The site preparation for the current phase of development in the Huntfield subdivision was completed by January 2023 (shown here). 18 months later, the buildings are finished and occupied (link).
Crowded sidewalks, busy restaurants & shops, full theaters — that’s Shepherdstown in July when the Contemporary American Theater Festival draws in thousands of visitors and locals for its four week run. The 2024 festival appears to have been a success, judging not just from the crowds, but from the enthusiastic responses of the audiences.
Whether or not it stays as warm, August looks to be a busy time around the county as well. The Appalachian Chamber Music Festival will be playing music in multiple locations — the outdoor concert in Harpers Ferry promises to be a real treat [link]. In Charles Town, the African American Heritage & Culture Festival will have a parade, and the car show will draw a crowd downtown at the end of the month (link). And you won’t want to miss the Jefferson County Fair, which runs from August 18 through August 24 (link).
There have been several vocal crowds at county government meetings recently and there’s another public hearing coming up on Tuesday, August 27 that is likely to draw a crowd (link). The Planning Commission will host a hearing in the auditorium of Washington High School to take residents’ comments on the draft Comprehensive Plan that will guide the county over the next decade — choices of where farmland and open space will remain, where we’ll see houses, and where commercial development will be encouraged. There will be a Q&A session with the planning staff from 6 to 7 pm and the public hearing will begin at 7 pm (link).
By Steve Pearson