Community Events
Children’s activities at Samuels Public Library for the month of June
These are the events taking place in the Youth Services Department of Samuels Public Library during the month of June. Thank you for sharing this information. More information about Samuels Library and the programs and services available can be found at www.samuelslibrary.net or by calling (540) 635-3153.
Saturday, June 1
- 10:00 Books and Barks. Come to our extremely popular monthly program that gives developing readers the chance to read and relax with a trained therapy dog. For beginning readers and up. Choose a time slot at registration, which begins May 1.
- 2:00 Discuss This. Are you inspired by good books, articles, movies, and art? Do you write, draw, or enjoy playing music? If so, join us as we discuss books and share our creations. This is a group for those who wish to talk seriously about a variety of topics. This month, Join Monica Farrall, Educational Outreach Coordinator, as she takes a short, fun look at 4 major personality categories which have an animal likeness: the lion, the otter, the golden retriever, and the beaver. Each animal has different temperaments and characteristics which make it special and unique; just like each of us. Come learn how a better understanding of personalities can strengthen our relationships with family and friends. Refreshments will be provided. For ages 12 and up. Registration begins May 1.
Tuesday, June 4
- 11:00 Time for Baby. What do books, scarves, puppets, music and babies have in common? They are all part of Time for Baby. Join us as we use all of our senses to explore the world around us. This month our theme will be “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” Meet with your baby up to two years of age. Siblings welcome.
- 4:30 Science Scouts. Explore the mysteries of the world through science! In this weekly program, we will discuss and perform hands on investigations of STEM-related topics. Windmill STEM is the topic of this week’s investigations. For ages 6 – 11. Registration begins May 4.
Wednesday, June 5 and Thursday, June 6
- 10:15 Toddler Story time.
- 11:00 Preschool Story time.
Big, Bigger, Biggest! We’ll have stories that illustrate comparisons, poems, and a fun craft! Siblings welcome.
Friday, June 7
Join us for a fun day of celebration as we begin our annual Summer Reading Club! Sign up for Summer Reading Club and take part in these great activities:
- 10:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M. Buy a frozen treat from the C&C ice cream truck, featuring a new mystery flavor: It’s Showtime at Your Library!
- 10:00 -1:00 Get your face painted!
- 1:00 Local entertainer Kevin Owens will amaze children and adults with the variety and complexity of his balloon animal creations.
- 2:00 Larsen’s Amazing World of Reptiles. Children, teens, and adults will learn fun facts about reptiles, see them up close, and have a chance to hold or touch them.
Saturday, June 8
- 11:00 Aspiring Artists. Are you aged 7 and up? Do you enjoy art? If so, please join us for our children’s art class. Come create your own self-portrait in pastel! We will observe famous artists’ self-portraits such as Rembrandt, Renoir, Van Gogh, and Frida Kahlo and then draw our own original self-portraits. Registration begins May 8.
- 2:00 Game On! Sample games from our new video game collection and give us your recommendations for more titles at our Game On! program for teens! For ages 12-18. Registration begins May 8.
Tuesday, June 11
- 3:30 Science Scouts. Explore the mysteries of the world through science! In this weekly program, we will discuss and perform hands on investigations of STEM-related topics. This week, we’ll do some underwater explorations with our ocean zones theme! For ages 6 – 11. Registration begins May 11.
Wednesday, June 12 and Thursday, June 13
- 10:15 Toddler Story time.
- 11:00 Preschool Story time.
Trained animals and amazing tricks! It’s the circus! Join us for stories, songs, and a craft. Siblings welcome.
Wednesday, June 12
- 2:00 It’s Showtime at the Circus. Come enjoy “clowning around” and create your personal clown face, learn interesting circus fun facts, play games, and eat cotton candy! For ages 8-12. Registration begins May 12.
Friday, June 14
- 2:00 Wiggly Worms. Come on down and get your hands dirty! Pet some worms and then make a worm hotel for the library garden. Learn about the importance of worms to the health of the soil and farm crops. The worms will be our garden pets for the summer and will be fed every Monday and Friday at 2:00 P.M. Children are welcome to help. We thank Allyson Ponn of the Lord Fairfax Soil and Conservation District for making this program possible. Registration begins May 14. For ages 5 and up.
Monday, June 17
- 2:00 Monday Movie: The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part. Love Legos? Come on in and watch The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part. And if it inspires you to do some building, we’ll have some Legos on hand! For ages 5 and up. Registration begins May 17.
