SHEPHERDSTOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY

A free family-friendly movie will be shown behind the Shepherdstown Library at dusk on Friday, August first. Please bring a blanket or lawn chairs. Sponsored by FOSL, the Friends of the Shepherdstown Library, refreshments will be served. Call (304) 876-2783 or email “mailto:splchild@martin.lib.wv.us”>splchild@martin.lib.wv.us for more information.

Starting Aug. 4, children who read library books (or have been read to) are invited to return completed summer reading logs, to receive wonderful prizes from generous local businesses.

There will be a French Immersion Story Time on Monday, Aug. 4, and a Spanish Story Time on Monday, Aug. 11. Both run from 4 to 4:45 P.M. in the Library’s Children’s Department for infants through grade two.

Alice Munro’s Dear Life: Stories will be discussed on Friday, Aug. 29 at 4 p.m. in the Library. Winner of the Nobel Prize, Munro has been called “the best short story writer in English today.” The FOSL Book Group welcomes new members.

Register for the Library’s free weekly story times (for infants through age twelve) from Sept. 8 through 13.

ONGOING

Need to get the cat or dog spayed or neutered? Contact Spay Today — our area’s non-profit, reduced-fee spay and neuter program. Many vets to choose from covering a wide area. New vets added. At the time of surgery, initial shots and tests can also be obtained at lower rates. Contact Spay Today: www.baacs.org or 304-728-8330.

Intermediate Bridge players are invited to join an informal group meeting every Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Trinity Episcopal Chapel. All are welcome and walk-ins are encouraged. For more information, contact 304-876-6244.

The Shepherdstown Museum, at the corner of German and Princess streets, is open on weekends from April through October, on July 4, and during Christmas in Shepherdstown. Public hours are: Saturdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sundays, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Visits can be arranged at other times by calling 304-876-0910 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

EARTHEN VESSELS: An Introduction to Shamanic Practice for Adults Ages 18 -108 will be offered on Mondays, Aug. 25-Sept. 15, from 7-8:30 p.m., at a Shepherdstown location to be announced closer to class time. Shamanism precedes all religions of the world by tens of thousands of years and teaches reverence for and connectedness with the world of nature. It is a path of direct experience. The course will be taught by Bill O’Brien, M.A., M.Div. Course fee is $80 for Adults and $45 for Students. Special discount for those 109 and up. Please register by phone at 304-876-6071 or email at nathanielcenter@gmail.com.

THE NATHANIEL PROGRAM: 8 Weeks of Meditation & Spiritual Awareness Training will be offered on Tuesday evenings, Sept 30-Nov 18 from 7:30-9 p.m. at a Shepherdstown location to be announced closer to class time. Participants will gradually build to 20 minutes of breathing meditation daily. The class will also explore a wide range of spiritual and religious traditions in search of new perspectives and greater awareness. The course will be taught by Bill O’Brien, M.A., M.Div, spiritual development practitioner . Course fee is $120 for Adults, $80 for Students. Please register by phone at 304-876-6071 or email nathanielcenter@gmail.com .

“Learning True Love: Advancing on the Path to Wholeness” will be offered on Thursday evenings, Oct. 2-Nov. 20, from 7:30-9 p.m. at a Shepherdstown location to be announced closer to class time. This is a new program offered by the Nathaniel Center for Spiritual Growth and taught by Bill O’Brien, M.A., M.Div. The program will be experiential in that participants will purposefully seek to make strides on the path to True Love by practicing Loving Kindness Meditation for 30 minutes a day, by examining research on stages of faith development, by opening to stories of true love in action, by examining the Buddhist sutra Prajnaparamita , by stretching their comfort zones to include new experiences, by sharing their experiences together, and by entering the realm of mystery through intensive guided imagery meditations. This program will draw on spiritual paths and great religious teachers from throughout history and from around the contemporary world. Participants will aim for and should expect to find themselves in a significantly new space by the end of the program. Course fee is $160. There is no prerequisite for this program but those who are new to meditation will likely benefit more from the Nathaniel Program listed above. Please register by phone at 304-876-6071 or email nathanielcenter@gmail.com.

