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MAY 201 7
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vaobserver.com Blue Ridge Mountain Home and Garden Tour to Benefit Boulder Crest Retreat
SELLING HOMES, FARMS and LAND
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Butterfly Weed. The Potomac Audubon Society will sponsor their Second Annual Native Plant sale on Saturday, May 20. Read more on page 17. Photo submitted by the Potomac Valley Audubon Society.
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Aging
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Around Clarke County
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Grassland Birds in Peril
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As the Crow Flies
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Healthy Outlook
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Summer Theater in Winchester
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News Briefs
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PVAS Plant Sale
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Five Generations
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Guest Commentary
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River Palooza
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MAY 20 1 7 :
FROM THE EDITOR STAFF
David Lillard, Editor/Publisher Jennifer Welliver, Associate Publisher Aundrea Humphreys, Art Director Hali Taylor, Proofreader Sinead Juday, Intern
CONTRIBUTORS Karen Cifala Wendy Gooditis Doug Pifer JiJi Russell Claire Stuart
COVER PHOTO Courtesy of PVAS
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Budget Deal Good For Shenandoah River The start of May has done more than bring on the flowers. Finally, eight months into the federal government’s fiscal year 2017, the nation has an approved budget. Turns out it was worth the wait. When President Trump released his “skinny budget” for FY 2018 in February, it completely zeroed out funding for the Chesapeake Bay and other programs that bring millions of dollars each year into the Commonwealth. Members of Virginia’s delegation, including Rep. Barbara Comstock and Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, said “Uh uh.” Many of us don’t realize that the Environmental Protection Agency, which administers the Chesapeake Bay Program, is both a regulatory agency and a funder of in-state water improvement programs. Congressional approval of the FY 2017 budget doesn’t mean there won’t be a battle over 2018, but it shows that the Commonwealth’s delegation understands that government must do more than fund defense, border security, and entitlement programs. The program coordinates Chesapeake Bay watershed restoration and conservation efforts throughout our region. The majority of its funds are passed through to the states and local communities for on-the-ground restoration projects.
The program was funded at $73 million for most of 2017 through a series of continuing resolutions, which kept last year’s funding in place. The early May vote formalizes that level for the remainder of the year. The program enables coordination and voluntary efforts to restore Bay tributaries, including the Shenandoah River and its smaller tributaries. It and other Bay programs provide matching grants to farmers for voluntary measures like livestock exclusion, riparian forest buffers, tree plantings, and grants for stormwater management and other key pollution controls. More than 11 million people in our region obtain their drinking water directly from the rivers and streams that flow through our cities, farms, and towns, and eventually into the Chesapeake Bay. Virginia and other Bay watershed states are investing in efforts to restore clean and safe water to the Chesapeake and its many tributaries. Their efforts cannot succeed without strong and sustained federal support. Kudos to groups like the Virginia Conservation Network, which is the state’s lead organization of the Bay-wide Choose Clean Water Coalition, for helping tell the story of how money enables voluntary efforts for clean water.
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Gardening has great benefits By Karen Cifala
The National Diabetes Education Program lists gardening as one of five ways that aging adults could be more physically active. Being physically active as we age is a challenge for most of us, especially if your health is not good. However, research has shown that people recover from illnesses quicker with outdoor activities and visual access to nature and being around nature reduces stress and lowers blood pressure. Creating enjoyable outdoor activities for persons with Alzheimer’s helps support their needs and could provide better understanding of who they are. Therapeutic gardens (specially maintained gardening facilities) and horticulture therapy is on the rise as a rehabilitative tool and has significant health benefits for a variety of people who might be recovering from an illness or surgery. Gardening has psychological benefits as well, from decreasing anxiety to alleviating depression. People with dementia may benefit from different scents and colorful blooms creating a good sensory experience that aids in jogging memories and reducing agitation. Horticultural Therapy Programs greatly benefit seniors and people with disabilities by empowering them through experiencing working with others and the pride of successful gardening. Horticulture therapy has been linked to improved sleep cycles, reduction of chronic pain, improvement in attention and mobility. Most importantly vitamin D absorption from spending time out-
side in the fresh air and sun helps to increase bone density. Many seniors and individuals with disabilities experience improvement in the following areas: Cognitive: New skills offer the opportunity to regain past skills, can increase attention to task and concentration, help follow directions and make decisions easier Physical: Exercise provided a focus on gross and fine motor skills Social: Improved and increased social interaction while working toward a common goals.
Community gardens are on the rise in both urban and rural areas. In general a community garden can be any piece of land gardened by a group of people to provide fresh products and plants and an opportunity to contribute a sense of community to neighborhoods and a connection to the environment. Community gardens range from growing small plots of vegetables to “greening projects” to preserve natural areas and some grow just flowers. Community gardens provide other social benefits such as sharing knowledge and ideas,
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healthy foods and can also improve exercise. Locally, FISH of Clarke County provides a community garden for neighbors in need. Originally started and sponsored by the Greenway Garden Club in 2013, the garden enabled FISH to offer a “fresh”
side to their food pantry. Recent Greenway Garden club donations made it possible to add two new raised beds to the gardens. President Mary Veilleux of FISH excitedly explained to me that the garden bounty is open to “those in need” along with fresh bread anytime they
are open. Conversely, the food pantry pickup is available to recipients just once a month. Anne Cushman oversees the FISH Pantry as well as the Garden. Regular volunteers are always needed to weed and water the gardens as well as harvest and refrigerate the vegetables. Betsy Hill, a member of Greenway Garden Club, donates all the plants that she grows herself. Typically, the garden includes high producing vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, many different greens, cabbage, pole beans and squash. FISH also maintains a grapevine that produces concord grapes. Consider donating your time and money for this great community asset. If you have a large garden yourself, FISH will gladly take your excess and it is suggested that you drop it off on the days they are open. To volunteer or donate to FISH, contact: Mary Veilleux, 540-9554068, or Betsy Hill, 540-8372440 or bnj58@hotmail.com (email is best). The FISH office is open every Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 9-12. Garden excess donations are also accepted as well as canned goods. Karen Cifala is a Remax Roots, Realtor at the Berryville office located 101 E. Main St. She can be reached by email or cell: kcifala@ gmail.com/303-817-9374. If you have a suggestion for an article that you would like to offer please let her know.
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Around Clarke County Promote your event in TO Send notices by the 1st of the preceding month to jennifer@vaobserver.com. Keep event descriptions to 125 words, following the format of these pages. One or two CMYK photos, saved as tiff or jpg at 200 dpi, are always welcome.
May
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Historic Area Landscaping
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Josephine Museum Exhibit
Josephine School Community Museum. 303 Josephine St. Berryville. Exhibit "To Be Sold: Virginia and the American Slave Trade" features paintings by 19th century artist Eyre Crowe illustrating the slave trade in Richmond. Exhibit also held May 19. Free. Call 540-955-5512.
