SHEPHERDSTOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY

Sept. 19: Children three and older are invited to a special Saturday story time with songs, stories, and a craft at 11 a.m. in the Library’s Children’s Department. For more information, call Christy Hagerty at the Library at (304) 876-2783 or email “mailto:splchild@martin.lib.wv.us”>splchild@martin.lib.wv.us. This is the last day children may bring in a completed summer reading log to receive a packet of prizes donated by generous local businesses.

Sept. 25: The FOSL Book Club will meet at 4 p.m. in the Library to discuss Anna Quindlen’s memoir, Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake.

The Library’s popular children’s programs will continue through December 9; no registration is required. “Lapbabies” for children birth through 18 months is on Tuesdays from 10:15 to 11 a.m. “Time for Twos” meets from 11:15 to noon on Tuesdays. The “Three to Five Year Olds” program is on Wednesdays from 11:15 to noon. Ages five and older are invited to attend the “After School Story Time” on Wednesdays from 4 to 4:45 p.m. For more information call (304) 876-2783, email splchild@martin.lib.wv.us or visit the Library at 100 East German Street.

ONGOING

Need to get your cat or dog spayed or neutered? Contact Spay Today, our area’s non-profit, reduced-price spay and neuter program. At the time of surgery, initial shots and tests can also be obtained at lower rates. Choose from MANY vets over a WIDE area! NEW vets added! Contact Spay Today: www.baacs.org or 304-728-8330.

Intermediate Bridge players are invited to join an informal group meeting every Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Trinity Episcopal Chapel. All are welcome and walk-ins are encouraged. For more information, contact 304-876-6244.

The Shepherdstown Museum, at the corner of German and Princess streets, is open on weekends from April through October, on July 4, and during Christmas in Shepherdstown. Public hours are: Saturdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sundays, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Visits can be arranged at other times by calling 304-876-0910 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Business owners, managers and other movers and shakers are invited to partake in the Shepherdstown Mysteries Walk at 7 p.m. on Saturdays. Join Dana Mitchell in front of the Shepherdstown Library and experience her Mysteries Walk. Walk the backstreets and hear of forgotten history, local legends and lore, unrequited love and murder, and of course ghostly tales. Call Dana at 240-593-2317 for further information.

Today

Crystal Bowl Concert, noon-12:40 p.m. Ann Craig performs an extraordinary “sound meditation” using eight quartz crystal bowls that fill the Harmony studio with an energetic yet peaceful vibration that soothes and aligns mind, body and soul. Participants can sit in chairs or lie on mats. Donations gratefully accepted. Harmony, 211 E. New St.

At 7 p.m., filmmaker Brian Davis will give a free preview of his new film “The Million Dollar Duck.” The film will be in the Byrd Auditorium at the National Conservation Training Center, 698 Conservation Way, Shepherdstown.

Sept. 18-19

Every year the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service puts on the only juried art competition run by the U.S. government. Wildlife artists from around the country submit their best paintings of ducks in the hope that the artwork will grace the following year’s Duck Stamp. Such deals can generate millions for the winning artist, which is how the stamp earned its nickname “The Million Dollar Duck.” . The film culminates in a two-day juried art competition where the winning duck is chosen for next year’s stamp. Filmmaker Brian Davis will introduce the film and take questions afterwards. The film is free and open to the public. No tickets or reservations are required. It is part of the Federal Duck Stamp Contest held at the National Conservation Training Center this year Sept. 18-19. For more information please contact Mark Madison at (304) 876-7276 or mark_madison@fws.gov or visit nctc.fws.gov/history/publiclectures.html.

Sept. 19

To commemorate the 153rd anniversary of the Battle of Shepherdstown, the Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Association Inc. (SBPA) will hold a tour of the site of the 1862 Battle of Shepherdstown led by a Civil War historian. The tour will begin, rain or shine, at 2 p.m.and will last about 2 1/2 hours. The tour will include wading the Potomac River at Boteler’s Ford (optional), a hike through the historic Cement Mill property, and a hike of about 1 mile through the battlefield. The tour will also include a demonstration of Civil War drills by members of the Shepherdstown Living History Society. The demonstration will take place during a BBQ serving hamburgers, hot dogs, salads, beer, wine and soft drinks. SBPA asks for a donation of $30 for the tour and BBQ. Tickets and directions for the battlefield tour are available on SBPA’s website at: www.battleofshepherdstown.org.

Sept. 26

Antiques and Collectibles sale at the Station in Shepherdstown, Audrey Egle Drive. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Antique and vintage furniture, decorative smalls, toys, textiles, jewelry, vintage clothing, hats and handbags, and other fun and unique items.

Sept. 27

The Jefferson County Museum invites the public to attend a free talk and slide show of vintage photographs by the museum’s historian Doug Perks at 2 p.m. For his slide show and talk, Jefferson County Changing Faces, Doug will feature historic and recent photos from the museum’s collection to illustrate changes in Jefferson County towns, buildings, and landscapes over the past 150 years. Light refreshments will be served before the lecture.

Oct. 1

Hospice of the Panhandle will host a “gently used” purse auction from 4-6:30 p.m. at Hospice’s Education Center in Kearneysville. Featuring designers such as Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Coach and Vera Bradley, the event will showcase high-quality purses, some of which will be new. All purses will be sold through a silent auction. Rhonda Banks, an area sales executive with Premier Jewelry, will offer jewelry sales that evening. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Hospice of the Panhandle. Light refreshments will be served at the event. RSVPs are appreciated. Call or e-mail Ashley Horst (304) 264-0406, ext. 1223, ahorst@hospiceotp.org or Maria Lorensen (304) 264-0406, ext. 1225, mlorensen@hospiceotp.org to learn more about the event or to RSVP.

Oct. 3

5K Walk against Domestic Violence & Family Health Festival from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on North Charles Street in Charles Town. 5K starts at 9:30 a.m. A variety of festival events. For information, visit voicesagainstdomesticviolence.org or call 304-839-9649.

Oct. 9

Apple Pie Baking Contest for the Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival will be held . Judging will be held at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, Martinsburg. You must register to Shelly Schoppert @ 304-267-4897 by Oct. 9.

Oct. 13

The new academic year is upon us and with it one of its highlights: presentations in the Faculty Research Forum. Our first talk of the year will be offered by David B. Gordon (Department of History) whose talk is entitled: “A Tale of Two Diplomats: He Fengshan, Sugihara Chiune, and the Jewish Flight from Nazi Europe” (the link will lead you to the abstract and our new site!). This event will be held at 12 p.m. in the Byrd Center for Legislative Studies Auditorium. Please, spread the news and mark your calendars. Light refreshments will be served.