25 Things to do with your kids in the Eastern Panhandle

We live in a great place to raise a family; full of history, natural beauty and family fun.  Here is Eastern Panhandle Moms list of 25 things to do with your family in the Eastern Panhandle and surrounding areas.  This is by no means an all inclusive list so please feel free to share your favorite things to do in the area in the comments and they may get added to the list!

1. Visit Wonderment Puppet Theater in Martinsburg.
2. Watch the horse races at Charles Town Races and Slots.
3. Attend Pickin’ in the Panhandle BBQ and Blue Grass Festival.
4. Take the Morgan County driving tour of Washington Heritage Trail.
5. Play at JayDee’s Family Fun Center in Inwood. Lots of indoor and outdoor fun!
6. Enroll in KinderPraise classes with your child.
7. Go strawberry picking at Orr’s Farm Market.
8. Watch the big bubbling cauldron of apple butter in the square at the Apple Butter Festival in Berkeley Springs.
9. Hit the rink at Galaxy Skateland in Martinsburg.
10. Swim at the lake and play on the beach at Cacapon State Park.
11. Pick an activity (fishing, hiking, camping, biking) at Sleepy Creek Wildlife Preserve.
12. Learn and explore at the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum in Winchester, VA.
13. Bowling is great family fun and you can do it in Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties!
14. Feed the animals at Wilson’s Wild Animal Park in Winchester, VA.
15. Paint your own pottery (and get delicious ice cream) at Skipper’s in Charles Town.
16. Ride bikes on the C & O Canal.
17. Cheer on the team at a Hagerstown Suns game.
18. Get a funnel cake or cotton candy at a local county fair.
19. Step into the prehistoric era at Dinosaur Land in Winchester, VA.
20. Play soccer or walk the trail at Morgan’s Grove Park in Shepherdstown.
21. Have some indoor fun (and a milkshake) at Chick-fil-A.  Locations in Martinsburg and Ranson.
22. Feed the ducks at Hagerstown’s City Park.
23. Run off some energy at Open Gym through Berkeley County Parks and Rec.
24. Take your fishing poles to Zett’s Fish Hatchery in Inwood.
25. Play miniature golf at War Memorial Park in Martinsburg.

What keeps your family busy in the Eastern Panhandle?

Things to do in the Panhandle~ December 16-18

• Christmas at the Berkeley County Museum. Martinsburg, WV Fri 12/16 and Sat 12/17 noon-8pm.  Museum decorated in Civil War era decor.  Located at Belle Boyd House.  Visit www.bchs.org for more information.
• Lunch with Santa.  Jefferson County Community Center, Shenandoah Junction, WV.  Saturday 12/17.  11am-1pm.  $8/child includes picture, craft and lunch.  Visit www.jcprc.org for additional information.
  

  Image via Wikipedia

• Jingle Jam.  Berkeley Springs High School, Berkeley Springs, WV.  Sat 12/17 6pm.  Music, skits, performances and pictures.

What will be keeping you busy this last weekend before Christmas?

Things to do in the Panhandle~ December 9-11

It is definitely beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!  The chill in the air and the Christmas carols on every station of the radio remind me that the holiday is just around the corner.  There are plenty of festivities happening around the Panhandle.  Here are a few for your family to enjoy this weekend.

• Christmas Celebration.  Belle Boyd House, Martinsburg, WV.  December 9th and 10th from noon-8pm.  Visit www.bchs.org for more details.
• 41st Annual Old Tyme Christmas.  Harpers Ferry, WV.  December 10th and 11th, all day.  Bake Sale, Breakfast with Santa and much, much more!! Visit www.historicharpersferry.com for more details.
• Colonial Christmas Celebration. Adam Stephen House, Martinsburg, WV.  December 10th and 11th.  4pm-8pm.  Candlelight tours, Christmas music, refreshments and more. FREE.  For more information call  (304) 267-4434
• Elf PJ Party. Jefferson County Community Center, Shenandoah Jct, WV. December 10th. 10am-2pm Games, crafts, open gym and holiday movies. Lunch included for $10.  For kids ages 5-12.  Call (304) 728-3207 to register.
• Shepherdstown Holiday Market.  Entler Hotel, Shepherdstown, WV. December 10th. 10am-4pm.  Local artisans and vendors.  Shop local and handmade for Christmas!
• The Nutcracker presented by Shepherdstown School of Dance.  Frank Center for the Performing Arts, Shepherdstown, WV.  December 10th at 7pm and December 11th at 2pm.  Tickets are $13/advance and $18/door.  Call (304) 886-8398 for more information.

What are your plans for the weekend?

Things to do in the Panhandle~ The Thanksgiving Edition

I hope that you are planning a long weekend full of family, food and fun!

