Wratchford

SHEPHERDSTOWN — The Shepherdstown Community Club is looking forward to getting back to normal this year, following two years of disrupted events, thanks to the COVID-19 Pandemic. For many months, the War Memorial Building sat idle, while events were continuously canceled due to safety concerns over the spread of the pandemic.

Kicking off what the club hopes to be a fun-filled, active season, the club will host a Mix and Mingle event on Tuesday night, from 6-8 p.m. The event will welcome guests for hearty appetizers, beer, wine and fellowship, while sharing the club’s plans for 2022.

“COVID numbers are going down, masks are coming off and people are emerging, seeking the friendship of others,” explained SCC president Jennifer Wabnitz. “We are organizing a fun evening, with an inspirational speech from one of Shepherdstown’s own celebrities, Miss Jaelyn Wratchford.”

Wratchford, a student at Shepherd University, is Miss West Virginia 2021.

On March 26, the club members will turn out to clean Morgan’s Grove Park and prepare for its official spring opening.

“There are a lot of chores to do, like weeding the flower boxes, removing debris from the stream and power washing the playground,” Wabnitz said.

Other jobs that need to be completed, include painting a bridge, cleaning the gutters and overall tidying up of the property. The club will provide coffee, water, snacks and most of the tools that will be necessary to complete the work.

The motivation behind the park cleaning is the park’s official opening day, on April 2. The SCC will host a ribbon cutting ceremony that day at noon, to officially kick off the spring season and introduce the signage produced by Collin Guedel, a scout from Troop 33 in Shepherdstown, who has been working on his Eagle Scout project within the park.

The project, according to club member Steve Wabnitz, had two parts. The first was the creation of a pollinator garden, which was completed last fall, and the second is a 16-station display along the park’s walking path. Each of the 16 stops offers an all-weather sign, describing a variety of trees found within the park. The stations also provide information about the Shepherdstown Community Club, inviting donations through the club’s website, via a QR code.

Grilled hot dogs will be available for the first 200 guests on opening day.