Over 200 people enjoyed the 3^rd Annual Taste & Sounds of the Town, an evening of fine dining and lively music at the Clarion Hotel on Saturday, Sept. 26^th.  This is the annual fundraiser for Friends in Action of the Eastern Panhandle.  Seventeen restaurants offered samplings of their signature dishes in an appetizing competition to win the coveted “Best in Show” award.  Tari’s Café from Berkeley Springs was deemed the winner, providing a taste of Caribbean Lobster Corn Chowder, Voo-Doo Shrimp with Candied Pineapple, Passion Fruit Crème Brulee with Broken Sugar, and a Chilled Fruit Soup.  Other restaurants in the competition included:  the Bavarian Inn, Betty’s Restaurant, Charles Town Races & Slots, Dish, Kazu, Mellow Moods, Mountain State Meats & Catering, Ridgefield Farm & Orchard, Rumsey Tavern, Shaharazade’s Restaurant & Tea Room, Shepherd University Dining Services, Stone Soup Bistro, Three Onions, Tuscany Grille, Vista Gourmet, and Yellow Brick Bank.

                Several talented local musicians provided entertainment during the evening.  The Pat Lowry Combo provided background music while guests arrived.  Todd Coyle, The Rolling Coyotes, and Gregorio Lacerda and Friends kept everyone humming and swaying throughout the evening.  A lively auction with auctioneer Bill Cafferky brought people to their feet as bidders went back and forth, trying to win items such as as a week at an exquisite vacation home in the Outer Banks donated by Betty and Dean Russell, a year of dance lessons by Mercedes Prohaska, and a week-long decorative faux painting class with artist Ron Lehman. 

A silent auction with over 50 items donated by supporters of the program caught the attention of attendees, featuring original artwork by members of the Arts & Humanities Alliance of Jefferson County.  Bidding was fierce for some of the beautiful artwork and the gift certificates donated by local merchants.  There was something for everyone including:  fine dining, white water rafting, and a Nikita Lynn beaded handbag from She Town Divas in Shepherdstown.

                All proceeds from the evening benefit the mentoring program of Friends in Action of the Eastern Panhandle, serving low income families throughout Jefferson and Berkeley Counties.  One graduate of the program, now attending Shepherd University, volunteered her time at the event.  “Friends in Action helped my family become self-sufficient and I want to make sure that other families can receive the kind of support we received,” said Bethany Baddorf.  Sponsors for the event included:  City National Bank; Prettyman Broadcasting; Shepherd University; Jo and Jimmy Powell; Geri and Larry Crawley-Woods; Charles Town Races and Slots; United Bank; Ken and Jantina Mann; Eden Design; Accurate Systems; Ours, Lawyer & Lewis, PLLC; Shepherdstown Sweet Shoppe; Rumsey Development Group.