‘The devil is in the details and the exceptions’

A new 35-foot span bridge across Cedar Run is now open, offering hikers and nature-loving community members improved access to the popular Whiteoak Canyon trailhead and opening up three miles of stream habitat to native fish for the first time in decades. 

Autumn swarms of migrating dragonflies are quite conspicuous this year. This is an extraordinary phenomenon that I look forward to every fall, and springtime too. 

One of meteorologist Bob Ryan’s favorite quotes is from Nobel Prize winning chemist Sherwood Rowland. Known for his expertise surrounding ozone depletion, Rowland’s words continue to inspire scientists around the world:

Land conservation, stewardship, outreach projects enhance rural and scenic value of county

Governor Ralph Northam came to Charlottesville this past week to wish Smokey Bear a happy birthday.

‘We typically on average get about $1.5 million and we just got hit with $4.3’

“I’m crying as I’m driving up because my soul is here,” he says. “I spent a lot of time here. My fondest memories are here.”

By Sally Haynes

One of three bites of food made possible by pollinators

Keep Virginia Beautiful, which is awarding its annual “30 in 30 Green Grants” daily during the month of June, has announced that Rappahannock County Recreational Facilities will receive a grant of $1,000 for its Beautification project.

By John McCaslin

By Torney Van Acker

By Holly Glenn

Darcy Canton is a force of nature, especially when it comes to all things senior related. She runs the Senior Center on Scrabble Road in the old Scrabble Schoolhouse in Castleton. Her monthly calendar of events ensures seniors a broad spectrum of activities including wildly popular bingo, wh…

Every winter, Virginia’s honey bee population experiences colony losses. Over the past five years, surveys have shown a steady increase in honeybee mortality averaging greater than one-third of the statewide population.

By Torney Van Acker

Forestry practices, stream crossings, fencing and grazing systems, water development — all topics of discussion for Rappahannock County agriculture producers during a lunchtime meeting at the Washington Volunteer Fire House, 10 Firehouse Lane, next Thursday, March 7, from noon until 1:30 p.m.

Have a pond on your property with algae problems, aquatic weed infestations, leaking dam, drainage erosion issues, structural problems, or something else?

It is that time of the year when many motorists think they need to let their vehicle “warm up” or idle before driving.

‘Researchers are less concerned about a slow decline in bear numbers, and more concerned about a rapid plunge in the population over just a few short years’

InsideNoVa

Since 2016, Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) biologists have been radio-collaring adult female bears in Virginia. Data acquired through this project continues to provide insights into the movements, denning habits, and home ranges of wild, female bears in Virginia.

By Ruth Ann Welch

‘REC has replaced about 50 of their leased non-LED pole lights, with another 190 remaining in the county’

Rappahannock County in 2017 had the lowest recycling rate of 117 counties, cities and towns across the commonwealth that submitted data to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) has developed an Elk Management Plan to define and describe the future of elk management in Virginia, focused in the Southwest region of the Commonwealth but applying to all Virginians.

‘The idea of preserving a view is not for somebody’s private purpose. It’s for a public purpose, for everybody in the world to enjoy’

‘Just as gracious and magical as anyone would imagine she’d be’

E. Coli bacteria in county has exceeded clean water standards

David Vela, the superintendent of Grand Teton National Park who was recently nominated to become Director of the National Park Service, knows Shenandoah National Park well as former NPS South Regional Director.

More than 30 million tree seedlings sold last year

Planets on display at future Dark Sky Park

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation has spent this summer inland — as in Rappahannock County — working to ensure the cleanliness of the streams and rivers that wind their way into the bay’s 65,000-square-mile drainage basin.

By Joyce Harman and Claire Cassel

Winter losses of honeybee colonies over the 2017–2018 season were greater than expected in Virginia — double the national average — and larger than the average of 30 percent per year for the past decade.

Hue never ceases to fascinate, but will it last?

The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) is sponsoring a learning experience right here in our own backyard — Bean Hollow Grassfed at Over Jordan Farm in Flint Hill — but be advised that online registration to participate closes this Monday, May 28.

Governor Ralph Northam yesterday (Wednesday) signed Executive Order 6, which instructs the Department of Environmental Quality to update outdated regulations, strengthen enforcement of Virginia’s environmental standards, identify the causes of permitting delays, and improve transparency.

Fauquier last year protected 2,541 acres, Loudoun 1,174

Northern Piedmont Community Foundation launches second year of Community Assistance Grants

County among few places in East with visible Milky Way

E. Coli levels above acceptable standards

New projects and initiatives, including encouraging more Rappahannock residents to reduce outdoor lighting and designating a “dark sky park” in the county for interpretive events, were announced at the annual meeting of the Rappahannock League for Environmental Protection (RLEP) on Saturday …

Removing unnatural barriers and disruptions is particularly important for conserving headwater streams in the Upper Rappahannock River watershed. The streams are sources of drinking water for much of the Virginia Piedmont region and are also home to Virginia’s state fish, the eastern brook t…

An example of early climate change in Rappahannock County ponds?

What, I asked the roomful of young people gathered one recent Saturday morning at the Washington Baptist Church, would they remember in 50 years? That big algebra test next week? The fun date Saturday night? The newest smartphone app? A President’s unpresidential tweets?