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Plant Sale
Oak Hart Farm. 822 Shepherd's Mill Rd. Berryville. Many varieties of organic plants for purchase. Call 540533-3096.
Sky Meadows State Park. 11012 Edmonds Lane. Delaplane. Bring gardening gloves, water, sunscreen, and hand tools to help restore Mount Bleak's historic garden landscaping. 10am–2pm. 540-592-3566.
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Beer Fest
Belle Grove Plantation. 336 Belle Grove Rd. Middletown. Live music, speakers on beer and brewing, 60 craft and imported beers and hard ciders available for tasting. 11am– 6pm. $25 ahead, $30 at gate. Visit www.bellegrove.org. Garden Fest at Belle Grove Plantation set for June 3.
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–14 Garden Fair
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Charm City Junction Concert
Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. Charm City Junction and Ken and Brad Kolodner Trio perform old time rhythms and foot stomping Irish melodies to hard-driving bluegrass. 8pm. $15 in advance, $20 at door, children 12 and younger free. barnsofrosehill.org.
State Arboretum of Virginia. 400 Blandy Farm Lane. Boyce. Plant and garden supply sale features a weekend of free events, including guided tours, family activities, food and more. $15 per car. 9am–4:30pm both days, rain or shine. Call 540-837-1758 or visit www. blandy.virginia.edu.
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Clarke County High School. 240 Westwood Rd. Berryville. Proceeds benefit Clarke County High School choirs. Auction, entertainment provided by choir members, spaghetti with choice of meat sauce, alfredo or marinara, salad, rolls and ice cream sundae bar. Donations requested. Call 540-955-6130.
Sanctuary Wellness Center. 208 N Buckmarsh St. Berryville. Explore natural strategies to protect yourself from stressors and discover new insights on how to make stress your friend. 2–4pm. $15 or $20, call for details. 540-227-0564. www.sanctuaryberryville.com.
Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. One of the finest youth ensembles in the area performs music by composers from various musical eras including baroque, classical, romantic and contemporary. 4pm. $5 in advance and at door. www.barnsofrosehill.org.
Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction
Stress Management Event
Loudoun Youth Guitars Performance
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–21 Lucketts Spring Market at Clarke Fairgrounds Annual event held in Clarke for first time features painted furniture, vintage garden gems, architectural salvage, crusty antiques, live music, beer gardens, enticing food trucks and fun workshops.10am to 5pm. $10 admission, payable at door. For more information, visit www.luckettstore.com/shopthe-spring-market or email luckettspringmarket@gmail.com.
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Haas Kowert Tice Performance
Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. Haas Kowert Tice and Jordan Tice and Horse County present a night of bluegrass and barbecue. 7pm. $15 in advance, $20 at door, children 12 and younger free. www.barnsofrosehill.org.
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–28 AMuse Art and Craft Festival
Museum of the Shenandoah Valley. 901 Amherst St. Winchester. Winchester's only festival dedicated to the arts features woodworking, printmaking, painting, collage, ceramics and more. 10am–5pm. Free. Visit www.amuseartfair.com.
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Memorial Day Service
Rose Hill Park. E. Main St. Berryville. Theme "Diversity in Sacrifice, Unity in Remembrance" emphasizes the diversity of America's heroes. Major General Jerry R. Curry, U.S. Army (Retired), will deliver the message. In case of inclement weather, service will be held in Barns of Rose Hill. Sponsored by American Legion Post 41 and Clarke County Memorial VFW Post 9760. Contact Tom Vorisek at 540-955-3717 or tvorisek@comcast.net; or Jim Wink at 540-554-8291 or jimwink@erols.com.
June
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Album Release Concert
Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. Mink's Miracle Medicine's CD release concert explores the potential of sonic minimalism in country music. 8pm. $15 in advance, $20 at door, children 12 and younger free. www.barnsofrosehill.org.
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Garden Fest
Belle Grove Plantation. 336 Belle Grove Rd. Middletown. Master Gardener plant sale, speakers, workshops, kids' activities, sheepdog demos. Free admission and parking. Visit www.nsvmga.org.
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Blue Ridge Wildlife Center Baby Shower
Longbranch Historic House and Farm. 830 Long Branch Lane. Millwood. The Blue Ridge Wildlife Center, which rescues and raises orphaned birds and mammals, requests donations of animal food, bird seed, bleach, paper towels, dish liquid, laundry detergent and more. Games, raffles and food for purchase from Boyd's Nest. Call 540-837-1856.
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Album Release Concert
Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. Will Lee, Danny Knicely and John Flower release their new album, The Evening News, which includes originals, old favorites, a cappella and hot instrumental numbers. 7pm. $15 in advance, $20 at door, children 12 and younger free. www.barnsofrosehill.org.
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Color Me Clarke 5k Fun Run/Walk
Clarke County Parks and Recreation. 225 Al Smith Circle. Berryville. Clarke County Education Foundation, in
partnership with CCPS and CCPR, hosts the third Color Me Clarke 5k Fun Run/Walk. This is not a certified course; it’s about fun. 7:30am check in/ packet pickup. Race waves begin at 9am. Tiered pricing: $30 in May, $35 in June and day of the event. D.J., awards, Color Finale. For information, visit www.ccefinc.org. For online registration visit https://runsignup.com/ Race/VA/Berryville/ ColorMeClarke.
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–10 Clothing Giveaway
Clarke County Fairgrounds. 890 W. Main St. Berryville. Seniors only June 9, everyone welcome June 10. Free clothes in all sizes for all ages as well as shoes, hats, coats, books and household items. Donations welcome ahead of time by appointment and June 5–9 at the fairgrounds. Volunteers welcome. Sponsored by Emmaus Church. Call 540-550-0773.
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Town Mountain: Bluegrass and Barbecue
Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. Town Mountain performs raw, soulful music with a honky-tonk edge. 8pm. $20 in advance, $25 at door, children 12 and younger free. www.barnsofrosehill.org.
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Oklahoma! Opening Night
Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre at Shenandoah University. 1460 University Dr. Winchester. Classic musical tells the story of cowboy Curly McLain and his romance with farm girl Laurey Williams. The first of three shows in Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre's 34th season, runs through July 2. Adults $36, seniors $30, youth $18. Season tickets are $86 for adults, $72 for seniors and $43 for youth. Visit www.ssmtva.org/box-office or call 540-665-4569 Monday–Friday,10am–6pm.
