News

Local students from the Northern Shenandoah Valley have earned a range of academic, leadership and athletic honors this spring, including dean’s list and president’s list recognition, commencement honors, student leadership awards, athletic conference honors and membership in a national honor society.

Arelys Martinez Fabian of Winchester received the 2026 Cords of Distinction Award at Eastern Mennonite University. Martinez Fabian is majoring in Spanish Language & Hispanic Studies, with Education Licensure for PreK-12. The award honors up to 10 graduating students each year who have made outstanding contributions to the university, community or society. It was established in 2000 to recognize graduates who have demonstrated creative learning and achievement, exemplary leadership and engagement across communities, and a commitment to the university’s values of academic excellence, peace and justice, and active faith.

At Shenandoah University, outfielder Cadence Rieg of Winchester was named the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Softball Player of the Week on April 13, giving the Hornets their second weekly conference award winner of the 2026 season. During Shenandoah’s 6-0 week, Rieg went 12-for-18 at the plate with six doubles, seven RBIs, five runs scored, seven walks and a stolen base. She posted a .667/.760/1.000 slash line in those six games and entered the following week ranked fourth in the ODAC in batting average, on-base percentage, OPS and doubles.

Rieg later earned first-team All-ODAC honors as a utility player as Shenandoah softball collected six All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference awards, the most since the Hornets joined the ODAC in 2013. Brenna Westwood was also named first team All-ODAC, while Paige Eagleton and Makayla Cox earned second-team honors. Allison McQueeney and Gracie Ravenkamp were named to the third team.

Rieg, a sophomore from Winchester, hit .429 in ODAC play with a 1.164 OPS, 27 hits, nine doubles, one triple, one home run and 18 RBIs in 20 conference games. She also pitched 29.2 innings in conference play and posted a 4-2 record.

Harrison Cruz Burrell of Winchester is among more than 9,400 candidates to be recognized in the University of Georgia’s Class of 2026 spring commencement ceremonies. Burrell is a candidate for a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. The undergraduate ceremony is scheduled for May 8 at Sanford Stadium.

Sienna Forrer of Stephens City has enrolled at McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland, as a member of the Class of 2030. Forrer, a graduate of Sherando High School, plans to study biochemistry. McDaniel College is a liberal arts and sciences college offering undergraduate and graduate programs, with campuses in Maryland and Budapest, Hungary.

Southern New Hampshire University recognized several local students for academic achievement during the Spring 2026 term.

Local students named to the SNHU Dean’s List include Amie Lopez of Stephenson, Heather Venditti of Front Royal and Hannah Sherrill of Winchester. Full-time undergraduate students who earn a grade-point average of 3.500 to 3.699 for the reporting term are named to the Dean’s List.

Local students named to the SNHU President’s List include Mckenna Greene, Georgia Sowers and John Gilkerson of Stephenson; Crystal Danzo, Jayden Patten, Emmalyn Beale and Kaila McLean of Stephens City; Seanna Baker and Jack Hagy of Middletown; Anne Marie Soldo, McKenzie Hemphill, Emma McDonald and Nina Hess of Front Royal; David Quinteros of Lake Frederick; Matthew Wallace of Clear Brook; and Jessica Gerald, Joshua Easter, Cecilia Clarkson-Johnson, Azelyn Marsh, Hailey Wehrheim, Edward Johnston, Emily Walker and Patrick Middleton of Winchester.

Full-time undergraduate students who earn a grade-point average of 3.700 or higher for the reporting term are named to the President’s List.

Shenandoah University also announced the winners of its 2026 Student Leadership Awards during a ceremony April 26 at Winchester Country Club. Jillian Taylor of Stephenson received the Emerging Leader of the Year award. The award is given to a student who shows promise in academics and leadership in and out of the classroom.

Other Shenandoah University Student Leadership Award winners included the Pre-Health Professions Club, named Undergraduate Student Organization of the Year; SU Wheels, named Breakthrough Student Organization; Alejandro Montano-Martinez, named Student Employee of the Year; Alyssa Bonfardeci, named Outstanding Graduate Student Leader; Chaya Ray, named Outstanding Undergraduate Student Leader; Jessica Velasquez, recipient of the Inclusive Leadership Excellence Award; Elisabeth Myers, recipient of the Omicron Delta Kappa Campus Impact Award; Lauren Duffy, named Shenandoah University Leadership Academy Student Leader of the Year; and Cynthia Schneider, CEO of the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber and a member of the SULA Advisory Board, recipient of the Legacy of Leadership Award.

Jillian VanGilder of Winchester was elected to membership in The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi at Old Dominion University. Phi Kappa Phi is an all-discipline collegiate honor society founded in 1897. Membership is by invitation only and is open to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and the top 7.5 percent of juniors, along with qualifying faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

Cedarville University in Ohio named Micah George of Winchester to the Spring 2026 Dean’s List. The recognition requires a grade-point average of 3.50 or higher for the semester and a minimum of 12 credit hours.

Sophia Clark of Winchester was named to Cedarville University’s Spring 2026 Dean’s Honor List. That recognition requires a grade-point average of 3.75 or higher for the semester and a minimum of 12 credit hours.

Liam Spurlock of Front Royal, a member of Elmira College’s Class of 2029, received the Class of 2000 Prize. The award is given annually to two first-year students entering the sophomore class who exemplify the standards and spirit of Elmira College. Spurlock was nominated by Dr. Stephanie Johnson.

Information from releases. Posted by Dan McDermott.

The Col. James Wood II Chapter of the Virginia Society, Sons of the American Revolution joined the Front Royal/Warren County Tree Stewards on May 2 to plant a Burr oak at Lions Community Park in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.

The tree was planted as part of a national SAR effort to plant Liberty Trees in every state in celebration of the nation’s semiquincentennial. A commemorative plaque is expected to be installed in August.

The Liberty Tree tradition dates back to colonial Boston, where a 100-year-old elm became a symbol of resistance to British rule. On Aug. 14, 1765, colonists protesting the Stamp Act gathered at the tree and hung an effigy of the local stamp tax collector in protest of taxation without representation.

The protesters later became known as the Sons of Liberty, and the Boston tree became a powerful symbol of colonial defiance. Other towns throughout the colonies soon designated their own Liberty Trees as gathering places for residents who supported Massachusetts’ opposition to British policies.

In August 1775, during the siege of Boston, British troops cut down the original Liberty Tree in a symbolic act against the growing rebellion.

Representing the Front Royal/Warren County Tree Stewards at the May 2 planting were Johnny Goodine, Linda Bartlett, Joan Grewe, Bill Grewe, Henry Pickard, Ron Perlik, John Cermack, and Nancy Sabella.

Representing the Sons of the American Revolution were Bryan Buck, Sean Carrigan, Dale Corey, Chip Daniel, Allan Phillips, and Marc Robinson.

Photos were provided courtesy of Michelle Phillips.

Information from a release. Edited by Dan McDermott.

The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank is participating in the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), sponsoring 23 locations starting in late May, helping ensure that children across the region have access to nutritious food to fuel their learning, play, and growth. 

One in seven (1 in 7) children in Virginia is food insecure. The Summer Food Service Program is designed to reach children who may not have access to nutritious meals at home over the summer break. Students receiving free or reduced-price meals when school is in session are at particular risk. 

The Food Bank provides wholesome breakfast items, vegetables, fruit, protein-rich dishes, and snacks to organizations such as the Boys and Girls Clubs, summer school programs, churches, and recreation programs. This nutritious food is provided to all eligible children without charge, helping children thrive and stay on track for healthy development.

During this summer program, the Food Bank will serve approximately 550 children through SFSP, across its 25-county service area. 

Below is a list of sites offering Summer Food Service Programs:

*Sites may require registration as they are daycare providers or camps. These sites are required by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to be listed.

**Meals To-Go, rural non-congregate meal sites. Meal kits will be distributed between 5/26/2026 and 8/8/2026 on a first-come, first-served basis, and will include five (5) breakfasts and five (5) suppers per meal kit.

For details about SFSP, visit the Food Bank’s website at http://www.brafb.org/sfsp. 

Families who need food assistance can access the Food Bank’s “Food Finder” tool to locate local food pantries. Go to www.brafb.org/FoodFinder

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1.         mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2.         fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3.         email:
[email protected]

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

About the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank

The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank is the largest hunger-relief organization serving western and central Virginia. Founded in 1981, the Food Bank serves 25 counties and 8 cities through distribution centers in Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Winchester, and its headquarters in Verona. Each month, the Food Bank supports an average of 177,000 guest visits, reaching record numbers of Virginians through a network of 400+ community partners—food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and program sites. As a partner food bank of Feeding America®, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization, the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank pledges to continue innovating and adapting to secure, store, and distribute more food to more individuals, families, children, and seniors experiencing hunger. For more information, visit www.brafb.org.

Information from a release. Posted by Dan McDermott.

Edited by Dan McDermott | WarrenCountyVa.com

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday denied an emergency request to stay a Virginia Supreme Court ruling that blocked a recently approved constitutional amendment allowing mid-decade congressional redistricting.

The order was brief. The Court’s docket says the application was presented to Chief Justice John Roberts, referred by him to the full Court, and denied. No justice publicly dissented, and the Court gave no explanation. The docket does not disclose the vote. 

