daily304 - Episode 01.30.2024
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English - January 30, 2024 08:00 - 2 minutes - 4.18 MB - ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsDaily News News almostheaven daily304 westvirginia yeswv Homepage Download Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.
Today is Tuesday, Jan. 30
WVU-Tech enlists Chef Paul Smith to boost its culinary program. A grant from the Chemours Belle plant will fund STEM education for area students. And the mountain community of Helvetia prepares to usher out Old Man Winter…on today’s daily304.
#1 – From WVNS-TV – The West Virginia University Institute of Technology has announced a partnership with Chef Paul Smith.
The partnership will be related to the school’s two-year culinary program that is hosted at the WVU Tech’s Beckley campus that opened in 2020, and is offered through Potomac State College.
Paul Smith was the first West Virginian to be a James Beard Foundation award finalist and he operates various restaurants in Charleston.
“The partnership with Chef Paul Smith will promote and facilitate our goals of improving culinary skills of students, diversifying our curriculum and fostering community involvement through enhanced hospitality opportunities in our state,” said Chef Devin Noor, program director and teaching assistant professor of culinary arts.
“Chef Paul not only brings enhanced culinary techniques but also creativity, dedication and passion that will greatly enhance student experience at WVU Tech.”
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#2 – From CSR WIRE – The Chemours Company’s Belle plant recently awarded a nearly $99,000 Vibrant Community grant to Explore the New Manufacturing as part of the company’s commitment to invest $50 million in its communities to increase access to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills, safety initiatives, and sustainable environment programs by 2030.
The investment will directly benefit middle and high school students participating in educational learning programs designed to support STEM, technical careers, and development opportunities to fuel a high-potential, future workforce. The grant will benefit students in Explore’s Kanawha Valley and Mid-Ohio Valley hubs.
“As a chemistry company, we are passionate about inspiring the next generation of STEM professionals through early access to STEM education and mentoring,” said Nicholas Martino, Chemours Belle plant manager. “This is more important than ever with 800,000 expected job openings in STEM-related fields by 2031.”
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#3 – From GAZETTE-MAIL – Who needs a shadow-skittish groundhog prognosticator popping up every frigid February when a burning effigy might better hasten the arrival of spring? (It also might not, but at least there’s food, music, masks, and other amenities.)
All of that (minus the groundhog) will be observed next month when the Swiss mountain community of Helvetia hosts its 57th annual Fasnacht. The pre-Lenten celebration is referred to as “the feast before the fast” during which an effigy of Old Man Winter is set afire to beckon and welcome the arrival of spring.
The event takes place from 3 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10, in the town square of the Randolph County community. Revelers can expect Appalachian and Swiss music, decadent foods, a parade illuminated by candle-powered lampions, and the opportunity to don colorful, homemade masks to scare away Old Man Winter (and compete for prizes).
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Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.
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That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.