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Even Mountains Need Friends By Claire Stuart Photos courtesy The Downstream Project From a strictly practical point of view, healthy mountains are necessary for our survival, supplying over half of the world’s fresh water. When it comes to intangibles, something about mountains is therapeutic. People come to the mountains to escape their busy lives and renew themselves physically, mentally and spiritually. With increasing population pressure, mountains face the dangers of being either ripped apart for their resources or loved to death as more and more people want to live there. Mountain environments are both complex and fragile, and once disturbed, they recover slowly, if at all. Friends of the Blue Ridge Mountains (FRIENDS) was founded in 2007 in response to increasing development and threats to the environment. According to FRIENDS President Carole Napolitano, inspiration came from a white paper written by board member Lella Smith, historian and writer, who grew
up in a mountain homestead. She outlined the historical, cultural and spiritual significance of the Blue Ridge to both Native Americans and European settlers. While there are other conservation organizations, there were none exclusively concerned with the Blue Ridge. FRIENDS is a non-profit organization supported by dues and voluntary contributors. Napolitano
explains that FRIENDS’s work includes physical chores as well as outreach for building membership and collaboration among diverse groups. FRIENDS has partnered with National Wildlife Federation and the Native Plant Society to restore a park on Route 601, overrun with invasive vegetation and used only as a Boy Scout camp. There are two volunteer days a
year when folks come out to destroy fast-growing bamboo and other invasive plants. FRIENDS joins with other conservation organizations, historians, landowners, local governments and business leaders to tackle problems addressing the mountains. Napolitano reports that they were instrumental in resisting construction of a huge AT&T facility on Short
Mountain, planned to have diesel generators and 24/7 operations. “This was inappropriate use for a rural area and would compromise it with noise and light pollution.” She said the plans are “quiet now” but FRIENDS is staying alert. She notes that a big section of the Blue Ridge in our area is the most threatened part of the
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mountain range. So much of it is in private hands, and people are building—putting in roads and septic systems. “Loudoun has ordinances about building on steep slopes, but exceptions have been allowed for building on places that would not have been built on in the past. It’s important that we get people to value the mountains and that the mountains not be compromised. We need to be vigilant about seeing that good policy is followed.” Building environmental awareness in young people is a major goal of FRIENDS. One of the founders of FRIENDS was the late Jane Pratt, who saw the importance of encouraging their involvement in environmental stewardship.
“She was committed to mountain habitats and mountain people,” said Napolitano, “so we created a scholarship in her honor for for area high school students involved in environmental studies and activities.” The Jane Pratt Blue Ridge Mountains Education Award was initiated in 2014, providing a $1,000 scholarship. In 2015, with the help of a FRIENDS member who offered $5,000 seed money, an endowment was initiated to ensure the continuation of the scholarship in perpetuity. So far, students in Jefferson (WV) and Loudoun Counties have received the annual award. “We need to move into Clarke, Fauquier and Rappahannock Counties and coordinate with the high schools,”
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Napolitano said. “Not all schools have strong environmental programs. We have to develop an interest in the kids.” Jed Shilling, husband of Jane Pratt, is active in educational outreach. He speaks to high school classes about sustainable development, water use, and why we must take care of mountains. “We are making progress, but we have a ways to go,” he said. Shilling outlined three important things to consider: “Understand that we totally depend on our environment for food, water and air.
“Understand how things connect over sectors. Rising GDP causes rising energy consumption and increased use of fossil fuels, causing increased pollution and climate change, causing decreases in health and environmental conditions, which costs society—and realize this results from government policies and the self-interest of private industries. “Understand that we must all do our part for the common good. I am just a small part, but billions of people are each small parts and everyone should accept their
responsibility. Don’t assume that someone else will do it.” FRIENDS welcomes new members. Visit their web site: www.frienndsofblueridge.org On Sunday, August 27, FRIENDS will celebrate its 10th anniversary at Franklin Park in Purcellville, with wine, hors d’oeuvres, and mountain music by Danny Knicely and the Furnace Mountain Band. Proceeds will help fund the scholarship endowment. Festivities start at 4:00.
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MAY 201 7
Grassland Birds in Peril By Michael Sullivan
We’ve had an early spring this year. First it was crocuses and daffodils in February, and then early forsythia and other flowering trees in March. We
know the grass is not far behind. Migratory birds are on their way too, and will be arriving before we know it. Already we have evidence of the
early arrival for some of these long-distance travelers who spent the winter months in Central and South America. What does grass and mowing have to do with birds? Well, many of our local nesting birds require grasslands, and it means that they have adequate grassland habitat (wildlife language for home) to nest and raise their young. Or not? The decline of grassland birds has raised eyebrows in the scientific world. No other family of birds has suffered such a steep descent as those making their homes in our grasslands. The iconic Eastern Meadowlark, whose lilting flute of a voice is the very signature of spring to birders, is becoming rare. Grasshopper Sparrows, Northern Bobwhite, and Savannah Sparrows are other species so affected. You can help to stem the decline of grassland birds if you
own and manage significant grasslands that can be used to provide critical habitat. Using limited, carefully timed mowing, you can help wildlife in general, and especially migratory grassland birds. Your resident birds will pay you back by keeping insect populations under control, since all young birds are fed protein – in other words – bugs! The Potomac Valley Audubon Society would love to enroll you in our Grassland Birds Initiative program. For example, large fields that are not in the production of hay could be mowed once a year, in the fall, to allow grassland birds a chance to nest and raise a family. Small plots that are close to one another could also be mowed late in the season, or rotationally mowed once every few years. This would allow the birds a chance to successfully nest. It would also provide cover and food for migrating birds in the fall and for those who stay around all year. Homeowners with a significant lawn area can definitely help too. Limit your mowing to
a trimmed edge or border on your lawn. Consider seeding some grassy areas with a mixture of native wild flowers that will provide color from spring through fall in order to benefit pollinators and grassland nesting birds. If you value our migratory birds, think about changing your mowing practices as you prepare for another season of lawn management. Maybe you can establish a bird friendly habitat on your 12 acres of turf. Think of the gas and labor savings – if you just let it grow! And, instead of using pesticides, allow the birds to use the insects to feed their young. A few simple management practices can help our birds. The establishment of habitat in spring and early summer is critical. For more specific information go to: www.potomacaudubon.org/ GBI_land_management Michael Sullivan is president of the Potomac Valley Audubon Society.
