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Tuesday, March 19, 2024

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Events in and around Urbanna

by Marry Wakefiled Buxton – 

Urbanna, Va— A whopper of a storm was brewing as we pulled into the Mary Washington Ball Museum and Library Inc., also home of Lancaster Virginia Historical Society, in Lancaster.  Unfortunately, the angry black clouds swirling overhead caused us to hurry through the interesting area artifacts displayed in their present exhibit, “Digging into Archaeology.” A quick walk through the restored colonial courthouse and jail finished off our too speedy visit but we hope to return soon in better weather. It was nice meeting Saluda resident Melanie Healy-Marquis, who helps staff the museum.

Christ Church hosts lovely community dinners of good food, beverage, conversation and company and “The Full Moon” dinner in September was no exception. Chef Robin Wells’ pork barbecue had simmered for 12 hours and served with shrimp skewers, tasty sides and apple crisp ala mode. The food, along with numerous door prizes, made the evening a resounding success. Its dinners are fundraising projects to raise money for community needs. Tickets cost $30.

Have you ever heard of MSSC? That’s the local shooting sports club off Twiggs Ferry Road that meets every month for a delicious and low cost dinner and program.

It was our first visit and we were amazed to find upon arrival not only a spacious clubhouse, which hosts large social affairs, but also croquet courts and shooting fields where members can learn how to use a gun.

So it’s a gun club, and if I expected to meet a few hundred rootin’, tootin’ cowboys hung with six shooters hanging from their waist, I was greatly mistaken. The members are regular people just like you and me who enjoy owning guns and the sport of hunting. Dinner for just $15 was homemade meat loaf or boneless barbecued park chops, roasted potatoes, broccoli, salad and a dessert table loaded with pies, cakes and brownies.

Virginia Delegate Keith Hodges was featured speaker and he described his work on behalf of our district on various committees. He is especially dedicated to protect his district from legislation that might benefit urban areas, but would be hurtful to our rural Tidewater District. He warned Republicans the coming election is important because if his party loses control in the Virginia House and Senate, the commonwealth will follow the same path as California.

Another great evening was spent at a Rivers’ Club poolside party and picnic at an elegant area waterfront home overlooking the Rappahannock River. The scrumptious dinner was prepared by our own versatile local caterer, Helen Elizabeth Ward, from The Table in Deltaville. Music consisted of Clayton Neal singing those great toe-tapping “golden oldies.”

It was stifling hot but when I heard “Blue Suede Shoes” I jumped up to dance dragging my husband with me. The song assured me Elvis was still alive and I was suddenly 16 again with no cares in the world! I was a dancing fool and was it fun! But I was so exhausted after the song ended I had to leave the party, go home and collapse on my bed. And yes, the 16-year-old felt her real age the next morning to the point I could hardly get out of bed.

If you are looking for a great group of both power and sail boaters to party with and support boating interests, I heartily recommend the Urbanna Creek Yacht Club. A recent picnic at Urbanna Town Marina offered great food in a beautiful setting on Urbanna Creek with Urbanna United Methodist Church minister Reverend Bruce Johnson to bless the fleet.

I enjoy opera so the best of fall events was attending a program at Good Luck Winer Cellars in Kilmarnock featuring a program, “An Afternoon of Beloved Songs,” sung by three sopranos singing famous arias. The ladies, Caroline Whisnant, Sarah Kate Walston, and Abigail Stinnett  knocked us over  with their opening aria from Puccini’s La Boheme, “Quando me’n vo,” and held us rapt in our seats savoring their music the entire program consisting of many other favorites from Offenbach, Bizet, Wagner  and Saint-Saens, along with samplings from operetta and Italian love songs.

A really hilarious selection, some refreshing comedy on opera stage, was the last selection, “Content to be Behind Me” which featured the masterful pianist accompaniment of Doughlas-Jayd Burn, who kept the audience laughing every time he went off on his own on the keyboard leaving the diva pretending rage and speechless on stage. It was delightfully entertaining.

It was a first rate program from a first rate venue and I heartily recommend such programs sponsored by the Northern Neck Orchestra. Tickets cost just $25. What a bargain.

So much to do in and around Middlesex County! I hope to share many more area happenings with readers in future columns. ©2019

Note: Christmas is coming and Mary Wakefield Buxton’s books make wonderful gifts that are easy to mail and are available at the Sentinel office. Email glongest@ssentinel.com.