June 12, 2010: What a beautiful day! We had a short cloudburst but it did not dampen the afternoon at the bocce courts! Willard and the Silver Foxes (his helpers) built the bocce courts at Shinnston City Park and said from the beginning there would be a roof, lights, and a fence around it to keep it nice. With about $2000 seed money for materials from the City of Shinnston, Willard West and 20 of his best volunteers using borrowed or donated equipment/time started the bocce courts Fall of 2009. Then they had to “winter”.  The Courts were finished in May 2010. Willard went to the County Commission for money – and got it. He sold plaques to be affixed to the inside of the roof for $100 each until he had enough money to pay for materials. Lee Reger Builds, a local contractor, supplied the labor to put up the roof and fence. Jimmy Scudere and the Orioles Club purchased two sets of bocce balls. The courts are beautiful. Willard West was nominated for West Virginia Volunteer of the Year in the Senior Category – and he won the award! He certainly deserved it.Today was bocce sign-up and lessons day. There was a nice crowd. The innkeeper at the Gillum House Bed & Breakfast, for the first time in her life, played bocce! And won a couple games!!!  The Italian Heritage Festival will hold a Bocce Tournament at the Shinnston Bocce Courts on Sunday, August 29. Come to Shinnston! We have something for everyone!