Free Election Day rides, Veterans day closings, Waynesboro hosts photo project, VDOT roadwork: THE DIGEST
BRITE Bus offering free Election Day rides
STAUNTON — BRITE Bus, which provides fixed-route and ADA compliant paratransit services in Staunton,Augusta, and Waynesboro, is offering free rides on all routes (excluding Afton Express) on ElectionDay, Tuesday, Nov. 7.
BRITE Bus routes serve many of the voting locations in Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta County. For more information on BRITE Bus routes and times, visit www.britebus.org.
BRITE Bus is administered by the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission, with operationalrecommendations provided by the BRITE Transit Advisory Committee (BTAC).
Veterans Day: city offices closed, no trash pickup
STAUNTON – The City of Staunton’s administrative offices will be closed on Friday, Nov. 10 in observance of Veterans Day.
Trash Pickup
Residential trash typically picked up on Friday will instead be collected on Wednesday, Nov. 8. Please place trash at the curb no later than 7 a.m. on your pickup day.
Customers in the downtown Central Business District will not receive trash collection on Friday, Nov. 10 and are asked to make sure their trash is at the curb by 7:30 a.m. on Saturday morning as the streets will close early for the Veterans Day Parade at 11 a.m.
Recycling Center
The Recycling Center will be closed on Friday, Nov. 10 and will return to its regular schedule on Saturday, Nov. 11.
Library Hours
The Staunton Public Library will be closed on Friday, Nov. 10 and Saturday, Nov. 11 and will return to its regular schedule on Sunday, Nov. 12. Online services will be available, and the outdoor book drop will be open for returns.
More Information
Contact Public Works at 540.332.3892
Staunton Public Library, call 540.332.3902 or visit them online.
Waynesboro Library displaying housing insecurity photo project
WAYNESBORO — This is Home, an interactive photo project exploring local housing insecurity issues, is currently being exhibited at Waynesboro Public Library.
Created by the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge in partnership with freelance photographer Kate Simon, This is Home shares stories of local people and their experiences with housing insecurity.
Susan Versen, director of the Waynesboro Public Library, is thrilled for the library to host This is Home for November and December.
“We hope this photo exhibit serves as an opportunity for all our patrons to see different parts of their communities,” Versen said. “WPL strives to connect people with information and resources like our collection, both physical and online, or our Little Free Pantry, entertainment and each other. Hosting this exhibit is another way that WPL can connect different parts of our community.”
Dan Layman, CEO of the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge, feels that the Waynesboro Public Library is a logical partner for the This is Home exhibit, which has been circulating around the community since November 2022.
Most recently, the exhibit was in The By & By coffee shop in downtown Staunton, and a portion of the exhibit is also at Trinity Episcopal Church.
"Housing is such a complex issue, so I understand why it's easy to jump to conclusions about our neighbors who may be struggling,” Layman said. “When we take the time to hear their stories, though, we can begin to have more thoughtful conversations about the future of housing in our community. ‘This is Home,’ which introduces many of these stories through local images, is our way of inviting the community to have these conversations."
For one part of the project, Simon and Community Foundation community engagement director Chris Lassiter have been sitting with community members and listening to their stories of housing insecurity. For the other part of the project, Simon and Lassiter have been listening to community leaders whose organizations are working on solutions.
For each conversation, there is a photo gallery and a mini-podcast episode on the This is Home website (https://cfcbr-thisishome.org).
Simon hopes that viewers of the exhibition walk away with a sense of the humanity for the community members impacted by housing insecurity.
“What I want people to walk away with is compassion,” Simon said, “to see that it could be any of us. That every single one of these people that we feature has their own story, and it’s important. They deserve visibility in a respectful way. I hope it makes people aware of the issues in our community, and inspires them to reach out and do something.”
Uncorked laughter in McGaheysville
MCGAHEYSVILLE — Brix & Columns Vineyards presents "Uncorked Laughter," an event offering an evening filled with laughter and wine expertise. It will take place Thursday, Nov. 9, 7-8:30pm at Brix & Columns Vineyards, 1501 Dave Berry Road, McGaheysville.
Whether you're a seasoned wine connoisseur or simply looking for a fun night out, this event is tailored to suit all palates. The staff at Brix & Columns will guide you through a wine tasting experience, sprinkling interesting wine facts and tips along the way.
This event’s experience includes a glass of sparkling wine upon arrival; a flight of four distinct white and red wine varietals, each paired with an educational presentation; and a stand-up comedy mini-show by The Funny Womacks between the white and red flights.
The Funny Womacks from X2 Comedy are a husband and wife comedy duo who will provide a mini comedy show.
