A NOTE FROM ME
Good evening. Halloween lands on a Saturday, Election Day is Tuesday, and the weekend forecast starts out sunny and then shrugs. Plan the costume around a jacket.
THIS WEEKEND'S WEATHER
Friday | High 75, Low 47. Sunny, then a clear night.
Saturday | High 62, Low 48. Partly sunny in the morning, then mostly cloudy.
Sunday | High 65, Low 42. Mostly cloudy early, partly sunny later.
(WeatherBug, Bowling Green, updated Oct. 29: forecast)
GOOD NEWS: FIVE SHOWS, FIVE SELLOUTS
Beetlejuice Jr. has closed its run at Caroline Community Theatre, and according to the theatre, all five performances sold out. In its thank-you post, the theatre credits its young cast for the hours spent on lines, choreography and songs, and thanks its directors, technical director, lighting and sound crew, set builders, volunteers and families. Congratulations to everyone on both sides of the curtain. (Caroline Community Theatre on Facebook)
Also worth a cheer: Caroline Middle School's volleyball team is the 2026 district champion, according to Caroline County Public Schools. (CCPS Facebook)
THIS WEEKEND IN CAROLINE
Fri., Oct. 30, 6:30pm, and Sat., Oct. 31, 10:30am and 1:30pm: "Sherlock Holmes and the 1st Baker Street Irregular," Caroline Middle School's CMS Theatre. On Saturday, families are also invited to "Halloween in London" from noon to 1pm. A good one for kids. (CCPS)
Fri., Oct. 30, 3 to 7pm: Rich Earth Farm Farmers' Market, 17013 New Baltimore Rd., Milford. The county calendar lists this as the last Friday. (county calendar)
Fri., Oct. 30, 7 to 10pm: A Twist of Fate, live music, The Heist, 102 N. Main St., Bowling Green. (The Heist calendar)
Sat., Oct. 31, from 10am: Frog Level Fall Festival, Parade and Brunswick Stew Sale, Frog Level Volunteer Fire Department, 30240 Richmond Tpke. Gates open at 10am and the parade is at 11am. According to the department's guides, the parade runs from Route 30 north on Concord Rd. to Frog Level Rd., and public parking is in the field inside those two roads. The pavilion hosts the 250th celebration, a blacksmith and forge, an auction, a puppet show, an awards ceremony and photos with Thomas Jefferson, and the field has a hay structure and a corn pool. Stew pre-orders are picked up at the stew shed. (county calendar)
Sat., Oct. 31, 10am to noon: mini pumpkin painting, Bowling Green library branch. Little ones welcome. (library)
Sat., Oct. 31, 10am to 2pm: Historic Port Royal museum and school open hours. Questions: [email protected]. (county calendar)
Sun., Nov. 1, 6 to 8pm: Trunk or Treat at Frog Level Volunteer Fire Department, free, with a hay maze and a fire truck display. (event page)
Saturday morning is crowded: the CMS play, the Frog Level festival and pumpkin painting all start between 10 and 10:30am.
Last chance: the county calendar lists the 250th Anniversary Exhibit at the Sidney E. King Arts Center, 121 N. Main St., Bowling Green, through Fri., Oct. 30, with no hours posted. (county calendar)
Planning ahead: Caroline Community Theatre presents pianist Ralph Diekemper in a solo concert Sat., Nov. 14 at 6:30pm, 7278 Ladysmith Rd., Ruther Glen, with tickets on sale now. Auditions for Girls' Weekend by Karen Schaeffer are Nov. 10 and 11 from 7 to 9pm, and virtual auditions run Nov. 2 to 11, with scenes posted on the website Nov. 2. (theatre)
SCHOOL & LIBRARY
School Board town hall on the elementary schools, Wed., Nov. 4, 6 to 7pm, Lewis and Clark Elementary, 18101 Clark and York Blvd., Ruther Glen. The division's flyer lists four topics: facilities, overcrowding, funding and next steps. A 15-minute presentation is followed by 45 minutes of community questions, and all elementary school families are invited. (CCPS)
All four library branches are closed Tue., Nov. 3 for the election, according to the library. Next week's story times: Wed., Nov. 4, Dawn at 10am. Thu., Nov. 5, Mother Goose at Bowling Green at 10am, preschool at Ladysmith at 10am and at Bowling Green at 10:30am. (library calendar)
Caroline High's varsity football team hosts Culpeper County on Fri., Nov. 6 at 7pm in Milford. This Friday's game at King George is away. (NFHS Network)
AT THE COUNTY
No Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission or Board of Zoning Appeals meeting falls this week. The Transportation Committee's Nov. 4 meeting is cancelled, according to the county calendar. The Bowling Green Town Council meets Thu., Nov. 5 at 6pm; the town has not posted a location, so call 804-633-6212. The Board of Supervisors next meets Thu., Nov. 12, in the Community Services Center Auditorium in Milford. The county calendar lists a 6pm start. (county calendar)
The Planning Commission next meets Thu., Nov. 19. The M.C. Dean rezoning public hearing has no date yet, according to the Oct. 22 staff memo. (Agenda Center)
Minutes from the Oct. 13 Board meeting are still not posted, so there is no confirmed vote record to report.
PUBLIC SAFETY & ROADS
VDOT's Oct. 25 to 31 alert for Caroline lists right lane closures on Route 1 between Ladysmith Rd. and Route 207 (Rogers Clark Blvd.) weekdays 9am to 3pm, and alternating lane closures for pavement markers on Route 301 weekdays 9am to 3pm. VDOT had not posted next week's alert at press time. Check 511virginia.org or dial 511. (VDOT)
Coming Mon., Nov. 9: I-95 bridge work over the CSX Railroad near mile marker 103, just south of exit 104. (VDOT)
ON THE BALLOT
Election Day is Tue., Nov. 3, polls 6am to 7pm. Saturday, Oct. 31, 9am to 5pm is the last day of early voting, at the Annex behind 212 N. Main St., Bowling Green. Under state rules, a mailed ballot must be postmarked by Election Day and reach the registrar by noon Fri., Nov. 6. The drop box outside the registrar's office is open around the clock and locks at 7pm Tuesday. Every Caroline ballot has the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House (7th District) and three proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution. Voters in Bowling Green and Port Royal also elect town council members. Details: Caroline General Registrar, state amendment page.
ONE FUN FACT ABOUT CAROLINE
William Clark, who co-led the Lewis and Clark expedition, was born in Caroline County on Aug. 1, 1770, according to Britannica. Caroline has a Lewis and Clark Elementary School in Ruther Glen, which hosts the School Board town hall next week. (Britannica)
That's all for this week. Thanks for reading.
Did we miss something, or is there an event, a person, or a bit of good news you think belongs in the next issue? Email [email protected] or send a message to our Facebook page, The Caroline Ledger. I read everything, even when I can't fit it all in.