/press/release_detail/ en bbeyer@greenbrierwv.com Copyright 2008 2008-07-10T17:35:00-06:00 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/GreenbrierCountyWestVirginia-PressReleases/~3/335282985/ http://greenbrierwv.com/press/release_detail/second_annual_great_zucchini_race_set_for_july_19/#When:17:35:00Z Lewisburg, W.Va. (July 10, 2008) The Lewisburg Farmers Market will host the second annual Great Zucchini Race on Saturday, July 19.  This free event for children 12 and under supplies participants with a donated squash and the artistic supplies needed to create zucchini race cars.  Participants can begin creating their cars at 8:30am and the races will begin at 12:00pm.  Competitors will be divided into three age groups and cars will be raced on a large platform track.  Prizes will be awarded to the fastest, funniest and most original zucchini racer in each age group.  Prizes for this event have been donated by the following Lewisburg businesses: State Fair of West Virginia, Subway, Jim’s Drive-in, Dairy Queen, Sunflower Soul, The Wild Bean, The Open Book, Plants Etc., Edith’s Health and Specialty Store, Wolf Creek Gallery, Serenity Now Outfitters, All About Beauty, Aggie’s, Stardust Café, Greenbrier Valley Baking Company and Honnalee. Located adjacent to the Lewisburg Post Office on Washington St., the Farmers Market takes place every Saturday, May through October, from 9:00am -1:00pm rain or shine.  Participating vendors offer local produce and goods grown in the Greenbrier Valley and surrounding farming communities.  Each week, shoppers can expect to find honey, jams, baked goods, eggs, fresh cut flowers and herbs, salad greens, garlic, shiitake mushrooms, potted plants, seasonal and specialty veggies, meat products and hand-crafted items. For more information on the Lewisburg Farmers Market, contact the Greenbrier County CVB at 304-645-1000.  Lewisburg 2008-07-10T17:35:00-06:00 http://greenbrierwv.com/press/release_detail/second_annual_great_zucchini_race_set_for_july_19/#When:17:35:00Z http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/GreenbrierCountyWestVirginia-PressReleases/~3/326059524/ http://greenbrierwv.com/press/release_detail/cvb_honors_may_hospitality_star_nominees/#When:18:09:01Z Lewisburg, WV (June 19, 2008) The Greenbrier County Convention and Visitors Bureau recognized 13 Hospitality Star nominees for the month of May. Receiving more than 70 nominations from four businesses over the past month, the program recognizes exceptional customer service.  Elizabeth Keys of The General Lewis Inn topped the list of nominees with 37 nominations throughout the month.  Other nominees for May were Lisa Gordon, Joanne Hale, Michael Coleman, Twain Wesley, Rhonda Short, Angie Phillips, Eva Burress and Jim Morgan of the General Lewis Inn; Leah Spence of Aggie’s Something Sweet, Something Country, Lindsey Hanna of the Brier Inn and Deloris Jameson and Jeff Layfield of the Greenbrier State Forest. For additional information on the Hospitality Stars program, or to carry the nominations brochures in your business, contact the CVB at 304-645-1000. The Hospitality Stars program is designed recognize outstanding service by hospitality employees throughout the county.  Each month, nominated employees receive a star lapel pin and recognition by the CVB.  The CVB will host a celebration for all of the nominees during next year’s National Tourism Awareness Week, where one standout will be named the “Hospitality Star of the Year.” 2008-06-19T18:09:01-06:00 http://greenbrierwv.com/press/release_detail/cvb_honors_may_hospitality_star_nominees/#When:18:09:01Z http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/GreenbrierCountyWestVirginia-PressReleases/~3/308226065/ http://greenbrierwv.com/press/release_detail/new_greenbrier_county_visitors_guide_now_available/#When:19:01:00Z Lewisburg, W.Va. – (June 5, 2008) The new edition of the Official Visitors Guide for Greenbrier County is now available. The publication, created by the Greenbrier County Convention and Visitors Bureau, has a magazine-size format featuring new photography, personal interest stories, clearly defined sections with creative introductions and comprehensive information on country attractions, dining, lodging, historical sites and much more.  “The Visitors Guide is the main collateral piece that the CVB uses in its marketing and advertising efforts,” said CVB Executive Director, Kara Dense.  “This piece showcases all the county has to offer, while serving as a planning resource for visitors.” This year the CVB printed 60,000 copies of the guide that will be distributed through December to a variety of travel plazas and visitors centers around the state, as well as sent in response to information requests that come into the Greenbrier County CVB.  