By Laura Overstreet Special to the Rappahannock News At

By Laura Overstreet Special to the Rappahannock News

At its board meeting in February, the leadership of the Rappahannock Association for the Arts and Community «RAAC> began to put plans in place for several new artistic directions that the association is taking in 2009.

The board recently suffered the loss of former RAAC President Claudia Mitchell, both leader and friend, who passed away on Feb. 23 and also the loss of long-time RAAC board member Richard Lykes. who passed away on Feb. 25.

“It is, in large part, due to Claudia's leadership and Richard's contributions to the RAAC board that these new ventures are being realized.” said Kevin Adams in a recent letter to the RAAC membership. Adams was unanimously selected by the board to follow Mitchell as president of the organization.

“RAAC hopes to build upon the legacy of these two individuals and upon years of hard work on the part of many volunteers by broadening its reach into the community with several significant new directions as well as new programs,” Adams said.

RAAC announced the gala opening of the RAAC Community Theatre on March 28 in the space formerly known as Ki Theatre in the Town of Washington. The event will feature Rappahannock storytellers and musicians and thespians, followed by a community reception to celebrate the official opening of the theater. Joyce .Abell chairs RAAC’s new Community Theater Committee, which is composed of a wealth of very capable volunteers who are busy planning a full year of theater productions. music, poetry and dance.

On March 20. I Rappahannock County songwriter Will Hopkins and his partner Joe Gale will host a dinner concert at their home in Flint Hill to benefit the new Community Theatre. RAAC also has agreed to serve as the new home for the wonderful and popular "Soup &