Eastern Panhandle Neighborhood Initiative

08/31/2026

🌟🎶 THE CONCERT IS ON! 🎶🌟

We are so excited to announce that our rescheduled concert will take place Tuesday, September 1 at 7:00 PM at the Apollo Civic Theatre!

Student Call Time: 6:30 PM
Concert Begins: 7:00 PM

Our crew has been working hard this summer, and we are SO stoked to finally have everyone together and hear them shine!

Come out, bring your friends, bring your neighbors, and help us celebrate these incredible young humans!

And if you (or someone you know!!) is interested in learning more about the Neighborhood Youth Band, Neighborhood Youth Orchestra, or any of our other EPNI programs, we would LOVE to have you join us! Our neighborhood is always welcoming new faces.

We can’t wait to see you Tuesday! 🫶🏻

08/28/2026

🚨🎶⛈️ Due to the Hedgesville High School vs. Martinsburg High School football game being rescheduled because of weather, we will unfortunately need to reschedule our concert originally planned for Friday, August 28. Our new date is currently TBD.

A sincere thank you to Corey Hamrick and Hedgesville High School Band for working with their students and allowing them the opportunity to miss one football game to come together and be part of this special community event.

Unfortunately, we would still be missing too many important members of our crew to truly hear everyone shine the way they deserve… together.

We are incredibly proud of all of our young musicians and look forward to sharing their hard work with our community soon!! 🌟🎶🌟

08/23/2026

🌟🎶 Neighbors, it’s finally here!!! The Neighborhood Youth Band Summer Session performance is THIS FRIDAY!

Join us Friday, August 28th at 7:00 PM at the Apollo Civic Theatre for a fun evening of music and community! Student call time is 6:30 PM.

Our Neighborhood Youth Band is ready to take the stage and show off everything they’ve been working on this summer. We’d love to fill the theatre with friendly faces cheering them on! ❤️

Free to attend! Donations are always appreciated and help us keep programs like this free for our neighborhood kids.

Bring a friend, grab a seat, and come celebrate with us! 🎶🌟

08/15/2026

🌟🎻🌟 Looking for a fun FREE learning opportunity for your kiddo this school year?

Eastern Panhandle Neighborhood Initiative is excited to present a new high-on-the-wishlist program: The Neighborhood Youth Orchestra!

📚 Grades 4- 12 (6 months of instrument experience recommended!)
📍 Martinsburg North Middle School
🗓️ Mondays 6:30–8:00 PM
Students from across the Eastern Panhandle are welcome!

Much like our Neighborhood Youth Band program, Neighborhood Youth Orchestra is all about giving students the opportunity to learn, play, perform, and make new friends from across our community.

Whether your student is already playing an instrument or is ready to grow their skills alongside other young musical neighbors, we’d love to have them join us!

Registration is OPEN NOW!

Registration link is in the comments. We can’t wait to make MORE music together! 🤩🥰

07/17/2026

Today, just like every other day, we work for our neighbors… because of you. ♥️

Happy 13th Birthday to the kid who inspired it all, Jaxon Martin.

Although Jaxon is no longer with us physically, his impact is everywhere. He shows up in our work, our kindness, our friendships, and in every act of neighbors helping neighbors. We have gifted three instruments to three very deserving kids in his honor… and we’re still going.

We will forever say his name and tell his story because he deserves to be remembered.

Today, the EPNI crew is wearing red in his honor and celebrating the life of the boy who taught us what it truly means to be a good human.

📸 Pictured: Ms. Kozak, Cole, Isabella, and the kid who started it all.

“We are neighbors. We take care of each other.”

Happy Birthday, Jax Attack. 🌟♥️🌟

07/08/2026

🌟🎶🌟Summer Neighborhood Band rehearsals beginning today 7/8 will move back to the Martinsburg North Middle Band Room
See you at 6:30!