Tuesday, June 18
- 3:30 Science Scouts. Explore the mysteries of the world through science! In this weekly program, we will discuss and perform hands-on investigations of STEM-related topics. This week, we’ll learn about animal cells. For ages 6 – 11. Registration begins May 18.
Wednesday, June 19 and Thursday, June 20
- 10:15 Toddler Story time.
- 11:00 Preschool Story time.
Let’s have some stories about squawky, gawky chickens! Come in for a fun craft and poems, too! Siblings welcome.
Wednesday, June 19
- 2:00 A Creative Space. Teens will learn about the more abstract side of art. In this class we’ll look at concepts and colors. What emotion does this artwork portray based on the predominant colors? How can simply applying a color over an image change the tone of it? For ages 12 and up. Registration begins May 19.
Saturday, June 22
- 11:00 Summer Fun! A Children’s Garden Program. Come create your own beautiful and original Garden Art Wind Chimes and enjoy homemade ice cream! Surprise flavors! For ages 6 and up. Registration begins May 22.
- 2:00 Chess and More. Meet other kids and teens who enjoy the challenge of a good chess or other board game. For ages 6 and up. Registration begins May 22.
Monday, June 24
- 2:00 Dragon Feathers Puppet Show. Dragon Feathers features a colorful, zany cast of talented dragons! They are silly, but never scary; foolish, but never frightening. Bring the whole family to this entertaining celebration of fun! Presented by Bob Brown Puppets.
Wednesday, June 26 and Thursday, June 27
- 10:15 Toddler Story time.
- 11:00 Preschool Story time.
What’s cooking? Come to story time for a taste of good books, songs, and a craft! Siblings welcome.
Friday, June 28
- 2:00 Song and Dance. It’s show time for children ages seven and up! Kids will get to dance to fun music, sing silly songs, learn a few easy rhythms, and dress up in crazy costumes. For ages 7 and up. Registration begins May 28.
Saturday, June 29
- 2:00 Dungeons & Dragons (Group B.) Hail and well met, Adventurers! A new program is taking place for teens 13+. Dungeons and Dragons is an interactive, imaginative game that stimulates the mind with critical thinking, problem solving, and quick wits. New to the game? No problem. Our Game Master is prepared to help all learn the game and provide an enjoyable experience for all. Space is limited, so join up while there’s still room on the list!
Community Events
Living Water Church Indoor Yard Sale and Bake Sale, VBS Starts June 1st
Community Events
Local Agencies Unite to Fund Emergency Shelter for Women and Children in Front Royal
Warren County agencies have come together for the second year to address the local need for an emergency shelter for women and children. While there is no shelter for them in the immediate area, Warren Coalition, Habitat for Humanity, Blue Ridge Housing Network, Phoenix Project, Warren County Department of Social Services, Bridge of Hope of Greater Warren, and the Hope and Rest Temporary Shelter (formerly the Thermal Shelter) are working together to build the fund that provides the women and children with emergency shelter in motels. The goal is to ensure that the families are safe while they look for long-term housing options.
The group will host a donation drive May 11th-18th. Donations of any amount will be accepted, but $5 donations will be awarded a “door prize” ticket, and $20 will receive five such tickets. During the Wine & Craft Festival on May 18th, door prizes of varying values will be given away. The group has gift certificates from The Apple House, The Vine & Leaf, Melania’s Gourmet, Martin’s, Sun Stoppers, On Cue, and C & C Frozen Treats. Additional prizes are being gathered through May 15th.
To make a monetary gift directly to the program, write a check to “Warren Coalition” and “Emergency Shelter” in the memo line. The check can be sent to Warren Coalition, PO Box 2058, Front Royal, VA 22630. Donations may also be made online at warrencoalition.org/support-the-coalition; select “Emergency Shelter for Women and Children” in the “Note” section.
Community Events
Samuels Public Library ‘British Invasion’ themed fundraiser a BIG Hit
Here is a photo and video feature of this year’s “A Taste for Books: British Invasion” themed fundraiser for Samuels Public Library at the library on Saturday evening, April 27. We wondered if the 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. or so “invasion” was as successful as it appeared to be, as well as fun for all involved. So, we reached out to management at the library for details. We heard back from Library Board of Trustees President Melody Hotek, who told us that while final numbers hadn’t yet been tabulated, “This was a stellar year in attendance, Table Hosts, and Silent Auction items, so I am anticipating that we will surpass our goal of $25,000.
