The Observer focuses on the stories of Jefferson County and West Virginia, looking beyond the headlines to inform the public discusssion on important topics relevant to the community, including the local economy, environment, education, politics, and public health. We also spotlight local artisans, artists, musicians, businesses & community organizations.
Shepherd University Celebrates 150 Years
This year marks the 150th anniversary for Shepherd University. As the University resumes classes for the 2021-22 academic year, Dr Hendrix, the current university president, noted the anniversary milestone and remarked on the recent challenges: “At Shepherd University, we remain optimistically committed to training the next generation of leaders and model citizens by listening to the needs of our community, looking at ways to adapt to our changing landscape, and learning from the faculty, students, and staff employees who came before us. Read the Full Story >>
Court Ruling Undoes Zoning Amendment For Industrial Solar
On August 16, Judge Debra McLaughlin, in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, issued a ruling that invalidated the text amendment ZTA1903 to the Jefferson County zoning ordinance. The now-invalidated amendment was written to allow development of utility-scale solar power facilities as a principal permitted use in rural, residential growth and other open lands in the county. Read the Full Story >>
Tracking Solar Installations
During the discussions of the now-invalidated zoning amendment, several citizens expressed concern that the broad expansion of the amendment to include by-right development of industrial solar in rural and residential growth zones would open up most of the county as potential sites for these facilities. Read the Full Story >>
Census Numbers Drive Redistricting
According to the 2020 Census results, West Virginia is a lot less crowded than it was a decade ago. With an overall drop of over 59,000 residents since 2010 (a 3.3% decrease), the state’s population decline stands out even from the other two states to lose population over the past decade, Mississippi (down 0.2%) and Illinois (down 0.1%). However, the story is a bit different in the Eastern Panhandle. Read the Full Story >>
New Rainbow Connection Café Brightens Up German street
Connie Heyer pointed to the image of Kermit the Frog sitting under a rainbow that hangs in the front dining room to explain the origin the new Rainbow Connection Cafe’s name (patrons of her other Shepherdstown restaurant, LILAH, will notice the common design motif): “We had this idea to put charging stations on all the tables and the wifi symbol and rainbow both share a shape and the sense of connection. We’re in a college town and we wanted to create a space that is welcoming to everyone." Read the Full Story >>
Appalachian Chamber Music Festival Launches New Event
You can play almost anywhere with four people,” remarked Katie Tertell, artistic director and organizer of the Appalachian Chamber Music Festival. “You can be in an intimate space and the audience can be there with you. When I play informal house concerts, people say it’s such a different experience to be this close. Read the Full Story >>
Jefferson County Schools Plans Two New Facilities
Jefferson County Schools (JCS) manages 16 schools — 2 high schools, 4 middle schools, and 10 elementary facilities — and during the 2020-21 school year enrolled 8,478 students. Jefferson County is one of only three counties in West Virginia that expects growth in student population over the next four years. Read the Full Story >>
An Unexpected Hit To The Library
The 2021 4th of July in Shepherdstown started off with a low-key ceremony honoring the flag organized by the Volunteer Fire Department. It ended with a bang sometime late in the evening with an unknown vehicle crashing into the rear wall of the Market House located in the middle of King Street. Read the Full Story >>
Main Street America Recognizes Charles Town’s Recovery Efforts
When the Governor issued the stay-at-home order closing restaurants and retail shops in March 2020, the organizers of Charles Town Now (CTN) moved quickly to implement a curbside takeout and gift card program. One year later CTN noted the anniversary with the slogan “One Year, Still Here.” The group’s plucky attitude helped earn Charles Town a second place award nationally in the American Express “Order In, Help Out Innovation Challenge. Read the Full Story >>
2 Plays, 2 Parties, 2 Podcast Series
CATF comes to downtown Shepherdstown in July with a hybrid of two audio plays and two street parties, plus a series of podcasts structured around the two plays. Read the Full Story >>
Spotted Lanternfly In Jefferson County
A new menace has arrived in the county. Unlike the recent swarms of cicadas (or the more mysterious Mothman), the spotted lanternfly is an invasive species that will attack and kill many native trees, including black walnut, maple, peach, and apple trees. Read the Full Story >>
Rethinking Our Roads for Shared Use
It’s hard to miss Interstate Highways 81 and 70, the most visible transportation projects in our area funded with Federal dollars. But our transportation infrastructure is much more than highways. Read the Full Story >>
Connecting for Growth in Shepherdstown
HEPMPO is drafting a vision plan for Martinsburg Pike to the west of Shepherdstown. This area has been identified as a growth zone for Jefferson County in its comprehensive plan. Read the Full Story >>
A Western Gateway for Charles Town
HEPMPO is currently preparing a feasibility study for proposed mobility improvements along the Route 51 corridor at the west side of Charles Town. Read the Full Story >>
Zoning Changes Coming to Kearneysville
On April 15, Jefferson Orchards Inc. (JOI), applied to the Jefferson County Commission to change the zoning designation for the old Miller Orchard and a second, adjacent property located to the northeast of Kearneysville. The two parcels (240+ acres) are currently in the rural zone. Read the Full Story >>
