Elk River Living | Volume 05 | Issue 09

ELK RIVER LIVING ELK RIVER LIVING

Helping Women Express Themselves

Glo Treola specializes in natural-looking results and a positive experience at her shop, Glo's Beauty Bar, in Clendenin. Learn how permanent makeup can enhance your features and provide a carefree makeup routine.

September Skies & Apple Pies

Family fun all weekend long, Sept 14-17, at the Clay County Golden Delicious Festival with craft/food vendors, quilt shows, baking contests, amusement rides, grand parade, games, competitions, TJ Hill's magic shows, free concerts, fireworks and more!

Brad Paisley Welcomes Huskies to the

“You have been given a glimpse of the real world and

wonderful things that human beings can do for one another in the face of disaster. Never lose sight that good people came together to build this for you and your future.” –Brad

HELLO & Welcome Back!

Welcome to the River!

There is a special feeling of happiness on the Elk River this September. Finally, our kids have a new high school. When I drove by my alumni school site at the old location near Clendenin, my heart didn’t hurt like it has since 2016. Will it always be sad, yes; but the joy of not only having a new school, but a state-of-the-art school with breathtaking athletic fields like our kids deserve far outshines the sadness. It’s time to be jubilant and celebrate.

Speaking of jubilant, the atmosphere at the HHHS and John Marshall scrimmage was electrifying. I watched students, instructors, staff, alumni, friends and families rally together to usher in the new stadium. When the legendary Brad Paisley took the stage, I reflected back on his visit to Clendenin after The Flood of 2016. I remember him saying no pictures of it came close to the devastation he saw here in person that day. His visit provided a glimpse of sunshine for our community. His comforting words of encouragement, his support both emotional and financial, were a strength to so many who were hurting, lost, and afraid.

What made Brad Paisley stop his life to come to Clendenin after the flood? It wasn’t political. It wasn’t to increase his record sales. It was because of the pain and suffering he saw in his home state of West Virginia. It is because he knew we needed help and because he was raised as a West Virginian who knows the value of extending a hand in a time of need. Others may not ever understand what that visit meant to us…but he did…because he is one of us.

Thank you, Brad Paisley, from the bottom of our hearts. Thank you, also, for returning to the Elk River to celebrate with us as we begin a new chapter in our lives. May all of us remember his generosity and goodness and be lucky enough to be able to ‘pass it on’ someday.

Love and strength to all of us. See you next month!

Editor In Chief / Ken Tawney

Cyndi Tawney

Operations Director / Josh Tawney

Creative Director / Printer / The Printing Press

Charleston, WV

Layout & Design / Katheryne E. Popp

Little Secret Design Co.

Photographer / Scott Abbott

Scott Abbott Photo

ON THE COVER

Kaleb Lanier, Field Commander of The Pride of the Elk River Marching Huskies, captured this month’s cover shot of Brad Paisley performing at the new Husky Stadium.

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.

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!

Our ERL photographer, Scott Abbott and guest photographers who care about our communities and help make this magazine possible: Scott Abbott, Aubrie Abbott, J. Craig Allison, Tim Cunningham, Janet Six, Jill Moles Mullins

Aubrie Abbott

Tim Cunningham

Scott Abbott

Janet Six Jill Moles Mullins

J. Craig Allison

OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES

ABSOLUTE ASPHALT

304.548.7707

#WV-061163

ADVANTAGE VALLEY

304.352.1165

1045 Bridge Rd., Charleston advantagevalley.com

AFFILIATED FINANCIAL GROUP

304.935.2230

4950 Elk River Road, S. Elkview.

ANR CONSTRUCTION

304.741.0377 | 304.546.6510

Randy Young, Jr. & Andrew Young

ARMSTRONG LAW, PLLC

304.300.9663

dan@wvlegalhelp.com

624 Elk St., Gassaway

BECKY’S PET PARLOR

304.951.9162

Rebecca Briles & Kaitlyn Truman

BILL’S USED CARS

304.548.4727

Rt 119 Elk River Road

BLANCH’S FAMILY DINER

681.230.2088

9 2nd Ave.,Clendenin

BLUE CREEK HEATING & COOLING

304.965.9148

contact Bill Ross or Roy Crist

BOWEN DENTAL

Chas: 304.342.0146

Clay: 304.587.7495

contact Stacy or Gary Bowen II

BOXDROP MATTRESS & FURNITURE OUTLET

304.590.6094

2777 Pennsylvania Avenue, Charleston (Mink Shoals Exit 1)

CANTRELL’S FLORIST

304.548.7700

7484 Elk River Rd, Clendenin

CENTRAL WV AGING SERVICES

304.965.9081

Local Charleston Office

CLENDENIN PHARMACY

304.548.5451

Bill Ore and Linsay Matuszkiewicz

CREDE TRACTOR

304.965.1666

contact William Crede

DEAN JEFFRIES, STATE FARM

304.965.7024

85 Credes Landing, Elkview

DOOR DECOR & MOORE

304.965.2447

4952 Elk River Rd.,Elkview

EDENS BODY WORKS, INC.

