What would you do if someone asked you to throw a celebration for a good friend’s 250th birthday? A group of individuals, led by organization chair Meredith Wait, was asked by Mayor Jim Auxer to do just that for the town of Shepherdstown. In December 2012 our beloved town will be turning 250 years old. It was in 1732 that Thomas Shepherd received a grant of 222 acres of beautiful land rising above the Potomac River and in 1762 the town of Shepherdstown (at the time called Mecklenburg) was formally incorporated.

“We have been charged by the Mayor and the Shepherdstown Town Council to plan and implement a community celebration of the 250th birthday of Shepherdstown,” said Wait. “Over the next days and months, the committee will invite volunteers from our community, lay the organizational groundwork. We are channeling ideas and developing the yearlong birthday celebration of Shepherdstown. We hope to include all of our friends and neighbors in Shepherdstown and the surrounding area to share in our joy and appreciation of all that our community offers.”

The excitement is building and the planning is under way for the Semi-Quincentennial Celebration, recently dubbed “SQ 250.” The SQ 250 organization plans to kick off the festivities in conjunction with the 2011 Annual Christmas in Shepherdstown festivities, and hold a culminating event Nov. 10 through 12, 2012. Along with these two signature events, the group also hopes to develop programs, such as an essay contest for school age students and other events that will leave a legacy for future generations.

SQ 250 – in the name of and under the authority of the Mayor and Town Council -invites, you, our wonderful community to participate. Businesses and organizations within the Greater Shepherdstown community are encouraged to plan and submit events, special programs, promotions or commemorative items personifying their interpretation of the “Remember, Celebrate, Imagine” concept.

The group has defined the following committees: Steering Committee (consisting of Meredith Wait, Catherine Irwin, Peter Smith, Randy Tremba, Lori Robertson, Shelli Dronsfield and Tara Sanders Lowe) will provide leadership and support to the SQ 250 organization. Signature Events and Legacy Committee, (chaired by Peter Smith) will create and execute SQ 250-directed signature events, as well as a supporting series of programs and events throughout 2012. Community Outreach Committee (chaired by Tremba and Dick Clark) will interface with community groups, including schools and non-profits to support, coordinate and track secondary programming and events. The Marketing and Media Relations Committee (chaired by Lowe), will develop and implement a marketing plan to target businesses, government officials and agencies, and the public through appropriate media outlets. Budget and Fundraising Committee (chaired by Irwin) will create and oversee a budget and work to secure funding from both governmental and private sources.

Planning the Semi-Quincentennial Celebration is an immense task. We are accepting donations and volunteers for this wonderful and historical event. The committee encourages all persons and groups interested in SQ 250 or planning an official SQ 250-approved event or program to contact one of the chairs listed above or for more information.

– Submitted by Tara Sanders Lowe

State bans electronics from being trashed

CHARLESTON – Effective Jan. 1 computers, monitors and TVs were banned from being disposed of in any West Virginia landfill.

In an effort to ensure the proper handling of end-of-life electronics in an environmentally safe and acceptable manner, the West Virginia Legislature passed Senate Bill 398 on March 13, 2010, prohibiting the disposal of Covered Electronic Devices (CEDs) from any West Virginia landfill. CEDs are defined as a television, computer or video display device with a screen that is greater than four inches measured diagonally. It does not include any video device that is part of a motor vehicle or contained within a household appliance or commercial, industrial or medical equipment.

As of Jan. 1, residents are no longer be able to set out discarded TVs and computers along with their other household waste curbside.

Waste haulers will still be required to collect these items under what is commonly known as the Bulky Goods Rule. However, residents are urged to contact their waste hauler to schedule a pickup or find out which day of the month oversized appliances or additional “bulky goods” are collected.

Residents, who transport their own solid waste to either a transfer station or landfill, are urged to contact the solid waste facility to ensure that these items will continue to be accepted.

An E-Waste West Virginia website has been developed to offer alternative resources and options to landfilling these CEDs.

For information on local collection events and programs, organizations accepting donated electronic items, recycling locations and even manufacturer take back programs, please visit www.state.wv.us/swmb/ewaste or call 304-926-0448.

