The 2008 Home and Garden Show was held on March 1st and 2nd. Running into scheduling difficulties at the Woody Williams Armory along with space restrictions, the committee felt that moving the event would be beneficial to the vendors. “Each year, we had vendors request that this show be held earlier in the year but were never able to accommodate the earlier date,” said Maggie Toothman, MCCC. “The move to Middletown Mall enabled us to offer an earlier date and the vendors were very receptive.” In fact, the event was entirely sold out many days prior and the Chamber had to develop a waiting list.

Corporate Sponsors for this years event are Biafore Landscape Development, Capital Doors, Hauge’s Flower & Garden Center, Rider Pharmacy, Times West Virginian and WesBanco. Time Warner Cable, WDTV and 94 Rock WRLF are this year’s media sponsors. Because of the new venue, visitors had expanded hours to visit the show and the traffic was steady throughout the entire time. The demonstrations, prize give-aways, and family events were received very well along with the seminars that were filled.

Keeping with a long held tradition, a Sneak Preview and Business After Hours was held on Friday evening, February 29th from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm sponsored by Hank’s Deli and the Middletown Mall.

Plans have now begun for next year’s event.

The 2008 Annual Legislative Breakfast, held on Saturday, February 9th, drew a record crowd of business and community leaders. Sponsored by Anvil Oil & Gas, Fairmont General Hospital, Marion Regional Development Corporation, WesBanco, and the WVHTC Foundation, the event was attended by 160 business & community leaders.

Of special interest this year is an amended bill that the Chamber’s Youth Leadership and Senior Forum students are proposing. Hoping to change the DUI laws in WV, the students have been working for months on this legislation. It was presented to the delegates and was introduced on the Senate and House floors on February 14, 2008, with the students present.

Nick Fantasia, owner of Fantasia Broadcasting, emceed the event, introducing the delegates and monitoring the question/answer forum. “We are so pleased that Nick agrees to do this for the Chamber each year,” said Tina Shaw. “His experience and knowledge of the legislative process has been a lifelong process for him growing up watching his father, Nick Fantasia, a twelve term delegate, representing Marion County in the House of Delegates.

The Chamber would like to thank Jim Estep and Ray Oliverio, WVHTC Foundation, for hosting the event in the High Tech Research Center. “The venue is perfect for this type of event,” Osborne commented. “The Foundation is a strong supporter of the Chamber and allows us to use their facilities. We appreciate that kind of partnership.”