The entire guide is also available in an interactive format on the CVB’s website, http://www.greenbrierwv.com, complete with direct links to advertisers. To request a copy of the new Visitors Guide, call the CVB at 304-645-1000 or visit us on the web at http://www.greenbrierwv.com. 2008-06-05T19:01:00-06:00 http://greenbrierwv.com/press/release_detail/new_greenbrier_county_visitors_guide_now_available/#When:19:01:00Z http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/GreenbrierCountyWestVirginia-PressReleases/~3/308226066/ http://greenbrierwv.com/press/release_detail/reynolds_and_kelly_named_hospitality_stars_of_the_year/#When:18:42:00Z Lewisburg, WV (May 16, 2008) Helen Reynolds of the General Lewis Inn and Daisy Kelly of National Car Rental were honored as the Hospitality Stars of the Year during a breakfast for this year’s nominees held on Friday, May 16 at the Lewisburg Elks Club.  Reynolds and Kelly were selected out of 35 individuals who were nominated for going above and beyond to provide exceptional customer service.  The program, sponsored by the Greenbrier County Convention and Visitors Bureau, garnered a total of 480 nominations over the course of the year.  Each month, nominated employees receive a star lapel pin and recognition by the CVB.  Nomination brochures are available at various locations throughout the county. “The program was originally set to honor one individual during National Tourism Week that truly embodied the term Hospitality Star,” said Kara Dense, Executive Director of the CVB. “The plan changed after we received a nomination for these two ladies who truly earned the award for helping a traveler deal with an unfortunate situation.” The winning nomination relayed a traveler’s experience at the General Lewis Inn and the ladies’ efforts to help her rent a car and get on the road late one evening when a family emergency occurred.  It stated, “I have traveled with my jobs and my company for many years and I know there are not many – if any- other places in the world where two ladies who did not know me would extend themselves so much to help me in the middle of the night.  Helen and Daisy and the other ladies at the General Lewis Inn were angels that night.  They made me feel cared for and gave me hope.  They were truly the hands of God in the middle of a storm.” This year’s winners were honored with special Hospitality Star of the Year Awards gift baskets featuring items from the following sponsors: Aggie’s Something Sweet, Something Country, ALL Arts, Carnegie Hall, Food & Friends, Greenbrier County Committee on Aging, Greenbrier Historical Society, Greenbrier Valley Theatre, High Country Gallery and Boutique, Jeidas, Kitten’s Korner, Organ Cave, Ronceverte Development Corporation, State Fair of West Virginia, Sunshine Farm and Gardens, The General Lewis Inn and The Greenbrier. Other 2008 Nominees included: Marie Boggs, Helen Burns, Julie Burns, Cindy Dolan, Trista Dotson, Carol Flora, Kristen Fogus, Sara Gary, Carey Hamrick, Shana Hamrick, Tracie Hamrick, Ashley Harrah, Sara Hart, Nora Mann, Seda Persinger, Mike McCormick, Darren Scott, Whitney Stewart and Katie Stewart from Shoney’s.  Christine Cayton, Mike Dotson, Amy Flack and Joy Hoke from the Hampton Inn, Elizabeth Keys, Lisa Gordon and Joanne Hale from the General Lewis Inn, Bernetta and Doug Sams from the Greenbrier River Retreat, Tara and Wayne LeBlanc from Great Oak B&B, Natalie Neal and Laurie Massey from Oakhurst Links, Aggie Spence and Leah Spence from Aggie’s, Mary Cole Deitz from the Greenbrier County CVB, Paula Dowdy from Food and Friends, Karen Lilly from the State Fair of WV and Kayla Mann from Blackwell’s Restaurant. 2008-05-16T18:42:00-06:00 http://greenbrierwv.com/press/release_detail/reynolds_and_kelly_named_hospitality_stars_of_the_year/#When:18:42:00Z http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/GreenbrierCountyWestVirginia-PressReleases/~3/308226067/ http://greenbrierwv.com/press/release_detail/greenbrier_county_cvb_launches_new_website/#When:18:59:00Z Lewisburg, WV (May 15, 2008) The Greenbrier County Convention and Visitors Bureau unveiled its newly designed website, GreenbrierWV.com, on Wednesday, May 14 during the Second Annual Greenbrier County Tourism Summit. “A destination’s website is a vital component of its marketing strategy with 65 million American adults booking travel online each year,” said Kara Dense, CVB Executive Director.  “Our new site offers some of the latest technology that will make planning a trip to the area very easy for visitors.” The new website, designed by Paramore|Redd Online Marketing of Nashville, TN, includes enhanced navigability for tourists, meeting planners and groups.  Users can explore the many options for lodging, dining and attractions, as well as all of the events and things to see and do in Greenbrier County.  The new site also offers visitors a helpful interactive mapping tool that is available on each individual business and attraction listing.  