Strawberries reign

Rain didn’t keep shoppers from enjoying the annual St. Stephen’s Episcopal Strawberry Festival in Heathsville on Saturday, May 23. Although it did not draw as large a crowd as in past years, hundreds still donned rain gear and opened their umbrellas for the rain-or-shine event, to benefit the church’s community outreach. Proceeds from the Strawberry Boutique, strawberry and plant sales, strawberry shortcake and hot dog sales and the thrift shop are all returned to the community. Although the rain dampened many Memorial Day weekend happenings, it was celebrated by farmers and gardeners struggling through the ongoing drought. Photo by Lisa Hinton-Valdrighi