“Over the next week, pictures will be posted and final numbers will be tallied, but on this Monday, the Library wants to say a great big Thank You! We are grateful for each and every contribution and the overwhelming support of our wonderful community. No way around it, “A Taste for Books” is always the best party in town!” Hotek enthused, rightfully so it would seem this past Saturday.
We also asked about the “British Invasion” theme’s origin. “Each year the theme is decided on by the committee made up of the Library managers and staff. British Invasion was our 11th year and my 7th year helping to coordinate the event. Next year’s theme will be “A Taste for Books: Movie Magic”.
But how could it be more magical than this year’s “British Invasion” which included references to Stonehenge, Harry Potter, and the historically long running Brit TV sci-fi series “Doctor Who” — not to mention the rather musically magical British Invasion of the rock & roll, pop music scene of the 1960s and ’70s?!? I guess time and a borrowed TARDIS from Dr. Who will tell.
The Library Trustees President also wanted to be sure to acknowledge all the Table Hosts, local business Sponsors, and awards winners. And we will accommodate that request, beginning with the Table Hosts of which Ms. Hotek observed, “Table Hosts provided all the wonderful appetizer ‘tastes’ for the guests and we are so grateful to them. This year we had a lot of new and returning organizations and businesses.”
Those Table Hosting businesses included, with acknowledgements as awarded: Garcia & Gavino, *Penny Lane Hair Co. – Best Table Decoration, Shenandoah Valley Music Festival, *Main Street Geek – Best Food Award, *ARC of Warren Co. – Best Costume, Warren County Retired Teachers, Randolph Macon Academy, *Warren County Heritage Society – Best Table Decoration, *Front Royal Warren Co Chamber of Commerce – Best Table Decoration, *Stone Branch Center for the Arts – Best Food Award, Warren-Front Royal Appalachian Trail Committee, *Beautification of Front Royal Committee – Best Food Award, *Front Royal Warren County Tree Stewards – Best Costume Award, Friends of Samuels Library (FOSL), Epilogue Bookstore, City of Winchester Pipes and Drums, additional food provided by Apple House & Ledo’s.
Separate Prizes were awarded to guests for Best Costume, Hotek observed, “Dressed as Monty Python characters were Jessica and Will Cahill, Diane Schmiedicke was ready for an Equestrian horse race and the Queen was represented by Mary Bennett.”
As to musical accompaniment, as noted in the opening caption the event’s grand opening was kicked off by two bagpipers from the City of Winchester Pipes and Drums group, Gene Schultz and John Taylor. And in one area of the building British Invasion band music was piped in and in the main section guests were treated to a string trio by Annabelle, Georgia and Kelby Grady.
Hotek also told us, “We are extremely grateful to Hot-Shots Photography for sponsoring and photographing the guests. This year our guests had their Royal Portrait taken and went home with a souvenir bordered by the British flag.
“Many other local businesses, wineries, theaters, and artists donated gift cards and items for the Silent Auction and game prize drawings making this a ‘Jolly Good’ evening all around. Fifteen of our guests went home with a grab bag worth between $40-60 for playing our British Icons game,” Hotek noted.
We will conclude this with a “Thank you” to Samuels Public Library and all of its supporting patrons and businesses for making this year’s fundraiser a memorable one.
Some more photos will follow this list of Sponsors, as noted by Hotek “vital to the success of the event.” Those sponsors include: First Bank, Target, Royal Examiner, Northern Virginia Daily, Mountain Home Bed & Breakfast, Front Royal Dental Care Dr. Frederick Broadhead and Dr. Daisy Broadhead, Mountain Laurel Montessori School, Total Wine & More, the Ambrose Family, and the Samuels Library Board members, past and present.
And let’s try to get those London and Liverpool accents right, along with all those in between. That shouldn’t be a problem for this trio, who don’t need to be in costume – three real Brits, from left, our own Malcolm Barr Sr., Susan O’Kelly, and Chris Laurence.
A knightly entrance approved by the crown no doubt; and some royal oversight at one of the food and other goodies tables. Uh oh, who smuggled that George Washington portrait in?!? Oh, it must be a ‘Wanted’ poster.
Community Events
36th Annual Virginia Wine & Craft Festival: A Day of Delight in Front Royal
On Saturday, May 18th, 2024, the streets of Front Royal will come alive with the vibrant and festive spirit of the 36th Annual Virginia Wine & Craft Festival. From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Main and Chester Streets will transform into a bustling marketplace filled with the best Virginia offers in wine, crafts, and culinary delights.
