Roger Bianchini

Board of Architectural Review denies partial demolition application for Murphy Theater building

After a public hearing and sometimes circular exchanges with SEESUU applicant Gary Wayland over the structural status of the portions of the old Murphy Theater building...

Judge notifies involved parties of denial of all defense motions to overturn jury verdicts in EDA civil liability cases

According to Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority Board of Directors Chairman Jeff Browne, the now County overseen EDA has received notice from civil case Judge...

After departing members bid farewell at last meeting of 2022, Council indicates movement on long-floundering ‘blighted structure’ code

It was a sometimes emotional, if brief, and light agenda meeting of the Front Royal Town Council Monday evening, December 12th. With no more council meetings...

Town Board of Architectural Review tours outside sections of ‘Murphy Theater’ building proposed for demolition

With a Public Hearing looming Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, on Friday afternoon, December 9th, the Front Royal Board of Architectural Review (BAR)...

Judge ponders rulings in multiple defense motions to overturn civil case jury finding of liability in EDA financial scandal cases

After over five hours of arguments surrounding five EDA civil case defendants’ motions to overturn jury liability verdicts totaling over $14-million, Judge Bruce D. Albertson took...

Waltz’s town manager contract unanimously approved at special meeting Wednesday, Nov. 30

Two days after failing to heed the call of Councilman Skip Rogers to “immediately” expedite a contract offer to former Front Royal Town Manager Joe Waltz...

After hour-and-a-half in closed session council fails to finalize contract with Joe Waltz – appoints Finance Director B.J. Wilson interim town manager

A nearly hour-and-a-half closed session Monday night, November 28, led to a unanimously approved motion by Amber Morris, seconded by Gary Gillispie, to appoint Town Finance...

Shenandoah Farms Sanitary District Advisory Committee Chair tells county supervisors they are poised to repeat EDA financial scandal mistakes

As promised, sports fans – coverage of another side of the Warren County Board of Supervisors meeting of November 16th, including Public Comments following the feel-good...

Skyline students acknowledged for helping avert tragedy at Warren County-Skyline football game

Public Comments at the Wednesday, November 16th meeting of the Warren County Board of Supervisors opened with a recognition of two Skyline High School students, Parker...

‘Keep your expectations low’ Gillispie warns newest Councilman Rogers on revisiting EDA dynamics towards end of council work session

The Front Royal Town Council work session of Monday evening, November 14, began with just over 42 minutes of work session discussion of fairly routine matters....

Samuels Public Library welcomes Valley Communitarians newest Blessing Box food supply station for those struggling to make ends meet

A food supplies “Blessing Box” was placed at a sixth location in Front Royal/Warren County Monday morning, November 14. Gathered at the East Criser Road parking...

E. Wilson Morrison ‘Early Act Club’ students help local veterans plant the flag around school’s main entrance in anticipation of Veterans Day

At the end of the school day on Thursday, November 10th, the E. Wilson Morrison Elementary School Early Act Club held a flag presentation and planting...

He’s back – Joe Waltz joins George Sonnett as permanent fills, respectively, to the Town Manager and Town Attorney spots

After nearly an hour-and-a-half in a Special Meeting Executive/Closed Session called for Wednesday evening, November 9, to interview candidates for and discuss the Town Manager’s position,...

Farms Advisory Committee recommends 1-year moratorium on Sanitary District fees, approves CIP recommendations, and fights ‘rubber stamp’ role

In a report on action item recommendations to the Warren County Board of Supervisors in the wake of its November 3rd meeting, Shenandoah Farms Sanitary District...

Town and County Planning Commissions compare notes on Comp Plan updates

On Wednesday, November 2nd, the Town and County Planning Commissions conducted a joint work session to review their respective Comprehensive Plan Reviews and attempt to get...

Jury takes less than hour to find ‘Sammy’ North liable in wife’s ‘scheme’ to move $110,000 from EDA to real estate transaction for personal gain

After just over five hours of testimony, evidence, and opening and closing arguments by plaintiff and defense counsel Tuesday, a seven-person Warren County Circuit Court civil...

Liaison Committee discussion reveals County-Town staff ‘Negotiations’ on past jointly funded FR-WC EDA projects – could this carryover to the litigation front?

The Front Royal-Warren County Liaison Committee meeting of Thursday, October 20, tackled a 10-item agenda on outstanding issues of mutual interest to the two geographically overlapping...

Back on the streets, Front Royal’s Festival of Leaves celebrates a half century

Supervisors explore budget carryover process and new software prior to light meeting agenda – THEN there was the closed session

A Tuesday evening, October 18, work session of the Warren County Board of Supervisors began with Finance Director Matt Robertson’s explanation of his recommendation for a...

Town Council consensus is to move forward with FREDA after staff irons out missing procedural details

On Monday night, October 17, the Front Royal Town Council and its newly created, and meeting as of this January, Front Royal Economic Development Authority (FREDA)...

Out of the frying pan and into the fire – Rogers sworn in as newly appointed town council member Friday afternoon

Shortly after 1:00 p.m. Friday, October 14, in the Warren County Courthouse, Skip Rogers was sworn in as the newly appointed member of the Front Royal...

Council schedules joint meeting with its EDA as it ponders the costs of FREDA’s continued existence

“To be or not to be” – that seems to be a Shakespearean question looming regarding the continued existence of the unilateral Front Royal Economic Development...

Local military veterans advocate Skip Rogers edges out vet Joe McFadden for next year of McFadden’s vacated(?) council seat – But is that the story’s end?

After over an hour-and-40-minutes in Executive/Closed session Tuesday evening, October 11, including interviews of the final two of three applicants granted interviews, to fill the vacant(?)...

E. Wilson Morrison students rally for ‘Heavenly Hats’ for young cancer victims nationwide

At 1:30 p.m. Friday afternoon, October 7, E. Wilson Morrison Elementary School students staged a “Heavenly Hats Parade” as part of a nationwide fundraising initiative to...

Supervisors appear reluctant to forward Data Centers as a by-right use regardless of zoning amendment creating new Light Industrial District

Following a detailed presentation by County Planning Director Matt Wendling on the procedural requirements for authorizing the development of Data Centers in Industrial or Light Industrially...

‘Bikers Against Child Abuse’ support victims and families as Garrett Dean sentenced to 7 years on sexual abuse of minors plea agreement convictions

A 26-year-old man who plead guilty to several charges related to the sexual abuse of two minor girls as part of a plea agreement with the...

As County-directed EDA develops detailed Strategic Plan for the future, it moves toward joint meeting with Town counterpart

The still legally named Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority (FR-WC EDA, more commonly now referenced as the WC EDA in the wake of the Front...

Skyline High students protest pending ‘anti-trans’ legislation forwarded by Governor Youngkin

Thirteen public school students gathered on the Skyline High School campus Tuesday morning to protest Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin’s initiative in forwarding what they termed an...

After hour delay to achieve a quorum, council quickly approves three CUP requests, two for Short-Term Rentals, before convening to work session

The Monday, September 12, Special Meeting of the Front Royal Town Council began with an hour’s delay with only two council members present (Thompson, Gillispie), along...

9/11: a personal memoir

(Author’s note: this commentary was written on Sept. 11 and 12, 2001, as events transpired. It has since been reprinted in various edits, in various years...