07/03/2026

This is a great opportunity for any of beginners looking to get some experience or for someone looking to try a new instrument! Check it out!

Okay y'all, this is my shameless final plea. ❤

If you're in local Facebook groups or just one facebook, there's a very good chance you've seen me spamming our Whimsy Woodwinds and Bold & Brass.

The reason is simple: these groups are exactly what parents, teachers, and homeschool families have been asking us for, and exactly the kind of thing we love.

Wind Gap Music exists because we believe everyone deserves the chance to make music with others. Not everyone is ready for private lessons. Not everyone has a school band program that fits their needs. Sometimes kids just need a place to learn, try something new, and find their people.

I also want to tell you about Emma.

Emma is a Shepherd University student, one of our teachers, and one of the most creative, kind-hearted musicians I've ever had the pleasure of working with. She brings so much joy, patience, and encouragement to every student she teaches. She's even put up with me taking gigs for us to duet on and sight read our way through. We are incredibly lucky to have her as part of Wind Gap Music, and these beginner groups are exactly the kind of program she was made for.

So if you have a child entering middle school band, a homeschool student interested in music, or a beginner musician who would love to play with others, please consider signing them up. Or any child interested, we will make it work.

And if your kids are grown or music isn't your thing, a share would mean the world to us.

Registration: windgapmusic.com/specialevents

07/03/2026

Happy almost Independence Day and EPNI’s 3rd Birthday

There will be no BTC tonight 7/3 however there is an art show at the EPLC. Feel free to go check it out.

06/14/2026

🌟🎶🌟 shew! We’ve all had a super busy first few weeks of summer break! It’s been a minute since our last Good Neighbor Spotlight, and it’s about time we celebrate one of our coolest 7th grade percussionists from Martinsburg North Middle School… *insert drumroll*… Alaina!

Alaina brings a blast of creativity, energy, and razzle dazzle to Neighborhood Youth Band! Whether she's keeping a steady beat, making her friends laugh, or rearranging Mr. Blom’s collection of random mini acrylic ducks in ROY G BIV order, she helps make our community a little more magical every week! 🌈🦆

🌟 Why did you join EPNI's Neighborhood Youth Band?
"Welll… when I was in intermediate school Mr. Blom was my music teacher. When I found out he was the band director at North and then about NYB I just wanted to learn all I could. It’s a plus that I get to see all my friends more too!”

🌟 What is your favorite thing about yourself?
"Hmm… I’d have to say my unique style. I always love adding and making new accessories"

🌟 What's something you're working on improving right now?
"Working on correcting my anxiety habits… like picking my skin and biting my nails. My spike fidget Ms. Kozak gave me is helping a lot!"

🌟 If your instrument had a personality, how would you describe it?
"My snare drum? He strikes me as an Adam…ADHD Adam. Hyper, out of control, but so cool.”

🌟 What's something special about Neighborhood Youth Band that people may not realize?
"It's a good way to come together, make friends from other schools, chill with laid back teachers, and have… I don’t know… a tribe."

Alaina, one of the things we admire most about you is your willingness to be yourself. You bring honesty, humor, and heart to everything you do, and you remind us that it's okay to be a little goofy. We are proud of your growth, your self worth, and the kind friend you are to those around you.

Keep rocking that rad style, keep chasing those dreams, and keep being unapologetically you! We're glad to call you our neighbor and even prouder to have you as part of our crew. ♥️🤘🏻

06/06/2026

🌟🧙🏻‍♂️🌟 Tonight at BTC, we gathered… magically.

Kate brought her Magic: The Gathering Avatar: The Last Airbender deck, and with a little help from her dad, our crew learned how to play!

Mr. Blom spent hours studying up online beforehand, Ms. Kozak served as chief cheerleader and card-art admirer, and together we faced off against the fearsome yet adorable Momo the flying lemur.

Just another night of friendship, fun, and a little bit of bending the elements. 💙🔥🌊🌪️