Harpers Ferry Community Newsletter September 2016 Volume 13 Issue 5

Transcription

1 Harpers Ferry Community Newsletter September 2016 Volume 13 Issue 5 Bike Your Park Day at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park When: Saturday, September 24, 2016, 9 am - 2 pm (9/24 is a fee-free day at all national parks) The Trail & Town Alliance of Harpers Ferry-Bolivar and volunteer ambassadors from the Adventure Cycling Association have organized four different bicycle rides, from 14 miles round-trip to 30 miles round -trip, and from easy to moderate to strenuous. Each ride has a different starting point, but the same ending point. All rides are free. Helmets are required. Participants must sign a waiver provided at the start of each ride. The Brunswick to Harpers Ferry ride is 14 miles round-trip from Brunswick, MD along the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal. The Ferry Hill Plantation to Harpers Ferry ride is 24 miles round-trip from historic Ferry Hill across the Potomac River from Shepherdstown, WV, also following the C&O Canal towpath. A third bicycle ride, Charles Town Court House to Harpers Ferry, is 25 miles round-trip, starting in Charles Town, WV at the historic courthouse where abolitionist John Brown was tried and convicted of treason in The Antietam Battlefield to Harpers Ferry ride is the fourth and most strenuous bicycle ride. Bicyclists begin this 30-mile round-trip ride at the historic battlefield visitor center near Sharpsburg, MD, climbing several steep hills along the western edge of Maryland Heights. These four bicycle rides traverse some of the most scenic and historic landscapes along the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, says Bike Your Park Day volunteer ambassador David Gilbert. Harpers Ferry Inside this issue: Calendar; Family Hiking Day - Sept Library Events 3 Water News; Paying your Water Bill 4 Blast From the Past 5 Water Commission Vacancy; Candidate Forum Dates for Election 6 Harpers Ferry National Historic Park Events in September Labor Day Band and BBQ - community event Public input needed on possible solid waste management ordinance is just the icing on the cake. These rides also travel through three other national park sites: Antietam National Battlefield, C&O Canal National Historical Park, and the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. For more information about the four free bicycle rides to Harpers Ferry NHP, and to register to participate, visit the Harpers Ferry Bike Your Park Day event website at BikeYourParkDay_HarpersFerry.eventbrite.com The Town s official website has useful information including important notices, ordinances, meeting minutes, official applications, and events calendar. Visit us at

2 2 September 24 - Family Hiking Day Town Calendar All meetings at Town Hall, unless noted otherwise. In celebration of Family Hiking Day and Public Lands Day on Saturday, September 24 th, the Trail & Town Alliance (a committee of the Harpers Ferry-Bolivar Historic Town Foundation) and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy are sponsoring a family-friendly hike at the Chambers-Murphy Farm. Join us for a walk through time in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park beginning at the Murphy Farm. This Farm is rich in history and cultural significance with starring roles in John Brown s raid, the Confederate advance under General Stonewall Jackson and the early days of the NAACP. Come along with us and live the rich history of this beautiful place while enjoying a beautiful fall day outdoors with family, friends and neighbors. This is an easy 1.5 miles in and out hike on gentle terrain suitable for all ages and strollers. Arrive at 9:45 am with the hike beginning at 10:00 am. Parking available. Contact hike leader Sarah Shafer at or sarahshafer7@gmail.com to register for the hike. September 24 is National Public Lands Day, which is a free entrance day for all National Parks across the country. Wednesday, September 7 Monday, September 12 Wednesday, September 14 Monday, September 19 Tuesday, September 20 Wednesday, September 21 Wednesday, September 28 Thursday, September 29 Municipal Court, 7-9 pm Town Council Meeting, 7 pm Parks and Recreation Commission, 6 pm Landmarks Commission, 7 pm Planning Commission, 7 pm Water Commission meeting, 7-9pm Harpers Ferry Foundation Board meeting, 5:30 pm Tree Committee, 7 pm

3 3 Fall Programming at the Bolivar-Harpers Ferry Public Library! I've Won Big in Sweepstakes, and You Can, Too! Velma Green will be offering tips and advice on how to win in sweepstakes September 15, 6:00 pm Door prizes will be awarded (Of course!) Call to reserve your seat Join Local Author Susan Benjamin as she reads from her new book,sweet as Sin, Sept. 8, 6:00 pm Book discussion to follow. There s more to candy than its sugary taste. As this book shows, candy has a remarkable history, most of it sweet, some of it bitter. The author, a food historian and candy expert, tells the whole story from the harvesting of the marshmallow plant in ancient Egypt to the mass-produced candy innovations of the twentieth century. Join Local Author, J. Carol Nemeth for a book signing Saturday, October 1, 12:30 American Jessica Montgomery arrives in WW I England to be greeted with the horrible news that local vagrants and homeless folk are being found murdered. As they search for answers to end the horror, Jess learns who she can and cannot trust, but it may be too late when she finds her own life in danger. Communicating with the Mayor or Council Mayor Greg Vaughn hfmayor@frontier.com Recorder Kevin Carden kevin.carden@harpersferrywv.us Council Betsy Bainbridge betsybainbridge@yahoo.com Members Jerry Hutton jerwar@frontiernet.net Hardy Johnson hsjohnsonjr@yahoo.com Charlotte Thompson charlotte.thompson@harpersferrywv.us Helen Hap Becker hap.becker@harpersferrywv.us Water Dept. Phone: ext. 1 acummings@harpersferrywv.us Newsletter Information: Editor /Layout: Laurel Drake intern1@harpersferrywv.us Next deadline: Friday, September 30, 2016

