In the gardens of Thom Pellikan’s backyard on Red Oak Mountain last Saturday with a breathtaking view of Rappahannock and beyond, nearly 100 guests were treated to performances by Castleton’s world-class musicians. The evening featured Metropolitan Opera mezzo-soprano Michelle DeYoung and tenor Paul Groves, as well as Castleton Chamber Players Eric Silberger, Daniel Lelchuk and Bradley Moore. They performed favorites like Gershwin’s “Summertime,” “The Swan” for cello and “Silent Lips” from Léhar’s “The Merry Widow.”

On Friday, June 4, two days before the 77th anniversary of D-Day, relatives of Private First Class Francis Hanson Cary gathered in the cemetery of Flint Hill United Methodist Church to dedicate a footstone recognizing the fallen soldier’s sacrifice in Normandy in World War II.

Friday, May 7, was National Cosmopolitan Day but at Avon Hall in Washington, the celebration was really in memory of Bill Fischer, who passed away far too soon in 2019.

County residents dressed up and turned out to support the Rappahannock Food Pantry last weekend. The pantry’s first-ever Drive-Thru Dinner Party, catered by nearly every restaurant in the county, was a wild success.

“No one should have to drive 20 miles to pick up a book,” said Amissville resident Deborah Napier, who coordinated the installation of the new Little Free Library between the post office and the Amissville Baptist Church. Averill Ring, owner of Mountain View Dog Training, donated the space for the box. 

Chef and caterer extraordinaire Sylvie Rowland partook in last Saturday’s Rappahannock Plant Sale at Waterpenny Farm. This year marked the event’s 20th anniversary.

After a heavy rainfall last week, Sperryville gallerist Andrew Haley captured this vibrant double rainbow at his home near Slate Mills. April showers bring May flowers — and rainbows, too!

First grade students at Rappahannock County Elementary School enjoyed a visit from Future Farmers of America Officers, Ava Genho and Isabella Knighting, and some very special furry guests on Thursday, April 8.

“A large crowd of Rappahannock folk gathered together on Red Oak Mountain before sunrise on Easter Sunday. Led in a service of Holy Communion by the Rev.

Young actors perform a scene from “St. George and the Dragon” at the final session of the “Kids’ Drama Club,” a six-week theatre workshop co-sponsored by Rappahannock Association for Arts and Community and Headwaters Foundation.

Sperryville’s Schoolhouse Nine Golf Course hosted its first annual Three Sticks & a Pig Tournament on Saturday. Winner Jeffery Ober came out from Falls Church to compete in the idyllic setting, with weather to match.

On your mark-get set-egg hunt!!! First-grade students race to collect eggs.

The annual Piedmont Area Soap Box Derby is back this year, after taking a pandemic hiatus in 2020. Rappahannock drivers are busy completing preliminary adjustments to locally sponsored derby cars in preparation of the June 12 championship races.

Retiring Rappahannock County High School Principal Jimmy Swindler celebrated his 61st birthday on Tuesday, his last while leading the school. Swindler paused for a photo seconds before lifting his birthday present into his car. Happy belated birthday, Mr. Swindler!

For the agenda items, visit the County's BoardDocs site: https://go.boarddocs.com/va/corva/Board.nsf/Public

Officially, spring begins every year at the vernal equinox — when the Earth’s hours of light and dark are almost exactly equal everywhere around the globe.

Sperryville woodworker and furniture craftsman Bob Lucking poses with a pair of musical instrument display cabinets at his Old Hollow studio before they're delivered to a client in D.C.

Artist Ruthie Windsor-Mann looked out of her studio window near Washington on Tuesday morning and saw this regal eagle. She took some pictures through the glass before the national bird moved on.

Who knew a lone beaver can fell a sizable tree in only five minutes? Beavers prefer lumberjacking during the nighttime hours, their sharp beveled teeth — which never stop growing — perfectly suited for stripping away bark and slicing through tree trunks.

On Monday the Headwaters Foundation presented a $5,000 grant to the Rappahannock County Public Schools’ Future Farmers of America (FFA) program. The grant comes to the schools’ agricultural education program from the Gordon Thornhill Excellence in Youth Foundation Fund, established in memory of one of Rappahannock’s most beloved farmers’ co-op managers. 

