The familiar scene of leaves turning to shades of orange, yellow and red serves as a reminder that Thanksgiving is quickly approaching. For many local groups, the festivities have already started.

Multiple organizations, including the Shepherdstown Men’s Club and the Shepherdstown Day Care Center, already held Thanksgiving dinners in celebration of the holiday, and others, like the Shepherdstown Presbyterian Church, have events on the horizon.

The men’s club hosted a special Thanksgiving dinner on Wednesday, Nov. 16. The dinner is one of the group’s traditional annual events. The dinner started with a social hour at 6:30 p.m. and dinner was served from 7 to 8 p.m.

The evening was not just for eating turkey and stuffing, however; the men’s club took the opportunity to hold a general membership meeting where some very important issues were discussed and voted on. After taking votes on new members to the Board of Directors, men’s club members voted on changing the name of the group, which includes both men and women, to The Community Club of Shepherdstown.

Men’s Club President Mike Austin hopes that the change will help bring in new members.

The men’s club’s Christmas dinner is the group’s next major event, which will take place on Dec. 14.

Upcoming Thanksgiving events in town also include a Thanksgiving Community Service at Shepherdstown Presbyterian Meeting House on Sunday Nov. 20 at 4 p.m. The convocation is being called a “Prologue to Shepherdstown’s 250th anniversary year.”

Mayor Jim Auxer, as well as Shepherdstown Police Chief David Ransom, will be in attendance at the service. They, along with the fire chief and librarian of the Shepherdstown Public Library, will offer brief reflections on the theme of the anniversary, which is “Remember, Celebrate, Imagine.”

Ransom said he is looking forward to the service where he said he will just say a few things about Shepherdstown.

“I just want to say that I am thankful to be in the position I am in today and I look forward to spending the holidays with the people I’ve sworn to protect and serve,” Ransom said.

Also at the service will be special musical performances by the Shepherdstown Elementary School Chorus, the Shepherd Three wind instrument trio and the Asbury United Methodists “Mighty Men of God.”

Offerings of canned foods will be accepted to help restock the pantry at the Jefferson County Community Ministry. Donations will also be taken for “Caring Cupboard,” a local charity which supplies food to needy children attending Shepherdstown Elementary and Middle Schools.