ONGOING

Beginning and intermediate Bridge players are invited to join an informal group meeting every Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Trinity Episcopal Church. All are welcome and walk-ins are encouraged. For more information, contact 876-2661 or 876-0751.

Spay Today is this area’s low cost, non-profit program for spaying and neutering cats and dogs. At the time of surgery, initial tests and shots can be obtained at lower rates. To find a participating vet near you visit “http://www.baacs.org”>www.baacs.org or 304-728-8330.

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 ww.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 to 6 p.m. or by appointment 304-876-1100. This skilled service is offered free to our local community.

STARTING TODAY

CHARLES TOWN – Announcing a Photography Exhibit by Ellen Hardesty and Frank Robbins in the Jean Heiler Gallery at the Old Opera House, 240 N. George St. Twenty prints will be exhibited. March 18 6-7:30 p.m. is the opening reception; March 19, 25 and 26, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.; March 20 and 27 1-2 p.m.

MARCH 18-25

CHARLES TOWN The Old Opera House presents “Catfish Moon,” a look a love and friendship. Performances are March 18, 19, 25 and 26 at 8 p.m.; March 20 and 27 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $17 for Friday and Saturday shows, $15 for Sunday matinees, and students get in every show for $8. For more information, visit www.oldoperahouse.org, call 1-888-900-SHOW or email ooh@oldoperahouse.org.

MARCH 19

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 atkheldreth@hotmail.com or 304-229-6229 or 540-931-5945.

A large yard and bake sale will be held Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the corner of Summit Point Rd. and Hawthorne Ave. in Summit Point, followed by a public information meeting at the library at 2 p.m. Proceeds will go to StopPATH WV (www.stoppathwv.com).

MARCH 21

The Jefferson County Historical Society, the Shepherdstown Men’s Club and the Historic Shepherdstown Commission 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. Tucker will be joined by other 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 22

The Women’s Studies Program of Shepherd University and Friends of Shepherdstown Library (FOSL) will host, “Pushing Boundaries“, the storytelling of 1950s housewife turned ERA activist, Ellouise Schoettler at 7:30 p.m. at the War Memorial building ( Men’s Club). The event will benefit the library. Seating is limited, so be sure to reserve your ticket early, ($15 at the Library or at the door). For more details : www.pushingboundariesstory.com/ellouise-schoettler

THROUGH MARCH 25

The Shepherd University Department of Contemporary Art and Theater will present a solo exhibition by photographer and faculty member Rick Bruner in the Frank Center Gallery. Bruner’s exhibit titled “Sabbatical Exhibition” chronicles his year-long trip around the world and includes images of Cambodia, Thailand, Jordan, and Egypt. For more information about the Shepherd Department of Contemporary Art and Theater, programs and faculty, visit www.shepherd.edu/artweb/.

The Performing Arts Series at Shepherd University will present LUMA Theater of Light at 8 p.m. in the Frank Center. LUMA has performed on four continents and across the United States. Tickets are available at the Shepherd Bookstore, 304-876-5219 or www.shepherdbook.com and are $20 for general admission; $15 for seniors and Shepherd staff; $5 for children under 18 and free to Shepherd students with a valid Rambler ID. For more information about this event, contact Rachael Meads at rmeads@shepherd.edu.

MARCH 26

The Potomac Valley Audubon Society is sponsoring a birding trip to the Shannondale Springs Wildlife Management Area in Jefferson County. There is no fee and anyone is welcome to participate. Participants will meet at 8 a.m. in the parking lot in front of the Martin’s Supermarket in the Jefferson Crossroads shopping Center off Route 340 just east of Charles Town. For more information, contact trip leader Sandy Sagalkin at 240-291-6465 or monsansagalkin@myactv.net. In case of inclement weather, contact him to see if the trip is still on, trip details could change depending on weather and recent bird sightings.

The Potomac Valley Audubon Society is sponsoring a tour of the Ridge State Fish Hatchery in Morgan County. The tour is free, and anyone is welcome to join in. The hatchery is a state-run facility that is currently used to raise trout to be stocked in state waters and some private waters that are open to the public. Participants should plan to meet at 1 p.m. at the hatchery building. The hatchery is located south of Berkeley Springs off Route 522, about 2 miles north of the Virginia state line. The address is 12051 Valley Road. 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.

MARCH 26 – 27

Come out for the Grand re-re-re opening of the Shepherdstown Really Really Free Market, Spring Edition. The Really Really Free Market is a community event where we can all gather to share objects, food, ideas, or whatever we want to share. Nothing is bought or sold at this market meaning that it’s all free. Shepherdstown has already hosted several Really Really free markets that included items such as Roller blades, shoes, clothes, a Nintendo 64, bagels, TVs, CDs, fabrics, microscopes, and locally grown produce. Bring all your old “junk” and whatever else you want to share including useful skills and crafts (although please refrain from bringing paints and other toxic/industrial chemicals). The RRFM will commence at McMurran Hall-located in Shepherdstown right in front of the big clock tower on German Street, both days from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Join us in this celebration of a gift economy. Sponsored by the Shepherd Student Environmental Action Coalition. For more information contact Robby Glenn at 304-839-9317 or via email at rglenn51989@gmail. com.

MARCH 27

The Shepherdstown Fire Department wall be having a ” Sunday Dinner.” The menu will include Fried Chicken and Roast Beef and all the trimmings with homemade rolls and desserts. Cost will be $9 for adults, $5 for children (ages 6-15) and children under the age of 6 eat free. The buffet will be served from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. in Barron Hall at the fire department. Our fire department is located at 8052 Martinsburg Pike (route 45 West). Plan now to attend and support your local volunteers so that they may provide emergency services to Shepherdstown and the surrounding communities. Questions; call the fire department 304-876 2311 or 304-876 6038.

MARCH 28

Dr. Nancy Etcoff, author of Shepherd University’s 2010-11 common reading selection, “Survival of the Prettiest,” will give a lecture in the Frank Center Theater at 7 p.m. A question-and-answer session, and book-signing will follow the lecture. Etcoff is a faculty member at Harvard Medical School and a practicing psychologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. Her research explores what it is in the human nature that makes a person susceptible to beauty, what qualities in people evoke this response, and why sensitivity to beauty crosses all cultures. For more information about the event, contact Judi McIntyre at jmcin tyr@shepherd.edu or 304-876-5396.

BERKELEY SPRINGS -?The Eastern Panhandle Regional Planning & Development Council Region 9 Full Council Meeting will be held Monday from 12 to 2 p.m. at Maria’s Garden, located at 42 Independence St.

MARCH 30

The American Red Cross will be at Shepherd University, 301 King St., from 10 a.m. Until 4 p.m. for a blood drive. To be eligible to donate, you must be 17 years of age (Note that 16-year-olds may donate in some states with parental permission-check with the Red Cross), at least 110 pounds, and be in reasonably good health. A person can give every 56 days. All blood types are needed, but O negative and O positive.

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.

– From staff reports