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INSIDE CLARKE FEATURES American Conservation Film Festival Includes Best Of Fest In Clarke
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ON THE COVER From “The Biggest Little Farm,” a documentary that chronicles an 8-year quest to trade city living for farming 20 acres in harmony with nature. The film will be shown at the American Conservation Film Festival in Shepherdstown. Courtesy NEON. Leesburg, $3,395,000
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Sweet Basil Thai Restaurant
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As the Crow Flies
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Around Clarke County
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Jennifer Lee at the Helm of ACFF
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Va Farmland Protection Easements
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Clarke STAFF
David Lillard, Editor/Publisher Jennifer Welliver, Associate Publisher Aundrea Humphreys, Art Director Hali Taylor, Proofreader
CONTRIBUTORS Rebecca Maynard Keith Patterson Doug Pifer Jesse Russell JiJi Russell Claire Stuart
COVER IMAGE Courtesy NEON
Clarke
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FROM THE EDITOR Which Issues Should The Pols Care About It’s that time again. The odd year is here, and with it the time of peaceful dialogue about pressing issues, when all Clarke Countians and every Virginian answer the call of their better angels to listen to their neighbors and speak in quiet, respectful tones about the upcoming elections. Oh, wait. Was I dreaming again? Indeed elections in the Commonwealth are upon us. And rather than ask office seekers and incumbents what they think is important, we’re asking you. What do you think are the most important challenges that need to be addressed in the General Assembly? And how would you like to see them tackled? What about at the county level, for the Board
of Supervisors, where almost none of the electoral outcomes are in question — nothing like running unopposed. There is only one competitive race. And even unopposed incumbents need to hear from you. Over in Boyce, there’s an actual election taking place in a three-way race involving the incumbent and two challengers. What do voters think is important? Send us an email at Issues@ClarkeVA.com or let us know on Facebook. Tell us your concern, which branch of government needs to address it, and where you live. Also, your name (and whether you’d prefer not to have your name published). Be nice! Be kind.
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Clarke prints signed letters-to-the-editor of uniquely local interest. Letters containing personal attacks or polarizing language will not be published. Letters may be edited. Send letters to the editor of 300 or fewer words to: editor@clarkeva.com.
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SEPT 20 1 9
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Clarke County residents know that Berryville is home to a number of quality restaurants, but until recently, a craving for Thai food meant a trip out of the county. That changed when Sweet Basil Thai opened earlier this year at 24 West Main Street, the former location of Los Wingeez restaurant. Gina and Sidney, wife and husband owners who live nearby, are excited to have embarked on their first venture in the restaurant business and hope to continue meeting and serving new customers. “We love Berryville,” Gina said. “The people are so nice and we wanted our son to grow up in a nice town that’s quiet and safe.” Popular dishes on the menu include pad Thai, Panang curry and drunken noodles, and a variety of specials are offered. Gina said that while some people associate Thai food with spiciness, customers can request a mild version of every option.
“We don’t want people to think that everything has to be spicy,” she said. The menu is available for carryout or dining in. Customers dining in will appreciate the decor, featuring an array of postcards and unique art from Thailand, as well as the custom built bar made with local pallet wood with a countertop made from pennies laid like tiles and covered with a protective finish. “The food is delicious, fresh and comforting. We keep coming back for more and love trying new dishes. The service is friendly. What more could you ask for?” said a customer on the restaurant’s Facebook page. Another wrote, “Great service and delicious food! Everything was amazing! We will be back again and again.” Sweet Basil Thai is open Monday through Saturday from 11am to 9pm and closed Sundays. Visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SweetBasilBerryville.
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Clarke
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As the Crow Flies
Welcome Back, Bob White! Story and artwork by Doug Pifer The whistled call, “Bob-White,” is seldom heard here anymore but that may be about to change. Interested farmers and landowners in Virginia now have an opportunity to bring the cheerful little quail back to their original habitat. And wild bobwhite quail may soon be returning to West Virginia as well. As recently as the late 1990s a few bobwhites could still be heard across the countryside. Since then, intensive agriculture and “clean farming” destroyed most of the habitat the birds required. Bobwhites were unable to successfully reproduce because their young couldn’t survive the winter without food and cover provided by briar patches, native grasses and weedy fallow fields. Now many folks don’t know what a bobwhite is. Just this year some 500 acres within the Tomblin Wildlife Management area in southwestern West Virginia was managed intensively as future bobwhite quail habitat. The region consists of reclaimed surface mines. Plantings of cover crops and warm season grasses, surrounded by wild blackberry bushes and other native shrubs, will soon provide ideal habitat. Wild bobwhites may be brought in from another state and released into their new habitat next spring. In Clarke County, Virginia, wildlife professionals at the Virginia Quail Recovery Initiative (QRI) are already working with private landowners to bring the little quail back. Founded in 2009, QRI is a partnership between three agencies: US Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Virginia Tech’s Conservation Management Institute, and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF). QRI’s website dgif.virginia.gov.quail offers many programs to quail-loving landowners. Depending upon their individual circumstances, farm owners may be eligible to receive certain benefits for improving quail habitat on their acreage, such as regular reimbursements for cropland taken out of production for quail management, grants for clearing and seeding fields with native warm season grasses, and tax relief from Clarke County for quail habitat management. QRI has specially trained private land wildlife biologists to guide landowners through a maze of options and opportunities. Justin Folks, a program biologist for this region, described his role: “Our job is to provide technical assistance
to landowners who are interested in conserving natural resources … farmland, forestland, or wildlife habitat. Generally, this is how it works: a landowner [who] is interested in improving wildlife habitat…contacts us, I perform a free site visit, and provide recommendations. I can also develop a habitat management plan, if the landowner desires. If the proposed wildlife work, landowner, and property all are eligible for financial assistance, we can assist with the signup and planning for various financial assistance programs to help put the habitat on the ground.” Phase one, clearing the undesirable trees and shrubs, is begun with the assistance and advice of Justin Folks and Brent Barriteau, District Conservationist with the NRCS. All non-native woody growth must first be removed. Herbicides are applied in designated fields to kill unwanted fescue grass and other annual and perennial growth. The second phase usually begins the following spring. Newly opened areas are seeded with a mixture of native warm season grasses and other native perennial plants attractive to bobwhite quail. Participating landowners in Clarke County, Virginia, have told me they heard wild quail almost as soon as their land had been cleared, before the newly seeded fields had started to grow. Bobwhites don’t migrate, nor do they move around much. Evidently a few have survived on private land close to the Virginia-West Virginia state line. Bobwhites prefer a mixture of woodland edge and early successional grassland, as do many other birds which are also becoming scarce. These include eastern meadowlark, savanna and field sparrow, eastern towhee, brown thrasher and yellow-breasted chat. The newly planted grassland requires several years and some careful management to mature into good quail habitat. But dedicated Virginia landowners are in for the long haul.
