Brian Brehm

2 weeks ago | winchesterstar.com | Brian Brehm

WINCHESTER — If you would like to honor a local veteran with one of the military banners you've been seeing throughout the area for two years now, act soon. The ordering deadline for year three of the displays is Tuesday. "We're closing the applications for the year," said Adam Packham, Winchester chairman of the Northern Shenandoah Valley's Hometown Veteran Heroes project that oversees the banner program that launched in 2023.

2 weeks ago | winchesterstar.com | Brian Brehm

WINCHESTER — For many stray dogs and cats, getting taken to “the pound” is an unpleasant proposition because if they’re not adopted quickly, they may be euthanized to free up space in the kennels. That’s not the case in Winchester. The Winchester Area SPCA operates a no-kill shelter at 111 Featherbed Lane where wayward or surrendered pets can stay as long as it takes to find a forever home. Their accommodations are first-class, too.

2 weeks ago | winchesterstar.com | Brian Brehm

WINCHESTER — City Council on Tuesday voted to set Winchester's real estate tax rate for the current calendar year at 79½ cents per each $100 of a property's assessed value. With the rate finalized, that clears City Manager Dan Hoffman to zero in on the city's operating budget for fiscal year 2026, which begins on July 1. Winchester's current real estate tax rate is 83 cents but lowering it to 79½ cents actually equates to a tax increase.

2 weeks ago | winchesterstar.com | Brian Brehm

WINCHESTER — Thursday is going to be a big day for Scott Peterson. That's the day the Winchester resident is scheduled to donate the pint of blood that will bring his lifetime donation total to 20 gallons. "I like to do it because I'm under the impression that if you're not part of the solution, then you're part of the problem," Peterson said on Tuesday about donating blood.

2 weeks ago | winchesterstar.com | Brian Brehm

WINCHESTER — There’s a group of local military veterans that has been meeting for breakfast once a month to talk about their lives during and after their time in the service. The group has no official name but, since its gatherings are held at the Golden Corral restaurant at 120 Costello Drive, it is sometimes referred to as American Veterans Golden Corral.