Hello & Welcome Back!

the October issue

VOLUME 07 / ISSUE 10 / OCT 2025
10/1/2025
Fall has arrived, and with it comes crisp air, colorful leaves, and a season full of community, traditions, and just a touch of mystery.
Fall has arrived, and with it comes crisp air, colorful leaves, and a season full of community, traditions, and just a touch of mystery.

This month’s issue is packed with all the things that make autumn on the Elk River so special. Nothing says October quite like the West Virginia Paranormal Trail—21 spooky, legendary sites across the state waiting to be explored. With four right here in the Elk River community, you don’t have to travel far to begin your journey through history, mystery, and the unexplained. Fall also means homecomings and heritage, and we’re proud to feature two local churches marking milestone celebrations. Jordan Light Baptist Church just wrapped up its 30th annual “Old Fashioned Day” in September, complete with jars of homemade apple butter for everyone. Clendenin Advent Christian Church is preparing for its 100th anniversary celebration on October 7—a centennial gathering of worship, fellowship, and gratitude. So, grab a cup of coffee, snuggle up with a blanket, and enjoy this month’s ERL. We’re here to keep you connected to all the good things happening on the Elk River. Until next time—stay cozy, stay safe, and remember: you are loved. --Cyndi Tawney, Editor-in-Chief

FEATURE STORY
10/1/2025
Spirits, Legends & Lore: Explore the Paranormal Side of the Mountain State
Spirits, Legends & Lore: Explore the Paranormal Side of the Mountain State

Grab your free digital passport, and start checking in for guaranteed goosebumps and memories! Four paranormal sites are right here in the Elk River area!

Celebrating a Milestone
10/1/2025
Homecomings and Heritage: A Southern Tradition
Homecomings and Heritage: A Southern Tradition

Church homecomings have always been at the heart of southern tradition. Clendenin Advent Christian Church and Jordan Light Baptist Church celebrate milestone events this fall.

The Elk's Garden
10/1/2025
Pickin’, Carvin’, Lovin’ Pumpkins
Pickin’, Carvin’, Lovin’ Pumpkins

Don’t head out to the pumpkin patch without reading Laura Boggess Shafer’s tips for picking the perfect pumpkin!

The Elk's Journal
10/1/2025
God’s Pool in Particle Park, by Daniel Boyd
God’s Pool in Particle Park, by Daniel Boyd

God’s Pool in Particle Park is a book that infuses magical realism into the down-on-its-luck town of Nottus, WV, and its citizens. The town’s librarian, Tate, purchases an old book, Somewhere Behind, a Depression-era tale of refugees Gray and Sarah, who are fleeing the chaos of the nation’s capital.

The Elk Reflects
10/1/2025
The Young Brothers
The Young Brothers

In the Elk River community, the Young brothers touched so many of our lives. Enjoy this reflection by community members who remember how they shaped their lives.

The Elk's Cookbook
10/1/2025
The Elk's Cookbook
The Elk's Cookbook

Hi all you pumpkin obsessed fans! Here’s one for you to whip up this season. It’s an incredibly easy recipe that no one believes can be this easy to make! Some people prefer it cold while others say it is awesome warm with a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream.

Reach out to us for sizing and pricing

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Reader's Submission
10/1/2025
Reader's Submission: Backyard Beauty, by Diana R. Davis of Elkview
Reader's Submission: Backyard Beauty, by Diana R. Davis of Elkview

Diana R. Davis of Elkview shared a striking photo series taken near New Hope Road this summer. Her images beautifully follow the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly, reminding us of the quiet miracles unfolding in our own backyards.

The Elk's Students
10/1/2025
The Elk's Students
The Elk's Students

The HHHS Counseling Department announced Jeremiah Eagle has been recognized as a National Merit Semi- Finalist, HHHS Friday nights, and the Elk Elementary Elkhounds Archery season wrap-up!

Elk River Living is a local and independently- owned magazine devoted to the wonderful people, businesses, and events in the communities on the Elk River, WV.

OUR COMMUNITIES

From Charleston to Sutton, Elk River Living holds a mirror up to the places that line the Elk River and reflect them to you. There are so many rich traditions that make celebrating easy, and we bring them to you in our recurring segments each month: The Elk's Cookbook; The Elk's Journal; The Elk Reflects; The Healthy Elk; The Elk's Students; Trail Mix; Around the Elk; At the Library; and more!

OUR BUSINESSES

We celebrate our local businesses, and the hard-working people behind them. They are an integral part of the fabric of the places we call home. The Elk River economy is continually expanding, with existing and exciting new developments surrounding the Elk River Trails, and Elk River Living is here to promote and bring their stories to you.  If you have an opportunity, please consider our sponsors for your needs!  They care a great deal about you and the community.

ERL is free of charge at these local businesses in limited supplies

At the beginning of each month a limited number of copies of Elk River Living is printed and dropped off at the following businesses in the Elk River area. This list is subject to change and we encourage you to contact the business beforehand to confirm they have remaining copies.🖤

ERL offers subscriptions that are sent directly to your mailbox

To ensure our readers get Elk River Living, we offer an annual subscription for a fee and each issue will be mailed to you at the beginning of each month..🖤

For more information:

info@elkriverliving.com

304.546.9243

Elk River Living + Google Earth Studio =  a fun ride up the Elk River, WV.

Elk River Living used Google Earth Studio to create an aerial tour of the communities that line the Elk River, from Charleston to Sutton, West Virginia. Enjoy the ride!

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If you're reading this, then you know and care about the communities that we call home. That also means your input really matters! If you know of any people, businesses, and events  in your neck of the woods that should be featured in ERL, let us know.