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Around Clarke County Promote your event in Clarke. Send notices by the 1st of the preceding month to jennifer@clarkeva.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.
September
Contact Berryville Main Street for details at 540-955-4001.
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American Conservation Film Festival: Best of Fest
Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. The American Conservation Film Festival presents its 4th Best of Fest, showcasing some of ACFF’s best and favorite films from past festivals to a new audience in advance of the film festival October 4–6 and 11–13 in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. 6–8:30pm. $8 in advance, $10 at door, 12 and younger free. www.barnsofrosehill.org. 540-955-2004.
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Downtown Berryville Yard Sales
Various locations in downtown Berryville. Begins at 8am.
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Al Petteway and Amy White Concert
Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. Eclectic repertoire that includes original, traditional, contemporary Celtic and Appalachian-influenced music with occasional nods to blues, New Age and jazz. 8–10pm. $15 in advance, $20 at door, 12 and younger free. www.barnsofrosehill.org. 540-955-2004.
14
–15 Pottery Show and Sale
Fields of Flowers Farm. 37879 Allder School Road. Purcellville. View and purchase pottery from local artists and pick your own flow-
ers for purchase. 10am–4pm. www.loudounfieldsofflowers.com.
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–23 Watermelon Park Festival
Watermelon Park. 3322 Locke’s Mill Road. Berryville. Numerous musical performances, food, vendors and more. www.watermelonparkfest.com.
21
CCEF Annual Gala
Shenandoah Valley Golf Club. 134 Golf Club Circle. Front Royal. A fun evening of dining, entertainment and live and silent auction items with a “cruising” theme. Guest of honor is Johnny Milleson and formal wear is encouraged. Proceeds benefit Clarke County Education Foundation. Register ahead. 6–11pm. https://ccefinc. org/events/cruisin-for-clarke/.
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–22 Bluemont Fair
Snickersville Turnpike. Bluemont. Old-fashioned family fun with traditional crafts, local art and authors, craft and farming demonstrations, music, children’s fair, animals, wine, food and more. Free parking, ages 10 and older $7, ages 9 and younger free. 10am–5pm. 540-554-2367. www.bluemontfair.org.
22
Historic Herb Use Workshop
Blandy Experimental Farm. 400 Blandy Farm Lane. Boyce. Learn how early American settlers used herbs for their household needs, visit the garden for hands-on demonstration and enjoy historic herb cookies and “patriotic tea.” Sustainability Matters and FOSA members $20, nonmembers $25.
Preregistration required. 2–4pm. 540-837-1758. www.blandy.virginia.edu.
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Community Meal
Boyce Volunteer Fire Company. 7 S. Greenway Ave. Free meal prepared by county churches on the fourth Tuesday of every month. 5:30pm. Contact Eleanor Lloyd at 540-247-6311.
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Soul-Full Community Meal
Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church. 210 E. Main St. Berryville. 13 local churches get together to provide a meal open to all in the community the fourth Thursday of each month. Free. 5:15–6:30pm. 540-955-1264.
“ CONTRASTS IN RHYTHM ”
Exhibit at Long Branch Galleries through November 1st MARCI NADLER
TODD PHILLIPS
Artists Reception Friday, September 6, 6:00—8:30 Long Branch Historic House & Farm 830 Long Branch Lane, Boyce VA 540-837-1856
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Patron’s Night Art at the Mill
Burwell Morgan Mill. 15 Tannery Lane. Millwood. Enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres as you preview and purchase art. 6–9pm. Tickets are $65 a person and available at clarkehistory.org or 540-955-2600.
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Art at the Mill Opening Day
Burwell Morgan Mill. 15 Tannery Lane. Millwood. Runs through Sunday, October 13. 300 artists display for sale over 1000 works of art in a historic 18th century, operating mill. Saturdays 10am–6pm, Sunday–Friday 12–5pm. Adults $5, seniors $3, children 12 and younger free. 540-837-1799.
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Guided Historic Tours
Historic Long Branch House and Farm. 830 Long Branch Lane. Boyce. Led by Colette Poisson, who worked with the previous owner, Harry Z. Isaacs. Adults $8, children younger than 12 free. 12–4pm. 540-8371856. www.visitlongbranch.org.
October
1
Trivia Night
Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. Clarke County Historical Association and Clarke County Library team up the first Tuesday of each month to bring live team trivia. Categories include History, Movies, Literature, Science and more. Prizes donated by local businesses. Barn doors open at 6:30pm, trivia begins at 7pm. Free. 540-955-2004. www.barnsofrosehill.org.
5
Serenades from Vienna
Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. The Rose Hill Chamber Orchestra returns for
their first performance at the Barns since their overwhelmingly successful debut concert last April. 8–10pm. $25 in advance, $30 at door, 12 and younger free. barnsofrosehill.org. 540-955-2004.
6
Fire Department Open House
John H. Enders Fire Department. 9 S. Buckmarsh St. Berryville. Refreshments, fire truck rides, equipment displays, demonstrations and more in conjunction with National Fire Prevention Week. 1–4pm. Free admission. 540-955-1110.
6
Meet the Artists Reception
Burwell Morgan Mill. 15 Tannery Lane. Millwood. Meet the artists taking part in the Art at the Mill exhibit and enjoy light refreshments. 3pm. 540-837-1799.
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Les Filles de Illighadad Concert
Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. Les Filles are all from Illighadad, a secluded commune in central Niger, and incorporate the traditional drum and the pounding calabash, half buried in water. 8–10pm. $20 in advance, $25 at door, 12 and younger free. www.barnsofrosehill.org. 540-955-2004.
12
Local Authors Meet and Greet
Berryville Treasures. 8 W. Main St. Berryville. Meet local authors at the boutique and enjoy light refreshments. Free. 11am–4pm. btartisansboutique@gmail.com.
12
Loudoun Sketch Club Anniversary Gala
Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. All
are invited to share the club members’ art, past and present, with the Loudoun and Clarke County communities and beyond. Wine and hors d’oeuvres courtesy of the Loudoun Sketch Club. 6–8pm. Free. www.barnsofrosehill.org. 540-955-2004.
