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Dave Trippin gets published

April 05, 2008 @ 10:45 PM

The Herald-Dispatch

HUNTINGTON -- After years of crisscrossing the region in his trusty station wagon and chronicling those family adventures for readers with his regular Dave Trippin' stories, The Herald-Dispatch reporter Dave Lavender has had enough -- enough to put them in book form that is.

Just in time for the spring and summer travel season, the veteran reporter with one-of-a-kind style has cranked out a publication longer than a country mile.

Weighing in at 273 pages, "Dave Trippin: A Day Tripper's Guide to the Appalachian Galaxy of Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia" is now in stores.

Featuring nearly a dozen trips each in West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio, the book takes readers on an adventurous and usually humorous family journey to some of Appalachia's coolest towns such as Berea, Ky., Athens, Ohio, and Fayetteville, W.Va., as well as the region's big cities like Lexington, Columbus and Cincinnati.

The book was carved out of first-hand travel experiences for The Herald-Dispatch Sunday travel series that started in 2003 and continues today with Dave, his wife, an award-winning former photojournalist, Toril Lavender, as well as their sons Timothy Jacob, 8, and Will, 5.

"Since I was born and raised in southern Ohio, got my education in Kentucky (University of Kentucky), now live in West Virginia, and had lived or worked in many nearby cities such as Lexington, Georgetown, Cincinnati, Chillicothe, Portsmouth, Waverly and Parkersburg, I was just the homegrown hobo journalist for the job," Lavender said. "When I moved back to the Tri-State in April 2000 with my new family I wanted give them the grand tour of the place -- from my hometown of Franklin Furnace, Ohio, still one of the only places I know where you exit on the left -- to beloved childhood haunts such as Camden Park, Lake Hope, Dreamland Pool, Greenbo Lake and The Scioto Breeze Drive-In."

The self-published book, which retails for $14.95, is available at The Herald-Dispatch, located at the corner of 5th Avenue and 10th Street in Huntington as well as at a variety of local vendors including Borders at the Huntington Mall, Empire Books and News at Pullman Square, Jesse Stuart Foundation on Winchester Avenue in Ashland, Hillbilly Hotdogs, Franklin Furnace Pharmacy and many others.

It's also available online at www.davetrippin.com and www.jsfbooks.com.

Lavender has several book signings scheduled in the coming days throughout the region including 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, April 14, at Hillbilly Hotdogs in Lesage and from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at the Downtown Depot at the corner of 4th Avenue and 9th Street in Huntington.

Lavender also will appear as a guest with Sheila and Jim of WKEE 100.5-FM at 8 a.m. Wednesday, April 9.

"We hope that, like the Sunday travel series, that Dave Trippin the book will inspire folks and their crew to load up and go trippin out through the Appalachian Galaxy," Lavender said. "Go ahead, get out there, take the tram down to the Mountain Creek Lodge in Pipestem, W.Va., feed some hummingbirds by hand at Lake Hope in Zaleski, Ohio and lay hands on the giant guitars at The Paveillon in Louisa. This is the good stuff and close stuff and it's all cooler than two popsicles stuck together."

Learn more about the book and check out past interviews online at www.davetrippin.com.

Events

1940s Radio Hour
Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 4-6, and 11-13; matinee at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14. A "live" radio show with seven performances. Complimentary tickets offered to...

J. Chris Newberg
7:30 p.m. Thursday; 7:30 and 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4-7. A refreshing smart and edgy humor, delivered with a streetwise sense of philosophical...

First Friday and Second Look Saturday
5-9 p.m. every first Friday, 2-6 p.m. every first Saturday. Visit with Pendleton artists in their studios. Questions, call 606-920-9863.

Lions Arts and Crafts Show
4-9 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5-7. Hosted by the Lesage and Southeast Huntington Lions Clubs. The juried show is filled with...

"The Nutcracker"
school matinee begins at 9:30 a.m. and regular show at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5. Ashland Youth Ballet presents their annual presentation of The Nutcracker. Questions...

Christmas Tour of Homes
11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday; 1-6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6-7. Tour six outstanding homes in the Bellefonte area dressed for the holidays. Questions, call 606-329-8888 or visit...

