A roundup of news and community news around Clarke County

Clarke Animal Shelter Has New Hours 

The Clarke Animal Shelter revised its hours in March to better serve the animals in its care and the humans who come to visit. New visiting hours are: 10:30am to 4pm Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays; 11am to 6pm Fridays; 10am to 4pm Saturdays. The shelter is closed on Sundays, Wednesdays, and holidays.

Clarke Animal Shelter staff does not travel to trap or collect dogs or cats. The shelter does not accept wild animals. Staff is on site to accept pets surrendered by their owners and strays delivered by individuals or Sheriff’s deputies. Anyone who needs to drop off an animal — surrenders and strays — should first call the shelter, so staff is prepared to receive the animal(s).

Additionally, know which agency to call regarding any stray or lost domestic animal, including livestock, or to share a concern about a wild animal in Clarke County. Different agencies respond to different situations. Go to the Clarke County website, www.clarkecounty.gov, and the “Animals & Animal Shelter” page for more information. Clarke County government manages Clarke Animal Shelter, but the shelter is owned by the Clarke County Humane Foundation, a 501(c)(3) corporation.

Staff and the volunteers who work at the shelter are dedicated to finding permanent homes for all adoptable pets. Adoption fees are $35 for a cat and $50 for a dog. The Clarke Animal Shelter is located at 225 Ramsburg Lane in Berryville. Contact Animal Shelter Manager Katrina Carroll at (540) 955-5104 or animalshelter@clarkecounty.gov. 

— Cathy Kuehner

Top of Virginia Regional Chamber to Provide Arising Leadership Program

The Top of Virginia Regional Chamber will offer the Arising Leadership Program (ALP) as a catalyst for the development of a dynamic workforce in the Top of Virginia region. This program cultivates leaders in the arising generation that radiate confidence through awareness and experiential learning.

The program allows participants to explore the diverse facets of the Top of Virginia region’s career opportunities in business, government, and the nonprofit sector. Its goals are to cultivate leadership and communication skills, instill and nurture a sense of civic and social responsibility, and to provide participants with a specific career pathway shadow session. Rising juniors and seniors in public, private and home schools in the city of Winchester and counties of Clarke, Frederick and Warren are eligible to participate, but space is limited. The program is free thanks to its sponsors.

Sessions will cover topics such as leadership and communication, business and industry, community culture and agriculture, government and public safety, and health care and the nonprofit sector. The program ends with career exploration and capstone projects.

Registration is open through April 14 at www.regionalchamber.biz. Additional information is available by calling 540-662-4118 or emailing kfincham@regionalchamber.biz.

Patterson’s paintings at Cosmic Harvest Art Show

Berryville artist Keith Patterson’s artwork will be featured at the 2024 Cosmic Harvest Art Show at The Galleries at Long Branch in Millwood Virginia. The Galleries at Long Branch are a fitting backdrop for the bold and audacious colors, themes and scenes of Keith Patterson’s award-winning original artwork. This all-new exhibit is comprised of 30 never-before-displayed works that range from florals and landscapes to the abstract and outright mystical. Keith has studied and adopted the techniques of modern 19th century artists Cezanne, Manet, and Van Gogh, as well as 20th century masters Matisse, Monet, and Pollock. Much of the inspiration for Keith’s work arises from the natural beauty of Clarke County and in the mountains, rivers, and farms of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.

The opening of the exhibit is Saturday, April 6 from 6–8pm at The Galleries at Long Branch 830 Long Branch Lane, Millwood, VA. The exhibit runs through June 30. For information go to www.cosmicharvest.com

Quilt Exhibition Tours the Nation’s Capital through Fiber Art Binoculars 

From the fiber artists who brought us Inspired by the Beatles (2016), Inspired by the National Parks (2017), Inspired by Elvis (2019), and Inspired by Endangered Species (2020) comes another exhibition featuring 103 quilts that depict unmistakable landmarks and destinations in and around our nation’s capital. Inspired by the Nation’s Capital will remain on display at the Barns of Rose Hill through April 27. 

Interlaced with familiar sights like the US Capital, Lincoln Monument, and the White House, visitors will also find themselves immersed in scenes of the bustling Maine Avenue Fish Market, of kites soaring overhead at the Cherry Blossom Festival, and of pigeons enjoying scraps around brightly colored food trucks. Collectively instilling a sense of pride and patriotism, this clever exhibition will appeal to anyone who has ever visited, lived, or worked in DC.  

Galleries at the Barns of Rose Hill are free and open to the public from noon to 3:00 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and during events. More information about the exhibition is available at barnsofrosehill.org/exhibits.