We live in southern Alabama and are considering moving to Virginia in about two years. We pay $4,500 a year for our 2,600sqft with garage and 250sqft sunroom (will be adding a/c soon so it will be added to our square footage). It will definitely go up again this year because we recently redid our kitchen and floors.

What is your square footage and what do you pay for insurance?

everyone keeps saying sherwood but theres got to be more neighborhoods that are a hit i feel like with as much publicity as sherwood gets…theyre going to run out of candy lol

When the general district court building downtown was a jail, there was a rooftop "yard" where prisoners could breathe fresh air and recreate. It's still there, and you can see it from the street. What is its current use today? There a basketball net up there that employees can use? Anything at all?

Does anyone know what the person who was speaking about Gaza said after their mic was cut during Pride over the weekend?

Have there been any updates on when the bridge repairs will be complete? I heard last in August that it would take about a month, but I’m guessing it will require more work than anticipated?

Hi there! My realtor and I have been looking for months for a decent space for a small gym startup. I really only need 400-700 square feet but it is proving very tricky to find that around here. I am wondering if anyone on here knows of spaces that are available privately or are just not listed? It has to be a space where at least a little noise is ok (we do drop some barbells at times) and ceilings need to be over 9 in height. At this point I’m about ready to lease a detached garage if someone has one that has electricity and water!

Hi there! I’m wondering if anyone has info on how the rent at Willow View is for low income folks. My kids and I currently live at Farrier Court but the management at Willow View seems much more invested in the community as a whole, not just in maintaining the property. I sent Willow View a message to inquire but thought I’d ask here as well in case anyone has any insight. Particularly if you also transitioned from FC or EMG to Willow View. Thanks so much!

If you're looking for something to do to get you in the Halloween Spirit, come out to SolArt Center 6 Byers St. for a Halloween Themed Comedy Show! Five comedians will be doing jokes about the spooky season and end their sets with either a trick or treat for the audience enjoyment! PG 13 comedy.

***DRESS UP IN COSTUME***

Snacks and beverages will be available. Any questions? Comment below.

Ticket link info below:

https://preview.redd.it/lnm5fsbr55wd1.png?width=1080&format=png&auto=webp&s=ebcab47a4573e2bfec69fd365b29ed307d097f4f

Where can I find a history of the headliners of the Happy Birthday America series? I am trying to figure out which years the Temptations and the Four Tops played.

The bar at Zenadoah is cool. Upscaleish

Hi there! I’m sure this has been posted before but I couldn’t find it in the search history. I’m wondering if anyone has any recommendations on vets in the area that might be particularly good with cats and also accepting new patients? Or any to avoid even? Thank you for any insight!

Hi there!

I live in Florida and need a change. Wanted somewhere walkable, culturally rich, and has all the seasons.

Some questions!

1. Does Staunton check my boxes? Is it truly walkable/has public transit?
2. What’s the education system look like? I am a teacher of the deaf in Florida right now.
3. What’s there for people in their 20s?

Thank you!

Hey folks! I run a small specialty coffee roasting operation here in Staunton and have seen a great response over the past few months! To celebrate, I'm doing a giveaway for a very special batch of coffee and other goodies.

Coffee Giveaway

Hi there! New to the area and am wondering if anywhere or anyone might host any bluegrass bands or jams weekly or monthly? Not a musician, but just looking to enjoy the music. Thank you! :)

My daughter and I (f60) moved to the area a couple years back and live rurally between Staunton and Harrisonburg right now. We didn't know the area well when we moved here. We only knew we loved the mountains and climate and all the opportunities for outdoor activity, and she wanted to attend classes at JMU. Now that we know the area better, we are thinking Staunton is the perfect place for us and would like to move there. We love the town and its diversity, which is lacking in the very rural area we live in. We also like that it's a small town, as we are not big city people. In fact, we both have terrible aversions to loud traffic noise.

So, my question is, are there any areas of Staunton that are quiet and blocked off from most of the traffic noise? Obviously, we aren't going to move anywhere close to I-81, but since it's such a hilly area, the quiet areas might not be obvious. Also, when we lived in Harrisonburg, we were constantly disturbed by what, I guess they call "tuner cars" late at night, screaming and whining up and down the roads. Does Staunton have much of that? If so, I think I'll stay out here in the woods, lol.