304.965.5900

102 Neville Rd, Elkview

ELITE ROOFING

304.989.4792

2614 7th Ave., Charleston

www.eliteroofingwv.com

ELK FAMILY DENTISTRY

304.965.6661

contact Joey Adkins, DDS

ELK RIVER AUTOMOTIVE

304.965.7501

contact Gary W. Pauley II

ELK RIVER AUTO SUPPLY

304.965.5312

contact Glenn Pauley

ELK RIVER BAKING COMPANY

304.548.7474

12 Main St., Clendenin

ELK RIVER BOUTIQUE

304.549.8778

3 Main Street, Clendenin

ELK RIVER CHIROPRACTIC

304.965.2458 | Dr. Scott Collias

4710 Chimney Dr., Ste. D

ELK RIVER COMBAT SPORTS

304.940.2480

514 Quick Rd., Elkview

ELK RIVER GET-A-WAY

304.993.0006

16544 N. Elk River Rd., Clendenin

ELK RIVER HOTEL & CAFE

304.402.2121

616 Main Street, Sutton

ELK VALLEY ELECTRIC

304.419.5337

www.elkvalleyelectric.com

ELK VALLEY PHYSICAL THERAPY

304.965.7979

contact Andi Geary, MPT

E.L. ROBINSON ENGINEERING

304.776.7473

elrobinsonengineering.com

5088 Washington St W, Charleston

FIRST SECURITY INC.

304.744.5233 | Steve Booth

512 Chestnut St., S. Charleston

GABBY’S SEWING & MORE

304.935.2360

4506 Penn. Ave, Charleston

gabbyssewingwv.com

GINO’S PIZZA & SPAGHETTI HOUSE

304.965.7031

Order online at ginospizza.com

GIOVANNI’S - CLENDENIN

304.548.7002

giovannispizzapower.com

GLO’S BEAUTY BAR

304.553.6603

8 Maywood Ave., W. Clendenin

Gloria Treola

GOOD FAMILY PHARMACY

304.935.4812

249 Pinch Rd., Elkview

GOOD LIFE APOTHECARY

304.345.8600

3212 Penn. Ave., Charleston (Crede)

HAFER FUNERAL HOME & MYER’S CHAPEL

304.965.3331 | 304.965.3341

haferfuneralhome.net

HARDING'S FAMILY RESTAURANT

304.344.5044

2772 Pennsylvania Ave., Charleston

HENS & HEIFERS

681.381.7080

109 Crossings Mall, Elkview

HOLSTEIN INSURANCE

304.965.9941

holsteininsuranceagencyinc.com

INDIAN LAKE

304.965.5661

1111 Indian Lake Drive, Elkview

JIFFY J’S INC.

Portable Restrooms 800.256.8657

JONES AUTO & TRUCK REPAIR

304.965.6180

jonesautotruckrepair@gmail.com

JONES EXCAVATING

304.965.6180

jonesexcavatingofcharleston.com

KEITH'S AUTO PARTS

304.548.7627 | 1-800-RACE-A-VW

VW Specialists

6328 Elk River Rd, N. Clendenin

KEMP’S LAWN ENFORCEMENT

304.421.5486

One-time services & weekly contracts

KN CONTRACTING

304.965.9088

5146 Elk River Rd., Elkview

KNIGHT VEHICLE LICENSING

304.548.4726

knightinsurance@frontier.com

KNIGHTHORST

877.474.7332

www.knighthorst.com

LAUGHTER & LACE

304.382.1791 Call or Text

Rebekah Kersey, Seamstress

LITTLE SECRET DESIGN CO.

