The Visitor Center - gift shop will be open this week. I was there on Saturday with my family. We bought Christmas gifts for 2009. Business was very heavy, Diana had to phone for help at the register.
Problem is - how much more product do they have in the warehouse to sell? My suggestion is to phone your order in immediately, or if you live near West Virginia drive to Milton. We saw maybe 10 lamps, only 2 sets of matching lamps. WVU and Marshall items were still in stock, Mindy Lemley hand painted glass was still available. Water bottles ( color selection was limited), many hand signed items, many 1st quality items. These items will not last. If you are a collector of Blenko and want to buy at the source, this may very well be your last opportunity.
Yesterday it felt like a 'wake' shoppers who knew BLENKO and the product were sharing stories about bring all their out of town guest to Blenko, about buying gifts for out of town events at Blenko, some people had tears in their eyes. One older lady spoke of Marion and Bill Blenko. I took photos of the remaining glass and will daily add a post to the blog about remaining glass - just photos for you.
Todays photos are of BLENKO shoppers, who don't consider themselves collectors but who have a shelve or two of Blenko and Mr. Curnutte's family reports, " he knows more about Blenko than most Blenko employees, he was always very proud of having handblown glass from a local company."
Mike, Jenna and Dave Curnutte from Huntington, WV
Patricia E from St Albans
18 comments:
I don't live in Milton, but i did
just hear from a cousin this morning that Blenko gave the workers their last PAY CHECKS on
Friday January 30th and they BOUNCED - -would not clear at the local banks ! OMG! what did the Blenko management think they were pulling here ? someone should be arrested over this act.
I hope someone from Blenko reads your comment and responds.
Let me say I know the Blenkos' well enough to say they would never write a check without knowing the funds were in the bank.
Its my understanding based soley on news reports that "the bank accounts were frozen" due to dispute with gas supplier.
The employees who work work Blenko remain positive, loyal and supportive of the Company, if they are keeping this attiude we as collectors should also.
Write letters and phone your legislators immediately if you haven't already.
email me at theblenkoproject@aol.com for a list.
The vultures have descended upon Milton. It looks like all of the Heart of Glass collectors are at Blenko. The parking lot is overflowing. They should have the $500,000 they owe Big Two Mile by tomorrow.
Hilly
The milton blog link labels us
'vultures' my poor elderly mom and auntie who drove over 200 miles thinking they were supporting Blenko. Milton is a strange little
emphasis on little place.
Sol
Don't be so quick Hilary.
Is not the top management a person with just a BA from MU no prior experience and no high honor degree?
You don't know the reason for bounced checks.
Why wouldn't an MBA be caring for management? A CPA caring for accounts and directing expenses?
What happen to the Fenton inspired team visit?
I can't come but will ask friends to go for me, with a van to haul the items I must have.
Will they be open this entire week?
Brought my gang of co workers er
vultures with me today.
We ate in Milton, bought gas in Milton.
Milton will miss the 'vultures' of Blenko Glass.
Hillary, the people that took over must be idiots, the first thing that shoud have been done would be to pay the gas bill so they could continue to operate if they received orders. Some good designs would have helped too. . Will you still be able to post the story on Harry and the other craftsman on your list. I hope so, I know a lot of people who are interested in their stories and your blog. Thanks for all your work, it is greatly appreciated. L T.
Why not get local school children writing letters, it could be a class project in writing and state and local govt.
We're on delay but I'll phone my principal later.
Sue M
Sue
My Auntie is a retired teacher she had same idea and is igniting the local educators.
Sol
did you mean at a wake?
We are encouraging people to write
and students certainly have enjoyed Blenko for many years, it is appropriate.
mail the theblenkoproject@aol.com for a complete list of local state and federal govt email and snail mail address or just check the net for addresses.
hjh
Paychecks were not issued and they did not bounce. Please get your story straight before speaking.
They DID NOT GIVE OUT CHECKS THAT BOUNCED!!!! My husband works there Blenko did not give any of its employees bad checks!! Every employee reamins positive, loyal and supportive of the Company and is willing to do whatever it may take to keep the company alive. Everyone please Write letters and phone your legislators immediately. Blenko and the employees greatly need your help. This WV treasure should not die!!! AND a little Question for Big two Mile Gas....Are you money hungary jerks going to give all 50 people a JOB since you took theirs away?? probably not because evidentily you dont care about the WV people or economy, all oyu care about is your money!!
My friends bought $600 for me, but I want to come what is the closure date?
Exact date please.
Are they open in evenings?
I'd like to fly in and out
huntington air port is limited access
From what I have heared Walter told Blenko employees that he would pay them just as soon as he could ,if they would just hang in there with him.They did not get checks that would bounce! Some employees are still working and going on week 2 without a check.They are loyal to Blenko. I just hope they get paid.
Blenko employees remain loyal and supportive of BLENKO GLASS we as a community of collectors should be attempting to support Blenko.
At this point Blenko hasn't offered directives - I'm suggesting you write and call your local and federal government officials. I honestly don't know what else to say -
Go to the Visitors Center - Buy Blenko!
Ask at the Visitors Center if they have suggestions.
We're all frustrated, but imagine how the workers at Blenko are feeling!
These men are seeing their furances shut down, and perhaps destroyed.
Prayerful, Supportive, Peaceful
attitudes are most helpful.
I've known Mr. Blenko my entire life, no employee will be short changed. The employees know this, and to be frank these things are none of our business.
Hillary,
Could You post addys on here so that people may write gov.,sen,whoever is needed to try to help keep Blenko open???Pray for Blenko and its workers they remain loyal!
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