Author to open book week celebration

WEIRTON — West Virginia Children’s Author Anna Egan Smucker will open Children’s Book Week at 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. In addition to writing, she enjoys doing author presentations and conducting writing workshops for schools, libraries and at conferences. A member of the Northern Appalachia Writers Association, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and West Virginia Writers, she can be found at numerous conferences, book festivals and exhibits showcasing her award-winning books. Her website can be found at annasmucker.com.

State regent welcomedFull slate of events planned at Weirton Event Center

WEIRTON – WEIRTON – The City of Weirton and the Top of West Virginia Convention and Visitors Bureau have announced the 2026 Summer Event Schedule for the Weirton Event Center, featuring a full slate of live music, community celebrations and family-friendly activities running from late May through September.

The lineup includes the return of the Friday Night Concert Series, offering free live entertainment, along with the CVB’s Second Saturday events, which combine music, a farmers’ and artisan market, food vendors and family activities.

A centerpiece of the season will be Independence Day festivities. On July 3, the CVB will host the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra performance with fireworks provided by the city, followed July 4 by Weirton’s Independence Day celebration featuring a parade, live entertainment, family activities and fireworks.

The summer schedule includes a variety of regional acts, tribute bands and themed performances, with concerts beginning at 8 p.m. on Fridays and 6 p.m. on Second Saturdays. Gates open at 7 p.m. for Friday events and 5 p.m. for Second Saturdays.

The 2026 Weirton Summer Event Schedule includes The Fantasy’s (May 22), The Jersey Beach Boys (May 29), Twice as Nice / The Rumors Band (June 5), 7 South / Beatlemania (June 13, Second Saturday), Fleetwood 2 the Max (June 19), Matt VanFossen (June 26), Wheeling Symphony Orchestra (July 3), Weirton 4th of July Celebration (July 4), Soulful Femme / House of Soul (July 11, Second Saturday), My So-Called 90’s Band (July 24), Gospel Night (July 31), New Age Adenas / Aristotle Jones: The Appalachian Soul Man (Aug. 8, Second Saturday) and The Trainjumpers / Suns of Beaches (Sept. 12, Second Saturday).

Organizers encourage residents and visitors to bring lawn chairs and enjoy the community-focused events. More information is available at www.topofwv.com

or by calling (304) 797-7001.

Water, sewer offices closed Monday

WINTERSVILLE — The Jefferson County Water and Sewer District office will be closed to walk-ins and phone calls Monday.

Staff will be in training, Director Jonathan Sgalla said.

CASA sets watch party, ceremony

STEUBENVILLE — A Child’s Place CASA will hold a watch party for CASA Day in Ohio events at the Statehouse and its annual luminary ceremony Tuesday at Historic Fort Steuben.

The watch party will begin at 5 p.m. and will offer an opportunity to view the activities in Columbus. That will be followed by the annual Light of Hope luminary ceremony at 7 p.m.

Activities will be held near the fountain, organizers said. In the event of inclement weather, they will be moved inside, they added.

The Rusty Bull food truck will be set up from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and cookies from the Cookie Cove will be available.

Water outage planned

WEIRTON — The Weirton Area Water Board has scheduled an outage for one neighborhood Monday, as part of a valve replacement project.

The outage will begin at 8 a.m. and affect customers on Parkview Drive, Millsop Drive, and Starvaggi Drive.

Following the project, a boil order will be issued for the affected area.