I was so happy to see Chris Doxzen's article in the RappNews last week “A white knight works to restore a Rappahannock forest’s glory.” The article does a great job explaining that the sustainable practices the Fletchers and Conservation Forests are pursuing leads to a more productive, healthy, and, ultimately, profitable forest.

During election season, we often sort ourselves into opposing groups and hope fervently that our preferred party or candidate wins. It feels very much like a sports league and we are competing for the championship. 

The election is over, but some issues will remain. Abortion is one of those. I started out in healthcare when abortion was not legal anywhere, and trust me, we don’t want to go back there.

Given the large amount of absentee and early voting now common — votes which are not assigned by precinct — publishing election results by precinct as you did on Nov. 10 is misleading and no longer useful.

Letters to the editor reflect the opinion of the writer(s), not the Rapp News. Comment below or by writing a letter to the editor: editor@rappnews.com.

From the Reagan years to today, Republicans have tried to sell the American public on the idea of  “trickle down economics.” The problem is that it never has worked. The idea has been a total failure.

Yes, Mr. and Mrs. Loman are not local representatives on our Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors, but what a way to get attention. A local board member has a significant health issue, and a quorum is needed to vote on funding for a historic initiative.

The Board and staff of Rappahannock Rapidan Community Services (RRCS) wish to  thank the 600 plus guests who attended our 50th Anniversary celebration at Rock Hill  Farm on Sept. 29.  

Over forty years ago, I wrote in a column published in the Quantico USMC Base newspaper about the rising costs at that time. Here we seem to be again, addressing those same concerns. 

Who’s tired of Frazier and Smith? I am. While I respect the existence of a loyal opposition, their behavior and performance is more obstruction and destruction than reasonable opposition. It’s careless.

I've never seen righteous indignation at a higher frenzy than in the coverage of the Board of Supervisors meeting that lacked a quorum for anything but a tie vote.

Christopher Connell’s story in the Sept. 22 issue of the Rappahannock News does a marvelous job of explaining why dark skies are such an integral part of Rappahannock County’s rural character. The article clearly describes many of the benefits of down-shielded light fixtures, which focus illumination where it needs to be yet minimize light pollution directed up into the sky.

It is disappointing to know that two of our supervisors, Smith and Frazier, skipped the latest broadband meeting especially when they knew their colleague Keir Whitson made a special effort to attend via video.

Letters to the editor reflect the opinion of the writer(s), not the Rapp News. Comment below or by writing a letter to the editor: editor@rappnews.com.

I am glad I was there to see it with my own eyes, because honestly, I would not have believed such a pathetic stunt. Broadband Authority members Ron Frazier and Christine Smith skipped out on the (already postponed) vote approving the first obligated payment towards universal broadband coverage for Rappahannock County.

Letters to the editor reflect the opinion of the writer(s), not the Rapp News. Comment below or by writing a letter to the editor: editor@rappnews.com. Thank you to everyone who came out to the Rappahannock County Farm Tour this past weekend! A few hundred people were in attendance, with man…

Rappahannock's seniors and school children urgently need broadband. They need Supervisors who show up to meetings or should resign. Political stunts are juvenile and do not serve the public interest.

Three cheers and a dozen kudos to Alan Zuschlag for his comprehensive condemnation of the Wiley-Wilson architectural proposal for a new Rappahannock County Courthouse.

Letters to the editor reflect the opinion of the writer(s), not the Rapp News. Comment below or by writing a letter to the editor: editor@rappnews.com.

Passion ran high during the public comment portion at the Sept. 7 Board of Supervisors evening session, echoing that perception, demonstrating the love and respect many citizens have for the current historic courthouse. Understanding hopefully dawned during the presentation which, it was stressed, was only an initial concept. The work, which has been going on for a while, has included study on the condition of the current building and its capabilities concerning functionality, safety. 

It was heartening to see the many people who filled the courtroom for hours [last Wednesday] evening with constructive, thoughtful comments. How very much we all care for our institutions was on fine, full display. Perhaps that is the silver lining here, and I sincerely hope that folks will stay engaged.

For those who are conflicted or perhaps offended by student loan forgiveness outright, I have a few questions: Do you have those same feelings about PPP loan forgiveness for current Congress members?

I suggest that the facade remain and a new building attached behind. At the minimum the front, with its historical significance, should be saved. How about including a local architect on the design team? 

People often ask me if the kids who were part of the Kid Pan Alley program go on to become professional musicians. I don’t know. We can’t follow 80,000 children. And that’s not the point of it anyway. It’s all about them experiencing and using the creative process in their lives no matter what they are doing — music, art, farming or whatever.

Visuals can be very important. Long ago, I bought a Christmas ornament shaped like the alphabet blocks youngsters used in creative play. It was an “A” block. First letter of the alphabet. Alpha, which, to me, stands for Attitude. I have it in a bookshelf where I can see it often as a reminder of the importance of attitude. 

Finally! The Democrats have passed a bill that will help ease the climate crisis that is growing more intense every day. The Democrats eventually managed to get Joe Manchin on board in spite of his fossil fuel loving heart.

A question:  What do Jose Andres, Julia Child, Jacques Pepin, The French Laundry, Ina Garten and Patrick O'Connell have in common? (besides the obvious that they are all great chefs)