News Maker Joanne Kosyk of CCAP wraps up Camping for Hunger
News Maker Joanne Kosyk, Executive Director of Front Royal-Warren County CCAP, speaks with Ryan Rutherford to recap the 15th Annual Camping for Hunger.
She provides the final donation results including over $17,500 in monetary contributions and over 14,300 pounds of food.
Joanne also highlights how many people will benefit from the food drive and how it will support their efforts through the entire year.
Since 2008, Camping for Hunger has helped gather 204,000 pounds of food with monetary donations nearing $152,500.
To hear Joanne’s news maker, click here.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
Life as a new author
Handley Regional Library Systems invites you to meet new author Alexandra Grace and hear how she balances real life with her passion, writing.
She will give tips on self-publishing and making your way in the literary world.
Alexandra’s books will be available for purchase and signing.
Alexandra Grace started writing emotional poetry as a teenager but publishing a novel that made readers feel and appreciate was her dream.
You can meet Alexandra and learn more about her and becoming an author at Bowman Library in the Meeting Room on November 30th at 6 pm.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
Be safe while shopping
The Shenandoah County Sherriff Department would like you to be safe while holiday shopping.
Avoid shopping alone, try to shop with a family member or friend.
Park in well lite areas.
Keep your purchases concealed, place them in your trunk or under your seats.
Be aware of your surroundings and have a plan in case you are separated from your child.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
Operation CARE
Thanksgiving traditionally marks the beginning of the holiday travel season.
For many Virginians, this means hitting the roads, and in some cases, travelling long distances to share time with loved ones.
Virginia State Police will once again be participating in Operation C.A.R.E – Crash Awareness and Reduction Effort.
This means state troopers will be increasing their presence and enforcement efforts during the weekends.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
The holidays can be overwhelming
Moms in Motion recognize that there are times when gatherings can be overwhelming.
Try these simple tips to make the most of your time together.
Find a quiet area, this will allow you to take a break when you feel overwhelmed.
Find sensory friendly activities and foods that appeal to your senses.
If you are with a loved one who feels overwhelmed, have fidget toys or weighted blankets available.
Also, communicate and set clear boundaries for yourself and your loved ones.
But, most of all, take time to enjoy the holiday season.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
So Close
Greetings from The Booth!
I was going to rant about the Washington Commanders (again) after another embarrasing loss Sunday against the woeful Giants. What can I say? It’s therapeutic. But I couldn’t do it. Instead, I chose to write about football in it’s purest form…
In high school football, the finality of a playoff loss is palpable. For many seniors, it’s the last time they will put on a uniform. There will be no college football or the NFL. When the clock hits zero, it will be the last organized football they will ever play. That reality hits even harder when the loss comes in heartbreaking fashion. There will be no tomorrow.
Heartbreak for the Strasburg Rams came in the form of an 8-7 loss this past Friday in the VHSL Region 2B Semifinals to undefeated Woodstock Central. The 12-0 Falcons have been a team on a mission since losing the State Championship game lst December and have been laser focused in their quest to return to Salem. A little over 2 weeks ago, Central took down Strasburg 28-7 in the season finale, in the process winning the Bull Run District title. And, it was Central that celebrated a regional championship on the Rams’ field last year, a memory that festered in the minds of the Strasburg players, coaches, and fans. For the Rams, Friday’s game was a chance to return the favor in Woodstock.
Strasburg scored the first points of the game on a defensive “scoop and score,” and for the better part of the game, the 7-0 score held up, as the Rams’ stingy defense had all the answers for the vaunted Central running attack. As the game wore on into the final period, that 7-0 score felt more like 14-0. In reality, because Strasburg missed out on several chances to extend the lead and close the deal, Central was just one play away from tying the score.
Great teams aren’t great all the time–just when they have to be. With their undefeated season and dreams of a state title on the line, the Falcons marched 70 yards on their final drive, pulling to within 7-6 on Tyler Forbes’ short TD blast with 1:16 left. Coach Mike Yew then decided to roll the dice and go for 2. Knowing that Strasburg’s defensive ends would be crashing down on Forbes, Yew ordered a QB keeper around the right end, and Nick Barahona delivered, diving in for the game-winning conversion.
