Elk River Living September 2021

VOLUME 03 | ISSUE 09 |SEP 2021 FREE

DISCOVER THE UNIQUE EYE OF JILL MOLES MULLINS ELK RIVER AWARD-WINNING PHOTOGRAPHER

A Special Country Store Nottingham’s Store is a charming country store, offering a special blend of groceries, hardware, livestock feed, fishing supplies, snacks, and more. If you need it, they have it!

E June’s Boutique Stop by in Pinch or visit E June’s Boutique online and see their awesome selection of clothing, shoes and accessories. Coming soon--HHHS apparel.

Chili’n and Sippin’ Don’t miss Clendenin’s first Chili’N on the Elk event on October 2. It will feature a chili cook-off, beer/ wine festival, live music, arts/ crafts vendors, and a children’s area.

Let us help you get outdoors!

Hit the trails without breaking the bank this season.

At Poca Valley Bank, relationships matter! We pride ourselves on being big enough to serve your financial needs—yet small enough to genuinely care about the residents of our local communities.

Call 1-844-782-2651 for more information.

pocavalleybank.com

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ELKRIVERLIVING.COM

95 CASDORPH RD, CHARLESTON 304.342.8200

WEST VIRGINIA'S DEMOLITION EXPERTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS 16 Feature Story: Talent on Display Elk River photographer, Jill Moles Mullins, has soared in 2021, accumulating awards and recognition.

30

A Step Back in Time Inside and out, Nottingham Store is full of four generations of special memories for everyone to enjoy.

36

Welcome to E Junes Boutique “We never sat down and actually said '’let’s open a business’—it just kind of happened.“—Sierra Thaxton and Shelli Ellis

06

Welcome Back to Elk River Living!

12

The Elk's Cookbook: Sausage Stuffed Apples

08

Our Proud Sponsors

40

The Elk's Students

11

Renee Nicholson & WVU Humanities Corner

52

The Elk’s Journal featuring Lydia Cyrus

FROM THE EDITOR

HELLO

& Welcome Back!

E

xciting events abound and new businesses are opening their doors on the Elk River - if that’s not a great way to start a welcome, I’m not sure what else is!!

We have numerous fall festivals scheduled for September, including the Clendenin Woman’s Club Fall Fest, the Clay County Golden Delicious Apple Festival, and the Flatwoods Monster Fest.

Don’t forget that October 2 will be the first Chili’N on the Elk Chili Cook-Off & Beer/Wine Festival in Clendenin. We have also shared the new fall sport’s schedules on our Elk River Living Facebook.

It’s time to rumble on the Elk River!

Check out the new E June’s Boutique in Pinch or online on Facebook. Lots of beautiful apparel for all ages and sizes, from newborn to 4X, not to forget their amazing shoes, purses and accessories!

A new business, Made at the Cottage, just opened in Elkview and is booking workshops now. Grab a friend and relax in one of their high end DIY decor workshops or shop their beautiful decor and gifts.

This month ERL is proud to feature Jill Moles Mullins, photographer extraordinaire! We knew Jill when she was knee-high and we couldn’t be more proud of her accomplishments and awards that just keep coming. Additionally, we are happy to feature Nottingham’s Store at the Elk River Rails to Trails trailhead at Duck. It’s a perfect pit stop before or after you hit the trail, and once you’ve been there, you know where to return for the best bags of holiday candy.

It is with heavy hearts that we pay tribute to Dee Campbell, Elk River friend to all, who lost his battle recently against Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer. Dee and his company, Delta Sign Company, have supported so many businesses and events on the Elk River and in the State of WV. The Knight family will always remember Dee’s kindness when he opened his heart to our brother, Dave, after the flood of 2016 and helped him set up a temporary Knight Insurance office/trailer at his Delta Sign location. He had one of the most giving spirits you will ever encounter. Seeing his smile this month in our magazine was healing for us, and I hope for you, also. We hope we all can keep Dee’s memory alive by remembering to care for one another. It’s so easy to point out the negative, but it is the bigger, better person, like Dee, who speaks and gives from the heart.

Stay safe, my friends.

Remember, there’s no place like home...on the Elk River. cyndi@elkriverliving.com

304.546.9243

Editor In Chief /

Cyndi Tawney

Creative Director /

Josh Tawney

Operations Director /

E L K R IVER

Ken Tawney

Printer /

The Printing Press Charleston, WV

LIVING

Elk River Living is published monthly by CJT Publishing, LLC, Elkview, West Virginia 25071.

All rights are reserved. All contents are copyrighted by CJT Publishing, LLC; reproduction in whole or part without written permission from CJT Publishing, LLC is epxressly forbidden and punishable by law.

Elk River Living is not responsible for unsolicited materials. All opinions expressed within Elk River Living belong to the feature’s author and are not necessarily the opinions of the publishers of CJT Publishing, LLC employees.

Elk River Living and CJT Publishing, LLC reserve the right to refuse any idea, material or subject matter.

Throughout this issue, trademarked names are used. Rather than denoting a trademark symbol in every occurrence of a trademarked name, Elk River Living uses the names in an editorial fashion, with no infringement. All trademarked names are still fully protected, and anyone who uses them without permission will be prosecuted.

On the cover: "The Dance," on display at Love, Hope for the Arts Gallery, Fayetteville, WV “Unconventional” by featured Elk River photographer, Jill Moles Mullins

Our guest photographers this month, who care about our communities and help make this magazine possible: April Curry, Joe Hoover, and Jill Moles Mullins.

April Curry

Joe Hoover

Jill Mullins

ELKRIVERLIVING.COM

This magazine depends on our advertising partners! Production, printing and mailing costs are offset by the participation of our valued local businesses. It is how we provide this service at no charge to you. Please take the time to review our Sponsors Page, and if you are in need of a product or service they provide, we ask that you give them a shot at earning your business. And let them know you saw their ad in Elk River Living!