304.427.6797

www.littlesecretdesign.co

MATICS FUNERAL HOME

304.548.6611

maticsfuneralhome.com

MAVERICK GYMNASTICS CLUB

304.925-3004 • maverickgym.com

3510 Venable Ave., Charleston Maverick Gymnastics Club, Inc.

MEADOWBROOK ACRES

NURSING CENTER

877.474.7332

www.meadowbrookacres.net

MITCH’S 24 HR TOWING

304.965.6646

contact Mitch Young

MOSS TREE SERVICE LLC

304.965.8095

www.mosstreeservice.com

MOUNTAINEER AUCTION

304.548.4056

contact Roger Mullins

MT. PLEASANT BAPTIST CHURCH

304.965.7062

mpbcwv.org

NALU’S STYLE STUDIO LLC

304.343.2049

2777 Penn. Ave, Charleston

NANCY KUHL

SEWING & ALTERATIONS

304.965.0747

Text 681.340.0409

PADDLERS BAR & GRILL

681.230.2061

12 Maywood Ave., W., Clendenin

PATRIOT PRESSURE WASHING

304.840.4833 patriothousewash.com

PEGGY WHITE, REALTOR

Old Colony

304.395.0619

POCA VALLEY BANK

304.965.7730 | 1.844.782.2651 pocavalleybank.com

PUZZLED PISTOLS BOUTIQUE

4636 Penn. Ave, Ste 2, Charleston www.puzzledpistolsboutique.com

RIVER CITY YOUTH

BALLET ENSEMBLE

Michelle Rader Simon www.rcyb.org

ROGERS HARDWARE

304.965.1077

BIll Rogers

RODNEY LOFTIS & SON

304.342.8200 & on Facebook

95 Casdorph Rd., Charleston

SCOTT’S SERVICE & AUTO REPAIR

681.230.2151

311C Elk River Road, S., Clendenin

SLEEP INN

304.345.5111

2772 Pennsylvania Ave., Charleston

SMITH'S FURNITURE & APPLIANCE

304.965.7600

Elk Shopping Plaza, Elkview

SOLID ROCK CONTRACTING

304.444.4288

contact Phil Shaffer

SPENCER’S HARDWARE

304.548.6995

8290 Elk River Rd. N, Clendenin

STARCHER LAW

304.541.9120

723 Kanawha Blvd., E., Suite 200, Charleston

THE SWINE BARREL

304.885.4691

1009 Main St., Elkview

TUDOR’S BISCUIT WORLD

304.965.7769

1083 Main Street, Elkview

WALKER CREEK FARMS & CABINS

304.286.5200

230 Nebo Walker Road, Nebo

WALLY'S SUPERIOR PARTS & SERVICE

304.935.2287

5100 Elk River Rd., N., Elkview

YAK HOUSE RENTALS

304.941.2229

403 Elk Ave., Clendenin

Reservations: yakhouserentals.com

XSPEC POWER

304.746.1139

contact Emily Canterbury

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Make sure they see your business, too!

GIVE OUR SPONSORS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE YOUR BUSINESS, they care a great deal about you and the Elk River community! There’s

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SEPTEMBER LIBRARY EVENTS

Sept 5 6–7:30 PM

Sept 7 10:30 AM

Sept 7 11AM

Sept 9 1PM–2:30 PM

Sept 12 5:30 PM

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Sept 13 11 AM

Sept 18-22 All Week

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Sept 18 6 PM

Sept 21 2 PM

Sept 26 6 PM

Sept 27 10:30 AM

Sept 27 11 AM

Sept 28 6 PM

Brick Builders

Jump into Storytime

Playgroup at the Library

Sewing Club

Teen Time: Fun with Clay!

STEM Afternoon

Cryptid Crafts

Grab Bag Mystery

Jump into Storytime

Playgroup at the Library

Grab Bag Mystery

Family Art Night

Kids Sewing Club

** Patrons must register for this program

Adult Craft: Tree of Life Wreath

Jump into Storytime

Playgroup

Kids Paint: Topsy Turvy Gira e**

Cryptid Painting Class: Mothman**

Jump into Storytime

Playgroup

Drop-in Wall of Gratitude

Fall Frenzy Craft Week

A new take-home craft kit will be available each day!

Teen Time Monday

Elk Valley Book Group

Adult Social Hour

Jump into Storytime

Playgroup

Full STEM Ahead: 3Doodlers and More!

Family/All Ages

Children 5 & Under

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LIBRARY CARD SIGN UP MONTH

THE ELK’S COOKBOOK

APPLE PIE ENCHILADAS

In honor of the Clay County Golden Delicious Apple Festival, Gabi Strickland Walker of Walker Mtn. Eats said, “Who doesn’t love good ol’ apple pie? Who wouldn’t love an individual apple pie?” These easy-tomake enchiladas are a perfect blend of a crispy crust, sweet apples, with a hint of cinnamon baked in a delicious caramel sauce. Gabi recommends using a small tortilla for a perfect “couple of bites” dessert. Serve with a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream.

APPLE PIE ENCHILADAS

From the Kitchen of Gabi Strickland Walker

INGREDIENTS

• 1 - 21 oz can of Apple Pie filling

• 1 t cinnamon

• ½ C butter

• ½ C brown sugar

• ½ C granulated sugar

• ½ C water

• 1 t vanilla

• Package of small, soft flour tortillas

DIRECTIONS

*Gabi’s Note: You will see in the photo, I added ½ C of shredded sharp cheddar cheese to my filling just because I love sharp cheddar on apple pie. It was delicious and I added more cheese on top (for myself) when I reheated.

Preheat oven to 350• | Bake 35-45 Min

STEP 1 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.

STEP 2 In a bowl mix together the pie filling and the cinnamon. In each tortilla add 1/4C of filling and roll up, tucking in the sides/edges like a burrito.

STEP 3 Place each filled tortilla, seam side down, in the prepared casserole dish.

