Food Pantries, Water Bottling Project Settlement Talks, Halloween Events
Published 1 day ago • 7 min read
Observer Weekly
October 30, 2025
Jefferson County, WV news & events
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.
Local Charity Groups See Spike In Food Pantry Needs
Shepherdstown Shares food pantry provides fresh food and non-perishable items.
The unsettled economy and government dysfunction in Washington have become kitchen table issues in Jefferson County.
Shepherdstown Shares reports that it has seen demand at its food pantry increase significantly over the past several months with families struggling to afford the rising prices of food and other necessities.
The food pantry director at the Jefferson County Community Ministries says they have also seen a definite increase in clients registering for their food support services. She says JCCM has typically been registering 10 to 15 new clients a month, but in the past week alone they have registered 30 new clients, many of whom indicate they are federal government employees who don’t expect to be paid this month due to the shutdown.
Mark Peiffer of Community Markets, Inc. remarked that he was very grateful for the donations from local businesses that allowed his organization to expand its “food box giveaway” event in Inwood last week to accommodate an additional 50 clients beyond the 150 that had pre-registered earlier. He has a giveaway event planned for Jefferson County in November and he says all of the pre-reservation slots for that event have been filled.
How You Can Help
All of the non-profit organizations that provide food pantry services in Jefferson County rely on donations from community members.
Gift cards and donations of non-perishable items — especially canned fruit, vegetables, tuna and chicken — are always welcome. Cash donations are the most flexible, allowing the organizations to fill in specific inventory gaps and purchase fresh food. Volunteers are also needed to help organize and distribute items.
You can find the specific needs and donation options for each organization on their websites:
Community Markets doesn’t operate a food pantry, but its “food box giveaways” are intended to supplement the services provided by the groups above. Peiffer says the food box program is funded in part by the revenue generated from the weekly local food market run by Community Markets every Thursday from 5 to 6:30 at St. James Catholic Church. As a non-profit, Community Markets prices its locally-sourced products to be competitive with national grocery store pricing, so customers at the market are getting a good deal as well as supporting both local farmers and the local community members who benefit from the food box programs.
A message from Shepherd University
Planning Commission Discusses Settlement With Sidewinder
Middleway Day 2025
The Jefferson County Planning Commission has scheduled a special meeting for Wednesday, November 5, at 6 pm in the new County Commission building at 393 North Lawrence Street in Charles Town (behind the clock building).
The special meeting was called to allow the Planning Commission to potentially finalize and vote on any agreement resulting from a mediation session that took place earlier this week.
A Day-Long Mediation Session
The Planning Commission spent the entire day on October 29 in mediation with Sidewinder LLC. Both parties had previously agreed to explore a possible settlement of the lawsuit filed by Sidewinder after the Planning Commission rejected its proposal to build a large-scale water bottling facility and pipeline through Middleway. The parties have not disclosed any details of what was discussed or negotiated.
Local Intervenors Left Out
Several local landowners, along with the Jefferson County Foundation, who were granted intervenor status in the lawsuit, were present at the mediation site throughout the day. According to community members who were observing the proceedings, it did not appear that the intervenors were included in the negotiations between the Planning Commission and Sidewinder; the mediator reportedly made only two brief visits to their room — once before noon and once after the commissioners and the Sidewinder representatives had left the building.
Planning Commission Will Meet Twice Next Week
The Planning Commission also has a regular meeting scheduled for Tuesday, November 4, at 7 pm, in the same location. The agenda includes public hearings on three proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance that would add new categories for rural residential, residential commercial, and office/commercial development.
Sponsored by the Jefferson County Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Jefferson Arts Council.
Trick-or-Treat Around the Towns
All five municipalities in Jefferson County — Bolivar, Harpers Ferry, Charles Town, Ranson, and Shepherdstown — have designated 6:00 to 8:00 pm as trick-or-treat hours on Halloween night, Friday, October 31.
In Harpers Ferry, the Parks and Recreation Department will hand out candy at the Gazebo (501 Washington Street) during trick-or-treat hours.
In Charles Town, the County Commission, Corner Connection, and Sibling Coffee Roasters will host a “PotterWeen” event downtown from 6 to 8 pm, but the streets will remain open to traffic.
In Shepherdstown, downtown trick-or-treating and street party activities — including the popular Shep’Town Shakers Witches’ Dance — will take place between 6 and 8 pm. According to the Shepherdstown Police Department, several downtown streets will be closed to vehicles between 5:30 and 8:30 pm (see map above). Any vehicles parked inside the controlled area after the barricades are set will not be allowed to leave until after 8:30 pm. Free parking will be available in the Shepherd University lot at the corner of Princess and High Streets and also in the Shepherdstown Middle School parking lot.
