Hello & Welcome Back!

the April issue

VOLUME 08 / ISSUE 04/ APR 2026
3/31/2026
Spring has a way of lifting our spirits, even when it arrives in bits and pieces.
Spring has a way of lifting our spirits, even when it arrives in bits and pieces.

One bright, sunny day can carry us through the rain and the occasional late snowfall that reminds us April in West Virginia can still hold a few surprises. But despite winter’s best efforts to linger, the signs of spring are all around us. Bradford pear trees and cheerful daffodils are already blooming, while redbuds and azaleas are beginning to paint our hillsides with color. My mom used to say, “Remember me in the springtime.” It was her favorite season. Her yard was always bursting with color—from the first blooms of spring right through the warmth of late summer. Even now, I still find myself driving past her old house to see what’s blooming. It’s a small but comforting reminder of our sweet mom and the joy she found in this beautiful season. Along with the renewal that spring brings, our community was also recently reminded how precious and fragile life can be. Our dear friend and neighbor, Angela McFarland Born, was tragically killed in a car accident on March 5. Our hearts and prayers go out to her husband Bill and their wonderful family. Angela leaves behind a lasting legacy of love for her family, her faith, her friends, and the community she cared so deeply about ...cont'd

FEATURE STORY
3/31/2026
Elk River Wrestlers Rise to the Top
Elk River Wrestlers Rise to the Top

Meet the next generation of wrestlers who will one day compete at EMS and HHHS: Braxten Shaffer, WVYWA, 85 lb. Champ

Elk Reflects
3/31/2026
Angela McFarland Born
Angela McFarland Born

The Elk River community recently lost an amazing woman, Angela McFarland Born, in a tragic accident. She was truly an angel on earth to so many.

The Elk's Garden
3/31/2026
Taters in the Ground
Taters in the Ground

Potatoes are usually planted from late March through April, or as soon as the soil is dry enough to work without sticking to tools. Many families, however, follow traditions passed down through generations.

The Elk's Journal
3/31/2026
Calling all Gilmore Girls Lovers!
Calling all Gilmore Girls Lovers!

WV local author Matt Browning has a new book out you won’t want to miss! Pick up your copy of “Gilmore Girls Pop Culture Reference Guide” on Amazon or at your favorite bookstore today!

Trail Mix
3/31/2026
Trail Mix
Trail Mix

Ways to Get Active in Your Community: Have you been thinking about getting more active or spending more time outdoors, but you’re not sure where to start? You’re not alone!

The Elk's Cookbook
4/1/2026
Bang Bang Chicken Bites
Bang Bang Chicken Bites

This recipe is super yummy and a quick week-night dinner that everyone LOVED! It’s perfect with the kickoff of softball and baseball season.

Reach out to us for sizing and pricing

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The Elk's Students
3/31/2026
The Elk's Students
The Elk's Students

Shout out to Hoover Basketball— Congrats! The HHHS girls had a great season, which concluded with a loss to Capital in the Region III AAA matchup.

Reader Submission
3/31/2026
Reader Submission
Reader Submission

Have a business idea but not sure how to shape it into something real? Sasha Strader of Faster WV breaks down the first essential steps—from defining what you sell to identifying your customer, setting prices, and planning for seasonality.

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.