Lalena Price, Author at West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Friends Of WVPB Host 'Fire Shut Up In My Bones' Opera In W.Va.

Fire Shut Up In My Bones, the first performance of an opera by a Black composer on The Met’s stage, is being presented at movie theaters in West Virginia as part of The Metropolitan Opera Live in HD Series this Saturday, Oct. 23, at 12:55 p.m. at Regal Nitro, Regal Morgantown, and Cinemark Huntington Mall in Barboursville.

Encore performances are available Wednesday, Oct. 27, in Nitro and Morgantown at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., as well as in Barboursville at 6:30 p.m.

The Metropolitan Opera HD Live Series is presented in West Virginia with generous support from The Betty J. Herscher Fund for Cultural Programming and the Friends of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

In the opera, Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Grammy Award-winning jazz musician and composer Terence Blanchard’s adaptation of Charles M. Blow’s moving memoir. The first opera by a Black composer presented on The Met stage and featuring a libretto by filmmaker Kasi Lemmons, the opera tells a poignant and profound story about a young man’s journey to overcome a life of trauma and hardship. James Robinson and Camille A. Brown, two of the creators of the recent production of the Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, co-direct this new staging. Will Liverman portrays Charles; Angel Blue portrays Destiny/Loneliness/Greta; and Latonia Moore portrays Billie.

Advisory: This opera addresses adult themes and contains adult language.

The series is made possible by a generous grant from its founding sponsor, The Neubauer Family Foundation. Digital support is provided by Bloomberg Philanthropies. The Met Live in HD is supported by Rolex and by Toll Brothers, America’s Luxury home builder.

The complete 2021-2022 Season:

10/9/21 Boris Godunov 12:55 p.m.
10/23/21 Fire Shut Up in My Bones 12:55 p.m.
12/4/21 Eurydice 12:55 p.m.
1/1/21 Cinderella 12:55 p.m. Holiday presentation
1/29/22 Rigoletto 12:55 p.m.
3/12/22 Ariadne auf Naxos 12:55 p.m.
3/26/22 Don Carlos Noon
5/7/22 Turandot 12:55 p.m.
5/21/22 Lucia di Lammermoor 12:55 p.m.
6/4/22 Hamlet 12:55 p.m.

EBA Names Carl 'Butch' Antolini WVPB Interim Executive Director

Carl “Butch” Antolini, longtime newspaperman, broadcaster and a former communications director for Gov. Jim Justice, has been named interim executive director of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Antolini comes to WVPB after serving as the head of the governor’s communications team during his first term. Prior to that, he led marketing and communications for the state Department of Agriculture. He brings with him decades of experience in the news industry, having served as general manager and executive editor of Beckley Newspapers Inc. after years spent in a variety of newspaper leadership roles at state and regional papers such as The Times-News (Cumberland, Md.), The Dominion Post (Morgantown) and The Inter-Mountain (Elkins). He also served as director of operations for Ogden Directories, Inc. in Parkersburg and as news and sports director for WELK-FM in Elkins.

Bill File, chairman of the Educational Broadcasting Authority, made the announcement during a special meeting October 18, saying members of the EBA were pleased that Antolini was interested in the position.

“I’ve known Mr. Antolini for a number of years when I followed his career at Beckley Newspapers,” File said. “I was impressed with his integrity, professionalism and ability to work with others. He demonstrated a real interest in West Virginia Public Broadcasting, and I know he will work well with our staff to advance public broadcasting in the Mountain State.”

Antolini also was a member of the West Virginia Press Association and served on the organization’s board of directors. He earned a Bachelor of Science in broadcast journalism from West Virginia University, and it was in his 20s that he first discovered public media, which he grew to truly appreciate.

“I am extremely grateful and excited to be given the opportunity to lead West Virginia Public Broadcasting,” Antolini said. “Providing the public with objective, balanced and accurate news coverage, working with our educators to deliver the most up-to-date methods of instruction through broadcasting, and telling our state’s story are some, but not all, of the areas that we need to focus on at WVPB.

