Author opens Children’s Book Week

WEIRTON — West Virginia children’s author Anna Egan Smucker will open Children’s Book Week at the Mary H. Weir Public Library at 11 a.m. May 4.

Smucker will read her children’s book Outside the Window about baby birds in the library’s activity room.

Smucker, a Pushcart nominee, is the author of No Star Nights, her award-winning memoir about growing up in the steel town of Weirton in the 1950s. Published by Knopf, it won the International Reading Association Children’s Book Award. Other titles include A History of West Virginia, To Keep the South Manitou Light and The Life of Saint Brigid. Her books Golden Delicious: A Cinderella Apple Story and Brother Giovanni’s Little Reward — How the Pretzel Was Born represented West Virginia at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Her ninth book, Fallingwater: The Building of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Masterpiece, co-authored with Marc Harshman, West Virginia’s poet laureate, and illustrated by award-winning LeUyen Pham, was published by Roaring Brook, a division of Macmillan, and was named an Amazon Book of the Month.

Her poems have been published in her chapbook Rowing Home and in numerous anthologies. A recipient of a West Virginia Arts Commission Artist Fellowship Award, she makes her home in Bridgeport, W.Va. She also conducts author presentations and writing workshops for schools, libraries and conferences. A member of the Northern Appalachia Writers Association, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and West Virginia Writers, she regularly appears at conferences, book festivals and exhibits showcasing her award-winning books. Her website is annasmucker.com.

Water line work scheduled

WEIRTON — The Weirton Area Water Board has scheduled work on a water line at the intersection of Bright Way and Overlook Drive, to begin at 8:30 a.m. Thursday.

The intersection will be closed to traffic during the project. The work will affect water pressure in the 1300 and 1400 blocks of Overlook Drive, Landview Drive, Eastview Drive, and the 1400 block of Barone Drive Extension.

A boil order will be issued once the work is completed.

Toronto Lions Club meets

TORONTO — The Toronto Lions Club held its bi-monthly meeting Thursday, at Gem City Pizza.

Club President Fred Burns opened the meeting with the pledge follow by a prayer. Among the agenda items discussed were recent donations to HIKE Toronto, eyeglasses for a student in need, sponsoring a team in Toronto Girls Softball League and supporting Lions Club International Fund.

May will be an active month for the club. On May 18, Burns will be presenting shirts to award winners of the GOOD program at the elementary school. On May 22, Burns will co-present with a member of the Graham family for the Toronto Lions Club/Graham scholarships, with the recipients to be determined.

After the meeting members enjoyed food and fellowship with various types of pizza and salads provided by Gem City Pizza.

The Toronto Lions Club meets the second and fourth Thursday each month at the Karaffa Recreation Center, 1307 Dennis Way, in Toronto. Meeting time is 6:30 pm. All adults are welcome to attend. For an application to join or information about the club, contact Jayson Middleton by email at jace279v2@gmail.com

Free Spring Block Party planned

STUBENVILLE — The Sycamore Youth Center and Aim Women’s Center will host a free Spring Block Party from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday at 248 N. Fifth St

The event will feature free food, live music and family-friendly activities. Performers include hip-hop artists Elisha Fletcher and the Minister of Truth, Lydia Battistel, the 2026 Valley’s Got Talent overall champion, and Valley’s Got Talent Kids Edition finalists Evan Conn and Elisa Morris. Aaron Ashby also will deliver an inspirational message.

The event is free and open to the public. For information, call or text (740) 409-2986.

DAR chapter hosts monthly meeting

STEUBENVILLE — Chris Nehring, an Ohio State Regent, was the guest speaker at the April meeting of the Fort Steuben Chapter of the Ohio Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Nehring also was recognized as the chapter’s veteran of the month and received several mementos along with a special treat for her service dog trainee, Ember, who attended the meeting.

During her presentation, Nehring discussed her family’s involvement with the service dog program, renovations at the Military Women’s Monument and Museum and the OSDAR America 250 Celebration planned at the Waldschmidt Homestead.

The chapter also presented a new American flag to Jerry Barilla, manager of Historic Fort Steuben.

Road closure scheduled

STEUBENVILLE — County Road 39 will be closed 0.3 miles south of Township Road 201 from May 11 to May 15 for railroad crossing repair. There will be no thru traffic during the closure.

Council to discuss e-bike rules, field use

TORONTO — Toronto City Council will hold a Safety Committee meeting May 6 at 2 p.m. to discuss creation of e-bike laws, rules and regulations.

Following that meeting, council will meet at 3 p.m. in a special session to set rules for use of the new batting building at the city’s Little League field.

New Blu-ray titles at library

STEUBENVILLE — The following are new Blu-ray releases available at the Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County.

“All About Eve” — One night, Margo Channing entertains a surprise dressing-room visitor: her most adoring fan, the shy, wide-eyed Eve Harrington. But as Eve becomes a fixture in Margo’s life, the Broadway legend realizes her supposed admirer intends to use her and everyone in her circle, including George Sanders’s acid-tongued critic, as stepping-stones to stardom. The multiple-Oscar-winning film is a sharply entertaining look at the ruthlessness of show business.

“A Different Man” — Aspiring actor Edward undergoes a radical medical procedure to transform his appearance. But his new dream face quickly becomes a nightmare as he loses out on the role he was born to play and becomes obsessed with reclaiming what was lost.

“Song Sung Blue” — Based on a true story, two down-on-their-luck musicians form a Neil Diamond tribute band, proving it’s never too late to find love and follow your dreams.

“Deliver Me from Nowhere” chronicles the making of Bruce Springsteen’s 1982 album Nebraska. Recorded on a four-track recorder in Springsteen’s New Jersey bedroom, the album marked a pivotal time in his life and is considered one of his most enduring works, a raw acoustic record populated by lost souls searching for a reason to believe.

Shamrock Shake sales raise $136K for RMHC

STEUBENVILLE — McDonald’s owner/operators presented more than $136,000 to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Pittsburgh and Morgantown from Shamrock Shake sales.

Wheeling/Steubenville area McDonald’s owner/operators joined operators from Pittsburgh, Erie, Johnstown/Altoona and Clarksburg/Weston, W.Va., to present the donation April 15.

Customers purchased 546,963 Shamrock Shakes across western Pennsylvania and West Virginia during February and March, raising $136,740 for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Pittsburgh and Morgantown. For each shake sold, 25 cents was donated.

“We look forward to Shamrock Shake season every year,” said McDonald’s Owner/Operator Nick Delligatti. “Not just because of the flavor, but because we get to support a great cause and spread the word about the work they do at the Ronald McDonald House.”

“We are blown away that McDonald’s customers continue to contribute,” said Eleanor Reigel, CEO of RMHC of Pittsburgh and Morgantown. “The owner operators consistently show their dedication. Their efforts have made a meaningful impact on children and families.”

Ronald McDonald House provides care, comfort and support to families with children receiving medical treatment, offering housing near hospitals.

Customers can support RMHC year-round through the Round-Up for Ronald McDonald House program, which allows them to round up purchases at McDonald’s to benefit the organization.