Morgantown's Got Heart

And how much is enough?

Feb 27, 2026

Hello, friends! I miss being here with you on Substack.

I’ve been prioritizing project work these days, but thought I’d hop on to share some photos from my recent visit to Morgantown, WV for the Parkersburg to Pittsburgh Regional Master Plan project.

But first, a Pittsburgh area business closing has me thinking about endings, new beginnings, and the question, “How much is enough?”

Some of you might recall my post asking, “Do I have Enough Time?” It remains one of my most popular posts – I think because so many of us struggle with being overtasked. A friend of mine has been repeating the mantra, “I have enough time” to counter that sinking feeling of being in the hole. (There’s more on that mindset in the other post.)

Today, I’m thinking about “enough” not in terms of time, but in experiences. It’s the impending closing of Jean-Marc Chatellier’s French Bakery in Millvale that has me wondering whether I’ve had my fill. Kathi and I went there a couple of weeks ago and had some delectable pastries. We stood on the corner and devoured what would be our last Jean-Marc treats. At another time in my life, not that long ago, I might try to squeeze in one last trip (like I did when I waited in line for Dave & Andy’s ice cream a few years ago…twice in the same week).

But my mindset at the moment is that the trip two weeks ago was enough. Such a simple word, isn’t it? It involves decisiveness, restraint, and satisfaction. And not being regular customers, it truly was enough. The closing weekend ought to be for the regulars, or for someone hoping to experience the bakery for the very first time. Not for me, who enjoyed the maple Danish a mere two weeks ago. So I suppose I’ve had enough in this instance. Even if I now have songs like “Never Too Much” and “One Last Time” swirling around in my head 🤣. (Oh my gosh, those street scenes in Never Too Much!)

Final thought when it comes to closings: it’s not about the pastry or the ice cream, but the experience…wanting to drink it in as another local institution gives way to change. Would I like to drop in one more time? Yes. But will I? No, not this time, which leaves two fewer people in the queue.

About Morgantown…

The Parkersburg to Pittsburgh (P2P) master planning project involves spending time in the communities along the way. Our team has been doing field work, hosting events and programs, and getting to know the communities better.

We’ve been celebrating the P2P trails all month long under the banner of “Heart Trails Month.” Our events calendar includes film screenings, group runs, virtual engagement sessions, a winter bike ride, valentine-making, and more.

The most epic of them all took place in Morgantown. The Mon River Trails Conservancy teamed up with the Morgantown Board of Parks and Recreation (BOPARC) to host a full day of activities on February 10. There were art workshops (linocut valentines, fused glass trees, pottery), a Lunch & Learn on Seasonal Affective Disorder, live music, and screenings of the From Rails to Trails documentary. It’s hard to describe what it felt like being at the Wiles Hill Community Center that day. The schoolhouse-turned-community space was oozing with good energy. The art workshops in particular were so much fun. There’s just this feeling in the air when people gather to make art together. A good handful of them left and returned throughout the day. It’s a Third Space kinda place that people want to be in. If you’ve studied social infrastructure (shoutout to the book Palaces for the People!), THIS WAS IT. I felt fortunate to be there.

I also explored downtown Morgantown and the Mon River and Deckers Creek Rail-Trails. Some photos from my visit are below.