Local Events

With members of the christian vocal group "Praise Club" now entering their seventh year since being organized in 2001, it appears that the group's popularity extends beyond the boundaries of their home in Morgan County. Upcoming performances will include concerts in Morgan County, as well as throughout the tri-state area.

On Sunday, April 22 the group will travel to Blue Rock United Brethren in Christ Church of Waynesboro, Pa. for a 7 p.m. concert. Tonoloway Primitive Baptist Church near Hancock, will host the group for a concert at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 20. On Sunday May 27 Praise Club will be at Damascus Church of Big Cove Tannery, Pa. for a concert at 2 p.m.

Singer-songwriter Kate Evans will be performing at The Red Guitar on Saturday, April 28, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. as a benefit for the future Berkeley Springs Bike and Skatepark (BS2). All donations will go entirely toward the skatepark.

When Evans wrote an update on the skatepark for The Morgan Messenger and heard that the BS2 group still needed to raise around $150,000 to build the skatepark, she decided to do a benefit performance to help out. She has often donated her time performing for local causes over the years.

Yard Square Quilts (YSQ) are popping up all over Berkeley Springs. The Delectable Mountains Quilt Guild has opened its third annual YSQ auction. This year the guild is donating the profit from the auction to the Morgan County Humane Society.

Quilts, each measuring 36" square in size and donated by a guild member, will hang in local businesses until Memorial Day, May 28. Maps for the tour of quilts are available at the Ice House and at Acorns & Oaks Quilt Shop. Posters showing all 39 quilts are on sale as well. The public can bid on these quilts by stopping by the shops or by calling 304-582-2368.

The Morgan Arts Council is holding auditions for "The Nerd" by Larry Shue at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, April 18 and 19, at the Ice House. All roles in the small ensemble are open to be cast.

"We are looking for four adult males, two adult women and one child," said Margi Griffiths. "As director, I want to see actors willing to cut loose on stage and take a comic chance playing zany characters."

The newly formed Sleepy Creek Children's Choir, under the direction of Denise Cline, will share the stage with the Living Springs Chorale in a combined concert at 3 p.m., Sunday, April 15, at Berkeley Springs High School.

Sleepy Creek Children's Choir was established in February 2007 as a program of The Community Choir, Inc., with support from the Presbyterian Church. This is a community-wide educational and choral performance program that teaches musical skills, vocal harmony, stage presence and personal discipline. The choir is open to all children between the ages of five and 13 with or without musical experience. A community-wide youth choir is expected to develop as younger children become more skilled and turn middle and high school age.

The Church on the Hill Concert Series at the Berkeley Springs Presbyterian Church presents "Two Violas and Friends" on Saturday, April 21 at 7:30 pm. The Church on the Hill Concert Series, initiated in 2006, provides the community with opportunities to experience the many talented musicians of this region and beyond.

"Two Violas and Friends" features music for two violas (string instruments slightly larger than violins with a rich, deep sound) accompanied by piano and guitar. The concert will bring together Berkeley Springs resident Linda Whitesitt and her long-time friend and colleague from Rock Hill, S.C., Elda Franklin. They will be joined by Patricia Springer (piano) and Jonathan McBee (guitar). The program includes Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 6, Telemann's Concerto for Two Violas, duets by Bartok and Russian fiddle tunes.

Friendship Full Gospel Church, Berkeley Springs, off of Route 9 east to New Hope Road will hold a Gospel Sing with For His Glory Timber Ridge Church Singers and The Gospel Missionaries on Saturday, April 21 at 6 p.m.

Morgan County Observatory will host a Public Star Party at the observatory Friday evening, April 20 beginning at 8:30 p.m. To help celebrate Eco's Redbud Weekend in Morgan County, MCOF will also be open Saturday evening, April 21 for an open house and stargazing beginning at 8 p.m.

A members only viewing will be held this Friday evening April 13 at 8:30 p.m. at Morgan County Observatory. Prospective members are encouraged to attend. There will be stargazing, refreshments, movies and hands on astronomy exhibits for all ages. Admission is free to all and donations are encouraged.

Ostenaco (ca. 1703-1790), Cherokee leader, will be portrayed by Doug Wood of Nitro at 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 4 at Cacapon State Park Lodge, Berkeley Springs, and Thursday, April 5, 6:30 p.m. at Paw Paw High School.

The presentations are part of the History Alive! program of the West Virginia Humanities Council.

Easter weekend activities at Cacapon State Park:

Friday, April 6