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’s

OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES AFFILIATED FINANCIAL GROUP 304.935.2230 4508 Pennsylvania Ave., Charleston

CREDE TRACTOR 304.965.1666 contact William Crede

ELK VALLEY ELECTRIC 304.419.5337 www.elkvalleyelectric.com

ANR CONSTRUCTION Randy Young, Jr. and Andrew Young 304.741.0377/304.546.6510

DEAN JEFFRIES, STATE FARM 304.965.7024 85 Credes Landing, Elkview

ARMSTRONG LAW, PLLC 624 Elk St., Gassaway 304.300.9663 dan@wvlegalhelp.com

DR. ANGELA B. ARMSTEAD, DDS 3414 Pennsylvania Ave. 304.343.2151

ELK VALLEY PET CREMATORIUM Inside Elk Hills Memorial Park 4705 Pennsylvania Ave., Charleston 304.965.0148

BECKY’S PET PARLOR 304.951.9162 Rebecca Briles & Kaitlyn Truman

DR. JOHN RICHARDS 4710 Chimney Dr. Ste. H, Charleston 304.935.2513

BIG CHIMNEY BAPTIST CHURCH 4626 Elk Shore Dr., Charleston

E. JUNE BOUTIQUE 100 Verna Drive, Elkview, WV 25071 Ejunescustomer@gmail.com

BIG CHIMNEY BARBER SHOP 4508 Pennsylvania Ave. (across from Smith's Food Fair) 681.341.0948

EDENS BODY WORKS, INC. 102 Neville Rd, Elkview 304.965.5900

BILL’S USED CARS Rt 119 Elk River Road 304.548.4727

ELK FAMILY DENTISTRY 304.965.6661 contact Joey Adkins, DDS

BLUE CREEK HEATING & COOLING 304.965.9148 contact Bill Ross or Roy Crist

ELK HILLS MEMORIAL PARK 4705 Pennsylvania Ave., Charleston 304.954.5721

BOWEN DENTAL Chas: 304.342.0146 / Clay: 304.587.7495 contact Stacy or Gary Bowen II

ELK RIVER AUTOMOTIVE 304.965.7501 contact Gary W. Pauley II

CANTRELL’S FLORIST 304.548.7700 7484 Elk River Rd, Clendenin

ELK RIVER AUTO SUPPLY 304.965.5312 contact Glenn Pauley

CENTRAL WV AGING SERVICES Local Charleston Office 304.965.9081

ELK RIVER PADDLE AND YAK Lori Dittman, Owner 304.314.3880

CLAY COUNTY BANK 150 Main St., Clay,304.587.4221 2236 Main St., Clay, 304.587.7480

ELK RIVER CHIROPRACTIC Dr. Scott Collias 4710 Chimney Dr., Ste. D 304.965.2458

CLENDENIN PHARMACY 304.548.5451 Bill or Lindsay Ore Matuszkiewicz

There’s no place like home!

ELK RIVER GET-A-WAY 16544 Elk River Rd, Clendenin 304.993.0006/304.941.4296

ELK VALLEY PHYSICAL THERAPY 304.965.7979 contact Andi Geary, MPT ELITE ROOFING 304.989.4792 www.eliteroofingwv.com E.L. ROBINSON ENGINEERING 5088 Washington St W, Charleston 304.776.7473 elrobinsonengineering.com FROSTBITE DAIRY BAR 1 Cobb Ave., Clendenin 304.548.7413 GABBY’S SEWING & MORE 304.437.3739 gabbyssewingwv.com GINO’S PIZZA & SPAGHETTI HOUSE 304.965-7031 Order online at ginospizza.com GIOVANNI’S - CLENDENIN 304.548.7002 giovannispizzapower.com HAFER FUNERAL HOME & MYER’S CHAPEL 304.965.3331 / 304.965.3341 haferfuneralhome.net HARDINGS FAMILY RESTAURANT 304.344.5044 I-79 Exit 1, Mink Shoals HOLSTEIN INSURANCE 304.965.9941 holsteininsuranceagencyinc.com IDEAL PROTEIN Charleston Family Chiropractic 308 Patrick St. Plaza, Charleston 304.344.9077

Please

GIVE OUR SPONSORS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE YOUR BUSINESS.

They care a great deal about you and the

Elk River Community.

would you like to advertise with ERL? contact cyndi@elkriverliving.com or 304.546.9243

JONES AUTO 304.965.6180 jonesautotruckrepair@gmail.com JONES EXCAVATING 304.965.6180 jonesexcavatingofcharleston.com JULIO’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT 304.548.4625 12 Main St, Clendenin KEITH'S AUTO PARTS VW Specialists 6328 Elk River Rd, N. Clendenin 304.548.7627/1-800-RACE-A-VW KNIGHT INSURANCE 304.548.4726 knightinsurance@frontier.com KNIGHTHORST 877.474.7332 www.knighthorst.com LEGACY FOODS For Delivery Call: 304.545.0802 LITTLE SECRET DESIGN CO Katheryne E. Popp, Designer www.littlesecretdesign.co 304.427.6797 LOGAN TAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHY Call or Text 304.941.7622 INSTAGRAM: @logantaylorphotagraphy MARA ELLIS, OLD COLONY 304.541.7336 1205 Virginia St East, Chas. mellis@oldcolony.com MATICS FUNERAL HOME 304.548.6611 maticsfuneralhome.com MEADOWBROOK ACRES NURSING CENTER 877.474.7332 www.meadowbrookacres.net

MITCH’S 24 HR TOWING 304.965.6646 contact Mitch Young MOMMA PAYNE’S DINER 304.543.9930 14 Main St, Clendenin

SLEEP INN HARDINGS FAMILY RESTAURANT 800.216.0661 & 304.344.5044 sleepinncharlestonwv.com

SMITH’S CARPET ONE SMITH’S FURNITURE & APPLIANCE 304.965.7111 & 304.965.7600 MOUNTAIN LAUREL COUNTRY STORE Big Chimney & Elkview, WV 400 4th Street, Sutton 717.228.7524 SMITH’S FURNITURE & APPLIANCE MOUNTAINEER AUCTION 304.965.7600 Elkview, WV 304.548.4056 SOLID ROCK CONTRACTING contact Roger Mullins 304.444.4288 MT. PLEASANT BAPTIST CHURCH contact Phil Shaffer 304.965.7062 SPECIAL OCCASIONS mpbcwv.org 304.965.5434 NANCY KUHL, SEWING specialoccasionflowers.com call 304.965.0747 SPENCER’S HARDWARE text 304.807.4861 304.548.6995 PATRIOT PRESSURE WASHING 8290 Elk River Rd. N, Clendenin Larry McCoy TEEL AUTO REPAIR 304.840.4833 304.548.5008 190 COTTON TREE RD, WALTON POCA VALLEY B ANK 304.965.7730 TUDOR’S BISCUIT WORLD pocavalleybank.com 1083 Main Street Elkview 1.844.782.2651 304.965.7769 PIZZAS AND CREAM VISION APPALACHIA 133 Nebo Walker Road, Nebo, WV 304.345.7569 304.286.2985 WALKER CREEK FARMS & CABINS RODNEY LOFTIS & SON 230 Nebo Walker Road, Nebo 95 Casdorph Rd., Charleston 304.286.5200 304.342.8200 and on Facebook WALLY'S SUPERIOR PARTS ROGERS HARDWARE & SERVICE 304.965.1077 5100 Elk River Rd., N., Elkview Contact Bill Rogers 304.935.2287 ROLLIN SMOKE 4008 Crede Drive, Big Chimney 681.265.0690

