Local Events

Tri-State Community Health Center announces the retirement of Dr. Donald Straus on January 18. As a long-time medical provider and pediatrician, Dr. Straus is respected and appreciated by many local residents.

He graduated from Johns Hopkins Medical School in 1953 and spent the next two years at Harriet Lane Pediatrics as an Intern and Junior Assistant Resident. In 1955 he enlisted in the army for two years and served at Fort Eustis in Virginia.

The Ecology Coalition of Morgan County will be sponsoring a third conversation on the ecological situation of the county. These informal talks are intended to present an opportunity for all to share ideas, raise questions and offer solutions that result in a more balanced relationship between people and the earth.

Jeanne Mozier will conduct a free coaching session for any working West Virginia artist interested in applying for a Professional Development grant from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts on Tuesday, January 8 from 3-5 p.m. at the Ice House in Berkeley Springs. Grant application deadline is February 1 and the forms are online at www.wvculture.org.

This grant program is rare among states in that it provides funds directly to individual artists, says Mozier. They can receive up to $2,500 for marketing training, equipment, workshops or travel. The goal of the program is to assist artists in advancing their professional art.

The Potomac Valley Audubon Society will sponsor a talk by wildlife rescue expert Gretl Learned at Cacapon State Park the afternoon of Saturday, January 19.

The program will be held in the lower level Conference Room of the park's Lodge starting at 2 p.m.

West Virginia University Hospitals-East and the WVU Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center Eastern Division will sponsor a community mini-medical school program on Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

The program will be held on Tuesday, January 15 in the Erma Byrd Health Professionals Education Center on the City Hospital campus. The public is welcome to attend this mini-medical school program to learn about the prevalence of MRSA in healthcare and community settings as well as how it may be prevented.

St. Thomas' Episcopal Church, Hancock, will inaugurate the holiday season on Sunday evening, December 23, with its Annual Church School-Youth Christmas Program and Party.

Rev. F. Allan Weatherholt, said the event begins at 7 p.m. in the Parish Hall, when he will conduct a brief blessing and lighting of the Parish Christmas Tree.

Thursday, December 20 - Berkeley Springs: Christmas dinner, ham, sweet potatoes, green beans, cole slaw, roll, apple crisp. Paw Paw: Chili, cucumber & onion salad, roll, stewed apples.

Friday, December 21 - Berkeley Springs: Chili, cucumber & onion salad, roll, stewed apples. Paw Paw: Christmas dinner.

Thursday, December 20 - Berkeley Springs Christmas dinner: admission by pre-purchased tickets only.

Friday, December 21 - Paw Paw Christmas dinner: Berkeley Springs: Bingo 10.

The Women's Class of the Paw Paw Church of Christ held their annual Christmas party Firday, December 7 at the church.

Attending were: Ellen Brown, Levi Myers, Helena Moser, Pat Funderbuck, Shirley Herrell, Georgia Brown, Lisa Arnold, Susie Fletcher, Denise Bullett, Michelle Fletcher, Rita Bradfield, Maxcine Rockwell, Lisa Holliday, Loren Holliday, Kristin Bradford, Nancy Hott, Ida Mae Kidwell, Loretta White, Margaret Zembower, Katie Abrell, Jean Abrell, Sherri Abrell, Mary Bradford, Wilma Delawder, Betty Michael, Linda Alger, Eula Myers, Freda Kerns, Doris Huber, Helen Shambaugh, Dale Bradfield, Wilma Phebus, Irene Meyers, Carol Morrison, Alicia Meyers, Louise McManus, AReEtta Shambaugh, Katie Allen and Dee Julian.

Morgan County Board of Health meeting will be December 17 at 4:30 p.m. at the Morgan County Health Department.