Hello & Welcome Back!

the August issue

VOLUME 08 / ISSUE 08/ AUG 2026
8/2/2026
I can't believe summer has flown by and I'm already writing the welcome for our August issue!
I can't believe summer has flown by and I'm already writing the welcome for our August issue!

It seems like just yesterday I was excited with the arrival of warmer weather and looking forward to spending my evenings at the ballfields, cheering on our grandkids. This month, ERL is proud to feature an inspiring group of students from Herbert Hoover High School's shop class who have been hard at work making a lasting difference at their former school. The students were asked to build new lockers for the Elkview Middle School locker rooms, giving the space a much-needed facelift while leaving behind a legacy that future generations of students will enjoy. It's a wonderful example of giving back to the community that helped shape them.

FEATURE STORY
8/2/2026
Stitches & Sights
Stitches & Sights

Whether she is hand stitching a quilt or sitting quietly in the woods waiting for a coyote to answer her call, Linda Shafer finds joy in the experience.

On the Cover
8/3/2026
Building More Than Lockers
Building More Than Lockers

Some summer projects are about checking off a to-do list of things you want to get done. Others, however, become something much more meaningful.

The Elk's Garden
8/2/2026
Fresh Summer Sweet Corn
Fresh Summer Sweet Corn

There's just something special about biting into an ear of fresh-picked sweet corn. Whether it's boiled, grilled, or roasted, nothing beats corn that's been picked straight from the garden and slathered with butter. It's a summertime tradition I look forward to every year.

The Elk's Journal
8/3/2026
Jenny Keener
Jenny Keener

Meet Jenny Keener, an Appalachian poet, social worker, and amazing storyteller. Jenny said, “My poems are rooted in the hills of West Virginia, shaped by working-class lives, community, resilience, and the beauty found in ordinary moments."

Reader Submission
8/2/2026
Diana R. Davis
Diana R. Davis

This month’s Reader’s Submission was shared with us by Diana R. Davis. This lovely photo of a Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly was taken near New Hope Road, Elkview, WV.

The Elk's Cookbook
8/3/2026
END OF 3-PART SERIES!
From the Ground Up!
Spaghetti Salad!
Spaghetti Salad!

Concluding the From The Ground Up Summer Series, here is our featured vegetable recipe for August: Spaghetti Salad with Tomatoes & Sweet Corn! What a pleasure it has been sharing our favorite garden recipes with you. Some recipes don't need complicating.

Advertise with ERL and help support the community.

The Elk's Students
8/2/2026
The Elk's Students
The Elk's Students

Champion of the 2026 TimBuck Shields Memorial Tournament--way to go Post 61! They defeated Fairmont Post 17 15-0; Morgantown Post 2 6-4; Wheeling Post 1 9-6; Charleston Post 65 1-0; Morgantown Post 2 8-7; and Wheeling Post 1 13-5!

Trail Mix
8/2/2026
Trail Mix
Trail Mix

Every community has a story worth telling. Recently, the Elk River Trail Foundation had the privilege of welcoming Jerry Foster from Inspire, Renew, Enjoy, an Illinois- based nonprofit dedicated to highlighting communities that are embracing revitalization and creating brighter futures.

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!

🖤

We love to hear from you!

Let’s get in touch!

Thank you

Thanks for reaching out. We will get back to you soon
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

we do this together

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.