The case, Don Scott, in his official capacity as Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, et al. v. Ryan T. McDougle, et al., came to the U.S. Supreme Court after the Supreme Court of Virginia ruled May 8 that the General Assembly had not followed the state constitution’s required amendment process. The Virginia court divided 4-3. 

At issue was whether lawmakers validly advanced a constitutional amendment that would have allowed the General Assembly to redraw congressional districts in response to mid-decade redistricting in other states. According to the emergency application, the General Assembly first approved the proposal on Oct. 31, 2025, approved it a second time on Jan. 16, 2026, and voters approved it in an April 21, 2026 referendum. 

Opponents argued the amendment failed because the Virginia Constitution requires a proposed amendment to pass the General Assembly, then be referred to the next General Assembly session after the “next general election” for the House of Delegates, and then pass again before going to voters. The Virginia Supreme Court agreed that the timing requirement had not been satisfied because early voting in the 2025 House election had already begun before the first legislative approval. 

The applicants — including House Speaker Don Scott, Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, Senate President Pro Tempore L. Louise Lucas and the Commonwealth — argued to the U.S. Supreme Court that the Virginia Supreme Court had misread both Virginia and federal election law. Their filing said the Virginia ruling wrongly treated the word “election” as including the entire early-voting period rather than Election Day itself, and that the state court’s reasoning was intertwined with federal law governing congressional elections. 

They also argued that without a stay, Virginia would be forced to conduct the 2026 congressional elections under districts that the voters had rejected through the referendum process. The application asked the Court to stay the Virginia Supreme Court’s decision while the applicants prepared a petition for full Supreme Court review. 

The McDougle respondents urged the Court to deny relief, arguing that the request came too late, that emergency intervention would disrupt upcoming elections, and that the Virginia Supreme Court decision rested on state-law grounds outside the U.S. Supreme Court’s ordinary review. They also argued that a separate state case, Koski, created additional obstacles because that injunction rested on other state-law grounds, including allegedly misleading ballot language. 

The legislative clerks named in the case filed a short response supporting the stay application, saying they had not joined the application because their legislative-immunity defense had been sustained below, but that they supported the applicants’ request. 

Amicus briefs split along similar lines. The Virginia NAACP supported the stay, arguing that the state Supreme Court’s ruling nullified the votes of more than 3.1 million Virginians and relied on an unprecedented interpretation of “election.” The NAACP brief also argued that the referendum had strong support from Black voters and other minority voters. 

The American Center for Law and Justice opposed a stay, arguing that the Virginia Supreme Court was enforcing state constitutional limits and that other state-law defects — including the referendum’s timing and ballot language — independently supported blocking the amendment. 

West Virginia also filed an amicus brief opposing intervention, arguing that the case asked the U.S. Supreme Court to do what it usually avoids: review a state supreme court’s interpretation of its own constitution in a state-law matter. 

In their reply, the applicants disputed the timing and jurisdiction arguments, saying May 12 was an operational deadline, not a legal bar to relief, and that the federal issues arose from the Virginia Supreme Court’s own ruling. They argued that the state court had displaced authority assigned to Virginia’s lawmaking process in a federal-election case. 

Friday’s order leaves the Virginia Supreme Court ruling in place. It does not necessarily end the case, because the applicants could still seek full review through a petition for certiorari. But without a stay, the immediate practical effect is that Virginia’s 2026 congressional elections proceed without the new redistricting amendment taking effect.

By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed legislation making it illegal to import, sell, manufacture, purchase or transfer assault firearms and certain high-capacity magazines in the commonwealth beginning July 1.

Under Senate Bill 749 and companion House Bill 217, violations involving assault firearms would be classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor. Anyone convicted under the law would also be prohibited from purchasing, possessing or transporting firearms for three years following conviction.

The legislation also prohibits the importation, sale, barter, transfer or purchase of large-capacity ammunition feeding devices capable of holding more than 15 rounds, with some exceptions.

The law allows people who already legally own the affected firearms to keep them and exempts antique firearms and weapons rendered permanently inoperable.

Spanberger previously proposed amendments to the legislation, including language she said would have carved out certain firearms commonly used for hunting, but lawmakers rejected those changes during April’s reconvened session before the governor signed the bill Thursday.

“I am signing this bill into law because firearms designed to inflict maximum casualties do not belong on our streets,” Spanberger said in a statement. “We are taking this step to protect families and support the law enforcement officers who work every day to keep our communities safe.”

Sen. Saddam Salim, D-Fairfax, chief patron of the legislation, called the signing “a monumental victory for public safety in the commonwealth of Virginia.”

“This achievement is the collective work of countless advocates, elected leaders and groups who have fought tirelessly for gun violence prevention long before my time in the General Assembly,” Salim said. “When I ran for state Senate against an incumbent who voted against prior versions of an assault weapons ban, the people who believed in this vision stood with me to make the impossible possible.”

The National Rifle Association said Thursday night it had filed lawsuits in both Virginia state and federal court challenging the law.

“As promised, we are taking Abigail Spanberger to court,” John Commerford, executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, said in a statement. “Throughout the legislative session, the NRA and our members fought Richmond’s radical gun control package tooth and nail.”

Commerford called the legislation “a blatant violation of Second Amendment rights” and said the organization would seek to block enforcement of the measure in court.

Virginia House GOP Leader Terry Kilgore also criticized the legislation Friday, calling it an “unconstitutional gun ban.”

“We warned Democrats repeatedly that their effort to ban some of the most commonly owned firearms was unconstitutional,” Kilgore said in a statement. “The Supreme Court has already spoken to this in Bruen, and Democrats are going to waste even more taxpayer money just to lose. Again.”

Original post.

By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square

Gov. Abigail Spanberger vetoed legislation Thursday that would have expanded collective bargaining rights for Virginia public employees.

In her veto message for House Bill 1263, Spanberger said she supports collective bargaining rights for public sector employees and believes “public servants should have the same right to collectively bargain that Virginia’s private sector workers have.”

She said amendments she proposed earlier this year to phase in implementation and provide additional flexibility for local governments were rejected by the General Assembly.

“I remain committed to continuing to work with the General Assembly, unions, localities, and public servants across the commonwealth to develop a public sector collective bargaining system that works for Virginia. However, I believe additional amendments are needed to the enrolled bill currently before me.” Spanberger wrote.

According to Virginia’s Department of Planning and Budget, the legislation could have increased annual state costs by between $24 million and $26 million once fully implemented, excluding additional wage increases negotiated through collective bargaining agreements.

The legislation, House Bill 1263 and Senate Bill 378, would have established statewide rules for collective bargaining involving many public employees, including state workers, teachers and local government employees.

Spanberger’s proposed amendments would have delayed implementation for local governments until 2030 and increased flexibility for public employers handling bargaining agreements with budget implications.

Supporters of the legislation, including labor organizations and Democratic lawmakers, had urged Spanberger to sign the bills in recent weeks.

Attorney General Jay Jones said Thursday he joined union members and public servants “in their disappointment in today’s veto.”

“As the first attorney general to be a member of a union, I look forward to working with all parties to develop a bill that will deliver collective bargaining rights for the Virginia workers who have earned them,” Jones said in a statement.

Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi also voiced disappointment with the veto Thursday, saying Virginia workers “deserve the right to organize for fair wages, worker protections, and a seat at decision-making tables.”

Hashmi said she would continue supporting legislation expanding collective bargaining rights for public sector workers.

Opponents, including the Virginia Association of Counties and the Virginia Municipal League, said the legislation could increase costs for local governments and complicate local workforce decisions.

Original post.

You can find and register for all library events on our website, www.samuelslibrary.net.

One-Time Events

Wednesday, May 13^thfrom 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM

In person. Registration Suggested.

Author Steven Wright will be joining us to share his experiences and book “The Weight I Carried: Hiking Through Grief and Healing on the Appalachian Trail”. 

There will then be time for a Q&A session, as well as an opportunity for book signing.  

Steven C. Wright is a lifelong outdoorsman, thru-hiker, survivalist, craftsman, and storyteller who believes that nature has a way of stripping life down to what is real, necessary, and true.

In 2023, Steven became the last northbound thru-hiker to complete the 2,198-mile Appalachian Trail, a journey born not from adventure alone, but from grief, faith, and a promise to his late wife, Sandy, who he lost to triple-negative breast cancer. That journey — through storms, injury, solitude, and soul-deep reckoning — became the foundation of his memoir, The Weight I Carried: Hiking Through Grief and Healing on the Appalachian Trail, a raw, unfiltered account of love, loss, childhood trauma, resilience, and redemption. But the trail was only one chapter of a life forged in hard places.

Steven is a self-employed slate roofer and coppersmith by trade, spending decades working at heights, shaping metal, restoring historic structures, and building things meant to outlast storms and time. His hands know weight, weather, and endurance — the same qualities that carried him across mountains. He has traveled the world on mission and disaster-relief trips, helping rebuild communities after hurricanes, earthquakes, and devastation, offering not just labor but presence, faith, and compassion in the aftermath of loss.

An outdoor survivalist since childhood, Steven has spent his life in the woods — backpacking, mountaineering, wild camping, trail running, and learning how to live simply and self-reliantly in extreme conditions. From freezing ridge lines to remote forests, his gear has been tested by real storms, real miles, real consequences.

