News Briefs

Harpers Ferry Has a New Mayor
The Harpers Ferry municipal elections in Jefferson County were held this past Tuesday. Nearly 50 percent of the registered voters elected a new mayor and five Town Council members.
Harpers Ferry Town Council member Joe Anderson was elected Mayor by 107 votes to 45. Anderson ran against Bob Johnson, a former councilman. Anderson will succeed Jim Addy who did not run for reelection has served as Harpers Ferry's mayor for the past ten years. Betsy Bainbridge and Greg Vaughn were the top vote getters among the nine Town Council candidates, receiving 93 votes each. Current Harpers Ferry Planning Commission Chair Jerry Hutton received 92 votes for Town Council.
Two incumbent Town Council candidates won their re-election to that body, with Charlotte Thompson and Dan Riss each receiving 77 votes.
Kevin Carden the Town recorder ran unopposed.

184 Acres saved by the Jefferson County Farm Protection Board
In a press release The Jefferson County Farmland Protection Board announced that it had recently been able to protect two farms in the county through conservation easements.
In total 184 acres were added.
Gordon Hockman and Margaret Ann Saunders protected their 135 acres near Shepherdstown through the sale of development rights on Twin Ridge Orchard Co. property. Orchards, working agricultural pastures and cropland on these farms are now protected in perpetuity.
Laurie Scott protected her 49-acre property in Harpers Ferry through a conservation easement purchased by the Jefferson County Farmland Protection Board.
The Land Trust of the Eastern Panhandle serves as a co-holder of both easements.
"The Land Trust of the Eastern Panhandle looks forward to additional easements this year that can benefit from Jefferson County Farmland Protection Board and NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) funding, as well as where appropriate from the enhanced federal tax deduction that is available until December 31," Grant Smith, president of The Land Trust of the Eastern Panhandle, said in the release.

New Immunization Shots for Jefferson County Students
In news from The board of Education Students going into seventh or 12th grade in Jefferson County Schools during the 2012-2013 school year will be required to have new immunizations - Tdap and MCV4.
Both immunizations also are strongly recommended for the 2011-2012 school year.
The immunizations are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

West Virginia has Bookkeeping Problems
According to a report by the United States Energy Department West Virginia has mismanaged a $38 million federal westernization grant, including work awarded without bids and prioritization of projects. The report on West Virginia was part of an audit report that was released this week by the Department.
Sited was a payment of $25,000 paid to an attorney who provided only a two-sentence letter saying contracts with local westernization. Other problems include a $20,000 payment to a former state westernization program director who wasn't required to do anything for the money. State agencies had reviewed and approved these payments according to the Energy Department audit report.
The audit covered just three of 12 local organizations overseeing westernization and the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, which is administering the money. Economic Opportunity official Julie Alston told the Energy Department that the agency is addressing the problems. The agency referred questions to acting Gov. Ray Tomblin’s office, which had no immediate comment as of Thursday evening
Compiled James P. Whipple

