Eleven year old Stephen Ganz already possesses a genuine knack for composition in photography. And for good reason. This selfie with a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera is not only an example of his emerging skill, but also a poignant reminder of the influence of COVID-19 on perceptio…

Bruce Loth takes the matter of an enormous male snapping turtle into his own hands this past week, pointing the mammoth slowpoke in the direction of the Rush River portion of his property in Harris Hollow.

Seventy-five people staked out ground above Sperryville on Saturday evening to catch a once-in-a-lifetime glimpse of one of the few comets this century visible to the unaided eye.

In the deluge of unfolding bad news at the time, this bit of happy news got lost. It’s a reminder of the onset of the “new normal” those months ago.

River and stream flow in Rappahannock County is visibly reduced given the recent string of hot and dry days thus far in July.

“Always respect Mother Nature,” the saying goes. “Especially when she weighs 400 pounds.” Mark Raiford of Castleton shares this eye-opening photo with the caption: “This big old boy was in our yard Saturday morning.” 

“This helps me to recall my childhood when I would spend time on my uncles' farm during ‘hayin' time.’ They had the same type rake (1950's) but in the John Deere colors green and yellow,” notes photographer Ray Boc.

Update: The listing for Rock Mills has recently been updated to reflect its private status: "This property is owned by the Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church. Swimmers here without a permit will be prosecuted for trespassing."

Masked man Robert Archer, who like Waldo is hidden somewhere in this photograph snapped Saturday at the Happy Camper Equipment Company in Sperryville.

Minutes after Shenandoah National Park reopened two Saturdays ago, after being shut down for six weeks by the coronavirus, the Rappahannock News photographed Jerry Palauskas of Tysons Corner kneeling on the center yellow line of Skyline Drive taking a rather unique picture of Mary’s Rock Tunnel.

Washington and Lee University student Robert Masi captured this serene scene in Rappahannock County. He titles the photograph, “America at Dawn.”

That’s Emma the dog riding in style in the back seat of Henry Ford’s greatest achievement, the Model T, which the Historic Vehicle Association says transformed the world and brought about mass automobility.

“With humans indoors, animals go wild,” reads one recent COVID-19 related headline, and you can add reptiles to that list of wildlife exploring empty places. “The other day walking along Gay Street . . . I was surprised to spy a large turtle ahead on the sidewalk,” writes Washington resident Constance Bruce.

Among other duties, the church usher is responsible for escorting parishioners to pews. In this new age of social distancing, they guid motorists to parking spaces for Drive-in Worship. 

Despite its colossal impact, COVID-19 hasn’t postponed all progress in Rappahannock County.

Quickie Mart night manager Alex C. Hunt usually tries to change the theme of the Rappahannock convenience store's fish tank to match whatever holiday is coming up. "I figured since we are going through COVID-19 together," he said, "I'd give the fish tank some humor and hope to put a smile on…

House and porch lights were lit up from 8:20 to 8:40 p.m. every night last week to honor Rappahannock County High School’s Class of 2020.

One motorcycle speeds, or drags their pegs in a corner, the rest of the group has to play catch-up. Playing catch-up eventually leads to someone riding beyond their experience level, and disaster usually follows.”

Sheep needn’t worry too much about sharing the road with motorists ever since the stay-at-home order was issued to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Artist and gallery owner Geneva Welch stops by Roy’s Orchard to buy groceries, including half a chicken for her dog, Shelby (the veterinarian’s dietary prescription to treat the dog’s lymphatic cancer). “She’s a very special dog,” said Geneva’s husband and former longtime county Board of Sup…

“Sunday night dinner at the Blue Door” — or so Rapp Center for Education Founder Doug Schiffman titled the photograph he snapped upon arriving at the Blue Door Kitchen & Inn to pick up his food-to-go order. The popular restaurant in Flint Hill is one of several in the county providing on…

We regularly see a flock of turkeys around the house, but this tom turkey has been here by himself — social distancing? — the last few days.”