The festival is a beloved tradition that showcases an array of Virginia’s finest wines, meads, and ciders. Attendees will have the opportunity to indulge in tastings that promise an unforgettable journey through the region’s renowned libations. This year’s event will also feature a new Kids Zone, ensuring that families enjoy a day filled with fun and engaging activities for all ages.
Artists and crafters from along the East Coast and local artisans and merchants will display their unique creations, ranging from handcrafted jewelry to bespoke ceramics. The array of goods will give festival-goers a perfect opportunity to find that special something, whether for themselves or as gifts.
No festival is complete without tantalizing food options; this year is no exception. From savory crab cake sandwiches to delicious shish kabobs, the food offerings will cater to every palate, ensuring no one goes hungry.
Live music will enhance the festival atmosphere, with performances by bands like A Thousand Faces, Bearded Harmony, and Back To Zero. Attendees should also stay alert for surprise performances and activities sprinkled throughout the event.
Tickets for the wine tasting are available for $30 in advance or $35 at the gate, with free general admission. They can be purchased online or at the Front Royal-Warren County Chamber of Commerce office. The festival is a chance to enjoy the day and explore the broader attractions of Front Royal and Warren County, appealing to both leisure seekers and outdoor enthusiasts.
The festival, presented by Discover Front Royal and Experience Warren County, is made possible thanks to local sponsors like Jennerations Hair Studio & Spa, Glo Fiber, Christine Binnix – McEnearney Associates, and Shotton Design.
For more information about the festival or to purchase tickets, visit the official website at www.wineandcraftfestival.com or contact the Front Royal-Warren County Chamber of Commerce at 540-635-3185.
Community Events
Valley Chorale Announces Upcoming Spring Concerts in Middletown and Front Royal
The Valley Chorale presents “Wishing On a Song – Music in the Key of Hope”, a spring concert exploring aspirations of love, home, spirituality and compassion that unite and uplift us all. With styles ranging from light classical and sacred to vocal jazz, spirituals and pop, The Valley Chorale strives to capture the hopes that unite us.
The Valley Chorale is known throughout the Shenandoah Valley for innovation and excellence, with piano, cello and percussion accompaniment, and their concerts are often a heart-warming experience for all. They welcome babies and tots, so no need to hire a babysitter.
Tickets can be purchased on their website TheValleyChorale.org — $15 for age 21+ (free under age 21) or at the door for $17.
SATURDAY, MAY 4, 3:00 – 4:15 PM
Belle Grove Plantation (Bank Barn), 336 Belle Grove Road, Middletown, VA
SUNDAY, MAY 5, 3:00 – 4:15 PM
First Baptist Church, 14 W. 1st Street, Front Royal, VA (Community Reception to follow)
For further information, visit the website: TheValleyChorale.org: follow them on Facebook; email them at TheValleyChorale@gmail.com or call at 540-635-4842.
(From a Release by The Valley Chorale)
Community Events
Humane Society’s Popular ‘Barks & Bags’ Breaks All Records With its Spring Fling, Grossing $59,665
It was a bitter-sweet evening for me at the Humane Society of Warren County (HSWC) annual “Barks and Bags” fundraiser that drew some 265 of Warren County’s womenfolk and a few gentlemen, including me, to what started as a luncheon group of several Rockland women a decade or more ago and grew to what it has become a sold-out dinner/live auction event featuring name brand (think Gucci) handbags and purses that sold for between $800 and $1,800 in lively bidding.
I was there, representing my late wife, Carol, along with her good friend Susan O’Kelly, thinking back to the days of the hats and relatively small luncheon gatherings with a feeling of pride over what Carol and Susan and many of their women’s group of friends helped launch. They wore fancy hats (I still have a closet full of them, any takers?!) at my suggestion to attract press photographers’ attention and the resulting publicity. With the principal help of Jean Plauger and former longtime HSWC president Ellen Aders, it worked!
The County Humane Society’s new, as of this year, Executive Director Kayla Wines supervised the introductions, the raffles, auctioneer Clint Pierpoint, and so on at the Shenandoah Valley Golf Club in Rockland, giving a shout-out to event sponsors Aders, Plauger, Blake Pierpoint, HSWC Board President Amanda Kindall, and retiring Treasurer Katrina Meade.
Some 40 of those present were named as live and silent auction donors, and 30 “table captains” were recognized by Wines, who described the event in six words: “It was our best year yet!” she proclaimed.
(The writer, former journalist Malcolm Barr Sr. of Rockland, is a past president of HSWC and a current supporter of the Julia Wagner Animal Shelter in Front Royal)