Community Events
Jon Huertas, Actor, Director, Producer Returns to Hometown to Serve as Grand Marshal of the 97th Grand Feature Parade
Sharen Gromling, president of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® is honored to welcome Jon Huertas back to his hometown to serve as Grand Marshal of the 2024 Festival. Jon Huertas is known professionally as an actor, director, and producer. In his hometown, when he graduated from John Handley High School in 1987, he was known as Scott Hofstedt.
For six seasons, Jon starred as Miguel Rivas on NBC’s critically acclaimed, award winning series, This Is Us. His character’s story spanned decades, from the 1970’s to present day, not just allowing Jon to show exceptional range as an actor but also an impressive physically trans-formative range. Audiences also know Jon from his role as the tough but affable, Detective Javier Esposito on the hit dramedy, Castle, which ran for eight seasons on ABC and can now be found on Hulu. He and his Castle co-star, Stana Katic, received the award for Best Performance in a Drama Episode in the 16th Annual PRISMS Awards. He had a stand-out performance as Sgt. Tony “Poke” Espera in HBO’s limited series, “Generation Kill”, which offered an unheralded streetwise view of the USMC’s 1st Recon invasion of Iraq that Jon, being a veteran himself, calls the most meaningful role of his career.
As a filmmaker, Jon’s directed episodic television, including episodes of Tracker, The Irrational, This Is Us, The Rookie, The Rookie: Feds, The Company You Keep, Home for The Holidays Castle and Castle. DVD Bonus Content, as well as award winning short films and music videos. He has produced narrative and documentary feature films, earning him an appointment to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. And his production shingle, WestSide Stories, formed with his fellow Groundlings alum Kenny Stevenson, has several TV, Podcast and Film projects in various stages of production and development. He most recently produced Lena Heady’s feature directorial debut, The Trap, and is currently preparing for his own feature debut as a director with the feature films, Rock Bottom Express and Defenses. His company has several series in development with Peter Farrelly/Happy Madison & Village Roadshow, eOne and Alexi Hawley’s Perfect Man Pictures, Campanario, Christina Davis/Amazon and George Tillman’s, State Street.
Jon served on active duty in the United States Air Force from 1987-1995. He participated in Operation Just Cause and Operation Desert Storm where he served as an aircraft nuclear/conventional weapons specialist. He simultaneously earned his degree in Musical Theatre before making the move to Los Angeles in 1995 where he pursued his childhood dream of becoming an actor. This year marks 29 years in the entertainment business. He is now putting more of his focus into Directing and Producing as he relocates to Gold Country in Northern California to live with his wife, Nicole, and animals on a horse farm.
Jon will be attending Festival events, including the Coronation, presented by Morgan Orthodontics, at John Handley High School, where he will be knighted by Queen Shenandoah, Joy Berlanga. He will then ride through his hometown streets in the Hang 10 Car Wash Firefighters’ Parade, May 3, at 5:30 p.m. He will lead the glo fiber Grand Feature Parade on Saturday, May 4, at 1:30 p.m.
Tickets to Festival events are available at www.thebloom.com/events.
Community Events
Warren County High School Graduation Ceremony – May 17, 2024 – Watch it LIVE on the Royal Examiner
Mark your calendars! Warren County High School’s graduation ceremony on May 17, 2024, will be broadcast live, allowing family and friends to partake in this milestone event from anywhere. The Royal Examiner is excited to provide live coverage of the ceremony, ensuring that no one misses out on celebrating the achievements of the Class of 2024.
The broadcast starts at 6:55 p.m.
Make sure to share this page link with your family and friends so they can tune in and join the celebration. Whether near or far, everyone can witness the proud moment when Warren County High School’s seniors turn their tassels and step into their bright futures.
Congratulations to all the graduates and their families!