Xspec POWER 304.746.1139 contact Emily Canterbury

SCOTT’S SERVICE & AUTO REPAIR 311C Elk River Road, S., Clendenin 681.230.2151

YAK HOUSE RENTALS 304.941.2229 Yakhouserentals.com

ELKRIVERLIVING.COM

INTERSTATE RADIATOR AND SMALL ENGINE REPAIR 1611 4th Ave., Charleston 681.265.5047

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AT THE LIBRARY

Libraries are more than just stores of books and knowledge. They are the cornerstone of neighborhoods and communities.

Events for Children September Schedule of Virtual Events 304-343-4646

All events are hosted online. For more details, see www. kanawhalibrary.org

Virtual Storytime Wednesdays, September 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29,10:30 a.m.

Enjoy a new story with us on Facebook.

Plus suggestions for other books. Children: Birth-5 Years.

Write a 5 Word Story Thursdays, September 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30, 4 p.m.

What’s happening in the wacky picture?

Tell us in 5 words on Facebook! Family.

1st Chapter Fridays Fridays, September 3, 10, 17 & 24, 3 p.m.

Sneak peek of a variety of chapter books on Facebook.

Children: 6-11 Years.

Kindness Club Storytime and Challenge Saturday, September 11, 2 p.m.

Enjoy a story about kindness on Facebook. Then participate in the monthly kindness challenge by picking up the kindness craft at the Main Library (while supplies last). Children.

Family STEM Saturday, September 18, 2 p.m.

Join us as we explore a science concept on Facebook!

We will read books about the topic covered and show science in action. Family.

Family Storytime Saturday, September 25, 2 p.m.

In this Facebook storytime, a librarian will read books and guide participants through rhymes and activities about a theme that families will enjoy! Family.

Children’s programming sponsored by the BB&T West Virginia Foundation

SEP 2021

All KCPL events are subject to change. Changes or cancellations will be announced on the KCPL website, Facebook page and other social media. Contact your local library for more information.

10

www.kanawhalibrary.org

Individuals with disabilities who require accommodation to attend a program at any KCPL facility should contact the ADA Coordinator at least 48 hours prior to the event. 304-343-4646 ext. 1242 or 1268; facilities@kanawhalibrary.org

THE

HUMANITIES CORNER

E

RL is happy to announce two events sponsored/co-sponsored by the Humanities Center at West Virginia University that you will enjoy. Both events will be recorded and available on the WVU Humanities Center YouTube channel, so you can attend the event in person or you will be able to access them online. James Tate Hill, the featured author of the second event, is a Charleston, WV native.

BLAIR 100 READING AT TAYLOR BOOKS CHARLESTON, WV As a part of the centennial events around the Battle for Blair Mountain, a major event in the Coal Wars in West Virginia and a pivotal one in US Labor History, the Humanities Center is co-sponsoring an event at Taylor Books. This event, New Books About the Mine Wars: A Reading and Discussion with Authors, features three WVU Press authors, Chuck Keeney, Ginny Ayers, and Anne Lawrence, and will be moderated by Catherine V. Moore. It will take place on Saturday, September 4th, 2021 from 2:00-3:30 PM. The center is working on options to live stream and/ or record the event for our YouTube channel. Additionally, we hope to post Short Talks with the authors and moderator in advance of the event.

As a part of the centennial events around the Battle for Blair Mountain, a major event in the Coal Wars in West Virginia and a pivotal one in US Labor History, the Humanities Center is co-sponsoring an event at Taylor Books. This event, New Books About the Mine Wars: A Reading and Discussion with Authors, features three WVU Press authors, Chuck Keeney, Ginny Ayers, and Anne Lawrence, and will be moderated by Catherine V. Moore. It will take place on Saturday, September 4th, 2021 from 2:00-3:30 PM. The center is working on options to live stream and/ or record the event for our YouTube channel. Additionally, we hope to post Short Talks with the authors and moderator in advance of the event.

ELKRIVERLIVING.COM

Blind Man’s Bluff: James Tate Hill Reading

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THE

ELK’S COOKBOOK SAUSAGE STUFFED APPLES

T

CIPE RE

S!

IN G.C OM

PREP TIME: 30 MIN TOTAL COOK TIME: 60-70 MIN

D US YO SEN UR

his month, Gabi Strickland Walker of Walker Mtn. Eats on Facebook gives us a delicious autumn side dish, especially with an abundance of apples in many yards and at every market stand! “The sweet apple and the savory stuffing and sausage just compliment each other perfectly. They look stunning on a serving plate and would wow any dinner guest. I served this dish with ribs, green beans, and mashed potatoes, but it is a perfect addition for any meal.”

IV ELKRIVERL

INGREDIENTS •

2 T butter

•

1 celery stalk - finely diced

•

¼ C onion - finely diced

•

1-2 cloves garlic - minced

•

½ lb breakfast sausage

•

1 box Stove Top stuffing mix

•

1 ¼ C Chicken Broth (or same amount as water called for in stuffing mix instructions)

•

6-8 apples such as Granny Smith, Golden Delicious and Red Delicious

•

¾ C chicken broth

SEP 2021

(or your favorite brand)

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DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350 degrees Step 1

Created by Linseed Studio from the Noun Project

Spray a 9x13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside Created by Alex Muravev from the Noun Project

Step 2

Created by Alex Muravev from the Noun Project

Created by Alex Muravev from the Noun Project

Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and the celery and cook until softened, about 2-3 min.

Step 3 Add the sausage to the skillet and cook thoroughly making sure to break it up into crumbles. Add garlic and cook until fragrant. Remove from heat.

Step 4 In a large bowl, stir together the stuffing mix and sausage mixture. Add chicken broth - same amount as instructions of stuffing mix say for water. Stir the mixture together so that the stuffing is soft and moist.

Feel free to add a little more broth if needed. Set the mix aside.

Step 5 Prepare the apples: Slice the very top of the apples off. Use a spoon or a melon baller to carefully scoop out the entire core of the apple. Repeat this for every apple.