STEP 4 In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Once butter is melted, add both sugars and water. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, reduce heat and cook for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.

STEP 5 Pour sauce over filled tortillas, let rest for 45 mins. •Do not rush the resting time•

STEP 6 Bake for 35-45 mins until golden brown and crispy. Let sit for 5 minutes. Serve with a spoonful of the sauce over the enchilada.

Mike Haynes, Manager | Cathy Wild, Assistant

HELPING WOMEN EXPRESS THEMSELVES

GLO’S BEAUTY BAR IN CLENDENIN

When Gloria Treola (all her friends call her Glo) had her eyebrows microbladed for her 40th birthday, she had no idea it would inspire a total career change for her! Today she has her own business, Glo’s Beauty Bar, at 8 Maywood Avenue in Clendenin where she specializes in permanent makeup, delicate tattooing, body piercings, and teeth whitening. Permanent makeup has become extremely popular during the past several years. It is actually the art of ink used to create your favorite cosmetic features in a semipermanent manner. For some people, it is used for brows which is commonly referred to as microblading. Other popular options include eyeliner, lips, blush, and beauty marks. Glo said, “The artistry of permanent makeup can enhance your features as well as provide a carefree makeup routine.”

While the art of tattooing has existed for centuries to signify status and identity, Glo explained that today, people get tattoos for a variety of reasons. “There are so many components to a tattoo. For a lot of people it is an extension of the heart symbolizing important events, people, or memories in their lives. For others it is a way of consoling themselves during a time of need such as the loss of family, friends or pets.” She added, “A lot of people also just love the art of self-expression.”

The Beauty Bar is geared toward women and their needs. Glo said, “I do more dainty tattoos, or maybe I should say more on the delicate side as I cater especially to women.” She stated that her female clients must be 18+ years of age. “My shop is a place for adults, not children, especially due to safety regulations. I am certified in multiple services and licensed by the Charleston Health Department.”

Body piercings are also a popular form of self expression. Glo said, “I had a lot of women interested in piercings, so I met with a colleague to learn more. Piercings are a way to enhance your appearance and adorn your body. It is not unusual now for ear lobes to have multiple piercings and additional piercings often are expanded up the ear cartilage to allow for more jewelry. She offers piercing services for ears, the facial area, and navels.

The Beauty Bar also offers teeth whitening which Glo said, “is a great service and can make a tremendous difference for a more confident smile.” There are many options on the market and it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. That’s where Glo comes in! “Why go through weeks of home-whitening strips when you can come to the Beauty Bar and have immediate results! We have a stronger whitening agent than is available in stores. In just a couple of hours in the Beauty Bar, you can be approximately 10 shades lighter!”

Glo said, “We always have an amazing time in my shop”. She emphasized that the Beauty Bar is a fun, happy, light atmosphere and a safe place for women.” Long gone are the days of dark, scary tattoo parlors with burly men doing the tattoos. She added, “Also gone, is the old cliche that only bikers and servicemen are tattooed. My top clients are cops, nurses, hairdressers and teachers!”

As Glo prepares to celebrate the Beauty Bar’s second-year anniversary this November, she is looking forward to working with even more amazing women. The best way to contact her is to text 304.553.6603 or Facebook message her private group, Glo’s Beauty Bar. “I work with my hands all day, so I will return your message as soon as I am not with a client, " Glo explained.

If you are interested in one of her outstanding services, message her for a consultation and an estimate. She said, “Include a photo if you have one or give me an idea of what you are considering. Once we have confirmed what you want, we can proceed with a deposit and booking.” The Beauty Bar offers various booking days/times and is often booked-up within three hours of her posting her schedule each month.

If you have been thinking about one of these services, message Glo’s Beauty Bar or text Glo and get the conversation started today! She will help you plan your next step to ensure that you will have quality, naturallooking results and a positive experience.

SEPTEMBER SKIES & APPLE PIES!

It’s time for the 50th Annual Clay County Golden Delicious Festival, celebrating the world’s tastiest apple in Clay County since 1973! This year the opening ceremony begins at 6 PM on Thursday evening,September 14, at the Courthouse Square in Clay, WV. Festival president and local business owner for over 18 years, Renee Holcomb, said,” Make plans now to bring the family and enjoy the festival all weekend long, concluding on Sunday, the 17th.”

Brittany Adkins-Clifton, secretary of the Festival committee said, “We are especially proud to announce that country music legend Sara Evans has been selected to be the feature entertainer on Saturday evening at 8 PM at this year’s festival! A fabulous fireworks display will begin at 10 PM following her performance.”

On Friday evening at 8 PM, Hair Supply from Boone County at 6 PM will perform a variety of 80’s rock hits preceded by Whiskey and Wine at 5 PM and Josh Pantry Christian at 6 PM. On Saturday evening at 7 PM before Sara Evans, there will also be musician Lindsay Schoolcraft.