Here are some things happening in our area that you can incorporate in your holiday weekend:

• Christmas in Shepherdstown, Shepherdstown, WV. Friday 11/25- Sun 11/27.  Tree lighting and Santa’s arrival.  Bonfire and more!  Visit www.christmasinshepherdstown.com for more details.
• Christmas Tree Lighting, Charles Town, WV.  Friday 11/25 at 7pm.  The Christmas tree in the town square {at the courthouse} will be lit in a ceremony open to the public.
• Christmas Tree Lighting, Ranson, WV.  Saturday, 11/26 from 6pm-8pm.  Lancaster Circle in Ranson will be hosting a tree lighting complete with activities and Santa.  Public is welcome.
• Holiday Art and Craft Market, Martinsburg, WV.  Friday and Saturday 11/25-11/26 12:00pm-7:00pm, Sunday 11/27 from 12:00pm-4:00pm.  Located at 115 S. Queen Street in Martinsburg.  Support local artisans and get your Christmas shopping done.
• Berkeley Springs Book Festival. Berkeley Springs, WV.  10am-4pm.  Details at www.maicehouse.org.

May you have a blessed weekend!!

Things to do in the Panhandle~ November 18-20

There are six weeks until Christmas and one week until Thanksgiving!  Where has this year gone?

Here are some ways to spend quality time with your family this weekend in the Eastern Panhandle:

• Family Expo and Craft Fair. Quality Inn, Harpers Ferry, WV.  Saturday, November 19 from 10am-4pm.  Free.  Kids activities and a chance to get your Christmas shopping started {or finished}.  For more information, visit www.amomscatalog.com.
• Santa’s Arrival and Holiday Fashion Show.  Martinsburg Mall, Martinsburg, WV.  Saturday, November 18 from 1pm-4pm.  Santa is arriving along with Dora the Explorer and the Chick-fil-A cow.  Lots of fun for the whole family.  Visit the mall’s Facebook page for more details.

What will you be doing this weekend?

Things to do in the Panhandle~ November 11-13

I hope your family is well.  We had the upper respiratory bug go through our house a few weeks ago and now 3 out of the 5 of us at home have been down with the stomach bug   But, there is plenty to do in the Eastern Panhandle this weekend, especially since there is no school tomorrow!  Here’s hoping my house gets to feeling better so we can find something fun to do!

• Child Spirit Fall Consignment Sale, Berkeley County Youth Fairgrounds, Martinsburg, WV Friday-Sunday 11/11-11/13.  Sale of used children and infant clothing and equipment.
• Arts and Crafts Fair, Hedgesville Volunteer Fire Department, Hedgesville, WV.  Saturday, November 12.  10am-4pm.
• Antietam Recreation’s Cowboy Christmas Dinner Show, Antietam Recreation Center, Hagerstown, MD. Friday and Saturday, November 11/12. 6pm-9:30pm.  For ages 4 and over.  Call (301) 797-7999 for reservations and information.
• Holiday Extravaganza. Comfort Inn, Martinsburg, WV. Sunday, November 13 from 1pm-4pm.  Consultants from Tupperware, Premier Jewelry, Tastefully Simple and more will be selling cash and carry Christmas gifts.  Support local business owners.

What will you be doing to keep busy this weekend?

Things to do in the Panhandle~ November 4-6

• Chamber of Commerce Business Expo, Martinsburg Mall, Martinsburg, WV. Saturday, 11/5 from 10am-4pm.  Dora the Explorer, Spongebob and the Chick-fil-A Cow are all scheduled to make appearances.  Come support local businesses and have some family fun.
• Cider-Making 101. Harpers Ferry National Park, Harpers Ferry, WV.  Saturday,11/5 and Sunday, 11/6 from 11am-4pm.  Cider making demonstration.  For more information, visit www.nps.gov/hafe.

Know of any other fun, family friendly activities in the Panhandle?  Feel free to add them in the comments!

Truancy in the Panhandle~ A Mother’s Rant

There was a meeting yesterday in the Panhandle, a meeting that has been duplicated across the state to address the truancy issue in West Virginia.

{For those not familiar with the term (and I wasn’t until I started in the social work field), truancy is being absent from school without permission.}

Some of you may be surprised that this is a HUGE problem in the Panhandle, some of you may be part of the problem.

22% of students in Berkeley County were absent {unexcused} more than 10 days of the school year last year.  We aren’t talking about missing a day or two for the stomach flu or an extended family weekend.  Truancy is kids staying home from school for no acceptable reason.

Why is this a problem?

This is how I, as someone who works with teens on a daily basis and have four of my own, view truancy: Truancy is a gateway drug.
If a child is supposed to be in school and isn’t- What are they doing with their time?  Who is supervising them? Who are they hanging out with?  How far are they falling behind in their studies?

Nothing constructive is taking place, I can assure you.

As someone noted in a meeting I attended today: “it starts with truancy”.  What starts? Irresponsible behavior, casual sex, drug use, criminal activity, dropping out, teen pregnancy and more.

The statistics are there to support this {read the Martinsburg Journal’s article here}  hypothesis.  And I see it every day with my own eyes.

In my work with teen moms I have encountered students that missed more school than they attended {and that was BEFORE they ended up pregnant!!! }.

Parents, please stand up and be a parent. If your 7th or 8th grader “won’t” go to school, you have a parenting issue.  My 14 and 15 year old boys know better than to even try to skip school. They don’t get to stay home unless they are vomiting or running a fever.  If they miss the bus, I drive them.  If it became an issue, they know that I would sit with them through each class {in my bathrobe and slippers} if that is what it took for them to fulfill their responsibility of receiving an adequate and appropriate education.  Their future is at stake and if they aren’t mature enough to care about that, I am.

