🌱 Could a massive Avtex land sale reshape Front Royal’s economic future?

Hello Front Royal! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Could a massive Avtex land sale reshape Front Royal’s economic future?
• How a Warren County bus crash unfolded and how students fared
• How your input could reshape Shenandoah River State Park’s next decade

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Front Royal? Post it to Front Royal photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Partly sunny and not as cold, with a high of 42 and low of 27 degrees.
• Wednesday: Times of sun and clouds, temps: high: 54, low: 27.
• Thursday: Rather cloudy, with a high of 51 and low of 40 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• County EDA Working Toward Significant Property Sales as 2025 Comes to an End, Hints at Municipally Reunited EDA (royalexaminer.com) — Major land deals on the former Avtex/Royal Phoenix site in Front Royal could cut the EDA’s scandal-era bank debt nearly in half, with a proposed 113-acre sale to a data-center-focused developer and 82 Rivermont Acres lots under contract. Town officials attended the meeting as talk grows about reuniting the Town and County EDAs, a move that could reshape how future projects in Front Royal are handled.
   

• Update: Warren County School Bus Involved in Crash; Minor Injuries Reported (royalexaminer.com) — A Warren County school bus crash near Chester Gap Road sent eight students and both drivers, including a Front Royal resident, to area hospitals with minor injuries. All students’ families were contacted, most children have been released, and Warren County Public Schools praised the rapid, coordinated response from regional emergency crews and neighboring Rappahannock County schools.
   

• Help Shape the Future of Shenandoah River State Park: Public Comment Meeting Set for January 20 (royalexaminer.com) — Front Royal residents are invited to a public comment meeting on January 20, 2026, at Samuels Public Library to help shape the next 10-year master plan for Shenandoah River State Park. Attendees can drop in, review displays, talk with planners, and later submit written comments through February 20, influencing how recreation, conservation, and future development are balanced.
   

📸 Around Front Royal

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Front Royal

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday December 20

• The Nutcracker 2025
  Warren County High School, 155 Westminster Dr, Front Royal
  1:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday December 18

• WR: JWIL @ WC
  Warren County Middle School Front Royal, VA 22630
  5:30 pm
• VB: WC @ JWIL
  Warren County Middle School Front Royal, VA 22630
  5:30 pm

📣 Front Royal Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Tuesday December 16

• VB: WC @ DM
  Warren County Middle School Front Royal, VA 22630
  5:30 pm
• WR: DM @ WC
  Warren County Middle School Front Royal, VA 22630
  5:30 pm
• Vibrissa: TRIVIA
  Vibrissa Beer , 122 E Main St , Front Royal
  6:00 pm

Thursday December 18

• Winter Floral Arrangement
  336 Belle Grove Rd , Middletown
  5:00 pm
• Third Thursdays at the Warren Heritage Society
  Warren Heritage Society , 101 Chester St , Front Royal
  5:30 pm
• Rotary Club of the Northern Shenandoah Valley
  Region's 117 , 180 Bald Eagle Dr , Lake Frederick
  6:00 pm

Saturday December 20

• Lea Holz Music: Acoustic Set at Twin Oaks Tavern Winery
  Twin Oaks Tavern Winery , 18035 Raven Rocks Rd , Bluemont
  3:00 pm
• A Festive Evening at the Ovoka Manor
  Ovoka Farm , 750 Gap Run Rd , Paris
  5:00 pm

Saturday December 27

• Day Hike: Cool Spring Battlefield, Bluemont, VA
  Shenandoah University River Campus at Cool Spring Battlefield , 1400 Parker Ln , Bluemont
  10:00 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Is this your cat?
  This sweet boy has been hanging out at our house. We’ve been feeding him and trying to keep him in from the cold. Would consider keeping him but want… (Nextdoor Academy)
• Santa's coming!
  This is a composite image I created using my photos and a png image of Santa. Some digital painting for the snow. (Nextdoor Harmony Hollow)

• SAS Retail Services posted a job opening for Retail Stocking/Shelving Merchandiser in Front Royal. Apply here.
• Capstone Logistics posted a job opening for Warehouse Sanitation in Front Royal. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Front Royal here.

🗞 Nearby News

Strasburg

• Strasburg's running game blows past Glenvar to claim school's first state football championship (cardinalnews.org)

Washington

• Sen. Mark Warner: No reason not to release Sept. 2 strike video (kentucky.com)

Ok Front Royal! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

• Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
• Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
• List items for sale or services offered

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook