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the December issue

VOLUME 07 / ISSUE 12 / DEC 2025
11/30/2025
Amid the holiday hustle and bustle, I still find myself feeling uplifted.
Amid the holiday hustle and bustle, I still find myself feeling uplifted.

This month’s issue reflects the heart of the holiday season, celebrating the connections that make the Elk River community feel like home. It highlights the renewed spirit of Clendenin, marked by the ribbon-cutting at the beautifully restored Riverview building—once a beloved school, now a vibrant center for housing, healthcare, business, and the local library. The story also embraces the joy of returning home, where familiar faces, family ties, and shared memories remind us of the love woven through this region. Readers will find encouragement to slow down amid December’s bustle and savor the events and traditions that lift our spirits. Altogether, the issue honors hometown pride, seasonal gratitude, and the enduring warmth of community. Merry Christmas and heartfelt wishes from all of us at Elk River Living.

FEATURE STORY
11/30/2025
Clendenin Is Sporting Red Ribbons — and Not Just for the Holidays
Clendenin Is Sporting Red Ribbons — and Not Just for the Holidays

It was a perfect autumn day in Clendenin on November 4, as the community gathered to celebrate another milestone — the Grand Opening of the Riverview Business Complex. The event marked a proud symbol of Clendenin’s ongoing revival and small-town resilience.

By Madison Stone, ERTF Director
11/30/2025
Embracing the Seasons on the Elk River Trail
Embracing the Seasons on the Elk River Trail

As the vibrant colors of autumn fade and the first snow begins to settle along the Elk River, our trail transforms once again into something quietly magical.

The Elk's Garden
11/30/2025
Grow Green All Winter Long
Grow Green All Winter Long

When the weather outside turns chilly, it’s the perfect time to bring your green thumb indoors. Growing fresh veggies and herbs inside not only brightens your home but also keeps those gardening skills sharp through the winter months.

The Elk's Journal
11/30/2025
The Triplets of Tennerton, by JD Byrne
The Triplets of Tennerton, by JD Byrne

If you want to dive into a new paranormal Appalachia series, check out JD Byrne’s latest book, The Triplets of Tennerton. This is a sequel to his first novel, Moore Hollow.

The Elk Reflects
11/30/2025
Carbide Plant Mural
Carbide Plant Mural

Kim Johnson, admin of You Know You’re From Clendenin WV When, shared this picture of the Carbide Plant mural on the wall at Clendenin (Ore’s) Pharmacy. The photo was taken in 1991. Fran Naylor of Clendenin said, “This is such a good reminder of Clendenin’s important history. Thank you to Ore’s Pharmacy.”

The Elk's Cookbook
11/30/2025
The Elk's Cookbook
The Elk's Cookbook

Looking for a crowd-pleasing appetizer to keep on hand during the holidays? This Dried Cranberry and Candied Pecan Cheeseball is sure to be a hit!

Reach out to us for sizing and pricing

Advertise with ERL and help support the community.

Reader's Submission
11/30/2025
Reader's Submission: A Glimpse of Winter
Reader's Submission: A Glimpse of Winter

The Elk River communities got an early taste of winter in November, when about 3.5 inches of snow transformed the landscape into a sparkling, snowy wonderland. Residents were treated to the season’s first chill and cozy scenes like Lindsay Osborne’s charming front porch in Clendenin, captured on that magical morning!

Christmas on the Elk Festivities: Dec 6, 2025, Clendenin
11/30/2025
Christmas on the Elk Festivities: Dec 6, 2025, Clendenin
Christmas on the Elk Festivities: Dec 6, 2025, Clendenin

It’s the most wonderful time of the year in Clendenin! The holiday season officially kicks off with Christmas on Main, a magical community celebration filled with festive fun, hometown pride, and plenty of Christmas cheer.

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.