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Stories about cryptids are revived every October in the lead-up to Halloween. Oftentimes, these monsters are said to live in the woods – or some other dark area where they’re difficult to find. Few, if any, can be found leaping along rooftops in one of the country's largest historic preservation districts. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, LPM’s Roberto Roldan brings us the story of the Old Louisville Demon Leaper.
A Chef Shares W.Va. Memories And Visiting A Cat Cafe, Inside Appalachia
Mike Cunningham is nearly finished hand caning a chair at the Seeing Hand workshop in Wheeling, West Virginia.Clara Haizlett/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
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The chef of an award-winning Asheville restaurant says he was shaped by memories of growing up in West Virginia.
The Seeing Hand Association brings together people who are visually impaired to learn the craft of chair caning.
And a West Virginia community grapples with its population of feral cats.
You’ll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
Chef William Dissen at his home in Asheville, North Carolina.
Photo Credit: Johnny Autry
Chef William Dissen’s memories are seasoned with the flavors of West Virginia’s mountains. He’s now taking some of those memories and turning them into award-winning cuisine at his James Beard Award-nominated restaurant, The Market Place, in Asheville.
Folkways Reporter Margaret McLeod Leef spoke with Dissen while he was in Charleston with his debut cookbook, Thoughtful Cooking.
Mending With Seeing Hands
Jeannine Schmitt weaves a new seat onto an old hand caned chair.
Photo Credit: Clara Haizlett/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
A lot of folks in Appalachia grew up with caned chairs in the house, but you don’t see them as much as you used to. Cane breaks down over time and needs to be replaced. Few people know how to do that.
At a workshop in Wheeling, West Virginia, a community of skilled workers repair old chairs – and show that not everything that looks broken has to be thrown out.
Folkways Reporter Clara Haizlett brings us the story.
Clara also produced a short video about the people at Seeing Hand. That video, and a few others, will appear on West Virginia Public Broadcasting as part of an Inside Appalachia television special. The episode premiers at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving on WVPB and will be available to watch online starting Nov. 25.
A Cozy Cafe For Cats
Many cats at Give Purrs A Chance come from overrun shelters and animal rescues in southern West Virginia.
Photo Credit: Jack Walker/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
West Virginia is home to more than 100,000 stray cats. Most aren’t spayed or neutered, which only increases the problem of overpopulation.
Pet advocates say subsidies for the procedure and pop-up clinics can help, but as WVPB’s Jack Walker reports, so can creative efforts to find cats a home.
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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Christian Lopez, Harvey & Copeland, Todd Burge, Dinosaur Burps, Paul Loomis and Blue Dot Sessions.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from folkways editor Chris Julin.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
Stories about cryptids are revived every October in the lead-up to Halloween. Oftentimes, these monsters are said to live in the woods – or some other dark area where they’re difficult to find. Few, if any, can be found leaping along rooftops in one of the country's largest historic preservation districts. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, LPM’s Roberto Roldan brings us the story of the Old Louisville Demon Leaper.
On this West Virginia Week, our voter's guide is out, and it has all the information you need to know about the upcoming general election in the state. Also, another lawsuit targets the state's public school funding formula. And, a million dollar giant troll is making its way to the woods of West Virginia.
This week, author Silas House returns with a sweeping new novel. Also, some folks say, you have to fake it 'til you make it, even if you're trying to establish a state park. And, the story of the first Mothman sightings as written by a small town journalist in 1966.
Silas House is a major voice for Appalachia. The Kentucky native has written more than 15 books and served as the state's poet laureate. His latest book is The Tulip Poplars, a sweeping novel about the lives of four people as they navigate friendship and forbidden love throughout the 20th century. Inside Appalachia's Mason Adams spoke with House.