Tourism businesses in Greenbrier County will also find the site as a great resource with a dedicated area that allows them to upload events, listing updates and images directly to the site. Check out the new site at http://www.greenbrierwv.com.  2008-05-15T18:59:00-06:00 http://greenbrierwv.com/press/release_detail/greenbrier_county_cvb_launches_new_website/#When:18:59:00Z http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/GreenbrierCountyWestVirginia-PressReleases/~3/286862951/ http://greenbrierwv.com/press/release_detail/cvb_to_celebrate_national_tourism_week_with_second_annual_greenbrier_county/#When:19:10:00Z Lewisburg, W.Va. (April 23, 2008) The Greenbrier County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) will host the second annual county-wide Tourism Summit on May 14 to recognize National Tourism Week. “This year’s event is all about the importance of tourism in Greenbrier County and the role the CVB plays to promote the area,” said Kara Dense, CVB Executive Director.  “With an educational focus, the Summit will cover marketing techniques and business strategies designed specifically for the tourism industry in light of the uncertainty of today’s economy.” This one-day event is designed for tourism partners and will take place at the Cecil H. Underwood Youth Center on the grounds of the State Fair of WV beginning at 10:00am until 2:00pm. This year’s summit will feature keynote speaker Berkeley Young with Young Strategies out of Charlotte, NC.  With more than 20 years of experience in travel and tourism research, Young will discuss current travel trends, while highlighting tips on how to make a business successful in light of the current economy. Other presentations will include the unveiling of the new Greenbrier County website by Paramoredd Online Marketing, as well as an update on marketing efforts from the WV Division of Tourism. National Tourism Awareness Week, May 10-18, is an annual event sponsored by the Travel Industry Association (TIA) and commemorated by states, cities and organizations across the nation.  Registration for the event is $10 including lunch by Tavern 1785.  For more information, contact the Greenbrier County CVB at 304-645-1000. ### 2008-04-23T19:10:00-06:00 http://greenbrierwv.com/press/release_detail/cvb_to_celebrate_national_tourism_week_with_second_annual_greenbrier_county/#When:19:10:00Z http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/GreenbrierCountyWestVirginia-PressReleases/~3/286862952/ http://greenbrierwv.com/press/release_detail/beyer_graduates_from_southeast_tourism_society_marketing_college/#When:19:11:00Z Lewisburg, WV (April 21, 2008) Beth Beyer, Marketing Director for the Greenbrier County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), recently graduated from the Southeast Tourism Society’s (STS) Marketing College during the organization’s spring meeting in Asheville, North Caroline on April 1.  STS hosts Marketing College each summer at North Georgia College and State University in Dahlonega, Georgia.  The program offers tourism professionals across the Southeast a broad-based curriculum in tourism marketing and management.  Students completing three years of Marketing College receive their Travel Marketing Professional (TMP) certification.  Beyer graduated along with 40 other tourism professionals from around the southeast. In her role as Marketing Director for the CVB, Beyer works closely with the Executive Director and coordinates the Bureau’s $400,000 marketing campaign and handles all lead and database inquiries. Founded in 1983, Founded in 1983, the Southeast Tourism Society is dedicated to the promotion and development of tourism to its member states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. ### 2008-04-21T19:11:00-06:00 http://greenbrierwv.com/press/release_detail/beyer_graduates_from_southeast_tourism_society_marketing_college/#When:19:11:00Z http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/GreenbrierCountyWestVirginia-PressReleases/~3/286862954/ http://greenbrierwv.com/press/release_detail/lewisburg_farmers_market_begins_2008_season1/#When:21:28:00Z Lewisburg, W.Va. (April 15, 2008) The Lewisburg Farmer’s Market is preparing to kick off its 2008 season on Saturday, April 26.  Located adjacent to the Lewisburg Post Office on Washington St., the Market takes place every Saturday, May through October from 9:00am -11:00am rain or shine.  Participating vendors offer local produce and goods grown in the Greenbrier Valley and surrounding farming communities.  Each week, shoppers can expect to find honey, jams, baked goods, eggs, fresh cut flowers and herbs, salad greens, garlic, shiitake mushrooms, potted plants, seasonal and specialty veggies, meat products and hand-crafted items. The Lewisburg Farmer’s Market will also host special events and children’s activities into this year’s schedule ranging from art exhibits to pumpkin painting competitions. Upcoming events include the May 10 Mother’s Day Celebration at the Lewisburg Farmer’s Market where children through age 12 are invited to select a clay pots to personalize and then plant flowers for the mothers with the assistance of the Greenbrier County Master Gardeners and other volunteers.  