All concerts are free, but donations will be greatly appreciated to help defray the costs of the festival. Donations can be made at the festival or on Paypal.com to Clay Co. Golden Delicious Festival. Brittany said, “Bring your lawn chairs, sit back, and be prepared to enjoy some of the best outdoor concerts around! Thank you for your generous donations to help us host our awesome 50th Anniversary Festival.”

One of the first signs of the Clay County Golden Delicious Festival will be when the Myers Amusement trucks start pulling into the old IGA lot beside the Clay County 911 Center. They will begin setting up their rides, games, and carnival food trucks on Wednesday, September 13 and amusement rides open at 6 PM on Thursday.

Local art and craft and food vendors will begin setting up on Thursday, September 14 from Main Street all the way to the Pisgah Bridge. Brittany said, “We are also going to have a live apple butter-making demonstration going on all weekend! It will be so exciting to share this treasured part of our Clay County heritage with our visitors.”

Everyone will be lined along Main Street on Saturday at 1 PM with the commencement of the Grand Parade. This large parade features a full lineup of floats and bands as

Sara Evans-Provided by Bill Young Productions, shared with permission by the Clay County Golden Delicious Festival with Elk River Living magazine.

TJ Hill the Magician

well as this year’s Clay County Golden Delicious Festival’s Queen and her court. The Queen’s coronation will be held on Thursday evening at the opening ceremony. There is still time to enter the parade procession--all applications are due by September 8th and the entry fee is only $10! All applicants will be judged in seven different categories.

The Festival is also proud to announce that Magician TJ Hill will be back again this year. He will be performing three shows, one each evening: Thursday at 7 PM, Friday at 4 PM, and Saturday at 6 PM. He has performed thousands of close-up and stage-magic shows all over the country. Young or old, you won’t want to miss his events!

The 2023 Clay County Golden Delicious Apple Festival’s Quilt Show will open on Thursday, September 14-16 at the Clay County Health Department Conference Room located on Main Street. There will be quilts made by Clay County residents and past residents for visitors to view. Quilts and needlecraft entries will both be accepted on Tuesday, September 12, from 12 PM to 6 PM. The quilts will be on display on Thursday from 4-7 PM and Friday and Saturday

from 11 AM-7 PM. Winners will be announced at the opening ceremony, Thursday at 6 PM.

Also, the Baking Contest registration will begin Saturday morning. Contestants will arrive with their food items at the new Auxiliary Gym (beside the Clay County Middle School) and the event will be closed to the public during the judging. Later at 2:00 PM the Bake Show winners will be announced and at 2:30 PM all of the goods will be auctioned off to the public at the Courthouse Square.

This year’s festival t-shirt highlights 50 years of Deliciousness! T-shirts can be pre-ordered and will also be on sale at the festival but some sizes go very quickly. Sizes small through large are $16 and 2X and 3X are $18. You can pre-order through PayPal or mail checks to Clay County Golden Delicious Apple Festival, P. O. Box 416, Clay, WV 25043.

Friday will feature the local Business Decorating contest (winners will be announced at 3 PM) followed by choir and band concerts from Big Otter Elementary Choir, HE White Elementary Choir, Lizemores Elementary Choir,

Clay Middle School Choir and the Clay Middle School Band. The Apple Belle Ceremony will be held at 12 noon with a reception at 12:30 PM.

On Saturday there will be lots of games and, of course, a WV favorite, a corn hole competition. There will also be kids’ games with cash prizes awarded on Saturday afternoon. You won’t want to miss the fun at the Pet Pageant, Car Show, Weiner Dog Races, CCMS Art Auction, Not so NewlyWed Game, and the Skillet Flinging events. See the Clay County Golden Delicious Festival for all events, times, and locations so you can plan now and see all of your favorites.

On Sunday, September 17, the Elk River Rail Trail Marathon/Half Marathon 5K will have its second annual event at 867 Buffalo Creek Road (Dundon near J.G. Bradley Campground) in Clay at 8 AM. The race will be capped to the first 200 registered due to parking, so runners/walkers should sign up as soon as possible. For more information see Elk River Rail Trail Marathon/Half Marathon on Facebook or or go to https://runsignup.com/Race/WV/Clay/ ElkRiverRailTrailMarathaon.

Concluding events on Sunday will include 11 AM Gospel Music by the Fairview Baptist Church at Courthouse Square and the Rubber Ducky Race, sponsored by the Clay Lion’s Club at 2 PM.

Check the Festival’s website at claygoldendeliciousfestival. org and their Facebook/Clay County Golden Delicious Festival for an up-to-date schedule of events and other festival information.

