Community Events
WATTS President Challenges Local Community to Seek No. 1 Slot in National Homeless Walk on Feb. 24
WATTS (Winchester Area Temporary Transitional Shelter) will host their 2nd annual ‘Coldest Night of the Year’ (CNOY) Walk on Saturday, February 24, 2024. This winter-friendly, family-friendly fundraiser walk takes place in over 40 participating cities all over the U.S. that day; it is an international event that started in Canada in 2011. WATTS is enthusiastic about hosting the Walk for Winchester, VA, again this year – last year, they were the second-largest location for a CNOY event in the U.S.! Over 400 walkers, 59 teams, and 700 donors raised $65,000 to support WATTS’s mission to end homelessness one life at a time in Winchester, Frederick, and Clarke Counties. This year, WATTS’ goal is to earn the number one spot across the entire U.S., so they need your help.
The Board President for WATTS, Mike Ashby, is a local businessman who has challenged the community to partner with WATTS in supporting the 2024 CNOY Winchester event.
Ashby recently shared his epic plan of attack to spread awareness about the Walk and solicit donations. “I picked one area to focus on and then went after it: social media, specifically Facebook,” Ashby said.
Ashby targeted his favorite Facebook Groups, such as former softball teammates (he asked them to donate the amount that equals their jersey number), his James Wood High School Alumni friends, and then popular groups such as Frederick County Social Collective, What’s Happening Winchester/Frederick County, and Let’s Talk About Winchester and Frederick County.
“I tag between 25 – 50 people in each group. I have found that tagging smaller groups gets the attention of Facebook users better than tagging larger groups. I identify the event, the date and time, the need for donations, and just go with it,” said Ashby. (It is important to remember that tagging too many people on Facebook can get you banned, so use discretion.)
No donation amount is too small – “I always include the catchphrase, ‘snowballs make snowmen,’ to impress upon them that all amounts are appreciated,” Ashby said. “Folks have big hearts, and every donation counts and adds up.” Through his approach, Ashby has garnered over 50 donations so far.
Ashby also personally thanks everyone who donates via a private message; acknowledgment is a key part of successful fundraising and goes a long way. Ashby’s seven-person team is in seventh place nationwide for funds raised. As the general team for WATTS that anyone is welcome to join and walk with, all donations gifted generically come into this team. Overall, WATTS has 80 teams registered so far and 356 walkers. They continue to hold the second-place position for all U.S. locations.
With just two weeks to go, Ashby and the WATTS Board are pushing hard to reach WATTS’ goal of $65,000, 100 teams, and over 700 walkers this year. They have reached out to many media outlets to get the message out about the Walk – The Winchester Star, Warren Frederick County Report, Royal Examiner, Clarke Monthly, NV Daily, Breakfast with Barry Lee, Town Talk with Mike McCool, The River 95.3 FM and “Valley Today” podcast with Janet Michael, “Joy in the Mornings” Sunday AM show on WINC, and OldTownist Magazine have all run articles about Coldest Night of the Year or had WATTS staff do guest segments on their shows. White Oak Media Services shot footage at last year’s event, then taped a follow-up interview with Executive Director Robyn Miller and edited a 2024 promo video for WATTS’ Winchester event this year together. WATTS is so grateful for all the help and support.
Plan to step outside the warmth and comfort of home for a few hours one evening – the Walk is open to everyone to come out and get a small taste of what it might be like to be homeless, walking all the time in the cold. It is a great opportunity for children and youth, especially to get involved with WATTS since they cannot help directly at the shelter (WATTS is a low-barrier shelter, which means everyone must be over 18.) Ashby wants to impress upon young people that it is important to feel compassion for people experiencing homelessness; charity includes sharing empathy and giving.
Anyone who wants to join the Walk, scheduled to step off at 5:00 pm on Saturday, February 24, should register online to accept the required waiver. There is an option to choose the 2-kilometer (1.25 mile) or 5-kilometer (3.1 mile) Walk, both of which follow along sidewalks through downtown Winchester and start and end at Braddock Street United Methodist Church (115 Wolfe Street in Winchester). The total event time is between 4 pm and 7 pm. Participants are encouraged to donate money and solicit financial sponsorships between now and then, all to help WATTS, but registration is completely free, and contributions are not required. An incentive, however, is that anyone who raises at least $150 (or $75 for youth aged 17 and under) will receive a 2024 Coldest Night of the Year winter beanie to recognize their awesome fundraising efforts!
Children aged 12 and under must always be accompanied by a parent or guardian on the Walk, and pets are not allowed due to insurance regulations.
CNOY walkers will also experience a simple soup kitchen after completing the Walk. Braddock Street United Methodist Church congregants will serve soups crafted by local food truck owner Billy Sous, but do not expect to fill them up – they will be a fundamental meal of bread and soup to mimic the uncertainty and desperation a homeless person experiences.
You can help raise funds for WATTS to support the men and women they serve in Winchester, Frederick, and Clarke Counties through participating in WATTS fundraisers like Coldest Night of the Year. Last season, WATTS supported more than 300 individuals in our area who were experiencing homelessness. Already this season, their Overnight Shelter has served over 100 unique individuals in 13 weeks, and their daytime Warming Center has seen over 200 unique individuals come through in 10 weeks. There is great need, but WATTS is also seeing results – 7 individuals in that time have been able to transition out of WATTS and into more stable housing, and WATTS has helped countless guests obtain IDs, jobs, sober living arrangements, and more. WATTS Executive Director Robyn Miller said, “The money we raise will support WATTS locally in our mission to end homelessness one life at a time. Our guests saw you walking for them last year, and they were touched.”
WATTS is grateful for its cooperative relationship with the City of Winchester to host this event, and to the Winchester Sheriff’s Office, Winchester Police Department, and Winchester Fire & Rescue Department for their planned presence and coordination assistance on Walk Day, as well as their support year-round.