Steven’s mission is simple: To live fully. To tell the truth. To honor the past.

And to help others see that your scars are not evidence that you’re broken. They are evidence that you survived.

Sewing 201- Sew a Book Pillow 2 parts

Wednesday, May 13^{th (Part 1)} AND May 20^{th (Part 2)} from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM

In person. Registration Required.

Create a cozy, functional accessory perfect for holding your favorite reads. Participants will sew a custom book pillow complete with a storage pocket. Two-part series. Supplies and materials provided, if you want to bring your own fabric this will use approximately 1 yard.

Registering for Part 1 on 5/13/26 will automatically register you for Part 2 on 5/20/26.

*Must have completed Sewing 101 or have a basic working knowledge of using a sewing machine. Supplies and materials provided. Registration required.

Wildlife Photography & Scavenger Hunt

NOTE: PROGRAM IS OFF-SITE

Saturday, May 16^th from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM

In person. Registration Required.

Join local photographer and educator Sharon Fisher for a photography workshop. This program takes place at Raymond R. “Andy” Guest, Jr. Shenandoah River State Park in Bentonville, Virginia. 

Using observational and photography skills to document nature, this session will focus on capturing images of the smaller details in our natural world. We will begin with a review of close-up photography techniques, then head into the field to practice these skills by completing a nature-themed scavenger hunt. This is a great family-friendly event. All types of cameras—from smartphones to professional cameras—and all experience levels are welcome. The park’s standard parking fee and rules apply. The library has a limited number of park passes available. This event is open to the public. Registration through the library allows you to receive advance information about the event.

* Meet at the River – Shelter 1  

Origami: Legend of a Thousand Cranes & Dragons

Saturday, May 16^th from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM

In person. Registration Required.

Origami: Legend of a Thousand Cranes and Dragons is a workshop to learn how to fold an origami crane or dragon.  

There will be an optional, simpler origami tutorial available for children to participate (or adults who want to learn another type of fold!).

AIDS Response Effort, Inc. (ARE) Free STI Testing 

Wednesday, May 20^th from 1:00 to 4:00 PM

In person. 

Winchester’s AIDS Response Effort, Inc. (ARE) will be at the library on February 18, May 20, August 19, and November 18 of 2026 to provide free STI testing for the community. 

1 in 5 people in the U.S.A. has an STI

Testing includes:

HIV

Hepatitis B & C

Chlamydia

Gonorrhea

Syphilis

Family Memories Preservation Workshop

Thursday, May 21^st from 5:00 to 7:00 PM

In person. Registration Required.

Family treasures like photo albums, scrapbooks, and bibles connect us to our past and inspire future generations. Preserving them ensures these stories last. 

Join Samuels Public Library and the Warren Heritage Society for a special Third Thursdays event featuring Kristi Wright, principal of Wright Conservation & Framing. Kristi is a book and paper conservator in private practice based in Front Royal, Virginia. She will demonstrate practical ways to store, handle, and care for your family memories to include photo albums, family bibles, and scrapbooks.

Walkabout Wednesday: Best Pots for Indoor Plants

Wednesday, May 27^th from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM

Last Wednesday of every month.

In person. 

Join Extension Master Gardener Volunteers as they discuss and care for the indoor plants at the library!

This month, join us to learn about what type of pot may be best for your indoor plant!

Recurring Programs

Love and Logic: Parenting with Empathy Session 2

Every Thursday, March 14^th to June 18^th from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM 

In Person. Registration Required. Sessions run for 6 weeks at a time.

Warren County Social Services partners with Samuels Public Library to present Love and Logic, equipping young people with character, compassion and problem solving skills. 

Parents will gain practical and proven tools for raising respectful, responsible and happy kids.

To register for this session of class (or the next available session), or ask questions contact:

Lillian Johns at [email protected] or by calling 540-635-3430 ext. 3386

Bad Romance 

First Wednesday of every month.

In person. Do you consider yourself a hopeless romantic?  Are bad romances a guilty pleasure of yours? Then you should join us for Bad Romance, where Samuels Public Library will have a themed discussion for the romance genre every month. May’s theme is people in uniform!

Indulge us with your favorite romance books, movies, music or other media related to the topic, and possibly discover a new treat in this awesome informal discussion! New members are always welcome!

Studio 330: Personal Archiving Series

Second Saturday of every month. 

In Person: Discover practical, beginner-friendly ways to organize, preserve, and make accessible your photos, documents, videos, and memorabilia during our monthly Personal Archiving Series. Each month will feature a stand-alone topic including organizing photos, scanning and digitizing your media, and sharing your collections with family. Make sure to check our calendar for monthly features.

Studio 330: Genealogy Club

NOTE: Program is Off-site

Second Monday of every month.

In person. Interested in your family’s history? Already done extensive research and want to be able to share your finds? Join our genealogy club where both novices and experts alike can come together and talk about different genealogy topics.

May’s Topic: National Preservation Month

Join us May 11th, 2:00-4:00PM, at the Warren Heritage Society for a lecture and hands-on demonstration on preservation techniques. Utilizing records within the Laura Virginia Hale Archives, this session will provide you with ways to approach digitization, storage methods, documentation of materials, and so on. Come prepared with questions on how to preserve your photos, scrapbooks, family bibles, and more!

Books & Beyond Book Club

Thursday, May 14^th from 6:00 PM to 7:45 PM 

Second Thursday of every month.

In person. Do you love books and sharing them as much as we do? Join us to delve into new worlds of conversation about new books at your community’s public library! 

May’s theme is “Books to Production”.

Scary Words Book Club

Saturday, May 16^th from 2:30 to 4:30 PM

Third Saturday of every month. 

In person. A horror book club for people who should be afraid of the dark. This month’s title is “Metropolis Down” by local author Vesper Doom.

Phoenix Project- Hope For New Beginnings

Tuesday, May 19^th from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Serving all members of the Front Royal/Warren County community who have experienced or are currently experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault, Phoenix Project Advocates are available to provide crisis intervention, supportive counseling, safety planning, information, education, and more. Their services are free, confidential, and trauma-informed. Hope. Help. Healing.

What the Tech!

Every Tuesday from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM

In person. Need help with technology? Come by the library’s Studio 330 where we will be going over computers and other technology basics. Having trouble with your phone, tablet, laptop, or other device? Bring it in, and we’ll help!

Studio 330: Embroidery Club

Every Thursday from 10:00 PM to 12:00 PM

In person. Join us for Hand Embroidery Stitchers every Thursday morning! Bring your own needlework project to work on for a morning of crafting and socializing. 

*No food allowed in the studio and patrons between 13-17 must be accompanied by an adult.

Studio 330 Walk-in Hours

Every Thursday from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM

In person. Come tour Studio 330 or bring your project to work on. Walk-In hours are provided on a first come, first serve basis. 

*Glowforge is not available during walk-in hours. No food allowed in the studio and patrons between 13-17 must be accompanied by an adult.

Studio 330: String Theory- A Fiber Arts Club

Every Saturday from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

In person. Welcome to a fiber arts community for experienced, novice, or first-time artists 13 and up looking to meet other artists, relax, and/or share their expertise! Bring your own knitting, crochet, weaving, or other project to Studio 330 on Saturdays 2pm to 4pm 

*No food allowed in the studio and patrons between 13-17 must be accompanied by an adult.

By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square

Virginia labor unions and local government leaders are pressuring Gov. Abigail Spanberger over legislation expanding collective bargaining rights for public employees.

The bills, House Bill 1263 and Senate Bill 378, passed the General Assembly earlier this year largely along party-line votes.

The legislation would establish statewide rules for collective bargaining involving many public employees, including state workers, teachers and local government employees.

Spanberger proposed amendments in April that would have delayed collective bargaining implementation for local governments until 2030 and increased gubernatorial oversight of the Public Employee Relations Board created under the legislation.

Lawmakers rejected those amendments during the General Assembly’s April 22 reconvened session, sending the bills back to the governor in their original form.

Spanberger faces a May 23 deadline to sign the legislation, veto it or allow it to become law without her signature.

Supporters say the bills would expand bargaining rights long unavailable to Virginia public workers.

In a joint statement released this week, Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax County, and Del. Kathy Tran, D-Fairfax County, urged Spanberger to sign the legislation, calling the bills “landmark legislation” that would extend collective bargaining rights to more than 500,000 public employees across Virginia.

Virginia Professional Fire Fighters and the Virginia AFL-CIO also publicly backed the legislation this week.

Supporters have also tied the legislation to Virginia’s decades-long restrictions on public sector collective bargaining.

Opponents, including the Virginia Association of Counties and the Virginia Municipal League, say the legislation could increase costs for local governments and reduce flexibility in workforce management decisions.

According to the Department of Planning and Budget, the legislation could increase annual state costs by between $24 million and $26 million once fully implemented, excluding additional wage increases negotiated through collective bargaining agreements.

In a joint statement, VACo and VML said the legislation would require significant local resources to implement and supported Spanberger’s proposed amendments addressing local government concerns.

“This legislation is complex and will require significant local resources to implement,” VML Executive Director Michelle Gowdy said in the statement.

