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‘Green Home’ tour and wine tasting on tap

By Staff | Nov 12, 2010

The Potomac Valley Audubon Society will sponsor a “Green Home” tour and wine tasting Nov 13 from 1 until 4 p.m. at a brand-new “green” home on Engle Molers Road, south of Shepherdstown reputed to be perhaps the “greenest” home in Jefferson County.

In addition to tours of the home, the event will include a wine tasting featuring wines to complement upcoming holiday meals, courtesy of Grapes and Grains Gourmet of Shepherdstown. Non-alcoholic beverages and light foods will be available, as well.

Dress will be casual.

All proceeds will be used to support the society’s educational programs for local children.

Tickets are required, and space will be limited. Basic tickets are $45 per person. Those who pay $150 for two people will be recognized as Donors; those who pay $200 for two will be recognized as Patrons, and those who pay $250 or more for two will be recognized as Supporters. All ticket costs will be fully tax-deductible.

To order tickets, please contact Alice Barkus at 304-876-8520 or e-mail abarkus@frontiernet.net and provide your name, address and phone number.

The home belongs to Tari and Keith Janssen and is sited on a 32-acre, largely wooded property that is enrolled in a managed forestry program. Just completed in June, the home uniquely combines cutting-edge green building techniques and technology with traditional, Craftsman-home styling.

It utilizes Structural Insulated Panel construction and is clad with recycled fiber-cement siding. Its green energy features include passive solar siting; solar hot water which provides domestic hot water and radiant floor heat; high efficiency windows; solar panels; a special computer program that continually monitors solar-energy generation; a central, wood-burning masonry stove; and high-efficiency heat pump.

The home’s floors are made from cherry, walnut and ash wood harvested from the property. The kitchen includes green cabinetry, counters and tile.

There is a rainwater-catchment system with a 1,500-gallon tank.

Keep off holiday weight with program

Maintain, Don’t Gain during the holidays. Sign up Nov. 14 through 24 for this free program. Visit one of the weigh-in sites during its business hours to enroll in the program. The program ends with a celebration party after weighing in after the new year.

The weigh-in centers are at Clarion Health Spa & Fitness Center, Curves in Charles Town, Energy Fitness, Gold’s Gym, Harpers Ferry Family Medicine Center, Jefferson County Community Center at Sam Michael’s Park, Jefferson County Health Department, Eastern Panhandle Free Clinic in Ranson and the Shepherd University Wellness Center.

This program helps people keep off extra pounds during the holidays and emphasizes eating healthy and physical activity. It is sponsored by the West Virginia University Jefferson County Extension. Call Judy Matlick at 304-728-7413 for more information.

Holiday exhibit slated for Nov. 20

The Bridge Gallery in Shepherdstown opens its Holiday Exhibit on Nov. 20 with a reception from 6 until 8 p.m. Gallery artists featured include Jacob Stilley, Michael Davis, Don Rees, Diana Suttenfield, Tim Kamer, Charlie Shobe, Benita Keller, Susan Carney and Mark Muse. Also on display will be a new assortment of antiques, ceramics, cards and other gift items. The show will run through Jan. 1.

The Bridge Gallery is located at 8566 Shepherdstown Pike. For more information call 304-876-2300 or visit www.bridgegalleryandframing.com.

‘Escape’ to be shown tonight

Tonight at 7 p.m. Sustainable Shepherdstown will show the film “Escape from Suburbia” at the Byrd Center for Legislative Studies auditorium at Shepherd University. Refreshments will be served and admission is free.

Through personal stories and interviews, this film examines how declining world oil production has already begun to affect modern life in North America. Expert scientific opinion is balanced with “on-the-street” portraits from an emerging global movement of citizen’s groups who are confronting the challenges of Peak Oil in extraordinary ways. The film features authors Richard Heinberg, James Howard Kunstler, Dr. David Suzuki and local Maryland congressman Roscoe Bartlett.

Sustainable Shepherdstown formed earlier this year to seek ways of building local resilience in our community in the face of oil depletion, global warming and economic uncertainty. A steering committee has formed and is working on supporting local food production, educating the public through the film series,and encouraging creative solutions.

Sustainable Shepherdstown is part of the international “Transition Town” movement that provides a model for working towards localization and reducing the use of fossil fuels. For further information or to find out how you can help, see www.sustainableshepherdstown.us.