TODAY

First Friday Coffeehouse will feature Philadelphia songwriter and multi-talented musician Charlie Phillips.The concert will be at the Trinity United Methodist Church Orchard House on Route 45, four miles from the four-way stop in Shepherdstown. The show will be preceded by a one-hour open mic where performers do two songs for an appreciative, listening audience. Doors open for social time and open mic sign-up at 7:30 p.m. A $10 donation is suggested. For more information, contact Steve Warner at 304-676-4422 or 304-876-2915.

MARCH 5

The Course in Miracles study group will meet on Saturdays starting March 5 from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at the Blue Moon Cafe at the corner of Princess and High Streets. For more information, visit “http://www.heartoftruth.org”>www.heartoftruth.org.

Shepherdstown Pedal & Paddle will be doing a trail clean up on the C&O Canal. We will meet at 115 W. German St. at 8 a.m. The clean up will be from 8:45 a.m. To 1 p.m. The rain date is March 19, same time and place. For more information, call 304-876-3000. All who help get 10 percent off any stock item in store.

The Bridge Gallery is opening a show of paintings by Clarksburg artist Seth Hill on March 5 with a reception to meet the artist on Sunday afternoon March 6 from 2 to 4 p.m. The exhibit, titled “Change of Seasons“, features representational West Virginia landscapes, most of which are painted Plein Air. The artist is a graduate of Fairmont State University and is a new exhibitor at The Bridge. The show will continue through March 27. For additional information please call 304-876-2300 or visit www.bridgegalleryandframing.com.

THROUGH MARCH 6

Shepherd University presents “The Vagina Monologues.” Shows March 4 and 5 are at 8 p.m. with a silent auction on Saturday. The March 6 show is at 1 p.m. The shows take place in Reynolds Hall on the corner of King and German Streets. Admission is $5. All proceeds go to Shenandoah Women’s Center and the Women and Girls of Haiti. Contact Mindy Sizemore at 304-807-6236 for more information.

MARCH 8

A Square Foot Gardening class will start Tuesday March 8, 2011 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and run six weeks. Classes held at Wildwood Middle School. To register call Jefferson County Adult Education 304-728-9237 or for questions on content call Eldon Winston at 304-264-4783.

MARCH 9

The Potomac Valley Audubon Society will sponsor a bird walk at Cool Spring Farm in southern Jefferson County. There is no fee to participate. Participants will meet at 8 a.m. in the parking lot in front of the Martin’s in the Jefferson Crossroads shopping Center off Route 340 in Charles Town. For more information, contact trip leader Kate Weatherby at yankee_in_virginia@yahoo.com or 304-535-1319. In case of inclement weather, contact her to see if the trip is still on trip details may change depending on weather and recent bird sightings.

MARCH 11

The Bavariann Inn presents a Mardi Gras party from 7 to 11 p.m. There will be a Cajun-inspired buffet, dancing, two complimentary Hurricanes and a full cash bar. Elegant party attire and masks are encouraged. Cost is $65 per person with $15 from each ticket sale going to Shepherdstown Visitors Center and Shepherdstown Business Association Advertising Committee. To make reservations, call 304-876-2551.

MARCH 12

Shepherdstown Elementary School Longaberger Basket Bingo will take place at the Shepherdstown Fire Hall. Doors will open at 3:30 p.m. Games begin at 5 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. For tickets call 304-876-6270 or 304-876-3275.

The New Street United Methodist Church, on the corner of New and Church Streets, will host an all-you-can-eat Pancake Breakfast and Brunch in its lower level dining hall from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. The menu includes pancakes, sausage gravy, bacon, applesauce and various drinks. Admission is $7 for adults and $4 for children ages 3 to 12. Carry out is available.

CHARLES TOWN The Washington Street Gallery & Gift, 235 W. Washington St., will host a book and CD signing from 2 until 5 p.m. Those featured will include Shepherdstown authors David Borchard and Patricia Donohoe who wrote “The Joy of Retirement: Finding Happiness, Freedom, and the Life You’ve Always Wanted,” as well as Borchards own “Will the Real You Please Stand UP? Find Passion in Your Life and Work.” Various other area authors and singer/songwriters will also be there. For more information, call 304-724-2090 or visit www.WStreetGallery.com.

