The Elmwood Cemetery Association has begun long-needed repairs to the roof, gutters, windows and siding of the caretaker’s house on Kearneysville Pike, just south of Shepherdstown. The association plans to restore the interior next.
Note from the Editor
It’s an old saying that living is expensive, but dying isn’t cheap either. It can cost thousands of dollars a year for the general care and maintenance of a cemetery. Elmwood (above) generates revenues from sales of new plots and burial fees. It also has an endowment that the Elmwood Cemetery Association has managed for many years to help with expenses. Contrast the Fairview Cemetery which has struggled since its creation to collect enough fees to maintain its property. Not something that the cemetery residents can do anything about, other than to remind us of an ongoing history of separate — and not equal.
A century of debates over separation and equality linger today in our conversations about public schools. Often the largest employer in many localities across the country (including Jefferson County), public school systems both help shape local economies and offer the promise of bringing people together to help build the future of a community. It’s a promise not always fulfilled and one that we ignore at our common peril. The Observer presents the seven candidates running for the Jefferson County Board of Education and we hope that you’ll listen carefully to what they have to say — and cast your vote on May 10.
Looking at the roster of school board candidates in the context of Women’s History Month, it’s worth noting that just over a century ago, none of these individuals would have been eligible to vote, much less run for office. It takes strength to step forward, something that Lee O’Neill demonstrates with her energy and passion to help students make connections that just might save someone’s life. Likewise, our book reviews this month offer a few suggestions for finding inspirations of strength and resilience.
By Steve Pearson