In the latest episode of the Byrdcast, I interview Benjamin Pennington, founder of Preserve Orange Alliance, a new citizen-led nonprofit designed to protect Orange County’s rural beauty and tranquility. The group’s first project is a big one: fighting off Valley Link, the behemoth behind the proposed high-voltage transmission line project that, if approved by the State Corporation Commission (SCC), will stretch across nine counties, from Culpeper to Campbell, and devastate the farms, forests and lawns in its pathway.
Note to Byrdcast listeners: The audio quality is more consistent in this episode than it was last time. Remember that as a backup, you can read the interview; just click the transcript button.
Thursday, May 28, was the last day of business at Happy Garden, the landmark Chinese restaurant at 130 E. Main Street in Orange. After I received word that it was closing because the building’s owner didn’t renew the lease, I stopped by on Friday afternoon. Owner Jimmy Shi was out, but his daughter Vickie, 13, confirmed the report. She said her family is moving to Locust Grove and her parents hope to open another restaurant someday. In the meantime, they’ll be working at Tokyo Restaurant in Locust Grove.
Until covid hit in 2020, Happy Garden offered both take-out and dine-in service, including a buffet. Then it shifted to take-out only and stayed that way after the pandemic ended. It’ll be interesting to see what pops up in its place. More on Main Street’s changing face in a future issue.
It’s been gorgeous lately—sunny and pleasantly warm during the day and cool enough for a fuzzy blanket by bedtime.
The following local stats show that May was a good month for rain. Come on, June, keep it going and give us some drought-ending drenches!
We had two full moons in May, the flower moon on May 1 and a blue micromoon on May 31. A blue moon refers to a second full moon in a single month. And because May’s blue moon took place right before it reached its farthest point from Earth—the apogee—that made it a micromoon. The button-sized moon appears “slightly smaller and dimmer than usual,” according to Almanac.com. But it’s still spectacular. Shine on, blue micromoon!
Marjorie Anne Colvin Reid, 96, Orange; Peggy Yancey Garrett, 92, Orange; Evelyn Marie Breeden, 84, Gordonsville.
Orange Town Council meeting, Community Meeting Room, 235 Warren St., 6 p.m., Monday, June 1
Orange Fireman’s Parade, North Madison Road to Main Street, Orange, 6:30 p.m., Thursday, June 4
Orange County Board of Supervisors regular meeting, 5 p.m., Tuesday, June 9
“First-Generation Immigrant Stories from Worlds Far Removed,” Women’s Diversity Forum, with presentations by Ann Woolford, Guyana (formerly British Guiana); Vibeke Ober, Denmark; and Jackie Westerbeck, Brazil; St. Thomas Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 119 Caroline St, Orange, 1-2:30 p.m., Sunday, June 14
Book talk by Richard Roberts, Orange County High School alumnus and author of “Stories of NASCAR in the Rear View Mirror” and other books, Spelled Ink Bookstore, 132 W. Main St., Orange, 6 p.m., Friday, June 12
Poetry and prose reading by contributors to Byrd Whistle, Orange County’s new literary magazine, The Arts Center in Orange, 3-4 p.m., Sunday, June 14
Orange Music in the Park, Taylor Park, 6 p.m., Thursday, June 25
Valley Link releases new transmission line maps (May 28)
Byrdcast: What’s wrong with new housing developments? (May 12)
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