Rappahannock Record

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1 Thursday Celebrate Recovery, 6:30 p.m. White Stone Church of the Nazarene, White Stone. AA, 8 p.m. De Sales Hall, Kilmarnock. 31st Annual Hospice Turkey Shoot Regatta. Rapppahannock River off Carter Creek. Registration, fees, on the water and land-side schedules, details at Yachtscoring.com, or Hospiceturkeyshootregatta.com. Continues through Sunday, October 4. Cardio Dance, 8-9 a.m. Etudes Ballet School, 56 First Street, White Stone. Details, sign up, etudesballet.com.

Record breaker Junior Brent of Lancaster won first place at the 2026 Virginia State Fair for his giant watermelon. Brent’s watermelon weighed in at 271 pounds, breaking the previous state record of 259 pounds. From left are Brent and his grandson and helper Jett Nicosia. The State Fair continues through Sunday, October 4, at the Meadow Event Park, 13191 Dawn Boulevard, Doswell. For tickets and daily event schedules, visit statefairva.org.

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Jackie Nunnery by Jackie Nunnery HEATHSVILLE—A new historical marker honoring Elizabeth Key (1630-1665), believed to be the first person of African descent in the colonies to sue—and win—her freedom, has been installed at the Northumberland County courthouse square. The Saturday, September 19, ceremony, hosted by the Northern Neck Hidden History Trail drew some 100 people including four descendants of Key and a recorded message from Sen. Tim Kaine.

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Surf’s up The recent nor’easter brought winds, rain, waves and storm tides to the lower Northern Neck. Several roads and low-lying areas were flooded, including Windmill Point Road near the Little Oyster Creek bridge on Thursday afternoon (above). The highest tide recorded at Windmill Point during the weekend, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, was 2.86 feet around 10:40 a.m. on Friday, September 25. Photo by AnnGardner Eubank

by Rob Hedelt When visitors arrive Saturday, October 3, at Lawson Bay Farm in White Stone for Boots and Barbecue, the Northern Neck Land Conservancy’s annual celebration of land conservation efforts in the region, the picturesque property on the Rappahannock River will have many stories to tell.

RICHMOND—A dense, annual-blooming marine algae species is causing a “red tide” in the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Rappahannock River and elsewhere. Health officials say the bloom is not harmful to people; however, the dense algae cells may cause skin irritation. The Virginia Department of Health advises people and pets to avoid contact with bloom water. If exposure cannot be avoided, rinse with clean, fresh water.

Jackie Nunnery by Jackie Nunnery LANCASTER—As the result of pushback from neighbors and supervisors, a plan to use a Mifarm Road property for large gatherings was withdrawn by the owner, Valerie Jones, following a public hearing at the Thursday, September 24, Lancaster board of supervisors meeting. However, supervisors approved a special exception for short-term rentals on the property.