How three small-town women are thriving despite family’s history with drug abuse By Kelsie Rinard The Dunn family has overcome more adversity than most. Despite drug abuse and incarceration surrounding their family members for years, the family’s three core women continue to lead extraordinary lives regardless of small-town stigmas. […]
Bodhi Tree offers an unlikely form of meditating in a sensory deprivation tank to the region by Sarah Weingarten Bodhi Tree Guesthouse and Studio, located in Athens County, is the only studio in Southeast Ohio that offers float meditation. The wellness retreat’s owners, Liz and Russell Chamberlain, […]
An innovative new program promotes job creation and collaboration in Appalachia
Ambitious Energy: Local organization works to promote energy efficiency and energy education
by Samantha Nelson
Upgrade Athens County is a nonprofit organization and an energy efficiency movement competing for the Georgetown University Energy Prize competition. This two-year-long competition, which ends Dec. 31, 2016, brings communities together from across the United States to increase energy efficiency, and the community that reduces the most energy consumption will win $5 million.
Upgrade Athens County’s mission is to engage Appalachian citizens and spread energy efficiency awareness and improve the region’s long-term economic and environmental sustainability. The organization, which will continue to exist after the competition ends, has expanded its project reach in the hopes of reducing energy consumption and increasing energy efficiency statewide.
Projects include:
Free renewable energy site assessments through the United States Department of
Agriculture’s Renewable Energy for America Program (REAP) Energy Audit and
Renewable Energy Development Assistance Program (EA/REDA). The program is accessible to small businesses and agricultural producers in Athens, Gallia, Hocking,
Meigs, Morgan, Perry, Vinton and Washington counties.
The Better Buildings Initiative, which encourages commercial, public, industrial and residential buildings to be 20 percent more energy efficient over the next decade and greatly reduce spending costs on energy.
Collaborating with the Ohio University Credit Union to help finance car shoppers who purchase a zero-emission electric vehicle.
Solar energy workshops and tours of homes and businesses that use solar energy.
The Rental Efficiency Initiative, which provides information to renters and landlords on how to improve energy efficiency in rental properties through the Smart Renter email campaign, LED light bulb distribution and a landlord engagement campaign.
The Energy Education Fund, which provides financial support to organizations that either want to start or improve their energy efficient educational programs for K-12 students.
Bernie Evans pursues stained glass to encourage community creativity By Paige Bennett New Beginnings Bernie & Max Stained Glass is a studio in Chillicothe, run by former factory worker-turned-artist Bernie Evans. During a medical leave from his 28-year career at the local paper mill, Evans found a passion […]
As you walk through the doors of Sudzy’s Pin-Up Palace, a red and white polka dot dress beckons for your attention. But before you can even touch its fabric, racks featuring dresses of seemingly every color interrupt your gaze. This cacophony of color, pattern and fit is both modern and 1950s-inspired fashion.
“My favorite thing of Sudzy’s is her dresses,” Emily Nickell, a friend of Sudzy’s says. “Every time I go into the store, I find a new dress I fall in love with. I just want to have everything in there.”
This is the new Pin-Up Palace of Scioto County, located in downtown Portsmouth. The palace opened on Aug. 27, 2016 and it’s far from your everyday clothing store seen at the mall. As illustrated by the baby blue dress with the red bow at its waist, Sudzy’s is anything but ordinary.
The store features an array of dresses in every size and style imaginable. Even women who aren’t accustomed to the vintage style of most of the apparel can walk away with something that they love.
Photographs strategically grace the store’s walls, and many feature Sudzy modeling various outfits of her own pin-up style. Portraits of women flaunting their outfits is how the term “pin-up” came to fruition in the late 19th century, so the images are Sudzy’s way of promoting body positivity within her store.
“I don’t know how many times I have gone into a store and been turned away because they didn’t have my size,” Sudzy says. “The world is tough enough as it is for us women, and if we can all feel confident in our own skin, I think we as women can accomplish some really great things.”
Sudzy carries sizes anywhere from extra small to 6XXL, and if she doesn’t have someone’s exact size, she is more than happy to order one. Sudzy purchases her merchandise from a variety of vendors, all with an eye for style and affordability.
With more time and investing into her store, Sudzy has plans to renovate a large room upstairs for a stage and runway for women to show off their favorite outfits and for body positive speakers to share their stories.
For now, Sudzy’s Pin-Up Palace will remain the most colorful and comfortable shopping destination in downtown Portsmouth.
“I want women to come in to my store and be able to find at least one thing they fall in love with,” Sudzy says. “Something that not only fits them but makes them feel beautiful and confident too.”
