Neighborhood Watch Archives - Brain Dumping in Retirement

Republicans Should Talk to Democrats (and Vice Versa)

By Jim Bauman May 15, 2025Neighborhood Watch, Opinions and EditorialsDEI, Democrats, Legislative Dominance, Republicans

A rewrite of the article Help! There's too many Republicans The rewrite includes some specifics relevant to Jefferson County.

State Parks in the WV Legislative Spotlight

By Jim Bauman March 14, 2025Neighborhood WatchIndustrialization, Parks, West Virginia

The West Virginia Senate in the 2025 legislative session posted a bill to rescind a provision in a state law that prohibits industrial drilling in state parks. This is in the interest of allowing carbon sequestration in the parks.

Making the Case for Diversity

By Jim Bauman December 18, 2024Neighborhood WatchDEI, Diversity, Immigration, Republican Opposition

Diversity used to be a good word. It expressed ideas of openness, acceptance, fairness. It was something you wanted to support. It was something that defined America. But now diversity is under attack by the Republican party and is actively being legislated against in red states. It's good vibes are being subverted and replaced by negative connotations.

The Buzz About Bees in Jefferson County

By Jim Bauman December 22, 2023Neighborhood WatchBee Keeping, Hive House, Pollinators, Potomac Valley Audubon Society

Beekeeping is an important, though small activity in Jefferson County. The people who do raise bees and harvest honey are closely attuned to their environment.

The Quiet Methods of Abortion Clinic Escorts

By Jim Bauman October 14, 2023Neighborhood WatchAbortion, Abortion Access, Clinic Escorts

Countering anti-abortion protests with a helping hand Published in Ellemeno, Oct. 14, 2023 (https://medium.com/ellemeno/the-quiet-methods-of-abortion-clinic-escorts-1a6a1cf4a668) The political signs for next year’s presidential and congressional elections point to abortion being a trigger issue for voters — again. Both anti-abortion and pro-choice people will be campaigning heatedly. Both sides will angle for the high ground, arguing on the general points of morality, fairness,…

Cap and Gown and Town

By Jim Bauman September 16, 2023Neighborhood WatchAge Friendly, Shepherd University, Shepherdstown

Shepherd University in West Virginia is a designated age-friendly university, meaning it is sensitive and responsive not just to its students, but to the wider community.

What is it like to be an LGBTQ teenager?

By Jim Bauman August 3, 2023Life and Living, Neighborhood WatchLGBTQ, Queer Youth

Some thoughts about what it's like to be queer and young and have to contend with the false expectations the dominant society has about you.

Organizations serving LGBTQ youth in the Panhandle

By Jim Bauman August 3, 2023Neighborhood WatchCASA, EPEC, EPYA, LGBTQ, Martinsburg Pride, Queer Youth

Queer youth can have a rough time bucking the forces that don't like them the way they are and will often punish them for being who they are This article discusses three local organizations that advocate and provide services for these kids.

The library: Not about keeping quiet anymore

By Jim Bauman June 22, 2023Neighborhood WatchBook Banning, LGBTQ, Shepherdstown Library

Book banning may be coming to a library close to home. How does banning a book work and what's library policy in regard to challenging a book?

The Appeal and Power of Music

By Jim Bauman May 31, 2023Neighborhood WatchGun control, Music, Shepherdstown

Shepherdstown Presbyterian Church each year sponsors a PeaceFest with local musicians playing pieces to align with a theme. This year's theme was Guns to Gardens an initiative to retire unneeded guns from the community.

Rooting for Ranson against the pressures of gentrification

By Jim Bauman March 31, 2023Neighborhood WatchAndy Colandrea, Development, Gentrification, Planning, Ranson

This article focuses on the planning for Ranson growth and development as seen from the perspective and goals of Andy Colandrea, a city councilperson.

Guns on Campus

By Jim Bauman March 15, 2023Neighborhood WatchCampus Carry, Guns on campus, West Virginia

A report of the passage of the the Campus Carry law allowing guns to be carried on college campuses, against the appeals not to do so from college presidents

Restoring and Recreating the Past

By Jim Bauman February 25, 2023Neighborhood Watch

Historic homes and buildings in Jefferson County are an important feature of the county's identify. The preservation of these buildings is a hands-on concern for many residents.

School Testing: A Complicated Topic

By Jim Bauman February 8, 2023Neighborhood WatchSchool testing

High school teachers and the school board in Jefferson County got into a disagreement on when and how to administer end-of-semester exams and how much to weight them. The teachers issued a vote of no confidence in the board. Here's the details with some discussion of the purpose of testing kids as much as schools do.