Miss Golden Delicious Cadence Kinger; Golden Delicious Teen Aliana Ashworth; Mrs. Golden Delicious Erica Smith; Ms. Golden Delicious Emilee Butcher; Jr. Miss Golden Delicious Charlotte Elliott, and Golden Delicious Preteen Addison Miley

2023 ELK RIVER RAIL TRAIL MARATHON/HALF MARATHON/5K

Sunday September 17, 2023

It’s back!! The Elk River Rail Trail Marathon/Half Marathon/5K is one of the concluding activities again at this year’s 50th Clay County Golden Delicious Festival. Grab your running/walking shoes and be at 867 Buffalo Creek Road on Saturday, September 17 in Clay at 8 AM!

The race is capped to the first 200 registered (due to parking) so register now. Pricing is Full Marathon $75; Half Marathon $55 and 5K $30. All finishers will receive a high quality race shirt; an awesome finisher medal; tagged photos to be posted the same day as the race; refreshments post-race (water and snacks), and last but not least, an opportunity to run on a flat/fast course along the beautiful Elk River.

For more information see Elk River Rail Trail Marathon/Half Marathon on Facebook or go to https://runsignup.com/Race/WV/Clay/ ElkRiverRailTrailMarathon

CHILI CHASE/DAVE FIELDS MEMORIAL 5K

Saturday, October 7, 2023

The annual Chili Chase/Dave Fields Memorial 5K has been scheduled for October 7, 2023, in Clendenin, WV. The 5K Run/Walk event will begin at 9 AM and participants can choose to do either and you do not have to specify at registration. All participants who are registered by September 10, 2023 will receive a t-shirt.

Scan the QR code or follow the link for registration: https://tristateracer.com/race/12252. Register by September 10 to guarantee shirt size! The proceeds benefit the Herbert Hoover High School Cross Country team.

The course is flat and fast on the city streets and the new Elk River Rail Trail. The course is an Out and Back. Age Groups are 12 and under; 13-19; 20-29; 30-39; 40-49; 50-59, and 60 plus.

NEW BENCHES ON THE ELK RIVER TRAIL

A new asset on the Trail! Thank you to the talented Clay County Middle and High School summerwoodworking class for the lovely benches that you now see along the trail. The benches were hand engraved and wood burned by the students, supervised by Allen Hamrick, instructor, and Michelle Samples, Director of the Clay County summer school program.

The large bench located at Villanova is a depottype bench and is 10 feet long. All of the benches are fashioned after the mendocino benches in the RedWood Forest in California, but with a special twist from the Clay County wood-working class. Hamrick said, “I wanted to make ours more comfy for travelers so we created ours longer with curved seats.” He added, “The captivating depot bench features two trees and a train that were drawn, carved, and sanded with a grinder on the bench by the students.”

Numerous students helped with the design for each bench and did the engraving and wood burning. Hamrick added, “We wanted to create scenic designs that were more of a fit for the new state park, so we went with a bear and eagle theme. Our bears are more of an artistic-bear design, and the eagle benches depict more of a patriotic theme and were created large enough that they could be seen

from a distance.” Clay County High School student, McKenzy Taylor, helped with the construction and installation of the benches and Clay County Middle School student, Tylir Bird, assisted with the artwork, construction and installation.

Also, with generous donations from the Kanawha Coalition for Community Health Improvement and the Tod Kaufmann family, Elk River Trail Foundation is installing five metal benches along the trail from Clendenin to Queen Shoals at sites chosen by the Clendenin Walking Club. One of the benches will bear a plaque honoring running coach Dave Fields with the inscription:

IN HONOR OF DAVE FIELDS

BELOVED RUNNING COACH

WAPITI RUNNERS

FROM TOD KAUFMANN FAMILY

The other plaque commemorates Chris Martin, the husband of the first Treasurer of ELk River Trail Foundation, with this inscription:

Tylir (L) and McKenzy (R) setting up one of the benches along the trail.

THE ELK’S JOURNAL

MACK SAMPLES

Elk River native Mack Samples has released a new book, Horses to Fords to Buicks. This book, as well as quite a few other books by him, all take place along the Elk River and vicinity.

Mack was born in Corton, WV, and graduated from Clendenin High School. He is a retired veteran from the United States Navy, graduated from Glenville State College, and received his Masters from Ohio University. He had an active career as a professor and administrator at University of South Carolina and as Registrar and Director of Admissions at Glenville State College. He was also a WVU Extension Agent in Clay, WV, before he retired in 1999 and pursued a career in writing. To date he has authored ten books. Mack and his wife, Thelma, now reside in Lost Creek, WV.

Description of Horses to Fords to Buicks:

This honest coming of age story takes place along the Elk River and Clendenin in a rapidly changing world between 1913 and 1921. The railroad has arrived, oil and gas is booming, and World War I and the Spanish flu epidemic are ravaging the world—causing major changes in this once isolated farm country. Shaun and his best friend Frankie have never ventured more than a few miles from their family farms. As they are maturing into

men, they travel and work for the B&O, then the oil and gas industry. Their discovery of girls, Model T’s— and countless other inventions—while grappling with how to balance the old and new ways, is both honest and entertaining. This rewarding story describes, among many other things, oldtime music and banjo playing, what living on a farm was like, discovering girls, and courting. It shows the opportunities available to young men who were willing to expand their horizons, learn, and work hard.

