Sycamore to offer fishing class

STEUBENVILLE — The Sycamore Youth Center is expanding its after-school offerings with a hands-on youth fishing program designed to teach outdoor skills, environmental stewardship and life lessons to local students.

The program, led by Kwame Jones, will be offered free of charge from 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. on Thursdays at the Sycamore Youth Center, located at 301 N. Fourth St. The first class begins today and is open to students in first through 12th grade.

Jones said the program is designed to introduce children to the fundamentals of fishing, while promoting patience, confidence and responsibility. Instruction will include fishing basics such as casting techniques, proper reeling, safe fish handling and respect for wildlife. Students will learn equipment handling and care to ensure safety and extend the life of their gear. Hands-on knot-tying lessons will cover essential knots, including the improved clinch knot and the Palomar knot, giving participants practical skills they can use independently.

The program will incorporate local watershed education using maps and visual aids to teach area fishing destinations, including Jefferson, Tappan and Clendening lakes. Lessons will cover how watersheds function and why protecting local waterways is important. All instructional materials, including maps and practice supplies, will be provided.

Sycamore Executive Director Bobbyjon Bauman expressed enthusiasm about the new opportunity, saying, “We are always looking for ways to provide meaningful, hands-on learning experiences for our students. This fishing program not only teaches practical outdoor skills, but it reinforces patience, discipline and respect for God’s creation. We’re grateful to offer another positive outlet for the youth of our community.”

For information or to sign up, visit sycamorecenter.com.

Gun show set for weekend

NEW CUMBERLAND — The Chester-Newell Sportsmen Club will hold a gun show from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Hancock County Senior Center, located at 647 Gas Valley Road in New Cumberland. Dealers will have the opportunity to set up from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Saturday. The cost is $25 per 6 -foot table. The cost will be $5 per person. Those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Officials stated 50 percent of the proceeds raised will help benefit the senior center.

The sportsmen club announced turkey shoots will resume at 10 a.m. every Sunday at the center beginning March 1. An extra benefit shoot will be held March 21 for a local Marine injured in a motorcycle accident last October. All of the proceeds will go toward medical bills and care. This event, which was postponed due to inclement weather, will include food and a Chinese auction.

Donations will be accepted for those not attending the shoot. All shoots will start at 10 a.m. at the cost of $3 per shot. The club is located behind Green Valley Dairy past Oak Glen High School. For information, call or text (304) 374-5587 or visit the club on its Facebook page.

Recipe Club to meet

WELLSBURG — Those who love browsing through cookbooks and trying new recipes or sampling and sharing new dishes with good company can join the Brooke County Public Library for its adults-only Recipe Club. Every month will have a theme where you choose a recipe, make it and bring it to the library, along with a copy of the recipe, and then share the finished product with those in the group. Swap recipes and engage in fellowship.

The next club meeting will be at noon on Feb. 27 in the River Room. The theme will be Snacks. February is National Snack Month so be sure to bring your recipe to share. Registration is not required. For information, call (304) -737-1551.

CDI to host events

WEIRTON — The Coalition for Disability Inclusion, formerly known as the Disability Acceptance Coalition, has announced a series of community events designed to celebrate, support and connect individuals with disabilities throughout the Northern Panhandle. All activities require an RSVP. Contact Rita Hawkins at the Brooke Hancock Family Resource Network at (304) 748-7850, Ext. 1002 or visit bhfrn.org for information.