Gaslite Restaurant will host VIP reception

STEUBENVILLE -- Since its inception in 2012, the Herald-Star Speaker Series, Presented by Eastern Gateway Community College, has worked toward a simple goal: To bring world-class speakers to the Tri-State Area at a price that is affordable.

The next presentation in the series, the Nov. 2 appearance by Jeff Hatcher at Indian Creek High School, will be no exception.

Hatcher, a Steubenville native and 1976 graduate of Wintersville High School, is a screenwriter and playwright whose name is part of an extensive body of work. His will be the 12th installment in the series, which began in 2012.

From a Secret Service agent who protected Jacqueline Kennedy to a captain who was held at sea by pirates to a former pilot of Air Force One and the former director of the National Security Agency, each presentation has offered those who attend the chance to be informed and entertained.

That, according to Mike Petrella is important for the community.

"I think the speaker series is great," said Petrella, who also serves as Wintersville's mayor. "It offers the public a chance to learn, especially our younger people."

Petrella and his mother, Anita, run the Gaslite Restaurant at 820 Canton Road in Wintersville. That's where the VIP reception will be held before the presentation.

"I think that in this particular instance, it's nice to have someone who graduated from here come back here and show the kids they can be whatever they want to be," Anita said. "They can go far, or they can stay local -- whatever they want, they can be successful."

Whether for the screen, Broadway, off-Broadway or on regional stages around the country and the world, Hatcher's credits cover a wide range of subjects. Those include "Ella," a biography of the legendary jazz great Ella Fitzgerald; a collaboration with Mitch Albom to bring Albom's classic biographical tale "Tuesdays with Morrie" to the stage; adapting the story in Nicholas Searle's novel "The Good Liar" into the script for the 2019 film by the same name; a fresh take on the classic mystery series in "Holmes and Watson;" and numerous other film, stage and television credits.

The son of the late Virginia and Paul Hatcher has won numerous awards. Hatcher, who lives in the Minneapolis suburb of Wayzata with his wife, Lisa, graduated from Dennison University in 1980 with a degree in theater and cinema. A son, Evan, completes their family.

"Gaslite is a great location for the VIP event," said Ross Gallabrese, executive editor of the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times. "It's a great location, and we know the Petrellas will make the evening special with quality food and the great service they are known for."

That will include a cake that is being donated by Downtown Bakery in support of the series, Mike Petrella said.

A big reason the speaker series has been able to maintain its level of quality has been the support it has received from area residents and businesses. Making sure local businesses are supported is important, the Petrellas said.

"That's huge," Mike said. "People don't always understand that local businesses are giving back to kids soccer teams and T-ball teams and are donating to charities, whether it be through gift cards, money or their time. Having that support -- that's the only way businesses can keep giving back."

He added that businesses help create jobs and generate money for the local economy.

"Think about the young people in the area," Anita said. "If we don't shop local and support local businesses, our kids' can't stay here."

The 7:30 p.m. Nov. 2 presentation will be among the first held in the auditorium of the high school, which opened to students late last spring. It features state-of-the-art sound and lighting equipment as well as comfortable seating.

"It's nice that we're able to show off the new school and let the public have a chance to use the new facility," Mike added.

Tickets to the VIP reception are priced at $75 for a single and $125 for a couple. The evening, which will run from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., will feature a meet-and-great with Hatcher and a chance to have a photo taken with him, hors d'oeuvres, a drink ticket, transportation to and from the high school and preferred seating for the presentation.

General admission tickets for the presentation are $25 each.

For information or to purchase tickets, visit the Herald-Star at 401 Herald Square, or call Diana Brown at (740) 283-4711. Tickets also can be purchased on the websites of the newspapers.

Area high school and junior high school students will have the chance to attend the presetation at no charge.

Joining the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times as sponsors for the presentation are Eastern Gateway Community College, the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Main Street Bank, the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce and WTRF-TV. Special support is being provided by the Indian Creek Local School District, Em-Media, the Gaslite, Steel Valley Regional Transit Authority, Downtown Bakery and Rich and Shirley's Quick Print.