** This article appeared in The Parkersburg News on Thursday, August 2^nd, 2007

Fenton helps with pool

WILLIAMSTOWN — An internationally known glassmaker is helping a committee raise money for a new swimming pool.

Fenton Art Glass is selling its whale figurine specially personalized for the Healthy Lifestyle Partnership, the committee raising funds for the new pool.

The late Frank M. Fenton, the president of the company who died in 2005 at the age of 89, was a supporter of the community and supported the construction of the new pool, said Terry Ellen Nutter with the Fenton marketing department.

‘‘The pool was one of Frank Fenton’s pet projects,’’ she said.

His son, Tom Fenton, has taken up the cause.

"My father regarded construction of the new pool vital to the quality of life in Williamstown,’’ said Fenton, a member of the pool committee. ‘‘Dad spoke often of his hope that the swimming pool would soon become a reality."

The five-inch figurine is done in Fenton's lustrous indigo blue glass, a natural, deep blue color. The piece went on sale with the company’s June catalog and sales have been good, Nutter said.

The piece benefitting the committee is personalized by Fenton to denote that it is to benefit the pool, she said. The figurines will be inscribed "For Frank and Bill (tkf 2007)" by Tom Fenton on the bottom. Bill, who died in 2002, was Frank’s brother.

The committee has raised $577,000, is a third of the way toward its $1,699,000 goal, Fenton said.

‘‘It's great that so many people are supporting the pool with their donations of money and time. And it is very exciting that the pool’s companion healthy lifestyle projects, a new walkable community year-round exercise program and a new summertime playground program for kids (K-6), are already starting up and will be fully delivered to the community during 2007,’’ Fenton said.

Information about the pool and the healthy lifestyle project is at www.healthywilliamstown.org.

Bells can be purchased for $22.50 at the Fenton gift shop or by check payable to the city of Williamstown marked "Pool: Frank and Bill," and mailed to the city of Williamstown, 105 W. Fifth St., Williamstown, WV 26187.