Mack Samples has a gift of allowing the atmosphere and way people once lived in rural West Virginia to come alive; letting us feel we not only understand, but also want to be a part of the world he creates. He is an authority on describing the authentic life of the early 1900s in the West Virginia hills.

ERL believes in sharing the rich written heritage of West Virginia. From published works to personal essays to poetry, we welcome your submissions in adding to the Appalachian canon. RECOMMENDATIONS?

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NEW SCHOOL YEAR, NEW SCHOOL

Local Elk River photographer, Tim Cunningham of Tim Takes Photography, shared some special moments as the students walked into the new Herbert Hoover High School on day one!

THE ELK’S STUDENTS

HUSKIE FOOTBALL

When you think the first day of school at the new Herbert Hoover High School (HHHS) can’t be any more exciting, surprise! How about following that up the next evening with country legend Brad Paisley performing live at the John Marshall Scrimmage and HHHS Stadium Dedication!

The opening night at the scrimmage pitted the John Marshall High School Monarchs, Paisley’s alma mater, against the HHHS Huskies. Paisley was born in Glen Dale in Marshall County.

On June 30, 2016, Paisley traveled home to West Virginia to tour the flood damage on the Elk River. According to WCHS Fox 11 News, “When country music superstar Brad Paisley saw the devastation his home state was facing, he knew he had to do something, but he admits the pictures he saw before he got there didn’t do it justice.”

“You can’t capture the smell, that’s part of it. I think as a sensory perception, when you walk in a room, any photo doesn’t do justice. This thing that goes

on in your mind is that you shouldn’t be breathing this. That feeling, especially in a school, is a terrible feeling.”

At the ribbon-cutting event, Paisley addressed the students and said, “You had a glimpse of the real world before you were ready. Good people came together to build your future on this spot.”

Paisley and other WV dignitaries were in attendance for the pre-game ceremony and scrimmage as Hoover proudly took to the new field for the first time.

Photos provided by Scott Abbott of Scott Abbott Photo and Aubrie Abbott of Aubrie Abbott Photography.

THE ELK REFLECTS

REACHING OUT AND TOUCHING PEOPLE’S LIVES IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS

The First Baptist Church of Clendenin celebrated its 125th year anniversary this summer. The church was organized in 1898 at the home of James Jarrett where Reverend W. E. Metz served as the first pastor. Approximately 100 people gathered at this year’s anniversary celebration, including former Reverend Archie R. Snedegar and his wife Linda, families, friends, presiding Reverend Joe Seese and his wife Debbie, and church members. Perhaps Sharon Settle, former Historian of the church, said it best, “As we look back at the many and wonderful accomplishments of the ministers and people of our church, we realize we have come a very long way in the past one hundred years. We have faced strife and hard times, but on the other side, there has been faith, love, patience, giving, and consideration for God and each other.”

CANNING BASICS

By Laura Boggess

CANNING METHODS

Raw pack or hot pack

Your recipe may say to raw pack or hot pack your vegetables. Raw pack is packing food in jars that have NOT been cooked. Hot pack is packing food that has been precooked. So if you are raw packing, start canning with cool water. If hot packing, start the canner with hot water.

Boiling water bath

My grandparents canned but my mother did not. Canning seems to go by generations. So when we moved into our home, Frank said, “Come spring, I’ll plant the garden and you can preserve the vegetables.” My response was, “I don’t know how!!” Frank told me to look for a little book with KERR on it. Plus we had neighbor ladies, one who was 50 years old and the other in her 70’s, who could help me. Funny how things work: Now I’m the neighbor lady to call for canning advice!

Canning is the process of putting food in jars and heating properly to destroy microorganisms that could cause food to spoil. This is a way to preserve many different foods to be enjoyed when they are out of season.

CANNING PREP

To start, check the recipe and get everything ready. It’s no fun to think you have everything ready and realize you don’t have enough of something. Next wash jars and make sure there are no cracks or chips on the rims of the jars; They will not seal; Throw them away or recycle if you can; Wash all food thoroughly; Discard spoiled or bruised food to prevent spoilage; Prepare food by the recipe and put into jars; Try to get all air bubbles out; Have your lids in boiling water, wipe rims, place lids and rings on the jars and close them finger tight.

Your recipe may call for a boiling, water-bath canner; Place jars in the boiling, water-bath canner and make sure water covers jars well; Bring to a rolling boil; Start timing then. If you are canning for a long time, the water will evaporate, so have a kettle with boiling water to add to keep water over the jars. Once the time is up, turn off heat.

