Ohio Valley Residents Enjoy Time With Family, Christmas Traditions
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WHEELING -- Ohio Valley residents are enjoying family time, opening presents and their annual Christmas traditions like eating dinner together, seeing the lights and more.
"I'm most looking forward to my 4- and 5-year-old for the first time really understanding Christmas. They got the concept now," said Kacey Gantzer of St. Clairsville.
Gantzer added it was also the first time she and her husband had taken time away from their children in two years, as they enjoyed a fish sandwich from Coleman's at Centre Market.
Dillonvale resident Candy Anderson said she was looking forward to her adult children coming home for Christmas from the Washington, D.C., area.
"I'm looking forward to being with family," Anderson said.
George Stromatos of Dillonvale said he was enjoying spending time with family this Christmas.
"My family is here. ... I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and good health," he said.
Five-year-old Dallas Mehl was enjoying a fish sandwich lunch with her grandparents Donna and Don Mehl of Bridgeport on Wednesday.
Dallas said she was most looking forward to "opening presents" this Christmas, adding she wanted to tell Santa Claus, "Merry Christmas!"
Don Mehl quipped that he was looking forward to Christmas "being over." Donna Mehl said she was looking forward to "things getting back to normal," referring to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Merry Christmas to everyone," Don Mehl added.
Martins Ferry native Beth Marling was back in the Ohio Valley to visit her mother and sister. She was accompanied by her partner Lisa Pacific whom she lives with in Harpers Ferry, W.Va.
"I just retired. I'm looking forward to not going back to work," Marling said on Wednesday.
Marling said they enjoyed seeing the Oglebay Winter Festival of Lights and were enjoying fish sandwiches from Coleman's, an annual tradition this time of year. She planned to take a sandwich back to her mother's home in Shadyside.
Seven-year-old Cade Atkinson of Bethlehem and his brother Zane Atkinson, 11, had a special Christmas visit with their grandmother, aka Yia Yia, Dorothy Shanley of Wheeling on Wednesday. First they went to Deluxe Toy and Hobby in Martins Ferry to pick out toys. They requested Coleman's fish for their lunch, she said.
Cade said he was looking forward to opening a virtual reality headset present on Christmas along with a skateboard and a new hoverboard.
"I'm looking forward to my Nana's and having dinner like we always have," Cade said, adding he likes the noodles and corn during the Christmas dinner.