Phillips

The Shepherdstown 250 celebration approaches the end as volunteers and participants look back on year and what they enjoyed most about the town’s anniversary celebration.

When visitors come to Shepherdstown, Doreen Wootton may be there to greet them if they stop by the Shepherdstown Visitors Center. Wootton has enjoyed the Shepherdstown 250 celebration, but she really enjoyed working on the commemorative quilt that Shepherdstown residents have been able to add their signatures to.

Wootton said, “I was working with the quilt with the others at Trinity. We’ve got 500 signatures on there of local people. It was quite fun to work on actually.”

Wootton and the rest of those who had been working on the quilt will present it to the mayor at the concluding ceremony of Shepherdstown 250. Wootton said she be involved in other events during the final weekend, as well, such as a potluck at the community club and the concluding parade.

Brenda Phillips, an employee of the Dickinson & Wait Craft Gallery, believes the Antietam Remembrance Walk was her favorite event to celebrate the town’s anniversary. The walk was a “really good experience” for Phillips.

Rosen

Phillips said, “We helped with the Antietam Walk. My husband and I helped with the route, monitoring the route, getting signs out on the day.

The Antietam Remembrance Walk took place on Sept. 16, 2012. Participants walked from Sharpsburg, Md. to Shepherdstown in honor of those who fought the Battle of Antietam, as well as those who offered their homes to the soldiers in need during that time.

Phillips said, “We had a good committee. Meredith Wait poured her heart and soul into it.”

Wait is the president of Shepherdstown Business Association (SBA), a major contributor to the Shepherdstown 250.

Judith Platz, vice president of SBA and owner of reFinements, believes she has participated in all of the Shepherdstown 250 events both as a member of SBA and as a business owner. She recently set up the Facebook page for Christmas in Shepherdstown.

Wooten

Platz said, “I think my favorite was the Antietam Remembrance Walk. I think Meredith, Tara and their teams have done an amazing job.”

Platz also enjoyed last year’s kick-off for the Shepherdstown 250 celebration.

She said, “I think, indirectly because of the business association, I’ve been involved in everything. When we don’t get volunteer turnout, it falls on our shoulders. Just amount of work the people who put these events together do. It’s an unpaid position. It’s something done for the love of this town.”

Eric White, owner of Blue River Clothing Company, is also part of SBA.

“I’m always helping with something,” White said, “and on a business standpoint, I like that it brings in tourists.”

Raubertas

Michael Raubertas, owner of Four Seasons, enjoyed the events that his store hosted for the Shepherdstown 250. The store is selling On the Wall, a photographic essay by Hali Taylor of Shepherdstown citizens. All proceeds of the book go to reimburse the cost of printing.

Four Seasons also hosted an event for the release of In Good Company, an anthology of poetry by local writers.

Raubertas said, “It’s a really good collection of poems by local poets. It’s very nicely put together. Poets have been a great part of Shepherdstown for awhile now.

Cari Rosen, owner of Plum, said she was a fan of the ice sculptures and Fourth of July parade. She is interested in seeing the descendants of Shepherdstown in the concluding parade.

“I grew up here,” Rosen said, “so I’m interested to see who I know.”

Platz

Rosen’s especially enjoyed seeing the community come together.

She said, “My favorite things were the things they did to make people come out, out of business and homes. It’s nice, whether cold or hot, to see everyone being together.”