SHEPHERDSTOWN — The monthly Shepherdstown Town Council meeting was held on Nov. 13 at Town Hall.

The second reading of an ordinance to create and adopt 3-409 of chapter four, title three of the Code of Shepherdstown to permit the Corporation of Shepherdstown Police Department and its designated to inspect private clubs was conducted during the meeting. In addition, the Corporation of Shepherdstown’s holiday preparations and involvement with the Eastern Panhandle Home Consortium of West Virginia were discussed.

According to Shepherdstown Visitors Center Director Marianne Davis, preparing the town for Christmas requires many hours of work from dedicated volunteers around town.

“Now that BooFest is done, all of the corn stalks and decorations are down. So Rotary is decorating our town Christmas tree, and we’ll be putting up Christmas decorations and lights along German Street and Princess Street this year,” Davis said, mentioning the next six weeks will busy for the town, as they will be filled with Christmas in Shepherdstown events, including a new event this year, a tour of Shepherdstown’s historic churches on Dec. 26.

According to Davis, the town will see a colorful twist to previous years’ Christmas decorations.

“Bows in tulle in different colors the tulle bows are our innovation. I’ve got six-yard-lengths of red tulle, and six-yard-lengths of white tulle, and both colors will go on each tree,” Davis said, mentioning 33 of the town’s trees will be decorated for the holiday season.

Davis discussed the challenge with getting all of the Christmas lights decorating the businesses along German Street and Princess Street in place, and agreed with Mayor Jim Auxer to try to have the Christmas lights ready for the towns Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Friday, by Nov. 19.

“We want the ‘wow’ factor when the community is lit up on Friday night,” said Town Council Member Deb Tucker.

Carrie Drewry, who is currently enrolled in Hood College’s environmental biology master’s degree program, was approved by the Town Council to fill the vacancy on the Corporation of Shepherdstown Tree Commission.

“I’m a lifelong resident of town, and now I’m raising my son in town, and I’d like to learn more about how things work, and give back to my community by being a member of the Tree Commission,” Drewry said. “When I saw the vacancy, I knew I wanted to be a part of it.”

The Town Council unanimously agreed to continue participating in the Eastern Panhandle Home Consortium of West Virginia, authorizing a three-year Housing Consortium Cooperative Agreement between the Corporation of Shepherdstown, City of Martinsburg, Jefferson County, Berkeley County and Morgan County, from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2021. The agreement will make it possible for people to apply for federal grant-funded home loans, when they’re planning to buy homes in the Eastern Panhandle.

Shepherd University Rotaract Club’s community service produce drop for April 27, 2019 was proposed by Rotaract Secretary Veronica McDade, and unanimously approved by the Town Council. According to McDade, the types of produce needed for the community service project will be released closer to the date of the event.