Loan applications must be submitted by Jan. 24

ATLANTA The U.S. Small Business Administration reminds eligible Private Non-Profit Organizations (PNPs) located in Jefferson, Berkeley, Brooke, Doddridge, Grant, Hampshire, Hancock, Hardy, Marion, Marshall, Mineral, Monongalia, Morgan, Ohio, Pocahontas, Preston, Ritchie, Tucker, Tyler and Wetzel counties in West Virginia that Jan. 24 is the deadline to submit loan applications.

These Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available because of severe winter storms and snowstorms that occurred on Feb. 5 through 11, 2010.

The SBA offers these loans to help meet working capital needs.

Disaster loan information and application forms may be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for people with speech or hearing disabilities) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET or by sending an e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

Applications can also be downloaded from www.sba.gov. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Forth Worth, TX 76155.

Those affected by the disaster may apply for disaster loans from SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

The filing deadline to return economic injury applications is Jan. 24.

Agency honored with United We Stand award

KEARNEYSVILLE – As a small token of FEMA Region III’s appreciation, Jefferson County Homeland Security and Emergency Management was honored with the 2010 FEMA Region III United We Stand Award.

The award recognizes Jefferson County Homeland Security and Emergency Management/Jefferson County Citizen Corps Council for dedicated service and commitment in engaging and educating Jefferson County residents about what it means to be prepared for emergencies.

Jefferson County developed and executed 23 separate preparedness initiatives during September.

HealthNet Aeromedical Services opens base

MARTINSBURG – HealthNet Aeromedical Services’ eighth medical helicopter base, officially opened Monday. The base serves West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle and surrounding areas.

This new air medical base is a joint effort among HealthNet, Air Methods Corporation, West Virginia University Hospitals and West Virginia University Hospitals-East. The base is located at the regional airport and serves as the primary medical helicopter service for WVUH-East’s City Hospital and Jefferson Memorial Hospital.

“Along with Air Methods and West Virginia University Hospitals/WVU Hospitals-East, we have been looking at the feasibility of having a base in the Martinsburg area for some time,” said Chip Sovick, president and CEO of HealthNet, in a press release.

The new base is serviced by a Eurocopter EC130 equipped with the latest technologies including Helicopter Terrain Avoidance Warning System (HTAWS), Night Vision Goggles (NVG), and real-time color weather radar.

“Previously, we had to rely on out-of-state medical helicopter providers for emergency air flight services,” said Anthony Zelenka, chief administrative officer at City Hospital in Martinsburg, in a release. “This will certainly make a difference in providing more immediate EMS services in our area communities.”

In addition to transporting patients between hospitals, the service also is available to respond directly to accident scenes. Because the service is based in the Eastern Panhandle, response time will be quicker. Patients then can be transported more quickly to area hospitals for definitive care.

Snow policy should be followed this winter

This is a reminder to all citizens within the corporate limits regarding removal of snow and ice. The Town has a number of elderly and young residents and tourists who may be open to injury if the snow removal policy is not followed. It should be noted that the Town Ordinance Section 11-407 “Prohibited accumulation of snow, ice and debris on sidewalks and removal thereof by Town at expense of property owners” will be actively enforced for the benefit of all.

Section 11-407 Prohibited accumulations of snow, ice and debris on sidewalks and removal thereof by town at expense of property owners

(a) “No person shall permit the accumulation of snow or ice upon the sidewalk adjacent to any property owned or occupied by him within the town, but shall remove the same within a reasonable time not later than 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. each day that snow or ice accumulates thereon.

(b) No person shall permit the accumulation of trash, debris or anything unsanitary upon the sidewalk adjacent to any property owned or occupied by him within the town, or within five feet of any such sidewalk.

(c) Upon the accumulation of any snow, ice or debris upon any sidewalk or within five feet of any sidewalk in violation of this section the town, if the owner or occupant of the adjacent property fails to do so upon notice, may remove such snow, ice or debris and the expense of such removal shall be charged to the owner of such adjacent property and shall constitute a lien upon such property.”

– From Town Hall

Tree chairperson thanked for her service

The Tree Commission members would like to thank Wendy Maddox for her service as chairperson for the last nine years.

She pruned, trimmed, mulched, inventoried the town’s trees and acted as an advisor in her arborist capacity.

Wendy was always an active participant as chairperson as well as a volunteer prior to her appointment to the Tree Commission.

She will be missed.

– From Town Hall