2011 New Voice Play Festival

The Old Opera House is proud to announce the winners of the 11th Annual New Voice Play Festival. Each year this one-act playwriting competition attracts some of the country's most gifted new playwrights; and this year over 60 playwrights sent us their work. On June 24, 25 & 26 the Old Opera House will showcase the four plays that were determined to be the Best for 2011. This year we are asking our patrons to vote for their favorite and the winner of the festival will be determined by a secret ballot of the audience. So, you have a unique opportunity to not only see the world-premier of these four one act plays, but to serve as a theatre critic. Show times: 8:00pm Friday & Saturday 2:30pm Sunday matinee Adults $12.00 all performances Students $8:00 all performances
This year's top four plays include:
Card Shuffle
by DC Gallant
Harpers Ferry, WV
Directed by Meaghan Barry
Card Shuffle is the charming story of a real-life fairy godmother; a story with the feel of a Hallmark card. Two people find that a friendship, either new or old is better than money. A pregnant young woman and a local pharmacist find the value of friendship through a brief encounter with an eccentric older woman.
Featuring
Kathy Bost, Addison Peacock and Homer Speaker
Closing Time
by Carl Williams
Houston, TX
Directed by Liam Potter
Sometimes we run from our past, sometimes it catches up to us in unexpected ways. In a small town diner a man returns to place he thought was lost to him forever, only to find, if he has the the strength to let go, forever isn't as long as he thought.
Featuring
Sandra DeRocha, Kaitlyn Dykes, Bruce Olson and John-Michael Rolnick
Dinner with Marvin
by Donna Spector
Warwick, NY
Directed by Ashley Snow & Keith Shifflett
Marvin and Lucy are sharing an intimate dinner on the last night of their first vacation together. Lucy believes the dinner is where Marvin is going to propose to her. Marvin is married (but separated) and has other ideas. Complicating all of this is an overly friendly French waiter and a sudden appearance by Marvin’s wife, Marilyn. In Dinner with Marvin, a comedy by Donna Spector, you’ll see how an architect’s carefully designed plan gets demolished in the blink of an eye.
Featuring
Steve Barney, Ashley Hall, Keith Shifflett and Marianne Tomasic
Snowbound
by Brent Englar
Baltimore, MD
Directed by Shannon Potter
Sherri is a widow in Baltimore, where she rents her rooms out to borders. Her current tenants are Cliff, a young doctorial student, and Andy, a middle aged writer from Cleveland. During a snow storm in January, these unlikely mates discover secrets about one another’s lives. Andy confesses he is in Baltimore to confront this deceased wife’s lover. During the confession to Sherri about his wife’s mishaps of the past he discovers that Cliff’s thesis hits a little close to home. Sherri also has some secrets of her own that are discovered at the end of the play.
Featuring
Lorraine Bouchard, Dan Rice & Alecia Schulz
Honorable Mentions
Apparently Not by Richard Manley New York, NY
Half In Love by Joe Lauinger Ossining, NY
Running by Donna Spector Warwick, NY
Memoriam by Evan Guilford-Blake Stone Mountain, GA
Who Knows Why by James P. Whipple Charles Town, WV

Conservation Tax Incentive Expires in 2011

Charles Town, WV – 2011 may be the last year that private landowners—especially working family farmers and ranchers— can benefit from a significant tax benefit for protecting their land by donating a voluntary conservation agreement. The federal incentive, which will expire on December 31, 2011, is designed to encourage easement donations by allowing larger tax deductions than had been allowed in previous years. Under this incentive between 2006 and 2010, the Jefferson County Farmland Protection Board worked with ten willing landowners in our community to conserve 1,210 acres of productive agricultural lands.
When landowners donate all or a part of an agricultural conservation easement to Jefferson County Farmland Protection Board, the landowners maintain ownership and management of their land and can pass the land on to their heirs, or sell the farm for use as farmland only.
The value of a conservation easement is the difference between the land’s unrestricted value and its conserved value with limited development and usage rights. The value of an easement donation can be used as a tax credit which can be taken over as many as 16 years.
The enhanced incentive increases the benefits landowners receive from donating a conservation easement. Here are some highlights:
· Landowners can deduct the value of the donated easement values up to 50% of their adjusted gross income each year;
· Farmers and ranchers who earn at least half their income from their land may be able to deduct donated easement values up to 100% of their income; and
· Easement donors can take deductions for their donations for as many as 16 years.
“Our whole community in Jefferson County wins when thoughtful landowners conserve their land this way, protecting wildlife habitat, clean drinking water, scenic landscapes, recreational spaces, and productive agricultural lands,” said Peter Fricke, Board Chair.
Landowners and farmers who are considering applying to donate conservation easements in 2011 will need to act quickly, in order to qualify for the program and complete the legal and financial requirements. The Farmland Protection Board will accept applications for donations up until August 15, 2011 in order to be able to meet the December 31 deadline.
In Jefferson County, the incentive is having a real impact by helping the Farmland Protection Program stretch its limited funds. The County Commission, through the Farmland Protection Board, has made real estate transfer tax fees available to match funds from the Federal Government’s Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP) and the American Battlefield Preservation Program (ABPP). Landowner donations of some or all of the conservation value of their property allow the county funds to go much further to support the acquisition of other properties. To date, 24 farms with 2,270 acres are in the Jefferson County Farmland Protection program. The County Commission recently approved matching funds for the purchase of conservation easements on another eight farms totaling 779 acres.
In addition to the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service and the National Park Service, the Jefferson County Farmland Protection Board works closely with the Land Trust of the Eastern Panhandle and the Potomac Conservancy to help farmers obtain conservation easements. These partnerships have protected 219 acres of farmland around Harewood, a Washington family home, and 202 acres of farmland on four properties near the Shepherdstown battlefield. In addition significant tracts of farmland in the watershed of Rocky Marsh Run and Rattlesnake Run have been protected.
To learn more about the enhanced incentive, visit the Jefferson County Farmland Protection Board "http://www.wvfarmlandprotection.org/co_jeff_main.cfm" or the Land Trust Alliance "http://www.lta.org/easementincentive". For more information, contact: Elizabeth Wheeler, 304-724-1414, or FarmlandProtection @JCDA.net
About the Jefferson County Farmland Protection Board:
The Jefferson County Farmland Protection Board may negotiate with and compensate eligible property owners to ensure the protection of farmland within the county. With the consent of a property owner, the Jefferson County Farmland Protection Board may acquire and place on record a conservation or preservation easement. Acquired easements apply only to those properties that qualify for consideration under the terms established by an adopted farmland protection program.
The Jefferson Farmland Protection Board is now actively seeking properties for conservation easements. Ranking criteria will prioritize each property submitted to the Board. Funding will always be a limiting factor for the program. Funds will be offered to the highest ranked property first. Donations of conservation easements will also be accepted.
Once a conservation easement is placed on a property, the Board will monitor the property to ensure that it continues to conform to the intent and purpose of the easement. In West Virginia, conservation easements are held in perpetuity.

