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Teddy bears to be tossed at basketball game

Fans are invited to throw new teddy bears and other stuffed toys onto the basketball court at the Parkersburg High School Fieldhouse on Dec. 22.

The toys will be gathered up and given to children at WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center.

Parkersburg’s version of the teddy bear toss will take place during halftime of the Parkersburg and Parkersburg South High School boys basketball game at the fieldhouse.

Kimberly Griffey, director of the Red Wing drill team at PHS, got the idea for the local event after watching a teddy bear toss during a professional ice hockey game. After the first goal was scored in the game, fans threw teddy bears onto the ice in a benefit for charities.

Parkersburg’s teddy bear toss will take place at halftime of the basketball game after the Red Wings perform their dance routine on the court.

Obviously, teddy bears and other stuffed toys cannot be tossed at the basketball court after the first points are scored, Griffey said, so this will take place at halftime.

The athletic directors at both schools gave their blessing to the teddy bear toss, Griffey said.

The city rivalry game on Dec. 22, starting at 7:30 p.m., should draw a large crowd, hopefully with many people carrying new stuffed toys to the game, Griffey said.

Diana Johnston, director of Women’s and Children’s Services at WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center, said she would welcome receiving stuffed toys to give to children staying at the hospital. Toys brought to the hospital bring joy to the children and help in conversations with them, she said.

Camden Clark is putting together a children’s magic closet that will provide toys to youngsters throughout the year to cheer them up. Children can take the toys home after they leave the hospital.

Johnston said crayons, colored pencils, books, blank journals, socks and other items are appreciated at Camden Clark to give to children, 2 months to 18 years old, to brighten their day.

***

Jon Bango thought he was going to J.P. Henry’s restaurant for dinner Wednesday night.

When Bango arrived at the local restaurant, he found a roomful of friends, family and business associates congratulating him on his recent retirement.

“I was surprised, more than when they surprised me at my 70th birthday party,” Bango, 74, of Parkersburg said. The surprise birthday party in 2014 was close to his birthdate.

Bango retired six weeks ago as co-owner, with his wife, Mary, of Bango Appraisal Service at 926 Market St. in Parkersburg.

The retirement party was put together by his daughter Mackenzie Bango. Local realtors, Knights of Columbus friends, neighbors, members of his church and others attended.

“It was nice, quite a surprise,” Bango said of his retirement party.

Bango has been a fixture in downtown Parkersburg for many years.

His father, Jess Bango, opened Jess Bango Realtor in 1936 at 216 Eighth St. in Parkersburg. Jon, a 1962 graduate of Parkersburg High School, joined his father in the business in 1966.

Jon graduated from Ohio University with a business degree. His father retired in 1978.

The company began its residential real estate appraisals in 1974, Jon said. The business moved to 926 Market St., in the former Boone’s Pennzoil service station, around 1970. Jon said he became owner of the business in 1975.

Bango Appraisal Service has done 9,000-10,000 property appraisals, Jon said.

Gary Moore worked with Bango for a while in the appraisal/real estate business.

“It was a lot of fun,” Moore said. “Jon is one of the funniest guys.”

Bango said he has enjoyed working in the real estate appraisal business. “We had fun,” he said.

His building on Market Street is for sale.

Bango remembers when downtown Parkersburg was filled with Christmas shoppers, large department stores lined Market Street and the Chancellor Hotel was a great place to eat.

Bango isn’t sure of his retirement plans. He does plan to play more golf.

Contact Paul LaPann at plapann@newsandsentinel.com

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