I want to hear crickets and owls at night. I also want to be as close to town as possible. Any recommendations for specific areas in Staunton that are more quiet? Thanks!

Just letting anyone know that's interested and ever been censored in the 44k unofficial/official Staunton Va group I have created a new group called Staunton, Virginia for anyone to join if they wish.. I only ask to keep it respectful as everyone should be open to all discussion.

The other has became a bit of a joke the past few months and they seem to cater only to specific narratives to host..

If you wish to debate or discuss things with less restriction please feel free to join this new group.

https://www.facebook.com/share/g/WxjeGd572GQs3QFU/

https://www.29news.com/2024/10/06/i-dont-have-time-emotions-staunton-group-returns-mission-help-hurricane-helene-victims/

https://preview.redd.it/5hiaa1vpytsd1.png?width=1545&format=png&auto=webp&s=a1bddf9e67e76cf2bbd4b2500633c6d0aa5e7205

Vintage goods, coffee, comics, art, and more. There will be delicious Haitian food being served up. The weather is gonna be beautiful. Come on out and hang.

Looking for suggestions for coffee shops or the like that wouldn't mind me being there for a few hours a day.

(I would of course patronize them as well)

How do students and their families feel about Buffalo Gap High School? Is it good for academics?

https://www.newsleader.com/story/news/local/2024/10/01/queen-city-word-fest-will-bring-more-than-30-authors-to-staunton-oct-19/75469736007/

STAUNTON — The life of a writer can be one of solitude. At a recent neighborhood event, someone came up to Phyllis Duncan and said, "You're the person who never leaves their house."

Duncan laughed, remembering that story. She does, for the record, leave her house, but it's not often. Most of the time she's inside, working on her next manuscript.

"Nobody knew I was a writer," she said. "I don't have a shingle."

That's one of the reasons Duncan, who writes under the name of P.A. Duncan, is excited about the upcoming Queen City Word Fest. It's a chance for authors to showcase what they do, an opportunity to meet readers and other authors. In a sense, it's a way to hang their shingle that proclaims, "I'm a writer."

It's also an opportunity for aspiring writers, or just fans of books, to meet authors and pick their brain just a little about their craft.

The inaugural Queen City Word Fest is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 19 in Staunton. The day-long event will include three educational panels at the Staunton Public Library and a meet the authors event featuring more than 30 authors from a variety of genres who will sign and sell their books at 110 West Beverley Street, next door to The Book Dragon.

Admission to the Word Fest is free and open to the public.

"Focusing on local authors for a day is good not only for us authors, but for the city as well," Duncan said. "I think it's just another jewel in the Queen City crown."

Sandi Cararo, owner of The Book Dragon, first started thinking about a literary festival in Staunton back in 2019. COVID put the plans on hold, but about a year ago a committee formed to plan just such an event. Joining Cararo on the committee were authors Cliff Garstang, Heather Cole and David Simms, Paige Hildebrand with the Frontier Culture Museum and Christian Vames of Staunton's Frontline Model Kits and Hobbies.

Cararo wants this to be a community event, a chance for people around Staunton to meet local and regional authors, maybe get introduced to writers or genres with which they aren't familiar. One reason Simms moved to Staunton was to be around other authors. It inspired his creativity.

"Everywhere you go around Staunton you see the arts blossoming," Simms said.

This Word Fest is a chance to just add to that.

Panel discussions

The Word Fest begins at the Staunton Public Library, 1 Churchville Ave., with a series of educational panels featuring published authors from several genres:

• 10 a.m. — Staunton Scares: Writing and Reading Horror for Big & Little Kids, with authors David Simms and Beth Massie.

• 11 a.m. — The Art of the Story: Blending Fact with Imagination, with authors P.A. Duncan, Andy Zipser, Christina Abt and Molly Law.

• Noon — The Heart of Growing Up: Middle Grade Books with a Message, with authors Jodi Meadows and Maleeha SiddiquiPanel discussionsThe Word Fest begins at the Staunton Public Library, 1 Churchville Ave., with a series of educational panels featuring published authors from several genres:10 a.m. — Staunton Scares: Writing and Reading Horror for Big & Little Kids, with authors David Simms and Beth Massie. 11 a.m. — The Art of the Story: Blending Fact with Imagination, with authors P.A. Duncan, Andy Zipser, Christina Abt and Molly Law. Noon — The Heart of Growing Up: Middle Grade Books with a Message, with authors Jodi Meadows and Maleeha Siddiqui

Simms published his fifth novel, "Pierce the Veil," this past July. A teacher at Monticello High School, Simms lives in Staunton. It was 25 years ago that Simms had his first short story published.

