Warren County seeks a dedicated Administrative Assistant to join the Warren County Educational Endowment (WCEE). This part-time role is perfect for individuals adept at multitasking and passionate about education and community development. The position boasts flexible hours with a workload that integrates well into a dynamic lifestyle, particularly appealing to those who thrive in managing both clerical and interpersonal tasks.

The Administrative Assistant will support the WCEE by preparing necessary materials for quarterly meetings, including agendas and documents. They will also handle important financial tasks such as check deposits, bank statement reconciliations, and processing annual tax reports. Additionally, the Assistant is tasked with maintaining the donor software program and managing the WCEE’s online presence, which includes updating the organization’s website and social media platforms.

A notable aspect of the role includes active participation in marketing initiatives and direct involvement in fundraising activities, which are vital for the sustainability of the endowment. The Assistant will work closely with the WCEE President and various committee chairpersons to ensure all aspects of the organization’s administration run smoothly.

Job responsibilities include recording minutes at board meetings, handling correspondence with donors—including thank you letters—and supporting the overall grant process in collaboration with the Grant Committee Chairperson. The role demands a proactive approach to office and online management, ensuring that all administrative aspects are current and effective in supporting the WCEE’s objectives.

The position offers a compensation package commensurate with experience, reflecting the significant responsibility and flexibility the role entails. Applicants should be prepared for a workload increase during critical periods such as quarterly meetings, fundraising events, and grant processes.

Interested candidates are encouraged to visit the WCEE website to learn more about the organization’s goals and contributions to educational excellence in Warren County. The deadline for applications is May 31, 2024. This opportunity is ideal for someone looking to significantly impact their community while working in a supportive and enriching environment.

For those ready to step into a role that makes a difference, ensure your application, including a cover letter and resume, is submitted promptly to be considered for this enriching opportunity.

Click here for more information and to submit a resume.

The following is a list of highway work that may affect traffic in Warren County during the coming weeks. Scheduled work is subject to change due to inclement weather and material supplies. Motorists are advised to watch for slow-moving tractors during mowing operations. When traveling through a work zone, be alert to periodic changes in traffic patterns and lane closures.

*NEW* or *UPDATE* indicates a new or revised entry since last week’s report.

INTERSTATE 66
*NEW* Mile marker 0 to 2, eastbound and westbound – Right shoulder closures for litter pickup operations, 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. Wednesday.

*UPDATE* Mile marker 0 to 7, eastbound – Right shoulder closures for utility work, 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. through May 31.

*NEW* Mile marker 6 to 8, eastbound and westbound – Right shoulder closures for litter pickup operations, 12 noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday.

*NEW* Mile marker 11 to 12, eastbound and westbound – Left lane closures for inspection of bridges over Route 647 (Dismal Hollow Road) and Manassas Run, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

INTERSTATE 81
Mile marker 299 to 300, northbound – Right shoulder closures for utility work, 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. through May 31.

Mile marker 299 to 300, northbound and southbound –Overnight lane closures and traffic-lane shifts as needed, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. through December 2024. Shoulder closures 24/7. Work zone speed limit 55 miles an hour. Work is related to southbound acceleration ramp extension and bridge widening with estimated completion in late 2024.

PRIMARY ROADS
Route 340 (Stonewall Jackson Highway) – Flagger traffic control between Route 674 (Limeton Church Road) and Route 607 (Rocky Lane) for pipe replacement, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Tuesday.

SECONDARY ROADS
Route 658 (Rockland Road) – Closed to through traffic between Route 340/522 (Winchester Road) and Route 705 (Fishnet Boulevard) for construction of bridge over Norfolk Southern Railway. Estimated completion December 2025.

Vegetation management may take place district-wide on various routes. Motorists are reminded to use extreme caution when traveling through work zones.

Traffic alerts and traveler information can be obtained by dialing 511 or at www.511Virginia.org.

