# Byrd Street Byrd Street is my take on the news in Orange County, VA. Page: Feed: --- ## [Affordable housing complex coming to Orange](https://byrdstreet.substack.com/p/affordable-housing-complex-coming) _2026-08-18 · Hilary Holladay_ Collaborative community services effort will bring three-story, 21-unit building to Madison Road ## [Orange County mourns the loss of a young life, prays for the recovery of five others](https://byrdstreet.substack.com/p/orange-county-mourns-the-loss-of) _2026-08-10 · Hilary Holladay_ Students, teachers, family members, pastors and many local residents find solace at candlelight prayer gathering at Booster Park in Orange ## [Breaking news: Four OCHS students hospitalized after wreck on Constitution Highway](https://byrdstreet.substack.com/p/breaking-news-four-ochs-students) _2026-08-07 · Hilary Holladay_ One person reported dead after two-vehicle collision; injured OCHS students transported to hospital via helicopter ## [Ready, set, lead: Nick Sodano eagerly heads into second year as OCHS principal](https://byrdstreet.substack.com/p/ready-set-lead-nick-sodano-eagerly) _2026-08-03 · Hilary Holladay_ Orange County Public Schools begin new academic year on Wednesday, Aug. 5 ## [Byrdcast: Gordonsville's Ron Brooks gives himself a 'B' for his first year and a half as mayor](https://byrdstreet.substack.com/p/byrdcast-gordonsvilles-ron-brooks-8fa) _2026-07-28 · Hilary Holladay_ The mayor discusses the boundary adjustment controversy, water restrictions, his battles with the Rapidan Service Authority and his lightning-rod presence on Facebook [Listen](https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/208880138/424cdcd25e3f69833a6ad8f33a741d7c.mp3) ## [Byrdcast: Gordonsville's Ron Brooks gives himself a 'B' for his first year and a half as mayor](https://byrdstreet.substack.com/p/byrdcast-gordonsvilles-ron-brooks) _2026-07-28 · Hilary Holladay_ The mayor discusses the boundary adjustment controversy, water restrictions, his battles with the Rapidan Service Authority and his lightning-rod presence on Facebook ## [Orange County Public Schools break ground for long-awaited CTE facility](https://byrdstreet.substack.com/p/orange-county-public-schools-break) _2026-07-21 · Hilary Holladay_ Local leaders and community celebrate collaboration and look forward to the opening of the building, which will house classes in career and technical education ## [Proposed Valley Link transmission line corridor named one of state's "most endangered places"](https://byrdstreet.substack.com/p/proposed-valley-link-transmission) _2026-07-14 · Hilary Holladay_ Preservation Virginia says data center industry and its energy demands threaten 115-mile corridor, which includes historic battlefields and multiple historic districts ## [Walker's Chapel directors fire, then sue pastor Jeremiah Pent](https://byrdstreet.substack.com/p/walkers-chapel-board-fires-then-sues) _2026-07-07 · Hilary Holladay_ Former Orange Town Council member continues to hold services and align church with Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches ## ["A challenging day": Huge mass of sanitary wipes clogs Orange's wastewater treatment plant](https://byrdstreet.substack.com/p/a-challenging-day-huge-mass-of-sanitary) _2026-07-02 · Hilary Holladay_ Town Manager Chris Snider urges residents not to flush wipes "even if they are labeled flushable" ## [International money transfers (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/8PWXykcNmdjI) _2026-07-02 · **Sponsored**_ Send money to other countries and manage multi‑currency balances online. ## [Breaking news: ICE and FBI raid car in Orange Friday morning; take man into custody](https://byrdstreet.substack.com/p/breaking-news-ice-and-fbi-raid-car) _2026-06-26 · Hilary Holladay_ Orange Police Chief Rebecca Nelson not notified federal agents were coming into her jurisdiction; says "prior notification is essential to maintaining public order" ## [Bruce Monroe of Orange to share recollections of Jim Crow era](https://byrdstreet.substack.com/p/bruce-monroe-of-orange-to-share-recollections) _2026-06-19 · Hilary Holladay_ Juneteenth special events set for Friday afternoon at the African American Commemorative Park in Orange ## [You want forever chemicals with that?](https://byrdstreet.substack.com/p/you-want-forever-chemicals-with-that) _2026-06-15 · Hilary Holladay_ DEQ to hold final hearing on Synagro permit renewal that would allow spreading of biosolids on 2,500 acres of Orange County farmland ## [Boys & Girls Club honors Mary Lou Seilheimer](https://byrdstreet.substack.com/p/boys-and-girls-club-honors-mary-lou) _2026-06-10 · Hilary Holladay_ Longtime Orange Club advisory board member and supporter recognized at fund-raising gala coinciding with her 85th birthday ## [Preserve Orange Alliance readies for battle against Valley Link](https://byrdstreet.substack.com/p/preserve-orange-alliance-readies) _2026-06-01 · Hilary Holladay_ Listen now | Rhoadesville resident Benjamin Pennington leads new nonprofit seeking to stop a massive power line from wrecking forests, farms and lawns across nine counties [Listen](https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/200068471/ee9403467cc2ccde3200f86b562a3f03.mp3) ## [Valley Link releases new transmission line maps](https://byrdstreet.substack.com/p/valley-link-releases-new-transmission) _2026-05-28 · Hilary Holladay_ BOS Chair J. Bryan Nicol declares revised plan worse for Orange County than previous version and says Valley Link's "total lack of respect for our citizens is beyond belief" ## [Supervisor Crystal Coleman joins Club Nepo](https://byrdstreet.substack.com/p/supervisor-crystal-coleman-joins) _2026-05-19 · Hilary Holladay_ In a flagrant display of nepotism, Orange County supervisors Coleman, Marshall and Van Hoven all have relatives serving on county committees ## [What's wrong with new housing developments?](https://byrdstreet.substack.com/p/whats-wrong-with-new-housing-developments) _2026-05-13 · Hilary Holladay_ Nothing, according to Supervisor Jason Capelle, if you don't mind higher taxes, heavy traffic, and the looming possibility of wells running dry [Listen](https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/197425139/22b69644852342f2ec33d54b6b8b3d4e.mp3) ## [Up, up and away: Food and gas prices fly high](https://byrdstreet.substack.com/p/up-up-and-away-food-and-gas-prices) _2026-05-10 · Hilary Holladay_ With premium gas costing more than $5/gallon and grocery prices way up over last year, inflation hits Orange County hard ## [Orange County gives a collective thumbs-down to redistricting](https://byrdstreet.substack.com/p/orange-county-gives-a-collective) _2026-05-01 · Hilary Holladay_ The proposed Constitutional Amendment passes statewide but is hung up in courts ## [Daily plans, scheduled by AI (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/jUZpTB7TRBqI) _2026-05-01 · **Sponsored**_ AI-made daily plans that schedule tasks and protect focus time. ## [L3Harris to double local manufacturing space, add 350 jobs](https://byrdstreet.substack.com/p/l3harris-to-double-local-manufacturing) _2026-04-21 · Hilary Holladay_ Rocket motor manufacturing plant and Orange County benefit from economic development partnership with state