Skilled trades training is coming to Orange as Swaby Academy prepares to launch hands-on welding courses in early 2026. Founded by welding engineer Lee Swaby, the Academy will operate out of the former Harley-Davidson building on Route 20, where the facility is now being outfitted with equipment for live instruction. The relaunch marks a major step forward for local workforce …
Unionville, Va. — Bethlehem United Methodist Church, a historic community anchor in Unionville, is facing an unexpected and costly season after major water damage and a sudden HVAC system failure forced the small congregation to halt repairs and redirect all available funds. According to church member Darlene Thompson, the trouble began a few months ago when the church was checking …
For many, the Montpelier Races are more than sport—they’re a homecoming. Each fall, on the first Saturday in November, thousands gather at Montpelier—the former home of President James Madison—to celebrate a tradition that has endured for nearly a century. This year marks the 90th running of the Montpelier Hunt Races, one of Virginia’s most historic equestrian events. Families, neighbors, and …
Rural America is in crisis—and not just economically. We’re losing our local newspapers, our local voices, and, with them, our ability to see ourselves clearly. The truth is, when a community no longer has a local paper, it loses more than headlines. It loses connection. Accountability. A shared identity. And most of all, it loses its voice. At The Orange …
The Virginia Department of Historic Resources (VDHR) has awarded a $195,925 grant to the Friends of Wilderness Battlefield (FOWB) to support the purchase, preservation, and interpretation of a significant portion of the 1863 Mine Run Battlefield, known as the Randolph Artillery Tract, in Orange County. The grant marks a major step toward protecting an important chapter of Orange County’s Civil …
The Town of Gordonsville has formally rejected a draft boundary line adjustment (BLA) proposal developed by the Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission (RRRC), opting instead to consider requests from individual landowners and subdivisions interested in joining the town. In an official statement, Town Manager Anthony Schienschang II said: “Gordonsville’s Town Council voted to reject the RRRC draft boundary line adjustment proposal and …
A new creative chapter is beginning in Orange County with the launch of the Orange County Writers’ Group, sponsored by Spelled Ink, the independent bookstore at 132 West Main Street in downtown Orange. The group welcomes writers of all backgrounds and experience levels to come together in a spirit of creativity, collaboration, and shared growth. Led by author Caryn Moya …
Chronic wasting disease (CWD), a fatal neurological illness that affects deer, elk, and moose, has now been confirmed in 18 Virginia counties, including a newly detected case in Page County. Counties with confirmed cases:Albemarle, Amherst, Augusta, Bedford, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Floyd, Frederick, Loudoun, Madison, Montgomery, Page, Pulaski, Rappahannock, Shenandoah, Warren, and Wythe. Health experts emphasize that while CWD is always …
Orange County, VA – September 25, 2025 – It’s time for the community to have its say! Voting is officially open for the 2025 Best of Orange Awards, a celebration of the people, businesses, and organizations that make Orange County such a vibrant place to live, work, and visit. Hosted by Lake Media Group, the Best of Orange highlights excellence …
You probably don’t know me. I’m not “from Orange” technically, although I did live in Unionville for several years. My kids all graduated from Ms. Young’s Corner Preschool, we sold chicken straight from our farm to Miller’s Market in Locust Grove, and our grocery runs were split between the Orange Food Lion, Walmart in Locust Grove—and, of course, Edward’s Store …