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MAY 20 1 7
As the Crow Flies
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Every spring my wife and I, both seasoned naturalists, seem to discover a wildflower that’s new to us. We were puzzled this year by a very early March bloomer that looked familiar, but very clearly wasn’t. It resembled marsh marigold, a native early bloomer in the buttercup family whose buttery yellow, five-bracted blooms and lush, deep green leaves brighten the early spring wetlands. This unfamiliar plant, though very similar, was growing in the wrong place. We first saw it in a flowerbed in a front yard, then again under a grove of trees. Neither spot was particularly wet. The yellow flowers were pennysized in diameter and had many petals. Small, kidney or heart shaped leaves hugged the ground , and the plant formed dense carpets of blooms. When we saw it again in a wilder situation, we suspected it might be an escaped ornamental plant. Then life got busy and we forgot about it for a while. Last week while taking a walk, I spied the same plant again in a neighbor’s yard. Lucky for me, some of it had spread into the ditch next to the road. I took home a sample flower and leaf to identify. It certainly was a pretty little flower. We even considered going back and asking if we could dig up a bit for ourselves. In many ways it seemed like an ideal plant for our place. We finally identified the plant as Ficaria verna, lesser celandine. Alternate common names are fig buttercup and pilewort. Native to Europe, northern Asia and North Africa, it grows clumps of tubers
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among the roots and tiny, whitish bulblets in the axils of its leaves. This allows the plant to spread quickly into new areas. It covers the ground in early spring, but disappears and goes dormant the rest of the year. By the time most spring flowers appear, it has gone dormant. It’s no surprise this plant is sold by nurseries and garden centers as a ground-covering early perennial. But beware! What seems like the ideal spring flower for the garden too easily becomes an aggressive, invasive competitor with our native wildflowers. Checked by no natural enemies, lesser celandine quickly spreads across the yard and into the adjoining woods. Each year, the mats of leaves and yellow flowers become thicker, choking out native Virginia bluebells, spring beauty, Dutchman’s breeches, bloodroot, and hepatica that
brighten the spring woods. Native early spring wildflowers, called spring ephemerals, run through their flowering and seeding season quickly before the woodland trees leaf out. They then die back and go dormant in the summer. But they’re no match for the invasive lesser celandine. Once established, this plant is almost impossible to eradicate. The problem is worst of all in bottomland or floodplain forests. Within the past ten to fifteen years, large areas of the woods in Rock Creek Park, George Washington Memorial Parkway, National Capital Parks East, Wolf Trap Farm Park, and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, have all become overgrown by lesser celandine according to the National Park Service. Therefore, we won’t be planting it in our garden!
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MAY 201 7
Blue Ridge Mountain Home and Garden Tour To Benefit Boulder Crest Retreat By Karen Cifala
If you are a combat veteran you should know about Boulder Crest Retreat: the nation’s first privately funded rural wellness center exclusively dedicated to combat veterans and their families. Opened in 2013 in Bluemont, Va., just 50 miles west of Washington D.C., Boulder Crest Retreat is on 37 tranquil acres in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. You can support Boulder Crest Retreat and enjoy a tour of these amazing Blue Ridge Mountain homes, May 20, 9am to 4pm. Boulder Crest Retreat provides a free, first-class rural retreat and support service for America’s seriously wounded warriors and their families to reconnect and recover. Two beneficial factors of this remarkable program are: “At Boulder Crest Retreat, we are laser-focused on one goal: providing combat veterans and their families with the rest, reconnections, and recharging they deserve so they can learn to live in the present and focus on their future.” Their 18-month innovative program, PATHH (Progressive Alternative Training for Healing Heroes) proves to be effective training for combat heroes, incorporating therapeutic and recreational activities including archery, equine therapy, the labyrinth, the tipi, horticulture, fishing, hiking and kayaking, music, yoga and meditation, campfires and art.
Ken Falke, chairman and founder embraces the “it’s not what’s wrong with you, it’s what’s happened to you” approach which over time has proven to be two to three times more effective than traditional programs working with PTSD veterans. Bear’s Den Rural Historic district is roughly 1885 acres meandering along Blue Ridge Mountain Road (south of Rt. 7) and Raven Rocks Road (north of Rt. 7). Mostly located in Clarke County, the boundary line zig zags into Loudoun County and is a mostly rugged wooded mountain terrain allowing dramatic and breathtaking views of the Shenandoah Valley to the west and the Piedmont to the east, at 1760 feet above sea level. Most of these historic summer homes were constructed in the late 19th and early 20th century, primarily by the wealthy Washingtonians attracted to the cooler summer mountain air. Fifty percent of them are constructed of native stone (Catoctin greenstone granite), some are frame, and a few were log homes. Popular architectural styles in that time period included Craftsman, Colonial Revival, and Queen Anne styles, along with Tudor Revival, French Eclectic, and Spanish Eclectic, and often they were combined. These homes were also graced with large windows and porches for
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enjoying the out-of-doors. Today the vast majority of these homes are occupied by yearround residents. This home tour encompasses a remarkable collection of homes with beautiful custom iron gates and stone walls never before open to the public. Homes on the tour will include: Journey’s End, Circa 1928. The home was built by William E. Hummer (stonemason, builder), with the first floor of the Journey’s End house stone and the second story framed along with stone-end chimneys and the Craftsman wraparound porch with stone posts that overlook the Shenandoah Valley. Many stone fences surround the property and the log cabin that dates back to 1930 was used as the chapel when the Catholic Church purchased it in 1961 and ran it as a retreat. Named Safe House Farm during the 1960s-70s, it was rumored to be part of a network of homes used during the cold war. The current owners of four years are making renovations to take it from an institutionalized home to a “home.” There will also be a history area set up in the log cabin for the tour guests. Boulder sic 2-story style stone circa 1913 man-style
Crest. A clasColonial Revival home constructed articulates Craftsdetails with its
Boulder Crest Home.
Journey’s End Home.
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MAY 20 1 7 540-454-4898/Kathy@ checkmatefarm.com Box lunches by reservation for $15 each. Order by credit card before Friday May 19 and pick up on the day of the tour at Twin Oaks Tavern Winery. Call Kim Ragland 540-5355252, Boyd’s Nest Restaurant & Catering.
Ball Alley Home.jpg five-bay gable roof, central and exterior-end stone chimneys. Situated on the crest of the east side of the Blue Ridge Mountain Rd., this home boasts spectacular views of the Loudoun Piedmont and is surrounded by many acres, some of which incorporate Boulder Crest Retreat. On the property are the ruins of six other tenant homes, an old school, and an old church. The church was moved to the village of Bluemont in 1929, and is known today as the Bluemont Baptist Church. Hawkeye. With views of the Appalachian Trail and Sky Meadows State Park, this elegantly rustic log home was “saved” from its derelict log cabin beginnings to become a warm and inviting three level cape-cod style home. Renovated in the mid 2000s, the open layout with lofted ceilings, lots of wood and an end stone fireplace gives this eclectic home a very natural feel. A three sided wrap porch, a back deck, lovely gardens and stone walls make it easy to appreciate the out-ofdoors as the early inhabitants of this mountain proclaimed to be so good for your health. Ball Alley. Captivating cedar shake cottage built in 1937 that currently sits on a foundation that predates the home from the 19th century. Sitting at the crest of the hill and pivoted south, every room of the home captures the southernmost views of Loudoun County and the piedmont of old farms, woodlands and the Blue Ridge Mountains. The home is surrounded by 54 acres of wooded
land, with a small cottage and two other out-buildings. Foxes Rest. Originally the location of Elsea Springs Hotel, circa 1900 on Raven Rocks Road, Foxes Rest catered to vacationing clientele between Memorial Day and Labor Day. With stunning views of the Shenandoah Valley, the influence of the French Eclectic style can be seen in this home by its varied roof lines, casement windows and entrance. This 1½ story three-stone bay home, built in the mid 1930’s has an exterior-end stone chimney and a side three-bay wing and a guest cottage and beautiful rock gardens. Note: No spiked heels, pets, smoking or cameras inside homes. Wear walking shoes. Houses are not wheelchair accessible. Restrooms available at Welcome Tent at Bear’s Crossing, 18623 Blueridge Mountain Rd. To purchase tickets in advance: Visit www.bouldercrestretreat.org/eventschedule, or Bank of Clarke (Clarke & Purcellville branches), Bluemont General Store and Leesburg Convention & Visitors Center. Tickets are $35 in advance/$40 day of the tour for all 5 properties; $25 for single home admission. Ages 6-12 are half price/5 and younger are free Tickets on day of Tour: Visit Mountain Home Tour Ticket Tent at Bears’ Crossing Property (GPS map address 18623 Blueridge Moutain Rd./Rt 601) For questions contact Tour Official Kathy Donovan
Upcoming fundraiser events for Boulder Crest: Fourth Annual Hoedown – Saturday, June 3rd, 5pm to 9pm, Lodge at Boulder Crest, features delicious BBQ, beer/wine, live music, silent auction, line dancing, corn hole tournament and Boulder Crest Retreat tour – for info call Angelo Reamer 304596-3106, RSVP 5/27/17 Healing Heroes Ride – Saturday, Aug. 19th, 8am-4:30pm, starting location Patriot Harley Davidson, Fairfax, VA and VFW in Berryville. Rain Date Aug 20th. Check www.bouldercrestretreat.org/events for more information. Karen Cifala is a Realtor for Remax Roots in Beryyville and she would be happy to answer any questions about your home that you might have. Contact her by cell 303-817-9374 or email kcifala@ gmail.com or stop by our Berryville office for a visit.
