Successful sports programs take a team effort

    On Saturday, the Bridgeport High School girls swim team won an unprecedented third straight state championship.
The victory not only establishes Bridgeport as the state's premier program, but it should go a long way in helping to make swimming a legitimate high school sport.
    Bridgeport coach Jan Grisso says that her team's success can be traced to several factors, including the student-athletes' talent and dedication. But the key to Bridgeport's emergence as the state's top program is support from the school's administration and the community.
    "I think the thing that sets us apart is the outstanding support we get from our school and community," Grisso said. "We have a principal that's at all of our meets, and we're not really fighting with any other sport." That's the type of team effort needed to make any high school program successful. And one that should be the norm at all schools throughout West Virginia.
    There's no doubt Bridgeport has talented swimmers. Amy Sickles and Ashley Wilson both won individual championships and joined with Ashley Leinbach, Natalie Stout, Lauren Snell and Michelle Knicely to win two relay events.
    But there's plenty of talented swimmers out there. Harrison County produced two other individual champions (Robert C. Byrd's Chris Hagedorn and Jeremy Gustafson) while Fairmont Senior also had several state champions, as well as winning the boys' championship. And there were many other area swimmers who placed in the top six of each of the 22 events.
    What swimming needs is commitment from administrators, parents and communities. With those things, there will be more success stories like Bridgeport's and more students enjoying the rewarding experience of high school athletics.
    Congratulations to Bridgeport's swimming program, its coaches and support staff for establishing such lofty goals and for teaming together to make it happen.
May your performance set the standard.

This editorial reflects the opinion of the Exponent editorial board, which includes William J. Sedivy, John G. Miller, Julie R. Cryser, James Logue, Kevin Courtney and Cecil Jarvis.

Air service vital to economic health of small communities

    Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., told area aviation officials last Wednesday that his recent appointment to the Senate Aviation Committee could help them in their efforts to improve and retain air service.
    This was music to the ears of managers at Benedum and Morgantown airports, which have struggled since the deregulation of the industry. It could act as a catalyst for the Benedum Airport runway extension to boost the local economy.
    The senator said one of his top priorities on the subcommittee will be to protect and restore air service in rural communities. "Our future is in regional jets," he said. "Business is not going to come into the state unless people can get in and out of the state." We certainly agree with that assessment.
    The key is providing tax incentives to airlines that offer regional jet service to markets the size of Clarksburg, Bluefield and Morgantown. Rockefeller has sponsored the Air Service Restoration Act of 1999, legislation that includes a five-year, $100 million pilot program for up to 40 small and under-served communities. The bill also calls on the Department of Transportation to review airline industry marketing practices and, if necessary, issue regulations to curb abuses that block entry into the market.
    Normally we would oppose any form of government regulation on free enterprise. But, the deregulation of the airline industry resulted in many airlines abandoning smaller markets like Charleston overnight. While air travelers in larger cities benefited from cheap air fare due to increased competition, those in smaller markets were left with very few options and significantly higher ticket prices.
    This put our regional economies at a disadvantage. Most businesses in growth industries rely on quality air service to compete. If we are to continue our conversion from a coal-based economy to one based on high-technology, we must have equal access to regional jet service. If Rockefeller and the subcommittee are successful in their efforts, we may see Benedum Airport become the lifeblood of the I-79 Corridor community.

Andy Kniceley
Telegram Editorial Board member

Boyd Anderson Restaurant marked Washington bicentennial

    Do any long-time residents of Clarksburg recall The Boyd Anderson Restaurant at 407 W. Main St. in downtown Clarksburg? Frank H. Johnson was president and manager of the restaurant.
    On this 22nd day of February - the real birthday of our first president, George Washington, The Boyd Anderson Restaurant and George Washington's birthdate have a connection. This was brought to my attention recently by Elsie Amos of Route 1, Box 219-A, Lost Creek.
    "It was the place to eat in West Virginia," Mrs. Amos said. "It was very well known throughout the state. Its most famous steak was $1 and it featured a special menu every day. But it was extra special on Washington's birthday in 1932."
    On the front of the four-page menu that day was the familiar portrait of President Washington, a special reproduction in the minutest detail of the original canvas done by the hand of Gilbert Stuart, once America's leading portrait artist, before whom Washington posed in person.
    On the back of the menu was a brief commemorative mention of the George Washington Bicentennial, which began with a quote: "That future generations of American citizens may live according to the example and precepts of his exalted life and character and thus perpetuate the American Republic."
    In the past when old menus have appeared in BobnAlong, readers have smacked their lips at the palatable offerings and patted their billfolds when they spotted the prices per item at the time.
    On Feb. 22, 1932, regular dinner was served from 4-9 p.m. The main entrees included: Tenderloin steak with mushroom sauce, $1; T-bone steak, 90 cents; sirloin steak, 70 cents; spring chicken a la Maryland, 65 cents; breaded pork tenderloin with tomato sauce, 60 cents; small steak, 50 cents; creamed chicken on biscuit, 50 cents; roast leg of veal with dressing, 50 cents; roast loin of pork with applesauce, 50 cents, and roast prime ribs of beef, 50 cents.
    On the special a la carte menu were included: broiled lamb chops on toast, two for 60 cents or three for 75 cents; pork tenderloin with applesauce, 60 cents; breaded veal cutlet with tomato sauce, 60 cents; broiled juicy hamburger steak, 50 cents; genuine veal liver with onions or bacon, 75 cents; T-bone steak, 80 cents; fried ham with fried hominy, 50 cents; shad roe with bacon, 90 cents; special club steak with vegetables, $1, including home-fried or french-fried potatoes, bread, butter and coffee included;
    Spanish omelet with shoestring potatoes, bread, butter and coffee, 60 cents; French toast with strawberry or peach preserves, 30 cents; fried ham with fried pineapple, 50 cents; oysters one-half dozen, fried or stewed, 40 cents; buttered shrimps on toast, 40 cents; fried much, 20 cents, with poached eggs, 40 cents; combination salad, 25 cents; combination salad chopped fine, 25 cents; cottage cheese, 10 cents; fruit salad, 30 cents; chicken salad, 40 cents; special ham and chicken sandwich on toast, 35 cents, and Anderson's Special Double-Deck Sandwich, 30 cents. At the bottom of the menu it was mentioned that if a customer's check was 50 cents or more, he may have a second cup of coffee at no cost.
    According to the back of the menu, the Bicentennial Celebration was sponsored by the U.S. Government. Congress had created the George Washington Bicentennial Commission with the President of the United States as its chairman.
    It was written: "It will be a nation-wide, even a world-wide series of celebrations in which every state, city and town -every organization and institution, every home will participate. It will last from Washington's Birthday, February 22, 1932, to Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 1932, with special local and national celebrations everywhere on all holidays, anniversaries or other days that can be connected with the life of George Washington."
    Yes, today is the real birthday of our very first president. (I cannot tell a lie.)

Another BobnAlong column Wednesday.

Clarksburg Publishing Company, P.O. Box 2000, Clarksburg, WV 26302 USA
Copyright © Clarksburg Publishing Company 1999