CATF Company Manager Nicole Smith discusses this year's Boofest festivities at the Town Council meeting on Tuesday night. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — On Tuesday night, the monthly Town Council meeting came to order, with images of pumpkins and candy corn on the mind.

The meeting confirmed Shepherdstown’s Halloween celebration to be held on Oct. 31, from 7-8 p.m. Also approved in the meeting were the plans for BooFest, scheduled to be held on Oct. 26 and 27.

“Tonight I’m here to ask the town to approve BooFest,” said CATF Company Manager and Boofest organizer Nicole Smith, who took over this year from former organizer and CATF Associate Producing Director Peggy McKowen. “It’s a lot of events that we hope will draw attention to our local businesses. We are doing carriage rides again. Janet will once again be doing her ghost tours.”

According to Smith, the 2019 BooFest program will start with a couple of events on Oct. 24, continuing with events through Oct. 31. To learn more about the BooFest schedule of events, visit www.facebook.com/ShepherdstownBooFest/‘>www.facebook.com/ShepherdstownBooFest/.

The Town Council approved Lynn Streu, who has a background working in housing and finance for Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, to the Planning Commission. Also approved was the proposal from the September Town Council meeting to allocate $27,000 for repairs to Market House, which needs a new roof and repairs, due to water damage.

Shepherdstown Poet Laureate Ed Zahniser spoke during the meeting, asking the council to be intentional in using Shepherdstown to fight global warming.

“When the United States withdrew from the Paris Accords, the mayor of Pittsburgh vowed the city would move in the direction of the accords. That started a movement when fleet farming became common and food was transported by bicycles. They also placed solar panels over top of the parking spaces, to keep cars cool and also generate solar energy,” Zahniser said about the Dec. 2015 Paris Agreement. “I think it would be affective for the town to commit to all projects, climate change consideration.”

Mayor Jim Auxer agreed with Zahniser, and said the town wants to continue being as green as possible.

“Shepherdstown’s a pretty green town,” Auxer said, approving Zahniser and councilman David Springer’s plan to work together to develop a report on how the town can further fight climate change. “We — David Rosen and I — are going to get together to make a list of the things we do to protect the environment.”

Veteran’s Day organizer and Army veteran Pam Donato also presented the plans for the 2020 Veteran’s Day celebration at the War Memorial Building.

“We’re planning to have Veteran’s Day a day ahead this year, on Sunday, November 10 at 1 p.m., so we can have a program during the day time,” Donato said. “It’s going to highlight Major Suydam, with the 268 cadets from his Junior ROTC program at Jefferson High School. Major Suydam will be the keynote speaker, and two of his cadets will also speak. The cadets plan on being front-and-center, doing the Presentation of Colors and music.”