VACo Executive Director Dean Lynch said counties remain concerned about maintaining flexibility in workforce decisions.

Mayors from Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach also sent a letter urging Spanberger to veto the legislation, saying the bills create operational and legal concerns for local governments.

The letter states the legislation would limit local governments’ ability to review collective bargaining agreements, create inconsistencies between employee groups and complicate local decision-making timelines.

Spanberger’s office previously said the proposed amendments were intended to help ensure the legislation could be implemented successfully and clarified “that any agreement with budget implications remains subject to approval by the local government boards with budgetary responsibilities.” There was no indication whether the governor plans to sign or veto the bills.

If signed into law, the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry would be required to establish regulations for implementation by July 1, 2028.

Original post.

The American Military Heritage Museum will host its 13th annual military heritage event on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at 811 Fairfax Pike, Route 277, in Stephens City.

The free event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine, and will feature a 30-ton World War II Sherman tank, reenactors and living history displays, historic museum exhibits, a large collection of WWII equipment and military vehicles, and free Jeep rides.

Veterans are scheduled to be available to meet visitors from 10:30 a.m. until noon.

The museum’s displays include American Civil War, World War I, Civilian Conservation Corps, World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam-era exhibits. The museum is located about 1.5 miles east of I-81 Exit 307. Visitors are advised to look for the large American flag. 

Admission is free.

For more information, visit the American Military Heritage Museum on Facebook.

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Virginia State Police is investigating a fatal single-vehicle crash that occurred Thursday night on Strasburg Road in Warren County.

The crash happened May 7, 2026, at 9:52 p.m. on Strasburg Road near its intersection with Andrews Road, according to state police.

Police said a 2001 Jaguar Type S was traveling east on Strasburg Road when it ran off the right side of the road, lost control and overturned.

The driver, Gregory S. Williams, 66, of Bentonville, died at the scene. Police said Williams was not wearing a seatbelt.

The crash remains under investigation.

The Virginia Herb Festival will return to Sunflower Cottage and Backroom Brewery in Middletown on Saturday, May 23, and Sunday, May 24, 2026.

The two-day indoor and outdoor festival will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days at 150 Ridgemont Road, Middletown. Admission is free.

The festival features vendors and artisans, food, craft beer, live demonstrations, presentations, plants, garden items, herbal products, handmade goods and family-friendly activities. The brewery will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. both days.

Founded in 2009 by Sunflower Cottage, the Virginia Herb Festival is held on a 10-acre herb farm and garden center in the Shenandoah Valley. Organizers describe the event as a celebration of herbs, gardening, local makers and the agrarian lifestyle.

This year’s vendor list includes herb plants, garden accessories, pottery, raw honey and honey products, baked goods, baskets, woodworking, perennials, jewelry, herbal skin care products, soaps and other handmade items. The Garden Club of Warren County is also listed among the participating vendors.

Live music is scheduled for Saturday with Lyndsie Nicholson.

Guests are encouraged to bring the family and pets, and to bring a folding chair or blanket if they plan to stay and enjoy the farm.

For more information, visit the official Virginia Herb Festival website.

Event details

What: Virginia Herb Festival
When: Saturday, May 23, and Sunday, May 24, 2026, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Sunflower Cottage/Backroom Brewery, 150 Ridgemont Road, Middletown, VA 22645
Admission: Free
Website: vaherbfest.com

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Edited by Dan McDermott

RICHMOND, Va. (WarrenCountyVa.com) — The Virginia Supreme Court ruled Friday that the General Assembly violated the state constitution when it advanced a proposed amendment that would have authorized partisan gerrymandering of congressional districts, nullifying a statewide referendum in which voters approved the measure — a vote the court ruled has no legal effect.

The 4-3 decision, written by Justice D. Arthur Kelsey and handed down May 8, found that the General Assembly’s first vote on the proposed amendment — taken Oct. 31, 2025 — came after early voting in the 2025 House of Delegates general election had already begun, violating the intervening-election requirement in Article XII, Section 1 of the Virginia Constitution.

The ruling leaves in place the nonpartisan congressional district maps drawn by the Supreme Court of Virginia in 2021.

The vote and the amendment

The Virginia Department of Elections reported that 1,604,276 voters cast “yes” votes and 1,499,393 cast “no” votes in the April 21 special election on the proposed amendment. Voting ran from March 6 through April 21, with approximately 45% of ballots cast during the early voting period and 55% on Election Day.

The ballot question asked voters whether they wanted to “restore fairness” in upcoming congressional elections.

The proposed amendment would have temporarily suspended Article II, Section 6-A — the provision that created Virginia’s bipartisan Redistricting Commission — and authorized the General Assembly to redraw congressional districts outside of the regular decennial-census redistricting cycle in response to other states doing the same. A new congressional map had already been enacted contingent on the amendment’s approval.

The court noted that the existing map produces a 6-5 split in Virginia’s congressional delegation between the two major parties. The contingent replacement map, the majority wrote, would have been expected to produce a 10-1 split.

The constitutional violation

Article XII, Section 1 requires that a proposed constitutional amendment pass the General Assembly twice — with an intervening general election of House of Delegates members between the two votes. The purpose, the court wrote, is to give voters an indirect voice by allowing them to support or defeat candidates based on their position on the amendment before the second legislative vote occurs.

The General Assembly first approved the proposed amendment on Oct. 31, 2025 — four days before Election Day on Nov. 4, 2025. But early voting in the House of Delegates election had begun Sept. 19, 2025, and more than 1.3 million ballots had already been cast by Oct. 31.

The Commonwealth argued that “general election” in Article XII, Section 1 referred only to Election Day itself — Nov. 4 — meaning the four-day window was sufficient to satisfy the intervening-election requirement.

The court rejected that argument, holding that an election encompasses the combined actions of voters casting ballots and election officials receiving them and closing the polls, beginning with the first day of early voting and ending on Election Day.

“The plain and ordinary meaning of the expression matches the historical definition embraced by the courts and legal scholars,” the majority wrote.

The court also noted that of the 63 proposed amendments Virginia has advanced since the 1971 constitution was adopted, the Commonwealth could not identify a single prior instance in which the General Assembly passed a proposed amendment after voting in a general election had already begun.

The litigation timeline

The Commonwealth had successfully argued before the referendum that courts could not intervene to block the election while the constitutional amendment process was ongoing, citing the 1912 Virginia Supreme Court decision Scott v. James. The Claimants — the parties challenging the amendment — had urged the court to rule before the vote was held.

The court addressed that history directly, noting that if pre-election challenges were barred and post-election challenges were also barred by the force of voter approval, judicial review of unconstitutional amendment procedures would effectively cease to exist in Virginia. The Commonwealth’s counsel acknowledged at oral argument that the fact of a “yes” vote did not affect the court’s jurisdiction to review procedural compliance.

Dissent

Chief Justice Powell, joined by Justices Mann and Fulton, dissented, arguing that the majority’s interpretation conflicts with how both Virginia and federal law define an election.

The dissent pointed to Code § 24.2-101, which defines a general election as “an election held in the Commonwealth on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November,” and argued the General Assembly’s express constitutional authority to regulate the time and manner of elections supports limiting the term to a single day.

The dissenters also raised practical concerns, arguing the majority’s multi-day definition of “election” could hamper court operations for more than 90 days per year under Article II, Section 9’s prohibition on compelling voters to attend court during the “time of holding any election,” and could conflict with federal law requiring congressional elections to be held on a single day.

The majority addressed each of those objections, concluding none undermined its interpretation of Article XII, Section 1.

Effect of the ruling

With the referendum nullified, the 2021 congressional maps — which the Princeton Gerrymandering Project graded an “A” and described as providing no partisan advantage — remain the governing maps for Virginia’s 2026 congressional elections.

The court said its holding made it unnecessary to resolve two additional procedural questions that had been raised: whether the 2024 special session in which the amendment was first passed violated its own procedural resolutions, and whether the General Assembly’s failure to comply with a statutory posting requirement for proposed amendments also independently invalidated the process.

The Warren Heritage Society will host Corks & Chords, an evening of live music, food, wine, beer and community fellowship, on May 15 at 6 p.m. on the Warren Heritage Society grounds at 101 Chester Street in Front Royal.

The event will feature live music by Bearded Harmony and will serve as a kickoff to the Virginia Wine & Craft Festival. Admission is $10 and includes five tickets that may be used for food or drink. Guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs and enjoy the evening outdoors.

Food, wine and beer will be available for purchase during the event. The gathering is designed as a relaxed community evening centered on music, conversation and support for a local organization dedicated to preserving Warren County’s history.

Proceeds from ticket sales will help support the Warren Heritage Society and its work to preserve local history and enrich the community. The organization maintains historic properties, collections and programs connected to the heritage of Warren County and the surrounding area.

The presenting sponsor for the event is Clear Horizon Forensic and Counseling Group.

For more information, contact the Warren Heritage Society at 540-636-1446 or visit warrenheritagesociety.org.

RICHMOND, VA – Signs of spring are abundant across the Commonwealth with flowering dogwoods in bloom, hayfields greening up, and white-tailed deer fawns being born. During this time fawns can often find their way into yards, gardens, and hayfields. Often, concerned citizens think these fawns need help, but in almost all cases, the best way to help is to simply give the fawn space and leave it alone.

