Shepherdstown Area Independent Living, Inc. has received notice from the State of West Virginia of its incorporation. Non-profit status is pending 501(c)3 approval by the IRS.

Operating under the acronym SAIL, the organization will serve older and disabled persons who wish to stay in their home as long as practicable. The goals of the organization are tailored to the semi-rural nature of our community and will serve the greater Shepherdstown area including those who use the telephone exchanges 876 and 870.

A board of directors and officers have been elected from an ad-hoc group which has been meeting for the past two years. During this time a survey of needs was completed by over 100 local households under the direction of the Shepherdstown Ministerial Association.

SAIL is modeled on Beacon Hill Village established in 2000 in Boston, Mass. Research has shown that most people prefer to remain in their current homes and communities with their friends and support systems. The committee has researched similar villages and attended national conferences to learn how other communities are creating workable options to downsizing and moving to retirement enclaves. SAIL in the first such village to be established in the state.

SAIL is a member-driven organization and aims to provide what members want and need, both services and activities. It will provide members with access to services of screened/vetted vendors such as handymen, electricians, plumbers, tech support, personal care, housekeeping and transportation.

Social events may include trips to concerts, art museums, sports events, a book club or coffee klatch. SAIL will advocate for services for members in the public sector such as increased access to local seniors. It will also provide a reliable information system for seniors through a website now under construction.

SAIL is a fee-based membership organization. Annual dues will provide access to services and activities and will fund the salary of an executive director to coordinate and grow the program.

Newly elected officers are Vicky Thomas, president; Jean Neely, vice president; Melinda Landolt, secretary; and Cris Kinsella, treasurer.

Tom Miller, Judy Moore, G.T. Schramm, Dan VanBelleghem, Ted Walton and Jack Young will serve as directors.

SAIL’s goal is to be open for business by late spring. Watch for notice of small informational group meeting after the holidays. In the meantime interested parties may contact us at sailinc@hotmail.com. For additional information on the village concept go to www.beaconhillvillage.org or www.vtvnetwork.org. Individuals are encouraged to join our email roster as well.

Group show set

at LostDogCoffee

Open call to artists: Open to everyone. All media.

For a group show at LostDogCoffee Shepherdstown, hanging Jan. 11, 2011.

Theme: “A positive Apocalypse.” How will your happy end be? The higher ground of a beautiful ending.

Due to limitations of our space, submissions cannot exceed 4’x4′.

Deadline for submissions is Jan. 10, 2011.

Bring all art to LostDogCoffee, 134 E. German St. between Jan. 5 and 10.

For more information go to www.lostdogcoffee.com, call 304-876-0871 or email lostdogcoffee@gmail.com.

Summer Music Institute seeking participants

MORGANTOWN – The Appalachian Education Initiative is now accepting applications for student instrumentalists interested in auditioning for the 2011 Kennedy Center/National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

The four-week institute will be from June 27 to July 25, 2011.

The program is open to students ages 15 to 20 who are seriously considering orchestral music as a career. This year, the National Trustees’ fellowships may be awarded to students who play violin, viola, cello, string bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba and harp.

The program is designed for serious music students. Each student accepted into the program attends on full scholarship, which includes housing, food allowance and local transportation during their stay in Washington, D.C. Round-trip transportation to and from Washington, D.C. is not included.

While at the institute, students will participate in:

Private lessons taught by a member of the National Symphony Orchestra;

Chamber music coaching by NSO musicians;

Master classes and seminars;

Attendance at selected rehearsals and performances of the NSO;

Participation in the NSO Summer Music Institute Orchestra, conducted by Elizabeth Schulze;

Performance opportunities in D.C.-metropolitan area; and

Exposure to internationally-renowned conductors, soloists, and musicians.

To apply for the program, students must complete an application and provide a CD or DVD with an orchestral excerpt and a prepared solo piece.

Applications must be submitted to Lou Karas at the AEI office in Morgantown by Jan. 28. A West Virginia selection committee will review the applications and submit a list of five finalists to the Kennedy Center in February.

The final student selections will be announced at the end of March.

Application forms and additional information about musical submissions can be found on the AEI web site, www.aeiarts.org, or by contacting Karas at 304-225-0101 or lkaras@aeiarts.org.