“There are many challenges ahead, and I’m looking forward to working with the staff and the many members of the West Virginia Public Broadcasting Foundation and Friends of West Virginia Public Broadcasting to grow the operation for the benefit of all West Virginians.”

Antolini replaces Chuck Roberts, whose employment was formally terminated during the same special meeting today.

WVPB Earns 2 National Edward R. Murrow Awards

West Virginia Public Broadcasting has earned two National Edward R. Murrow Awards for demonstrating the spirit of excellence that famed journalist Murrow set as a standard for the profession of electronic journalism.

Trey Kay, host of Us & Them, won in the Excellence in Innovation and News Documentary categories for Grandfamilies of the Opioid Crisis.

Roxy Todd, producer of Inside Appalachia, won the Excellence in Video category with support from Education reporter Liz McCormick and members of the Video Production team — Janet Kunicki, John Hale and Daniel Walker. They won for Despite Increasing Demand, Some W.Va. Apple Farmers Struggle.

Chuck Roberts, executive director of WVPB, said he is thrilled for the winners. “It is so great that our people have been recognized for their hard work,” Roberts said. “The folks in the newsroom and our video production department are some of the most talented people you could ever meet. Sharing the stories of the people of West Virginia and Appalachia is more than a job to them, it’s their passion. These national Edward R. Murrow Awards are the result of that passion. I am so proud to work with these people every day.”

Andrea Billups, news director of WVPB, says this group of reporters makes her proud. “We are thrilled to earn these national honors, which acknowledge our excellent reporters and our resolute commitment to the mission of public radio and strong journalism. Media in our country has been under fire from many different angles, but we are resolute in doing the kind of work that gives voice to those who have none — and is a watchdog of those who need one. We share these awards with the many people across our state and region who continue to support public radio and media, and understand its value in a challenging era,” Billups said.

WVPB competes in the Small Market Radio Division, Region 8, which includes West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina. The Radio Television Digital News Association has been honoring outstanding achievements in electronic journalism with the Edward R. Murrow Awards since 1971.

WVPB’s two national Murrow Award winners include:

Excellence in Video, Despite Increasing Demand, Some W.Va. Apple Farmers Struggle, by Roxy Todd, producer of Inside Appalachia, with reporting assistance from Education reporter Liz McCormick and video production expertise from Janet Kunicki, John Hale and Daniel Walker. Inside Appalachia looks at the apple industry in West Virginia as the cider industry experiences a surge. Some people think it’s an economic development opportunity the state is overlooking.

News Documentary, Grandfamilies of the Opioid Crisis, by Trey Kay, host of Us & Them, with assistance from Samantha Gattsek. In this episode, we explore how chemical addictions and the opioid crisis have divided millions of U.S. families. Addicted parents can abandon responsibilities for their children, and when a grandparent steps in, it creates a new kind of family structure some call a grandfamily, a generational divide.

Upshur County Teacher Goes Above And Beyond

Jill Stemple, an elementary school teacher from Upshur County, has earned WVPB’s Above and Beyond Award, which recognizes excellence and creativity in West Virginia teachers.

Stemple was honored by WVPB at the Upshur County Board of Education where she was presented with a monetary award, our signature Blenko Above and Beyond blue apple paperweight, a certificate of recognition, and a host of other special gifts made possible by the sponsorship of Advantage Technology.

Stemple teaches pre-K students at Rock Cave Elementary and was nominated by Sandra Kraynok, a colleague and friend who mentored Stemple at the beginning of Stemple’s career. “Thank you for acknowledging the work that West Virginia teachers do,” Stemple said. “My school ‘family’ is supportive. Our teachers work hard to always put children’s learning first. All are deserving of recognition such as this. I am truly blessed to have been given the opportunity to work at Rock Cave Elementary with the staff, students and their families.

“I would like to thank WVPB for the educational programming it provides for young children and their families and thank Advantage Technology for sponsoring such a thoughtful program. I would also like to thank Mrs. [Sandra] Kraynok who nominated me; Mrs. [Amanda] Craig, our principal; Dr. [Sara] Lewis-Stankus, superintendent; and Dr. [Debra] Harrison, assistant superintendent; for their encouragement,” Stemple said.