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7 Bingo
Grace Episcopal Church. N. Church St. Berryville. AAVirginia.org. 540-955-1610.
Boyce Fire Hall. 7 S. Greenway Ave. Thursdays at 7pm, Sundays at 1:30pm. Proceeds benefit the volunteer fire department. 540-837-2317.
FISH Clothing Bank and Food Pantry
Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9am–12pm. 36 E. Main Street. Berryville. 540-955-1823.
Cash Party
John H. Enders Fire Department. 9 S. Buckmarsh St. Berryville. Several cash raffles and $1500 grand prize. Proceeds benefit the department. $30 admission. 5:30–9:30pm. 540-955-1110.
26
Chicken Dinner and Silent Auction
John H. Enders Fire Department. 9 S. Buckmarsh St. Berryville. Proceeds benefit Marvin Chapel UMC. Adults $12, children $6. 4–7pm. 540-955-0765.
Ongoing Farmers Market
Saturdays, May–October, 8am–12pm. Town parking lot next to Dollar General. 20 S. Church St. Berryville. Many vendors selling meat, produce, cheese, vegetables and much more. clarkecountyfarmersmarket.com.
“CONTRASTS IN RHYTHM” Art Exhibit
Long Branch Historic House and Farm. 830 Long Branch Lane. Boyce. See the original paintings of Marci Nadler and Todd Phillips. Exhibit is on display through November 1. Free. 540-837-1856. www.visitlongbranch.org.
Alcoholics Anonymous Tuesdays,
8:15–9:15pm.
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American Conservation Film Festival Includes Best Of Fest In Clarke 39 exceptional films featuring wildlife, agriculture, climate change, conservation heroes and programs to entertain and inspire
T
he 17th annual American Conservation Film Festival opens Friday afternoon, October 4th, with a free
film screening, and culminates with its Encore Award Winners Weekend October 11-13. The festival brings together the finest conservation films and filmmakers from around the world and features discussions with scientists and educators, professional workshops, family programming, and social
events — all with the mission of engaging, informing, and inspiring its audience through the power of film. The festival’s most prestigious honor, The Green Fire Award, goes to filmmaker Josh Murphy, whose film Artifishal explores wild salmon’s slide toward extinction, threats posed by fish hatcheries and fish farms, and our continued loss of faith in nature to repair itself. A total of eight awards are given in six categories, recognizing the most skillfully
produced, enlightening, and compelling films on a range of important issues. “With nearly 300 film submissions from 44 countries this year, it is truly a challenge to choose less than 15 percent for the festival,” says Jennifer Lee, ACFF’s Executive Director. “Our selection teams work for six months reviewing and rating films to choose the very best to share with our audience. This year’s line-up offers a diversity of topics, inspiration, calls to action, and yes, even plenty of humor!”
In addition to the 39 films, festival-goers will have opportunities to participate in a vegetarian food tasting, hear from filmmakers and film subjects, learn about ways to maintain hope for the environment and take action, discover the wonder of mushrooms, and bring the kids to family films and programs. Attendees are also encouraged to explore Shepherdstown, where a nature-centered yoga class, ecothemed art show, and environmentally-focused book display are all taking place on festival
weekends at local businesses. “Following the first Conservation Film Festival I attended, I walked away with energy and emotion not expected. There was a wealth of awareness bringing worry, love, hope, and a mission to be a better citizen of the earth,” said audience member and donor Peggy Duvall of Clarke County. “I am impressed, too, how the Festival reaches into surrounding communities yearround to bring films to audiences who would not otherwise be exposed.”
Clarke
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The festival’s trailer, along with trailers for all 39 festival films, can be found on the ACFF website https://conservationfilmfest.org
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The 8th Annual Conservation Filmmaker Workshop runs concurrently with the festival, and will take place on October 4 & 5, providing two days of hands-on workshops and expert seminars on the craft of conservation filmmaking. Addressing an array of topics, premier filmmakers and experts provide helpful insights for filmmakers and media producers of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels. “As a recent college graduate with a lot to learn, I was filled with inspiration and a vast amount of insight into what my future career could look like,” said 2018 Student Film Award winner and workshop participant Eddie Mostert. “I felt that the presentations from industry professionals were very helpful, especially for someone as young as myself.” Saturday, October 5th, spend an evening at Shepherdstown’s Sustainable Solutions with legendary Washington, DC DJ Cerphe Colwell, “The Greenest DJ in America.” Enjoy drinks, snacks, and music as Cerphe plays his Green Playlist and signs copies of his new book, Cerphe’s Up. Cerphe will also share about his and his musician friends’ work for environmental protection. Tickets for this event are $30 and available through the ACFF website at http://bit. ly/eveningwithcerphe The Festival Encore Weekend will be held October 11-13, 2019 at the Frank Center at Shepherd University, offering a second chance to see all of the seven award-winning films, plus the Audience Choice Award for favorite festival film.
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But first . . . ACCF at Barns of Rose Hill and SU
Leading up to this year’s festival, the American Conservation Film Festival is thrilled to present two Best of Fest events, which will showcase some of ACFF’s best and favorite films from past festivals. The 4th Best of Fest at the Barns of Rose Hill will be held September 12 from 6 to 9 pm, and will feature two beautiful films about birds, as well as a presentation by wildlife veterinarian and bird caretaker extraordinaire, Dr. Belinda Burwell, owner and operator of Wildlife Vet Care in Millwood, Virginia. Tickets for this event are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit http://bit.ly/2019bestoffestRH On Thursday, September 19 from 5 to 8:30 pm, ACFF will hold its first Best of Fest event with Shenandoah University
in Winchester, VA. This free event will feature five of ACFF’s award-winning and favorite films from the past two festivals and an intermission reception. Information on this event, including the film lineup, can be found on the ACFF website at http://bit.ly/SUbestoffest Full festival passes, allowing entrance to all films over both both festival weekends are $55; first weekend passes are $40; second weekend passes are $25. Tickets to individual film blocks are also available. Students 18 & younger are admitted free to all films as space allows. Purchase tickets by September 15th and save 10%. Film descriptions, film trailers, schedule, and ticket information can be found on the ACFF website:https://conservationfilmfest.org For Festival updates, follow ACFF on Facebook (@conservationfilmfest), Instagram (@conservationfilmfest), and Twitter (@ConservationFF).