Spoon stuffing into each apple and place in the prepared baking dish. Once all the apples are stuffed and in the dish, carefully drizzle an additional ½ C of broth over the apples. Add another ¼ C to the bottom of the dish.

Step 7 Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for about 30-40 min or until the apples are softened but not falling apart.

NOTE:If you don't want the stuffing to brown, cover the dish while baking.

ELKRIVERLIVING.COM

Step 6

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SEP 2021

Hafer

14

Myers Chapel

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Over 70 IDEAL PROTEIN branded foods: bars, chips, brownies, shakes, and more!

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*Start up fees waived ($142 value) *Bring a friend to a seminar and both will receive a $50 food credit (terms and conditions apply) *Upcoming seminars are Sept 1, Sept 15 at 5:30 PM WWW.CHARLESTONFAMILYCHIRO.COM/IDEAL-PROTEIN

304.344.9077

308 PATRICK ST. PLAZA CHARLESTON, WV 25387

PIZZA POWER

235 ELK RIVER ROAD SOUTH CLENDENIN, WV

548.7002

SOLIDROCK

CONTRACTING • General Excavation • Land Clearing • Dump Truck Service • Retaining Walls • Underground Utilities • Demolition WV051264

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Solid Rock Contracting Email: solidrockcontractor@hotmail.com

ELKRIVERLIVING.COM

NEW ONLINE MENU AT GIOVANNISPIZZAPOWER.COM

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TALENT ON DISPLAY

SEP 2021

Photos provided by Jill Moles Mullins

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Unsettling Hope

I

f a picture is worth a thousand words, then Jill Moles Mullins, acclaimed Elk River artisan, has volumes to share! Her outstanding photography is on display at numerous fine art galleries in West Virginia as awards and recognition just keep coming her way.

This year’s awards for Jill to date include: 2021 International All Women Exhibition where she won Best in Show with her photograph, “Twilight on Botany Bay, SC”. There were 692 entries of amazing artwork from 27 countries, 37 states, and the District of Columbia.

2021 Berkley Art’s Council National Juried Exhibition where she received Honorable

Twilight on Botany Bay, SC

Best of West Virginia Living Nominated for Best Artist

ELKRIVERLIVING.COM

Mention for “Twilight on Botany Bay, SC”

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Beckley Art Center’s Dan and Cynthia Bickley Fine Art Gallery 2021 Juried Exhibition

SEP 2021

where she captured first place with her award winning photograph, “The Look.” There were 65 artists with 130 pieces of art ranging from oil painting, watercolors, abstracts, sculptures, glasswork, photography and more. Jurors’ comments on "The Look" - “It is technically excellent, and the composition is unique for a nature/wildlife photograph. The photographer turned a mundane moment into a striking image.

The jury felt the piece stands out, not only as a photograph but as a work of art.”

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Outdoor Highlands Magazine Contest

ELKRIVERLIVING.COM

Jill’s photograph, “WV Bear,” won first place in the Wildlife category. Also, in the Adventure category, her photo “New River Gorge Rafters at Sunset,” won Runner-Up. Her “Tracks from the Past” photo will be featured on the Outdoor Highlands magazine Fall Gallery page.

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There are several upcoming gallery shows where Jill will have pictures on display.

Tamarack’s David L. Dickirson Fine Arts Gallery - “About Face” Exhibition will run August 7 through September 26, 2021. She has two pieces in this show: “Brokenhearted” and “Vision.”

Love, Hope for the Arts Gallery, Fayetteville, WV - “Unconventional” will open on August 7 and Jill has three featured pieces on display including: “Dreaming,” “Unsettling Hope,” and “The Dance"(featured on cover).

SEP 2021

Beckley Arts Center, Dan and Cynthia Bickley Gallery - “Black and White Photography Exhibit” will run from September 17 through October 16. Four of Jill’s photographs are in this show: “Team Power,” “Moody Sky at Botany Bay,” “Cathedral Falls,” and “Nuttall Conveyor.”

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ROAD SERVICE KEY LOCK-OUT SERVICING WEST VIRGINIA

MITCH YOUNG OWNER

MITCH’S 24 HR TOWING 100 FRAME ROAD ELKVIEW, WV 25071

304.965.6646

LICENSEDED & INSUR

(304)840-4833

ALL O WASHINGF YNOUR EEDS

CREDE TRACTOR SALES & SERVICE

4731 PENNSYLVANIA AVE BIG CHIMNEY

304.965.1666 WILLIAM CREDE

Vision Appalachia Presents

Christmas In Appalachia and other special guests!

Chosen Road, Johnathan Buckner

Johnny Statts & �e Delivery Boys

Tickets are are available at the Charleston Convention Center Box Office, online at Chaswvcc.com, by calling 304.345.7469 or at Ticketmaster.com. Tickets also available at the door.

ELKRIVERLIVING.COM

Featuring

at the Charleston Convention Center Little Theater December 4th, 2021 7:00PM

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SEP 2021

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311C ELK RIVER RD, S. CLENDENIN, WV 25045

AR

Celebrating the Pinch Reunion

ND THE OU

ELK

The annual 2021 Pinch Reunion Weekend was held August 7-8 with a live concert on Saturday evening on the Pinch Reunion Grounds featuring The Carpenter Ants and a worship service on Sunday at Heritage Baptist Church.

Queen Hannah Salisbury, the reigning 2021 Pinch Reunion Queen, was there to greet everyone and welcome them to the festivities. The Pinch Reunion is always the first weekend of August and it is always a great time to get together with classmates, friends, and families before school starts.

Photos by Joe Hoover

SEP 2021

2020 Pinch Reunion Community Queen, Hannah Salisbury

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ELKRIVERLIVING.COM

The Carpenter Ants

Pinch Reunion Grounds at Pinch, WV

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Rental Cabins Fishing Ponds Petting Zoo Barn Hiking & Biking

Paddleboats Private Hot Tubs Hammocks Firepits & Grills

Pets Welcome

Complimentary doggie beds & treats upon request!

SEP 2021

230 WALKER ROAD, NEBO, WV

26

WWW.WALKERCREEKFARMS.COM

BIG BANK SERVICES with

Hometown Charm Let Us Serve You 150 Main Street Clay, WV 25043 304.587.4221

2236 Main Street Clay, WV 25043 304.587.7480

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+

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Monday - �ursday, Closed Friday

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1 Cobb Ave - Clendenin 11am-8pm Tues-Sun ∙ Closed Mon

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5100 Elk RivER Road, N., ElkviEw, wv 25071

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ELKRIVERLIVING.COM

BIG or small We fix them ALL!

