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Communities In Schools: Friends With Paws Premieres Oct. 17

WVPB Television proudly announces the premiere of Communities In Schools: Friends with Paws. The half-hour television program will appear Monday, Oct. 17 at 9 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s TV channel and on YouTube

CHARLESTON, WV — WVPB Television proudly announces the premiere of Communities In Schools: Friends with Paws. The half-hour television program will appear Monday, Oct. 17 at 9 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s TV channel and on YouTube.

“Communities in Schools (CIS) is a tremendous program designed to help our students succeed, stay in school and prepare for life,” said Butch Antolini, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director for West Virginia Public Broadcasting. “We are honored to have the opportunity to be involved with the CIS effort in West Virginia and the incredible growth it has experienced since First Lady Cathy Justice and the Governor got involved in 2017. It is exciting to bring this television documentary, focusing on the next step in this program, to the airwaves.”

This broadcast features the Friends with Paws pilot project introducing therapy dogs in 10 West Virginia public schools to aid in the counseling and comforting of students. The Friends with Paws project is championed by West Virginia’s First Lady Cathy Justice and is part of the expanding CIS program. Featured in the television program are therapy dog deliveries to Welch Elementary and Lewis County High School.

“I am thrilled with West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s interest in our Friends with Paws initiative, and the tremendous effort by their incredibly talented team,” stated First Lady Cathy Justice. “The documentary is full of touching stories they saw firsthand from traveling along with us as we placed therapy dogs in CIS sites this past Spring. I encourage everyone to watch on their local WVPB station and learn how this initiative is touching the lives of students in schools across the Mountain State. I know that as more people see this initiative in action, they too will understand the power of the unconditional love shown by these dogs.”

Communities In Schools: Friends With Paws

By December 2022, therapy dogs are scheduled to be delivered to: Lewis County High School, Welch Elementary, McDowell County, Buckhannon Academy, Upshur County; Pineville Elementary, Wyoming County, Moorefield Elementary, Hardy County, Spring Mills High School, Berkeley County, Wayne Elementary, Wayne County, Lenore PK-8th Grade, Mingo County, Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, Pocahontas County, and Greenbrier East High, Greenbrier County.

The Friends with Paws program was first introduced by Gov. Jim Justice and First Lady Cathy Justice in March 2022 with the goal to place certified therapy dogs in schools across the state, providing companionship and comfort for students in need of a boost. The program is a partnership between the Governor’s Office, West Virginia Communities In Schools (CIS), and the West Virginia Department of Education.

Communities In Schools: Friends with Paws is Part 2 of a production effort by WVPB to focus on the Communities in Schools program in West Virginia. Part 1, Communities In Schools: Extending a Helping Hand, premiered in November 2021. You can view Communities in Schools: Extending a Helping Hand online at https://video.wvpublic.org/show/community-schools-extending-helping-hand/.

West Virginia’s Communities in Schools is currently active in 36 West Virginia counties. The non-profit is part of a national youth‐serving and dropout prevention organization. The mission of the state and national organization is to link community resources with public schools, to provide direct services to help young people succeed, stay in school, and prepare for life.

Additional airdates for Communities in Schools: Friends with Paws include:

Monday, Oct. 18 at 9 p.m. on WVPB’s YouTube Channel

Tuesday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. on the West Virginia Channel

Sunday, Oct. 23 at 12 p.m. on the West Virginia Public Broadcasting Channel

Sunday, Oct. 23 at 10 p.m. on the West Virginia Channel

W.Va. Celebrates Its 159th Birthday

Born from the strife of the American Civil War, June 20 marks West Virginia’s birthday. This year, the Mountain State is celebrating 159 years.

How Did W.Va. Become A State?

The official account from the National Archives notes that the West Virginia Constitution was ratified by voters on Nov. 26, 1861. In May 1862, Sen. Waitman T. Willey, who represented the Union side of Virginia at the time, submitted a bill, S. 365, to Congress for the admission of West Virginia to the Union. He then proposed an amendment to the bill calling for West Virginia to amend its constitution to include the gradual emancipation of slaves in the state.

On July 14, 1862, the Senate approved West Virginia’s admission to the Union, with statehood conditioned on its approval of the Willey Amendment. The House approved the bill in December of that year.

President Abraham Lincoln signed the bill admitting West Virginia to the Union on Dec. 31. On March 26, 1863, West Virginia ratified the revised constitution to include the Willey Amendment. Lincoln proclaimed that West Virginia would officially be recognized as a state on June 20, 1863.

W.Va. Statehood Celebration

Today, West Virginians can enjoy events all across the state on June 20, but this year, Gov. Jim Justice has invited all West Virginians to the State Culture Center at the Capitol Complex in Charleston to celebrate the state’s birthday.

Justice and First Lady Cathy Justice will arrive at noon and will announce the winner of the West Virginia Birthday Cake Contest.