The “new look” Valley Chorale, founded in 1962, ended its second year under new management and an up-and-coming artistic director, Samantha Isely — she arrived last Sunday afternoon! — with an unexpected toe-tapping post-intermission series of songs, including tunes from Paul McCartney (“Little Willow” written in 1995 as a tribute to Maureen Cox, the first wife of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, who passed away in December 1994), Carly Simons (“Let the River Run”), and that “where we get our kicks” favorite from the good old days, “Route 66”.

More calming, perhaps, to the surroundings – Front Royal’s commodious First Baptist Church – was the first section of the program dedicated to songs featuring the works of Johann Sebastian Bach, George Gershwin, and others, including “O Love” featuring Sophia Alvini-Moore on cello.

The Valley Chorale presented ‘Music in the Key of Hope’ at an earlier spring appearance in Staunton. Below is Artistic Director Samantha ‘Sam’ Isely. Courtesy Photos Valley Chorale

The Front Royal appearance of the black-clad, 30-member choir was the third in this year’s Spring series of concerts conducted by Isely, who holds a B.A. in Choral Music Education from Northern Arizona University and later this month will receive her master’s degree in Vocal Pedagogy from Shenandoah University. Among the 30 choristers was David Freese, the current president of the non-profit Valley Chorale, and assistant choir director Kristina Sheppard, choral director at Gainesville High School.

The full house audience gave the choir and its pianist accompanist, Connie Gallond, standing ovations at the conclusion of the 75-minute concert, after which Isely announced a program of rehearsals beginning in August to prepare for a concert series in 2025.

In a statement to donors, Freese remarked: “All of us at The Valley Chorale are deeply grateful … for their generous support of our work. We salute your commitment to championing the choral arts in our communities.” Doctors Frederick and Daisy Broadhead of Front Royal Dental Care sponsored the Front Royal performance.

The legendary harness horse Foiled Again will celebrate his 20th birthday this Saturday, May 11, at Shenandoah Downs. The festivities will include a “Happy Birthday” singalong, free cake and cupcakes, and a Meet & Greet with the beloved equine star, where fans can snap photos with him.

The son of Dragon Again retired six years ago after a stellar career, earning over $7.6 million — more than any other standardbred horse. His legacy includes 109 victories and 225 top-three finishes out of 331 starts, with his 104th win occurring at Shenandoah Downs on September 29, 2018.

Foiled Again has made two post-retirement appearances at Shenandoah Downs, including a lap around the half-mile track with Hall of Fame driver John Campbell in 2019. Fans can also meet Montrell Teague, the driver who piloted Foiled Again to his 105th victory. Teague will make his debut appearance at Shenandoah Downs in a promotional role.

Shenandoah Downs, located at I-81, Exit 283 between Winchester and Harrisonburg, is steeped in a 106-year harness racing tradition at the Shenandoah County Fairgrounds. Visit shenandoahdowns.com for more event details.

Having kept an eye on the restoration of the historic Mullen-Trout House at 12 Chester Street and its opening with the New Year as The Chester Street Tavern, we spoke with Tavern owner and retired US Army veteran Jim Justice about an upcoming event he alerted us to this coming Memorial Day weekend. That event is a Veterans Awareness “Salute to Service” slated for noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 25th, across Chester Street in the Gazebo-anchored Village Commons town park.

Dating to 1806 when it was built by Thomas Mullen, 12 Chester St., Front Royal, Va. has seen a lot of history unfold. This Memorial Day weekend it will participate in the inaugural Veterans Awareness ‘Salute to Service’ activities, including distribution of materials that assist veterans in Agricultural business pursuits, all to a wide-ranging musical backdrop.

“On May 25th, we’ve put together a memorial remembrance that is sponsored by the Tavern. It’s going to include a real nice live music lineup (beginning in the gazebo area), and we’ll have a number of exhibitors focused on veteran and agricultural-related support issues. They’ll be there with educational materials which will give them a platform to get exposure,” Justice began, adding a nod to the involved sponsorship team.

