Every week, The Observer digs into the details that matter in Jefferson County. Our content is free for everyone to read, but producing well-researched local news isn’t free.
Residents Can Expect Two Ambulance Fee Invoices This Year
Jefferson County Emergency Services Agency building
If you take a close look at the ambulance fee invoice recently mailed to all residential and commercial property owners in Jefferson County, you’ll see it’s dated July 1, 2024. That’s not a typo — it just took the County Commission almost a year to get property ownership records updated so the bills could be mailed.
At the heart of the delay is Jefferson County’s use of separate computer systems for processing property taxes and ambulance fees. The Commission noted the shortcomings of the IT infrastructure during this year’s budget discussions, but has not yet set any specific timetable or discussed a comprehensive plan for addressing the issues.
The Ambulance Fee Ordinance, which authorizes the fee, was last revised in 2019 when the annual fee for owner-occupied residences was reduced to $39. The 2019 ordinance set the annual fee for non-owner-occupied residences at $50 and the minimum fee for commercial property at $90. The ordinance also set the ambulance fee at $20 for owner-occupied residences that have obtained a “homestead exemption” from the Assessor (owners who are 65 years of age or older can contact the Assessor’s Office to request this exemption, which also reduces property taxes).
The 2019 ordinance designates the “Jefferson County Emergency Services Agency” (JCESA) as the recipient of the fee revenue. At the time the ordinance was adopted, the JCESA was an independent entity with its own board of directors. When the County Commission voted to restructure ambulance services in 2023 it intentionally kept the same “Jefferson County Emergency Services Agency” name for what has become a county department, allowing it to remain in technical compliance with the 2019 ordinance and other licensing requirements.
The ordinance also specifies that the county is supposed to mail ambulance fee invoices to residents by July 31 each year. Now that the county has worked its way through the backlog for the current invoices (for fiscal year 2025), property owners should expect to see another invoice (for fiscal year 2026) sometime in July.
The current FY2025 invoices indicate a due date of August 31. The FY2026 invoices, per the ordinance, will be due by September 30.
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A Small Town That Attracts Tourists — And Big Dreams
During a ceremony on June 21 to swear-in the newly-elected members of the Harpers Ferry Town Council, Mayor Greg Vaughn talked about what makes the town a special place.
The event was held at the town gazebo (image above) in front of a small crowd, with red, white and blue banners fluttering in a Norman Rockwell-esque setting. Vaughn, who will begin his second term as mayor on July 1, focused his opening remarks on the need for the Council to focus on ethics, integrity, and honesty as it governs what he described as “one of the most recognized and nationally prominent small towns in the country.”
The debate over the ambitious Hill Top House project has been a high-profile issue for several recent election cycles in Harpers Ferry. Although the project developer, SWaN & Legend Venture Partners, has not yet announced a date for groundbreaking, the incoming council appears generally supportive of the project. The Hill Top House project team recently opened the overlook above Harpers Ferry (image next story) for limited access between dawn and dusk. The entry gate is at Washington and Columbia Streets (across from the Gazebo).
Joining Vaughn as Mayor will be Kevin Carden as Recorder along with council members Chris Craig, Jesse Melton, David Simmons, Storm DiCostanzo, and Christian Pechuekonis. Craig and DiCostanzo, along with Vaughn, are the only council members continuing from the current council.
A word from the Contemporary American Theater Festival
CATF is thrilled to welcome Cody LeRoy Wilson, a West-Virginia native tell his story at the Festival this summer. Cody shares the unlikely journey of his blended family from Vietnam to Plum Run, West Virginia. In this compelling tale, he examines what it means to be Asian American, to love one family while embracing the unknown, and ultimately to question his own identity. This powerful story proves that who you are is a choice of your own making. Visit CATF.org for your tickets.
Trail and Town Alliance Builds Community In Harpers Ferry
It’s a place where the line between heaven and earth is thin” was how John Unger described the environs of Harpers Ferry, as he gave the benediction at the June 21 swearing-in ceremony for the Harpers Ferry Town Council. Unger, a pastor to several local congregations, went on to highlight the spirit of community that sustains the town.
The Trail and Town Alliance of Harpers Ferry-Bolivar demonstrates that spirit. According to HistoricHarpersFerry.org, the Alliance is a group with no staff or operating budget, just a dedicated team of volunteers who raise funds for projects. They also meet monthly to plan activities and projects. The next meeting will be held at 5 pm on July 14 at Snallygasters (1102 Washington Street, Bolivar) — anyone who is curious is welcome to attend.
For more information about the Trail and Town Alliance, visit its Facebook group and Instagram.
Events Snapshot: Arts, Culture & Community
Highlights of upcoming events around Jefferson County:
Summer Concert Series: The Mighty Orbits — Free outdoor concert in downtown Martinsburg (202 South Queen St.). Bring a chair, food for sale from local establishments. Friday, June 27, 6 pm. Free. Info…
Northern Virginia Reptile Expo — Family-friendly expo featuring a wide variety of reptiles, supplies, and educational exhibits at Clarke County Fairgrounds (890 West Main St., Berryville). Saturday, June 28, 9 am - 3 pm. $ Info…
Shepherdstown Street Fest — One of the region’s best annual festivals, with music, food, vendors, kids activities, and more, all in downtown Shepherdstown. Saturday, June 28, 10 am–8:30 pm. Free. Info…
Puppet Show with Kevin Sherry — Family-friendly puppet performance by the author of “The Yeti Files” at Shepherdstown Public Library (145 Higbee Lane). Saturday, June 28, 11 am - noon. Free. Info…
Berkeley County Independence Celebration — Live music, family-friendly activities, food trucks ,and fireworks at the Eastern WV Regional Airport (Pilot Way off Novak Dr., Martinsburg). Saturday, June 28, 3–10 pm. Free. Info…
Jefferson County Fireworks at the AMP — Family fun and fireworks at Sam Michaels Park (235 Sam Michaels Lane, Shenandoah Junction). Saturday, June 28, Gates open at 6 pm. Free. Info…
Eric Byrd Trio: The Music of Peanuts — Jazz concert featuring music from Peanuts at the Barns of Rose Hill (95 Chalmers Court, Berryville). Saturday, June 28, 7 pm. $ Tickets & Info…
Concert in the Park: South Mountain Jam 2025 — Free concert at Shafer Park (37 Park Dr., Boonsboro). Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Sunday, June 29, 5 pm. Free. Info…
Movie Night at the Library: Free for All: The Public Library — Screening of a documentary on the history of public libraries at Shepherdstown Public Library (145 Higbee Lane). Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Will move indoors if there is rain. Monday, June 30, 7:30 pm. Free. Info…
Let’s Play at the AMP: Rocknocerous — Family-friendly concert at Sam Michaels Park (235 Sam Michaels Lane, Shenandoah Junction). Tuesday, July 1, 7 pm. Free. Info…
Bald Eagle Restoration in the Chesapeake Bay — Free public lecture on the return of bald eagles, at the National Conservation Training Center (698 Conservation Way, Shepherdstown). Tuesday, July 1, 7 pm. Free. No reservations or tickets required. Info: contact Mark Madison at 304-876-7276 or mark_madison@fws.gov.
Stories in the Park: Winged Wonders — Children’s program about monarch butterflies at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. Wednesday, July 2, 10 am. $ Info…
City of Brunswick Fireworks — Celebrate Independence Day with a fireworks display in Brunswick (Cummings Drive). Thursday, July 3, 9:15 pm. Info…