On May 24, the Lewisburg Farmer’s Market will serve as the location for the Greenbrier Valley Master Gardener’s Annual Plant Sale.  For more information on the Lewisburg Farmer’s Market, contact the Greenbrier County CVB at 304-645-1000.  ### 2008-04-15T21:28:00-06:00 http://greenbrierwv.com/press/release_detail/lewisburg_farmers_market_begins_2008_season1/#When:21:28:00Z http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/GreenbrierCountyWestVirginia-PressReleases/~3/286862956/ http://greenbrierwv.com/press/release_detail/greenbrier_valley_wheels_of_hope_bicycle_ride_set_for_july_19/#When:19:05:00Z LEWISBURG, WV - (April 15, 2008) The Greenbrier Valley Bicycle Club will host the Second Annual Greenbrier Valley Wheels of Hope bicycle ride on Saturday, July 19.  The non-competitive ride will start and end in Lewisburg and offer participants a variety of routes ranging from 6 to 63 miles on paved, country roads.  All proceeds will benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Greenbrier Valley residents battling cancer.  “The community was extremely supportive while I was undergoing cancer treatments.  After completing treatments, the local biking group gave me an inspirational gift to help me recover—a bicycle that they purchased through a fundraiser,” said ride organizer and cancer survivor, Bill Zahuranec. “Their help with planning and arranging last year’s event, as well as this year’s ride has been incredible.” The 2007 event attracted over 60 riders from 5 different states and 23 communities, while raising $9,000.  The Greenbrier Valley Bicycle Club hopes to increase both ride participation and sponsorship for the 2008 event.  Zahuranec is excited to help give something back to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, as they provided him with answers and information, and also to the local community for their outstanding support as he went through his struggle with cancer.  The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education, and patient services.  Its mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma and improve the quality of life for patients and their families.  Registration for the event is $30 and forms are available at http://www.lewisburg.org/Hope. Interested individuals and potential sponsors can also contact the YMCA at 304-645-4000 or contact Bill Zahuranec at 304-645-5807 or billz73@gmail.com. The 2008 Greenbrier Valley Wheels of Hope event is sponsored by the Agust Gudnundsson, Bill Lewis Motors, City National Bank, Country Road Realty, Country Vintner of WV, Fox Fire Mountain Properties, Free Spirit Adventures, Fritz’s Pharmacy, Grand Home Furnishings, Greenbrier County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Greenbrier Valley YMCA, Irish Pub on Washington Street, Jeff Jeffus, A.T.C., Kara and Tom Steele, Plum Creek and Senior Friends. ### 2008-04-15T19:05:00-06:00 http://greenbrierwv.com/press/release_detail/greenbrier_valley_wheels_of_hope_bicycle_ride_set_for_july_19/#When:19:05:00Z http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/GreenbrierCountyWestVirginia-PressReleases/~3/286862960/ http://greenbrierwv.com/press/release_detail/organ_cave_to_be_featured_on_history_channels_cities_of_the_underworld/#When:18:43:00Z Lewisburg, WV (March 18, 2008) Greenbrier County’s Organ Cave will be featured on an upcoming episode of the History Channel’s Cities of the Underworld. The episode will air on Monday, April 7 at 9:00pm on the History Channel. The second longest commercial cave on the East Coast and a National Natural and Historic Landmark, Organ Cave features Thomas Jefferson’s three-toed sloth and the largest collection of Civil War hoppers in the U.S.  Visit http://www.organcave.com for more details.  Cities of the Underworld follows the adventurous host, Don Wildman, as he uncovers archaeological and cultural history lying beneath the streets of cities around the world.  From Cold War-era bunkers hidden beneath a house in Berlin, to a Byzantine Hippodrome buried below an Istanbul high school, Don travels the globe to uncover escape routes, crypts, dungeons, even entire palaces buried beneath the streets.  Whether he’s lifting manhole covers, rappelling down subterranean tunnels, or paddling through underground rivers, Don will enlist the help of local archeologists and experts as he seeks to dig up the secrets of these past civilizations. Other cities this season include Moscow, Tokyo, Dublin, Prague, and Jerusalem.  The DC show explores historic tunnels right under the Capitol Building, The Greenbrier Bunker, and Baltimore’s Fort McHenry, which proved a major turning point in the War of 1812. ### 2008-03-18T18:43:00-06:00 http://greenbrierwv.com/press/release_detail/organ_cave_to_be_featured_on_history_channels_cities_of_the_underworld/#When:18:43:00Z