I let the jars sit in the canner for about 5 minutes. I’ve learned this helps stop some siphoning, which is when the liquid boils in the jars and siphons up and under the lids and out of the jars. Use a jar lifter to gently remove jars from the canner. I set them on a towel to cool and seal. That ‘PING’ (sealing) is such a rewarding sound. I like to let mine sit for 24 hours. Next, wipe the jars, label and put them in the cellar. If a jar hasn't sealed, you have two options. Your first option is to remove the lid, clean the rim, add a new lid, and reprocess for 15 minutes and see if the jar will then seal. The second option is to put the jar in the refrigerator and use it as soon as possible. NOTE: This should be done within 24 hours.

Pressure canner

Some people like to use a pressure canner. I have a pressure canner, but I prefer to use a boiling water bath. There are some people who say you must use a pressure canner, but my grandparents always canned using the boiling water bath and had great results and so do I. You can do whichever method you prefer. Prepare your food according to the canning prep steps above; Follow the

Shafer of Clendenin. Research came from my Kerr canning books and canning experience from me and my many canning friends.

general instructions for pressure canning which say to first fill your canner with 2-3 inches of water; Set the canner on the burner and place a rack in the bottom of the canner; Set your jars on the rack; Place the lid on the canner and turn on the burner to start heating; Once the pressure vent starts releasing steam, set your timer; When the time is up, depressurize according to the pressure canner instructions and then open the canner; Continue with the boiling water bath instructions above or follow instructions that came with your pressure canner.

STORING YOUR CANNED GOODS

Store canned food in a cool, dark place. We store it in our cellar. Basements work well, too. Jars should show no signs of leakage, mold, fermentation, or spurting of liquid when opened. The odor of food when opened should be the characteristic odor of that food. If you open a jar of vegetables or meat that doesn't smell right or if it is really soft or cloudy, DO NOT taste the cold food. DISCARD at once. We say: when in doubt, throw it out.

DOCUMENT YOUR CANNING TIPS & RECIPES

Take some time to be prepared by reading up on your recipes and canners. One thing I wished I had done was write down recipes from my neighbor ladies. You think you’ll remember them forever, but you don't. Think about creating a canning recipe box/book just for your favorite canning recipes and basic instructions.

Canning is tiring but it is also fun and so rewarding. Get your whole family involved. My son and daughter both learned to can; now, my grandsons are learning and helping. There is something special about serving your family healthier food that you grew and canned yourself!

Pressure Canner

Waterbath Canners

THE HEALTHY ELK

Physical Therapy: A Key to Stroke Recovery

Submitted by Andi Geary, MPT, Cert. MDT, ATC, owner of Elk Valley Physical Therapy. Andi has been the owner of EVPT since 2010. She is a 1996 honors graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in sports medicine from University of Charleston and she graduated from WVU with a Masters in Physical Therapy. She is a proud HHHS alumnus and is very active in Elk River athletics and youth programs.

The benefits of physical therapy after stroke are numerous and well-documented. Physical therapy can help stroke survivors:

• Stimulate damaged nerves and muscles

• Improve circulation to those affected muscles and nerves

• Reduce stiffness of affected muscles and joints

• Relearn movements and activities

• Regain mobility and physical strength

Stroke is a leading cause of disability and death in the United States, affecting more than 795,000 people a year. Stroke survivors often face physical, cognitive and emotional challenges that affect their quality of life and independence. However, there is hope for recovery. Research shows that physical therapy is an essential part of stroke rehabilitation, helping patients regain mobility, function, and confidence.

Physical therapy focuses on improving movement and balance, strengthening muscles, improving coordination, and preventing complications like stiffness, pain and blood clots. Physical therapy can also help stroke survivors relearn skills that may have been affected by the stroke, such as standing up, walking, or climbing stairs.

Physical therapy is typically started in the hospital soon after a stroke and continues in different settings depending on the needs and goals of the patient. A physical therapist will assess the patient’s strength, balance, coordination, range of motion, sensation, pain and functional abilities. Then they will design a personalized treatment program that targets the affected areas of the body. The physical therapist will also teach the patient how to use devices like walkers, canes or a wheelchair if needed.

• Achieve greater independence and quality of life

Physical therapy can also have positive effects on the mental and emotional health of stroke survivors. Recovering function and mobility can help boost their self-esteem, motivation and mood. This helps to reduce the risk of depression, anxiety and isolation that often accompany stroke.

Physical therapy is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Each stroke survivor has a unique situation and needs a tailored approach. PT is only part of recovering from a stroke. Patients get help from a team of professionals who work together to provide comprehensive care. The team may include a psychiatrist, a neurologist, nurses, an occupational therapist, a speech-language pathologist, a dietician, a social worker, a neuropsychologist and a case manager.

If you or a loved one has suffered a stroke, don’t lose hope. Physical therapy can help you regain functional mobility and independence, improve your quality of life and wellbeing, prevent or reduce complications and make the most of your recovery.

RIVER

CLASSES START 10/11/23