27

Appalachian Author Releases New Collection From Debbie Richard and Finishing Line Press

RESERVE YOUR COPY TODAY Author Debbie Richard, formerly of Elk River, has a new collection of poems, Crosswinds, which is available now for pre-order and will ship November 19, 2021. Her press run is determined by advance sales, so buying now helps. Just in time for holiday gift-giving, pre-order your copies of Crosswinds now. The outstanding artwork on the cover of Crosswinds was created by West Virginia artist Asuka Ng of Aska's Atelier.

This collection of poetic works articulates crosswinds that result in the aerodynamics of how we maneuver through life, whether we land or keep flying to reach a point on the compass. Crosswinds takes the reader on a tour of poems from the unveiling on a wedding night, to a father’s disguise, a Sunday afternoon in the park, to a towering rough exterior trying to break one’s shell, to the elegance of A Measure of Grace. Overcoming difficulty transports us further than we dared to go. Our lives depend on it.

SEP 2021

Debbie Richard is listed in the Directory of Poets & Writers as both a poet and creative nonfiction writer. She was short-listed for Best Poem in Adelaide Literary Award for Poetry, 2018, and her poems have appeared in various magazines and journals including Torrid Literature Journal, Literature for the People, WestWard Quarterly, and Halcyon Days. Her published works include: RESILIENCY, a chapbook of poetry (2012, Finishing Line Press), HILLS OF HOME, an Appalachian memoir (2014, eLectio Publishing), HILLS OF HOME AUDIO BOOK (2018, Sweetsong Productions), and PIVOT, an illustrated volume of poetry (2019, Adelaide Books of New York) which received an Honorable Mention in the 2019 New York Book Festival Awards and a 5-star review from Readers’ Favorite. To pre-order, contact Debbie at www.debbierichard.com

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ROAD SERVICE KEY LOCK-OUT

MITCH YOUNG

M MATICS

Funeral Home Charles L. “Sonny” Matics, Owner Anthony R. “Tony” Matics, Licensed Dir. 8539 ELK RIVER ROAD NORTH CLENDENIN, WV 25045 maticsfuneralhome@suddenlink.net 304.548.6611

5106 Elk River Rd. specialoccasionflowers.com Follow us on Facebook!

Elkview, WV 25071

AUTO | HOME | BUSINESS | LIFE GARY HOLSTEIN, AGENT | MGR AGENT@HOLSTEININSURANCEAGENCYINC.COM

WWW.HOLSTEININSURANCEAGENCYINC.COM

ELKRIVERLIVING.COM

304.965.9941 4920 ELK RIVER RD S. ELKVIEW

29

A STEP BACK IN TIME

W

hile the Elk River Trail at Duck has garnered much of the media spotlight this past year, we would be remiss if we didn’t highlight Nottingham’s Store that sits on the bank of the Elk River at the Duck Rails-to-Trails Trailhead.

SEP 2021

This family-owned business is a special blend of groceries, hardware, plumbing supplies, livestock feed, night crawlers/chicken livers for fishing, knives, ammunition,and numerous country sundries. They also carry water pumps and offer installation. Complete with a toasty stove and a couple of chairs when the weather is cool to catch up on the latest community news or to enjoy a delicious ice cream bar out of the freezer after a trail ride/walk, Nottingham’s is one of the most charming country stores you will ever visit.

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Owners are James and Vida Nottingham, their son, Bryan, and his wife, Pauline, who all live on the mountain above the store. Nottingham’s Store has been a staple in the community of Duck and surrounding areas for many years.

James provided some early history about the early Nottingham stores: “Tybirtus Nottingham, my granddad, opened a store at Servia back in the 1800’s. Ed Sirk built the current Nottingham store at Duck and my Uncle Willy Nottingham bought it from Ed. My dad, Raymond Nottingham, bought the store from Willy in 1927 and operated it with his partner, Ralph Hall. At that time it was called Nottingham and Hall. On September 1, 1961, I bought out Ralph’s half interest.” Sixty years later, it is still the Nottingham Store that we have come to know and love.

The store truly is a step back in time, reflecting the old-time country stores of past decades.

Pauline said, “We have done some upgrades, but we really like to keep the historic look and feel.” She added that their new t-shirts have arrived and sweatshirts have been ordered, boasting the Nottingham logo and the applicable, “M R Ducks” poem.

Everyone knows to watch for the arrival of Nottingham’s bagged Christmas candy which lines their shelves in the fall. From chocolate drops, gummy bears, cinnamon candies, nut clusters, orange slices, yogurt-covered pretzels, colorful coconut candies, zagnut bites, chocolate covered peanuts, and other old-timey candy, you can taste the delicious fresh difference. Mouth watering doesn’t even begin to describe it--it’s beyond words!

Speaking of Nottingham traditions, Bryan also loves old cars and has restored his granddad’s Model A Ford. He also hopes to restore his dad's first ‘31 Sedan with his grandson. The Nottingham family invites you to stop by their store located on 75 Nottingham Store Road in Duck. You may be lucky enough to get a glimpse of the Model A parked in front of their store like we did! Inside and out, Nottingham Store is full of four generations of special memories for everyone to enjoy.

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SEP 2021

Cantrell’s Florist 304.548.7700

New Seasonal Wreaths Available!

ELKRIVERLIVING.COM

7484 Elk River Rd • Clendenin Mon - Fri 9am-5pm Sat 9am - Noon

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Elk Valley Physical Therapy Hosts Trunk or Treat Submitted by Andi Naylor Geary at Elk Valley Physical Therapy 2020 was a very hectic year for all of us and our community. Finally, we are finding our new normal and getting back in the swing of things. In 2021 we are observing the 5th anniversary of the flood and celebrating the exciting progress of the new Elk River schools. Elk Valley Physical Therapy would like to use this year as one to help give back to our community that has given us so much and find ways to partner with other businesses for these events.

One of the events we would like to sponsor this fall is a trunk or treat. The Trunk or Treat will be held at the Clendenin United Methodist parking lot on October 15, 2021 from 6 pm to 8 pm. Businesses and churches can start setting up at 5 pm. This date is also the bye week for Hoover football so we are hoping to see a lot of participation from the community and surrounding area.

To assist with traffic flow and safety, all participants will enter and exit the parking lot from the Koontz Avenue side. This will be a walk through trunk or treat, not a drive through. Each “treater” will have their own parking spot to set up to provide treats.

