The magazine that aimed to bring first-class storytelling to West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle has come to an end.
After a year of publication, editor/publisher Christine Miller Ford announced Feb. 22 that the winter edition of Panhandle that's on sale now will be the publication's last.
"We had so much wonderful feedback from readers and from many advertisers, but the production costs involved in putting out a high-end magazine are enormous," Ford said. "We were not able to attract the ad dollars needed to stay in business."
Many of the stories planned for the spring issue will appear instead in the Spirit of Jefferson, the growing weekly newspaper based in Charles Town, Ford said.
"I'm pleased to know these features will get out to the world," she said. "With the Spirit available in stores across Jefferson and Berkeley counties, fans of Panhandle will still be able to enjoy the fine articles and photographs that had been in the magazine's pipeline."
Ford also said she will be working in the coming weeks to refund Panhandle subscribers for any remaining issues they've paid for.
"The Eastern Panhandle is an amazing place with so much history, so much natural beauty and so many incredible people and unique businesses," she said. "It was my dream to create a top-quality magazine to chronicle this area for years and years to come, and I'm heartbroken that that won't happen.
"But I am happy I was able to shine a spotlight here at least for a time."

MARTINSBURG
Daily Grind
778 Foxcroft Ave., Martinsburg
304.262.9722

SHEPHERDSTOWN
Four Seasons Books
116 W. German St., Shepherdstown
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
304.876.3486

CHARLES TOWN
Beasley's Books & Eccentricities
307 W. Washington St.
Charles Town
304.725.9630

MARTINSBURG
Patterson’s Drug Store
134 S. Queen St., Martinsburg
Hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday. CLOSED Sunday
304.267.8903

INWOOD
Inwood Farmers Market
178 Pilgrim St., Inwood
304.229.5011

GERRARDSTOWN
Aha! antique-thrift shop
1816 Gerrardstown Road
Gerrardstown
304.702.7006

RANSON
Jefferson Pharmacy
201 S. Preston St., Ranson
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday. CLOSED Sunday.
304.725.6533

BERKELEY SPRINGS
Nature Niche
50 N. Washington St., Berkeley Springs
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
304.258.0992

MARTINSBURG
Good Natured Market & Café
209 S. Raleigh St., Martinsburg
Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and until 8:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
304.262.9978

CHARLES TOWN
Sokel Skin & Makeup
123 N. Charles St., Charles Town
304.728.8801

INWOOD
South Berkeley Pharmacy & Gift
5054 Gerrardstown Road, Inwood
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday. CLOSED Sunday.
304.229.2400

INWOOD
Clyde's Karate
19 Hovatter Drive
Inwood
304.229.6410
Inwoodkarate.com

INWOOD
Patterson’s Drug Store (South Berkeley)
115 Hovatter Drive, Inwood
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, CLOSED Sunday.
304.229.2929

INWOOD
Dollar General
796 Middleway Pike
Inwood
304.229.3013
www.dollargeneral.com

CHARLES TOWN
Washington Street Gallery & Gift
235 W. Washington St., Charles Town
Hours: Wednesday through Friday, noon to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. CLOSED Monday and Tuesday.
304.724.2090

WINCHESTER, Va.
Museum of the Shenandoah Valley gift shop
901 Amherst St.
Winchester
540.662.1473, Ext. 244

Coming soon to these locations:
BERKELEY SPRINGS
Berkeley Springs Books
21 N. Washington St.
Berkeley Springs
304.258.6007
www.berkeleyspringsbooks.com

BERKELEY SPRINGS
Temptations Too Bakery
168 N Washington St, Berkeley Springs
304.258.0787
temptationstoo.com

Panhandle is the all-local, top-quality magazine begun this year to showcase Eastern West Virginia.

The quarterly publication, on sale at the Daily Grind in Martinsburg and other stores and also available by subscription, debuted in March.

It’s the creation of Christine Miller Ford, a Berkeley County native with more than two decades of experience as a professional writer.

Excellent writers, beautiful photography and attractive graphic design set Panhandle apart from other publications in the region.

The winter issue, just out this month, includes features on John C. Allen’s new book on some of the Panhandle’s oldest homes; great places for brunch; top cold-weather drinks; why Dana Knowles gives back to women recovering from domestic abuse; top spots for winter pampering; a look at Shepherdstown as it marks the 250th anniversary of its founding; profiles of the Clarion’s Tripp Lowe, and much more.

“I’m thrilled that Panhandle has gotten such a warm response in its first year,” Ford explained. “People seem to be hungry for a magazine with a local focus but the quality you’d expect in D.C. or any other big city.”

Over the years, Ford’s bylines have appeared in The Washington Post’s Style section and on the front page of The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, the nation’s 19th-largest daily newspaper.

“But as someone who grew up in the Eastern Panhandle, I always longed for the chance to tell the stories of our amazing area for the people who live here,” she said.

Ford welcomes feedback on the magazine. Her email is Christineford@panhandlemagazine.com.