Registration and more information about Coldest Night of the Year is available at www.cnoy.com/location/winchester. Donations for CNOY will be accepted through March 31.
For more on WATTS, visit www.watts-homelessshelter.org or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
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
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)
Community Events
Updated: ‘Phony Ponies’ Give a Competitive Edge to FR Rotary Downtown Pub Crawl Fundraiser
On Friday, April 26, the Front Royal Rotary sponsored a downtown Front Royal “Pub Crawl” featuring a Phony Ponies “horse race” ticket holders could bet on to add to the Rotary fundraiser, and a little reward for their knowledge of the relative prowess and breeding of the involved Phony Ponies. Or as one pre-race announcer informed the crowd, “We’ve got three stallions and two old mares in this race,” which was met by some boos from the filly-supporting contingent.
And it was one of those two filly mares that led the five-horse field across the finish line after three laps around the Gazebo in the in the Main Street Downs Raceway shortly after 7:30 p.m. — that was “Blazin’ Botox” (Warren County Sheriff Crystal Cline), followed in order by “Money for Nothing” (Front Royal Rotary President Ken Evans), “Closing Real Fast” (Front Royal Police Chief Kahle Magalis), “Bullseye” (Warren County Rotary President Michael Williams), and “The Old Gray Mare” or was that “Mayor” (Front Royal Mayor Lori Cockrell).
It was a highly competitive race with some post finish line challenges offered by runner up Money for Nothing, whose jockey Evans noted an unapproved by the Racing Commission pre-race change into borrowed running shoes by the winner, as well as some out-of-my-lane territorial elbow-bumping by Blazin’ Botox to keep him in his 2nd place position. WAIT, do horses have elbows? I guess phony ones do.
Jockey Cockrell explained her disappointing 5th place finish, noting she had locked in behind Bullseye/Williams early in the running. However, it ended up being a bad spot to draft, as Bullseye appeared to be having an equipment break-down in front of her, as in a drooping “saddle” threatening that stallions stability and which she had to pull back from for caution’s sake.
On the more serious side, the second annual Talk Derby To Me Pub Crawl fundraiser was in support of Rotary International’s eradicate polio worldwide effort. More information about Rotary’s efforts to end polio can be found at this website: https://www.rotary.org/en/our-causes/ending-polio
Involved and supporting downtown businesses included Vibrissa, the On Cue Sports Bar & Grill, Buckle & Belle Boutique, sponsor of the “Phony Ponies” race, C&C Frozen Treats, Pavemint Smoking Taphouse, Honey & Hops, Catamount Lounge, and Garcia & Gavino. Hope we didn’t miss anyone, and we’ll update as necessary if we did.
And in a late update, individual sponsoring of the Phony Ponies was provided by: Ken Evans, ReMax Reality sponsoring Evans on “Money For Nothing”; CSM Aesthetics sponsored “Blazin’ Botox” and jockey Cline; Clint Pierpoint, Next Home Reality Select sponsored “Closing Real Fast” with Chief Magalis on the saddle; Lori Cockrell for Mayor sponsored “The Old Grey Mare” with the mayor riding; and Shenandoah Valley Axe Throwing Co. sponsored the saddle-failing “Bullseye” with Williams keeping his stallion upright.
And if you missed the fun and excitement, here are a few more shots.
Community Events
Parade Broadcast Schedule and Important Festival Information
The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® is pleased to announce that festival fans can watch the Hang 10 Car Wash Firefighters’ Parade and the Glofiber Grand Feature Parade on several local television channels and stream it on the festival’s website at www.thebloom.com.
The Hang 10 Car Wash Firefighters’ Parade will air starting at 5:30 pm on Friday, May 3, 2024, on the following:
Live streaming at www.thebloom.com
VA- Comcast – Channel 6
VA- Glofiber – Channel 7
WV- Comcast – Channel TV 10, Talk Radio WRNR
The Glofiber Grand Feature Parade will air starting at 2:00 pm on the following:
Live streaming at www.thebloom.com
DC NEWS NOW – WDVM
VA- Comcast – Channel 6
VA-Glofiber – Channel 7
WV- Comcast – Channel TV 10, Talk Radio WRNR
Parade goers can reserve seats from the Festival by visiting www.thebloom.com/events. Reserved seat locations and prices are listed below:
Hang 10 Car Wash Firefighters’ Parade steps off at 5:30 pm on Friday, May 3, 2024
$10.00 Cork St
$10.00 Handley Library
$10.00 Handley Blvd
$15.00 Handley Blvd Queen’s Garden
Glofiber Grand Feature Parade steps off at 1:30 pm on Saturday, May 4, 2024
$15.00 Cork St.
$15.00 Handley Library
$15.00 Handley Blvd (North and South)
$25.00 Handley Blvd Queen’s Garden
In addition to the Festival seating options listed above, local youth non-profits will sell seating along the parade route at various prices. Seat sales by these organizations are great fundraisers for them, and we encourage you to consider supporting these groups.
Festival goers can learn about important information on the City of Winchester website at www.winchesterva.gov/news-happenings/events/apple-blossom. Information includes road closures and detours, safety tips, parking, medical aid station locations, bag checks, and prohibited items.
Designated accessible parking is available at the John Handley High School parking lot along Handley Blvd. Only those with a handicap license plate or placard will gain access to this area. The parking lot can be accessed by traveling on South Stewart Street to West Cecil Street and Handley Avenue. A map of the designated accessible parking lot can be downloaded by visiting www.winchesterva.gov/news-happenings/events/apple-blossom.
For more information about the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival®, please visit www.thebloom.com, call (540) 662-3863, or contact us at info@thebloom.com.