If you or your business, church, or organization would like to participate in this event, now is the time to reserve your spot! Message Stephanie on Facebook/Elk Valley Physical Therapy or email her at Stephanie@ elkvalleypt.com for more information. Thank you for your participation and being involved with our community!

ND THE U O

ELK

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Pastor Pastor Gary Gary Walker Walker email: email: pastorgarywalker@gmail.com pastorgarywalker@gmail.com Pastor Gary Walker email: pastorgarywalker@gmail.com Pastor Gary Walker email: pastorgarywalker@gmail.com

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WELCOME E JUNE'S BOUTIQUE

L

et’s go shopping! What formerly consisted of going to a store and being limited by what merchandise was available on the racks is long gone! Welcome to the new age of online shopping, coupled with unique, storefront boutiques where you can purchase your items inhouse or online or both!

E June's Boutique is one of our newest Elk River businesses, located online on Facebook/E June’s Boutique and at their store-front location, 100 Verna Drive in Pinch (formerly Myers Chapel).

Owners Sierra Thaxton and her mother, Shelli Ellis, are excited to offer trendy options for clothing, shoes and accessories. Sierra said, “It was really important to us to offer affordable clothing. Most of our dresses range from $15-$17 and we carry clothing for all ages and sizes, from newborn to 4X.”

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Shoppers can request to be a member of the E June’s Boutique private group on Facebook and usually are accepted within hours so they can begin shopping online. Sierra explained that her online business actually began in 2018 after the birth of her daughter, Ellie June. “I had some postpartum depression and found myself making earrings and selling them for $2 a pair. Then I noticed I had 10-20 orders a week and it was growing even more. My mom was helping me and we expanded to keychains and t-shirts and more.”

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Sierra said we never sat down and actually said '’let’s open a business’—it just kind of happened.“ And here we are, three years later, going to the Market in Atlanta, meeting with the owners of Simply Southern, and bringing their merchandise back home to sell in our boutique!” The Market in Atlanta consisted of 13 floors of designers and their merchandise. Businesses can apply twice a year to go to market and Sierra was thrilled when E June’s was selected to represent Kanawha

Photos by April Curry

County. She said, “Different designers would sit down with us and actually design merchandise especially for E June’s. We are so excited because one designer created a special WVU shirt for us and it should be available for us to sell by Labor Day.” Together, Sierra and her mom have completely renovated the former Myer’s Chapel into a trendy boutique. Sierra said, “We have one main shopping floor of clothing, shoes, purses, and accessories.” At first they were doing all of the apparel selections themselves, but now they have several local vendors who will offer their products as well at E June’s Boutique. New items include custom soaps, earrings, home décor, and t-shirts, including an array of Herbert Hoover merchandise.

Customers can order online and have items shipped directly to them or they can come to the store in Pinch and browse the selections.

Whatever the choice, E June's Boutique is sure to be one of your favorites. Hours of operation are Thursdays and Fridays from 10 AM to 6 PM and on Saturdays from 10 AM to 4 PM. Sierra said we post our hours on Facebook each week and we plan to offer expanded shopping five days a week closer to the holiday season.

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ELKRIVERLIVING.COM

Chili’N on the Elk PRESS RELEASE FROM CHILI’N ON THE ELK EVENT • When: Saturday, October 2, 2021 • Location: Maywood Avenue & Main Street, Clendenin, WV 25045 • Times: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm (Cooks Setup at 8:00 am, Chili Sampling Starts at 10:00 am, Beer & Wine Festival Starts at 11:00 am)

Summary of Event:

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This is an inaugural event that features a variety of activities. It has a chili cook-off, beer/wine festival, live music, arts/crafts vendors, and a children's area. General admission is free, but there are fees for the chili sampling tickets and beer/wine festival. All proceeds will be split equally between the Town of Clendenin and the Elk River Trail Foundation.

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COME JOIN US FOR AN EXCITING INAUGURAL EVENT HOSTED BY THE TOWN OF CLENDENIN! The Chili’N on the Elk Chili Cook-Off & Craft Beer/Wine Festival will be held on Saturday, October 2, 2021 along Maywood Avenue and Main Street in the Town of Clendenin, West Virginia. This festival has a lot to offer with a combination of events.

The chili cook-off will feature both International Chili Society (ICS) and non-ICS competitions. Cooks can compete for a variety of awards and prizes in the traditional red, homestyle, salsa and people’s choice categories. There is even a category for “Best of the Elk River”, which will be available only to cooks from the Elk River community. Cooks will begin setup at 8:00 am with sampling beginning at 10:00 am. The chili cookoff will be held in the parking lot along Maywood Avenue. Awards for the cook-off will be announced on the new stage being built at the end of Main Street at 4:00 pm.

Craft beer and wine from throughout West Virginia, as well as the regional area, will be available for tasting.

This portion of the event kicks off at 11:00 am with VIP admission; general admission begins at 12:00 pm. Local experts will be on hand for the VIP tasting experience to provide insight to the many different blends of craft beers that West Virginia has to offer. The craft beer and wine festival will be held on Main Street and will close at 4:00 pm.

At the end of Main Street there will be live music from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. It features well-known local and regional musicians including Mark Miller Band with Gary Hays, Chris Rucker, Corncob, Weekend Warriors, McFly & Guys, and Ken Starcher. After the awards, the evening will cap off with a two-hour jam session along Main Street. Along Cardinal Street and across from the chili cook-off, there will be a variety of arts/crafts vendors and a childrens’ area. Come check out what our local artists have to offer and let your children enjoy a park, face painting, and more. This area will close at 4:00 pm.

Local restaurants and businesses will be open and available to all. The restaurants feature Momma Payne’s Diner, Paddler’s Bar & Grill, Julio’s, Giovanni’s, Frostbite Dairy Bar, Elk River Baking Company, and the new Clendenin Brewery.

The Elk River Trail Foundation was established by a group of area citizens and business owners who are dedicated to promoting the Elk River Rail Trail and Water Trail. Their mission is to preserve, protect and enhance the Elk River Trails for public recreation, community health and well-being, conservation, ecology, education, economic development, and cultural enrichment. Recently, the rail trail section from Queen Shoals to Clendenin was completed and there will be a ceremonial ribbon cutting during the Chili’N on the Elk festival. The trail is ideal for hiking and biking and also provides easy access to local boating areas, fishing and kayaking opportunities. The Elk River area has a beautiful natural landscape. There is a lot to experience, such as: kayaking the Elk River; hiking or biking the new Elk River Trail; or ATV riding on one of the many trails in the area. We are hoping that this inaugural event will transition into an annual one and continue to bring more people to the area.

