As a very pleasant September comes to a close we can begin to bring out the long pants and sweaters…fall is in the air. This fall may be quite unlike any before…we will be watching the Nationals in the post season for the second time in three years, with hopes that they can make it to the World Series. Our other favorite team in Baltimore also has a chance to make it to the World Series, and wouldn’t it be great to see the Nats and O’s battle it out for world champion. No matter what the outcome, the Maryland, Virginia, D.C. and Baltimore areas would come out winners. Worldwide attention would be concentrated here!

As the Civil War 150 years later continues, Doug Coleman takes us to Saltville in Smyth County, Virginia. Of critical importance, the salt marshes provided salt to cure and preserve meat…no salt…no meat…you lose the war! Doug also enlightens us to the “dead” who show up and participate in the reenactments…Happy Halloween!

While Lori Welch Brown is on her honeymoon, Bonnie Browning is filling in for Single Space. See what Bonnie has to say about the “Love” boat. When Lori returns to writing her monthly article she will be armed with a lot more material as she begins to find out what “Double Space” will be like.

Happy anniversary to Landini Brothers Restaurant for 35 years of serving excellent food and drink. Check out our Dining Out column and see why this restaurant has become an Old Town institution. October is also Virginia Wine Month and our Road Trip this month will give you a little of the history of Virginia wines and a little about the wine trails that you can travel.

On yet another sad note, our friend Jim Parker passed away in September. Jim and his brother Fred founded Hard Times Café here in Old Town in 1980. When we had our first “Old Town Crier Cup” sailboat race in 1999, Jim was at the helm of one of the 33-foot Hunters and Jim had enlisted his date, Monica Disa, as crew. Soon after, they were married. Our condolences go out to brother Fred and the whole Hard Times family.

Get out there and enjoy the cool fall weather and take a drive to see the foliage that is all around us “From the Bay to the Blue Ridge”!

Written by: Bob Tagert