Historians of Jefferson County

By Jim Bauman January 20, 2023Neighborhood WatchBlack history, Cemeteries, Duffields Colored Cemetery, Shepherd University

History is an important professional and amateur vocation for many people in Jefferson County given our long and rich history. This article focuses on one aspect of that history the cemeteries of Black residents, and one in particular, the Duffields Colored Cemetery.

Keeping Downtown Shepherdstown Businesses Vital

By Jim Bauman January 4, 2023Neighborhood WatchBusiness vitality, Shepherdstown, Tourism, Town hall

The town council of Shepherdstown convened a town hall to consider community input into how to grow and sustain the successful business life of the town. This article is a report of the questions and discussion.

Senior Social Services in Jefferson County

By Jim Bauman December 31, 2022Neighborhood WatchCouncil on Aging, Financing retirement, Government program for seniors, Ranson, SAIL, Senior services, Shepherd University

Most seniors go into retirement on fixed incomes, which can raise the threat of poverty. To alleviate that threat government funded and volunteer organizations provide many elective services for seniors.

Seniors SAILing Along

By Jim Bauman December 31, 2022Neighborhood Watch, SAIL WritersAge-Friendly city, Psychology of aging, SAIL, Senior advocacy, Senior organizations, Senior population growth, Shepherd University, Village-to-Village Network

Jefferson County is aging and this article describes the forces at play in making this happen and the community response to accommodate our seniors. One volunteer organization -- Shepherdstown Area Independent Living (SAIL) is highlighted.

The 1886 Lynching of Joe Burns

By Jim Bauman December 31, 2022Neighborhood WatchBlack history, Equal Justice Initiative, Lynching

A white mob lynched Joe Burns in 1886 before he had the chance to defend himself in court. This article speculates on what could have been brought up in his defense.

Real-life Stories of Housing Struggles in Jefferson County

By Jim Bauman December 31, 2022Neighborhood WatchHousing affordability, Section 8 housing, Shepherdstown

When a community aspires to raising its standard of living, it can put the housing needs of people who fall below that standard in jeopardy. They can find it hard to locate affordable housing. This is beginning to happen in several communities in Jefferson County, affecting particularly young people.

Food and Social Security in Jefferson County

By Jim Bauman December 31, 2022Neighborhood WatchFood pantry, JC Community Ministries, Poverty, Shepherdstown, Shepherdstown Shares, Social Security Program, Substance abuse

Poverty and food insecurity in Jefferson County is less than in other parts of West Virginia, but it persists. Several food services have been set up by social service organization to address the need.

Housing as the Lynchpin of a Social Safety Net

By Jim Bauman December 31, 2022Neighborhood WatchAmerican Community Survey, Charles Town, Coalition to End Homelessness, Housing affordability, JC Community Ministries

Jefferson County has a problem in making housing affordable for residents who are cost burdened by the ACS definition. Housing in the county is more expensive than elsewhere in the state and low-income people are being priced out. This article considers a plan the city of Charles Town produced to address the problem.

Local Ordinances Welcoming LGBTQ People

By Jim Bauman December 31, 2022Neighborhood WatchBolivar WV, Fairness West Virginia, LGBTQ hate, LGBTQ rights, Nondiscrimination laws

Under the leadership of Fairness West Virginia, four cities and towns in Jefferson County have passed nondiscrimination ordinances that include LGBTQ people. This article looks at the legacy and promise of these ordinances.

Sparking Imaginations Through Storytelling

By Jim Bauman December 31, 2022Neighborhood WatchAppalachian Studies, Read Aloud WV, Shepherd University, Speak Story, StoryCorp, Storytelling

Storytelling is a volunteer and a professional activity for various individuals in Jefferson County. The pros are mainly associated with the storytelling activities as part of the Shepherd University Appalachian Studies department and the Speak program. The volunteers are with groups such as the Read Aloud program.

Deep History Connections: Mike Tolbert’s Research Project Covers 861 Years to Explain the Civil War

By Jim Bauman December 31, 2022Neighborhood WatchCivil War origins, Michael Tolbert, Slavery history

Mike Tolbert is taking a different lens to the connection between slavery and the Civil War. He sees slavery itself as long lodged in human history and slavery in the States as predating their forced arrival here in 1619. This story reports on a presentation he gave about his theories.

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From Jefferson County, WV, USA, the random thoughts, remembering, and projects of Jim Bauman, former linguist, former teacher, former citizen journalist Opinions and Editorials Published and unpublished pieces that got my blood going Read Posts Neighborhood Watch Columns from the Spirit of Jefferson Researched and published columns about the good things going on in my community Read Articles Life and…