By Liz Beavers
lbeavers@newstribune.info
Tribune Managing Editor
KEYSER – The Mineral Daily News Tribune’s Warm the Children campaign is gearing up for a very special weekend on Friday, Nov. 13, and Saturday, Nov. 14.
Debbie Phelps, educator, author, and mother of Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps, will be visiting Mineral County on Friday to help kick off the events.
Phelps, who became the darling of the 2008 Beijing Olympics when she and her two daughters cheered Michael on as he shattered record after record and earned an unprecedented eight gold medals in swimming, will be participating in the Warm the Children Open House scheduled from 4-6 p.m. Friday at Peebles in Keyser.
A native of the Westernport area, Phelps earned her bachelor’s degree in education from Fairmont State College in Fairmont and her master’s degree from Loyola College in Baltimore. She is presently principal of Windsor Mill Middle School in Baltimore.
Earlier this year, she published her first book, “A Mother for All Seasons: A Memoir,” which tells the inspiring story of the mother of three who faced adversity and challenge to raise three successful children and eventually be embraced by the world as “America’s Mom.”
Prior to the WTC open house, Phelps is scheduled to visit with fifth graders at Keyser Primary-Middle School and third, fourth
and fifth graders at New Creek Primary School, and will then participate in a book signing for the public from 2-3 p.m. at Main Street Books in Keyser.
Copies of Phelps’ book will be available for purchase at the book store.
At the open house, scheduled from 4-6 p.m., Santa Claus will join Debbie Phelps in greeting the youngsters and their parents, and Life Images Studio will be taking children’s photos with Santa.
Michaela Bush, a seventh grader at Southern Middle School in Oakland, will be vocalist for the event, providing a variety of Christmas music.
Raffle tickets will be available for a $100 cash prize, which will be given away at the WTC Bluegrass Show scheduled for Saturday night at Keyser High School.
Among those scheduled to appear are Highland Grass and Black Diamond. A special feature of the event will be a reunion appearance of Gene and Joe and the Valley Troubadors.
Unfortunately, Phelps will be unable to attend Saturday’s event.
Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the concert will begin at 7 p.m.
Refreshments and raffle tickets will be available.
The public is cordially invited to the book signing, open house, and bluegrass concert.
All participants in the Warm the Children Weekend are volunteering their time, and all proceeds and monetary donations go straight to the campaign for the children.
For more information Warm the Children, call the Mineral Daily News Tribune office at 304-788-333 or 301-786-4488.
Donations for Warm the Children may be sent to Warm the Children, c/o the Mineral Daily News Tribune, P.O. Box 879, Keyser WV 26726.
