The Shepherdstown Community Club (SCC) has launched its effort to begin raising funds to build a multi-purpose band shell at Morgan’s Grove Park. Over the Christmas holiday, local musicians, led by Terry Tucker, Lisa Lafferty and Kathleen produced a “Winter Muse Concert” on Dec. 18 at the Blue Moon Cafe. A mix of traditional and modern Christmas music was performed and in appreciation, audience members contributed $146 to launch a band shell fund for the park.

Tucker said that The Muses musicians wanted to contribute to the celebration of Shepherdstown’s 250 anniversary and thought a fund to get the ball rolling towards construction of a band shell at Morgan’s Grove was a good choice for them.

“We hope that it will encourage others to join in and contribute,” Tucker said.

Club member Mike Austin commented, “This was a spontaneous and gracious offer by Terry and her musician friends. Even though we are still in the planning stages, we just couldn’t say no. The Eastern Panhandle is blessed with numerous talented musicians and enthusiastic supporters. It would be a waste not to build on this small, but important initiative so we will ramp up the process.”

Austin went on to explain that an Earth Day event will be conducted on Apr. 28 at the park that will give another opportunity to look critically at what kind of a band shell is needed from the perspective of the performers. Ideas on any aspect of design, facilities and placement from the public are welcome.

“We hope to make it as multi-functional as possible to meet the needs of a broad sector of our talented community. For that reason we are looking at including a dance floor as well,” Austin said.

Contributions or suggestions, can be submitted to Marit Davis, the SCC treasurer at P.O. Box 463 in Shepherdstown, WV 25443.