In this Town Talk, our publisher Mike McCool speaks with Melody Hotek, President of the Warren County Tree Stewards, and Lisa Schwartz, President of the Beautification Committee of Front Royal.

On Saturday, May 21, 2022, Samuels Public Library will be hosting the “Basic of Pruning” hand-on experience. The program will begin with a presentation by Ron Perlik, a Certified Arborist, who will then lead the group for some hands-on experience pruning nearby trees. Ron hosts monthly workshops and has been a treasured member of the Front Royal Warren County Tree Stewards for many years. Bring your pruners and your questions for an informative morning with Ron. Registration is required for this event; space is limited; click here to register. 

About Warren County Tree Stewards
The mission of the Front Royal/Warren County Tree Steward program is to increase public awareness of the intrinsic value and beauty of trees, to learn and understand the needs of the community forest, to help the Town of Front Royal and the County of Warren in caring for the community’s publicly planted trees (especially young trees), to educate other residents of the community about urban forestry, and to involve additional community members in creating and caring for community tree plantings.

About The Beautification of Front Royal Committee (BFRC)
The Beautification of Front Royal Committee (BFRC) is to develop a coordinated effort among community organizations and interested individuals to facilitate the improvement and beautification of community property.

Town Talk is a series on the Royal Examiner where we will introduce you to local entrepreneurs, businesses, non-profit leaders, and political figures who influence Warren County. Topics will be varied but hopefully interesting. If you have an idea, topic, or want to hear from someone in our community, let us know. Send your request to news@RoyalExaminer.com.

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In this Town Talk, our publisher Mike McCool speaks with Lauren Kopishke, Planning Director, Town of Front Royal. Lauren gives an overview of the Comprehensive Plan and the importance of public input to the process.

On Friday, May 20th, and Saturday, May 21st, the Town will be providing the opportunity for the community to give its input in the planning process. On Friday, the comment session will be held at the Warren County Public Safety Building, across from Skyline High School, at noon to 2:00 pm. On Saturday, the 21st, the session will be held at Town Hall on Main Street from 10:00 am to noon and again from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

The existing Comprehensive Plan controls development and the vision of the Town. This version of the Comprehensive Plan is 25 years old and is overdue for an update. The input from the community is a vital component of the local planning process.

Town Talk is a series on the Royal Examiner where we will introduce you to local entrepreneurs, businesses, non-profit leaders, and political figures who influence Warren County. Topics will be varied but hopefully interesting. If you have an idea, topic, or want to hear from someone in our community, let us know. Send your request to news@RoyalExaminer.com.

Town seeks citizen input on Comp Plan revisions on future developmental vision inside town limits

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Kenneth Allen “Mitch” Mitchell, 77, of Strasburg, Virginia, passed away on Monday, May 16, 2022, at his home.

Kenneth Allen “Mitch” Mitchell

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, May 24, 2022, at 11:00 am at Maddox Funeral Home, 105 West Main Street, Front Royal, Virginia, with Pastor Dale Ramsey officiating. Burial will follow at Prospect Hill Cemetery.

Mr. Mitchell was born on October 12, 1944, in Front Royal to the late Price and Bertha Kelly Mitchell. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Lena Johnson Mitchell; four brothers, Carl J. Mitchell, Victor E. Mitchell, Clarence W. Mitchell, and Richard L. Mitchell and sister, Betty L. Mitchell. He was a member of Front Royal Moose Lodge #829 and Grace Fellowship Church in Front Royal. He was a veteran of both the United States Army and the United States Marine Corps.

Survivors include his two daughters, Donna Turner Poe (Randolph) of Strasburg and Judith Turner Boyd (Phillip) of Front Royal; three sisters, Katherine J. Barnhart of Front Royal, Ruth E. McDonald of Strasburg, and Doris E. Mitchell of North Carolina; five grandchildren, Gene Jackson (Holly), Eric Jackson (Kailei), Kevin Lane Heflin, Nathaniel Austin Poe, and Sarah Gail Boyd; three great-grandchildren, Chloe, Gavin and Parker; two caregivers, Haleigh Housden and Melinda Weakley and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Phillip Boyd, Randy Poe, Kenny Evans, Vincent Carter, Kevin Lane Heflin, and Nathaniel Austin Poe.

