Williams shares humorous stories as well, of some of his mini camps, like the day he took 20 children to the Middleburg Training Center to view a $1.5 million horse arrive and step out of the horse trailer. Just as the trailer pulled up, a friendly dog leapt about running across the field and 20 kids ran after the dog, frolicking and wanting to play and pet the darling creature.

Last year’s Sperryville Bicentennial celebration was scuttled by the pandemic. On Tuesday evening, residents and friends celebrated the village’s 201st birthday with food, fun and an appreciation for their neighbors.

“Every year I visit the Veterans Memorial in the Sperryville Cemetery around Memorial Day,” says Sperryville resident and photographer Ray Boc. “On May 28, 2007, a large part of our community, led by the Sperryville Veterans of Foreign War Post 1150, gathered together to dedicate this monume…

Rappahannock Rev. Earl Johnson's new book — “Finding Comfort During Hard Times” — is newly released. And talk about timely.

Her mission, she relates “is to promote the principles of the Training Scale to ensure good health, longevity and happiness for this regal and generous animal.” 

As a young woman, Melanie Kopjanski of Rappahannock County wanted to join the Peace Corps. While she didn’t get her wish, her daughter, Maddie, did. 

‘It’s my training to be ever watchful and prepared — even in a purely social situation’

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.

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