Applause to the small army of volunteers who have been working for months to bring us all the 86th Mountain State Forest Festival, which gets underway today with a long list of events and activities. The MSFF will continue through Sunday, Oct. 5, with family friendly attractions all week long. As we enjoy the annual traditions, let’s keep in mind how much time and hard work it takes to make the Forest Festival a reality. The volunteers should know that their work is greatly appreciated.

Applause to everyone involved in organizing and presenting the 2024 Elkins High School Homecoming Parade, which rolled slowly up Davis Avenue through the heart of downtown Elkins on Wednesday evening. The EHS and Elkins Middle School marching bands performed, and both EHS and EMS athletic squads marched or rode through the parade. The EHS freshman, sophomore, junior and senior classes each created colorful floats for spectators to enjoy. It was great to have the Homecoming Parade back downtown again, and here’s hoping seeing the parade on Davis Avenue will become an autumn tradition.

Applause to the announcement Wednesday that West Virginia Wesleyan College and Battlers Knob LLC have plans to offer educational opportunities on the former campus of Alderson Broaddus University in Philippi. WVWC is looking into offering courses, degree programs and training opportunities in allied health fields at Battlers Knob, officials said. This is great news, coming just a year after Alderson Broaddus University filed for bankruptcy and closed its doors last fall. Its campus and equipment was purchased by Craig G. Phillips, owner of CGP Construction, for $5 million, during an auction process in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in January. Battlers Knob LLC was created to manage the property.

Applause to the announcement that United Methodist Church’s Lunch With Neighbors program will be serving free meals for three consecutive days during next week’s Mountain State Forest Festival. The program, which will celebrate its third anniversary during the month of October, will serve free meals Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 3-5. A dining area will be set up on Fourth Street beside the First United Methodist Church. Meals will be available from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. There is no charge for the meals, but donations will be accepted to help fund the program, which costs close to $40,000 annually to run. Throughout the year, Lunch With Neighbors serves meals each Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the First United Methodist Church’s Family Life Center.