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Clarke
SEPT 20 1 9
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Clarke County’s Jennifer Lee, At The Helm Of ACFF
Jennifer Lee was appointed executive director of the American Conservation Film Festival in Shepherdstown, W.Va., in 2018, after four years as development and communications director. Her staff and passionate board of directors are readying for the festival’s 14th season October 4–6 and 11–13. She spoke with Clarke about the festival, the films, and the power of film to inform, engage, and inspire. Clarke: ACFF has matured into one of the premiere environmental film festivals in the U.S. What are some of the ways it’s changed from its early days? Jennifer: The festival has expanded a lot in the last five years. For one, we added a second festival weekend, when we show our 8 award-winning films for an encore screening. This gives folks a chance to see films they missed the first weekend or bring friends back to see a favorite. We also
added five awards for festival filmmakers. In addition to the Green Fire Award, Student Film Award, and Audience Choice Award, we added the categories of Best Short Film, Best Foreign Film, and three “Green Spark” awards for highlighting sustainability, inspiring the next generation, and profiling conservation heroes. All awards now come with a $500 cash prize for the filmmakers, as well! The festival has grown to occupy just two of our largest venues, the National Conservation Training Center’s Byrd Auditorium and Shepherd University’s Frank Center. These venues have excellent projection equipment and screens, giving viewers a true cinematic experience and films the showing they deserve. They also each seat over 250 people, so we are able to welcome larger audiences. We outgrew Reynolds Hall and the Opera House, two
formerly popular ACFF venues in town. In order to fit in special programs and guests, which we think bring a lot of value and a richer festival experience, we’ve discovered the right number of films to screen is between 30 and 40 for the first festival weekend. So, while the number of films has diminished somewhat since several years ago, we are able to offer discussions with filmmakers and conservation experts, things like compost demonstrations, book displays, and food tastings in the lobby, and special exhibits and activities for families. We always have at least one dedicated film block for young viewers, with films about wildlife and/or young people doing exciting work in science, conservation, and storytelling. At past festivals, this block has been followed by a presentation about wildlife preservation and diversity, a special exhibit en-
National Fire Prevention Week Open House
Sunday, October 6 • 1–4pm
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Jennifer Lee of Clarke County is executive director of the American Conservation Film Festival, which screens in October.
couraging discovery in your backyard, and a nature walk around NCTC. This year, the Family Film Block features a short about bugs and a fantastic feature about a wildlife success story in the Antarctic and will be followed by a bug petting zoo with the Leskey Lab from the USDA Appalachian Fruit Research Center. The festival has also grown to include programs throughout the year and around the region. This year, in partnership with the Potomac Valley Audubon Society, we held a special screening of the family film Backyard Wilderness at NCTC with over 200 people attending. Our Spring Fling at the Barn at Harpers Ferry was a sold out, family-friendly affair with four short films. We hold a Next Gen Capture Conservation Contest to encourage youth 18 and under to create and submit a short conservation-focused film of their own. They can win cash prizes and contribute to our Next Gen film archive. And finally, we welcome all youth 18 and under FREE to all film screenings, during the festival and throughout the year!
Clarke: What are you most excited about this year? Jennifer: I get more excited — anxious, even — every year to share these films with our audience and see and listen to their reactions. We have two film selection committees and a festival manager who dedicate six months of the year to curating, reviewing, rating, and then choosing about 15 percent of the total number of film submissions we receive. This is an intensive and challenging process as we strive to bring our audience a collection of films with great diversity in topics, beautiful and exotic imagery, fact-based investigation, scientific exploration and innovation, and inspiring storytelling. So, the festival is the culmination of a tremendous number of thoughtful hours and considerations, and we hope our audience always comes away with an exceptional experience.
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On a more specific note, I’m excited to welcome to the festival Dr. Doug Stein, the doctor who is featured in the film, The Vasectomist. He is a very charismatic guy who works tirelessly to address the issue of overpopulation. The Vasectomist will be shown with Earth Overshoot, another film about overpopulation, arguably the biggest reason the planet is in the state it’s in. The producer of Earth Overshoot will join Dr. Stein for a discussion after their films show on Saturday, October 5. I loved the film Fantastic Fungi, and know our audience will, too, and we’re excited to welcome one of the subjects in the film, expert mycologist Willam Padilla Brown to share his mushroom knowledge with us before and after the film on Sunday, October 6. I help organize the Conservation Filmmaker Workshop, which runs concurrent with the festival on October 4 and 5, where we bring together the top conservation filmmakers and media experts to instruct and mentor emerging and seasoned filmmakers. It’s two days of learning, sharing, and networking in an intimate and supportive setting. Sessions include the art of storytelling, the business of filmmaking, and a Pitch Panel contest where filmmakers can pitch new film ideas to a panel of experts to get direct feedback and the potential of winning seed money for their film projects. The vibe at the workshop is so cool, the people taking part are doing great work, and it’s a fun and inspiring experience for everyone. And finally, I’m very stoked for our Saturday Night with Cerphe party at the headquarters of Sustainable Solutions on October 5. Cerphe (sounds like “surf”) Colwell is a legendary Washington, DC rock and roll DJ who I’ve been listening to since I was a little kid. He’s a serious musicologist and inter-
viewer, an author, and just a very cool and nice guy. He was named “Greenest DJ in America” by the Earth Day Network, and practices and promotes an eco-sensitive way of life that protect the environment. He will be playing his “Green Playlist,” talking with guests, and signing copies of his book “Cerphe’s Up: A Musical Life with Bruce Springsteen, Little Feat, Frank Zappa, Tom Waits, CSNY, and Many More” with his co-author, Stephen Moore. They’re even donating 10 percent of book sales back to ACFF. It should be a really fun party and release after a day of films! I encourage folks to buy their tickets to this soon as space is limited. Clarke: Tell us about the popular Traveling Fest. Jennifer: ACFF has really expanded its offerings throughout the year and around the region in the last few years. This year, we held or are holding 12 events in addition to the festival. We now have Best of Fests in three locations: Weinberg Center in Frederick, MD; Barns of Rose Hill in Berryville, Va., and Shenandoah University in Winchester, Va. This is where we bring the most popular and excellent films from recent past festivals to new audiences, which is a primary part of our mission. We presented three films in conjunction with the Contemporary American Theater Festival this summer. And we did a special program for all ages at the Hill School in Middleburg with the support of the Oak Spring Garden Foundation. We shared a film called Saving the Dark with Sky Meadows State Park in Virginia for an astronomy program. With a very small staff, requests for these additional programs are starting to exceed our present ability to administer them. This is a great problem to have, but we want to share these films with
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as many people as we can! Taking ACFF to other communities is a great way to reach more people and provide them the opportunity to see movies they wouldn’t otherwise know about and learn things they may have never even considered. Even on a very snowy night in February, 250 people showed up to our Best of Fest in Frederick. We feel this is a testament to the interests and concerns of our citizenry and the quality of programming we offer. Clarke: Tell us about this year’s award winning film. Jennifer: We have 8 awardwinning films, each about a different conservation topic, ranging from grizzly bears to modernizing the energy grid to agricultural practices that are polluting the air, land, and water. While the festival films often address dire and disturbing issues, they also offer solutions through small ways we can all make a positive difference and inspiration from the changemakers leading the way. This year’s Green Fire Award winner, our top award for filmmaking excellence, is Artifishal, produced by the skillful folks at Patagonia. The film examines wild salmon’s slide toward extinction and the threats posed by fish hatcheries and farms. It also highlights the bigger-picture issue of interdependence among people, rivers, cultures, and wildlife. Artifishal is incredibly enlightening and engaging, fast-paced, beautifully shot, and sticks with you long after the closing credits. I can promise that you will never look at — or taste — salmon the same way again. They are truly miraculous creatures with an ancient wisdom and revered status and their populations are seriously threatened. We are hopeful that Artifishal’s filmmaker, Josh Murphy, will be traveling from the west coast to join us for the festival.