4 4 How to pay your water/sewer bill: Monday- Friday 8-12: The window at the Police Office at Town Hall will be open. Other times: Call Ext. 1 to make an appointment to see the Water Clerk. 7 days a week: Leave payment with stub in the slotted box on the Police Dept. door or the Town Hall door at the east end of the Town Hall. Mail your payment: HF Water Works, PO Box 217, Harpers Ferry, WV Pay online: Go to In your next bill that is mailed out (October 1), there will be a inserted page - the Consumer Confidence Report. The 1996 amendment to the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) requires Community Water Systems (CWSs) to prepare and distribute an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), which is a report on the quality of drinking water. Did you know? If you move to Harpers Ferry or Bolivar and want to start water service, you must apply for new water service and new sewer service, and pay a deposit for each. When you get ready to move out, you must fill out a Termination Form, giving the effective date, so that the Water Dept. can read your meter, shut it off and send you a final bill. The New Water Service, New Sewer Service and Termination Forms are downloadable on the town website under the Water Dept. tab. They are also available at Town Office.

5 5 Blast from the Past Odds and ends from 125 years of Council minutes curated by Dan Riss 27 Jun 1913 "It is moved That the Speed limit for Automobiels be extended from 8 to 12 miles per hour inside this Town limits." 27 May 1918 letter to mayor and council "We, as members of the State Board of Health for the corporation of Harpers Ferry W. Wa., desire to bring to the attention of your honorable body the extremely bad state of affairs existing on Herrs Island. This was brought to our attention through several sources. "After a thorough inspection Saturday evening May 25 th, 1918, we find the conditions on said Island were actually worse than represented to us. "First, we find the growth of weeds etc., along the Railroad Co's right of way, and over the Island in general, a menace to public health and should be removed. "Second, the old ruins of buildings, of which there are several, are being used as toilets, which is unsanitary and bad for public morals. The inspection developed on this Island no toilets for accomodation at all, and some of the cellars, where families reside, are also being used for the above purpose. "Third, We find the house now occupied by the Drews is both unsanitary and dangerous for a residence. "Fourth, in the case of Mary Painter, we find the environments of this child are not conducive to good health; this child is a hopeless tubercular patient, and her surroundings are such that she cannot receive the proper attention that a citizen of this great commonwealth should enjoy. She is liable to spread the disease among the inhabitants of the town. And even though the case were not a menace to public health, the child should be removed to either the "County Infirmary" or the "Home for Incurables", where she will receive the proper care and attention, and be given her chance for life, which is due her. "We desire your honorable body to take drastic steps towards remedying the evils as quoted, such as; notifying the R. R. Co., the owners of the Island and its inhabitants that all weeds, rubbish etc., that are a menace to public health and morals, must be removed immediately, and for the inhabitants and the R. R. Co., also to erect toilets for the convenience of their camp which is constantly stationed there. "We recommend that the owner serve notice on the Drews to move to a safer and more sanitary residence and steps be taken twards placing Mary Painter in the State Home for Incurables, State Tuberculosis Sanatarium, or if possible, in the County Infirmary. Signed [B B Ranson, Chas Koonce, C E Marlatt}"

6 6 Water Commission Vacancy The Town of Harpers Ferry is seeking a volunteer to serve on the Water Commission. This is for an unexpired term that ends January The candidate must be a ratepayer who lives within the Harpers Ferry Water Works service area and a resident of either Bolivar, Bolivar Heights, or Cavalier Heights. Due to regulations, Harpers Ferry residents are not authorized to apply for this particular vacancy. The interests of Harpers Ferry residents are represented by other members on the Commission. The Water Commission serves in an advisory capacity to assist the Town in carrying out its responsibilities in administering, operating and maintaining the Water Works. The Water Commission meets the third Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. in the Harpers Ferry Town Hall. Send a letter of interest and qualifications by October 1, 2016, to Mayor, PO Box 217, Harpers Ferry WV 25425; or Submit your letter of interest and qualifications at the water payment window at the Police Department; or your letter of interest and qualifications to the town clerk at acummings@harpersferrywv.us The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan political organization which has as a goal providing voter registration and candidate information. In Jefferson County the League organizes candidate forums in advance of the November election. The following are the scheduled forums for Jefferson, Morgan and Berkeley Counties. S CHEDULE FOR CANDIDATE FORUMS Tues, 10/11, 7-9pm, at Byrd Center. Possible two sessions: Governor, US House; WV Secretary of State & WV Attorney General (times depend on who accepts) Thurs, 10/13, 7-8:30pm, at JC Commission meeting room. JC Accessor, JC Circuit Clerk, JC County Clerk Tues, 10/18, 7-9pm, at JC Commission meeting room. 7-8: JC County Commission for Charles Town & Shepherdstown; 8-9: JC Prosecuting Attorney and JC Sheriff Tues, 10/25, 7-9pm, at Byrd Center. 7-8: WV House of Delegates, Districts 65, 66, 67; 8-9: WV State Senate, Districts 16 (Berkeley & Jefferson) & 15 (Berkeley & Morgan) Wed, 10/26, 7-9pm, at JC Commission meeting room. WV State Auditor, WV State Treasurer, WV Commissioner of Agriculture (times depend on who accepts)

