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State Historic Preservation Office to hold free workshop for Historic Landmark Commissions in Martinsburg

9/17/01

The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) of the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History and preservation experts from the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions will present a traveling workshop designed to assist historic landmarks commissions (HLC) in their work. The free workshop will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 28 and end at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29 at the Apollo Civic Theater in Martinsburg.

The workshop, which is entitled CAMP and stands for Commission Assistance and Mentoring Program, will cover the framework of historic preservation, the role and procedures of HLCs, identification of resources and how to protect them and ways of gaining and keeping public support. In addition, a representative of the SHPO will be available on Friday, from 11 a.m. - noon to discuss HLC and Certified Local Government (CLG) issues in an open forum.

HLCs are established by local ordinance or order of the county commission to give local residents and officials authority to act upon the historic preservation concerns of the community. The CLG program was mandated by Congress to help develop a stronger preservation partnership between federal, state and local governments. It allows a municipal or county government to meet certain standards established by the State of West Virginia and the National Park Service and therefore qualify to apply for financial aid from the SHPO to assist in local historic preservation efforts.

Members of HLCs, local government representatives and interested constituents are encouraged to take part in the workshop. Registration is required and must be made by Tuesday, Sept. 25. Registrants will receive a resource manual compiled by the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions and an information packet with travel directions, lodging suggestions and a list of local restaurants. For additional information or to register for the free workshop, contact Alan Rowe, CLG coordinator for the Division by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at (304) 558-0220, ext. 712.

The Commission Assistance and Mentoring Program workshop is sponsored through a joint partnership among the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, the Maryland Historical Trust and the Maryland Association of Historic District Commissions.

The West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. The Cultural Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. Visit the Division’s website at www.wvculture.org for more information about programs of the Division. The Department of Arts, Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

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