-Eleven stores donate to Montcoal Mining Disaster Fund

CHARLESTON -- Prima Marketing, which owns and operates 7-Eleven Stores in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Ohio, recently presented a check for $28,824 to the West Virginia Council of Churches for the Montcoal Mining Disaster Fund.

Jeff Kramer, CEO of Prima Marketing, thanked 7-Eleven customers who reached into their pockets to donate to this cause.

Kramer said 71 West Virginia 7-Eleven stores, as well as 12 stores in Pennsylvania, two in Ohio and one in Kentucky, set up Mason jars on the counter to raise funds. In all, $14,412 was raised through store sales. Prima Marketing matched that amount, for a total of $28,824.

OLBH Women's Center chosen as GE show site

RUSSELL, Ky. -- General Electric has selected the Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital Women's Center as a national show site for GE when highlighting the center's technology and patient care process. As a national show site for GE, the Women's Center now is visited by individuals from around the country who are considering similar ventures.

Bellefonte's Women's Center offers digital mammography for improved efficiency and faster turn around times, the presence of a surgeon, clinical breast examinations, breast ultrasound, surgical consultations and minimally invasive breast biopsies. It also has a DEXA densitometer to screen for bone density, gynecological services and a full-time nurse practitioner to serve as the center's "nurse navigator" to guide patients through the process.

The center also includes a retail boutique for prosthesis, wigs, bras and other items, a clinical trials office for patients requiring genetic testing or enrollment in a clinical trial and a women's health learning library.

GE considers the training of technologists and physicians before designating show site status.

"GE is the world's leader in health care diagnostics, which is why being selected by GE as a show site is testament to our staff," Beth Wilson, Women's Center mammographer, said in a press release. "It means a lot when a major company like General Electric flies individuals from around the country to your site whenever the manufacturer wants to demonstrate their products."

The OLBH Women's Center located at Bellefonte Centre, 1000 Ashland Drive. Women wishing to schedule services at the Our Lady Bellefonte Hospital's Women's Center should call 606-836- PINK (7465).

New W.Va. website geared toward artists

There's a new website, artfulwv.com, which showcases art, design and events from around the state. The website is intended to give West Virginia artists, designers and other creative professionals a centralized location to showcase their work.

Chris Barr, graphic design professor at West Virginia University, developed the site to help build a more cohesive arts community in the state.

"With the size of West Virginia, we have an opportunity and need to connect the entire state as a single community," Barr said in a press release. "Artfulwv.com gives those involved in cultural production the tools to connect with their peers and find new audiences."

Through a Facebook-like interface, creative individuals and groups can upload portfolios of their work, upcoming arts events, as well as opportunities for jobs, internships, calls-for-art and auditions. Visitors to the site can find creative professionals in their area through a searchable directory -- a feature that Barr hopes will help local businesses keep their marketing dollars in the state.

While state artists, freelancers and arts organizations maintain their own sites for their audiences, Barr said artfulwv.com could offer the breadth and variety of artistic activity happening in every nook and cranny of the state at a glance.

The site is provided as a free service to the arts community.

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