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I would like to say kudos to our sister City of Buckhannon for their recent success during the Strawberry Festival. Folks may ask why I often refer to Buckhannon as our sister city. Some reasons are as follows: Elkins and Buckhannon are similar in size; they are both college towns; and they both have large festivals that serve as a homecoming for their citizens. There are other similarities between our cities, but also enough unique qualities that help distinguish them from each other.
Mayor Robbie Skinner and I work very closely to promote this region, and often discuss how fortunate we are to have the citizens that take pride in making people feel welcome in our respective communities. This was on full display during my recent visits to the Strawberry Festival.
Mayor Skinner informed me he was inviting Mayor Steve Williams from the City of Huntington to accompany him through the Fireman's parage on Friday evening. Mayor Williams has served as a mentor to Mayor Skinner and me during our time in office. For this reason, Mayor Skinner asked me to join them, and I gladly accepted. The crowd was very welcoming and seemed amused that these three mayors were walking together laughing and having an enjoyable time. We met some amazing folks and made some great memories just by strolling through the parade together. This kind of friendship and comradery is incredibly special and hugs your heart.
As a side note, we are all extremely competitive and want what is best for our respective communities. However, we also know if one of our communities is in need, there will be a plethora of mayors reaching out to see if or how they can help. That is when the true Appalachian Spirit shines the brightest, because it is in our blood.
Mayor Skinner graciously invited me and my wife (the First Lady of Elkins) to walk through the grand feature parade on Saturday. We were able to walk through behind the Elkins High School Band, which was also an honor. The hospitality shown by the crowd to me, and my wife was overwhelming at times. We were applauded, cheered, hugged and offered water on more than one occasion. This is proof that a friendly rivalry can be put aside, and we can embrace the fact that we are all mountaineers at heart and care more about our neighbors than ourselves at times.
Thank you to Mayor Robbie Skinner and the volunteers that made the Strawberry Festival a success, and to the wonderful crowd along the parade route. I was able to reciprocate and invite Mayor Skinner to join us during the Forest Festival, where I hope he will be as well received in Elkins as we were in Buckhannon. See you in October!
Jerry Marco
Elkins Mayor