VAOBSERVER.COM “Undocumented” by Dan-el Padilla Peralta Sunday, June 4 from 3–5pm
An undocumented immigrant’s journey from a New York City homeless shelter to the top of his Princeton class
Josephine School Community Museum Book Club 303 Josephine Street, Berryville 540-955-5512 | jschoolmuseum.org
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MAY 201 7
Healthy Outlook
Well-Being @ Work Trends in Organizational Wellness by JiJi Russell Springtime offers the perennial opportunity to nurture new growth and celebrate well-being. Within the world of organizational and workplace wellness, a couple of trends now loom large. Each of them has grown in terms of urgency, depth, and action over the last year. Both offer hope for the future. Stress at the fore Stress: a simple word describes the tenacious root of many an imbalance in health and well-being. The World Health Organization calls stress “the health epidemic of our time.” A local art exhibit by fifth graders illustrating emotions showed stress as a grouping of red amoeba-like blobs, each containing myriad tiny black claws …ready to hook you at any opportunity, it would appear. In the workplace, stress, and the toll it can take on mental
and emotional health, are no longer living in the shadows. Some organizations have implemented high-tech, personalized programs for combatting stress, while others have wisely become more flexible around scheduling, annual leave, and other benefits, so that employees can better balance their lives and needs outside the workplace. Ariana Huffington, of the Huffington Post, launched Thrive Global last year to address what she saw as a pandemic of stress-related imbalances. In a published interview with the Wellness Coalition of America, Huffington points out why stress is not simply a personal matter: “The things we know help fight stress: time off, disconnecting, getting enough sleep each night, volunteering. These all create benefits for the company’s bottom line, but they also benefit everybody.” Organizations are recogniz-
ing that the cost of stressed employees further exceeds the cost of helping them deal with root causes. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), job stress can cost U.S. industry $300 billion annually as a result of accidents, absenteeism, turnover, productivity, insurance costs, and other considerations. Unfortunately, in our culture of piled-on activities and responsibilities, no individual or organization is immune to stress. The good news: A growing body of research and tools seeks to understand and unravel stress from many new perspectives … and hopefully will help staunch the epidemic. (see sidebar for resources). Connecting to purpose As an antidote to what may bring about stress, think about what gives you a feeling of purpose and fulfillment. Much so-
cial science exploration of late has focused on the value of purpose in one’s life, and how having a purpose, or higher calling, can translate into all manner of good things, from motivation to better health to prosperity. In his book Drive, Daniel H. Pink outlines “the surprising truth about what motivates us.” He claims that “the most deeply motivated people – not to mention those who are the most productive and satisfied – hitch their desires to a cause larger than themselves.” Many workplaces either already know this, or have decided to test the hypothesis, by overtly supporting workers in their desire to serve out a purpose. This could come in the form of release time for volunteering; charity work done as a team within the organization; or many other creative means. At American Public University System, the wellness team I manage created an entire quarterly challenge around service. Employees were invited to pledge two hours of volunteer time to any charitable organization/s of their choice during a specific time period. Those who pledged were also invited to vote for three local organizations who would receive a charitable cash donation from the organization. In all, more than 150 hours of community work were pledged, and $3,000 split between three charitable groups (including Boulder Crest Retreat in Bluemont, Va.) The feedback from the challenge had a completely different tone than any we had ever offered. People joyfully shared their stories of cuddling babies in the neo-natal intensive care unit; serving food to house-bound military veterans; knitting hats
for homeless people; and so much more. The act of noticing what people do when they’re living out a purpose, and of celebrating those acts, created deep resonance. Both of these two trends, stress and purpose, can be explored through an individual or an organizational lens. For the curious spirit, it never hurts to do some experimentation at home. JiJi Russell manages the corporate wellness program for American Public University System, serving more than 1,000 staff and faculty members. A constant seeker of optimal health, vitality, and joy, JiJi has completed training and professional certifications in Integrative Nutrition, classical yoga, and stress management. She holds a B.S. in Journalism and serves as a faculty member with the Wellness Coalition of America.
For further inquiry Stress: •
ThriveGlobal.com – apps, podcasts, and trainings to change “the collective delusion that burnout is the price we must pay for success”
•
Stressstop.com organizational tools and assessments
•
Mindful.org - “Work” section offers tools for managing challenges
•
Whil.com – organizational training for stress, sleep, performance
•
Apps like HeadSpace, Calm,and Insight Timer offer meditations to
manage stress
Purpose: •
Drive, by Daniel H. Pink
•
dungbeetle.org – craft your own “purpose statement”
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MAY 20 1 7
Summertime Means Theatre in Winchester Shenandoah University stages three musicals By Rebecca Maynard
Theatre lovers, rejoice: It is almost that time of year again, when you can escape all your cares for a couple of hours and immerse yourself in Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre (SSMT) at Shenandoah University in Winchester. This season welcomes three familiar favorites: Oklahoma!, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and Hairspray. All shows are held in the university’s Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre, the beautiful 630 seat, disabled accessible facility located on campus at 1460 University Avenue. Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre is a professional, nonEquity, not-for-profit theatre, supported by ticket sales and gifts, which provides affordable musical theatre for the community. It was established to give Shenandoah Conservatory theatre students an opportunity to have professional experience before going out to start their own careers in the field. SSMT presents Broadway musicals each season, with performances on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons, and Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings. All shows are presented with full sets and costumes, with the support of a live orchestra. The entire company averages 90 members, including professional actors and local talent along with students.
