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Shepherd University Breaks Ground For Multipurpose Facility
The spring rain let up yesterday as Shepherd University held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new dining and multipurpose facility on West Campus, near the intramural fields.
The facility will house a 300 seat student dining facility along with state-of-the-art weight training facilities, locker rooms, and staff offices for several of the University’s athletic teams.
Shepherd University President Mary J.C. Hendrix opened the ceremony, sharing that the “new facility is the next step in bringing our strategic plan for the future of Shepherd University to fruition, and it has taken the collaboration of our dedicated staff, our community and business partners, and our state and national representatives to reach this milestone.”
According to Eric Lewis, former chair of the University's Board of Governors and currently chair of the West Campus Enhancement Committee, the project team hit the ground running in January of this year, only a couple of months after funding was secured from the state government.
Lewis says the committee is working with the architect and general contractor under a design-build process and he expects the building to be open by June 2026. Lewis also shared that the total project budget is $22 million and is one of the largest design-build projects undertaken in West Virginia.
More images at ObserverWV.com.
A message from the Shepherdstown Opera House
A young farm family finds love and hate — sometimes in the same person.
“Bleeding Kansas,” a powerful historical drama, explores the turbulent events that led to the Civil War, told through the voices of those who lived it.
3 performances this weekend: Friday & Saturday (May 16 & 17) at 7 pm, Sunday (May 18) at 3 pm.
Advance ticket purchase encouraged given limited seating at the historic Shepherdstown Opera House.
>>>Info & tickets…
CTUB Upgrades Waste Water Treatment Plant
The main Charles Town wastewater treatment plant on George Street has cleaned a lot of water since it first opened in the 1950s.
CTUB (Charles Town Utility Board), which operates the Charles Town plant along with two wastewater treatment facilities in Jefferson County, recently completed a $12 million upgrade to the George Street facility.
The planning and design for this project took four years and construction began in 2022. According to CTUB, the key reason for the long design and construction period was the need to keep the facility in operation throughout the entire project.
According to Chris Eckenrod, an engineer with the Gwin, Dobson & Foreman company of consulting engineers who supervised the project design and implementation, the upgrades dramatically improve the efficiency of the facility. Eckenrod gave an example of the centrifuge pump system that extracts water from the sludge that is eventually shipped for disposal at the end of the process, noting that the new system removes almost 50 percent more water from the sludge before disposal.
Kristen Stolipher, CTUB’s General Manager, noted that this round of upgrades was focused on improving efficiency. She estimates that the facility has the capacity to serve another 5,000 houses and that the utility is already working on plans for expanding capacity to meet future needs. Stolipher says she expects to be presenting expansion options to the CTUB board in the next several months.
A message from the Shepherdstown Community Club
The annual Back Alley Garden Tour & Tea will take place on Saturday and Sunday, May 17 & 18 (rain or shine) in Shepherdstown. There will be 15 gardens on the tour, open 10 to 4 (both days). This year’s tour will be concentrated on the east side of town. The tea service runs 11 to 3 both days, upstairs at the War Memorial Building (102 East German St). This year’s event is organized by the Shepherdstown Community Club, with sponsorship by the Jefferson County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Ticket price is $30 and includes access to all gardens both days and one tea service. Tickets are available online, at multiple designated Shepherdstown businesses, or on the date of the tour in the War Memorial building.
>>>Info & tickets…
High School Seniors Receive Appointments To Service Academies
Nine Jefferson County seniors will be heading to US military academies in the fall.
The Jefferson County Board of Education recognized these students during its meeting on May 12. Pictured above (in uniform, left to right) are Mason Derrick (US Air Force Academy), Faith Foglesong (US Air Force Academy), Agustin Hall (US Military Academy), Lydia Hayes (US Coast Guard Academy), Travis Jenkins (US Military Academy), Hannah Phillips (US Military Academy Prep School), Merrick Reddington (US Military Academy Prep School), and Tristan Rucker (US Naval Academy Prep School). Sean Fagan (not shown) received news that he had been appointed to the US Air Force Academy the following day.
Retired USAF Major Philip Suydam is the Junior ROTC program advisor at Jefferson High School. He says that typically two or three students from Jefferson County receive appointments to the service academies each year.
Suydam called this year’s number “extraordinary” and went on to say “these students have excelled in every aspect of their high school lives. In the classroom, they have tackled a rigorous schedule packed with Advanced Placement, Honors and dual-enrollment courses. They have earned varsity letters in athletics and have been recognized as leaders in a variety of student government positions and various clubs throughout the school. They are all exceptionally well-rounded and thoroughly respected role models!”
Events Snapshot: Arts, Culture & Community
Highlights of upcoming events around Jefferson County:
Wonka - Family-friendly outdoor movie night (North Charles St, Charles Town). Friday May 16, 8 pm (food/drink sales start 6 pm). Free. Info…
The Greenhouse & They Have Become Forest — Two queer plays by Roving Peregrine Theatre Company at Black Box Arts Center (113 South Princess St, Shepherdstown). May 15, 16, 17, 18. Info & tickets…
Bleeding Kansas — A play about a young farm family that finds love and hate, sometimes in the same person. Presented by Town Run Theater Company at the Shepherdstown Opera House (131 West German St, Shepherdstown). May 16, 17, 18 and 23, 24, 25. Info & tickets…
Harpers Ferry World Fiddle Day — Multiple concerts and musician workshops (Washington Street, Harpers Ferry). Friday May 16, 8pm, all day Saturday May 17. Kids under 16 free. Info & tickets…
Martinsburg Founders Day/Heritage Festival — Roundhouse Night Market, Haunted History Tours, Berkeley County Historical Society at Belle Boyd House, Patsy Cline Tribute and more (downtown Martinsburg). Friday May 16 – Sunday May 18. Info & tickets…
Back Alley Garden Tour & Tea — Walking tour of Shepherdstown’s most beautiful gardens, followed by afternoon tea party (pick up tour booklet at War Memorial Building, 102 East German St). Saturday May 17 – Sunday May 18, 10 am – 4 pm both days. Info & tickets…
Ranson Health & Wellness Fair — City of Ranson and WVU Medicine team up to present this first-ever event with giveaways, screenings, demonstrations and more (Ranson Civic Center). Saturday May 17, 10 am – 2 pm. Free. Info…
Tom & Jerry — Outdoor movie night sponsored by Boonsboro Park Board and Boonsboro Free Library (Shafer Park, 241 Potomac St., Boonsboro, MD). Saturday May 17, Sunset/Dark. Free. Info…
Wagon Train Parade — Authentic wagon trains pulled by horse and mules will travel through Boonsboro and into Shafer Park. Pony rides, spinning demonstrations and food sales (Main Street and Shafer Park, Boonsboro). Sunday May 18, 12:30 – 3 pm. Free. Info…
Tell us about your event — email Explore@ObserverWV.com.
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