Concerned people sometimes pick up animals that they think are orphaned. Most such “orphans” that good- intentioned citizens “rescue” every spring should have been left alone. Most wild animals will not abandon their young, but they do leave them alone for extended periods of time.

Fawns, born from May through July, are purposely left alone by their mothers. Female deer, called does, stay away from the fawns to avoid leading predators to their location. The white-spotted coat camouflages a fawn as it lies motionless in vegetation. Young fawns generally will not try to run away when they are approached. Does will return several times each day to move and/or feed their young. You probably will not see the doe at all since she only stays to feed the fawn for just a few minutes before leaving it alone again.

If a wild animal has been injured or truly orphaned, do not take matters into your own hands. Report the incident by calling the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) wildlife conflict helpline at 1-855-571-9003, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., or find a permitted wildlife rehabilitator through the DWR website. Only permitted wildlife rehabilitators are legally allowed to raise a fawn in captivity. Survival back in the wild is often low for rehabilitated fawns. Lessons during their first year of life, especially from their mother, are critical for a fawn to learn where to find food and avoid predators. Thus, the best way to help a fawn is to leave it alone.

Virginians are reminded that keeping any wild animal as a pet is illegal. Deer that have been held captive, by those not trained to do so, pose a serious safety risk to humans, meaning all deer confiscated by DWR must be humanely euthanized. Tame deer lose their natural fear of humans as well as their instincts for surviving in the wild. They can become very demanding for attention and food from anyone they encounter, which makes the deer dangerous. In some cases, hand raised deer have even caused human deaths. Keeping deer wild is the best option for both people and deer.

In Virginia, fawn rehabilitation is prohibited within designated disease management areas for chronic wasting disease (CWD). This restriction is recognized as a best management practice for limiting the spread of CWD due to animal transport and potential transmission within a captive setting. Please visit the CWD website for more information on disease management and locations.

More information about keeping deer wild in Virginia can be found on the department website.

Information from a release.

FRONT ROYAL — A short, tightly controlled parade through downtown Front Royal is planned for April 30 as part of the town’s 250th anniversary celebration, coinciding with a visit by King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

Local organizers are emphasizing that the event will be limited in scope and duration. Rather than a traditional parade, officials describe it as “a moment” along Main Street, with space expected to be tight and viewing opportunities not guaranteed.

The appearance comes during the royal couple’s four-day visit to the United States, April 27–30, marking the 250th anniversary of American independence.

While the presence of the King and Queen is the central draw, attendees are being advised to manage expectations. Event materials note that even those along the route may not physically see the visiting dignitaries due to crowd size, positioning, and security restrictions.

Security measures will significantly shape the event. Attendees should expect screening procedures, identity verification, and controlled access points, with organizers urging the public to allow extra time to enter the area. Lawn chairs and camping chairs will not be permitted, and only service animals will be allowed.

Downtown traffic patterns will be heavily affected. Streets throughout the Main Street area will be closed or restricted, and parking will be limited, requiring many visitors to walk from more distant locations to designated screening areas before reaching the parade route.

Organizers are also warning of likely disruptions to cell phone service due to crowd volume and are encouraging groups to establish meeting plans in advance.

Additional guidance emphasizes personal responsibility and crowd awareness. There will be no trash receptacles along the parade route, and attendees are expected to carry out their own trash. Visitors are also asked to be mindful of children, individuals with mobility challenges, and local businesses along the route.

Town operations will be adjusted for the day. According to a public notice, Front Royal Town Hall and the Visitor Center will be closed on April 30, with normal operations resuming May 1. Trash and recycling collection normally scheduled for Thursday will instead take place Wednesday, April 29, and there will be no yard waste collection that week.

Following the parade, visitors are encouraged to remain downtown to dine, shop, and explore local businesses.

More detailed event information, including security requirements and prohibited items, is available through the town’s official tourism website.

Edited by Dan McDermott.

By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square

A change to how Virginia screens rideshare drivers will take effect this summer after Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed two bills tightening background check and identity requirements for companies such as Uber and Lyft.

The new rules take effect July 1 and apply to transportation network companies operating in the commonwealth.

House Bill 1469, patroned by Del. Lily Franklin, D-Montgomery County, expands how background checks are conducted by requiring drivers to disclose prior addresses so records can be reviewed across multiple jurisdictions. The bill cleared both the House and Senate without opposition.

Under Virginia law, rideshare companies must conduct background checks before approving drivers, including national criminal history searches and reviews of the sex offender registry.

HB1469 builds on those requirements by requiring background checks to include all prior addresses where a driver has lived since age 18 and by specifying that those checks are not limited to a set period of time.

House Bill 1273, patroned by Del. Jackie Glass, D-Norfolk, focuses on platform safeguards. It requires companies to verify driver identities, gives riders the option to record audio or video during trips and establishes civil penalties for violations. The law also restricts account sharing among drivers.

Civil penalties collected under HB1273 will go to the Department of Motor Vehicles to support enforcement. State fiscal impact statements say agencies are expected to handle any costs using existing resources.

“When technology changes how we move, leadership has to change how we protect people,” Glass said. “This bill is about making sure every rider, every driver, and every family in Virginia can trust the ride before the wheels ever turn.”

Franklin said the legislation reflects concerns raised by constituents.

“Virginia riders deserve to be safe when they step into a rideshare vehicle, no matter what app or company they choose,” Franklin said. “When knocking doors or talking to neighbors in my community, this is the type of legislation they want: a common sense reform to address a real problem.”

Uber said it supported the legislation and worked with state officials on the changes.

“By making these standards effective this July, Virginia is sending a clear message that safety cannot wait,” said LaVita Gardner, a policy manager at Uber.

Original post.

By Jacob Fischler | Virginia Mercury

The U.S. Supreme Court could be ready to overturn a Missouri state court verdict that favored a man who sued the manufacturer of the popular herbicide Roundup for lacking any warning that the product carried a risk of cancer after oral arguments in the case Monday.

The arguments focused on whether states could enforce their own labeling requirements of pesticides, or whether federal law preempted any deviation among states. Members of the court’s 6-3 conservative majority emphasized the need for uniformity across the country.

The U.S. Department of Justice intervened in the case in favor of Monsanto, the Missouri-based company that manufactures Roundup and has been owned since 2018 by German pharmaceutical company Bayer. The company faces thousands of lawsuits claiming exposure to Roundup increased a risk of cancer and that the company failed to warn consumers when it reasonably should have known of the risk.

Monsanto denies that the product causes cancer, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has consistently agreed.

John Durnell, a St. Louis resident, sued the company in 2019 claiming that exposure to Roundup over two decades led to his developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. A Missouri trial court awarded him $1.25 million, and appeals courts affirmed the ruling.

But the Supreme Court, which is the first federal court to hear the case, seemed inclined to protect federal supremacy. The EPA, which regulates labeling requirements for herbicides, does not require the kind of warning the Missouri jury said was appropriate.

Federal law typically trumps state law, which Monsanto and the Justice Department emphasized Monday. Industry groups across the economy tend to support federal supremacy because it saves companies from complying with 50 separate regulatory schemes across states.

‘Is that uniformity?’

An exchange between Ashley Keller, the attorney for Durnell, and Justice Brett Kavanaugh, whom President Donald Trump appointed in his first term, may hold the key to the court’s ultimate ruling.

Keller argued that Congress in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, which governs herbicide use, did not include a clause to expressly say that the federal law would preempt any state claims.

There was no issue of a difference between state and federal law, Keller said. Instead, a particular jury decided a single case based on unique facts, he continued. Different juries in other cases may have decided differently.

But Kavanaugh seemed not to accept that argument. He rephrased a similar question several times, and, even as Keller objected, appeared to dismiss the idea that the Missouri verdict was compatible with a national standard.

“You think it’s uniformity when each state can require different things?” he asked.

Keller rejected that framing. 

“The label’s illegal in one state and legal in another state,” Kavanaugh responded. “That’s uniformity?” 

Keller said he didn’t agree with that premise either, saying the label is not illegal based on the state but based on the facts presented at trial and the jury’s interpretation.

“The label subjects you to liability in one state and does not subject you to liability in another state,” Kavanaugh continued. “Is that uniformity?”

“I don’t think it’s state by state,” Keller said. “I think it’s jury by jury.”

Paul Clement, a well-known conservative appeals lawyer, represented Monsanto in the case, and described Keller’s argument as chaotic. It would not just open up separate regulatory regimes in each state in the country, but subject manufacturers to liability based on the makeup of any particular batch of citizens on a state court jury.

“It’s worse than 50 states,” he said. “It’s every jury is a new day.” 

A host of agencies in countries across the globe have all done studies on glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, Clement said.

“It’s probably the most, like, studied herbicide in the history of man, and they’ve all reached the conclusion based on more data and the kind of expert analysis they can do that there isn’t a risk here,” he said. “You shouldn’t let a single Missouri jury second-guess that judgment.”

Liberal justices seek consumer protections

The court’s liberal justices spent more time questioning why states shouldn’t be allowed to enforce stricter regulations.

Justice Elena Kagan asked Principal Deputy U.S. Solicitor General Sarah M. Harris, who argued on behalf of the federal government in favor of throwing out the verdict against Monsanto, if she agreed with Clement’s argument.