WVPB Education Director Kelly Griffith said it was a pleasure to meet and highlight the work that Stemple does. “Her sweet disposition and dedication to the field is the perfect combination for her young learners. Early childhood development is such a crucial part of a child’s foundation. Any child would be fortunate to be in the care of Jill Stemple.”

WVPB Education Director Kelly Griffith congratulates Pre-K teacher Jill Stemple of Rock Cave Elementary in Buckhannon.

Dr. Sara Lewis-Stankus, superintendent of Upshur County Schools, was present to celebrate with Stemple for this recognition. “Mrs. Stemple is an excellent example of a teacher who goes ‘above and beyond.’ She is an educator who is very dedicated to her pre-K students at Rock Cave Elementary,” Stankus said.

Stemple served as state chairman for Alpha Delta Kappa’s “The Longest Day” fundraising team for the West Virginia Alzheimer’s Association, which recognized her team as the top fundraising team for 2020 and 2021.

Lewis-Stankus is proud of the work Stemple has demonstrated in her career. “Through love and high expectations, she encourages [students] to reach their full potential while building a strong foundation for their educational success. We are very fortunate and proud to have Mrs. Stemple as an excellent educator in Upshur County.”

To nominate an outstanding West Virginia teacher, visit wvpublic.org and look for the blue Above And Beyond apple logo on the right side of the screen.

WVPB News Team Earns Four National Public Media Awards

Members of the West Virginia Public Broadcasting news team have earned first- and second-place awards from the Public Media Journalists Association (PMJA) for stories done in 2020.

PMJA awards recognize the best work in public media journalism from across the country. The organization presented 203 awards to 88 stations nationwide during its 2021 Virtual Awards Ceremony. WVPB earned four of those in Division A (8-15 reporters). Stations compete against others with similar-sized newsrooms. Overall, judges reviewed nearly 1,300 entries.

Chuck Roberts, WVPB’s executive director, said that when you consider what the winning stories were about — ‘Country Roads,’ Upper Big Branch, Bluefield City Police and the state’s opioid grandfamily crisis — it’s not surprising the PMJA judges recognized the value of our stories to the public.

“Once again, our news team, which works hard to tell the stories of our state, has been recognized by a national organization for its good work,” Roberts said. “Congratulations to those reporters who won, and to all the others who continue to dig in and tell stories important to the Mountain State and Appalachia, thank you.

“Very little happens in a vacuum at WVPB. We pull together — from production to editing, grants and underwriting to marketing and digital, programming to membership and development — to serve West Virginians. Even our education team takes interesting news content and transforms it to classroom content. Thanks to all of our employees and our generous supporters as well,” Roberts added.

Andrea Billups, WVPB’s news director, is proud of the news team. “After a tough year and many challenges, these awards highlight the commitment to excellence of our news staff. Our work here is mission-driven, and our reporters have embraced that ethic, aspiring to the highest standards of journalism.

“We are grateful for these honors, but we hope everyone knows that the reporting we do is always in service to the people who live in this unique state. We gratefully appreciate their enduring support of our efforts,” Billups said.

Winning entries include:

Taffy Nivert and John Denver play “Country Roads” at the Cellar Door in Washington D.C., in December 1970. It was one of the first times the song was performed in public. This story has won a first-place award from Public Media Journalists Association.

Feature, First Place, “Did West Virginia Inspire ‘Country Roads?’ 50 Years Later, Here’s What We Know,” Inside Appalachia, Roxy Todd, producer

Robert Ellison sued the city of Bluefield in 1999 prompting city leaders to create one of the state’s only groups for civilian oversight of local police. WVPB’s story on this situation has won a national Public Media Journalists Association Award.

Short Documentary, First Place, “I n Bluefield, City Leaders Address Broken Promise To Hold Police Accountable,” Emily Allen, reporter

Us & Them host Trey Kay’s story “The Legacy Of The Upper Big Branch Disaster” has won a second-place award from the Public Media Journalists Association.

