By Colleen Nelson
Now that Greene County people and businesses are emerging from the shadow of COVID-19, I’ve been eager to see how the community is doing. So when Melody Longstreth calls me while I’m searching the aisles of Big Lots for lavender oil, I realize she’s the perfect person to ask.“Yes, I can help the person looking to find the local potter he bought from in Point Marion and now wants to contact to replace a broken piece. Tell him to send a snapshot of the signature in the glaze. Someone in the business of the craft will recognize it. I’m so glad you called, Melody! Got a minute?”
When the shutdown came in March, the Chamber of Commerce decided to network with every business in the county, not just members, Melody is happy to tell me. “We knew we had to stick together.”
As offices, businesses and schools across the Commonwealth closed on March 13, Chamber staffers grabbed their files, headed home and got back to work. Countless phone calls and Zoom meetings later, Melody is here to tell us things are looking positive. The Chamber office is now open Tuesday and Thursday 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. and by appointment and she jokes about doing “curbside notary” by appointment only. But her home is still her office and she’s not complaining.
“It’s funny but I’ve gotten so comfortable working from home, I’m getting more done and enjoying it more,” she admits. “I’ve gotten projects done that I put off because there never seemed to be enough time. And it’s been a nice change of pace to cook and eat in. With our old work schedules we hardly ever had a chance eat together. Now Brian cooks and I clean up and he even brings lunch to my office!”
The weekly Chamber email newsletter is full of examples of the power that group support gives to small businesses, entrepreneurs and the economy during uncertain times. Small business loans are listed as they become available, online business classes are offered, strategies hatched.
Melody says that some businesses used their closed doors to catch up on inventory, do repairs and sometimes change their business model to accommodate new buying trends. And the Chamber has worked hard to get the word out about business that do deliveries and take outs.
Beauticians and barbershops were especially hard hit since they were not permitted to do home visits or sell their products, even as deliveries, and owners were especially worried about losing their state license if they didn’t comply. But the rebound has been heartening. “Laura Johnson told me Mankind Gentleman’s Cuts had 20 appointments on the first day.”
Some businesses got caught in the language of what is essential. Farms were essential, nurseries were not, yet corporate box stores selling food were considered essential and had their garden sections open for business.
When I stop by Shields Greenhouse near Spraggs to grab the last two bush cucumber plants and add more herbs to my garden that keeps growing as I keep buying, the parking lot is packed. I find Leigh and son Victor rooting another tray of lavender cuttings as wagons filled with plants pulled by happy gardeners make the rounds. Leigh’s green thumb is legendary – most of his herbs are Greene County hardy and grown from his own field-tested mother plants.
“We got a letter in the mail telling us we were a farm and were considered essential which I know because I file the F form with the IRS,” Leigh says, his eyes twinkling above his mask. He agrees that some plant sellers were at a disadvantage early on but adds this happy note, “People couldn’t buy clothes, shoes – you know my shoes started to fall apart and I had to tape them! – they couldn’t eat out and now they have all this disposable income and they’re stuck at home in their yard and they’re buying plants! I think everyone is going to do well.”
Other businesses considered non-essential during the pandemic, looked outwards to see what they could do for the community during their closures. I see Ben McMillan of McMillan Photography taking photos on June 19 and ask him how many masks he and his army of volunteers made and distributed since March. He texts me later: “About 6000 masks delivered. Pretty much slowed down with the demand. Probably won’t do it much longer. About 30+ volunteers.”
And to end on a lavender note, the good news for Greene County’s foster kids is the Easter Bunny has finally arrived – in June, thanks to a little COVID-19 delay – and brought each one of them a lavender infused bunny to call their own. Tammy Watson of Waynesburg was inspired by Lavender Life Company’s Facebook page promise of a free bunny to a foster child for every bunny ordered. She emailed them about getting some sent here and was “so amazed when they got back to me. I’m now their contact person for Washington, Greene, Fayette and the Morgantown area including Pressley Ridge Treatment Foster Care.”
I meet up with Aaron Houser, a 2001 West Greene grad who has moved home to the county he couldn’t wait to leave! I tease him and he laughs. “It was my wife’s idea, actually – we were coming down for weekends and she fell in love with the country here. I miss being able to walk down the street and buy a bagel but I’m glad we’re back.” He’s now director of CASA – Court Appointed Special Advocates – for Children, and we’re in his office, upstairs from Rhodes and Hammers Printing on Church St. Waynesburg. Some of the 1000 free bunnies Tammy received are piled on the table each in its own bag, each with its own bottle of lavender spray. “I found CASA when I saw one of their yard signs along the road asking for volunteers. This is my first delivery.”
There are between 120 and 130 children in dependency court right now, Aaron tells me. At CASA, volunteers get 30 hours of training and continuing education to work with the county’s most vulnerable cases, which can be found in every school district. Volunteers are assigned by court order and track the legal aspects of the case while offering one on one relationship with the child. They monitor health needs and meet with teachers, coaches and foster families to advocate in the child’s best interest. When schools closed in March, volunteers and children could no longer meet face to face and many children went home to their real families, something that concerns Aaron as the months of separation from physical supervision grow. Court was shut down, but the critical hearings continued online and new cases continue to come in. “We’ll know more about how Greene County kids are doing when school resumes in the fall.” Until then, a Lavender Life bunny will be within hugging distance for every foster kid in the County, wherever they are.
Interested in becoming a CASA volunteer? Call 724-802-7347. To join the Chamber of Commerce, call 724-627-5926.