library Gets Grant

We are pleased to announce that an EPA Cleanup Grant in the amount of $200,000 has been awarded to the Jefferson County Development Authority for the purpose of cleaning up the 4.5 acre parcel for a new library! The property will be entered into the Voluntary Remediation Program through the WV Department of Environmental Protection, and a licensed remediation specialist will be hired to plan and execute the cleanup. Senator Herb Snyder has secured a $7,000 Community Participation Grant for this purpose and an additional amount of $23,000 will be allocated through the WVDEP as well. The library and JCDA will contribute a $40,000 cost share in cash and in-kind activities.

Following are the steps that have been completed over the last year.1) In an inspired show of community cooperation, the Jefferson County Economic Development Authority (JCDA) purchased and took possession of the 4.5 acre future library site on October 13, 2010. This was done to allow an application for an EPA Cleanup Grant to be submitted on October 15, 2010 by an entity other than the party responsible for the original contamination of the brownfield. Grant was announced on June 6, 2010.2) On September 9th, 2010, the Shepherdstown Public Library was awarded a Stage II FOCUS grant. (Stage I was used to host a brownfields conference in Shepherdstown regarding the site. The conceptual drawings envisioned by the community and executed by Catlin Burke are available to view at the Library.) These funds are being used to engage the services of an architectural firm to begin to determine environmentally responsible options and potential for the site.

FOCUS Stage II grant funds of $12,000 will be expended on:Architectural programming and design services to help delineate feasible environmental parameters for a new green library on this brownfield and to create a set of conceptual drawings to further engage and inspire the community. [Devise and implement the transfer of the property from the town, which was responsible for the creation of the original contamination of the site to an entity that has no responsibility for or connection to the party.] [COMPLETED 10/13/10]Public events and hospitality to inspire and encourage the community to actively participate in the creation of the library/community learning center so that it will truly reflect the needs of the community. Cataloging and organization of the project history by creating a living archive that will serve both as a historical document and as a roadmap for future brownfields reclamation and development. After reviewing seventeen responses to our Request for Qualifications for the above scope of work, Charles Alexander of Alexander Design Studio from Ellicott City, Maryland was selected as the architect. Jessica Marshall is the project architect and library consultant Rich Bowra was contracted to assist with the project. Mark Dyck of William H. Gordon and Associates will be contributing as the civil engineer. A public meeting was held on April 14th to introduce the architect firm to the community and to solicit input from the citizens who the library will ultimately serve. Bowra, Marshall and Hali Taylor made an appearance at the County Commission where the commissioners were asked to give their thoughts and ideas on the project. The response from both meetings was very positive. Bowra and Marshall then met with library staff, board and director to get their input.Richard Anderson, a library volunteer and architect by trade who has experience with focus groups has conducted a number of meetings with targeted groups who may not have been represented at the community meeting, including the disabled; Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT;) the Shepherdstown Business Association; genealogists; churches; homeschooling parent; the Arts and Humanities Alliance and others. Stephanie Unger and Suzanne Offutt solicited ideas and drawings from elementary and middle school students (these are available at the library as well) and high school students were asked to take an online survey. The survey, available in both hard copy and online, netted approximately 180 responses, and the results were tallied and presented to Bowra for incorporation into his programming recommendations for space sizes and proximities. These will be passed on to Alexander and Marshall as the basis for conceptual drawings of a possible library/community learning c enter and associated estimated costs.3) Last year, Patrick Kirby from the Northern WV Brownfields Assistance Center secured $23,000 for the project from the WV Department of Environmental Protection. Approval has been received to move forward with developing an RFP to hire an environmental consultant to work with the project on the remediation planning for the brownfield site.4) The Steering Committee is now headed by Stephen Ayraud, engineering project manager, who has many years of experience in this area. The committee meets the fourth Wednesday of every month at the Shepherdstown Elementary School at 4:00pm.
Hali Taylor, DirectorShepherdstown Public Library