The Easter Bunny, considered an essential worker during the pandemic, was able to hide some eggs around Laurel Mills Store for Brooklyn Hawkins to find on Sunday.

The ongoing coronavirus crisis caused newlyweds Jacob and Kaylea Wanner to change their wedding plans not once, not twice, but three times — including a formal exchange of vows that was to have been held in May before 80 family and friends. 

Hats off to the Rappahannock Lions, who have donated $5,000 to support the Dida’s Distillery program to manufacture hand sanitizer for Rappahannock Fire and Rescue companies, the Food Pantry, as well as emergency providers and hospitals in the region.

“I could not resist stepping out of my sheltering-at-home in Sperryville to get some photos after the rain shower on Tuesday. The glorious collection of many greens of the several tree and shrub varieties were amplified by the wetted sprouting leaves and late afternoon sunlight. 

“We take all the precautions to keep our customers safe, who we love dearly, that's why we love coming to work.”

Dayna Dunn, 61, of Flint Hill takes no risks shopping at the 211 Quickie Mart. Dunn, a former paramedic, moved from North Carolina last June and has noticed her allergies and asthma are more severe in Rappahannock County.

A few weeks ago, Josh Bennett of Castleton and Rebecca Jones of Manassas were enjoying their freshman year at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, where Josh plays football for the ODU Monarchs and Rebecca rows crew.

This little piggy didn’t go to the market, although she was headed in that direction Saturday afternoon, causing quite the traffic jam at the intersection of routes 522 and 231 in Sperryville. It turns out “Olivia” was on the lam for three weeks, according to owner Samantha Mogul, ignoring t…

The earth is coming to life again at the Thornton River Orchard & Market in Sperryville, where rows of peach trees are loaded with beautiful pink blossoms. 

Rappahannock County’s Lillian Freeman Aylor completes a careful transaction via Atlantic Union Bank's drive-thru lanes on Tuesday.

The Rappahannock Hunt Point-to-Point, which last ran in 2008, kicked off Virginia’s horse racing season in fine fashion last Saturday atop the scenic, albeit windswept terrain of The Hill in Boston. 

The Honorable William Webster joined in support of former Rappahannock County Supervisor John Lesinski, 5th District candidate for Congress, at a recent event hosted by Rappahannock residents Hugh Hill and Sandy Read. 

“A good day to fly a kite. I recommend this for everyone no matter your age!” writes the forever youthful Barbara Sharp of Huntly. 

No place better to track tourism in Rappahannock County — and most intriguing where visitors hail from — than the community chalkboard behind Before & After cafe in Sperryville. 

Woodville’s Roxanna Pearl Beebe-Center, the 14-year-old organizer of the inaugural Flatwood Fashion Show, is surrounded by models of every age sporting clothing collected at the Flatwood Refuse Center.

Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it — in this photograph the confluence of the Thornton and North Fork Thornton rivers at Mount Vernon Farm in Sperryville.

A beautiful double rainbow graced Rappahannock County at the exact moment of sunrise (officially 7:10 a.m.) Monday morning. 

Rep. Denver Riggleman, the freshman Republican who represents Rappahannock County on Capitol Hill, was up front and center at Tuesday night’s 2020 State of the Union Address.

These Rapp at Homers on a “Sperryville Seven” hike Sunday along the Thornton River Trail include, from left, Gwen Bates, Kathy Eggers, Fred Eggers, Barbara Adolfi, Ray Boc, and Yoko Barsky.

Happy 200th birthday to Hopkins Ordinary Bed & Breakfast + Aleworks and its attentive innkeepers (and brewers) Sherri Fickel and Kevin Kraditor. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the original brick building was built in the heart of Sperryville by John Hopkins, featurin…

Tuesday’s surprise snowstorm caused countless headaches for motorists from Scrabble to Chester Gap, many finding themselves stuck in ditches due to slippery snow-packed roads.