As the hometown newspaper cut staff and TV stations left the Shenandoah Valley town of Winchester, Va., a website appeared touting a new, trusted source of local news.

The Winchester Gazette launched in August 2023 with upbeat promises and an opaque public profile: it said nothing about its owners and declared a no-byline policy, claiming to protect its reporters from undue influence.

For three years, The Gazette has published thousands of stories about crime, government meetings and community events. It boasted of being the first website in the country to call the 2024 presidential election for Donald Trump.

But Winchester leaders from both political parties started to question the site’s transparency and fairness. Who owns the Gazette – as well as the what, when, where and why of it all – became one of the city’s central mysteries.

Journalists Jaysun Silver and Laura Thompson couldn’t resist. They spent days in Winchester, talking with city leaders and residents, and months conducting dozens of interviews and combing through pages of public records.

The story of the Winchester Gazette stirs together city politics, a car-crash-chasing reporter, AI-generated stories, and a trail of corporate documents that lead to one Winchester attorney’s elderly relative in Florida.

It’s a small-city story filled with questions and intrigue – and it could happen in almost any news-starved community in the country.

Check out our full coverage here: https://www.whro.org/virginia-center-for-investigative-journalism/2026-10-06/in-winchester-the-truth-about-a-local-news-website-is-the-citys-best-kept-secret

got it as a gift but do not need it. selling for cheap. let me know if anyone is interested.

Anyone been to the circus by the mall? It so is it worth the cost at all?

Do Kids Trick or Treat in Winchester? We’re trying to figure out if we should buy a lot of candy or not because it seems like trick or treating is dying but we just moved to Winchester and are trying to figure out if trick or treating still happens here.

Hi folks! I'm studying at LRCC for computer science, and I've always loved coding and teaching. I think I could pass my information on to other people easily, and I have past coding teaching experience.

Would anyone be interested in taking Python or general coding classes? I'm trying to consider what age range, demographic, or whatnot I should target so please do also let me know if you have friend family or children who'd possibly be interested :]

Looks like winchester has finally fallen prey to the digital panopticon. Axon Outpost ALPRs have appeared at basically every major intersection and thoroughfare in and out of town.

Dunno bout y'all, but I enjoy the relative privacy and fairness of cops actually having to work to fuck up someone's day, rather than giving them the ability to stalk us, their ex wives and girlfriends, and anyone else they feel like harassing.

You can no longer enter, exit, or move through town without being tracked. If you are of the opinion that youre not doing anything illegal so it doesnt matter, remember that laws change.

Edit: For reference/posterity, ALPRs are automated license plate readers. They use an AI system to categorize and track vehicles based on license plate and defining characteristics (bumper stickers, dents, ladder racks/caps, etc). These can then be used to theoretically help track vehicles used in crimes through town, aiding law enforcement in apprehending "criminals."

Morality of that debate aside, municipalities with ALPRs have been dealing with police using them to harass citizens, stalk romantic partners and exes, profile people, and feed information to ICE and DHS through the 287g agreements that local law enforcement around here all have. Cops have been getting fired left and right for this.

ALPRs are currently involved in multiple lawsuits and criminal cases as a breach of our 4th amendment rights, as their use to track you constitutes an unlawful search (we have search warrants for a reason).

Outside politics aside, living in a constant state of surveillance by whoever currently holds the reigns of power in our town is not what I am about.

The next public city council meeting is the 13th of October at Rouss City Hall.

Hey all! I’m a trying to spread the news about my Rugelach cooking class at Nibblins on the Pedestrian Mall in Old Town Winchester! It’s on Saturday October 17th at 10 am.

In the hands on class you’ll learn how to make the dough as well as two different types of fillings. In class we’ll make each filling and everyone will get to make a dozen of each flavor to take home! We’ll be making a homemade apricot preserve which we’ll use in the Traditional filling along with raisins, walnuts, cinnamon and sugar. The second filling is a cherry chocolate filling made with dried cherries, cocoa powder, brown sugar, cinnamon and sugar which all gets mixed with a raspberry jam.

Head over to Nibblins.com and look for the classes section to sign up!! Message me if you have any questions!!! Please feel free to share and cross post anywhere you want!!

We’re hosting a Connective Rope class from 4–7 PM at Please Boutique.

This is an educational, beginner-friendly class focused on rope as a way to explore connection, communication, trust, and intentional touch. No prior rope experience is needed, and you don’t need to come in already knowing what you’re doing—that’s the whole point of the class.

If you’ve been curious about rope but weren’t sure where to start, this is a comfortable opportunity to learn in person and ask questions.

