Given romantic tables-for-two are difficult to come by during a pandemic, Kid Pan Alley is taking care of Valentine’s Day this year by bringing some of the finest songwriters in the country together for an evening of “love songs.”

With his hallmark wit and eloquence, Rappahannock County exemplar Col. John R. Bourgeois, USMC (ret.) now gives an autobiographical account of his life and career as a musician from humble roots who rose through the ranks to become the twenty-fifth director of “The President's Own” United States Marine Band — an acclaimed career that spanned nine presidential administrations, from presidents Eisenhower to Clinton.

Kid Pan Alley’s Because We Have Music free livestream concert series continues into its 10th month this Sunday, Jan. 24, at 7 p.m. with Ysaye Barnwell, formerly of the iconic gospel group Sweet Honey in the Rock, and Moira Smiley. 

Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Franklin D Roosevelt, Margaret Thatcher, Prince Charles — and now Patrick O’Connell. The chef proprietor of the Inn at Little Washington will join impressive ranks tomorrow (Friday, Jan. 15) in receiving an honorary degree from the College of William and Mary.

Thirty-one emergency services personnel in Rappahannock County have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as of this week.

Beverly, a longtime county resident, is celebrating 30 years in the kitchen with chef/proprietor Patrick O’Connell. In her role as chief steward, she plays “a key part in receiving and organizing hundreds of daily deliveries and in keeping the kitchen functioning smoothly.”

Thirty-two alumni, friends, and family shared their stories over two weekends recently about Rappahannock County’s segregated schools. All were affiliated with at least one of the four Rosenwald Schools in the county, which were located in Scrabble, Washington, Flint Hill, and Amissville and closed with integration in 1968.

This Sunday, Dec. 13at 7 p.m., Kid Pan Alley’s Because We Have Music free livestream concert series features master storytellers in song, Si Kahn and Anne E. DeChant, with hosts Paul Reisler with Cheryl Toth.

A sleeping bear and two playful foxes are subject matter for two of the four winners of the 11th annual Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) Photo Contest. 

One of Rappahannock County’s favorite curio shops — R.H. Ballard Shop & Gallery at 307 Main Street in Washington — has sold. But not to fret, Robert and Joanie Ballard aren’t packing up quite yet.

Their hit songs recorded by the likes of Dolly Parton, James Taylor, Garth Brooks, Faith Hill and John Mellencamp, Kid Pan Alley's featured Zoom artists Sunday evening are (from left) songwriters Pat Alger and Jon Vezner, seen here with Rappahannock's own Paul Reisler.

A new cadre of volunteers to participate in Rappahannock Master Gardener training for 2021 are being recruited by the Virginia Cooperative Extension.

The Middle Street Gallery in Washington is pleased to showcase this entire month the stunning photographs of Francie Schroeder, Joyce Harman, and Ray Boc, also members of the Old Rag Photography & Gallery cooperative in Sperryville. 

Assembled in Detroit from 1899 to 1956, several dozen rare Packard automobiles rolled into Rappahannock County last Thursday for the Old Dominion Packard Club’s 2020 Fall Meet. 

In-person absentee voting is underway at the Rappahannock Registrar’s office,  Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., extended to include this Saturday, Oct. 24 as well as Saturday, Oct. 31.

A fire Monday morning at 180 Five Forks Road in Woodville caused extensive damage to a house set a fair distance back from the road.

The popular brewery moved from Sperryville’s River District into a newly constructed 2,900-square-foot ag production and tasting facility on what was previously cattle grazing land.

Dwell Fine Art & Craft presents “Points of View” at the Middle Street Gallery in Washington, Friday through Monday, Oct. 10-31, 11 to 5.

Three Blacksmiths of Sperryville took home a prestigious 2020 Rammy Award on Sunday night for Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year. 

In 1990, Rappahannock artist Robin Purnell painted a beautiful series of portraits of Rappahannock residents, including the one of musician Lorraine Duisit, which can be viewed at the Rappahannock library.

