Welcome back to EP Digest. Every Thursday morning, the best local news, events, and happenings from Morgan, Berkeley, and Jefferson counties — tailored to what you actually care about. No doom-scrolling, no algorithm. Just the stuff that matters in the Eastern Panhandle. Let's get into it.
The Middleway Bottling-Plant Fight Reaches West Virginia's Highest Court
Two of the biggest names in historic preservation just weighed in on a Jefferson County land fight. The National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia filed a friend-of-the-court brief at the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, backing the Jefferson County Planning Commission's rejection of a proposed water bottling and processing plant next to the historic village of Middleway. PNN reported the filing.
Here's the backstory. California-based Sidewinder Enterprises wants to build a nearly one-million-square-foot facility beside a village that dates to the 1700s — roughly 60 historic buildings, a Civil War hospital site, and marked and unmarked graves, listed on the National Register since 1980. The Planning Commission denied the concept plan in March 2025, finding it would clash with county rules that bar development that destroys the historic character of Register-listed properties. A circuit court upheld that call. Sidewinder appealed to the Supreme Court.
What makes this notable: it's the first time the National Trust — a congressionally chartered nonprofit that fights these battles nationally — has stepped into a case at the West Virginia Supreme Court level. The Preservation Alliance separately declared Middleway one of the state's most endangered historic places.
The court is expected to rule later this year. However it lands, the decision will set the terms for how much weight a county's historic-preservation zoning carries against a developer's plans — a question that reaches well past one village. We'll follow it. WV MetroNews has more.
What's an amicus brief? “Amicus curiae” is Latin for “friend of the court.” It's a filing from someone who isn't a party to the lawsuit but has a strong interest in the outcome, offering the judges extra context or expertise. It doesn't decide the case — it's a way for outside voices to be heard before the court rules.
Martinsburg Steps In to Keep Bethany House Open
Two weeks ago we flagged that Bethany House — the area's only dedicated emergency shelter for women and children — had cut back to overnight-only hours after a funding shortfall. This week, some relief: Martinsburg City Council voted July 14 to tap the city's opioid-settlement money to keep the shelter open and operating through December 31, 2026. The city announced the bridge funding.
Bethany House, run by Community Networks, Inc. since 1986, serves up to 32 women and children with 24-hour shelter, meals, case management, and life-skills training. Mayor Kevin Knowles called it “a vital community resource for four decades” and framed the money as a bridge — time for nonprofits, faith groups, healthcare providers, and donors to build a longer-term fix. It's a rare case of opioid-settlement dollars landing somewhere you can see the result.
– AUG
Contemporary American Theater Festival
Through Aug 2 • Shepherd University, Shepherdstown • The region's signature summer arts event, in its final week of productions. Tickets & schedule.
Concert in the Park: Eric Byrd Trio
5:30 PM • Berkeley Springs State Park • The Morgan Arts Council's free Saturday series brings the award-winning Maryland jazz trio. Runs Saturdays through August. Lineup.
Buddy Guy: The Damn Right Farewell
8 PM • 21+ • The Event Center, Hollywood Casino, Charles Town • The nearly-90-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Famer. Tickets.
5–16
Appalachian Chamber Music Festival
Across Jefferson County • Two weeks of performances — Bach, Gershwin, and the world premiere of a new bass quintet. Program.
Morgan County Expo
Fairfax Street, Berkeley Springs • The annual fair — livestock shows, carnival rides, and live music. Details.
A Smoke-Choked Weekend, and a Rough Tick Year
Last weekend the Panhandle got a taste of Canada. Smoke from Canadian wildfires pushed air quality to Code Purple — the second-worst level — across all three counties. Pools closed, the Martinsburg Farmers Market was called off, and the Town of Bolivar's 200th-anniversary celebration was canceled after already being rained out the week before. WV MetroNews tracked the closures.
And if it feels like a bad tick year — it is. The county epidemiologist called this season “really, really bad.” The Berkeley and Morgan County Health Departments are both running tick-assessment programs: find one on you, bag it, and bring it in. PNN has the how-to.
On a brighter note: the skies have cleared, and the summer calendar is full — free Saturday concerts in Berkeley Springs, live theater in Shepherdstown, and chamber music on the way. Good weekends are still out there.
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