While some people enjoy exploring new places on their own, they can sometimes miss the special things that locals know about. On the other hand, many people just dislike the hassle of making schedules and itineraries, preferring to let someone else do the work. And some locals are so busy with their daily routines that they miss things that are right in their own back yards. To that end, Hike Adventures is a new business headquartered in Harpers Ferry (WV) offering locals and visitors alike something beyond a hike. Read the Full Story >>
Charles Town & Ranson
Clean Drinking Water Bill to be Introduced
On December 16, several members of the House of Delegates, I included, held a press conference in Charleston at which we announced that we would be sponsoring a bill that would significantly improve drinking water protection. Read the Full Story >>
Food Delivery Lands in the Panhandle with DubvEatz
Have you ever had one of those days where everything went wrong at work, you got stuck in traffic, you’re exhausted, and when you step into your home, your family is staring back at you wondering what’s for dinner? Well, you’re in luck, because all you need to do now is visit the DubvEatz website or app and order any type of cuisine you prefer, and get it delivered right to your doorstep. Read the Full Story >>
Homework for the Children of Democracy (December 2019)
If you vote in West Virginia and you don’t read any West Virginia newspapers, you haven’t done your homework. You’ll be sent to detention, which is what we’re all having now, as we speak. Read the Full Story >>
Charles Town Comes to Terms with the Loss of Justice Taylor
In the early hours on October 5, as the morning sun emerged through the clouds on an overcast fall day, the body of Justice Taylor was found in the loading area at the rear of Jefferson County Community Ministries (JCCM) on West Washington Street. Slumped in his wheelchair, it was a harsh end to a Read the Full Story >>
A New Standard in Tree Removal Services Arrives in the Panhandle
Tree Service really never goes out of season. And with snow, ice, and wind season nearly upon us, it might be wise to know a top-notch professional for when the moment inevitably calls for it. Enter Viking Tree Service, LLC, a veteran-owned, Shepherdstown-based precision tree-removal and trimming service. Focused first on safety and customer service, Read the Full Story >>
Shade’s Farm is all About the Bees, and Beyond
After completing his master’s from Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam in 2011, Curt Shade returned home and started “farming for the market” as a new income for the family farm. Read the Full Story >>
Over the Mountain Studio Tour Boasts ‘Emerging Artist’ Component
This year, the popular Over the Mountain Studio Tour (OTMST)—the oldest studio tour in West Virginia—will host its 30th Anniversary Tour, landing on Saturday and Sunday, November 9 + 10, from 10am-5pm. The rare occasion allows the public to meet artists throughout Jefferson County, observe their studio spaces, and learn about their processes. Read the Full Story >>
A Delicious Mexican Legacy Lands on Main Street
Every country, culture, and family has a person within it like Mave Ortega Greene (Ortega). The type of person that, upon meeting, you feel like you’ve known forever. Mother. Wife. Chef. Businesswoman. Raconteur. Professional. Friendly. Quick with a story. And like any leader, she keeps her audience in rapt attention. Read the Full Story >>
African-American Cultural and Heritage Festival Leaves Lasting Mark on Panhandle
If you walked down the 300th block of South Lawrence Street in downtown Charles Town during a recent late August weekend, you might have seen a little bit of the past, present, and future of the Jefferson County African-American community. Read the Full Story >>
Fit after Fifty (and Beyond!)
Dorothy Davenport celebrated her 95th birthday in May and received 145 birthday cards—many from her Silver Sneakers friends at Gold’s Gym in Charles Town where she has worked out for the past ten years. Silver Sneakers is a fitness program for older adults. Dorothy participates to the best of her ability. Read the Full Story >>
Two Public Art Projects Set to Transform Downtown Charles Town
Mural, mural on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all? This story may not include a fairy tale about a wicked witch or a poisonous apple, but it does involve a world-renowned artist and a community pulling all its resources to boost, attract, and celebrate art, culture, and heritage in downtown Charles Town. Read the Full Story >>
Charles Town’s New Fresh Food Market
October 7 saw the launch of Bushel & Peck in the historic Charles Washington Hall, returning the site to a use it hasn’t enjoyed since the 19th and early 20th centuries. Read the Full Story >>
A Positive Return to the Community
Ronda Lehman has worn many hats over the years—hospice nurse, expert witness, political candidate, clean water advocate, softball coach—and since November of 2013, she has added one more, coordinator of the Jefferson County Teen Court program. Read the Full Story >>
Opening of Park in Charles Town Represents Long-Term Plan
The City of Charles Town officially christened a new nature park housed on a former brownfield site and kicked off the first piece of a large-scale project in its urban center. Read the Full Story >>