For more information, please visit our website at: chilinonelk.com or on Facebook @chilinonelk.

You can also email us at chilinontheelk@gmail.com or contact us by phone at (304) 545-8380.

ELKRIVERLIVING.COM

The event is being held to raise funds for beautification projects still being conducted in the Town of Clendenin since the June 2016 flood. Rebuilding efforts are ongoing and the current administration has worked hard to bring people back into the area and make it a thriving community once again. Facades on buildings continue to be renovated, new river access pointsare being installed, and new businesses continue to open. Years ago, Clendenin was a very busy, thriving community that served people from a broad geographic area. The administration and citizens are trying to reestablish this and create an environment where the Town can flourish once again.

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THE

ELK’S STUDENTS HERBERT HOOVER SPORTS BRIEFS Golf Congratulations to our 2021 Callaway Golf Junior Tour Players of the Year: Boys 17-18: Bryson Beaver Herbert Hoover High School

Football

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The HHHS Football team is wearing Big Frank 6 decal stickers on their helmets in memory of Frank Early who tragically passed away in a car accident shortly after graduation. The team is also sporting new Scarlet and Royal Blue uniforms when they take the field this fall. Good luck Huskies!

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ND THE OU

ELK

AR If you have noticed the large COMING SOON banner on the side of the building at 5074 Elk River Road South in Elkview, good news-- it arrived! Made at the Cottage officially opened on August 9 and had its grand opening on Saturday, August 21, displaying their new shop filled with up-to-date decor and their DIY workshop space.

Also at the grand opening were Michelle Damron Callen with Color Street Nails, Brittany Spangler/ChristyChris Smith with Southern Soul, Melissa Young with Melissa Young’s Magnabilities, Independent Consultant, and Tiffany Romine with Bri’s Bowtique. Marion Proctor was also there with her homemade candles, jams, deodorants and other goodies.

Owner Judy Melton said, “Learn how to make your own beautiful decor and gifts. We have weekly DIY createn-take workshops so grab a friend and join us. You can also purchase ready-made, high end signs, gifts, and more!” Judy is an independent consultant for Chalk Couture and has the newest fall workshop creations just waiting for you to create.

See their Facebook/At The Cottage for their workshop schedule and their online store. You can also call 304.942.7882 or email Judy at judithc8480@gmail.com.

SEP 2021

Photos edited by: April Curry

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THE

ELK REFLECTS

REMEMBERING OUR ELK RIVER FRIEND, DEE CAMPBELL

There are people who leave a huge void in our lives when they are no longer here on earth with us. Dana Given “Dee” Campbell was indeed one of those people. He lost his battle with Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer on August 7, 2021. His wife, Anna, said it best: “He has enriched so many lives with his contagious smile and giving spirit.”

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We are all blessed to have known such a wonderful friend, family man, and community leader. We send our love to his mom, Rose Campbell, his sister Beth Campbell, his wonderful family, Anna, Lauren and John and his Elk River family who were more than just friends.

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ERL would also like to feature any of your Elk River memories.

Contact Cyndi Tawney at 304.546.9243, or cyndi@elkriverliving.com, or go to elkriverliving.com

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ELKRIVERLIVING.COM

READER SUBMISSION Reelin’ In the Big Ones How about some fish stories, except these fine fishermen don’t have to exaggerate the size for it to be a winning fish tale!

Billy Wehrle of Big Chimney shared his big Muskie catch on the Elk River with us for this month’s Reader Submission. Also, Scott Bird of Clendenin, and his son, Matthew, were at Cocoa Beach, FL and shared a couple of their big catches as well.

Billy Wehrle

Matthew Bird

Scott Bird

If you would like to submit a photo, work of art, short story, poem, knitwork - whatever inspires you - please reach out to us at elkriverliving.com or contact cyndi@elkriverliving.com

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Come have fun at Trunk or Treat on October 15th at the Clendenin UMC parking lot from 6-8 pm!

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THE

ELK’S JOURNAL LYDIA CYRUS

ERL is proud to welcome Keegan Lester as a guest author and his wonderful contribution to the team.

Lydia A. Cyrus is a writer from Huntington, West Virginia. Graduate of Purdue’s MFA program, her work has been featured in Thoreau's Rooster, Adelaide Literary Magazine, The Albion Review, and Luna Luna. She is a proud Mountain Woman who strives to make positive change in Southern Appalachia.

“My dad’s family always said funny things,” Lydia says, when I ask her of the language that influenced her writing. “One of my favorites was, ‘they went to feed the pigs and the hogs ate them,’ which was usually a response given when you asked where someone was.” She says “Everything is tied to West Virginia in my writing. When I write non-fiction I’m always talking about the area and the issues I’ve been impacted by —like inter-generational trauma and poverty. But, even in fiction, the setting is almost always rural West Virginia. If not, I’m writing about rural areas that are not named but resemble the area.”

Lydia Cyrus hails from Wayne County. She grew up in Lavalette which is situated, between Huntington and Wayne. “Growing up there was wonderful,” she says. “I lived very far out. With no cell phone service and I had to take two school buses to get to the high school I graduated from.

But I grew up in a holler with my dad’s family surrounding me. We always had lots of wilderness to explore and I spent a lot of time taking walks with my grandmother and great aunt. In the winter, we would tie inner-tubes together and attach them to the back of someone’s four-wheeler and go sledding like that. We always had dogs. I am very much accustomed to walking around barefoot too.”

When I ask her how she got started as a writer, —which every writer has their own unique story-mine, for instance started through writing letters to my grandmother who’d mail me pepperoni rolls—she meanders around a bit saying “I liked writing a lot as a kid. I did it on my own a lot and wrote little stories and would read them to my mom in the car on the way home from school. I won awards all through school for it but didn’t get serious about it until I took first year composition with Paul Martin at Wayne High School.”

And maybe the real question I should have started with is Who influenced your writing. Her response makes so much sense. There’s always that one teacher that tells us we’re capable.

And sometimes that’s all we need to jump into the unknown, a little less fearful. “I forget the assignments or really the conversations that took place,” she says “but I was slated to start college as a psychology major. I fully intended to be a forensic psychologist someday and wanted to double major in English or minor in it. Paul came to the school on our last day, shortly before we graduated from high school, and told all of the students how wonderful it was to have them in

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class. When he got to me, he simply said, ‘you better major in English.’ No one before that had ever

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told me that I could or that I was good enough to do it. Ever since then I’ve grown a lot as a writer but I can easily trace the roots of it to Paul Martin.”