“We’re blessed to be doing this in partnership with Able Forces Foundation, led by ‘Skip’ and Kathy Rogers, who have become dear friends, and The Farmer-Veteran Coalition of Virginia (FarmVetCo), a national organization that does support for veterans in the farming and agricultural business. FarmVetCo is bringing their multi-band road trip show ‘Breaking Ground’ to support the entertainment at the Gazebo,” Justice said, adding that additional details are available on the Tavern website — www.ChesterStreetTavern.com — There’s a special event page for “Salute to Service” that has all the details.

It won’t be Able Forces Foundation’s Skip and Kathy Rogers first go-round at the Town Gazebo-anchored park remembrance of veterans and service, pictured from a 9/11 remembrance last year. – Oops, sorry to get your back to camera, Kathy. Below, a better shot of Kathy and Skip.

“One of the things that Kathy and ‘Skip’ have coordinated is for the participation of a special guest Sam Tate, a Grammy award winning singer-songwriter who has won the Country music Song of the Year. Sam is coming up from Nashville to be our VIP entertainer guest. He is a Vietnam veteran and Purple Heart recipient, and we are honored to have him as our guest helping to support our community and this memorial,” Justice said of his musically inclined fellow veteran.

Speaking of musically inclined guests, we noted that local, even neighborhood-generated, live music has become an integral part of the Chester Street Tavern’s business model, with Justice himself sitting in on harmonica on occasion. Would that continue with this event in addition to the imported entertainment, we asked.

“Yes, I think we have five or six bands that are going to play that day. Sam Tate, Nashville CMA Songwriter of the Year, Sunny Lane & The Dirty Hippies, FarmVetCo Breaking Ground will be joined by a number of local musicians that have played and supported the Tavern, helping us launch and build the live music program we have today,” Justice assured us of what will be a mix of familiar and not so familiar faces.

John Landis, right, and From the Heart at the Chester Street Tavern’s New Year’s Eve opening. Below, two shots of another gathering of five familiar musical faces at the Tavern, from left James Vaughan, Hank Gorecki, Dewey Vaughan, then Ralph Fortune and Shae Parker, the latter two perhaps wondering if they are playing from the same song list as the trio to their right.

Among those familiar musical faces to Tavern patrons are John Landis, whose barbershop is about four doors down from the Tavern, the Vaughan brothers Dewey and James, whose family owns the adjacent building in which John’s Barbershop and the New Creations Hair Salon are housed. Others include Shae Parker, Hank Gorecki, Ralph Fortune, Lee Cameron, Bev Williams and The Sidemen, Passage Creek Rising, Shortness of Breath, among others including relative newcomers “Captain” Rich Coon and Michelle Beall, also known as The Hobo Mariners due to their time spent at sea in their sailboat sailing into coastal ports in search of local entertainment venues from Florida to Virginia.

Bruce Townshend often drops in to lend a Celtic, Irish feel to the evening’s musical mix. Below, the Hobo Mariners Rich Coon and Michelle Beall have become a Thurs. night fixture. Here, Michelle seems to be acknowledging a nice ending chord by ‘Captain’ Rich.

“Richie and Michelle are the duo that make up the Hobo Mariners, and they’re the ones who introduced us to the opportunity to do this fundraiser. Michelle and Richie have been a driving force in getting this event organized and introduced to folks we want to support, the Farmer-Veteran Coalition in particular. The Hobo Mariners have done veteran-supporting fundraising through their singing-songwriting for many years,” Justice pointed out of the duo that has become a regular part of the Tavern entertainment rotation on Thursdays in recent weeks.

With the Gazebo Park area entertainment, vendors, and informational booths slated to run from noon to 7 p.m. the Saturday before Memorial Day, we asked Justice how that would impact the Chester Street Tavern’s hours of operation and entertainment. “The Tavern will be home base for the bands, and we are blessed to be right across the street from the Gazebo. We will have an area to support their logistics because there’s a lot involved with folks setting up and rotating to play. The setup for the day of the event is 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Saturday the 25^th for our exhibitors and the bands – and we will have a couple of food vendors, a veteran-owned pizza company and a veteran-owned barbecue company.”

