Chasing Autumn in Rockingham County in Western Virginia

Friend Barb and I took Tuesday to chase autumn and spend time together enjoying the beautiful Shenandoah Valley where we both live. Besides the fun of back roads and stunning mountain vistas that we both enjoy, we found all kinds of fall décor for our houses.

Our first stop was Myers Pumpkins just east of Harrisonburg, a family-run farm that provides already-picked pumpkins and gourds, chrysanthemums, pick-your-own pumpkin patch, corn maze, and corn stalks ready for decorating. This was a new place for me that Barb introduced to me, and they were well stocked.

Wildfire in mountains northwest of Staunton

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Sunday morning dark smoke rose into the sky northwest of our house in the mountains as a wildfire raged in the George Washington National Forest. The fire, located west of Harrisonburg in Rockingham County, had consumed 70 acres early Sunday morning.

WHSV TV-3 has coverage:

Local dispatchers said a staff member who tried to locate the fire site estimated it was around a mile beyond a meandering jeep trail called Union Springs Road. Observation of the smoke plume in relation to geographic landmarks could place the fire roughly three to seven miles northwest of Rawley Springs, but such reckoning is quite imprecise.

Rain is in the forecast for Wednesday and Thursday.

Shops at Dayton Farmers Market 2015 holiday hours

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Saturday at the Shops at Dayton Farmers Market southwest of Harrisonburg for Customer Appreciation Day was full of giveaways and crowded with buyers at the eclectic variety of shops featuring everything from baked goods and candy to floral and art, Virginia-made foods, pretzels, and more. They are now in their holiday 2015 hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 9am until 6pm, through December 31. They will also be open Monday, Dec. 21.  Closing at 3.m. on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

If you’re lucky when you stop by, you’ll see an Old Order Mennonite horse and buggy hitched at the hitching post. It’s unique in the Shenandoah Valley.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
November 7, 2015

Horse killed in horse-and-buggy accident in Rockingham – UPDATED

Old Order Mennonite horse-and-buggy in Dayton, Virginia.

By Lynn R. Mitchell

A truck hit an Old Order Mennonite horse-and-buggy Monday morning in Rockingham County, killing the horse. The truck driver and two passengers in the buggy were safe. The accident took place at Silver Lake Road and Rawley Pike. Read more at WHSV TV-3.

See also Old Order Mennonites in Dayton, Va … a slower pace.

UPDATE: The driver of the buggy has been charged with failure to yield.

Chrysanthemums, pumpkins, and gourds … oh, my!

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Oh my heavens! In mid-September my sister and I stumbled into Blue Ribbon Nursery and Landscaping in Broadway … and it was decked out for fall and Halloween. What a show! Pumpkins, gourds, mums of all sizes, garden flags, wreaths, decor … whatever you need for your autumn decorating needs, chances are you’ll find it and get into the spirit of the season.

6th District supporters rally around Congressman Goodlatte at outdoor Augusta County event

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Hearing the issues now being tackled by Congress reminded of a gathering of supporters from Augusta, Rockingham, Staunton, Waynesboro, and Harrisonburg held for Congressman Bob Goodlatte earlier this month in Weyers Cave. While there, the congressman was able to address the crowd of about 60 donors and supporters and expand on the wide array of discussions and issues that are occurring in Congress. With the animosity that is prevalent these days in politics, it was good to hear the update.

Signs signs signs #4 … Hanger campaign

By Lynn R. Mitchell

The Emmett Hanger for Senate sign team has been busy in Virginia 24th’s Senate District leading up to the June 9th Republican Primary. From Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta County to eastern Rockingham, Culpeper, Greene, and Madison, the red, white, and blue Hanger yard signs, 4’x4′, and 4’x8′ signs are out to remind folks to vote on June 9th at their regular polling places from 6am-7pm.

Signs signs signs #2 … Hanger campaign

By Lynn R. Mitchell

The Emmett Hanger for Senate sign team has been busy in Virginia 24th’s Senate District leading up to the June 9th Republican Primary. From Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta County to eastern Rockingham, Culpeper, Greene, and Madison, the red, white, and blue Hanger yard signs, 4’x4′, and 4’x8′ signs are out to remind folks to vote on June 9th at their regular polling places from 6am-7pm.

Rockingham supervisors endorse Sen. Emmett Hanger for re-election to State Senate

Sen. Emmett Hanger

By Lynn R. Mitchell

June 9th is the 2015 Primary when the polls will be open throughout the 24th Senate District, represented by Senator Emmett Hanger. Voters will choose a nominee to represent Augusta County, Staunton, Waynesboro, part of Rockingham County, Madison and Greene Counties, and part of Culpeper County.

The Rockingham County board of supervisors expressed strong support for the leadership of Sen. Hanger who is running for re-election — Supervisors Pablo Cuevas, Rick Chandler, Fredrick Eberly, William Kyger Jr., and Michael Breeden:

The Rockingham County community has benefited greatly from the leadership provided by the current senator from the 24th Senate District, Emmett Hanger. Each of the undersigned strongly supports Sen. Hanger and endorses his candidacy for re-election in 2015.

The supervisors expressed the need for local leaders to have a state-level representative who listens to the needs at the local level:

Sen. Hanger is a champion for local issues, listening carefully when local government raises issues with proposed legislation, seeking input from those who will have the responsibility to implement the new law at the local level and is insistent in the Commonwealth meeting its obligation for funding the state’s fair share of the programs the General Assembly mandates.

Green Valley Book Fair open today through April 1

By Lynn R. Mitchell

It’s baaack. The Green Valley Book Fair, closed since December for their annual winter nap, reopens today for their 2015 season and will run through April 1. Located in Mt. Jackson, just off I-81 halfway between Staunton and Harrisonburg, the Book Fair draws thousands of book lovers from up and down the East Coast and is particularly popular with local residents.

The Green Valley Book Fair is a huge book warehouse outlet store that is open for two-week runs six times a year. They offer deep discounts on every book category imaginable including children’s, research, political, history, religion, cookbooks, and much more. We’re talking 500,000 books in hardcover and soft cover discounted 60-90% off retail, with the majority being discounted in the 66-75% off retail range.

I have stocked much of my political collection from the Book Fair.

Hours are Monday-Thursday 10am-5pm, Friday and Saturday 10am-6pm, and Sunday noon-5pm.For directions and more information check the Green Valley Book Fair website.

 

Caroling in Grand Caverns

By Lynn R. Mitchell

America’s oldest show cave invites all to experience the holidays in a special way by caroling in Grand Caverns! This natural national landmark will offer the unique opportunity to celebrate the season with music in the cavern on Saturday, December 6, from 6-8:00 p.m. Tours leave every 15 minutes and last approximately 30 minutes each.

A day with Mom at Dayton Farmers Market

By Lynn R. Mitchell

While my parents visited last week, Mom and I slipped away, driving the 30 minutes from my house to the Dayton Farmers Market in the Old Order Mennonite town of Dayton. It was Thursday and a horse and buggy were at hitching post when we arrived. The owners soon climbed in and clopped-clopped away down Route 42 toward “downtown” Dayton in rural Rockingham County.

The doors and windows of Dayton, Virginia

By Lynn R. Mitchell

The small Rockingham County town of Dayton is filled with historic homes and surrounded by Old Order Mennonite farms. On the day before Halloween, Mom and I stopped by the Dayton Farmers Market for a pretzel and some shopping (see A day at Dayton Farmers Market with Mom), and then drove around this quaint little town.

Western Virginia back roads on a summer day

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Northwestern Augusta County-Southwestern Rockingham County along the foot of the Appalachian Mountains on a summer afternoon.