Railroad Museum/Welcome Center taking shape and other news from Shenandoah

~ PVN staff report

SHENANDOAH — During its May 10 meeting, the Shenandoah Council heard a progress report on the Railroad Museum/Welcome Center from Joyce Fluharty, the museum’s curator and the center’s administrator.

The Town of Shenandoah’s museum project at 507 First Street will host a donor reception on June 11, as multiple elements of the facility’s overhaul begins to take shape.

Fluharty told the council last week that it will take six weeks to properly document all of the artifacts donated to the museum. Council members unanimously approved the hiring of local historian Amos Thomas as a part-time museum worker effective June 11.

Last week the council awarded a bid for paving at the Railroad Museum/Welcome Center to Pettit Paving & Excavating at a cost of $18,025. The paving project will be paid for with federal funds through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) already earmarked for the Railroad Museum/Welcome Center project.

Anyone who would like to donate or loan items to Shenandoah’s museum may speak with the curator, Joyce Fluharty, at 507 First Street, Monday-Thursday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Closed for lunch noon to 1 p.m.)

In other business at its May 10 meeting, the Shenandoah Council took the following actions:

• Held a public hearing for the proposed 2022-23 budget prior to the council meeting. Council is proposing no tax increases and plans to adopt the budget at its May 24meeting.

• Authorized the purchase of ADA-compliant playground surface for WigWam Village Playground at a cost of $1,929 from JK Enterprise Landscape Supply, LLC. The project will be paid for with funds from the Parks and Recreation maintenance budget.

• Adopted a proclamation to recognize National Police Week 2022 (May 15-21), to honor the service and sacrifice of those law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. May 15 was designated as Peace Officers Memorial Day and U.S. flags were flown at half-staff to honor the fallen officers. Take this week to thank your local officers for their service as you see them and let them know that you appreciate all of their hard work to protect our community. For more information visit www.nleomf.org.

• Adopted a proclamation to recognize the 12th annual Kids to Parks Day on May 21, which encourages children to lead a more active lifestyle to combat issues of childhood obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia. For more information visit https://parktrust.org/kids-to- parks-day/. On May 21, the Town has a Discovery Hike planned from 10 a.m. to noon at Big Gem Park (736 Fourth St.) for all ages.

• Approved Juneteenth (June 19 — federal and state holiday) as a paid holiday for Town Employees.

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