26-year-old Reid Wodicka starts his new role in Woodstock on June 1. He replaces outgoing town manager Larry Bradford, who spent 26 years in the post.

In a letter that Dr.Keith Rowland read aloud during a Shenandoah County School Board meeting last Thursday, he said stepping down from the position was "in the best interest of my family and those who provide me with the highest level of support."

A Shenandoah County native was honored as the 33rd recipient of the Virginia General Assembly’s “Outstanding Virginian of the Year” award at a ceremony at the 4-H Educational Center on Saturday. William B. Holtzman, 75, who turned a small distributorship in Mount Jackson into Holtzman Corp., a regional gas, oil, construction and food conglomerate, received the award from his daughter, state Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel (R-Upperville).

In a special edition of Virginia Living magazine published this month, SoLace Studios was named the “Best Gift Shop” in the region. This was the second consecutive year that SoLace, which is located in Elkton’s downtown “triangle” area, was garnered the recognition in the magazine’s “Best of Virginia 2013” edition, which included reader-ranked lists of the best in arts and entertainment, living and recreation, food and drink and shopping and services establishments in the state. Each year, the magazine divides the state into five regions, with the Shenandoah Valley, stretching from Winchester to Roanoke, representing one of the regions.

Former Page News and Courier editor John D. Waybright Jr. is being remembered this week by many as a great friend, a great contributor to the community and a mentor who “encouraged everybody” to achieve their best potential.Waybright, 74, passed away on Friday, May 10, 2013, at 12:10 p.m., according to his family. He had endured a number of health issues for several years. A memorial service in his honor will be held on Friday, May 17, from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Warehouse Art Gallery, 15 Campbell Street in Luray. The body was donated to scientific research and will be cremated.