Community Events
Skyline High School Graduation Ceremony – May 16, 2024 – Watch it LIVE on the Royal Examiner
Mark your calendars! Skyline High School’s graduation ceremony on May 16, 2024, will be broadcast live, allowing family and friends to partake in this milestone event from anywhere. The Royal Examiner is excited to provide live coverage of the ceremony, ensuring that no one misses out on celebrating the achievements of the Class of 2024.
The broadcast starts at 6:55 p.m.
Make sure to share this page link with your family and friends so they can tune in and join the celebration. Whether near or far, everyone can witness the proud moment when Skyline High School’s seniors turn their tassels and step into their bright futures.
Congratulations to all the graduates and their families!
Community Events
Ressie Jeffries Elementary School’s ‘Senior Walk’ Honors Alumni Poised to Take Their Next Step in Life
Shortly after noon, Wednesday, May 15, Ressie Jeffries Elementary School held its annual Senior Walk. Expected were graduates from both Skyline and Warren County High Schools, along with some from surrounding counties, including Sherando. We got word from staff at Ressie that, “The entire school Pre-K to 5th grades have been feverishly working to decorate the school as one final hoorah before these seniors walk across the stage to receive their diplomas.”
At the conclusion of the parade in the gymnasium area, some seniors were anticipated to participate in a final relay race to mark an official “Goodbye” to their childhood memories. Also invited to participate this year were former staff that taught, possibly some of the participating seniors, at Ressie.
Following the event we got this update from Ressie staffer Jamie Marion: “This was by far the BIGGEST Senior Walk we’ve had that included at least 50 graduates, along with the most parents we’ve ever had. Additionally, we had past staff members on video chat attending virtually. The positive comments, tears of joy, happiness, sadness, the reminiscing and all the cheering was phenomenal,” Marion observed, adding, “All-in-all it was a WONDERFUL day to be a Jaguar.”
Community Events
Experience the Splendor of Virginia’s Horse Country at the 65th Hunt Country Stable Tour
This Memorial Day Weekend, the Hunt Country Stable Tour invites equestrian enthusiasts and newcomers to explore over a dozen historic and private equine properties in Virginia’s picturesque horse country. Celebrating its 65th year, the tour resumes after a brief hiatus, offering a rare glimpse into the lives of horses and their trainers across various disciplines.
Scheduled for Saturday, May 25, and Sunday, May 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with special hours at select venues, the self-driving tour will showcase notable farms like Kinross and Poplar Grange, where visitors can witness the training of eventing horses, jumpers, and steeplechase athletes against a backdrop of rolling hills.
A highlight for many will be the visit to Oak Spring Farm, once owned by Paul and Bunny Mellon, where internationally celebrated horses were bred. The tour also provides an opportunity to experience the historic Piedmont Fox Hounds, the oldest hunt in America, demonstrating traditional hunting calls and techniques at Trinity Church in Upperville.
Old Denton offers a unique perspective with demonstrations of mules excelling in disciplines from dressage to western reining. Polo enthusiasts can enjoy matches at Phipps Field, and early risers can catch a glimpse of racehorse training at the Middleburg Training Center.
The tour is not just about horses; historical estates like Stoke Farm and Welbourne Inn offer breathtaking vistas and engaging reenactments of their storied pasts. The Virginia Tech Middleburg Agricultural Research and Extension Center will open its doors to those interested in equine health and nutrition, showcasing mares and foals in their care.
Other sites include the Salamander Resort, which highlights therapeutic riding programs, and The National Sporting Library & Museum, which offers tours of its rare books and art collection, enriching visitors’ understanding of country pursuits.
Tickets are priced at $40 per person, with free admission for children under ten, covering both days of the tour. All proceeds will benefit Trinity Ministries, supporting various organizations that improve the lives of people in need.
With the lush landscapes of Virginia as its backdrop, the Hunt Country Stable Tour celebrates the region’s equestrian heritage and its commitment to community and preservation. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit the event’s official website at [Hunt Country Stable Tour](https://trinityupperville.org/hunt-country-stable-tour). Join us in experiencing the grandeur and tradition of Virginia’s horse country on a weekend filled with beauty, history, and equine excellence.