Rumsey Monument will not be lit
At its meeting held March 8, town council voted in accordance with a recommendation made by Shepherdstown Parks and Recreation Committee not to light Rumsey Monument.
In a letter addressed to the Parks and Recreation Committee on Feb. 22, Josh Stella, president of the planning commission and member of the town council, asked that the committee to “measure the cost and potential benefits in an objective and complete manner” and argued that doing so would “require a rejection of the proposal.”
Stella cited the potential impact of light pollution on the town and Shepherd University’s observatory, as well as the ecological impact lighting the park would have on local bird population as some major downsides of lighting the park.
Traci Morris, a resident of Mill Street also penned a letter to be included in the record for the Feb. 22 meeting, in which she argued that “the ecological costs of lighting the monument dwarf the monetary costs and these ecological costs only outweigh any hypothetical benefits arising from this illumination, but in truth detract from the very essence of our town.”
According to Howard Mills, chair of the Parks and Recreation committee, the group voted unanimously to recommend to town council not to light the monument. Town council followed suit with a unanimous vote.
Youth workshop set at theater
The Full Circle Theater, 113 S. Princess St., will offer its youth workshop for ages 8 through 18 this spring, featuring a production of the musical “Seussical Jr.”
From March 21 to May 1, on Monday and Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoons, students will be involved in all aspects of mounting a production on our main stage, culminating in three performances for the public.
The story of centers around Horton the Elephant, who faces ridicule, danger, kidnapping and a trial, while protecting the invisible Whos and guarding an abandoned bird egg. The intrepid Gertrude McFuzz never loses faith in him, recognizing “his kind and his powerful heart.” Ultimately, the powers of friendship, loyalty, family and community are challenged and emerge triumphant, in a story to make you laugh and cry.
Tuition to participate is $200. Visit the Full Circle Theater Company’s site for a registration form and send it with a check to FCTC, Post Office Box 2127, Shepherdstown, WV 25443.
After school
program set
Children ages five and older are invited to attend the Library’s After School Program March 31 from 4 to 4:45 p.m.
Laurie and Zachary Scott of Solsbury Hill Farm in Harpers Ferry will bring an armload of American Alpine and Nubian dairy goats to the second-floor Children’s Department. There will be books about goats to borrow, a question and answer period and an opportunity to feed the goats with a baby bottle.
Questions? Call the Library at 304-876-2783, email spl child@martin.lib.wv.us, or visit us at the intersection of German and King Streets.
For information about these and other farm animals, call the Scotts at 304-582-3440 or visit www.zenequus.net.
Admistration day to be held
The contributions of office and administrative professionals will be recognized April 27 at the 14th annual Administrative Professionals Day seminar to be held at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown.
This year’s theme is “Celebrate All Office Professionals.” The guest speaker, Nancy Hightshoe, is an expert in professional and personal effectiveness and safety, security and survival.
Hightshoe will cover “Charisma – Developing Your Leadership Abilities” and “Out of Harm’s Way – Making Smart Safety Choices.”
Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. The seminar will be held from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. at NCTC on Shepherd Grade Road, four miles north of Shepherdstown.
The cost for the one-day seminar is $40 per person. Lunch is the responsibility of the individual; however, food is available in the NCTC dining hall. Lunch tickets will be sold at the registration desk for $9.
The registration deadline is April 8. Please contact Juanita_Gustines@fws.gov for a registration form.
Citizens input sought for plan
The Jefferson County Departments of Planning and Zoning invites interested citizens to attend a series of meetings to gather citizen input related to land use and future planning efforts for the U.S. Route 340 East Gateway Plan.
Planning and zoning will host a kick-off meeting followed by a series of three collaborative meetings that build upon the information received and knowledge gained from the previous meeting to receive input from landowners, citizens and stakeholders regarding thoughts on:
How to establish this corridor as the gateway to the state of West Virginia and Jefferson County;
Ways to promote economic development and attract tourism to Jefferson County;
Thoughts on growth along the corridor;
Identifying and discussing issues, strengths and weaknesses of the corridor;
Brainstorming possible solutions and alternative development and transportation patterns;
Why you moved to this area, live in this area or work within this area.
The meeting is March 26 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at C. W. Shipley Elementary School.
For more information, please frequently check our website at www.jeffersoncountywv.org/ or contact the Departments of Planning and Zoning at 304-728-3228.