Harris said she largely agreed, noting that 50 states setting up separate regulations on labeling pesticides would cause confusion.

But Kagan asked why uniformity should be a higher goal than safety, saying a certain state government might have a better understanding than the EPA.

“It does undermine uniformity, I appreciate that,” Kagan said. “On the other hand, if it turns out that they (state regulators) were right, it might have been good if they had an opportunity to do something to call this danger to the attention of the people while the federal government was going through its process.”

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson also pointed out that the EPA only registers herbicides once every 15 years, meaning that states might have better information than the EPA, especially later in that cycle.

“Lots of things can happen in science in terms of developments about the product,” she told Clement. “So if the product can become misbranded because of new information, I guess I’m just wondering why you think that you couldn’t have a situation where it would be perfectly rational for either the EPA or the states to bring to the attention of that manufacturer this new information and process a claim related to it.”

Original post.

By Markus Schmidt | Virginia Mercury

Five years after Virginia legalized simple adult possession of marijuana, lawmakers are at an impasse over how to finally stand up a legal retail market, after the General Assembly last week rejected more than 40 changes proposed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger and sent the legislation back to her desk.

The move leaves Spanberger with a binary choice: sign a long-debated proposal to launch retail sales or veto it and prolong a yearslong stalemate that has left Virginia in a legal gray area, where cannabis is allowed to be possessed, but not legally purchased.

The governor’s substitute, which frustrated many lawmakers and stakeholders, would delay the start of retail sales to July 1, 2027, while restructuring much of the framework lawmakers had negotiated during the session.

“Five years ago, the commonwealth took the first steps to legalize marijuana — and for five years, the work sat unfinished,” Spanberger said in a statement. 

“We are working to set up a marketplace that is controlled, regulated, and responsible — because legal markets only succeed when there are clear guardrails and enforcement to back it up.”

Under her proposal, regulators would begin accepting license applications by Sept. 1, 2026, with various licenses issued in early 2027 ahead of the planned launch. 

Lawmakers reject extensive rewrite

At the heart of the dispute is the governor’s attempt to rewrite large portions of House Bill 642 and Senate Bill 542, the companion measures aimed at establishing an adult-use cannabis market in Virginia.

Del. Paul Krizek, D-Fairfax, who sponsored the House bill, said the modifications went too far.

“Some of the changes in there were fine, but most of them were contrary to where we had arrived through the legislative process,” Krizek said. Legislators and the governor “want a well-regulated, adult-use cannabis retail market in Virginia, and we’re going to get there. It’s just a process right now.”

Krizek said he hopes Spanberger ultimately signs the bill but acknowledged the uncertainty ahead.

“Whether it takes another session, or if she doesn’t veto it, then we’ll work with her on some of the changes that maybe she needs to see,” he said.

Pressed on whether the process has been challenging, Krizek did not hesitate.

“I can’t lie and say I’m not frustrated. I am a little bit frustrated, but she is the governor, I’m not the governor,” he said. “It’s a long process, but good legislation sometimes takes time.”

Spanberger, in a separate statement, said she intends to keep negotiating with lawmakers.

“I will continue to work with the patrons of the bills that are coming back to my desk to make sure that when these bills become law, we get it right,” she said. 

Shift to regulatory framework, tighter controls

The governor’s proposed changes would fundamentally shift how the legislation that lawmakers sent to her desk structures Virginia’s cannabis market.

Rather than embedding detailed licensing rules in state law, Spanberger’s substitute would remove large portions of the statutory framework and instead direct the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority to establish those rules through regulations.

The proposal also reduces the number of retail licenses from 350 to 200 and extends that cap through Jan. 1, 2029, after which regulators would determine future limits.

It further restructures oversight of the Cannabis Control Authority by eliminating legislative appointments to its board and making all members gubernatorial appointees, while reducing required agricultural representation.

Other provisions of the enrolled bill would be stripped entirely. 

Those include the Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Fund, authority for the governor to negotiate cannabis-related agreements with tribal governments — federally recognized Native American tribes that can operate with a degree of sovereign authority — and a requirement for the Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority to operate a tip line for reporting illegal activity.

The substitute would also change how cannabis tax revenue is distributed, eliminating fixed percentage allocations and instead directing lawmakers to allocate funds through the state budget for priorities such as public health, education and workforce development. 

The state tax rate would be set at 6% until July 2029, rising to 8% thereafter.

Spanberger framed the changes as necessary to strengthen enforcement and public safety, particularly as the state grapples with an illicit market offering unregulated products.

“To keep our next generation safe, we must also ensure real consequences for vape shops that have spent years targeting Virginia’s kids,” she said. “We need to rein in these shady businesses and make sure a legal marijuana market does not make the problem worse.” 

Penalties, timelines and market uncertainty

The substitute also proposes tougher penalties in several areas. Public consumption would increase from a civil penalty to a Class 4 misdemeanor, while underage possession would be treated as a Class 1 misdemeanor, with potential fines, community service and license suspension. 

The personal possession limit would be reduced from 2.5 ounces to 2 ounces.

Additional changes target advertising restrictions, medical cannabis delivery requirements and hemp regulations, including delaying the elimination of the state’s 25:1 hemp ratio — a standard used to distinguish legal hemp products from marijuana based on THC concentration — until November 2026.

Beyond the retail legislation, lawmakers also rejected the governor’s proposed amendments to HB 26 and SB 62, which would allow reconsideration of sentences for certain marijuana-related convictions. 

Her changes would have clarified that individuals convicted of violent offenses or serious drugcrimes would not be eligible for reconsideration.

At the same time, Spanberger signed separate legislation targeting vape retailers, including HB 308 and SB 620, which establish enforcement mechanisms to shut down shops that repeatedly sell to minors. 

The measures require the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority to conduct periodic compliance checks.

Advocates and industry stakeholders offered different reactions to the legislature’s rejection of the governor’s substitute.

Chelsea Higgs Wise, executive director of Marijuana Justice, called the move a victory for equity-focused organizers.

“Virginia’s General Assembly rejecting the governor’s substitute is a testament to the work of equity, racial and criminal justice organizers,” she said. 

“Not only would the governor’s substitute be worse for Black, brown and low income communities than the status quo, her language ignored the reform, repair and redress required to acknowledge the decades of racist enforcement.”

She urged Spanberger to allow the legislation to become law without further changes.

“The leader Virginia needs right now would listen to her constituents and allow the marijuana bills to become law this year,” Wise said.

Industry leaders, however, warned that continued delays risk prolonging an unregulated market.

“While we are disappointed by delays in establishing an adult-use cannabis market, we remain hopeful that the governor and lawmakers can come together to chart a clear, workable path forward for Virginia,” said Rodney Holcombe, vice president of public policy at LeafLink.

“Unfortunately, every day without a regulated market is a day the illicit market continues to operate unchecked, undermining public safety, consumer protections, and, ultimately, legitimate businesses,” he added. “Virginia has done the hard work to get to this point, now it’s time to finish the job.”

Spanberger must take action on the cannabis retail bill — approve it without her tweaks or reject it completely — within 30 days.

Original post.

By Markus Schmidt | Virginia Mercury

The Supreme Court of Virginia on Monday heard arguments over whether Democrats followed constitutional requirements in advancing a voter-approved redistricting amendment, zeroing in on disputes over election timing, public notice requirements and the scope of a special session last year. 

At the center of the case is a procedural fight with major national consequences over whether the General Assembly properly moved the amendment through the constitutional process before voters approved it last week — and whether alleged missteps should now invalidate the result. 

The lawsuit, filed in October by Republican lawmakers and a member of Virginia’s redistricting commission, seeks to void the amendment and block its implementation. 

Plaintiffs include state Sens. Ryan McDougle of Hanover and Bill Stanley of Franklin, Del. Terry Kilgore of Scott and Commissioner Virginia Trost Thornton, who argue the legislature overstepped its authority and failed to follow required steps. 

Under Virginia’s constitution, amendments must pass the General Assembly twice — with an intervening General Election — before going to voters for final approval. 

The challengers say that process was not followed properly, pointing to questions about whether there was a valid “intervening election,” whether lawmakers provided 90 days’ public notice before the statewide elections in November, and whether the amendment was improperly advanced during a special session originally limited to budget matters. 

A Tazewell County judge sided with the plaintiffs in January on procedural grounds. The state appealed, bringing the case to the high court which declined to intervene before last week’s referendum. 

The case carries national implications as the country braces for the 2026 midterm elections, where control of Congress could hinge on a handful of competitive districts. 

Virginia’s effort to redraw its congressional map mid-decade — and the legal fight over whether it was done lawfully — is seen as a potential test for how far states can go in revising district lines outside the traditional redistricting cycle, and a Democratic check on GOP control of the federal government. 

Justice presses both sides

Justice Wesley G. Russell Jr. quickly took the lead in questioning, pressing attorneys on the legal significance of the amendments approved by voters and repeatedly steering the discussion back to whether constitutional requirements were met. 

“Last week, the people of the commonwealth approved an amendment to the Virginia Constitution,” Matthew Seligman, an attorney representing legislative leaders, told the court. 