A message from the Shepherdstown Opera House
Bluegrass This Saturday!
Circa Blue will perform contemporary and traditional bluegrass this Saturday at the Shepherdstown Opera House. The Martinsburg-based band is known for their tight vocal harmonies, clean instrumentation, and creative arrangements. Doors open at 7:30, show begins at 8:00.
Daylight Savings Time ends at 2 am on Sunday, November 2, so remember to set your clocks back an hour.
Potomac Valley Audubon will be running a kids nature camp over the Thanksgiving break (November 24 & 25). Registration closes on November 23 (click here for details).
The 2025 Endless Pawsibilities Gala organized by ResQ, Doe Eyes Animal Sanctuary & Rescue, and Rescue Me WV has tickets and sponsor packages available for the November 15 event at the Hollywood Casino in Charles Town.
Arts, Culture & Community Events
Trunk-or-Treat — Family-friendly Halloween event with decorated car trunks and treats for kids hosted by the Shepherdstown Fire Department (8052 Martinsburg Pike, Shepherdtown). Friday, Oct 31, 5 - 7 pm. Free. Info…
Boo-livar Trick-or-Treat — Community-wide trick-or-treating in Bolivar. Friday, Oct 31, 6 - 8 pm. Free. Info…
PotterWeen — Harry Potter–themed Halloween celebration in downtown Charles Town with costumes and treats, hosted by the Jefferson County Commission and several downtown businesses. Friday, Oct 31, 6 - 8 pm. Free. Info…
Ranson Trick-or-Treat — Town-wide trick-or-treating. All around town, Ranson. Friday, Oct 31, 6 - 8 pm. Free.
Shepherdstown Downtown Trick-or-Treat & Street Party — Trick-or-treating and street party in downtown Shepherdstown. Friday, Oct 31, 6 - 8 pm. Free. Info…
The Effect — A play about “love and neuroscience” by award-winning playwright Lucy Prebble presented by Shepherd University’s Contemporary Theater Studies program at the Marinoff Theater on the Shepherd campus. Mature themes and language. Multiple performances, Oct 31 - Nov 9. $ Tickets & Info…
Jazz Ensemble Concert — Shepherd University Jazz Ensemble Fall Concert at Shepherd University’s Frank Arts Center (260 University Drive, Shepherdstown). Friday, Oct 31, 7:30 pm. $ (Free admission for Shepherd students). Info…
Day of the Dead — Celebration of Día de los Muertos with music, art, and family activities. Downtown Charles Town. Saturday, Nov 1, all day (live music at 5 pm). Free. Info…
Setting the Stage: The Lead Up to the Battle of Antietam — Lecture and discussion hosted by the Antietam Institute (101 West Main St, Sharpsburg, MD). Saturday, Nov 1, 2 pm. Free. Info…
Sunset Market — Vendors, live music, popup bar, food truck on North Charles St in downtown Charles Town. Saturday, Nov 1, 4 - 8 pm. Free. Info…
Contra Dance — Community contra dancing with live music and caller instruction at the War Memorial Building (102 East German St, Shepherdstown). Saturday, Nov 1, 7:30 - 10 pm. $ Tickets & Info…
Circa Blue — Bluegrass and country performance presented by Martinsburg-based Circa Blue band at the Shepherdstown Opera House (131 West German St, Shepherdstown). Saturday, Nov 1, 8 pm. $ Tickets & Info…
Walking Tour: Battle of Shepherdstown — Guided tour of the 1862 battle site with historians from the George Tyler Moore Center. Registration required. Participants will meet on campus, then carpool to site. Sunday, Nov 2, 1 - 4 pm. $ Tickets & Info…
Music of Nat King Cole by Robert Sykes Trio — Live jazz performance honoring Nat King Cole at Happy Retreat (600 Mordington Ave, Charles Town). Sunday, Nov 2, 2 - 4 pm. $ Tickets & Info…
Mrs. Warren’s Profession — National Theatre Live screening of George Bernard Shaw’s classic play. Shepherdstown Opera House (131 West German St, Shepherdstown). Sunday, Nov 2, 3 pm. $ Tickets & Info…
Walks About Nothing: Backstage at the Charles Town Opera House — A behind-the-scenes look at the Charles Town Opera House. Walk begins at Charles Town City Hall. Wednesday, Nov 5, 6 pm. Free. Info…
Charles Town Now is asking for local residents to share their thoughts about downtown Charles Town. This survey is part of an analysis being conducted to help craft a plan for ongoing revitalization. Click here to take the survey.
Several buildings on East Washington Street will be vacant when the County Commission moves its offices to the new building on Lawrence Street.