As elated as the Falcons and their fans were, the Strasburg players were equally deflated. The Rams left everything on the field, and it wasn’t quite good enough. They did not deserve to lose, but as the saying goes, someone has to. For those Central players who made it all the way to Salem last year, only to fall just short of a state championship, they know all too well the feeling of having the season end in disappointment.
For Central, it’s on to another regional championship game. For Strasburg, it’s on to a winter of “what might have been.”
Until the next visit from The Booth…have a Happy Thanksgiving!
RW
Warren County lifts burn ban; Frederick County’s still in effect
In response to the recent rain, Warren County Department of Fire and Rescue Services has lifted the burn ban.
Residents are still urged to use caution when performing open air burning activities and to burn only lawful materials.
Open air burning is still prohibited in the Blue Mountain and High Knob communities due to a Warren County Ordinance.
The burn ban was originally put into place the morning of November 16th in response to the extreme atmospheric and drought conditions and the additional smoke in the area from wildfires throughout Virginia and West Virginia which impacted air quality.
Frederick County is still under an open air burn ban.
This prohibits all outdoor fires like bonfires and camp fires.
This does not include barbecue grills, smokers, or any device that uses a chimney or stack.
Violations of burning regulations can result in a Class 1 Misdemeanor which carries a penalty of up to $2,500 and up to a year in jail.
Responsible parties can also be held liable for damages and costs of firefighting operations.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
VDOT announces closure of railroad crossing in Frederick County
The Virginia Department of Transportation will close the Winchester and Western Railroad crossing at Route 661 (Welltown Road) in Frederick County for repairs.
The closure will begin on Tuesday, November 28th at 7 am and will conclude by 12 midnight on Friday, December 1st.
Northbound traffic will follow a detour to Route 672 (Hopewell Road) to I-81 and exit 321 at Clearbrook.
Southbound travelers will take exit 321 to Route 672 to complete the detour.
Truck restrictions will be lifted on Route 661 during this period.
All work is weather permitting.
For up to date travel information, visit 511Virginia.org.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
HSWC celebrates most profitable Tails and Ales in history
The Humane Society of Warren County celebrated a fundraising record after the 12th annual Tails and Ales.
The yearly cash party and silent auction welcomed 250 animal lovers from around the community Saturday, November 18th at the Front Royal Moose lodge and helped the humane society reach $25,000 donated to the shelter.
This number greatly surpassed previous years which averaged between $10,000- $15,000 per event.
This year’s Tails and Ales was amped up thanks to the addition of three new games, the introduction of basket sponsors, and by raising the value and quality of the auction baskets and items.
In total, there were over 20 different baskets and items available for auction.
Interim Executive Director Kayla Wines has led the fundraiser since 2018 and has worked to elevate the event each year.
She said, “It has become a favorite in the local community and 2023 was the most profitable in its history, raising $25,000 for the shelter! We absolutely could not pull this off if it weren’t for the hard work of staff, volunteers, and board of directors.”
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
Safe driving jingle contest opens for Virginia teens
YOVASO, or Youth of Virginia Speak Out About Traffic Safety, is encouraging Virginia youth ages 11-19 to help everyone jingle their way to a safe holiday by creating a safe driving song or tune for a statewide competition with cash prizes up to $500.
The Jingle Your Way to a Safe Holiday: Buckle Up and Celebrate Responsibly Contest is now under way and accepting submissions until 11:59 pm on December 7th.
The safe driving jingle must be submitted as a video and no longer than 30 seconds.
The winning jingle in the high school division will receive a $500 cash prize with additional cash prizes for the top 3 high school and middle school participants.
Winners will be chosen by public vote on the Holiday Campaign webpage.
The contest is an effort to reduce teen fatalities during a high risk period for young drivers.
Over the past three years in the month of December, 17 teens have died and 1,235 were injured in motor vehicle crashes.
During that time period, teen drivers have accounted for an additional 4,245 crashes and 14 fatal crashes.
YOVASO is a peer-to-peer education group that advocates for safe driving and is supported by the Virginia State Police and DMV.
A link for more information or to enter the contest is available here.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.