Gary Anthes, the award-winning photographer (and seasoned writer) whose work is often on display at the Middle Street Gallery in Washington.

Extensive renovations are just about wrapped up at the Sperryville Volunteer Rescue Squad. “The primary impetus for the renovation was the need to accommodate a new ambulance, which we received in December,” explains SVRS Chief Todd Summers. 

During the height of this week’s snowstorm, Washington resident Joan Culmer Platt snapped this artistic photograph of a rustic barn door, which upon further look might best be described as a snowscape within a snowscape.

Undaunted by an historic snowfall (if your time horizon is three years), renowned intrepid Sperryville hiker Tony Lovato, who has hiked all 500 miles of Shenandoah National Park’s trails, walks to keep his “edge” on the new Sperryville Walking Trail, with his four-legged partner Chai setting…

Rappahannock County Sheriff Connie Compton is seen here Monday switching out the license plates on her patrol vehicle. As the sheriff explained it, she’s moved up in seniority among Virginia’s 123 sheriffs — from 28th to 27th.

There is no shortage of sledding hills in Rappahannock County, the more thrilling the terrain the better for some sledders.

Master stylist Kim Nelson regularly dresses up the old wooden steps to reflect current seasons and holidays. Valentine’s Day, as seen here, is next up on the calendar, arriving this year on Sunday, February 14.

Chinese astrology tells us the Horse and Goat signs are quite compatible. They have a lot to share and are unlikely to be bored with each other's company. The same can be said for actual horses and goats, too.

Bean Hollow isn’t exactly Piccadilly Circus, but they now likely have one thing in common: a red London phone booth. The distinctive relic was a Christmas gift for Rappahannock philanthropy booster Bill Dietel from his grandchildren — all 11 of them. The seed of the idea came from a birthday celebration years ago, Dietel says. “My five children were trying to come up with a theme.

Abandoned root cellars aren’t uncommon in Rappahannock County, including this one near the base of Googe Mountain that in its day probably stored everything from vegetables and fruits to jarred preserves and jams.

A bright sun illuminates Mary’s Rock Tunnel on the heels of the recent winter storm that dumped upwards of a foot of snow along portions of Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park.

Santa won’t overshoot the Laurel Mills Store during his sleigh ride next week, what with its bright and festive Christmas display. Bedecked with holiday trees, candy canes and snowmen, Castleton’s landmark country store is a must-visit this season.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars of Sterling recently hosted a lunch at the Inn at Little Washington, with  Rolls-Royce Motor Cars North America President Martin Fritsches on hand to unveil the new Rolls-Royce Ghost.

Every holiday season for the 25 years since his retirement, Tom Lewis has proudly transformed his property on Woodward Road in Sperryville into a magical Christmas wonderland for all to come and enjoy. 

Further council duties, not set forth in writing, include but are not limited to beautifying the historic town’s flower barrels in the spring and then every Christmas season creatively wrapping sign posts in green garland and similar holiday swag.

Bobby Reid's “Eagle Court of Honor,” referred to as Scouting’s greatest moment, was held Saturday night at Reynolds Memorial Baptist Church in Sperryville. Friends and family alike were on hand for the Troop 316 ceremony, saluting the outstanding young man for attaining the highest rank in all of Scouting.

The Rappahannock County Sheriff’s Office and its 911 dispatch center are getting a new emergency generator to replace a decades-old model that was tucked beneath the porch of the former jail and “blew up,” according to Ricky Jenkins (right), the county’s maintenance manager. 

Jacques Haeringer, chef/owner of the renown L’Auberge Chez Francois in Great Falls, celebrated his November birthday at one of his favorite places with one of his favorite wines — Gadino Cellars Cabernet Franc. 

Business has been brisk this autumn season for Rappahannock’s fruit stand operators, including Roger Jenkins, whose Jenkins Fruit Stand in Sperryville wraps up 39 years in business on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. 

The Knights of Columbus Council 14755 once again participated in the Knights national campaign “Coats for Kids” and purchased and delivered 24 new children’s winter coats to the Rappahannock County Department of Social Services (RCDSS).