Justice noted the Chester Street Tavern’s regular open to public schedule is Thursday through Sunday, running from 3 p.m. to closing Thursday and Friday, and noon to closing Saturday and Sunday, with closing determined by when the crowd thins out.

“The Tavern will be open that day supporting everyone,” he said of the “Salute to Service” scenario. The plan is we will have an after-event party once we close down at the Gazebo,” as noted above at 7 p.m. “That week we will have our regular show on Thursday evening with the Hobo Mariners. Then on Friday we’ll open at 3 p.m. I expect with all the bands coming into town we will be doing some special stuff here at the Tavern,” Justice said of an improvised schedule of musical interactions.

Justice stressed the importance of live musical entertainment to his business model: “A lot of what I want to do here is support the live music scene” — which he has evolved to do with live music each day he is open on a weekly basis Thursday through Sunday. He traced the start of that commitment to live music to a private party hosted by the Tavern in its earliest days. “John (Landis) came down when we were having a little Friday night private party and said, ‘Hey, you mind if I set up and play for tips?’ The next thing I know the crowd is doing a sing-along. It reminded me of how important live music is to the spirit of the Tavern. I play a little harmonica, so I told John he can play as long as he includes a song I can blow harmonica to and “he better make me sound good,” Justice joked of the Tavern’s longest tenured musical relationship.

Jim Justice adds a little harmonica to the offering of Shae Parker, Hank Gorecki, and Ralph Fortune. I guess they got the ‘make me sound good’ directive too. Area musicians Dave Elliott, back to camera, and Rick Nowell, share a no-doubt musical memory and laugh during a break in that evening’s entertainment. And further below, “the King” has found his way back to the stage and yet another lineup from, as Jim Justice describes it, “this beautiful local community of musicians”.

Speaking of long-tenured musical relationships, Justice acknowledged Dewey and James Vaughan and family, as noted above owners of the adjacent building to the south. “The Vaughans have become great friends of the Tavern. Dewey, James, sister Beth, and the rest of the Vaughan family have just really supported me in a lot of different ways. We are neighbors and good friends,” he said of the second of what he estimated as six to eight groupings of local musicians that have become part of the live music rotation at the Chester Street Tavern — “Just this whole, beautiful local community of musicians.”

But refocusing on what is on the horizon in his fifth month in business, that May 25th Veterans Awareness “Salute to Service”, Justice observed, “We’ll see how things flow and let people do what we always do in the Tavern, which is let folks come and spend time together. Our motto is: ‘We welcome friends old and new’ and it’s really played out that way, with new visitors socializing with a great group of locals.”

‘Friends new and old’ – this cheerful crowd was from the Tavern’s opening day, in fact we believe they were the first table seated New Year’s Eve day. Jim at work at the taps of Virginia-brewed/distributed craft beers. And more friends new and old, Jim greets a couple from Charlottesville, Martha and Bob, to the Tavern on May 5. Justice, a retired Army Ranger, discovered that his new guest Bob is a retired Marine.

Justice also singled out Town of Front Royal Director of Community Development and Tourism Lizi Lewis for her role in bringing the Town on board with the May 25th “Salute to Service” event.

So, don’t forget to mark your calendar this month, not only for Monday, May 27, traditional Memorial Day events here, but Saturday, May 25, for the Salute to Service beginning with a noon “soft opening” in the Town of Front Royal Village Commons Park, and continuing across Chester Street at the Chester Street Tavern into the later evening hours. And if you’re mobile you can also swing by the Humane Society of Warren County Julia Wagner Animal Shelter for the also noon-convened, May 25th Salute to the Dogs of War, which ‘Skip’ Rogers will help kick off before returning to Chester Street for the 1 p.m. official Opening Ceremony of Salute to Service.