2nd annual Holiday Candlelight Tour
2-7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7. A tour (inside and out) of eight prominent Huntington homes beautifully decorated for the holidays. Questions, call 304-733-ARTS.

Marshall Artists Series: "Wizard of Oz"
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9. A spectacular celebration of the iconic 1939 MGM film, "The Wizard of Oz." Tickets, call 304-696-3326 or visit www.marshallartistsseries.org.

16th annual Joy to the World Holiday Concert
8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11; doors open at 7:30 p.m. Featuring Bob Thompson with guest vocalist Dwight Lenox. Tickets, visit www.mountainstage.musictoday.com or call...

"Cowboy" Bill Martin
7:30 p.m. Thursday, 7:30 and 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11-14. The Texas native, who has toured with some of the biggest names in country music,...

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Rated PG-13 for some mature thematic material involving the Holocaust

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The Duchess

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"The Duchess" is the story of an extraordinary woman who rose to fame by staying true to her passions in a world of protocol, gossip and social rules--and paid the price. Long before the concept existed, the Duchess of Devonshire, Georgiana Spencer, was the original "It Girl." Like her direct descendent Princess Diana, she was ravishing, glamorous and adored by an entire country. Determined to be a player in the wider affairs of the world, she proved that she could out-gamble, out-drink and outwit most of the aristocratic men who surrounded her. She helped usher in sweeping changes to England as a leader of the forward-thinking Whig Party. But even as her power and popularity grew, she was haunted by the fact that the only man in England she seemingly could not seduce was her very own husband, the Duke. And, when she tried to find her own way to be true to her heart and loyal to her duty, the resulting controversies and convoluted liaisons would leave all of London talking.

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The Metropolitan Opera: La Damnation de Faust Encore

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Fathom presents an encore presentation of Berlioz's "La Damnation de Faust" in HD on the Big Screen! The encore presentation (captured live on Saturday, Nov. 22) will be shown for one day only on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2008, at 7 p.m. in all time zones. Robert Lepage, one of theater's most imaginative directors, applies his artistry to Berlioz's contemplation of good and evil. Using ethereal projections, Lepage has created a vision for "La Damnation de Faust" that seamlessly marries art and technology. Marcello Giordani stars in the title role opposite Susan Graham as Marguerite and John Relyea as Méphistophélès. James Levine conducts this rarely staged masterwork.

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High School Musical 3: Senior Year

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Seniors Troy and Gabriella face the prospect of being separated from one another as they head off in different directions to college. Joined by the rest of the Wildcats, they stage an elaborate spring musical reflecting their experiences, hopes and fears about their future. With incredible new music and exciting dance numbers designed to take maximum advantage of the big screen, this motion picture extravaganza delivers plenty of high-energy entertainment from East High's talented ensemble.

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Danny and Wheeler trash a company truck on an energy drink-fueled bender. Upon their arrest, the court gives them a choice: do hard time or spend 150 service hours with a mentorship program. After one day with the kids, however, jail doesn't look half bad. Surrounded by annoying do-gooders, Danny struggles with his every neurotic impulse to guide Augie through the trials of becoming a man. Unfortunately, the guy just dumped by his girlfriend has only sarcasm to offer a bashful 16-year-old obsessed with medieval role play. Meanwhile, charming Wheeler tries to trade in an addiction to partying and women to assist a fifth-grader named Ronnie redirect his foul-mouthed ways. It would probably help if Ronnie's new mentor wasn't an overgrown adolescent whose idea of quality time includes keggers in Venice Beach. Once the center's ex-con director gives them an ultimatum, Danny and Wheeler are forced to tailor their brand of immature wisdom to their charges. And if they can just make it through probation without getting thrown in jail, the world's worst role models will prove that, sometimes, it takes a village idiot to raise a child.

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Transporter 3

Released 26-Nov-08. Runs 100 min.

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Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense action and violence, some sexual content and drug material

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Twilight

Released 21-Nov-08. Runs 120 min.

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Rated PG-13 for some violence and a scene of sensuality

Dining

GOOD EATS: Rocco's Ristorante serves up Italian faves

November 27, 2008 @ 12:00 AM

CEREDO -- Rocco's Ristorante has been a favorite of the Tri-State since 1977. The restaurant continues to serve delicious Italian meals, which have attracted people from miles around.

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