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Oklahoma! (June 22–July 2) is the first musical written by the team of composer Richard Rodgers and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. Based on Lynn Riggs’ 1931 play, Green Grow the Lilacs, and set in Oklahoma Territory outside the town of Claremore in 1906, it tells the story of cowboy Curly McLain and his romance with farm girl Laurey Williams. A secondary romance concerns cowboy Will Parker and his flirtatious fiancée, Ado Annie. Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (July 6–16) features music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice. Adapted from Walt Disney Pictures’ Academy Awardwinning 1991 animated musical film, it tells the story of a coldhearted prince who has been magically transformed into an unsightly creature as punishment for his selfish ways. To revert back into his true human form, the Beast must first earn the love of a bright, beautiful young woman whom he has imprisoned in his enchanted castle before it is too late.
oklahoma
Hairspray (July 20–30) features music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman. Based on the 1988 John Waters film, it takes place in 1962 Baltimore. Full-figured teenager Tracy Turnblad’s dream is to dance on The Corny Collins Show, a local TV dance program based on the real-life Buddy Deane Show. When Tracy wins a role on the show, she becomes a celebrity overnight and meets a colorful array of characters. She then launches a campaign to integrate the show. Tickets for adults are $36, $30 for seniors 62 and older and $18 for youth 16 and younger. Season tickets are also available for $86 for adults, $72 for seniors and $43 for youth. Tickets can be purchased online 24/7 at www.ssmtva.org/box-office or by calling 540-665-4569 Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm. “We are so excited for our 34th season and we think we’ve got a great lineup this year,” said Liz Albert, associate managing director and production manager for SSMT. “There’s something for everyone with a classic musical (Oklahoma!), family-friendly (Disney’s Beauty and the Beast), and contemporary (Hairspray). We’re looking forward to continuing the tradition of providing Broadway-style entertainment to the Shenandoah Valley and beyond!”
Summer Riding Camps Starting June 12
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MAY 201 7
News Briefs AMuse Art & Craft Festival in Winchester
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Woodworking, printmaking, painting, collage, ceramics and more will be available at AMuse Art & Craft Festival, Winchester’s only festival dedicated to the arts. The festival will be held May 27 and 28, 10am to 5pm, at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley in Winchester. The museum is the region’s largest, attracting over 40,000 visitors a year. The festival is community driven and its organizers say they are proud to host artists from across the region. They are excited to bring two temporary installation art pieces to this year’s AMuse: artist Becky Borlan and the UNITY Project. Borlan will be installing an interactive piece in the gardens using bamboo harvested on site by the museum. The UNITY Project, facilitated by the Independent School of Winchester, was in their words “created as a response to the divisiveness and negative rhetoric in American politics.” Participants will tie colorful yarn to posts that reflect their identities, and the yarn intertwines with others’ to create a web of interconnectedness. “In the end, we see that we are all connected by something, and it’s our diversity that builds a strong and vibrant community,” the UNITY project says.
Memorial Day Service At Rose Hill Clarke County’s annual Memorial Day service will be held Sunday, May 28 at 2pm at Rose Hill Park in Berryville. The theme of the program will be “Diversity in Sacrifice, Unity in Remembrance.” The theme, according to the event’s organizers, emphasizes the diversity in America’s heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice in serving. As a country, they say, we unite in coming together to remember our fallen heroes on Memorial Day. Major General Jerry R. Curry, U.S. Army (Retired), will deliver the Memorial Day message. General Curry is a decorated combat veteran, Army Aviator, Paratrooper and Ranger who has served in the military and as a presidential political appointee for nearly 40 years. After graduating from high school and working as an arc welder, General Curry enlisted in the U.S. Army as a Private during the Korean War. This led to a 34 year military career during which he worked his way up through the ranks of the infantry, retiring as a Major General.
Admission is free and food trucks will be on site. For details, visit www.amuseartfair.com/ contact.html or email amuseartfair@gmail.com.
Lucketts Spring Market Held for First Time at Clarke Fairgrounds
The annual Lucketts Spring Market, a popular event that showcases more than 200 of the best “vintage hip” vendors on the east coast, is being held this year for the first time at the Clarke County Fairgrounds May 19–21. It features painted furniture, vintage garden gems, architectural salvage, crusty antiques, and more. The event, now in its 18th year, has a huge and loyal following from all over the D.C. metro area. Live music, beer gardens, enticing food trucks, and fun workshops all make for a spectacular and engaging shopping weekend. The three day market hosts more than 8,000 visitors in search of the perfect vintage find. “Join us! We promise you won’t be disappointed,” says Jenn Garner, the Old Lucketts Store marketing director. The market will be open each day from 10am to 5pm. Admission is $10, payable at the door. For more information, visit www.luckettstore. com/shop-the-spring-market or email luckettspringmarket@gmail.com.
His service includes two tours of duty in Vietnam. Following retirement from the military, General Curry has provided leadership to the automotive industry and as a board of directors member in a number of corporate and civic organizations. In 1982, he was named a Washingtonian of the Year. An accomplished author, General Curry has written several books, including “From Private to General, an African American Rises Through the Ranks.” The Clarke County High School Band and Choir will provide prelude and postlude selections and the National Anthem. In case of inclement weather, the Memorial Day Service will be held in Berryville’s Barns of Rose Hill, a cultural and civic center adjacent to Rose Hill Park. The sponsoring organizations, American Legion Post 41 and Clarke County Memorial VFW Post 9760, invite all attendees to join them at the VFW Post at 425 South Buckmarsh Street in Berryville for a social event and free luncheon following the ceremony. For information, contact Tom Vorisek at 540955-3717 or tvorisek@comcast.net; or Jim Wink at 540-554-8291 or jimwink@erols.com.
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MAY 20 1 7
Local Audubon Society Sponsoring Native Plant Sale The Potomac Valley Audubon Society will sponsor its Second Annual Native Plant sale in Shepherdstown on Saturday, May 20. Timed to be held in tandem with this year’s Shepherdstown Back Alley Garden Tour and Tea, the sale will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on North King Street, behind the Library, in the space where the Shepherdstown Farmers Market is held on Sundays. The sale will emphasize plants that benefit endangered pollinators like honeybees and butterflies, and it will include informational displays as well as vendors. Native plant vendors participating so far include
Sunshine Farm and Gardens, from Renick, WV; Bluebell Ridge Nursery, from Sharpsburg, MD; and Stadler Nurseries, from Frederick, MD. PVAS itself will be selling Butterfly Weed and Swamp Milkweed through a partnership with the Monarch Alliance of Washington County, MD. These are plants that produce copious flowers greatly favored by many species of pollinators, including butterflies. A bee keeper will be on hand to demonstrate bee-keeping and apiculture. Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists, and other experts will also be available to answer questions about pollinators and the selection and cultivation of
plants that help sustain them. The Monarch Alliance will have literature available, including sample plans for butterfly gardens. Sustainable Solutions, of Shepherdstown, will provide information about land management services, such as wildflower meadow planting, and will have warm season grass seed for sale. There will also be garden art for sale by Shary’s Garden Art, of Berkeley Springs. Watch the PVAS website at www.potomacaudubon.org for information about vendors. For more information, contact Kristin Alexander of PVAS, at 304-676-3397 or kristin@ potomacaudubon.org.