7 7 National Park Service Events in September! Saturday-Sunday, September 10-11: Bringing in the Harvest Location: Lower Town On Saturday and Sunday, September 10-11, 2016, at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, join nineteenth century historic food expert Carol Anderson for an in-depth look at how summer harvest foods were preserved for winter consumption. Demonstrations include pickling, drying, potting, and canning. Roeder s Confectionery displays feature the history of this nineteenth century immigrant family and their survival through the political and national upheavals before and after the Civil War. The location of the family s home on the edge of hog alley, where local citizens kept their hogs penned, further illustrate the town s practices of preparing food for the winter. Every fall, local townspeople would butcher the hogs and use attic spaces in their homes to smoke meat. Saturday-Sunday, September 17-18: Lives in Limbo: A Contraband Camp in the Shadow of John Brown s Fort Location: Lower Town On Saturday and Sunday, September 17th and 18th from 11am to 4pm, join Harpers Ferry National Historical Park s living history staff and volunteers as they step back to the tense days when African American contraband stole and defined their own freedom in the shadow of John Brown s Fort. By 1862, runaway slaves who came into United States Army lines were called contraband confiscated enemy property. As contraband, African Americans experienced a safety net where slave owners seeking their valuable human property were turned away. However, any African American venturing beyond the safety net of the military post, could be seized, returned to masters, or sold on an auction block. Abolitionist Adam Gurowski said Virginia must be surrounded with glowing contraband camps. What a splendid position for such a camp in Harpers Ferry under the shadow of immortal John Brown! Monday, September 19: Not Just a Pile of Rocks: The Preservation of Archaeological Resources on Loudoun Heights Location: Allies for Freedom Room on the second floor of the John Brown Museum in Lower Town In conjunction with the National Park Service Centennial, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park invites the public to participate in a special presentation titled Not Just a Pile of Rocks: The Preservation of Archeological Resources on Loudoun Heights on Monday, September 19, 2016, at 2:00 PM. This 60 minute program will provide visitors with a brief overview of the domestic, industrial and Civil War history of Loudoun Heights. Participants are encouraged to ask questions and to learn how they can help preserve and protect our fragile archeological resources. Participants should pay the National Park Service entrance fee at the Park Entrance Station and ride the shuttle bus to Lower Town. The presentation will be held in the Allies for Freedom Room on the second floor of the John Brown Museum. For additional information, please call

8 8 Labor Day at Gazebo Park with the Rohrersville Band On Saturday, September 3, the Rohrersville Band put on a concert of patriotic tunes and old favorites. The Harpers Ferry - Bolivar community and our visitors were in attendance, enjoying the feeling of yesteryear. As they do at each July 4th celebration at Gazebo Park, the Woman s Club of the Harpers Ferry District prepared a plate of hot dog, chips, cookie and watermelon for the total price of $1! They also offered drinks for 50 cents apiece! This was a feel-good event - a good time was had by all!

9 9 Public Input Needed The Town is considering the feasibility of developing and implementing a solid waste (garbage and refuse) management ordinance for all residential and commercial properties in Harpers Ferry. This ordinance would govern the collection, storage, and disposal requirements for all solid waste for the purpose of protecting the health and safety of residents and visitors and keeping our Town attractive for tourism. Some of the issues we are considering are: 1. Restricting solid waste storage to totes only (these are the 96-gallon containers many residents currently use for Apple Valley pick-up). This would mean dumpsters would not be permitted in the municipality except during a specific type of short-term construction project. Such a dumpster restriction would impact current dumpster use by restaurants and other merchants, churches, and even Town Hall. 2. Requiring that all storage containers be shielded from view from any public right-of-way (kept behind buildings or within an enclosure) as the Historic District Standards and Guidelines suggest today. 3. Requiring that all solid waste storage be kept at a specific minimum distance from neighboring properties and the street. We are soliciting public opinion, ideas, and concerns regarding such a proposed ordinance. What specific things should be covered and included in such an ordinance? Any ideas and thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated as we prepare this ordinance. Please forward your input in writing to the Town Clerk at harpersferry3@frontier.com. You may also mail your input to the Town Clerk at P.O. Box 217, Harpers Ferry, WV