AHA board member Lois Turco and AHA President Paul Pritchard (center) present a grant check to Dr. Keith Alexander to stage living history presentations in Shepherdstown

The Arts and Humanities Alliance of Jefferson County, W.V., awarded $5,500 in grants in April for six Jefferson County community projects that will make a positive impact on the county.

CORE, the Center Cities One Renewal Effort, received a $600 grant to commission an artist and graphic designer to paint a map of historic Charles Town and to develop a brochure that will be distributed to visitors with information about shopping, dining and other attractions in downtown Charles Town.

Poetry Plus Workshop received an $800 grant to hold a summer workshop for Jefferson County youngsters.

The Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission received a $2,000 grant for a project to consolidate information that is useful for studying our local history into a single, Internet-accessible source that will include a geographical information system component, as well as historic documents, images, maps and databases to aid researchers. Resources created during the project will be available to the public at no charge.

The Ranson Centennial Committee received a $250 grant to cover part of the cost of 50 locally produced commemorative pots to be sold to the public at a reduced price during the Ranson centennial celebration.

Festival organizer Hope Maxwell Snyder received an $800 grant to stage the 6th Sotto Voce Poetry Festival Oct. 1-3 in Shepherdstown, with 60 participants expected for workshops and readings that in past years have attracted nationally recognized literary figures.

Shepherd University history professor Dr. Keith Alexander received a $1,050 grant to organize and present Shepherd undergraduate students performing late nineteenth century living history interpretations of the history of Shepherdstown during the Contemporary American Theater Festival and the Arts and History Festival in Shepherdstown the last week in July.

AHA Community Grant recipients must be residents of or operate from facilities within Jefferson County. Projects must demonstrate positive community impact through the arts and humanities. Grant criteria and other details can be found at www.ahajc.org/CommunityGrant.htm.

The mission of AHA, a volunteer, non-profit organization, is to preserve the rich history and culture of Jefferson County and to encourage creative opportunity for all its citizens.