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Virginia Farmland Preservation Fund Surpasses 100 Conservation Easements Major milestone achieved for program providing matching funds to local Purchase of Development Rights programs In June, Clarke County and Fauquier County recorded the 100th and 101st easements, with funding from the Virginia Farmland Preservation Fund. Clarke County has recorded more easements using this fund than any other locality — 37 properties for a total of 2,987.41 acres. On Aug. 29, Clarke County Conservation Easement Authority chair Randy Buckley, vice chair George Ohrstrom, and Clarke County Natural Resource Planner Alison Teetor traveled to Fauquier County to join Governor Ralph Northam
for a celebration marking this milestone for land preservation. The Virginia Farmland Preservation Fund has now officially helped secure 102 conservation easements for working farms and forests by providing matching funds to support local Purchase of Development Rights programs. By providing matching funds to support local Purchase of Development Rights programs, the fund enhances the viability of Virginia agriculture and forestry by empowering individual localities to limit development on the farmland
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and forestland that each com- cal funds with both state PDR munity has deemed a priority funding and federal farmland for conservation. preservation dollars. “She is “My administration has truly the key to our success,” made farmland and forestland said Ohrstrom. retention one of our highest Ohrstrom also said there is priorities, recognizing the sig- more to be done. “Agriculture nificant contributions these is Virginia’s largest private lands make to our economy and industry, but the basic inputs the important role they have of that farm economy — a in Virginia’s history and out- plentiful supply of productive standing quality of life,” said farmland and clean water — is Governor Northam. “Together eroding away,” he said. “Bewith our conservation partners, tween 1997 and 2017, Virginia we are making the necessary has lost nearly a million acres investments in our communi- of farmland, according to the ties to help maintain the rural US Census. The good news is and agricultural character of that we can do more. The Fedour Commonwealth and ensure eral Farm Bill of 2018 sets aside our working lands remain un- $450 million annually under fettered by development and its Agricultural Conservation available for continued agricul- Easement Program (ACEP) to help farms work with public ture or forestry production.” Since 2008, sixteen locali- and private organizations to ties have used state funding conserve productive farmland to purchase 102 conservation and protect environmentally easements covering 13,917 sensitive resources.” According to Ohrstrom, acres at a cost of $32,897,840. Our Kamado Joe Classic II features a thick-walled, heat-resistant shell that locks in smoke and moisture at any temperature. The “We have not made the most Participating localities coneasy-open dome includes our counterbalanced Air Lift Hinge and of those federal dollars under tributed $15,206,855 towards element-proof, ultra-precise Kontrol Tower top vent, while the large cooking surface underneath is crafted from commercial-grade prior Farm Bills. Whereas Florthese projects, with the Vir304 stainless steel. Other featured innovations that come standard with theFarmland Classic II include thePreservation Divide & Conquer Flexible Cooking ida received over $151 million ginia System, our Advanced Multi-Panel FireBox, a heavy-duty rolling Fund $11,896,900 cast ironproviding cart and a patented slide-out ash drawer for easyunder cleaning. ACEP between 2014 and and the remainder coming 2018, Virginia was awarded just from a combination of federal, $8.6 million over the same pestate, and private funds. Con- riod. Disappointingly, we rank servation easements support- only 47th in the nation in seed by the Virginia Farmland curing that funding. “Agriculture and forestry Preservation Fund perpetually ensure these protected lands are Virginia’s first and third stay intact as working farms largest industries and preserving farm and forestland is cruand forests. Clarke County Conservation cial to protecting the many Easement Authority vice chair economic, environmental, and George Ohrstrom spoke at the social benefits these lands proevent. “The Farmland Preser- vide,” said Virginia Secretary vation Fund is critical to Clarke of Agriculture and Forestry County’s protection of open Bettina Ring. “The continued space. Without the support of success of the Virginia Farmthis program, our easement land Preservation Fund and program wouldn’t be any- prevalence of local Purchase of where near as successful as it Development Rights programs is today,” he said. He credited highlights a robust partnership Alison Teetor for leveraging lo- of state and local governments ®
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demonstrating a shared commitment to the preservation of Virginia’s working farms and forests.” The Virginia Farmland Preservation Fund is administered by the Office of Farmland Preservation within the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumers Services. This Office was created by the Virginia General Assembly in 2001 to educate the public on the importance of farmland preservation to the quality of life in the Commonwealth, help farmers in preserving their land and transitioning their business between generations, and assist local governments interested in developing additional farmland preservation policies and programs. “Protecting and conserving Virginia’s land and waterways, while preserving individual property rights and looking out for the business interests of our farmers and forest landowners are among my top priorities,” said Virginia State Senator Emmett Hanger. “I am proud of my involvement in creating both the Office of Farmland Preservation and the Virginia Farmland Preservation Fund. The success and longevity of these programs demonstrate that preserving our working lands is important to all Virginians.” “In my first year as Governor of Virginia, I committed to permanently preserving over 400,000 acres of land for future generations,” said United States Senator Tim Kaine. “Part of achieving that goal was supporting local efforts to conserve working farms and forests, and it’s heartening to see the continued success of preservation efforts in the Commonwealth.”