Now a recipient of the Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award, a recent graduate of the prestigious MFA writing program at Purdue University, and a graduate of Marshall University— she’s made good on her promise to her teacher, Paul Martin. Her writing has since been featured in Thoreau’s Rooster, Adelaide Literary Magazine, the Albion Review, Catfish Creek, and Luna Luna Magazine.

I first met Lydia in Indiana when a fellow West Virginian classmate of hers asked me to come do a reading with them. We read at a large coffee shop on campus, that was well attended by her classmates and writing lovers alike. Listening to Lydia read from her work the first time was such a revelation. It was so full of heart and oozing with observation, and had a force behind it telling the kind of stories that get glossed over.

Lydia is a cobbler of sorts. Her work pulls from so many places. She notes that “I simply absorb almost anything and everything.

I’m often inspired by music or even the news when listening to NPR. I love film and most aspects of television. I get inspired by everything though. I wrote a short story about a garbage man finding a dead tiger once because I read an article about it, but the article was so short that I felt like I needed to flesh it out. But I have also driven down a country road and spotted a life-size, stone Jesus and wrote poems about how his sandals must be ruined due to rain and morning dew. My eyes and ears and heart are always open and buzzing.”

She describes her writing process as very slow and very private. “Typically, I think about something for a long time before I sit down and put it to paper. I take down notes and spend a lot of time just thinking before I write.”

There is a slowness to her words that you feel when you read her work. It feels the way honey drips from a spoon. “I’m still working on revisions for a novel that I started writing in 2018. It is a novel about a young woman much like me who is trying to ascend the things that are plaguing her while she discovers her family in a way she never has.”

Lydia’s writing feels like it’s often trying to soak up the last of something. And in that way it also feels urgent. “When I’m ready,” she says “I typically write at night. That chunk of time is usually very quiet and not much else is going on. I tend to write an entire “thing” in one go and then I’ll end it a couple days later. I don’t really like to talk about what I’m writing or draw attention to it. Weirdly, I’ve never been able to write when around other people. Even if they’re writers too, it just feels so personal and private.”

Lydia is a proud mountain woman. In everything she does, she embodies a kind of strength that has been distilled over generations into her marrow. She talks about a story her uncle Eddie told her about her great aunt Maude killing two men. “He passed away in April, so I never got to ask for more details since he told me the story a few months prior, but he said that two men showed up to the farm and meant to do harm to her. Instead, she shot one to death and when the other chased her up the side of her silo she stabbed him with a pitchfork. Although it was a violent story, one that my Uncle wasn’t really proud of, it reminded me of the kind of women my family members are and how strong they are. Aunt Maude was a real pistol and I know her genes are strong in me.”

There is something deeply West Virginian about this story. It’s not the mere violence, but the acts of self reliance and strength that folks here wear like a scar. It’s one of the reasons I know that someday Lydia will be one the next major American Writers.

She has this strength built in to persevere through the meat grinder that is the writing world.

“I like spooky things,” is how she answers when I ask her what she likes to read. “…and I heard Ian Reid’s novel was incredibly spooky. My favorite books have changed a little as I’ve grown as a writer. My all-time favorite is still Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich which is a novel about multiple generations of a family. The way Erdrich writes is very similar to how my family members tell stories so I’ve been drawn to her work. I also consider The Tiger’s Wife by Téa Obreht to be a top favorite. In the only one genre. I recently read And I Do Not Forgive You by Amber Sparks and really liked it as well.”

When I ask her what she wished people would ask her in interviews, it of course comes back to language. She recalls “I once heard Natalie Diaz speak and she told us how in her native language rather than asking ‘who are you?’ they would use a phrase that meant how are you feeling here while gesturing to her chest. This in turn reminded me of a Rumi poem that I have long forgotten the name of wherein Rumi describes joy as an endless spring you feel in your chest. I wish people would ask me more often, 'what are you feeling here?’”

ELKRIVERLIVING.COM

realm of nonfiction, Lidia Yucknavitch’s The Chronology of Water … I try to read a wide variety of things so I’m never reading from

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Excerpt from Lydia Cyrus' "If You Lived Here You'd Be Home by Now"

West Virginia. A place born in the civil war and cut out of another place. Where, first, we

had an abundance of salt. All of that salt mined and sold. Sometimes, I can taste it. Almost like biting the inside of your cheek and drawing blood. Then there were the trees. The trees cut and sold. I cannot taste the trees the way I have tasted the salt, but I smell and feel them. I learned from an early age that when the leaves on a tree turn inside out it means rain is coming. As a child, I plucked sycamore leaves off of trees and compared them to my tiny hands, to my head. What wonders those trees were and are. Before they’re cut down, sometimes ever after.

Then there is coal. The black, smoky mines where it seems everyone has worked. The

train carting off the coal runs through the center of the small town I grew up in. It seems so commonplace that I forget what color or even the smell. Eventually, things run out. Greedy hands will run the well dry. Once, my grandmother said that the last thing to be taken from this place would be the women. Women were like crops, she said as she was bent over a pot of boiling water.

With her hair clinging to her forehead from the sweat and the steamed air. I would imagine us to be corn: tall and bristling. Essential, but still a sight to behold. As you walked or drove by, an attraction even at times. I thought about the elementary school aged, even high school aged, children holding hands and weaving through corn mazes. Weaving through the women. I imagine that like the corn we kept secrets. When the wind blows, the leaves rustle and serenade the passersby with songs. But when the season ends, as all seasons do, we would be cut down and thrashed. Served up on warm dinner plates to the men of the houses and their children.

In the end, when I arrive to college, I won’t speak with an accent or mention that I was

raised by my grandparents. I’ll pass by without ever talking about the trains or the trees or the names. I’ll forget that I ever wondered about why my mother had left too, if she had been taken out and away like timber. But sometimes, when I would drive on the interstate or stop in at a Rite Aid, I would wonder about where the people go. Who stays. Who leaves. Where they go. Tucked away inside of a shoe box are the papers from kindergarten. The family tree and the pictures of my hometown. They’ll fade and curl in on themselves for years before anyone remembers that they’re

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there. I’m not sure who they’re waiting for. If I’m saving them for my mother to see someday or my

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grandmother is saving them for me to remind me of who I am.

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