Advanced individual tickets are $60 while group tickets (4+ people) are $54 per person. Tickets at the door are:$75, if available.
To purchase your tickets or for more information, visit www.thefunnywomacks.com
VDOT road work updates: Routes 11, 262, 256, 340, I-81 and more
No lane closures planned for I-64? It's true. But there
INTERSTATE 81
*UPDATE* Mile marker 221 to 225, northbound and southbound – Overnight southbound right lane closures for shoulder work, 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday through Thursday nights. Northbound shoulder closures for sign installation and mowing, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. Work is related to I-81 widening project.
Mile marker 221 to 223, northbound – Overnight single lane closures for maintenance to bridge over Route 250 (Jefferson Highway), 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. through the night of November 21.
Mile marker 223 to 227, northbound and southbound – Overnight alternating lane closures for inspection of bridges over Lewis Creek, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. through the night of November 29.
Mile marker 226 to 229, northbound and southbound – Overnight single lane closures for maintenance to Route 612 (Laurel Hill Road) overpass bridge, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. through the night of December 24.
PRIMARY ROADS
Route 11 (Lee Highway) – Northbound 24/7 shoulder closures near intersection with Route 256 (Weyers Cave Road) for turn lane construction, estimated completion in May 2024. Flagger traffic control as needed for nighttime and overnight work.
Route 56 (Tye River Turnpike) – Flagger traffic control between Route 11 (Lee-Jackson Highway) and Rockbridge County line for paving operations, 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. through November 17.
*UPDATE* Route 256 (Weyers Cave Road) – Shoulders closed 24/7 between Route 11 (Lee Highway) and Route 2011 (Triangle Drive). Overnight flagger traffic control as needed, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. Traffic restrictions are for construction of turn lanes with estimated completion in late December.
Route 256 (Weyers Cave Road) – Overnight flagger traffic control between Route 11 (Lee Highway) and Route 2003 (Wayside Drive/Triangle Drive) for paving operations, 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. nights through November 16.
*NEW* Route 262 (Woodrow Wilson Parkway) – Northbound right shoulder closures near Route 252 interchange for road widening work, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. through December 29.
*UPDATE* Route 262 (Woodrow Wilson Parkway) – Northbound and southbound shoulder closures approaching I-81 ramps just south of Staunton for sign installations, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. through November 17.
Route 340 (Stuarts Draft Highway/Rosser Avenue) – Shoulder closures for sign installations near I-64 interchange (Waynesboro) and intersections with Route 11 (Lee-Jackson Highway) and Route 608 (Tinkling Spring Road/Draft Avenue), 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Route 340 (Stuarts Draft Highway) – Flagger traffic control between Route 655 (Walnut Hills Road) and Route 652 (University Farm Road) for paving operations, 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. through November 17.
Route 340 (East Side Highway) – Northbound and southbound single lane closures and flagger traffic control as needed between Route 612 (Crimora Mine Road/New Hope-Crimora Road) and Route 1343 (Northwood Drive) for paving operations, 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. through November 17.
SECONDARY ROADS
*NEW* Route 612 (Crimora Mine Road) – Flagger traffic control between Route 873 (Forest Chapel Lane) and dead end for utility work, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. November 6 through November 16.
Route 612 (Laurel Hill Road) – Westbound right lane closures between Route 1906 (Lodge Lane) and Route 11 (Lee Highway) for pedestrian access improvements, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. through February 2024.
Route 624 (South Delphine Avenue, Waynesboro) – Shoulder closures between South Oak Lane and Chinquapin Drive for work related to construction of Waynesboro Southern Corridor, through May 30, 2025.
*UPDATE* Route 664 (Mount Torrey Road) – Shoulder closures and occasional flagger traffic control between Route 624 (Lyndhurst Road) and Route 894 (Mount Torrey Road) for water line installation, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. through December 31. Estimated completion summer 2024.
Route 664 (Lyndhurst Road, Waynesboro) – Shoulder closures between Miami Avenue and Purdue Street for work related to construction of Waynesboro Southern Corridor, through June 30, 2025.
*NEW* Route 820 (Coleytown Road) – Flagger traffic control between Route 254 (Hermitage Road) and Route 785 (Madrid Road) for utility work, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. November 6 through November 16.
Various roads – Mobile traffic control for mowing operations. Flagger traffic control for drainage work, tree removal, shoulder repairs, pavement patching and brush cutting, 7:30 to 3 p.m. on weekdays.
This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Free Election Day rides, Veterans Day closings Friday, photo project: THE DIGEST
