Local Events

Morgan County Observatory will be having a public star party this Friday evening, November 30 beginning at 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. or so if the viewing is good. Another public star party will be held Friday, December 7 also at 7 p.m. There will be stargazing, refreshments, movies and hands on astronomy exhibits for folks of all ages.

Comet Holmes was seen at several of this month's star parties, but now it fading. Late fall skies will bring Mars back into view rising early in the evening. With clear skies, the ring nebula, the Andromeda galaxy and the Hercules star cluster will all be visible. See the Morgan County Observatory and get a peek through the powerful 16" Cassegrain telescope housed there. Admission is free to all and donations are encouraged.

Jeanne Mozier will deliver a free lecture presenting a variety of trends for 2008 at the Ice House on Tuesday, December 4 at 7 p.m. Titled: "Downsize, Simplify and Serve," topics include timing of economic activities, an emphasis on health care and energy efficiency and new fashion styles.

Rankins Physical Therapy will be hosting a blood drive for the Eastern Panhandle Chapter of the American Red Cross on December 6, from 1-7 p.m.

The turnout was good at the last blood drive held at Rankins. All presenting donors will receive a smoke detector.

The Shepherdstown Fire Department will be having their annual Christmas Open House and free community dinner on Sunday, December 2. The dinner will be served from 12 noon until 3 p.m.

The fire department welcomes everyone to attend this free dinner. This is the Christmas gift to Shepherdstown and the surrounding community to show their appreciation of continued support to the agency.

The December 4 Christmas dinner meeting of the Ye Towne of Bath NSDAR will be held at the County Inn.

The chapter was organized in 1932 by Martha Mae Harmison with 13 charter members. Other meetings were held in members' home in the winter months and in their cottages along the Cacapon River in the summer.

Free concert featuring

Highland

The Highland United Methodist Church will present its Christmas program on Sunday, December 2 at 7 p.m.

The Hancock Unit #022 of the National Association of Retired & Veteran Railway Employees will hold their quarterly meeting on Wednesday, December 5 at 11:30 a.m. at the Park & Dine Restaurant in Hancock.

All employees, retired & current, are welcome. Dues for 2008 are due by December 31.

The Potomac Valley Audubon Society will hold a special workshop December 6 to train area teachers and volunteers to present a new education program that focuses on bird conservation.

The workshop will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at the National Conservation Training Center outside Shepherdstown.

A free one-hour seminar dealing with various aspects of personal money management with be held next Tuesday night, November 27, 7-8 p.m., in the lower-level Fellowship Hall of the Berkeley Springs Seventh-day Adventist Church, according to Pastor Hal Butman.

The church is located at 3606 Valley Road, U.S. 522 South. The public is welcome to attend, and there is no admission charge or pre-registration required, said lay elder Mark Hann, who is in charge of the program.