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Nickel Books and Hidden Libraries: Front Royal’s Tabard Inn Library
While researching Samuels Public Library’s past, I uncovered Front Royal’s forgotten Tabard Inn Library: a 1903 book exchange hidden inside Trout & Turner’s drugstore, connecting local history to a national network of nickel books and circulating libraries. Read More
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A Completely Neutral Response From Someone Who Was Not Invited to Dance
Royal Examiner: A playful letter about Dueling Disco sparked a public back-and-forth with Sue Laurence, turning dry humor, NASA jokes, pastoral plus-one confusion, and disco compliance into extra attention for Hike Kidz Foundation and Cars Changing Lives. Read More
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Closing Data Center Loopholes
At Front Royal’s June 22, 2026 data center hearing, I urged Council to close ordinance loopholes, define data centers broadly, and make any Special Use Permit a true hard gate rather than a rubber stamp. Read More
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Historic District Parking Clarity
At Front Royal’s June 22, 2026 hearing, I asked Council to clarify whether Historic District parking exemptions protected rear-yard access, outdoor activity, and loading needs so downtown tourism uses would not be burdened by unclear rules. Read More
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Making FOIA More Public
At Front Royal’s June 22, 2026 meeting, I urged Council to make FOIA requests more public and searchable, helping residents find records already released while reducing duplicate requests and unnecessary staff work. Read More
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First Baptist Church Celebrates 151 Years of Historic Bell
Royal Examiner: First Baptist Church of Front Royal marked the 151st anniversary of its historic 1875 bell, celebrating its restored voice, its journey from Crescent Street, and a renewed tradition of children ringing it before and after worship. Read More
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Ten Minutes of Elections
Curiosity led me to my first Warren County Electoral Board meeting, where a ten-minute procedural gathering revealed how quietly election administration operates behind the scenes, from Sunday voting legislation, staffing decisions, and the overlooked machinery that keeps local democracy functioning. Read More
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The Roads We Built for Yesterday
At the Warren County Secondary Six-Year Plan hearing, I reflected on last year’s “chicken scratch” font criticism before discussing how residential growth, tourism, delivery traffic, and short-term rentals are reshaping rural road usage, safety concerns, and long-term transportation planning priorities. Read More
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Outdated Senior Tax Relief
After volunteering at the senior center, conversations about property taxes led me to publicly address Warren County’s outdated senior tax relief policies, share recommendations with supervisors, and reflect on how local issues become personal when sitting with those affected. Read More
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38th Annual Wine & Craft Festival
A long day at the Virginia Wine & Craft Festival brought balloon mishaps, dirty soda discoveries, live music, Ghostbusters encounters, community conversations, sudden rain, and the familiar exhaustion that follows a full day spent volunteering, wandering downtown, and reconnecting with people. Read More