Outdoor Yoga at Morgan’s Grove Market: Start Saturdays off right! Join us each week for an outdoor yoga flow at Morgan’s Grove Market. Please bring your own mat (and maybe even a friend). $10 per person, children must be accompanied by an adult. Morgan’s Grove Market is located at 3988 Kearneysville Pike, Shepherdstown, 25443 (Right next to Morgan’s Grove Park). For more information, visit www.Facebook.com/MorgansGroveMarket.

Please join us for a new series of special, 2nd Saturday events in Harpers Ferry’s Market District, July – October. Westwind Potters is hosting wonderful guest artists each month, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., 144 High Street. The Harpers Ferry Merchants Association (HFMA) is coordinating live acoustic music at High Street Holler (off the steps at 180 High Street) from 6 – 7:30 p.m. For more information, please contact HFMA president Lisa Kovatch at Westwind Potters, 304-535-2511.

Ricco Gallery presents an exhibit of photography by Shepherdstonian Seth Freeman, through Aug. 3. Freeman is especially known locally for his work for the Contemporary American Theater Festival and portraits of local musicians. His photographs have been published in The Washington Post, Washingtonian Magazine, the Frederick News-Post, by the Smithsonian Channel and numerous other publications. Ricco Gallery hours are noon through 6 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The gallery is at 125 West German Street, next door to The Press Room restaurant. For more information, call 304-870-4175.

Aug. 3

The Bridge Gallery is having a closing reception from 2-4 p.m. for its current event, Summer Exhibit 2014. Artists Seth Hill and Gavin Gardner will be on hand to meet guests and discuss their work.

Also on display is work by Diana Suttenfield and Jacob Stilley along with ceramics by a variety of local artists and wood carvings by Neil Super from Two Rivers Turning. We welcome the community and visitors to the area to take this last opportunity to see this special exhibit and meet exhibiting artists. For additional information call (304) 876-2300.

Aug. 7

Monthly Program of the Eastern Panhandle Entrepreneurs Forum will present a panel discussion: “So You Want to be a Star: Branding Yourself for the 21st Century.” Panelists are Peter Corum, developer of Morgan Grove’s Market as well as a radio host and financial advisor; John Diamondidis, aka Big John Greene, a professional wrestler and Internet entrepreneur; Matt Hahn, family physician and owner of River Bend Family Medicine, health activist and rock and roll singer. The panel will be moderated by Jeanne Mozier, an author, business owner, astrologer and social entrepreneur. 5:30 p.m.-networking, refreshments and exhibitors; 6:30 p.m.-program at The Country Inn, 110 S. Washington St., Berkeley Springs, www.thecountryinnwv.com.

Aug. 9

New Street United Methodist Church in Shepherdstown will be holding its annual Peach Festival on Saturday, rom 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.. Homemade peach pie (by the slice), homemade peach ice cream, peach crisp, other desserts, sandwiches, and drinks will be offered. If available, whole peach pies will be sold after 2 p.m. Everyone is invited to come and enjoy good food and fellowship. 304/876-2362

Save the date for the 5th Annual Identity Crisis Red Carpet! The event will be held on Saturday, Aug. 9 in Shepherdstown. This is a fun filled evening of costumes, music and frivolity all to benefit the Breast Cancer Awareness organization of Cumberland Valley. The event will begin in Shepherdstown bars and restaurants downtown at 8 p.m., with a dance party from 9 to 11 at the Community Club (formerly Men’s Club) and continue throughout the evening at participating establishments. For more information visit Facebook, the website www.identitycrisiswv.com or contact the event coordinator, Tara Sanders-Lowe Event Planning and Promotion, via e-mail at tara@eventplanningandpromotion.com.