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One Woman's Opinion
Welcome to “One Woman’s Opinion,” a long term feature of the Southside Sentinel, written by Urbanna resident Mary Wakefield Buxton. Traditionally a humorist, Mary has written a column on all subjects and sometimes in very serious vein. Along with writing a column for the Sentinel since 1984, she is also author of 15 books about life and love in Tidewater, Virginia. Click here for available books.
Urbanna’s ‘big brass’ boundary brouhaha: Part 5
Part 1 • Part 2 • Part 3 • Part 4
Part 5
The prayers of writers are sometimes answered even though they don’t necessarily attend church services. And so the very next day a terrible storm hit Nimcock County tearing across the land, uprooting trees and taking off roofs of many houses. And most conveniently helping Merrypen find a way out of the “big brass” boundary...
Urbanna’s ‘big brass’ boundary brouhaha: Part 4
Part 1 • Part 2 • Part 3
Part 4
By now everyone in the charming town of Nimcock had taken sides. Who could not take a side? Everyone was talking...
Urbanna’s ‘big brass’ boundary brouhaha: Part 3
Part 1 • Part 2
Part 3
The lawyers had been selected, the distinguished Ronald E. Widget (who some in the county felt was totally unscrupulous) and the candy Enos F....
The ‘big brass’ boundary brouhaha continues
Part 1
Part 2
A week or two passed by with not much more interchange between the Army and the Navy much to Nimcock’s relief. No one liked blow-ups between neighbors...
The ‘big brass’ boundary brouhaha
(Editor’s note: Before passing away this month, “One Woman’s Opinion” columnist Mary Wakefield Buxton completed a special five-part series, “The Nimcock Chronicles.” The following column is the first in...
One Woman's Opinion
Florida bound, Part 2 — “On alert for falling iguanas”
by Mary Wakefiled Buxton -
NAPLES, Fla. —
Every morning during the winter months I sit in my third floor lanai that overlooks a lake and listen to southwest Florida wildlife. The tropical birds’ chitters, chortles, chirps, chatters — even an occasional scream, squawk or...
Florida bound: Part 1, “Travel these days is not for the timid”
by Mary Wakefield Buxton -
NAPLES, Fla. — When one hits the amazing age of 80, there are some realities that one faces. One can no longer survive two 12 hours plus days driving a car from Urbanna to southwest Florida.
That is if one...
“Ideologues need not apply”
by Mary Wakefiled Buxton -
URBANNA —
This nation is facing monumental problems. One particularly tragic situation most everyone is concerned about today is the relatively recent polarization of America into red and blue states.
One cause for this sad political division of the American family...
Middlesex monument and mask issues — Blessed are the peacekeepers
by Mary Wakefield Buxton -
URBANNA — Two major issues that have caused controversy and angst in Middlesex County in the last year are moving the monument of the Confederate war dead at the Middlesex County Historic Courthouse and mask mandates for children in...
As autumn wraps up, Christmas moves closer
by Mary Wakefield Buxton -
URBANNA —
Our fall season is coming to a close in Middlesex County as Christmas nears. Here are some activities I especially noted in and around the county.
October opened with the annual “Turkey Shoot” Regatta conducted at Rappahannock Yacht Club in...
Striving to see the positive aspects of life on Kent Street
I thought of this good news last night. It was one of those epiphanies that causes one to sit bolt upright in the bed in the wee hours of the morn. But after coming to this conclusion I couldn’t get back to sleep as I couldn’t wait to share the good news with readers.
As Thanksgiving nears, memories of bygone ones arise
by Mary Wakefield Buxton -
URBANNA —
That Thanksgiving in 1945 as World War II was winding down, I was 4 years old living with my family in Vermilion, Ohio. We planned to spend Thanksgiving with my great-grandmother, Franc Horton Parsons, who lived with her...
Rev. Edloe poses a key question impacting current times
by Mary Wakefield Buxton -
URBANNA —
The Rev. Leonard Edloe’s recent good pastor’s column asked a question that deserves honest thought. According to Gallup polls, the number of members of Christian churches plummeted from 70 percent in 1999 to 50 percent in 2018, and on...
“Sharing some afterthoughts on the Nov. 2 election”
by Mary Wakefield Buxton -
URBANNA —
First, a big thank you to all local candidates who ran for office in the elections last week. Good job! You make Middlesex proud. You gave us a choice for most offices.
I’m especially pleased with Katie Carnes who ran...
Welcome to Urbanna, small town USA!
by Marry Wakefield Buxton -
URBANNA — Visiting the Urbanna Oyster Festival is the best way I know of celebrating small town America. And Urbanna, Virginia, is the most charming hometown of all!
I know something about small towns because I grew up in Vermilion, Ohio,...
Here’s a peek behind the scenes of “On the Toad Again”
by Mary Wakefield Buxton -
URBANNA —
After an exhausting summer of writing a last book, with a lot of help from my publisher, Fred Gaskins, I finally finished the project. I also turned 80.
I decided 15 books in one’s lifetime is enough. I’m tired.
It’s...
“Saving the memorials to war dead”
by Mary Wakefield Buxton -
URBANNA —
Suppose a group of “offended” Americans demand the removal of all memorials and statues that honor soldiers who fought in the Vietnam War?
Sound preposterous? Maybe not. In today’s society where it’s acceptable to destroy or move to far pastures...
More News
Golf carts may roll in Deltaville
Deltaville representative Randy Crittenden informed supervisors that residents on Lovers Lane and adjoining streets...
Fireball consumes truck on Route 17
A truck pulling a large camper was destroyed by fire this week near Church...
Marine industrial park eyed for Deltaville
The Middlesex County Economic Development Authority (EDA) will apply for a “GO Virginia” planning...
Cadillac strikes man on Route 17
A pedestrian struck by a vehicle on U.S. Route 17 on Monday was airlifted...