Virginia’s Agritourism Growing A new economic impact study conducted by the Virginia Tech Pamplin College of Business shows that Virginia’s agritourism industry accounts for $2.2 billion in economic activity. The report also shows that the economic activity attributed to the Commonwealth’s 1,400 agritourism businesses supports 22,000 jobs, contributes $840 million in income, and injects $135 million in state and local taxes. The study is the first statewide benchmark report to measure the economic and fiscal impacts of Virginia’s agritourism sector. In 2015, 7.5 million visitors spent an estimated $1.5 billion at agritourism businesses throughout the state. Visitors cited bonding with family and friends, enjoying the outdoors, experiencing something new,
and purchasing quality food, beer, cider, and/or wine as the top factors for visiting Virginia’s agritourism venues. Northern Virginia, Central Virginia, and the Shenandoah Valley ranked as the top three most visited destinations, accounting for 60 percent of total visitor spending. Out of the 7.5 million visitors, 3.2 million traveled from a distance of 50 miles or more, contributing $1 billion in spending. The economic impact from these travelers represents fresh money infused into a local economy and is a subset of the total economic activity attributed to agritourism businesses, report authors said. For the full Economic Impact Study Report, visit tinyurl.com/vaagtourism.
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MAY 201 7
Five Generations of Family in Clarke and Beyond By Sinead Juday
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For most families, having five generations of living family members is not a common accomplishment. Berryville’s Virginia Piotter, however, describes how her family has recently attained this trait. With five generations alive, a gap of over a century spreads between the youngest child and her great great grandmother. Olive Anders, Piotter’s mother, is the eldest of the five generations. She has been a resident of Berryville for fifteen years and has lived in Greenfield Senior Living for the past seven. At 102 years old, Olive Anders is the oldest resident at Greenfield Senior Living. Her daughter explains that she is in good health and does not take any type of medication, which is a rarity for someone of her age. Virginia Piotter says that her mother “is very quiet, but very likeable. She is very pleasant and never complains.” Virginia Piotter is the second of the five generations in her large, close-knit family. She lived in the Chicago suburbs as a child, and spent some of her adult life there. After she married and had four sons, Virginia and her family moved to Washington D.C., and left their families in Illinois. They had always planned to move back to their home and family in Chicago, but eventually decided to stay. After retirement, the Piotter family moved to Berryville to experience country living. With two sons living in the area, Virginia Piotter and family carry on the tradition of spending many Sunday
dinners together. In addition to Sundays, the Piotters celebrate every birthday, Christmas, and every other holiday. As well as her sons in the area, Virginia Piotter now has family in Iowa, California, and Colorado. Keith Piotter is one of Virginia’s fours sons, and is part of the third of five generations. He lives in Bettendorf, Iowa, and is a pastor at a Lutheran church. His mother, Virginia Piotter, explains that after he left home and went to college, Keith moved to Iowa and started a family of his own. The next generation of the Piotter family, Andrew Piotter, works as a physical therapist and lives near his father in Bettendorf. After marrying, Andrew decided to stay near his family in Iowa. He and his wife now have one daughter. Harper May Piotter, who is just four months old and living in Bettendorf with her family.
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She is the youngest of the five generations. Virginia Piotter explains that her family has a strong and loving relationship. “We are a very close family,” says Piotter. “We try to spend as much time together as possible. We always are planning another family vacation.” In the past, the Piotters owned a summer home on a lake in Wisconsin where they would spend a week of summer with the entirety of the family. Since they have sold the house, it has become more difficult for the entire family to reunite because of their separate locations. In March, however, the family was able to reunite and celebrate the five generations — and so the youngest Piotter could meet her great great grandmother. Sinead Juday is the Observer’s editorial intern.
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MAY 20 1 7 Guest Commentary
President’s Executive Order Could Undermine American Treasures Moves in Congress could threaten Virginia’s public lands By Mary Rafferty
Summer Day at George Washington’s Birthplace.
R
ecently, President Trump issued an executive order that could undermine some of our most incredible public lands and cultural treasures. Under the executive order, Secretary of the Interior, Ryan Zinke, will reevaluate national monuments protected by our nation’s past presidents using the Antiquities Act. Virginia is home to three national monuments, including the birthplace of our America’s first president. Passed in 1906, the Antiquities Act allows presidents to protect open spaces with unique cultural resources, important fish and wildlife habitat, and outstanding scenic beauty. Throughout the past century, sixteen presidents — eight Republicans and eight Democrats — used the Antiquities Act to protect our nation’s treasured resources. Virginia has three national monuments, one of which was protected using the Antiquities Act. These three national monuments include:
George Washington’s Birthplace. Representative of 18th-century Virginia tobacco farms, this site is the birthplace and boyhood home of George Washington. The entrance includes a Memorial Shaft obelisk of Vermont marble that is a one-tenth scale replica of the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. The monument also includes Washington’s historic birthplace home area, a kitchen house, and the Washington family burial ground. Fort Monroe. Fort Monroe has a storied history in the defense of our Nation and the struggle for freedom. In the 1600’s, the present-day Fort Monroe was the landing site of the first enslaved people brought to North America. Two hundred years later, in 1861, Fort Monroe was the site of Union Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler’s landmark “contraband decision,” whereby escaped slaves who reached Union lines would be deemed contraband of war and not returned to their masters, earning it the nickname “Freedom’s Fortress” and laying the groundwork for President
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Booker T. Washington National Monument. Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of 1863. Thus, Old Point Comfort marks both the beginning and end of slavery in our Nation. Booker T. Washington National Monument. This designation preserves portions of the 207-acre tobacco farm on which educator and civil rights
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leader Booker T. Washington was born into slavery on April 5, 1856. The site contains replicas of the house Washington was born in, a smokehouse, a blacksmith shed, a tobacco barn, and a horse barn. The national monuments that are currently threatened have been designated since 1996 and encompass more than 100,000 acres — areas like the 377,000-acre Upper Missouri Breaks in Montana and the 496,000-acre Organ MountainsDesert Peaks National Monument in New Mexico. Each one protects our nation’s culture, conserves important wildlife habitats, and offers outstanding recreational opportunities for all Americans. While Virginia’s national monuments are not identified in the executive order, the move is widely regarded as a salvo by members of Congress who want to divest much of our public lands, including our national parks. Why does this matter to Virginians, beyond the fact that Virginians — like most Americans — treasure our public lands? It comes in a
