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One of the highlights of working downtown, in my opinion, is the easy access to Wheeling Heritage Port and the Heritage Trail. I estimate that over the past three decades I've logged more than 10,000 miles walking on that trail, either during a quick break, after work or on the weekends.
But, sadly, Heritage Trail is not what it once was. A combination of time, invasive plants and a general lack of maintenance -- along with the trash left behind by some of the area's homeless population that utilize the trail to shuttle between neighborhoods, or to access temporary camp sites -- has left the trail feeling ... seriously untended.
I've spoken to several regular walkers in recent months who have stopped walking the trail due to its condition.
I personally don't see any real concerns with walking the trail, but I can easily understand why others would. There are sections where the riverbank and surrounding areas are so overgrown, you can't see around a bend. There are spots where the trees and scrub have intruded on the trail to the point that you feel as if you're being swallowed.
Just downtown, behind the old Wheeling Inn, a section of the old retaining wall that borders the trail has broken apart, with large sections of the wall sitting on the asphalt. Those have been there now for about three years.
Vines are taking over many areas. Views of the river -- one of the trail's biggest selling points throughout downtown -- are blocked.
To be fair, city crews did do a very good job in cleaning up the trail at Heritage Port for the fireworks/festival season. But that comes to an end just as you cross the footbridge going south and pass behind the Capitol Theatre north.
Heritage Trail is one of Wheeling's greatest assets because it belongs to everyone. Over the years I've seen runners training on the trail, cyclists pushing themselves, parents with strollers, youngsters on bikes shuttling between neighborhoods, and office workers utilizing 20 minutes to get some fresh air before heading back to their desks. A trail that is well-maintained sends a message that our community values those experiences.
The trail also showcases our waterfront. If the first thing a visitor to Heritage Port notices is a tangle of weeds behind WesBanco Arena that obstructs views of the water, that becomes part of their impression of Wheeling. Conversely, a clean, attractive trail lined with trimmed vegetation and clear views of the Ohio River becomes something people remember -- and tell others about.
This isn't a call for some expensive, years-long capital project. Much of what needs to be done is basic stewardship: trimming back invasive growth, repairing damaged sections, clearing sightlines and committing to a regular maintenance schedule. There are undoubtedly volunteer groups, civic organizations, businesses and neighborhood associations that would gladly lend a hand if given the opportunity and a coordinated plan.
For years, Wheeling has invested heavily in bringing people back downtown through festivals, restaurants, housing and a new streetscape. The Heritage Trail should be viewed as part of that same investment. We spend much time attracting people to the waterfront; we shouldn't neglect one of the very amenities that encourages them to stay, explore and come back.
It's time for this city and its residents to get serious about the trail. And when I say city, that doesn't just mean the governmental body for Wheeling. This needs to be a community-wide project to clean up our trails not just downtown, but also through the Tunnel Green area toward Elm Grove, through South Wheeling and north through Warwood.
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The Zervos sisters of Moundsville -- Zara and Zoe -- received some well-earned recognition this week.
Zoe, a standout student-athlete who next month will enter her senior year at John Marshall High School, was awarded second place in the West Virginia Writers Competition's poetry division for her entry, "Gifted."
Zara, a 2025 West Virginia University graduate who is pursuing a master's degree in aeronautics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, was the guest speaker at the Moundsville Lions Club where she shared her story on hard work and never giving up.
They are the daughters of Ted and Shawna Zervos.
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Speaking of exceptional students, it was our pleasure this past week to share with you the full list of winners of a 2026 George E. Stifel Prize.
The Stifel has become the premier prize for Ohio County students to bring home, with the total prize amount reaching into the hundreds of thousands of dollars each year.
Our congratulations to all the winners.
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There could be no more deserving honoree of the 2026 Italian American of the Year than Wheeling's Robert Contraguerro Jr. He joins his father, Robert Contraguerro Sr., as only the second father-son tandem to be named Italian Americans of the Year, joining Merle and Robert Gaudio.
"… To become only the second father and son in the history of this award … is something I never imagined," Contraguerro said. "Dad taught me that your reputation is worth more than any paycheck, that a handshake still means something, and that if you're going to do a job, do it right the first time."
Well said, indeed.