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.