The Shepherdstown Opera House will broadcast this year’s Academy Awards live and free of charge the evening of Feb. 27.

Everyone is welcome to attend. The doors will open at 7:30 p.m. The usual food and beverages will be available.

As a community service, the Opera House has agreed to let the Shepherdstown Rotary Club use the event to raise funds for Shepherd University’s 2011 Relay for Life.

Rotary Club members will be seeking donations for the Relay at the door. They will also sell Oscar scorecards for $5, and the club will award prizes to those who are best at picking winners.

Dress for the event will be casual. But those who would like to emphasize the festiveness of the occasion by wearing black tie or a costume will be encouraged to do so, and the club will also award a prize for “best attire.”

Relay For Life is a nationwide program, sponsored by the American Cancer Society, which promotes grassroots fundraising efforts to raise funds for cancer research and treatment.

Since 2003, Shepherd’s students have raised over $350,000 for this cause through their annual Relay For Life activities. The Shepherdstown Rotary Club has strongly supported their efforts

This year’s Relay for Life at Shepherd will take place the night of April 15 and 16. For more information about it or to register to participate go to www.shepherd.edu/scsweb/relay.htm or contact this year’s Relay chair, Shepherd student Lindy Ybarra, at lybarr01@shepherd.edu.

For more information about the Rotary Club’s Oscar Night efforts, contact Rotarian Heather Hovermale at hhovermale@jacksonkelly.com.