A Shepherdstown Bee City sign was installed at one of the entrances to Shepherdstown last week. Courtesy photo

SHEPHERDSTOWN — The Corporation of Shepherdstown recently installed a new sign, announcing the municipality’s status as a Bee City USA.

Shepherdstown Bee City committee chair Linda Layne approached the Shepherdstown Town Council during its first monthly meeting of the year, on Jan. 8, with the request that they allocate $308 for a total of four signs to be purchased and placed at the four entrances to town. While no action was taken at the time, the Corporation of Shepherdstown later approved for one sign to be purchased for $77 and installed at the entrance to Shepherdstown along Route 45. The news was a wonderful surprise, according to Layne.

“One of the women in my committee called me yesterday and said, ‘Linda, did you know the sign was up?'” Layne said. “We had no idea!

“I went to the town with this request, because they do support the town remaining a Bee City. Asking them to pay for the sign was a way for them to kind of buy into it, a bit,” Layne said. “Shepherdstown Bee City was willing to pay for the signs, but I thought that Shepherdstown should have some skin in the game. It was really terrific that they decided to show their support in this way!”

The new sign was installed beside a similar one, proclaiming the town’s other notable status as a Tree City USA, with the Arbor Day Foundation. While the town has been a Tree City USA for 18 years, its status as a Bee City USA, through the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, is only a year old.

“The town purchased the signs at the request of the Shepherdstown Bee City USA organization. The town is fully supportive of this organization and the important volunteer work it is doing,” said Mayor James Gatz, mentioning additional signs may be installed at a later date, if deemed necessary. “It’s important to highlight our town organizations, such as Bee City, while maintaining a pleasing streetscape.”

Layne said this ideal was in mind, when the new sign was designed to be the same size as the Tree City USA sign, ensuring the signs looked in harmony together.

“This has been in-the-works for quite some time, on our end,” Layne said, referring to the Shepherdstown Bee City committee, which works year-round to maintain the town’s Bee City USA status. “The sign features a design, at the top, from Xerces. The bottom features our logo, which was designed by a very talented Shepherdstown artist, Heather Crosby. It’s a beautiful design! Michelle Mitchell-Brown, who is on my committee, then incorporated the two designs together, to create the image that will now greet the public whenever they enter town.”

A fundraiser for Shepherdstown Bee City’s ongoing pollinator work in the area will be held at Alma Bea on April 27, from 4-7 p.m. Tickets, which each come with three complimentary raffle tickets, can be purchased for $5 at the door. Items to include in the raffle are currently being accepted by the nonprofit organization.

To learn more about Shepherdstown Bee City, visit its Facebook page or email shepherdstownbeecity@yahoo.com.