Latest Stories
Recent Stories
The PATH Foundation has awarded a $68,000 grant to Hero’s Bridge, a Fauquier based non-profit that specializes in meeting the needs of older veterans. The grant was awarded as a strategic initiative investment as it relates to the Foundation’s mission to strengthen the health and vitality of…
Video of the community discussion co-sponsored Oct. 8 at the Washington fire hall by the Rappahannock News, Foothills Forum, Aging Together and Rapp at Home to assess the findings of “A Troubling Diagnosis,” the recent three-part explanatory journalism series published in the Rappahannock News.
The Rappahannock County community runs smoothly because of many people — elected officials, business owners, front-line staff workers, and many more. But behind the scenes, there are hundreds of volunteers who contribute thousands of hours to making this county a better place to live. These …
New call center helps Rapp seniors find transportation
“Sitting is the new smoking,” former NASA scientist says at Second Friday at the Library talk. “No, it’s worse.”
We often read and hear about the daily pressures and obstacles faced by an aging Rappahannock community, with many of our seniors described as lonely if not completely isolated in an extremely rural county.
So much for 93-year-old Lois Snead “retiring” from the Rappahannock County Library’s one-of-a-kind Book Barn.
What started out as a glimmering hope for the county by Hal Hunter and a desire by Denise Chandler “to pay it forward” has now taken root as a community volunteer effort called RappRespite.
Telephone fraud is rapidly increasing across the country. As in Virginia, where the number of telephone fraud reports ranks the state 11th in the country, it’s also happening in Rappahannock County.
Many people have asked us if Rapp@Home is still around. And we are glad to report that Rapp@Home is alive and well. You haven’t heard much from us in the last few months because we have been preoccupied with the sausage-making of creating a nonprofit organization. It is a messy process with …
Staying safe and healthy into our senior years is the mission of several local nonprofits, Aging Together being one of them. A regional alliance of more than 100 organizations and individuals from Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison, Orange and Rappahannock counties, Aging Together is helping meet t…
The Rappahannock Senior Center at the Scrabble School held a “Glamour Shots” Day last week, with makeovers by Cynthia Stamps and photography by Joy Canton. The participants had a grand time (as you can see) with accessories on loan from Myra Williams and her daughters, Brenda Watkevich and C…
A number of interesting recent developments could have some impact on Rappahannock County’s economic future.
Last week’s front-page story highlighted how rising property taxes in Rappahannock County are causing big problems for middle-aged and senior citizens living on fixed incomes. “This continued tax rate increase is killing us, and frankly, we have to make a decision about whether we can stay h…
The senior population of Rappahannock County, as in many other communities around the country, is growing. According to census data, 21.7 percent (1,616) of Rappahannock’s residents are 65 or older and facing a common challenge — how to live in our homes longer before moving to assisted livi…
Ask longtime Rappahannock County resident and community activist Hal Hunter what he’s been up to lately and he’ll be quick to tell you: Rapp at Home. It’s a new county-wide senior support program he is organizing to help area seniors share resources so they can remain in their homes as they …
Among the many benefits from the increase in older folks living in our community is their decades of community service. Aging Together honors local citizens who have a long history of contributing to their communities on Saturday, April 11 at the State Theatre in Culpeper — and one of the or…
Reports of disagreement and dispiriting behavior by humans around the world — including right here in Rappahannock — are ever harder to avoid. If you have a smartphone, in fact, you can probably find several apps that will notify you 24-7 of repugnant events in your area, with a pleasant bel…
Many senior citizens and people with disabilities find they may need help with activities that once came easily. One such activity is managing their personal finances.
On Feb. 11 in Staunton and Feb. 25 in Falls Church, the Ms. Virginia Senior America Pageant holds free orientations on how to become a contestant and prepare for the event.
Posing with the ladies of the Rappahannock Senior Center after delivering the club’s donation check before Christmas are Rappahannock Lions President Gordon Axelson (second from left), member Bob Anderson and secretary Jim Manwaring.
