Local library hosting presentation in time for Peace Corps Week
Plus: "From the Bible to Balagan," family cooking class and more Kanawha Valley news and events
Feb. 25, 2026 | Weather: 🌧️ 54° F / 🌔 38° F
Good Wednesday, neighbor!
It’s February 25. Have you ever thought about a word? I mean, really considered it. Where it originated. What it means. Why it’s used. As a purveyor of words, I often spend more time than I should contemplating various vocabulary. And that’s just the ones in English!
Today, writer and historian Elon Gilad, a columnist for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, is in the Kanawha Valley offering an informative presentation on the etymology of various Hebrew words and their connection to Jewish history. We’ve got details on the public lecture, which begins at 6 p.m. at the University of Charleston, linked in today’s community calendar below. Hope to see you there.
And we’re off.
TIDBITS
Peace Corps presentation, family cooking class
An upcoming cooking class will enable Kanawha Valley families to bond over meal preparation, and a presentation on the Peace Corps will commemorate Peace Corps Week in one local community. Here’s the 411 from communities around the region, including Montgomery, South Charleston and Charleston.
ICYMI
In case you missed it
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QUICK CROSS
Quick Cross: Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026
What four letters spell the acronym for a recreation facility local just off Greenbrier Street in Charleston? Test your abilities in today’s Quick Cross puzzle, which features some locally-related clues.
PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER
In yesterday’s newsletter, I asked you to name the four-letter wedding apparatus purveyed at Marrs in Nitro. If you guessed ring, pat yourself on the back. Here are all the answers to the Quick Cross puzzle for Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
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Today
9 a.m.-5 p.m. — 988 Crisis Counselor Hiring Event, First Choice Services, 1 Hillcrest Dr. E., Charleston.
10:30 a.m. — Power Up Exercise Class, South Charleston Public Library, 312 Fourth Ave., South Charleston.
11 a.m. — Urban Kitchen Series: Fire Cider, Base Innovations, 1001 Smith St., Charleston.
11 a.m.-1 p.m. — Health Screenings, Testing & Narcan Training, Washington Manor, 50 Ida Mae Way, Charleston.
Noon — St. Albans Ministry Alliance Lenten Series Service & Luncheon, St. Francis of Assisi Church, 525 Holley St., St. Albans.
12:15 p.m. — Lenten Organ Recital Series Featuring David Donathan, First Presbyterian Church, 16 Leon Sullivan Way, Charleston.
3-6 p.m. — Clothes Closet, Grace Bible Church, 600 Kanawha Blvd. W., Charleston.
5:30 p.m. — Vaccines: Fact & Fiction, St. John’s Episcopal Church, 1105 Quarrier St., Charleston.
6 p.m. — From the Bible to Balagan: The Secret Life of Hebrew Words, University of Charleston, Erma Byrd Gallery, Riggleman Hall, 2300 MacCorkle Ave. S.E., Charleston.
6-8 p.m. — Happy Hour With Matt Mullins, The Empty Glass, 410 Elizabeth St, Charleston.
7 p.m. — Trivia Night, Recovery Sports Grill, 600 Virginia St. East, Charleston.
9 p.m. — Chris Harris & The Legion of Salty Dogs, The Empty Glass, 410 Elizabeth St., Charleston.
Today’s Public Meetings
Noon — WV International Yeager Airport Board Meeting, Central West Virginia Regional Airport Authority, 100 Airport Road, Suite 175, Charleston.
Upcoming
Thursday, Feb. 26 — 6 p.m.: Murder Mystery Night, The Ruffner, 1500 Kanawha Blvd. E., Charleston.
Saturday, Feb. 28 — 7:30 p.m.: Harmonies for Hope - A Benefit For Recovery Point WV, Clay Center, 1 Clay Square, Charleston.
Sunday, March 1 — 4 p.m.: The Charleston Civic Chorus Presents “The Crucifixion,” First Presbyterian Church, 16 Leon Sullivan Way, Charleston.
📅 Did you know? We only highlight some of the day’s events in this newsletter. There’s a lot more happening around the Kanawha Valley. Have a look at today’s full calendar by clicking the “More Events” button.
Today, we remember the following neighbors who have recently passed:
Alice Arbutus Bolen, 85, of Elkview, died Feb. 22, 2026.
David Roscoe Carpenter, 86, formerly of Sissonville, died Feb. 21, 2026.
Rebecca Ann Dean, 77, of Charleston, died Feb. 21, 2026.
Robert Dennis “Slim” Edens, Sr., 82, of Amma, died Feb. 21, 2026.
Lodema Isabelle (Kopp) Hale, 102, of St. Albans, died Feb. 21, 2026.
Virginia Valdez Reed, 72, of St. Albans, died Feb. 21, 2026.
Kevin Lee Riffle, 52, of Madison, died Feb. 6, 2026.
Billy “Bill” Summers, 73, of Cabin Creek, died Feb. 16, 2026.
That’s all for today. Thanks for reading! Looking for more locally-made news content from around the Kanawha Valley? Make sure you:
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