The contest asked West Virginians to submit an original cake recipe, with the winning recipe becoming the “official” state birthday cake. Going forward, it will be served every year on June 20 to celebrate West Virginia’s statehood.

After announcing the winner, they will perform a ceremonial cake cutting.

The day will also feature a Golden Horseshoe Reunion, open to all former recipients of the Golden Horseshoe Award in recognition of their knowledge of West Virginia history. The reunion will feature a ceremony in the State Theater, beginning at 12:30 p.m., which will include Justice being knighted with an honorary Golden Horseshoe in recognition of his service to West Virginia and support of the state’s history.

A West Virginia Day reception will be held at 1 p.m.

At 2 p.m., the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History will host its inaugural History Bowl Legends Tournament, where past participants come together as all-star teams to compete for bragging rights.

The West Virginia Day festivities will also include several choir performances throughout the day.

Communities In Schools Program Expands To Bring Therapy Dogs To Children

Therapy dogs are coming to more West Virginia schools. The initiative is an expansion of the West Virginia Communities in Schools program. Gov. Jim Justice and First Lady Cathy Justice announced “Friends with Paws” on Friday.

Therapy dogs are coming to more West Virginia schools. The initiative is an expansion of the West Virginia Communities in Schools program.

Gov. Jim Justice and First Lady Cathy Justice announced “Friends with Paws” on Friday.

At least ten therapy dogs will be placed in schools by the end of the year, according to the governor’s office. The press conference originally reported five dogs by the end of the year.

Gov. Justice said the dogs will help children who have been dealing with the emotional challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s been two years of this pandemic,” he said. “It has been really, really tough. It’s taken a mental toll on our kids.”

First Lady Justice said she has been developing the new project for more than a year. She said the dogs come from trainers with almost 30 years of experience and will know how to respond to a child who may be grieving or need an emotional boost.

“Dogs never say anything bad about you,” she said. “They always wag their tail, pant and bark, and they’re so happy to see you. They never give a negative vibe to a child.”

WV Governor's Office

The first four schools to get their therapy dogs over the next few months will be Welch Elementary School in McDowell County, Buckhannon Academy in Upshur County, Lewis County High School in Lewis County and Greenbank Elementary Middle School in Pocahontas County.

The first four dogs are named Coal, Foster, Jet and Jasper. Three are Labrador Retrievers and one is a Labradoodle.

Some schools in West Virginia already have therapy dogs, such as Mary C. Snow Elementary in Charleston. “Friends with Paws” is expected to get more of these dogs in more schools.

Communities in Schools is a statewide program serving 171 schools in 31 counties. West Virginia Public Broadcasting produced a short documentary on the program in fall 2021.

***Editor’s Note: The original version of this story said the name of the new program is “Friends for Paws.” This was incorrect. The correct name for the program is “Friends with Paws.”

Doll of West Virginia First Lady Cathy Justice Unveiled

West Virginia first lady Cathy Justice has unveiled a doll in her likeness.

The doll introduced at a ceremony Wednesday will become part of the First Ladies of West Virginia Collection at the state Culture Center in Charleston. It was made by Washington D.C.-based artist Ping Lau and features Justice in her inaugural ball gown.

Working with drawings and photographs, Lau also has designed the dolls of former first ladies Dee Caperton, Joanne Jaeger Tomblin, Sandy Wise and Rachael Worby since 2013.

The West Virginia Federation of Women’s Clubs commissioned the first ladies doll collection in 1976. Charleston-based ceramic artist Edna Henderson created 29 first lady dolls before she died in 1999. In 2006, Joanne Gelin created the Gayle Manchin doll.

Hundreds Expected at West Virginia Capitol's Holiday Fest

With hundreds of people expected at Tuesday’s holiday celebration at the West Virginia Capitol, police plan to detour some traffic starting in the afternoon.

Gov. Jim Justice and First Lady Cathy Justice are hosting the annual gathering.

The Joyful Night program is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Plaza of the Capitol with the state Christmas tree lighting at 6 p.m.

It includes performances by West Virginia high school bands and a tribute to the state’s military members, veterans, Gold Star Families and first responders.

W.Va. First Lady Marks Women's History Month

First Lady Cathy Justice spoke at her first solo event Wednesday since her husband’s election. The First Lady helped recognize International Women’s Day at the Capitol, kicking off Women’s History Month.

West Virginia’s new First Lady Cathy Justice joined lawmakers and advocates to kick off women’s history month. In her speech, Justice recognized a number of West Virginia women who have made a difference in the state – like novelist Pearl S. Buck, actress Jennifer Garner, and basketball player Vicky Bullett.

Justice encouraged the women of West Virginia to be strong, independent, and influential throughout their lives.

“As females, we must always speak up; speak confidently and do our best to create awareness and opportunities and empowerment for those issues we care most about; for our friends, family, and ourselves, and for the future of the generations to come of West Virginia,” Justice said.

As First Lady, Justice hopes to focus on education, children, and humanitarian work.