Honorary pallbearers will be Ed Dumire, Tony Spencer, Junior Andrews, Chris Ramsey, and Melvin Gochenour.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Humane Society of Warren County, 1245 Progress Drive, Front Royal, Virginia 22630.

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Election of Post Officers for the Giles B. Cook – Post 53 of the American Legion 2022-23 term will be on Thursday, June 9, 2022. Polls are open from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm at the Post, located at 22 West 8th Street, Front Royal, VA.

Absentee ballots are available; arrangements must be made with the Post Adjutant to receive an absentee ballot. All Members must have a valid 2022 membership card to vote.

Nominees:

• Commander – Rick Kinsey
• First Vice Commander – Roy Unger
• Second Vice Commander – Jimmy Brinklow
• Adjutant – David Kaplan
• Sergeant at Arms – Lalit “Pip” Piplani
• Chaplain – Charlie Goddard
• Historian – Charles Mills
• Finance Officer – Open – nominations will be accepted at June’s meeting if no nominee is designated beforehand

Executive Committee (4 at-large members needed):

• Jorge Amselle
• Jodi Jones
• Ed Canas
• TBD – the final position is open

Members may vote for the nominees or write in a candidate of their choice.

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Melissa Danielle Cook, 29, of Bentonville, Virginia, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, May 15, 2022, at her home.

Melissa Danielle Cook

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, May 22 at 11:00 am at Maddox Funeral Home with Sammy Campbell officiating. Inurnment will be private.

Melissa was born July 29, 1992, in Front Royal, Virginia, the daughter of Danny and Lisa Cook.

She was a Skyline High School Class of 2010 graduate, a loving wife, mother, daughter, and daughter-in-law, who felt so blessed to have married her best friend and have two amazing children.

Melissa always had a smile for anyone she met. She loved and lived life to the fullest, but her smile was the biggest while watching her kids play baseball. She would be the one cheering the loudest with no apologies given.

She loved to be at her happy place, the beach, going to Nationals games, and her dogs, River and Millie. The family would like to thank Chrissy, Matt, T.J., Ebbie, D.J., and Haley for being in her “Brick Squad”. She will be greatly missed by all those who knew her.

Surviving with her parents are her loving and devoted husband, Travis A. Cook, and her children, Kole Cook and Kali Cook.

She was preceded in death by her great grandmothers, Anna Lee Cook and Catherine Andrews; her grandmother, Patricia Andrews Kramer; and her dog, Remi.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, May 22, from 10:00 to 11:00 am at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society of Warren County, 1245 Progress Drive, Front Royal, Virginia 22630, or the Front Royal Little League, 990 Little Egypt Lane, Front Royal, VA 22630.

Following the services, all are welcome to join the family for a time of food and fellowship at the South Warren Volunteer Fire Department in Bentonville.

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Last year, Warren County Public Schools created Elementary Gifted Resource Teacher positions to enhance the growth and development of gifted and talented children through education, advocacy, community building, and research. At A.S. Rhodes Elementary School, our publisher Mike McCool met two of these teachers, Faith Falkenstein and Justnye Louk.

WCPS Superintendent Dr. Chris Ballenger asked these teachers to have a year-long project to inspire students to learn about their community. Faith and Justnye got excited about the project and came up with a plan after some brainstorming activities. The overall theme is called Footprints. This project instills an appreciation for the incredible things students can see and do (and protect) in their community.

This project included over 100 third to fifth-grade Enrichment/Gifted students from all five of our elementary schools and included:

• Researching the person each school is named
• Pick a place in the community to research
• Create a Google Slides presentation
• Record the presentation
• Built 3-D representation of what they researched
• Create QR codes that linked the projects to the presentations
• Create a walking tour/scavenger hunt for students and parents that cover Chester and Main Streets in Front Royal
• Create Google Earth Tour which linked top the projects and places researched

On Sunday, May 22, 2022, the students will display their projects and share the information they researched at the Town Commons Pavillion from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

This project was made possible by a grant provided by the Warren County Educational Endowment, which allowed the teachers to purchase a 3-D printer and supplies for each elementary school.

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