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Clarke County VFW Memorial Post 9760
A Rich History of Service to Veterans and the Community
Clarke County VFW Memorial Post 9760 is currently in its seventy-first year of operation as an organization serving Clarke County and the surrounding area. The post was chartered in February 1948 by a group of 44 World War I and World War II veterans who assembled in the jury room of the Clarke Courthouse on North Church Street. Since then, the post has grown to over 300 members, and continues to serve Clarke County and the surrounding area through outreach and support. The post has been in its present brick building on South Buckmarsh Street since 1998. The post is an active social center, with a comfortable, welcoming canteen. The canteen area displays military artifacts, memorabilia and photos. The social hall is roomy and suitable for large gatherings, parties, open houses, and wedding receptions. An outdoor shelter
serves as an ideal venue for summer picnics and barbeques. Extremely active in the community, VFW Post 9760 has supported veterans with transportation, personal issues, PTSD, and those facing eviction notices. The community outreach program includes donations to Clarke County Little League, Salvation Army, FISH, Clarke County Senior Center, Wreaths Across America, Boulder Crest in Bluemont, and many more worthy organizations. The post also participates in Patriot’s Pen, an essay contest for middle school students, Voice of Democracy for high school students, and Teacher of the Year awards for local teachers who emphasize citizenship in their instruction. Three scholarships are offered each year to Clarke County High School graduates. Along with American Legion Post 41, VFW Post 9760 has an active honor guard that has
proudly performed at funerals and memorial services for hundreds of local veterans, as well as local events. Although access to the post is generally limited to VFW and Auxiliary members, the post opens its doors to the public for free luncheons and socials following Memorial Day and Veterans Day services. Combat veterans from the Martinsburg VA Hospital are invited to the post for the Memorial Day program and a holiday luncheon in December. An integral part of the post is an outstanding Auxiliary chapter that supports the community through a multitude of programs, including scholarships, Toys for Tots, and six Red Cross bloodmobiles per year. VFW Post 9760 Auxiliary is open to family members who are eligible to join VFW. Veterans interested in joining VFW Post 9760 are encouraged to bring copies of their DD 214 forms to the post. The post can also be contacted by phone at (540) 955-1119. Current dues are $35 per year for VFW membership and $16.50 per year for Auxiliary membership. General membership meetings of VFW Post 9760 and the Auxiliary are held on the first Monday of each month at 7pm. The organization is a nonsmoking post. Chris Birch is the current Commander of VFW Post 9760, and Judy Kirby is President of VFW Post 9760 Auxiliary.
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The Bug Lady
Wasps are our friends By Claire Stuart
Polistes Paper Wasp on flower.
Bald-faced Hornet on rotten peach.
Blue-winged Digger Wasp.
European Hornet on rotting apple.
Mud Dauber at work.
Based on reader responses to our recent article Hornets, we’ve called on The Bug Lady to tell us about wasps.
they are pollinators and allies in our battles against destructive insects. Of course they can sting, but it’s in defense of themselves and their homes. As larger and more intelligent creatures, we can usually avoid these situations. There are two kinds of wasps, social and solitary. Social wasps live in colonies with an egg-laying queen and female workers who feed the
larvae. Each solitary wasp lives and works alone. Adult wasps feed on nectar and pollen, and feed their larvae insects and spiders. Adults may chew on prey and feed on the juices. Our common social wasps are Polistes Paper Wasps, Bald-faced Hornets, European Hornets and yellowjackets. Nests are made of chewed wood fibers. Colonies die in winter, except for new queens
that hibernate; old nests are not re-used. The tan Polistes Paper Wasp makes a single-layer openfaced nest hanging from a thin stem under some shelter like a porch ceiling or roof overhang. They have small colonies of a few dozen workers. A new queen may build her nest next to her old home, if it was in a successful location. Prey usually consists of caterpillars. Paper wasps are not aggressive and will not bother you unless they or their nest is harmed. Bald-faced Hornets are black-and-white. Their colonies contain about 100 to 400
workers. The gray, footballshaped nest is usually hung from a branch high in a tree, although they occasionally nest near or on human buildings. The nest consists of several layers of combs for larvae, all covered by a protective “envelope.” Their prey consists mainly of flies and other flying insects. They are not aggressive unless harmed or if their nest is bumped or approached within a few feet. European Hornets are our largest social wasps. They are black-and-yellow with redbrown on the thorax. They have been mistaken for the
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giant Asian hornet, which is NOT in the USA. They build many-layered nests, without protective envelopes, in hollow trees, wall voids and similar places. Prey consists of all sorts of large insects. They can be pests of trees and shrubs, especially lilacs, when they strip bark to get sweet sap to flow. They are the only wasps to fly at night and are attracted to lights, often frightening people, but they are not aggressive unless harmed. They are not attracted to yellow lights. Yellowjackets are our smallest social wasps. They are yellow-and-black striped. They usually build nests in the ground in abandoned rodent burrows. They feed their larvae all sorts of insects. Most negative encounters with people occur when nests are mowed over. Occasionally they hang nests in bushes or low trees. The nest is in a round tan envelope about the size of a cantaloupe. There are many common solitary wasps. Many nest in burrows that they dig, but
some build mud structures and some nest in hollow stems and similar places (including in wind chimes). They do not feed their larvae directly. A female digger wasp digs a tunnel with a separate room for each egg and then captures and paralyzes prey to provide fresh food for each larva. When all are provisioned, she seals the burrow and flies away. Larvae grow and pupate in the nest and emerge the following spring. If soil conditions are optimum, several digger wasps may nest close together, and you could see some coming and going every year, but those are definitely not colonies. Watch for the Blue-winged Digger Wasp, a black wasp with an orange abdomen and two large yellow eye spots. It hunts many damaging beetle grubs. Sometimes you will see groups of them flying low over lawns in mating rituals. Our largest wasp is a yellowand-black digger wasp, the Cicada Killer, up to two inches long. They capture cicadas for larval food. They are very gen-
tle wasps and will not sting unless grabbed and harmed. Mud daubers build mud tubes, and the usual prey is spiders. The blue-black Organ Pipe Wasp makes several long tubes side-by-side, under overhangs and on walls of barns and outbuildings, each containing several larval cells. The Yellow-and-Black Mud Dauber makes a few very short tubes covered with a glob of mud, often in odd places like on stored garden equipment and random objects in garages and barns. Mud daubers are extremely gentle and sing as they work, and one can get within a few inches to watch them. All said, be careful of wasps, especially at this time of year. Fallen fruit, even tiny ornamental crabapples, can be a hazard because wasps visit them. Their seasonal work feeding larvae is finished and wasps are idle. Fallen fruit ferments, and idle wasps, like many idle people, get drunk, quarrel among themselves, and fly around unsteadily — and are more likely to sting.