Ride for the Heros

Martinsburg WV, June 9, 2011. The Patriots Path Foundation, Inc. of Martinsburg, WV is pleased to announce the Inaugural “Ride For The Heroes” motorcycle ride and hog roast to be held Saturday, July 2nd, 2011 at the Order of Red Men Pavilion, 16129 Lappans Road, Williamsport, MD. Registration for the motorcycle ride will begin at 8:30 am with kickstands up at 10 am. The hog roast is open to the public and will begin at 2 pm. There will be live music by Stoney Creek and Slow Burn, gaming, raffle drawings and other activities until 10 pm.
Tickets are $20/individual or $30/couple and can be purchased online at "http://www.patriotspath.org" until June 28th. Tickets will also be on sale at the Order of Red Men Club, the Patriot’s Path office at 155 N. Queen St. in Martinsburg or purchased the day of the event. Those participating in the motorcycle ride will receive a free t-shirt if they sign up before June 15th. Call 304-283-7199 for more information.
We regret that no one under the age of 21 will be admitted.
Proceeds from this event will benefit our military Veterans as they make their reintegration into the community after combat. The Patriot’s Path Foundation provides affordable residential housing, job placement, educational assistance, life skills mentoring, money management training and other services to Veterans suffering from PTSD, homelessness, mental disorders and alcohol and substance abuse. The Patriots’ Path Foundation, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) public charity.
“Ride For the Heroes” is presented by EZ 2 Use.com, “Your Yellow Pages Connection”, "http://www.ez2use.com" and hosted by the Order of Red Men Club, Tribe #84, and the Red Men Bikers Club of Williamsport, MD. If your company or organization would like to be a sponsor of this event please call the Foundation at 304-283-7199. A wide variety of sponsorship levels is available.

Financial Services That Travelers Can Bank On

(NAPSI)—Just because you’re taking a vacation doesn’t mean you have to skip managing your finances. There are now a number of services designed to help travelers stay on top of financial matters when they’re on the go. From account monitoring to mobile banking to quick replacement of lost debit or ATM cards, it’s getting easier to manage your finances while traveling.
Some banks offer money management services to give customers flexibility and peace of mind while they’re away from home.
For example, customers of Wells Fargo can sign up for online statements before leaving, to reduce their risk of fraud by reducing the amount of paper mail waiting for them at home. Customized alerts can also be set up in advance. Alerts can be sent to an e-mail address or mobile device when selected criteria are met, such as when a credit card payment is due or a deposit is made.
To avoid missed or late payments while traveling, customers can use the bank’s online bill pay service to schedule automatic bill payments quickly and easily. You can also choose to receive electronic bills (eBills) through the bill pay service. In addition, mobile banking through the mobile website (wf.com) or downloadable mobile applications (iPhone, BlackBerry, Android powered and Palm) let you take action on a bill almost immediately when it’s top of mind—whenever or wherever—so you can check it off your “to do” list the moment you think of it.
For travelers with smartphones, just “one tap” on a Wells Fargo app can activate the location-sensitive ATM search capability and quickly find the nearest ATM. Customers can also visit wellsfargo.com/locator or call (800) TO-WELLS (800-869-3557) for nearby ATM and banking store locations. Also, travelers enrolled in text banking can send an “ATM” text to short-code 93557 (which spells WELLS on traditional telephone keypads) for a quick response with the address of the nearest Wells Fargo ATM.
By logging on to the Internet from almost any place in the world, you can use Wells Fargo’s My Money Map to quickly gain information about your finances, including transactions by category such as “restaurant,” “entertainment” and “gasoline.” This interactive online tool means you can manage spending, savings and budget while traveling.
To learn more about these and other travel services, visit
"http://www.wellsfargo.com/jump/travel".