Arts Feature, Second Place, “The Legacy Of The Upper Big Branch Disaster,” Us & Them, Trey Kay, host

Us & Them host Trey Kay has won a second-place award from the Public Media Journalists Association for his story, “Grandfamilies Of The Opioid Crisis.”

Long Documentary, Second Place, “Grandfamilies Of The Opioid Crisis,” Us & Them, Trey Kay, host.

New WVPB Program Lets Kids Explore Libraries In Other Communities

A new program from West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s education team is giving children access to libraries near and far.

Library Pathfinders is a virtual program that offers children in grades PK-5 the opportunity to visit their local community library — as well as libraries across the state of West Virginia — from the safety of their home. These young Pathfinders will visit each participating library, spend time with a PBS Kids character, watch a video, complete activities, and play games. Participants will fill out their Pathfinder Journals with code words associated with each library location, as in a passport. Upon completion of their journal, participants will be asked to submit a photo of it to education@wvpublic.org. A special prize will be mailed to them.

Library Pathfinders is a partnership among WVPB and five participating Inquire Within libraries, including Burnsville Public Library, Mason County Library, Boone-Madison Public Library, Clay County Library and Webster-Addison Public Library. WVPB Education Specialist Harrison Evans created the program during a time of pandemic restrictions. He sees the resource as invaluable for children who may not have access to a local library.

Despite beginning during the pandemic, he hopes to grow a stable of Inquire Within participating libraries to offer the Library Pathfinders program. “Now children have access to several libraries and that’s so exciting for them,” Evans said. “We have worked with libraries that have restrictions on visitation, which has created hurdles for hosting events and for visiting in person. The hope with this program is to give both libraries and communities an opportunity to interact safely.

“We think a Pathfinder is an explorer who goes ahead of others creating a path for them to follow,” Evans said. “The program is named in honor of the five libraries that created that path, and I hope that other libraries and other youth organizations join us on the journey.”

Burnsville Public Library is another Inquire Within participant that can be discovered by young Pathfinders. “We are extremely privileged to have the relationship that we have with West Virginia Public Broadcasting and to be included in the Library Pathfinders initiative,” Director Beth Anderson said. “Our hope is that our involvement will encourage children to explore our great state and visit virtually the libraries involved with Library Pathfinders. West Virginia Public Broadcasting never ceases to amaze us with the programs they develop. Library Pathfinders continues that tradition.”

Building excitement for young Library Pathfinders is the goal of the staff at the Clay County Public Library. “We are so excited to be a part of this new Library Pathfinders Program,” said Sheila Thorne, Library Director. “We are looking forward to launching it for our children and hope to get more children excited in the educational programs that we have to offer with the help of PBS Kids content and the Inquire Within programs. We are looking forward to a much stronger comeback from the COVID-19 situation with more online and in-person activities with the kids. I think that they will totally enjoy this Pathfinder experience and getting to visit other libraries outside of our own area. I would love to see this grow into a statewide project.”

It’s all about learning something along the way for Pathfinders who explore Mason County Library. “Being selected to be a Library Pathfinders Library was an honor! We have enjoyed our partnership with WVPB – they are so helpful and the educational content that they share with us adds so much to our library programs,” said Cindy Williams, library program coordinator. “The children who choose to take the Pathfinders challenge will have fun with all the activities and will likely learn something along the way. Way to go WVPB!”

Children can discover Webster-Addison Public Library along their Pathfinder journey. Director Lorene Carpenter said her staff is pleased to give access to kids beyond the bounds of its community. “West Virginia Public Broadcasting is a platform that gives more credibility to our children’s programming,” Carpenter said. “We believe that the videos/activities will provide the children and parents a sense of pride and personal involvement in the library, which encourages more participation as they lead the way. With this newly furnished activity and the virtual feature during the pandemic, children will be excited to explore the provided activities. We also hope to use this medium to take another step in enhancing education, keeping both parents and children involved.”

Learn more about Library Pathfinders here. For more information about Inquire Within and to learn how your library can be a Pathfinders library, contact Harrison Evans at hevans@wvpublic.org.