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One For The Gals, And Those Who Love Them by JiJi Russell
If you’re a woman in your late 30s to 50s, you might have noticed, or continue to notice, multiple and perhaps rapid changes in your body and mental states. Maybe you’re less “grounded” than you once were; maybe more easily exhausted; perhaps you gain weight by simply looking at a muffin; or maybe you’re wanting to bite somebody’s head off the next time they fail to follow through on a commitment. I’m here to tell you: this is normal. The changes that women traverse during perimenopause can seem overwhelming, only until we realize that we all go through them as women. They can be extreme and unsettling; and yet there are ways to handle the changes with greater comfort and grace.
Turn and Face the Strange
Let’s dive right in, shall we? Here’s what Dr. Sara Gottfried,
Photo by Jude Beck on Unsplash. a Harvard physician and yoga teacher says: “Perimenopause refers to the years of hor-
monal upheaval before your final menstrual period. It can begin in your mid thirties or
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your forties. However, perimenopause is a state of body and mind, not a chronological destination. It begins with dropping progesterone levels and ends with dropping estrogen levels. For some women, it is a time when mood becomes unpredictable, weight climbs,
and energy wanes — and most commonly, women experience a conflation of all three. Other women may feel free of the hormonal straightjacket of the fertile years and start speaking the truth about what they want and need. Which camp you join may be determined by how you
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prepare to navigate these subtle, and at times dramatic, hormonal changes.” Amen, sister! So here’s the thing: We lack the built-in cultural rituals and communities to share our confusions, anxieties, or pissed-off-ness about these changes we go through. Here I am, a woman who has been immersed in the healing arts since my 20s (ahem, that’s more than 25 years), and still I have to actively cultivate connections with wise womenfolk for meaningful conversation, or to share book titles and articles, as a way to better understand and accept the profound changes that my body has sustained over the course of forming and feeding a human, followed by a few quick and eventful years, and now the territory of perimenopause. I write this appeal as a sister to women, because I find myself now on the steady side of the changes, and recently having many conversations that start out with a woman telling me, “I don’t know what’s wrong with me, I’m just exhausted all the time, gaining weight . . . I just don’t feel like myself.” And I was there too. None of my “old tricks” seemed to make a dent in my exhaustion, weight
gain, erratic emotions, anxiety . . . until I made it my job to talk about what was going on with a few people I love and trust, and to study my options for feeling better. It became a project, and what a worthwhile one! Not least of all for those who live with me.
Take a Step
Just about every article I’ve written comes with a one-liner to the effect that each person’s path to health and wellness should be uniquely suited to fit that individual’s biology, history, and spiritual inclinations. And this is evermore true with unknotting the binds that perimenopause can place upon us. The mandate is to start somewhere, whether it’s seeking out a vibrant woman who is older than you; researching books and articles online; asking for guidance through prayer or meditation; talking with a trusted health practitioner; or leveling with your partner about how things might feel out of control for you (this is a common refrain among perimenopausal women). I often wish our culture and society would offer built-in moments or escapes that could
match our need for quietude, for listening deeply, for sharing human connections that are more than an electronic blip or a passing hello. The body, mind, and spirit yearns for nourishment that cannot be rushed or shortcut. Be that woman who can share her vulnerabilities about entering or traversing perimenopause. There is strength in that for you, and for others to come. We all walk the path; let’s be honest about its challenges. I have to get back together with my elders to talk this through, but I am beginning to understand that there is power and beauty on the other side; this gives me perseverance.
JiJi Russell is a writer, yogi, yoga teacher, and integrative nutrition health coach. She departed a six-year term as a corporate wellness manager last year to communications for the nonprofit sector. A constant seeker of optimal health, vitality, and joy, she is committed to finding natural approaches to life’s many physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges.
A very short list of women’s resources The Hormone Cure, a book by Sara Gottfried, MD (and other titles by Dr. Gottfried) Dr. Brene Brown, a research professor with a trove of articles, videos, and podcasts focusing on courage, vulnerability, empathy, and shame; www.BreneBrown.com
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Clarke
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Need Help? Call Concern By Stephen Willingham
Statistics in 1968 revealed that the Northern Shenandoah Valley region, including not only Winchester/Frederick County, but also Clarke and the other neighboring counties of Warren, Shenandoah, and Page, owned the unenviable distinction of supporting not only the highest suicide rate in Virginia, but also one that was double the national average. Alarmed by this revelation, Winchester residents, Dr. Kic Kiczales, Judge Henry Whiting, his wife Patricia, and Bettie Johnston, answered the call to action.
At first, they started out by meeting with other concerned citizens in local private homes. What eventually resulted was the establishment of the Concern Hotline in 1969. (Now celebrating its 50th anniversary.) As fate would have it, many of the first meetings were hosted by the mother of the present executive director, Rusty Holland. In a telephone interview from his office, Holland explained that, “hotlines weren’t hot in 1969.” As a matter of fact, outside of large urban centers, few, if any, existed at the time.
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“Nowadays you’ve got hotlines for everything, including cooking turkeys,” he chuckled. As a kid, Holland credits listening in on those nascent meetings to his eventual choice of social work and counseling as a career. He first came on board at Concern as a volunteer. Currently, there are 40 volunteers at Concern and two paid staff, Holland and Projects Coordinator, Charley Franks, who is the pastor of Highland Memorial Presbyterian in Winchester, as well as at Clearbrook Presbyterian. On the day that the Clarke Monthly contacted Concern, not only were Holland and Franks hurriedly preparing for the upcoming , 20th Annual Fish Fry fundraiser, but the morning also found Franks rushing through the office on his way to a volunteer training session at Shenandoah University. When asked about the duration of service for volunteers, and causes for leaving, Franks offered that, “Volunteer burn-out is zero.” “The average tenure for volunteer ‘interventionists’ is three years,” Holland added. “Normally, it’s job changes, added occupational and family demands, and moving that causes people to leave.” Holland pointed out that volunteers are required to make a one-year commitment. When asked about particularly extreme cases, when a caller might be on the actual brink of committing suicide, Holland said that either he or Franks are always available to intervene if needed, but that this situation almost never occurs.
