THE SHEPHERDSTOWN PUBLICH LIBRARY

We continue planning for our new library and everyone is welcome to attend the meetings of the Shepherdstown Library Project’s Steering Committee, which is held the fourth Wednesday of each month in the Art Room at Shepherdstown Elementary at 4 p.m. Call Library Director Hali Taylor at (304) 876-2783 if you would like to volunteer.

THE SHEPHERDSTOWN MUSEUM

The Shepherdstown Museum, near the corner of German and Princess Streets is open on weekends from April through October: Saturdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sundays, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Special times can be arranged. Please call the Historic Shepherdstown office, which is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, at 304-876-0910.The Museum tells the history of Shepherdstown and of the Entler Hotel, in which it is located. On display are 18th and 19th century crafts, other early artifacts, and a half-scale replica, made by local craftsmen, of James Rumsey’s early steamboat.

ONGOING

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 also be obtained at lower rates. To find a participating vet near you, visit “http://www.baacs.org”>www.baacs.org or call 304-728-8330.

TODAY

The Devonshire Cafe and Pub will celebrate its official open house from 3 p.m. until close. Live music will be provided by TJ and the Channel Cats, a band out of Baltimore playing from 9:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. Hors d’oeuvres and finger foods will be served and beer specials will be available throughout the day. A full menu will also be available. No cover will be charged.

AUG. 13

New Street United Methodist Church in Shepherdstown will be holding its annul Peach Festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Homemade peach pie (by the slice), peach crisp, homemade peach ice cream as well as country ham and other sandwiches will be offered for sale. Whole pies may be available after 2 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend.

AUG. 13 and 14

RESA 8 will offer a Swift Water Rescue Operations Class Saturday and Sunday. Classes will start at 8 a.m. each day at the Independent Volunteer Fire Company in Ranson. Ed Sankbeil will be the instructor. The course fee is $20. Participants must pass a swim test to enroll in Swift Water Rescue Operations. A swim test will be conducted at Shepherd University on Sunday, Aug. 7, from 4 to 6 p.m. Swift Water Rescue Awareness and Rope Rescue Low Angle Operations are pre-requisites for Swift Water Rescue Operations. Participants must provide a swift water helmet and PFD. Wetsuit is optional. Swift Water Rescue Operations is a pre-requisite for Swift Water Rescue Technician. Participants must provide a swift water helmet and PFD. Wetsuit is optional. To register online, visit www.resa8.org. For more information contact Dave Plume by phone at 304-267-3595, ext. 112, or by email at dplume@access.k12.wv.us. To learn more about RESA 8’s educational programs in Berkeley, Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, Mineral, Morgan and Pendleton counties, call 304-267-3595 or visit their website resa8.org.

AUG. 14

Shepherdstown Farmers Market will be having a Tomato Contest. Bring your heaviest, biggest, smallest, ugliest, best tasting, most unusual tomato to the market. They can be any color, and if you do not have any, the market will have plenty to choose from. The judging will take place around 12:15 p.m., behind the Shepherdstown Library. The winners will receive “Market Bucks” and other prizes. For more info, find the market on Facebook.

The Potomac Valley Audubon Society will sponsor a free tour of the Redbud Organic Farm near Gerrardstown, W.Va. Those who wish to participate should plan to meet the society’s Executive Director Kristin Alexander, at 12:45 p.m. at the Food Lion Parking lot on Route 51 in Inwood. The tour group will caravan and carpool from there to the farm. The farm tour will last from 1 to about 2:30 p.m. The farm is owned and operated by Haroun Hallack and Clarissa Mathews. Hallack served as an extension agent in Sierra Leone, West Africa, and has extensive training in sustainable agricultural technologies and green building. Mathews, who has a Ph.D. in entomology, is a former U.S. Department of Agriculture researcher who now teaches at Shepherd University’s Institute for Environmental Studies. For more information about the tour, email pvasmail@aol.com or call 304-676-3397.

AUG. 17

CHARLES TOWN – Sokel MakeUp and Skin Care will present a free Back to School Teen/Pre-Teen Skin Care workshop at its location at 123 N. Charles St., Charles Town. The event, which begins at 7 p.m., will give demonstrations while teaching attendees what causes acne and how to actively treat and prevent it. Be the first 10 there and receive a free gift. For more information, call 304-728-8801 or find Sokel MakeUp and Skin Care on Facebook.

AUG. 20

Morgan’s Grove Farm Market will be held at 10:30 a.m. at 3988 Kearneysville Pike, in Shepherdstown.