As a society, we act surprised at the sense of entitlement and lack of work ethic in the majority of teenagers we encounter.  Many say “the school needs to do a better job of XYZ” or “the community needs to do a better job of ABC”. This problem, of truancy and the other issues that can stem from it, are a legitimate concern in this state and in this area.   I want to suggest that parents need to do a better job of being parents if we want to see change occur with issues such as truancy.

No is a complete sentence.  When it comes to staying home from school, please learn how to say “no” to your child.  The alternative is not attractive!

**Editor’s Note: I have many friends that homeschool their children, a choice that I respect. Please know this article is not directed towards homeschoolers.  This is about the truancy of enrolled public school students.**

Things to do in the Panhandle ~ October 28th-30th

It is supposed to be cold this weekend {did y’all hear them use the S word on the weather this morning?}

So, bundle up if you are headed to any of these fun events {mostly centered around Halloween} around the Panhandle this weekend:

• Trunk or Treat, St. Joseph’s School. Martinsburg, WV.  Friday, October 28th at 6pm.
• Trick or Treat at the Farmer’s Market.  Hagerstown, MD.  Saturday, October 29th from 9am-11am.  Details at www.hagerstownmd.org.
• Trunk or Treat, Bethel Assembly of God.  Martinsburg, WV.  Saturday, October 29th from 6pm-8pm.  Candy, a hayride and inflatables for the kids!
• The Haunted Theater, Apollo Theater. Martinsburg, WV.  Friday and Saturday, October 28/29 from 7pm-11pm.  Children must be accompanied by an adult.  Food vendors available. Cost: $10.  For more information visit www.apolloween.com.
• Halloween Happenings, Sam Michael’s Park.  Shenandoah Jct, WV.  Friday, October 28th from 6:30pm-9:30pm.  Activities include a hayride, games and costume judging.  For more information visit www.jcprc.org.

What will keep your family busy this weekend?

Local women take pro-life message to Congress

Last week two of West Virginia’s pro-life defenders took their message of adoption and life to Washington, D.C. Carolyn Willis, Executive Director of the Care Pregnancy Center of the Eastern Panhandle, and Kelly McKown-Smallwood, a volunteer at the center were part of the 8^th annual “Babies Go to Congress” campaign.

The Care Pregnancy Center of the Eastern Panhandle (CPCEP) is a well-respected organization in Berkeley County, WV where they have seen their client list grow significantly over the past several years. Willis has developed the volunteer core and community presence of the CPCEP through networking with churches and businesses alike.

“Babies Go to Congress” is a campaign sponsored by Heartbeat International, a nationwide chain of pro-life care pregnancy centers. The goal of this event is to let Congress know that abortion is not the final option and that there is plenty of help available to women seeking alternative options.

Take a look at the video below featuring both Carolyn Willis and Kelly McKown-Smallwood during their trip to Congress where they met Speaker of the House John Boehner and other members of Congress. (The complete article and video can also be seen by clicking this link)

Pro-Life Women Take ‘Babies to Congress’

When Kelly McKown-Smallwood was 14, she became pregnant.

Scared and overwhelmed, she felt pressured by her boyfriend and his family to have an abortion. But she says her Christian conviction ruled that out.

“Deep down I valued life even at the moment and I knew my life would never be the same,” McKown-Smallwood said. “I thank God I didn’t make that choice [to have an abortion].”

Today, McKown-Smallwood is married and works as a dental surgeon.

Now, with her two children, along with a team of other moms and crisis pregnancy center workers, she’s taking the pro-life message to Washington.

The group, known as Heartbeat International, said they want to let lawmakers know that “abortion is not the final option.”

“Some clients, all they want is to look for an abortion. Most choose parenting,” said Carolyn Willis of the Care Pregnancy Center.

Heartbeat International made its eighth visit to Capitol Hill Thursday.

Since the group started its “Babies Go to Congress” campaign, they’ve met with dozens of lawmakers.

Participants say they’re excited about the pro-life bills that have been introduced in Washington since Republicans regained control of the house. But their excitement is tempered.

“We just really are frustrated that these great pieces of legislation are making it out of the House, but the Senate stops them,” Heartbeat International member Virginia Cline explained.

McKown-Smallwood volunteers at a crisis pregnancy in her hometown, where young women get free services in counseling or free supplies for their babies, like formula and furniture.

She said motherhood at a young age was tough, but she made the right choice.

Her goal isn’t to only let members of Congress know there are options, but to let other women who find themselves in similar situations know they have options.

“It is doable. It is absolutely doable,” McKown-Smallwood said. “Care pregnancy centers, we’re there to fulfill whatever needs they have in their lives or to be their friend.”

Nathan A. Cherry lives in Bunker Hill with his wife and two children. He is a contributing blogger for the Family Policy Council of West Virginia as well as Eastern Panhandle Moms. Nathan is the Connection Pastor at New Hope Church in Inwood West Virginia where he serves to connect folks into places of service both within the church and in the community.

Next Page »