He will join Beth Massie for the first panel session on writing and reading horror.

"It will be about writing on the dark side for both kids and adults," Simms said. "How the darker side isn't just slasher and blood. Both of us tend to go for the psychological effects. We'll just be talking about the publishing aspects and what we find exciting, how we both include Staunton and the Valley in our writing."

At the 11 a.m. panel, Duncan will join other authors to discuss blending fact with imagination. She said they will discuss how they make sure the history is accurate while enhancing it with their imagination.

Duncan writes historical espionage fiction. She began writing for school newspapers and that love of the written word followed her into adulthood. She worked for the Federal Aviation Administration as a safety official and editor for the organization's magazine, before retiring 15 years ago to focus on her fiction.

The characters in her books aren't James Bond or Jason Bourne. She works to give an accurate portrayal of what it's like to be an intelligent operative, calling it "real spies, real lives."

"There's very few shootouts," she said. "There's a lot of analysis, but I have to do some commercial stuff. I think I've done a car chase and maybe one shootout."

She traces her love of espionage fiction to her teenage years when she wrote what is now called fan fiction about "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." a television spy series that aired in the 1960s.

The noon panel will be headlined by two young adult authors discussing middle grade books with a message.

Meadows is the author of the "Incarnate" trilogy, the "Orphan Queen" duology, the "Fallen Isles" trilogy and the "Nightrender" duology, among other books. She is also a coauthor of New York Times bestsellers "My Lady Jane," "My Plain Jane" and other books in the Lady Janies series.

Siddiqui, an American writer of Pakistani descent, is the author of middle grade books including "Barakah Beats," "Bhai for Now" and "Any Way You Look." On her website, her bio says she "loves to tell unapologetically Muslim stories for all ages."

Then, from 1-5 p.m. more than 30 authors will exhibit and sell their books at 110 W. Beverley St.

Participating authors (as of 10/1/24)

• Christina M. Abt, East Aurora, N.Y. — mystery, romance, history, biography

• Chris Bolgiano, Rockingham County — history, nature

• Ryan Brosmer, Staunton — children's, sci-fi/fantasy, graphic novels, comic books

• Lauren Canaday, Luray — memoir

• Gregg Clemmer, Afton — history, historical fiction

• Heather S. Cole, Staunton — history, travel

• Laura Copely, Harrisonburg — self-help

• Lori D’Angelo, Mt. Solon — scifi/fantasy, horror, literary

• Gabriella Dennany, Staunton — young adult, scifi/fantasy

• H. Wayne Desper, Fishersville — scifi/fantasy, horror, comic books

• P.A. Duncan, Staunton — mystery, history, espionage

• Aaron Fisher, Staunton — scifi/fantasy, graphic novels, comic books

• Beth Ford, Staunton — historical

• Allison K. Garcia, Harrisonburg — romance, fiction/LGBTQ

• Cliff Garstang, Augusta County — fiction, literary

• Molly F. Law, Staunton — romance, scifi/fantasy

• James Lovett, Fishersville — scifi/fantasy, horror, cosmic horror

• Beth Massie, Waynesboro — horror, historical fiction, young adult

• John Molino, Fredericksburg — mystery, supernatural

• Kim Newton, Harrisonburg — children's

• TJ O'Connor, Winchester — mystery, thriller

• Charles Read, Staunton — mystery

• Amber Showalter, Harrisonburg — poetry

• David Simms, Staunton — horror, historical fiction, young adult

• Clayton Smith, Staunton — children's, scifi/fantasy

• Esther Stenson, Harrisonburg — memoir, poetry

• H.M. DuVal, Verona — romance, scifi/fantasy, dystopian

• Sarah Tollok, Cross Junction — mystery, scifi/fantasy, literary, magic realism

• James Verlon, Charlottesville — young adult, scifi/fantasy, flash fiction

• Paula T. Weiss, Annandale — dystopian fiction, contemporary fiction

• McKamie Wilson, Staunton — short story

• Valerie Williams, Zion Crossroads — horror

• Andy Zipser, Staunton — memoir, business