The Gay Street Gallery in Washington this Saturday, Sept. 12, will host a chat from 3 to 5 p.m. with artist Paul X. Rutz about his unique and beautiful dimensional paintings.

Fourth Estate Friday: Host restaurant will be Off the Grid, where complimentary coffee will be served in the establishment’s outdoor dining area along the banks of the Thornton River

Shenandoah National Park has announced the selection of Susan Danko, a renowned contemporary landscape painter from Ohio, as its current Artist-in-Residence.

To receive a secure absentee ballot to officially vote in the Nov. 3rd general election visit the Virginia Department of Elections website.

This Sunday, August 9, Grammy winner Jon Carroll and sax master Marshall Keys will be performing alongside Rappahannock hosts Paul Reisler and Cheryl Toth.

A house on Rolling Road south of Sperryville was gutted by fire during the height of last Wednesday afternoon’s electrical storm. 

Second Lady of the United States Karen Pence, wife of Vice President Mike Pence, spoke about the mental health benefits of being outdoors during remarks last week in Shenandoah National Park.

Kid Pan Alley’s “Because We Have Music” livestream house concert series with Virginia artists continues this Sunday, July 19, at 7 p.m.

A reminder that the Rappahannock Association for Arts and Community (RAAC) is now accepting applications for its Artists’ Relief Program for local artists, artisans, musicians, actors, and writers who have lost income as a result of the pandemic.

“Pretty exciting,” remarked Rappahannock County Supervisor Keir Whitson, referring to two new trash compactors being installed at the Flatwood and Amissville refuse centers.

The annual Camp Fantastic for local children with terminal cancer has been canceled this year for the first time in its history; and the Fodderstack 10k has been cancelled for 2020.

The Culpeper Minutemen Chapter both marked Flag Day and honored the Culpeper Minutemen of 1775 in a ceremony at the DAR Culpeper Minutemen Monument in Yowell Meadow Park.

Waterpenny Farm's low-income community-supported agriculture shares program has expanded to the Rappahannock Food Pantry. The CSA program started in 2000 with a group of 20 reduced-price shares purchased by the Capital Area Food Bank.

Governor Ralph Northam this week signed Executive Order Sixty-Five allowing for the second phase of the “Forward Virginia” plan gradually easing public health restrictions while containing the spread of COVID-19. 

After shutting down on April 4 due to the COVID-19 crisis, Shenandoah National Park reopened Skyline Drive and the majority of its trails last Saturday, keeping fingers crossed that visitors adhere to social distancing.

The big question asked this time of year: How prevalent are tiny disease carrying ticks?

“First day of filling these 17 ounce bottles — 26 thousand for the commonwealth (Virginia Department of Emergency Management),” says Allan Delmare of Dida’s Distillery in Huntly.

Shenandoah National Park says it is working with surrounding communities, including Rappahannock County, as well as local and state public health and government officials to develop a “phased plan” for reopening that ensures the safety of park staff, local communities and visitors.

The cost of gasoline in the region has dropped dramatically in recent weeks due to COVID-19’s impact on the oil industry, with prices currently at multi-decade lows — and falling.

Skyline Drive above Sperryville is not open to pedestrians or bicyclists during the COVID-19 crisis.

After considerable public outcry, the board at its very first meeting of 2020 agreed to repaint the monopole a “camouflage” color — namely “Yuma Green.” 

Shenandoah National Park has abruptly shut down until further notice after the National Park Service received a letter from the Rappahannock Rapidan Health District recommending “full closure” due to the threat of COVID-19.

Every county in Northern Virginia has residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 — except ours. 

Even the woods aren’t safe

Don’t be confused during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis when hearing news from the “Rappahannock District” of the Virginia Department of Health (VDH).

The Virginia Department of Transportation beginning Monday will replace the Route 612 Old Hollow Road Bridge over the North Fork Thornton River in Old Hollow, impacting residents for about six weeks.

Since 2016, the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) has been asking this question on social media each March during Women’s History Month using the hashtag #5WomenArtists.

Hemp as Healer is the topic of discussion at the Rappahannock County Library this Friday, Feb. 28, 6 to 8 p.m.