Cupcakes and craft brew for the cause

Apr. 7—John Nelson was hardly playing in the sand on June 6, 1944.

D-Day was the occasion, and Nelson, a scared kid from Randolph County, was storming Omaha beach.

Nearly 80 years later, Nelson's daughter, Janet Williams, readies for her time on a very different beach—this one created just for the day.

But she'll be there with her veteran father on her mind, and behind the cause.

Williams, co-founder of The Cupcakerie in Morgantown, brings her confections to the 2023 West Virginia Cupcake & Craft Beer Fest, set for noon-6 p.m. April 15 at Mylan Park on Chaplin Road. Visit https://cupcakecraftbeer.com / or the event's Facebook page for all the particulars on ticket pricing, The Cupcakerie, the craft brewers and the musical acts. The festival carries a beach theme, with fire-eaters, musicians rocking out on the ukelele and, yes, an actual beach, and benefits Operation Welcome Home.

Cupcakes and beer — who knew ?

Cupcakes, said Jamie Summerlin, who put on the first fest six years ago, may not be the first food you think of pairing with a cold brew. But, actually, the two things complement each other surprisingly well.

"It's pretty amazing how well they pair up, " Summerlin said of the specially selected combinations.

The icings match the flavor notes of the beers, provided by top craft brewers from the Mountain State to Georgia to Maine. The various fillings hidden inside those little cakes are chosen with the drink in mind, too.

In accordance with what is now festival tradition, The Cupcakerie will also roll out some custom creations, just for the day, including a pineapple coconut offering that caused employees to line up in the kitchen for samples.

"That's our in-house quality control, " Williams said, laughing.

A day at the beach, in Appalachia But you won't just be sauntering around, enjoying the samples, Summerlin said.

Be prepared to literally get your toes in the literal sand, he advised — some 100, 000 pounds of it. All that sand will morph the Hazel and J.W. Ruby Community Center into West Virginia's largest indoor beach for the day.

Appreciation for the region's men and women who wear the uniform is what got Summerlin into the cupcake-craft beer-fundraising business and the other endeavors he runs with his event-planning firm.

Thank you for your service Saturday's event benefits Operation Welcome Home, the job-placement center also in the park that helps military veterans transition back to civilian life.

That's a cause to which Summerlin has been long enlisted.

In fact, Summerlin, a U.S. Marine who served during the Gulf War, once laced up his shoes and ran from Oregon to Delaware to raise money for veteran causes.

A cupcake and craft beer festival — this one, he said — makes for a lot of fun, for a serious cause.

"And it's a great showcase for West Virginia, " he said.

"Come out have a good time and know you're supporting our veterans who were on watch for us."

Williams, meanwhile, doesn't remember her dad serving up that many war stories, she said.

John Nelson may not have talked much about his war experience, but he was proud of his service, his daughter said.

"My dad appreciated his opportunities and the American dream."

But, what about all that sand ?

Morgantown's Central Supply is trucking the stuff in, and the product is set to be recycled just up the road.

After the last person leaves next Sunday, said sand will again be trucked to SteppingStones, a nonprofit organization also in Mylan Park that provides year-round recreation for children and adults with disabilities.

SteppingStones is in the beginning stages of building a fully accessible /inclusive, multi-generational playground on its grounds.

A whole lot of sand, said Monica Marietta, the organization's executive director, will go a whole long way.

Sand, she said, will serve as a natural cushioning for the playground's surface, keeping the playground safe for its users.

"That is such a generous gift, " Marietta said. "I can't tell you how much we appreciate it."