He argued that lawmakers and voters followed every step required under Article XII, which outlines the specific process for amending or revising the state charter. 

Seligman outlined the timeline, with initial passage during a special session in the last week of October 2025, a second vote in January following the November election, and final approval by voters on April 21. 

“The General Assembly and the people thus complied strictly with every step that the Constitution requires,” he said. “As a result, the proposed constitutional amendment has been ratified and is now part of the Virginia Constitution.”

Russell pushed back, noting that a successful election does not resolve whether the process itself was valid. 

“I don’t understand that as a legal argument,” he said, referencing precedent that courts may review procedural irregularities after an election. 

Seligman acknowledged that the court has that authority but argued the challengers’ claims fail on the merits.

“But the fact that there’s a yes vote doesn’t tell us anything about those merits,” Russell replied. 

Dispute over special session

A major focus of the 60-minute hearing was whether lawmakers followed the rules when using a special session to pass the amendment the first time. 

Thomas McCarthy, representing the challengers, argued they did not. 

“The Virginia Constitution and code delineate a very specific and detailed process for amending the constitution,” he said. “Yet, a bare partisan majority of the General Assembly rammed the proposed amendments through the legislature, departing radically from the mandated constitutional amendment process.” 

Russell interrupted to narrow the argument. 

“We’re only concerned with what they couldn’t do,” he said. “The question is, did they follow the right procedures?”

McCarthy said the legislature exceeded the scope of the special session, which had been called to address budget issues. He argued that expanding the session to take up redistricting without meeting constitutional requirements undermined limits designed to restrain legislative power. 

“Special sessions are special,” he said, adding that allowing lawmakers to expand their stated purpose would “flout” constitutional safeguards.

Court examines timing, meaning of the word ‘election’

The court also grappled with the meaning of “election” in the constitutional amendment process — a key issue in determining whether the required intervening election occurred between the amendment’s two legislative proposals. 

McCarthy argued that an election is a process that includes early voting and post-election certification, not just a single day.

Solicitor General Tillman Breckenridge, representing Virginia, argued that the constitution tied elections to a specific date — the first Tuesday after the second Monday in November. 

Russell tested that interpretation repeatedly, pointing to the realities of early voting. 

“If I voted on Oct. 21, am I actively participating in the election?” he asked. 

Breckenridge said early ballots are cast in advance but effectively count on Election Day. 

But Russell remained skeptical. 

“So your interpretation … is that we literally could have an election where every single vote is cast before the election actually even begins?” he asked, calling it a “very extreme definition.” 

Another issue is a state law requiring 90 days’ public notice before a constitutional amendment moves forward — a timeline challengers say was not met ahead of the Nov. 4 election, potentially limiting voters’ ability to assess where legislative candidates stood on the proposal before casting their ballots. 

McCarthy said the requirement ensures voters have time to learn about and debate proposed changes. 

“The information needs to be in the hands of the voters … to make reasoned decisions,” he said. 

Seligman countered that the notice provision no longer determines validity because it was removed from the state constitution during its rewrite in 1971, even though it remains on the books.

At one point, Russell questioned how much formal notice still matters in practice. 

“Who goes to the courthouse to get their news anymore anyway?” he said. 

Amendment in limbo amid dueling court rulings

The legal fight over the referendum is currently unfolding across multiple cases.

Less than 24 hours after voters approved the amendment last week, Tazewell County Circuit Court Judge Jack C. Hurley issued a separate ruling in a related case halting its implementation, putting the new congressional maps on hold. 

With nearly all votes counted, the measure passed by about 3 percentage points — 51.45% to 48.55% — out of nearly 3.1 million ballots cast, according to the Virginia Department of Elections.

Meanwhile, a different challenge brought by the National Republican Committee was rejected Friday by a Richmond Circuit Court judge, who found that the General Assembly had authority to act and said claims about the maps’ compactness were “fairly debatable.” 

Andrea Gaines, a spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Election, said in an email Monday that legislation passed earlier this year set a deadline of 14 days after Election Day for the State Board of Elections to certify the April 21 special election.

The board had planned to certify the results at a prescheduled May 1 meeting, she said, but whether that happens now depends on whether the Supreme Court of Virginia grants a stay of the Tazewell County Circuit Court’s injunction. 

But the Republican groups behind the challenge maintain that Virginia’s redistricting amendment represents an abuse of power. 

“Virginia Democrats’ redistricting scheme is a blatant attempt to rig the system and lock in political power,” RNC Chair Joe Gruters said in a statement Monday. 

Richard Hudson, chairman of the Republican National Campaign Committee, called it a “direct assault on fair representation,” saying the effort violates the state constitution.

Supporters of the amendment argue that the lawsuits seek to overturn the will of the voters. 

“More than three million Virginians voted in a free and fair election,” said Dan Gottlieb, a spokesperson for the Virginians for Fair Elections PAC. “Republicans lost — and are now trying to throw out the will of Virginians in court.”

What comes next

Legal observers say the outcome remains uncertain. 

Carl Tobias, a constitutional law professor at the University of Richmond, emphasized that the court may weigh the legal questions against the reality that voters have already approved the amendment. 

“As a pragmatic matter, I think the court does not want to be perceived as taking that vote away from the people,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean they couldn’t, if they find a serious violation.”

He added that a split decision is possible and that the court may move quickly given the stakes. 

“Time is of the essence,” Tobias said. “I think they’ll try to do it sooner rather than later.”

Original post.

PRINCE WILLIAM — Virginia State Police have closed a 52-year-old homicide investigation, identifying a suspect in the 1973 killing of a Washington, D.C., woman whose body was found in a Prince William County state forest.

Shirley L. Washington, 33, was discovered dead on Dec. 8, 1973, in Conway Robinson State Forest outside Gainesville. After decades of investigative work, authorities now say her husband, Clarence E. Washington, was responsible for her death.

Clarence Washington died in 2013 at age 68. According to the Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, the case would have been prosecuted had he been alive.

“My Chief Deputy and I have reviewed the information and evidence provided by the Virginia State Police regarding the 1973 unsolved homicide of Shirley Leona Washington,” Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth said. “We are convinced, from the evidence before us today, that the murder was committed by her husband… however… we are unable to prosecute the case.”

Investigators said Shirley Washington had moved out of the couple’s home after her husband was accused of assaulting a minor. Prior to her death, he had threatened her at the Washington, D.C., residence where she was staying with her mother.

Authorities cited multiple factors pointing to Clarence Washington, including a lack of an alibi, his refusal to cooperate with investigators at the time, and statements indicating he intended to harm the victim. He also had a history of violent offenses, including a prior stabbing of an ex-wife and later assaults on acquaintances.

Shirley Washington suffered eight stab wounds, according to investigators. Police also noted that Clarence Washington had knowledge of the state forest where her body was found, something he denied during the original investigation.

The case was revisited in recent years by Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation agents, with support from analysts in the Homeland Security Division’s Violent Crime Analytical Support Team. Additional funding for testing and analysis came through the Virginia Sexual Assault Kit Initiative.

Attorney General Jay Jones said the initiative played a key role in advancing the case.

“The Virginia Sexual Assault Kit Initiative has helped bring closure to this decades-long investigation,” Jones said. “I am proud of the hard work and collaboration of the Virginia State Police to bring this case to a just resolution.”

Senior Special Agent C. McClure said the resolution, though long delayed, provides some measure of closure.

“It is a relief to be able to provide closure to Shirley Washington’s family after all these years,” McClure said. “It is yet another example of Virginia State Police personnel who do not give up on solving cold cases.”

Information from a release. Edited by Dan McDermott.

By Madison Lee | VCU Capital News Service

RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia lawmakers continued a bill to the 2027 session that would provide free breakfast to all public school students in an effort to prevent hunger and improve classroom performance. 

House Bill 96, introduced by Sen. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker, D-Alexandria, would require all state public schools to participate in federal meal programs such as the Community Eligibility Provision program and the National School Lunch Programs. 

These programs provide nutritional meals at no cost to students and have served over 27 million children as of 2025. These programs remove income-based eligibility requirements to help make food more accessible for students.

 A recommendation from the Virginia Commission to End Hunger would reimburse public elementary and secondary schools for each breakfast served to a student. The reimbursements would be provided by the Virginia Department of Education.

“Schooling, buses, books and more are available for free to students and families,” Bennett-Parker said during a K-12 subcommittee meeting. “School meals are a school supply just as important to our kids getting the education they need and deserve.”

Instead of relying on traditional cafeteria lines, Virginia schools can choose to implement “grab-and-go” breakfast, according to the bill. Students would be allowed to eat their meals in classrooms to ensure late arrivals still had access to a meal.

Students who eat breakfast have better attendance, test scores, improved comprehension and are more likely to continuously eat healthier, according to the VDOE.

“I think free breakfast and lunch would benefit every child to ensure consistent and repeated access to nutrition,” said Patricia Mines, a Richmond resident. 

The VDOE estimates an additional cost of at least $37.35 million per year to reimburse schools beginning next year, according to the bill’s fiscal impact statement. A one-time cost of $50,000 and an ongoing cost of $95,800 will be made by the VDOE to implement provisions as well.

“We estimate that this bill would save Virginia families an average of $315 each school year,” said Liz Nigro, director of research for Voices for Virginia’s Children in a K-12 subcommittee. “Which equals roughly two months of diapers and one month of electric bills.”

