City Faces in Different Places
By Julie Perine on September 29, 2019 from City Faces
Meet this week's City Face, Ben Hanlan:
How long have you lived in Bridgeport? If not a lifelong resident, tell me what brought you here.
I grew up in Clarksburg, and after graduating from college at WVU, I took some time to live in Washington DC and Virginia. Our daughter, Eliza, was born in 2009 in Charlottesville, VA, and a couple of years after her birth, we were informed of my father’s cancer diagnosis. My wife and I decided to return to West Virginia to be with my family, and although I was only given four more years with my father, I was blessed to have that time, and grateful to return home where we could raise our daughter in the close-knit, small town environment of Bridgeport.
Are you married, have kids? Tell me about your family.
Kristen and I have been married for 12 years, but we’ve been together for 16. We have one daughter Eliza, who has taken up a strong interest in music, and more specifically, strings.
What about pets?
We have two cats and one dog and a whole lot of fur on the couch. Hermione, our dog, was rescued from the Harrison County Humane Society, and is a border collie and Shepard mix. I would like to say we found her, but the truth of the matter is she found us. Our daughter had an extreme fear of dogs, and in order to help her overcome this fear, we would often make trips to the Harrison County Humane Society to expose her to dogs. On one of our many visits, Hermione gently approached us, and Eliza immediately asked if we could take her for a walk. Once outside, it was love at first sight and Eliza asked if we could take her home. Hermione has been a beloved part of our family for two years now. As for the cats they are loved when they deem suitable, being cats.
Where do you work and what do you do there?
I am a paralegal at Steptoe and Johnson and assist in litigation matters. I have been with the firm for seven years after starting as an abstractor in 2012. Steptoe and Johnson is a great place to work and grow.
What are your hobbies/favorite past times?
Outside of work, I spend my time with family, our neighborhood family, and my grill in the back yard. I have an interest in building computers and following local politics. It is never a surprise to my wife to come home to the WV House floor streaming live on YouTube. I am the treasurer of the Harrison County Executive Committee and active in the Harrison County Republican club. I have involved myself in both organizations because I am determined to find solutions to make West Virginia as prosperous as we once were. I truly believe that by changing policy to make our State more competitive we can bring good paying blue collar jobs back to our area for hard working Harrison County residents.
Favorite Bridgeport spot?
You will often find me spending time next to the fire with our neighborhood family, spending time at the City Park, or fishing at Hinkle and Deegan lake with my daughter. In the winter months, I like to be inside playing board games and discussing local matters with friends and family.
Why do you like about Bridgeport … why is this a good place to live?
Again, it has been a blessing to return home to both raise our daughter, and be surrounded by good honest people. Living “abroad” was a real eye opener having lived in Harrison County my whole life. It was a good experience but I am happy to be home with my family, and the experience gained from my journey.
One – or more – of your favorite memories of something that took place in Bridgeport ...
I have a lot of really fond memories riding skateboards down Ridgeway Avenue with my childhood friend, Sonny Bumgardner. a weekend was never complete without a visit to skate world where I would skate at top speed to the Ghostbusters theme song. I’m happy to report, that I’m still afraid of no ghost. In summer, I would spend my time at the Bridgeport City pool jumping of the high dive attempting to complete the Three Amigos motto. After a day of swimming, me and my friends would return home with a pizza and a good movie from the video store.
What is your favorite WV spot outside of Bridgeport?
I have always enjoyed taking trips to Seneca rocks and camping in the mountains. Our State has an abundance of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors.
How about your favorite place outside of WV?
Outside of West Virginia I enjoy visiting my wife’s family in Annapolis and taking our yearly beach trip to the Outer Banks in NC.
What are some of your favorite things? Food/restaurant? Favorite color? Music genre/artist?
I love good food, and we’re fortunate in Bridgeport to have many excellent restaurants for choose from. A couple of my favorites are Meaghers and Provence Market. As far as music goes, my tastes have calmed down quite a bit since the adrenaline driven grudge years of the nineties. I still love the nostalgia of alternative rock, but I have taken a liking to contemporary classical music which includes compositions by Max Richter and Sebastian Zawadzki. Yes, I might be turning into the old man yelling “turn it down,” who knows.
What is your best childhood memory?
In general, I have a lot of fond memories roaming the streets on my bicycle and enjoying neighborhood barbeques. One memory that sticks out the most is the time my father taught me how to make scrambled eggs. A recipe that is still enjoyed by my family on Saturday morning.
Interesting fact about you and/or something you would like to add…
I had brief stint as a child actor as a day player in the movie Houseguest that was filmed in the Pittsburg area. It was an interesting experience meeting the likes of Phil Hartman and Sinbad. Needless to say, the interest in pursuing an acting career died out around the time I went to college.
