To Our Readers — Some carnival rides don’t look too scary when they’re not moving. The one above is just a bunch of swings that go around in a circle like a merry-go-round, right? But wait till it picks up speed — then it’s time to hold on tight! The 2023 Jefferson County Fair runs from Aug 20 to 26. The website has all the details (JeffersonCountyFairWV.org). Besides the livestock and tractor pulls, there’s lots of fun activities and if you’re creative or crafty, you can enter to win a ribbon — browse through the fair book that’s on the fair website (around page 70) and you’ll find lots of categories that you can enter even if you’ve never set foot on a farm.
While you’re at the fair, stop by the Planning Commission booth — they’re looking for people to give them comments on future growth and land use in the county (link). It’s a pressing question, judging by the numbers we’re continuing to see for new home construction (link). At the beginning of the year the pace of new construction was up 2X from the previous decade. Now it’s running about 3X. Hold on tight!
Speaking of construction, the library in Shepherdstown is celebrating its first year in the new building on the outskirts of town. Library Director Hali Taylor, who really did turn a trash heap into something spectacular, is retiring after seeing this project through to completion and talks a little bit about what’s happened at the new library this past year (link). You should check it out (along with a book or two).
Looking west along the fence separating the Harvest Hills subdivision (right side of image) from the adjacent farm (left side of image).
By Steve Pearson