Rappahannock County is in the midst of a type of growth that cannot be controlled by zoning, or any other way: the numbers of gray-haired folks are zooming upwards.
Elderly people, in Rappahannock County as elsewhere, are being taken — with increasing frequency, according to local authorities who hope to provide help and raise awareness of the problem.
Nearly everyone you ask is in favor of affordable housing in Rappahannock County, where community-action organization People Inc. has proposed for the second time in two years to build some — or, actually, to build more than anyone’s ever proposed here before.
We are in the midst of an age wave: By 2020, the number of people over 60 will more than double. But this trend has real benefits. When you look around, the contributions of people over 50 have impacted our community in a very positive way.
To our senior citizen angels: Thank you so much for your wonderful donations to the Rappahannock Senior Citizens Center.
Jennifer Schmehl and her daughter Ginger Mae (foreground) were among a number of people who attended the Community Concert and Lunch last Wednesday (Nov. 20) at the Senior Center in the Historic Scrabble Schoolhouse in Castleton. The popular local trio Mandalele — otherwise known as Lorraine…
The Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors approved two proposed borrowing resolutions by the Rappahannock-Rapidan Community Services Board (RRCSB) and adopted the rates for the county’s new paid EMS transports at its holiday-delayed monthly meeting last Thursday afternoon (Sept. 5).
The Salute to Senior Service program, sponsored by Home Instead Inc., the franchisor of the Home Instead Senior Care network, honors the contributions of adults 65 and older who give at least 15 hours a month of volunteer service to their favorite causes.
Another holiday season has come and gone. It’s always a little sad for me to take down all the sparkly lights, smiling Santas, words of “Joy” and “Merry,” and blessed nativity sets and return to “normal life.” Although Christmastime gets very, very busy, it seems there’s just an extra smile …
Beginning this Friday (Nov. 16), the Senior Angel Tree returns to Rappahannock County for its fourth year . . . and so far it has been a huge success! It is a wonderful opportunity for the community to show their love and support to our precious seniors. We have approximately 120 senior “ang…
Local senior care experts are urging Virginia families to be alert for scammers who may be targeting their senior loved ones with a variety of clever cons that could jeopardize not only their life savings but their independence.
In the coming November elections, a key group of Virginia voters – non-retired baby boomers ages 50 to 64 – are driven by economic anxieties that extend well beyond the single issue of jobs, according to the results of a new series of surveys by AARP. All voters 50 and older want the candida…
When Gladys Virginia Harrison went to Scrabble School as a little girl, she and her sister Louise walked to the school from their family farm in Woodville every day after milking the cows in the morning. “There were no buses like they have now,” she recalled on a recent visit back to Scrabbl…
From left: Nina Peyton, John Tole, Helen and Russell Cave were among the almost 200 who lined up for a country breakfast at the Senior Center fundraiser.
In-Depth Reporting
Community support for the nonprofit, nonpartisan Foothills Forum provides research and reporting about Rappahannock County matters, in collaboration with the Rappahannock News.
Here's our work so far...
Most Popular
Articles
- Rappahannock County becomes a Second Amendment Sanctuary
- Sperryville goes into the record books!
- Don’t blame the dog...it's tax day today
- Wild Ideas: Disappearing birds: How we can help
- Washington column for Dec. 5
- Chief judge seeks applicants for Rapp BZA seat held by Konick
- Who really needs sanctuary?
- Controversial cell tower proposals await consideration by Rapp government
- Search underway for new RCES principal
- Hemp grows in Sperryville
Images
Videos
Rappahannock Weather
Right Now
- Humidity: 37%
- Cloud Coverage:%
- Wind: 4 mph
- UV Index: 0 Low
- Sunrise: 07:17:40 AM
- Sunset: 04:51:02 PM
Today
Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 34F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight
Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 34F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow
Rain likely. High around 50F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
Commented