Published: June 03, 2009 05:07 pm      

Solidarity Cultural Festival set June 13

The public is invited to the 18th annual Workers’ Solidarity Cultural Festival at noon Saturday, June 13 at the Southern Appalachian Labor School Community Center in Beards Fork.

This year’s event is scheduled to also to commemorate Flag Day and Juneteenth, the traditional celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation. The proclamation, by former president Abraham Lincoln, freed slaves during the Civil War and is an important date for human rights and freedom.

In addition to live music, games, displays, crafts and food, the event will feature two “soft ribbon cuttings.” The first will be an open house for the new SALS dormitory and shelter and the second will be for a new walking trail and shuffle board court.

The dormitory shelter was built in cooperation with the W.Va Development Office, Pentree Engineering, Region 4 Planning and Development Council and the Fayette County Commission. It is a “state of the art” facility that will provide temporary housing for the many volunteers who come each year to work with SALS Housing and children’s programs. The facility, which will also be used as a temporary shelter for those in need, features a commercial kitchen designed by Sadida David as her capstone project for her interior design degree.

The walking trail, which feature’s the county’s only shuffle board court in the center, was built in cooperation with the W.Va. Department of Highways and the W.Va. Department of Health and Human Resources. It is the only designated walking area between Oak Hill and Montgomery. It will be also used as part of a healthy hearts program with Dr. Dan Doyle and the New River Health Association at the center’s Beards Fork Clinic and Health Project.

The cultural festival is open to everyone. There is free admission, and refreshments will be available. Exhibits of SALS Housing and Youth for the Children will be shown at the festival. The children will be entertained on a water slide and attendees will be able to exercise on the new walking trail next to the community center. Several items will be raffled, as well.

The SALS center is located on Beards Fork Road, two miles east off W.Va. Rte. 61 in Fayette County. The turnoff from W.Va. 61 is located about eight miles from Montgomery and 17 miles from Oak Hill. For further information call 304-779-2280, 304-779-2772, 1-800-515-1349 or write to SALS, P.O. Box 127, Kincaid, WV 25119.