As in previous years, Rappahannock takes great pleasure in honoring our treasured seniors, especially during the holiday season. 

The passing of a Rappahannock titan was signaled by the flashing lights of a sheriff’s department cruiser, parked in front of the Woodville Baptist Church.

A graveside service at Washington Masonic Cemetery was held this past week for Dorothy Burke Hawkins, who passed away Oct. 5 at the age of 94. Pullens present, as were the Keysers, Hitts, Bruces, Giles, and many more, Rappahannock’s royalty with 300-year histories shared. 

Nina McKee is well known in Rappahannock County and surrounds, not only is she an expert horsewoman, a talented fox hunter, as is her lovely daughter Lily, all of 12 years old and riding first flight, but she is also a gifted CPA, in fact many a resident are her clients, myself included. 

Sunny and Brenda Anderson for years ran a quaint antique shop, a treasure trove for folks like me, and now Michelle and John Jenkins are running it. 

As a young boy, growing up in upstate New York, Kevin Dippert was not particularly fond of horses. His daily chores, however, involved all manner of barn work, including the requisite mucking of stalls, warranted by the presence of his mom’s horses on the farm. 

Senior bowl in Culpeper

Sperryville’s Renaissance continues unabated and the newest enterprise, namely Off the Grid, is a delightful and delicious epicurean gastronome addition. It’s a Net-Zero, Zero Waste, Plant Centric, Local, Eco-Conscious, Farm to Table establishment. How’s that for a mouthful?

While I’m not sure if it’s a European tradition or simply a closely held custom celebrated within my Germanic family but chocolate is revered, to the point where a kitchen or dining room cabinet in virtually every household is dedicated exclusively and filled to the brim with a vast assortme…

Rapp at Home’s popular “Local Voice Series” recently hosted a particularly delightful speaker, namely Daniel Keyser of Old Hollow. In his 80’s, charming, funny and filled with extraordinary tales of lore; of days gone by, of a Rappahannock barely recognizable now; of a people of the land, fa…

Moody Aylor passed from the world this past week. He was beloved and known throughout the county and beyond, his specialty, among others, horsemanship. He died in his 80’s — his heart, as it’s done for so many years, giving out but for one last time.

Sperryville’s renaissance of recent years continues unabated and notable artisans of all disciplines populate this tiny hamlet; myriad art forms explode in venues such as retail stores, workshops, studios, galleries and ateliers, and adorn restaurant walls.

When Anne Williams isn’t busy healing people with her physical therapy techniques (myself included), modalities, exercise or dance at Mountainside, she is searching for new ways to help improve herself and others. Recently Anne has been spending her spare moments learning, practicing, and sh…

“Under the Tuscan Sun” is a classic chick flick and of late a great deal on my mind. In fact, I feel as if I’m starring in the movie, filming with all manner of cast and crew, right here in Rappahannock. It is an American romantic comedy drama based on a true story and a memoir of the same n…

Kathy and Larry Grove live in the bucolic Rappahannock countryside, Woodville to be exact, in a home built in the early 1700’s with later additions in the 1800’s and today. The home reeks of history and secrets, the walls once plastered over, revealed themselves under Kathy and Larry’s stewa…

Rappahannock residents Lois Snead and Carolyn Tholand Thornton took their audience back in time during Rapp at Home’s popular Local Voice Series.

Rapp at Home’s “Local Voice Series” enjoyed guest speakers Diane Bruce, who spent her career as the Rappahannock County Circuit Court Clerk, and her brother Manly Bruce. A rapt audience savored colorful vignettes of life growing up in Rappahannock.

Rapp at Home is a “village” organization dedicated to helping the county’s seniors stay in their homes as they age and hosts a popular Local Voice Series entitled “Growing up in Rappahannock” that celebrates the lives of Rappahannock residents. At their most recent meeting, Alice Anderson, w…

As everybody in Rappahannock knows, a visit to the Flatwood Dump — aka The Flatwood Mall, a veritable social mecca — typically involves an hour or so of catching up with neighbors and friends, dropping off donations and bringing some treasures home.

John 3:16 — For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

The popular and richly attended local Ladies Lunch Bunch, made up of almost 300 local women and growing, meets monthly at county restaurants, winerys and private homes, and enjoyed a very special venue at our June gathering.

Washington, D.C.’s Cafe Milano alum turned restaurateur Andrea Pace, along with his partner Reem Arbid, recently sold their critically acclaimed Villa Mozart, an Italian gastronomia gem in Fairfax which they owned for 10 years.

An intimate afternoon was recently enjoyed in the company of an eclectic group of Rappahannock residents. In attendance were been here’s and come here’s; postal carriers, farmers, truck drivers, prominent attorneys, filmmakers, local political appointees, shopkeepers, pastors, nationally ren…

Martin Woodard is a thoughtful, quiet spoken man. He’s known not only for his successful real estate practice shared with his realtor wife, Cheri, but also for his artistic flair. He’s been on the artists tour for many a year, and his studio at one time was located in his barn, precariously …

When Matt Neiswanger, just a few days shy of his 7th birthday, attended a hometown auction in Ohio’s Appalachian country, he fell in love with a little white Shetland Pony.

Last week we reported that prayers, miracles and gratitude were in full force in the tiny parking lot of a quaint country church in Rappahannock.

As the Amissville Full Gospel Church congregation began arriving at a recent Sunday morning service, sister Jane Pittman, Pastor Jimbo Pittman’s wife, suddenly collapsed while making her way across the parking lot. Her heart stopped, and within seconds of her fall — miraculously — a gentlema…

Many might not know that one of New England’s favorite sports is candlepin bowling. “To us in New England, we just say bowling. Bowling is candlepin,” said Liz Moore, executive director of the International Candlepin Bowling Association. “That’s regular bowling for us. We would say ‘Big Ball…

Burgers N’ Things steps it up a notch

In rural areas, especially, friendships run deep.

According to southern tradition, eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day is thought to usher in prosperity. Mary Frances Fannon introduced the tradition to Laurel Mills more than a quarter-century ago, and the new hosts of this tradition will be Linda Isaacs and Danny Hitt who will both be …

Just the introduction to Daniel Keyser and Rappahannock County

Daily Bread and shellac manicures

Trading complex overwhelms the senses

‘If you can breathe, you can move. And if you can move, you are already dancing.’

In attendance were the Keysers, Clatterbucks, Finchams and Fletchers, Aylors, Atkins, Baldwins and Bolens, Dodsons, Estes, Quaintance and Whartons, Woodwards, Swindlers, Clarks, Armentrouts, Pullens, Rutherfords, Kendall, Jenkins, Sisks and Settles to name but a few. They came to seek closur…

In recent weeks I was privileged to enjoy a luncheon hosted by Claudia Boyd Ross in the Rose Hill home of Dwight Dunton, a beautiful 18th-century farm, with Rose Jacob, Frances Sip and Laurie Counts.

April 29 Chimney Memorial dedication: deadline approaching for names list

Sperryville Trading Cafe and Market exudes ambiance

Labor of love, one stone at a time

‘Wild’ night at Graves Mountain Lodge

Funeral for a friend and family

60 cents buys you Paris and a cup of coffee