series of measures introduced by Congress over the past three years to reduce federal land ownership. This is the proverbial camel’s nose beneath the tent — additional land that belongs to Americans could be subject to boundary reductions, revisions, and rescissions. This action could open the door to altering boundaries, changing appropriate uses of the landscapes, or even calling for the ultimate repeal of these precious landscapes. The Antiquities Act can only be used on lands that are already managed by the federal government. This is not a land grab — it is simply a change in designation that increases protections to ensure we preserve what makes our public lands so special. By designating a national monument, Americans can be assured that these resources remain intact for future generations to enjoy. In addition to preserving important chapters in our nation’s story, these public spaces are available to all Americans for recreational use. We can observe black bears, elk, and bald
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MAY 20 1 7 eagles while hiking, climbing, and camping — these memorable experiences are available because these public spaces belong to us. By protecting these open spaces through national monument designations, the quality of our recreational experiences is enhanced. Additionally, many of these vast landscapes offer some of the most rugged hunting and fishing experiences — photos will attest that game abounds when quality habitat and open space is abundant. President Trump’s executive order does not speak for all Americans — it is counter to popular opinion here in Virginia. A recent poll of Virginia voters, conducted by the Virginia Environmental Endowment and Christopher Newport University, found that a strong majority of voters in the Commonwealth do not favor rolling back environmental protections and, instead, believe the government should be playing a larger role in protecting our natural resources. If this destructive and careless action isn’t proof enough that an attack on our nation’s public lands is underway, consider another item that Congress has taken up while more pressing matters await: Allowing the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to sunset. Created by Congress in 1964, LWCF conserves certain land within or near the federal management systems, protects wildlife habitat and recreation opportunities, and assists states with local recreation and conservation projects, among other uses. Running the gamut from wilderness to trails to neighborhood playgrounds, over $283 million in LWCF funding has benefited nearly every county in the Commonwealth. It has been used to help purchase and provide access to places like the Shenandoah Civil War battlefields, the Appalachian Trail, Shenandoah National Park, George Washington National Forest,
the James River National Wildlife Refuge, and many more. With this kind of far-reaching community impact, LWCF needs to be protected and fully funded. In addition to being an attack on our national heritage, these measures are also a threat to both Virginia’s and the nation’s economy. According to the Outdoor Industry Association’s 2012 report, each year 1 million sportsmen and women and 2.3 million wildlife watchers combine to spend $2.4 billion on wildlife-associated recreation in Virginia. The Association’s recently released 2017 report reveals that, nationally, outdoor recreation contributes $887 billion in consumer spending annually and supports 7.6 million American jobs. Why would we jeopardize these unique, irreplaceable public lands when they have proven to be the primary drivers of a stable and growing economic future for their local communities? By and large, the Commonwealth’s Congressional Delegation has supported the protection of public lands, but we need to be vigilant about reminding them how much we value our outdoor treasures. This is especially important in the Senate, where a bill has been introduced to eliminate presidential authority to designate national monuments. There is no doubt: America’s public lands are treasured. I look to the Trump Administration and the Department of Interior to maintain the protections initiated by our nation’s past presidents, and I hope Virginia’s Congressional Delegation will stand with their constituents in the forthcoming deliberations. Mary Rafferty is the Executive Director of Virginia Conservation Network, a partnership of over 100 environmental organizations working to create a powerful, diverse, highly-coordinated conservation movement in the Commonwealth.
VAOBSERVER.COM
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MAY 201 7
RiverPalooza Kicks Off Season of River Fests
The first in two dispatches of awesome events celebrating the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers. Next month: River and Roots. Potomac Riverkeeper Network is best known for their work identifying and addressing sources of pollution in the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers. But they also try to have some fun too — their first annual RiverPalooza kicks off June 3rd in Harpers Ferry with a day of paddle trips followed
by a BBQ & Bluegrass Party. Music will be provided by Barefoot Movement, called “the future of Tennessee bluegrass” by Rolling Stone Magazine. If you can’t make it that day they’ve organized over a dozen other adventures from June through September for all ages and skill levels. While most involve a canoe, kayak, raft, tube or stand-up paddle board, there is a bike trip for those who prefer to enjoy the river from a distance.
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Participating in any of these trips gets you a free membership to Potomac Riverkeeper Network and supports their work fighting to keep our rivers clean. “We partner with outfitters and the National Park Service to organize RiverPalooza because we believe the best way to build appreciation for our rivers is to experience our rivers” says Shenandoah Riverkeeper Mark Frondorf of Berryville. Trips on the Chesapeake and Potomac Heritage National Historic Trails, will have NPS interpreters on hand to educate the public about the role these parts of the river played in the formative years of our nation. “If you’re thinking of getting out on the river this year, RiverPalooza is the best way to do it. You can save a little money while saving our rivers” says Brent Walls, Upper Potomac Riverkeeper. Riverkeepers choose their favorite stretches of river for their trips and participants have the opportunity to ask about what is being done to protect them. Choose one of the camping trips and you can spend the night with a Riverkeeper. Wait, that came out wrong. Information and registration is at PRKNetwork.org.
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MAY 20 1 7 Canoe Club
Here is a complete list of the RiverPalooza trips available. Saturday June 3 BBQ & Bluegrass Party and Paddle! Tubing, Rafting and Paddling at Harpers Ferry Sunday June 4 Antietam Creek Float – A Tour Through History Monday June 5 Shenandoah River Birdwatching Paddle Saturday June 17 American Indian Cultural Interpretation Paddle on Piscataway Creek Wednesday June 21 Summer Solstice Paddle at Washington
Saturday June 24 Ghost Fleet Paddle at Mallows Bay
Saturday September 9 Women on the Water at Calleva
Saturday-Sunday July 15-16 Paw Paw Bends Float and Camping
Sunday September 10 Pedal to Paddle on the Upper Potomac
Friday July 21 Shenandoah River Fishing Trip
Sunday September 24 World Rivers Day Celebration
Friday August 25 Shenandoah River Snorkeling Sunday August 27 North Branch Potomac Whitewater Float Friday September 8 Dyke Marsh Sunset Paddle
WILL & TRUST WORKSHOP Have you updated your Will? Do you even have a Will? Is a Will enough to avoid a lengthy/costly probate? Come find out.
Winchester
Tuesday May 23rd @ 11am & 2pm Hilton Garden Inn 120 Wingate Dr, Winchester, VA
Berryville
Tuesday May 23rd @ 6:30pm Rosemont Manor 16 Rosemont Manor Lane, Berryville, VA
• What should you have: A Living Will or a Living Trust? • Keep your affairs private and OUT of PROBATE. You decide distribution of your estate, not the courts. • Guardianship: minors / special needs beneficiaries • Discover the dangers of joint tenancy. FREE TO ATTEND
(Light fare will be served)
• If you already have a Revocable Living Trust, is it funded and up to date with current law? • Understand the problems with the "Do It Yourself" Internet Wills or Trus kits.
Wall Street Journal Says,“In this day and age, estate planning is a must. If you own any property, paid for or not, you need a Revocable Living Trust.” Seating is limited Please RSVP. Couples are encouraged to attend together.
American Family Estate Planners 1 800 906 0317