News and Events
Upcoming Events
Apr 10 - Culpeper County Democratic Committee Jefferson Jackson Dinner. Guest Speaker: Howard Dean. 5:30, Culpeper Country Club, $75.
Apr 19 - Rappahannock County Democratic Caucus (noon). Three delegates and one alternate will be selected to represent Rappahannock County at the District and State conventions. Based on the results of the primary election in the County, two of the delegates must be pledged to Sen. Obama, one must be pledged to Sen. Clinton, and the alternate must be pledged to Sen. Obama.
May 10 - 7th District Convention in Richmond.
May 10 - Spring Fund Raiser. This year, Committee Member Tom Pellikaan opens his house for our annual spring fund raiser and political awareness day. Tom is retired after a lifetime working in the Congress, and his home is a veritable cornucopia of political memorabilia. The house itself was on the Rappahannock Tour. Plan to join us from 5:30pm to 8:00pm for a sunset BBQ picnic dinner, dessert and wine at Red Oak Mountain. A wonderful opportunity to mingle with your neighbors and friends.
May 17-18 - Annual Relay for Life. Join us at our tent on the circle.
Jun 07 - Virginia State Convention in Hampton.
Jun 10 - CONGRESSIONAL PRIMARY ELECTION. Don't forget to vote!
Aug 23 - Annual Rappahannock County Democratic Yard Sale, at the Rappahannock Community Center (the old Sperryville School House). Last year, a solid cherry desk in great condition sold for $50, and the webmaster walked away with a perfectly functioning electric leaf blower for $1. Great stuff, super prices, good cause.
Highway Trash Pickup
Our County Democrats, under the leadership of Hank Gorfein and Dick Reidinger, conduct regular cleanup of a two and one-half mile stretch of US211 from Massies Corner west past Ash Tree Stables, as part of the Virginia Highway Beautification Project. The last such cleanup occurred on March 22, 2008. The volunteers ended the day dirty, but happy, with a truckload of trash for proper disposal.
Celebrating the Fourth
The one and only 4th of July celebration open to the public in Rappahannock County was sponsored each year by the Rappahannock County Democrats. It was a family celebration, conducted on the 4th at the Rappahannock Recreation Center, which was decked out with flags, bunting, red, white and blue balloons, and warm greetings of patriotism and camaraderie. Beginning in 2007, the Sperryville Volunteer Fire Department began a program of festivities and fireworks at Thornton Hill, near Woodville. We support the Fire Department in this fine family-oriented effort. Accordingly, we have cancelled our annual 4th of July picnic and instead work with the Sperryville Fire Department to conduct parades and perform other patriotic and family events within their Fourth of July festival.
Regardless of where you celebrate the Fourth, be sure to take a few minutes and join us in celebrating our country and thanking those patriots and veterans who did so much to establish and protect it.
Annual Yard Sale
The funds that the Rappahannock Democrats use to donate to local organizations and to finance speakers and events throughout the year come largely from our annual yard sale, held each year on the weekend before Labor Day. This year, the Yard Sale will be held on Saturday, August 23. Though usually held at the Washington Fire Hall, the size of the event is causing us to move the Yard Sale to the Rappahannock Community Center (the old Sperryville School House, now known as The Link). The items range from the fantastic to the incredible, from marvelous household furnishings to memorabilia and collectibles. This is the only large organization yard sale remaining in the County, and it has become a "feeder" for a number of other non-profit groups that collect items for their use or for their own events. All items not sold at the yard sale are donated to the Culpeper Thrift Shop. The yard sale is open to the public.
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Annual Spring Democratic Awareness Day
For the last several years, the Rappahannock Democrats have hosted a wine-tasting event to raise funds and to introduce our candidates. Usually held in the spring, the 2007 event was hosted at Gadino Cellars in Sperryville. Our special guest was Ms. Maxine Roles, Page County resident and candidate for State Senate. This year, we are breaking with tradition, slightly, and holding the event at the home of Tom Pellikaan. Tom is retired from a career in the U.S. Congress. His home was on the Rappahannock Tour and is loaded with fascinating memorabilia he has collected that goes back to the Truman Administration. It will be held on Saturday, May 31. Everyone is invited to partake in this wonderful opportunity.
County Parades
We love our Rappahannock fire department parades, and we never miss one! Join us at each parade as we decorate tractors, haywagons, the famous blue truck, or whatever, and celebrate democracy with us. Flags, banners, and excitement welcome! Contact the webmaster for the time and place to meet at each parade.
Meet the Candidates Potluck Supper
Two aspiring candidates attended a potluck supper hosted by Martha and Anita Hartke for the Rappahannock County Democratic Committee on July 8, 2007. Maxine Roles, a candidate for state senator in the 26th District (which includes Rappahannock County), and Karen Schultz, a candidate for senator to replace retiring Russ Potts in the 27th District north of Rappahannock County were introduced to the crowd. Shown, left to right, are Linda Dietel (Secretary), Karen Schultz, Ray Boc (Chairman), Maxine Roles, and Andy Platt (Vice Chairman).
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