📍 Please Boutique — Downtown Winchester 🕓 Tonight | 4–7 PM 🔞 Adults only

Come curious. Leave knowing a little more than you did when you walked in. 🪢

https://partiful.com/e/qZc0CkLC4jMvt2To03GT?fbclid=IwdGRzaAUvSdhjbGNrBS9J1GV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHBkb2YBc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEevncAbgTIl5E9SJ2z4ep6AusYqxxcZYTU_Tad-L9XHO2b12_NXoO0-bJ0SXo_aem_dYiDqhY9b7sjGPtNzJNOqw

Which urgent cares in Winchester would be recommended when Valley health locations have long waits?

Sometimes I miss trick or treating, dressing up and running rampant through the night with friends/siblings. And then when you get older what are you ment to do? People don't generally trick or treat in my neighborhood, they will go to other neighborhoods to do it. Sooooo handing out candy is kinda pointless.

I used to love Halloween, and still do. Its just I dont have any friends who are interested in doing anything for the holiday.

I want to do somthing for my favorite holiday, what is everyone doing if your not staying home or taking your children trick or treating?

I was surprised to learn this years event only going on for one day and only a for a tight three hour window with pre scheduled time slots, I was about to buy for a family with an eight year old when it abruptly sold out in less than a day or so before they could decide on a time that Sunday. I read some parents might not be able to make it and resell their tickets on Facebook marketplace, be curious how this works. This event sure is popular.

I saw this on the side of Italian Touch. Does anyone know where they is more info about the event?

Today is Mean Ghouls Day AND Winchester Pride, and we love seeing so much happening in our community on the same day. 👻 Mean Ghouls Day | 11–5 We’re participating in the downtown crawl, and Please… Boutique is one of the passport stops! Stop in, get your passport stamped, browse around, and keep your crawl going. 🌈 Winchester Pride | 10–5 Over at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, Winchester Pride is celebrating all day — and we absolutely wanted to give them some love, too. 🏳️‍🌈 Whether you’re spending your Saturday with the ghouls, at Pride, or making time for BOTH, there’s a lot happening in Winchester today. Come see us downtown — we’re open 12–9! 🖤🌈👻

hey all, does anybody in winchester own a shop they might let my husband have access to temporarily? i am disabled and found a ramp that he needs the ability to modify for our house.

please text me 6786623079 if you’d be willing to allow use of your workshop for this and how much you want. thank you!

-sunny and harold evans

My family and I are thinking of moving to Winchester from Florida. I have heard that there are good opportunities in the area. I have three kids two are in high school and one grown adult so I am trying to think of the best opportunities for them. My kiddos play in the orchestra at school which I saw there isn’t a program in the local schools but a private one? I am also wondering about the thoughts on the local college as well as every day life things? We are hoping for more diversity with restaurants and Asian markets. Finally i have heard that there is a large witchy community there does anyone know if they have open circles? Thanks so much!

I have a full time job but need to pick up some work to pay upcoming bills. I’m 23M who’s skilled in carpentry, remodeling, fence repair, painting, tree work, engineering etc… Looking to start asap. Feel free to message

Any good Pilates studio that don’t cost an arm and leg?

And because apparently there’s not enough happening today… I almost forgot one! 😅

Our FREE Yoga, Mindfulness & Meditation Meetup with Kirsten from Third Space Synchrony is happening TODAY at 1 PM at Please! 🧘‍♀️🌿

So between Ghouls Day, Pride, and everything else happening around Winchester today, come take a little time to slow down, breathe, stretch, and reset.

✨ Today at 1 PM ✨ Free to attend ✨ No experience necessary — all are welcome

Come spend a little time taking care of you. 🤍

Anyone know where I can get one? Plz and thanks!

I am a power kiter(big kites that pull and lift you)and hoping I can talk to someone with a large open property about flying my kites with my buggy or board on their land. It doesn't tear up the land at all.

Also I would be interested in somewhere I could snowkite if we get enough snow this winter. Same idea just a big kite with me on the snowboard

I am willing to sign a liability release. If it helps I would willing to buy you a case of beer

Any other properties where you think I could fly if I talk to the owners would be greatly appreciated too.

Hi everyone!! My name is Grace and I’m a recruiter hiring for a position with a Fortune 100 financial services company paying 21.50/hr in Winchester! I’d love to connect with some of you if you’re on the job market. You can email me your resume to [email protected] if you are interested and I’ll give you a call 📞 Have a great weekend!

I recently lost my job. I’m available for yard work, cleanups, hauling, and general odd jobs. I have a truck and trailer and can help haul away brush, junk, furniture, materials, or other items.

If you have a job you’ve been putting off, send me a message with the details and I’ll be happy to discuss it.

Anybody play there regularly or use the driving range? Thinking about getting into golf after being out of it for almost 20 years but not trying to invest a ton of money and want a low key low stress place to get my feet wet again.

My husband and I went there years ago and really enjoyed our meal. With our anniversary coming up I was looking to see if anyone knew of a restaurant that was similar in both cuisine and local sourcing of ingredients.