He stressed that while suicide prevention remains one of their primary missions, referral services have also entered the picture in a big way, as the organization has evolved over the years. In 1978, the Northwestern Community Services Board awarded Concern a contract that allowed it to expand into what is now called “crisis intervention,” according to Holland. Additionally, this expansion includes, information/referral services, all handled by what Holland calls, “compassionate listeners. Holland emphasized, “Our volunteers don’t give advice. We provide mental health services and what I like to call ‘bridge services’. Human connection is the most important thing we provide when people are most in need.” Some examples of ‘bridge services’ or referrals offered are: women’s healthcare and prenatal services, including pediatric care; people with disabilities seeking independent living; HIV/AIDS; substance abuse treatment and recovery; child abuse and neglect; domestic violence counseling/resolution; and sexual assault counseling.” These are but a few of the services that Concern is now in a position to offer to callers, who find either themselves or a loved one in a tough situation where nobody seems to care. Holland indicated that literally any situation that Concern encounters has a contact point for assistance. He is quick to point out that all of these good works still take money to implement. “Even fundraising has a top and bottom line,” he said.
The day that The Monthly talked with Holland, he had just purchased $1200 worth of fish for their biggest fund raising event of the year, the Annual Fish Fry that occurred on September 6. He agreed that the old adage that it takes money to make money, remains true for non-profits. Holland says that while Concern partners with jurisdictions in Winchester/Frederick and Clarke Counties, not all of the counties and municipalities that they serve are able to provide funding. “We don’t get any support from the state of Virginia,” he added, when asked. Funds come in from The Lord Fairfax Planning/Health District 7, grants, and donations from the generous citizens of the area, he said. Holland admitted that it’s a large area that Concern serves and that while out-reach in Winchester/Frederick County remains, “fairly easy,” outlying jurisdictions, “are another issue.” “We always need better connections in the surrounding area,” he stated. To illustrate his point, Holland revealed that the Concern director from Clarke County had recently resigned and, “no one has yet stepped forward.” With Concern celebrating its 50th anniversary, he hopes that publicity surrounding this event might encourage a civic-minded individual to step up. Holland’s overlying message is that Concern has changed with the times and continues to be as relevant in the 21st Century, as it was at its birth in 1969.
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Community Briefs Garden Club of Virginia receives national award for work with Virginia State Parks
The Garden Club of Virginia (GCV) will receive a national award for its decades of work with Virginia State Parks. The National Association of State Park Directors will present the GCV with the President’s Award for a Statewide Organization at the NASPD annual conference today in Rogers, Arkansas. “The Garden Club of Virginia first planted the seeds for state parks in Virginia in 1929,” said Virginia State Parks Director Craig Seaver. “From the early days to today, the garden club has been a vital partner in the Virginia State Parks mission to conserve natural resources while providing public access to the outdoors.” The GCV was founded in 1920 and within a decade members were working to establish a state park system. “The founders of the Garden Club of Virginia knew how important preserving open space was to the fabric of the commonwealth,” said Jean Gilpin, president of the Garden Club of Virginia. “In 1929, GCV petitioned the General Assembly for funds to establish what are now Virginia Stare Parks. It is appropriate that in recognition of this heritage and in celebration of our 100th anniversary, the Garden Club of Virginia embraces state parks with a centennial gift: $500,000 in grants awarded over five years. GCV is proud and honored to share our mission of preservation, conservation and education with Virginia State Parks.” Since 2016, 17 state parks have received $364,653 in grants that have funded projects such as the Youth Conservation Corps, which helps engage young people in park
projects to develop a conservation stewardship ethic; children’s Discovery Areas and Playscapes to allow children an unstructured yet safe play area to learn about and experience the outdoors; Track Trails to promote health and wellness initiatives; native pollinator habitat; shoreline stabilization projects; educational exhibits in park visitor centers; and other conservation projects. “The garden club has done so much for Virginia State Parks in recent years and over the past decades,” Seaver said. “I’m proud of this partnership with the garden club, and I’m pleased the organization is being recognized nationally by the NASPD.” For more on Virginia State Parks, visit virginiastateparks.gov.
Handley Regional Library System Announces Library Card Sign-up Month
Handley Regional Library System is joining the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries nationwide for Library Card Sign-Up Month, a time to remind the public of the value of having a library card. During September, the library system is encouraging people of all ages to sign up for a library card if they don’t already have one, renew their card if they haven’t used it in a while to check out materials, along with participating in community events within Clarke and Frederick Counties, and Winchester-City. They will also be hosting tours of each library (Clarke County Library, Bowman Library, and Handley Library) for county and city officials, and running several contests through social media where patrons can win books and other surprises. “Children as young as five
can sign-up for their first library card, delivering access to thousands of free materials including books, digital Launchpad tablets with educational games and apps, video games for a pathway to critical thinking, and more,” says John Huddy, Director of Handley Regional Library System. Huddy reports that a library card also gives the public the tools and resources to succeed in school along with their personal and professional life. “We are more than just a building that holds books – a misleading description a lot of people think of when they think of the library. Our role is to help connect people of all ages to information and entertainment. We offer a variety of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, and math) programs, DIY workshops for adults, technology learning courses for mobile devices, computers, or specific programs, plus author talks, live music, history talks, genealogy programs, and theatrical performances. There’s something for everyone at your local library.” During September, the library system will host over 100 free activities and programs for kids, teens, and adults. The kick-off event will be an afterhours adult program called Later in the Library featuring beer, Bingo, and books on September 6 at Bowman Library. Adults can register for the beer tastings and Bingo games, with a chance to win a $100 gift card during Bingo, online at www. handleyregional.org/later. Library system staff will also be participating in several outreach opportunities in September where they will signing up kids and adults for cards and connecting with current cardholders at several events including local schools, Bright Futures, Alamo Drafthouse Winchester, and more.
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This Eagle Has Landed!
Trudy Gheen, head of the Home Economics department for the Clarke County Fair, noticed last year that the push screens used in front of fair entry displays were in bad shape. “At the end of the fair a year ago, I met Travis King and his son Jamie was going for his Eagle Project, and Jamie volunteered to build new push screens for his Eagle
Project,” Gheen said. The project was completed in time for the recent Clarke County Fair. “They’re much better than the old ones and they come apart so they can be stacked,” Gheen said. “They’re very nice.”
CONNECTION WITH FILMMAKERS & PEERS • PROGRAMS FOR KIDS & COMMUNITY • INSTRUCTION & INSPIRATION FOR EVERYONE
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Bertie Gregory, Filmmaker ACFF alumni Film: Wild_Life - Resurrection Islandfilmmakers
Nate Dappen and Neil Losin.
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OCTOBER 4-6 & 11-13, 2019 • SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV