The Wheeling Symphony Orchestra hosted a special school presentation in honor of Violins of Hope this past week in the John Marshall High School Center for Performing Arts. Violins of Hope is a national organization that brings together an exhibit of beautifully restored violins and other string instruments that were played by concentration camp prisoners during the Holocaust. For this concert, WSO musicians performed on those instruments for a reflective and powerful experience. Several collaborations took place as part of this unique experience. More than 150 JMHS students, faculty and staff, along with students from Wheeling Central Catholic High School, were able to witness WSO principal clarinetist Roi Mezare tell his family’s story of the Holocaust. He also played excerpts from a piece called “Pastorale Variee” by Israeli composer Paul Ben-Haim. Mezare’s family was directly impacted by the Holocaust, and he was brought into the planning of the concert to best reflect the stories related to the Violins of Hope from within WSO’s orchestra. This special performance also included frequent WSO collaborator and Conductor Michael Ellis Ingram. He told the story of his work preparing the Piano Concerto by Austrian composer Walter Bricht, who immigrated to the United States during the Nazi regime. The main purpose of the concert was to prompt conversations and reflection around the events of the Holocaust, in addition to exploring the connection between music and the Holocaust.

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The Monarch Company will present the play “Peter Pan & Wendy” next weekend at John Marshall High School. The story is about a boy who never wants to grow up and spends his time in Neverland. The production will be colorful with plenty of actor movement to keep the crowd engaged. The dates will be Oct. 27-29. The Friday and Saturday performances will be at 7 p.m. while the Sunday performance will be at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at the door and anyone with a personalized Marshall County Schools Activity pass will get free admission.

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The Cameron Blue and Gold Christian Center has started making plans for this year’s Thanksgiving Dinner. The free event will be held at noon Nov. 18. Dinner will feature turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, noodles, green beans, dessert and a drink. There will be dine-in, carryout and deliveries available. Volunteers are welcome and donations of desserts would be appreciated. Call Nancy Fullerton at 304-686-3734 for more information or to volunteer or donate.

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Moundsville City Council members recently named a section of Riverfront Park after the late Sherman “Sonny” Bertrand Jr. Bertrand had been instrumental in organizing the Horseshoe Courts several years ago. After his passing on Sept. 15, several individuals asked council to consider honoring Sonny in this manner.

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Moundsville City Council recently approved the purchase of two new cruisers for the police department. The total cost will be $79,340.

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There will be a Halloween Party at American Legion Post No.3, Moundsville on Oct. 28. The event will be from 6-9 p.m. There will be a District American Legion Post meeting at the the Benwood Legion beginning at 9 a.m. on Oct. 29.

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Marshall County resident Allen Underdonk was recently inducted into the Salem University Athletic Hall of Fame. Underdonk earned multiple All-WVIAC and NAIA All-American honors from 1972-1975 while playing football for the Tigers. Underdonk had previously been inducted into the Hall of Fame as part of the 1975 team that played in the NAIA National Championship Game.

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All Marshall County Schools were represented at the Local School Improvement Council Showcase this past week at the Moundsville Center.