Highlights is a 30 minute weekly TV show featuring organizations, events, grass-roots efforts and people who move our state and community forward in a positive way.
The show is a collaboration with HD Media, The Media Center and Jim Strawn & Company.
The show taped and premiering at 8:30 p.m. on June 13, 2022 highlights the Freedom Celebration Concert, the 61st Charleston Public Courts Tennis Tournament and the Capitol Market.
We first interviewed Barry Skeenes, Music Director at Calvary Baptist Church and Coordinator of the Freedom Celebration. This is the 6th Celebration.
The theme this year is Rosie the Riveter.
Rosie the Riveter was the star of a campaign aimed at recruiting female workers for defense industriesduring World War II, and she became perhaps the most iconic image of working women. American women entered the workforce in unprecedented numbers during the war, as widespread male enlistment left gaping holes in the industrial labor force. Between 1940 and 1945, the female percentage of the U.S. workforce increased from 27 percent to nearly 37 percent, and by 1945 nearly one out of every four married women worked outside the home.
Barry describe what the celebration is.
Singers and instrumentalists from area churches and organizations come together for a festivALL patriotic concert. He is the conductor and selects pieces commemorating our country’s independence and other struggles for freedom including favorites such as Wilhousky’s Battle Hymn of the Republic, Stars and Stripes Forever, God Bless America and God Bless the U.S.A., as well as others.
Instrumentalists are from local institutions, including the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra. The performance also includes a reading of the Declaration of Independence by Ed Rabel.
The Celebration Concert is FREE to the public.
Location is Calvary Baptist Church on corner of Lee Stree and Maryland Avenue on Charleston’s WestSide.
The next segment of the show included a conversation with Rory Isaac and Nate Burton, regarding the upcoming 61st Charleston Public Courts Tennis Tournament. After missing the last 2 years due to the health pandemic, the tournament is back this year. The dates for the 61st Charleston Public Courts Tennis Tournament will be July 8-16, 2022 at the Schoenbaum Tennis Courts in Kanawha City.
The 3rd segment of the show included a discussion with Evan Osborn, Executive Director of the Capitol Market.
Evan talked about his role and the mission of the market. As a non-profit, the mission is to support small businesses, lift up local farmers, and create a community space for all.
That can be seen in action every day at Capitol Market. Keep up with it all, by following them on Facebook.
Evan invited everyone to some upcoming events including: Let’s Get Cooking on June 16th, All Fired Up on July 2nd and the Pre-Gatta set for June 29th.
If you would like to learn more about the Highlights Program, contact Host and Executive Producer Jim Strawn at 304-541-4756.