AUG. 20 and 27

The Elmwood Cemetery Board of Directors is pleased to announce the annual “Testimony of the Rocks” Tour. This year the board is offering two tours. The first tour is scheduled for Saturday, August 20 at 6:30 p.m. The second tour is scheduled for Saturday, August 27 at 10:30 a.m. The same information will be offered at each tour. Both tours will be led by Shepherdstown Historian Laureate Dr. Jim Price. He will be assisted by local historian Doug Perks. The cost of the tour is $10 per person. All proceeds will go toward the restoration of tombstones in Elmwood Cemetery. The tour will take place in one location this year.

AUG. 21

HARPERS FERRY – Harpers Ferry National Historic Park invites the public to retrace the 1906 steps of men and women of the Niagara Movement during the commemorative walk to the 1906 site of the John Brown fort. Following the pilgrimage, a nondenominational memorial service will begin at 10 a.m. at the Curtis Freewill Baptist Church. Those wishing to participate should drive directly to the Murphy Farm and then to the church. For more information, call the park at 304-535-6029.

AUG. 24 and 25

The Shepherd University Rude Mechanicals Medieval and Renaissance Players will hold auditions for Shakespeare’s Macbeth each day from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. in Reynolds Hall. Actors (for major and minor roles), dancers, musicians, and costume and set designers are needed. Shepherd students will earn three credits. Community members 16 and older are encouraged to audition. For more information, contact Betty Ellzey at 304-876-5208 or bellzey@shepherd.edu.

AUG. 28

UVILLA – All descendants of John Jacob Link and their families and friends are invited to attend the 59th Annual Link Reunion at 1 p.m. at St. James Luthern Parish Hall, 4.5 miles south of Shepherdstown. Please bring a dish for the potluck luncheon. Beverages and utensils will be provided. For more information, contact Sara Lee Bond at 304-724-7594 or saralee bond@frontiernet.net.

KEARNEYSVILLE – Enjoy an 18th Century dinner in the barn of the historic 1751 Burr House, beginning at 6 p.m. Following period cookbooks and menus, the bill of fare will include a salad, roasted chickens with claret and apple sauce, apple pie, potatoes, cymlings, and a tansy or fool. Dessert to follow will comprise of seasonal fruits and nuts, as was customary. Please bring your own place settings. After dinner, enjoy family entertainments of period music and dancing, in which all may join in.

AUG. 29

The American Red Cross will be at the Shepherdstown Fire Hall from 2 to 7 p.m. for those wishing to donate blood. To be eligible to donate, you must be 17 years of age, meet weight and height requirements and be in reasonably good health. A person can give every 56 days. Please bring your Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID when you come to donate. Sign up on-line at www.redcrossblood.org.

THROUGH SEPT. 1

Trinity Episcopal Church’s Thrift Shop, 104 S. Church St., is having a sale on all summer clothing or fill a grocery bag with clothing for just $5. Fall clothing will become available Sept. 6. Hours are Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. To 4 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. To 1 p.m. Please call the church office at 304-876-6990 with questions.

SEPT. 2

First Friday Coffeehouse will kickoff it’s sixth season with The Big Open Mic at Trinity Church Orchard House on Route 45, four miles from the four-way stop in Shepherdstown Doors open for social time and sign-up at 7:30 p.m. All open mic participants should be there early to get a slot to perform 3 – 5 songs at one of the area’s premier listening rooms. Enjoy a great evening of music and fellowship. Snacks and refreshments served. Trinity Church Orchard House is located at 4599 Shepherdstown Rd. (Rt. 45/north side), midway between Martinsburg and Shepherdstown. A $5 to $10 donation is requested. For more information, contact Steve Warner at 304-676-4422 or 304-876-2915. Also check www.myspace.com/firstfridaycoffeehouse.

SEPT. 12

Hospice of the Panhandle is offering a new, one-day workshop designed to help participants learn about grief and ways to cope. The workshop, titled Coping with Grief, will offer information about the course of grief, healthy ways to cope with grief after the loss of a loved one. This workshop will be offered at the Jefferson County Hospice Office from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Preregistration is required so for more information or to register, please call Daniel Speis, bereavement coordinator, at 304-264-3902 or email him at dspeis@hospiceotp.org.

SEPT. 18

CHARLES TOWN – Briggs Animal Adoption Center and Spay Today present “Whiskers and Wags Woof It Up” dinner and silent auction. The event will take place at the Skyline Ballroom at Hollywood Casino at 6 p.m. For tickets, call 304-724-6558 or visit www.baacs.org.