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community health fair will focus on keeping local neighbors healthy, and one local middle school is helping students celebrate their birthday one cake kit at a time. Here’s the 411 from communities around the region, including Malden, Charleston and St. Albans.
CAKE KITS: DuPont Middle School wants to make sure every student has a very happy birthday. The school’s Student Council and Beta Club are organizing birthday cake kits to help youngsters celebrate their special day. But, they say, they need your help to make it happen. “As you know, the schools in the Upper Kanawha Valley serve a large population of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds,” school representatives wrote on social media. “These kits will be shared with students who might not otherwise get to celebrate their birthday — and we want to make sure every child feels celebrated on their special day.” Kits cost roughly $10 to make, and include cake mix, frosting, candles, a disposable cake pan, and a birthday card. Organizers said they’re hoping to distribute up to 250 kits this school year. Kits will be dispersed to students in Cedar Grove, Midland Trail, Belle, Pratt, Sharon Dawes, Chesapeake, Malden, and Mary Ingles elementary schools; DuPont Middle School; and Riverside High School. Supplies can be purchased through an Amazon wish list. Supplies and donations can also be dropped off at the school or at a cake kit drive taking place at DuPont Middle’s first home football game on Thursday, Sept. 18.
HEALTH FAIR: Kanawha Valley neighbors, mark your calendars. Saturday, Sept. 6 marks the fifth annual West Side Health Fair at Magic Island in Charleston. The free event, hosted by Bright Future Now, Inc., kicks off at 10:30 a.m. The fair includes free food, health screenings, flu vaccinations, resources, and more. All ages are welcome. The Kanawha Valley Regional Transportation Authority (KRT) will supply free accessible transportation to the event, with buses picking up passengers at locations on the West Side and at Carroll Terrace on the East End. Several health professionals and medical students will provide screening services and information at the fair. West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine student Lexi Lohfelm joined last year’s event and said she found the experience to be moving. “It was inspiring to see such a resilient community come together to target such critical issues,” Lohfelm said. “I am really looking forward to the next event, and I cannot wait to see how it grows over the years.”
PODA EVENT: The City of St. Albans will host an evening of live music and brews beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 19. The event takes place at Joe Dobbs Square at Olde Main Plaza. Chris Sutton and Soul Mountain will provide entertainment. The free outdoor Live Music Night is part of the city’s private outdoor designated area (PODA) program. The area of the event will be closed to traffic, and attendees can stroll the brick street with an adult beverage in hand. St. Albans council members introduced the city’s PODA program late last year, following other Kanawha County communities. As part of the program, special PODA event cups will be available for purchase from participating establishments, allowing guests to carry alcoholic beverages outdoors within designated areas. More information on PODA and the September 19 Live Music Night is available on the City of St. Albans website.
