If you are living anywhere but under a rock you have surely been touched by the political scene at the national party conventions. There are many of you, who I am sure do not like what is going on, and probably do not watch or listen to any of these happenings.  But as for me, I do not plan to miss a minute of it as it happens and sometime during my sleepless nights, I will watch most of it again.

 

Perhaps you might think I am crazy and perhaps maybe I am.  I kind of cut my teeth on politics and it is still a part of my family.  As a little girl I remember well helping my Uncle John Oliverio during the political season.  He was kind of the captain in our community and I remember how much support he had generated for Cleve Bailey and for Fitzhugh Reynolds.

 

We helped fix packets of material for those workers who drove cars to pick up voters and take them to the polls.  On Election Day I stood at the polls all day long and passed out cards for the candidates.  Most of these things have changed today, but I still feel the responsibility instilled in me from this early age.

 

After that I became involved with the campaigns for Ralph and Ruby Keister.  Then we got really involved with politics when my children's father (Fray) ran for constable and then magistrate.  Then my son Michael was elected to serve Harrison County as a legislator and then a school board member. And now my grandson, Ben, is a candidate.  If Ben is fortunate enough to be elected to the House of Delegates, he will be the fourth generation of the Queen family to serve the voters of Harrison County.

 

This past week as I watched the Republican Party Convention I drew many conclusions, some good somebad but at least I became more enlightened to the candidates’ positions.  This week I will spend many hours again, watching the Democrat Party Convention and once again drawing conclusions.  These are historic events for our country. 

 

I keep an open mind until the very end. I encourage each of you to become at least a little interested in this process and set aside some time for watching what goes on. Remember we all live in this wonderful land and voting is part of our responsibility to maintain a free society. If we do not exercise this right we may someday lose it.  It is really up to us.

 

A big thank you to all the planners, the sponsors (The Barbara Highland Fund for the Arts, the Cultural Foundation of Harrison County, the Harrison County Commission, WBOY, The Mike Queen Show and The Exponent-Telegram and all of you that attended the Americana Music Weekend that was held at the Uptown Event Center and sponsored by the Progressive Women's Association.  It is the hope of the committee that this will become an annual affair in Clarksburg and will attract many people to our area. 

 

For more information on how you can become involved in the PWA, please call 304 624 6881 and talk to Elinda.

 

The Annual Membership Luncheon of the Progressive Women's Association will be held at noon on August 1 at the Uptown Event Center.  The election of officers for the coming year will be held and a free lunch will be served to all those attending.  I encourage all of our members to attend. Prospective members are also invited and we love new members.

 

If you cannot attend and you received your ballot in the mail please fill it out and mail it back or drop it off at the office.  Please try to attend and have lunch with us.  We want to hear about any ideas you may have.

 

The PWA will be having a large Rummage Sale on August 3, 4, and 5.  Monies raised from these fund raisers help us sustain our Food Pantry, Our Cooking School, our Women of Distinction program and our free summer camp. Please support us.

 

I am sure I can say with certainty that most of you have had a zucchini or two and have made at least one tialea.  I know they are very plentiful now and I encourage you to grate them and put them in the freezer for use this winter.

 

The chemo treatment that I had this week was my last.  I am now in remission!  I want to thank everyone for all of the prayers and letters and cards of support and well wishes.  They all meant so much to me.

 

The Rockford Rockets 4-H Club prepares gift bags for each of the patients receiving treatments.  How very thoughtful.  The Fairmont Federal Credit Union also supplies Robes For Recovery for the patients receiving Radiation.  What a wonderful project to help those patients keep their dignity.  For more information on this project call Debra at 304 363 5320.

 

Be cautious about this hot weather and just stay indoors.  This is a good time to have a heart attack or heat stroke. 

 

Keep in touch and until next week "Now You Have Heard It through the Grapevine."