MARCH 15

Trinity Episcopal Church on the corner of Church and German streets will offer the monthly Community Women’s Healing Service on Tuesday, March 15 because of a space conflict instead of the second Tuesday of March. The service will meet in the church’s Fellowship Hall at 7:30 p.m. The service of prayer, song and Eucharist offers hope and healing for body, mind and spirit. All are welcome. For more information please call the church at 304-876-6990 or Susan MacDonald at 304-876-3681.

MARCH 16

The premier of Episode 31 of Virginia PBS’s series, “Road Trip to History: Battle of Shepherdstown,” will be hosted by the Shepherdstown Men’s Club (SMC) at the War Memorial Building (102 E. German St.) in Shepherdstown. The production of this PBS program was funded by American Public University, Louise and Henry Willard II and the Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Association Inc. (SBPA). Civil War historian and SBPA Board member, Dr. Thomas Clemens will introduce the program. Cocktails start at 6:30 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. and the program will be shown at approximately 8 p.m. For those who wish to attend the cocktails and dinner portion of the evening, please call SMC at 304-876-3323 and press option 2 to make a reservation or email rsvp@smc25443.org. Reservations must be made by 12 p.m. March 14. The dinner costs $15 per person.

MARCH 19

The Shamrock Scrambler will take place at the T.A. Lowery Elementary School to raise awareness and collect donations for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The race will feature a 5K and a 1-mile fun. There will also be a 200-meter “Tot Trot,” which will begin at 9:15 a.m. Registration and post-race awards will take place in the school’s cafeteria. Registration will be from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. The 1-miler will start at 9:30 and the 5K will begin at 10 a.m. There will be prizes for top finishers in the different age divisions. Race-day registration is $20. You can register at www.active.com. For more information, contact Michelle Miller at michellemiller1234@yahoo.com.

The Potomac Valley Audubon Society is sponsoring a “Wildlife Signs” walk at the Cacapon State Park in Morgan County. The event is free, and participants should meet at 10 a.m. at the park’s Nature Center. The walk will be led by park naturalist Kelly Smith. Pre-registration is recommended but not required; to pre-register contact Kelly Heldreth at kheldreth@hotmail.com or 304-229-6229 or 540-931-5945.

– From staff reports

The Jefferson County Historical Society (jeffersonhistoricalwv.org), the Men’s Club of Shepherdstown (smc25443.org/joomla/) and the Historic Shepherdstown Commission (historicshepherdstown.com/) are pleased to announce that the first event in the 2011 Historic Speaker Series will take place at the Men’s Club. The program entitled “Lantern in a Poet’s Garden” will be open to the public and will begin with a reception at 6 p.m. followed by a live performance by Terry Tucker and ensemble at 7 p.m. It will celebrate the poems of Shepherdstown historian and author Caroline “Danske” Bedinger Dandridge and her cousin Daniel Bedinger Lucas. Tucker plays the piano and sings throughout the performance, joined by a talented group of musicians: Ardyth Gilbertson, vocalist; cello player and bassist Ralph Gordon; flutist Betty Jo Rockwell; guitarist Todd Coyle; Brian Ellsworth on the French horn; Anders Henricksson playing trumpet, and Bill McCullen on the trombone.

MARCH 30

RANSON All five members of the Jefferson County Commission will be present to answer questions and hear concerns from county residents from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Lions Center, 301 S. George St., Ranson. This opportunity is being co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Jefferson County and the Jefferson County Organization of Homeowners Associations, Inc. The purpose of the session is to assist residents in communicating with their county government in an informal setting. Everyone is welcome to attend.

SHEPHERDSTOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY

Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday; (closed Fridays); 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.

Outreach: The Shepherdstown Public Library will supply books and/or audio recordings to those who cannot get to the library. Access to the Library of Congress talking books and large print books are also available to those who qualify. Call 304-876-2783 to make arrangements.

Library Board: For meeting dates and times, call 304-876-2783. The public is welcome to attend. Look for Friends of Shepherdstown Library on Facebook and become a friend.

TWO RIVER TREADS

Free weekly running training, injury evaluation and prevention and group runs hosted by Two River Treads. Current groups meet at the C&O Canal, Cushwa Basin, Harpers ferry and Antietam. See www.trtreads.org for times. Come learn the basics of efficient movement, proper posture and core strength for running. Video gait analysis hosted by Dr. Mark Cucuzzella, Laura Bergman ATC and running specialist James Munnis. Tuesday 8-10 a.m. and Thursday 4-6 p.m. or by appointment 304-876-1100. This skilled service is offered free to our local community.