Finn Vollenberg, who recently emigrated from the Netherlands, said he has noticed junk food is the cheapest nutritional option.

“Nowadays … the most affordable is junk food,” Vollenberg said. “Healthy food is getting more expensive and sort of harder to find.”

HB 96 is a companion bill to Senate Bill 4, introduced by Sen. Danica Roem, D-Manassas. This measure was also continued to 2027. 

Roem has advocated for free school meals and ending food insecurity since 2019, with several measures passed over the years. She has passed bills such as HB 1426, which expanded access to daily meals by allowing schools to participate in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. Senate Bill 1016 established the Hunger-Free Campus Food Pantry Grant Program to address food insecurity in public higher education. 

Nearly 8% of Virginians, over 700,000, face food insecurity, according to research done by the Virginia Department of Social Services. Over 214,000 Virginian children have experienced limited availability of nutritious food at some point during the year, as stated by Voices for Virginia’s Children.

“We saw over 70% of Virginia families responding that they are in that position of having to make tough trade-offs between buying medicine, fixing their car, or paying a utility bill in order to continue buying food,” said Sarah Steely, the director of No Kid Hungry.

In a 2025 No Kid Hungry survey, 48% of people reported their physical health had suffered due to the cost of food, while 61% say their mental health had suffered. 

Parents would have the option to withhold these meals from the student with written permission to the school board, according to HB 96. 

“School nutrition departments in other states that have expanded their school meals programs have found it easier to recruit and retain staff,” Bennett-Parker stated in an email. 

California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York and Vermont have permanently implemented free breakfast and lunch programs statewide for students, according to the Food Research and Action Center. Families do not need to apply for access to the food programs in any of the nine states, according to Newsweek. 

Capital News Service is a program of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Richard T. Robertson School of Communication. Students in the program provide state government coverage for a variety of media outlets in Virginia.

By Julianna Brown | Capital News Service

RICHMOND, Va. – Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed a House bill to decriminalize suicide after the legislation has failed to pass in previous years. 

Del. Marcus Simon, D-Fairfax sponsored House Bill 43, which provides that the current common law crime of suicide be abolished. Simon proposed an identical bill in the 2024 session, which passed the General Assembly but was vetoed by former Gov. Glenn Youngkin. 

Legislation to end the common law crime of suicide has been proposed multiple times since 2018. 

The bill requires the Bureau of Insurance of the State Corporation Commision to review the effects and implications of abolishing the common law crime of suicide on insurance by Nov. 1. 

Families of those who have died by suicide are often denied certain benefits or programs because suicide is deemed a criminal act, according to Simon. His legislation seeks to remove the criminal act and stigma of suicide, so that families may receive benefits and grieve their loss, Simon said in a subcommittee hearing. 

Under current law, the beneficiary of an insurance claim must prove that the individual who attempted or committed suicide was of an unsound mind, so that the act is not declared illegal, according to the Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law. 

If the suicide is deemed illegal, an insurance claim is not attainable, according to JAAPL. There must be expert testimony regarding the individual’s state of mind when the suicide took place in such cases. 

Data from the National Council for Suicide Prevention shows the unadjusted suicide rate dropped 4.9% in 2024 following a spike in 2023. The suicide rate in Virginia has been lower than the national rate for the past 10 years. 

Arguments Against the Bill 

 Michael Huffman, executive director and teacher of constitutional law for the Virginia Assembly of Independent Baptists said it is OK to call something wrong. 

The group is a ministry of local churches that lobby lawmakers at the General Assembly to protect religious freedoms. They also work to protect Second Amendment rights, and advocate for “pro-life and pro-traditional family initiatives,” according to Huffman.

“HB 43 is not harmless — it strips away the common law principle that suicide is a wrong that a state has the duty to prevent,” Huffman said. “That principle is the backbone of emergency intervention and mental health protection. Abolishing this sends the message that life is disposable.”

Huffman questioned if there is a correlation between HB 43 and assisted suicide. 

 “I’m not saying that getting rid of the common law is linked to assisted suicide,” Huffman said. “I’m also not saying that it isn’t either.” 

Todd Gathje, vice president of government relations for The Family Foundation, shared his disapproval of the bill at a subcommittee hearing. Delayed enactment of the bill is helpful, but there are still reservations due to the belief that killing is bad, Gathje said. 

Support for the Bill 

Nicole Durose, disability rights advocate for The Disability Law Center of Virginia, supports the bill. 

“People are not going to not harm themselves because it’s against the law, but we do believe that passing this bill would be a step in the right direction for destigmatizing mental health,” Durose said during the bill’s hearing. 

Rita Utz is the acting executive director for Mental Health Virginia, a nonprofit organization with a mission centered around education and advocacy. She also supports the bill. 

“The assisted suicide piece looks more closely and specifically at the behavior and role of the physician rather than the individual,” Utz said. “That creates a significant distinction between those two pieces.”

The date of the bill has been pushed back to 2027 to allow a full scale analysis of insurance benefits and impact, according to Utz.

Jalna Harris is the network program director for Vocal Virginia, the only state-wide mental health advocacy and education nonprofit that is entirely staffed and governed by people who have experienced mental health challenges. The nonprofit was founded in 2000 and has over 2,000 active members who work to represent the voices of Virginians struggling with mental health challenges, according to Harris.

She said the abolition of suicide as a common law crime represents an important shift in how society understands and responds to mental health and personal tragedy.

“By removing the legal classification of suicide as a crime, the state helps reduce the historical stigma that not only affected individuals struggling with suicidal thoughts but also their families and loved ones, who were often burdened with shame or social judgment,” Harris stated. “Treating suicide as a public health issue rather than a criminal act encourages more compassionate responses, making it easier for people to seek help without fear of legal or moral condemnation.”

The law will go into effect on July 1, 2027. 

Capital News Service is a program of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Richard T. Robertson School of Communication. Students in the program provide state government coverage for a variety of media outlets in Virginia.

With three performances already completed, the Blue Ridge Singers will present the final concert of their Spring 2026 series this Sunday, April 26 at 3 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church in Upperville.

The program, titled The French-American Connection, explores the musical relationship between the United States and France, highlighting composers influenced by French Impressionism—an approach that emphasizes color, texture, and light through harmony and melody. 

Under the direction of Dr. Jeffrey M. Alban, the chamber choir has been performing works by composers including David Conte, Alfred Desenclos, Edgar Cosma, and Joseph Jongen. A centerpiece of the program is Jongen’s Mass, Op. 130, performed with organ and brass ensemble, which has been featured at each stop in the series. 

The concert series began April 17 in Front Royal, followed by performances in Winchester and Manassas. The Upperville performance marks the final opportunity for audiences to hear the full program live.

Blue Ridge Singers, founded in 2009, is known for its focus on musical excellence, community engagement, and educational outreach, including support for student scholarships and performances in senior living communities. 

The concert is free to attend, with a suggested donation of $15.

Information from a release. Edited by Dan McDermott.

by Kevin S. Engle

No doubt you’ve heard of that famous tower in Italy?  The one that leans?

It’s kind of like that at my house.  Stuff leans around here.

Our mailbox post is the worst.

It leans backwards as though it’s getting ready to do the limbo.  If it keeps going, our mailman is going to need longer arms to reach inside.  My wife is embarrassed by it.  She says it reminds her of the 1970s sitcom Sanford and Son.  Sanford was a junk dealer.  I don’t think it’s that bad although a neighbor has offered to help me fix it.  Several times.  I think he’s trying to tell me something.

Along one side of our driveway, a lot of the smaller trees and blackberry bushes and other growing stuff lean toward it to get more sun.  Every summer I have to trim things back so nothing will brush up against our cars.

Our driveway is fairly long and has a few bends and turns.  In late fall, before we get any of that white stuff that covers the ground, I pound about a dozen posts into the yard to mark the driveway edges.  When it’s time to gas up the snowblower and put it to use, I have a better idea of where the driveway actually is.  Most of those posts lean.

On one side of the house, we have a small weather station outside.  The display unit inside tells us the current temperature and humidity as well as wind speed.  The outside unit rests on top of a six foot pole which leans slightly because of the rocky ground underneath.  Friends gave us one of those yard art “spinners” years ago.  It’s next to the weather station and leans even more.

Inside our house, we don’t have leaners.  We have tilters.  Pictures and posters hung on the walls often tilt a little to the left or right.  It drives me crazy.  I’m always adjusting them so they’re level.

Come to think of it, I’m even somewhat of a tilter.  I often tilt my head to one side when getting a picture taken and don’t even realize it.  My mother did the same thing.  I can’t seem to put a hat on straight either but that’s another issue.  And when I was just a little tyke, I stood soldier-straight in photos.  Chest puffed out and arms down by my side.  I have to laugh whenever I see little me standing at attention as if my commanding officer was inspecting my uniform.

I saw the Leaning Tower of Pisa once.  I’d like to go back and see it again.  You can even climb the stairs to the top.  I want to do that as well.  Then maybe I’ll know how my mailbox feels.

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The author always wanted to be a professional limbo dancer.

[email protected]

The Best of Engle’s Angle is available online or pick up a signed copy at a local bookstore.