🌱 Winchester Among 'Best Places To Retire' + 10 Years Of Bright Box

Hey, everybody. I'm here right on time with your fresh copy of the Winchester Patch newsletter. Keep reading to find out all the local news you need to know right now.

But first, your local weather:

• Monday: Partly sunny. High: 73 Low: 54.
• Tuesday: Partly sunny and pleasant. High: 73 Low: 55.

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Here are the top three stories in Winchester today:

1. Winchester has made Forbes' list of "Best Places to Retire in 2023." The city was recognized for its affordable median home price, walkability, and low risk of natural hazards. Forbes calculated its rankings based on a multitude of factors, including price, crime rates, and healthcare options; a full list of the top 25 cities can be found at the links. (Free: Becker's ASC Review; Subscription: Forbes)
2. Bright Box Theater, a live entertainment venue in Winchester's downtown area, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. To commemorate this milestone, the theater has organized two events this coming Friday, May 19 — both free and open to the public. The day's festivities will begin with a ribbon-cutting celebration at 1:00 p.m., followed by a birthday bash at 6:00 p.m. with live music by Cazhmiere. (Royal Examiner)
3. The Winchester-Frederick County Convention & Visitors Bureau is calling for volunteers to help plant native pollinator plants and grasses behind the Visitor Center on Jun. 11. All volunteers will receive a free lunch as well as a commemorative "We Are the Core" shirt. More information on the initiative can be found on the City of Winchester website, and those who wish to sign up to volunteer can do so here. (City of Winchester VA - Local Government via Facebook)

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Today and tomorrow in and around Winchester:

Monday, May 15

• Tween & Teen Calm Coloring At Bowman Library, Stephens City (6:00 PM)
• LUNAFEST Film Festival At Alamo Drafthouse Cinema (7:00 PM)

Tuesday, May 16

• Garden Explorers: Planting A Garden At Museum Of The Shenandoah Valley (10:30 AM)

From my notebook:

• Looking to add a four-legged friend to your household? Meet Mona the Labrador Retriever, described as a "wonderful companion dog" and other adoptable pets in Winchester area shelters. (Winchester Patch)
• The City of Winchester reminds the community that the new WinTran route to Laurel Ridge Community College is active. The bus leaves from downtown Winchester every 70 minutes, making five stops to and from the college's Middletown campus. (City of Winchester VA - Local Government via Facebook)
• Congratulations to the Winchester Public Schools' team of fourth graders who competed — and won — in the "Are You Smarter than a Fourth Grader?" event at the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum on Apr. 30! The team competed against other local fourth-grade teams as well as community professionals. (Winchester Public Schools via Facebook)

Thanks for following along and staying informed. See you all soon for another update!

— Rose Mendez

About me: Rose Mendez is a freelance writer. She is studying English Literature at Hunter College. She loves reading, walking around the city, and coffee!