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Point-to-Point Adds Stick Pony Races By Claire Stuart
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ON THE COVER Blue Ridge Hunt Point-to-Point Races. Photo by Jennifer Lee.
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Boyd’s Nest Twinleaf, A Very Early Spring Flower Around Clarke County Needles and Pins Los Wingeez Happenings at The Mill The Microbiome Smarter’n Everybody Feline Foundation Fundraiser ACFF Spring Party Community Briefs
APRIL 201 8
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FROM THE EDITOR Spring Comes To Clarke County, Slowly But Surely April 9, morning snow. Seriously. The outdoor chores planned for spring are stacking up. It’s been too cold to paint or pour concrete with any predictability. Too cold to linger into the evening admiring a garden newly groomed. Recall that John Belushi skit that begins with the old saw, “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.” If you’re stuck indoors and need a weather laugh, track it down. Amuse yourselves with a Belushian rant over coffee or social media. The only thing clear is that April came in like February, and hopefully will start acting its age. To coax along the season, try the rite of spring of wandering down the streets of Berryville to see what’s new. We have stories of two new ventures in this edition. Wingeez already has become a popular gathering place, and the new Needles and Pins has opened, bringing colorful fiber arts supplies to Main Street — a place for kindred spirits to gather and “spin a yarn.” We also have the annual rites of spring on the horizon, including Art at the Mill and all it portends for summer, and the always popular Pointto-Point Races hosted by the Blue Ridge Hunt. This year’s event features stick pony races for kids, kicking off a new chapter of fun outdoors in horse country. Then there’s Berryville’s annual Downtown Yard Sale, a fun day for neighbors to reconnect after spending months indoors.
Add to this a Spring Fever 5 K event at Sky Meadows State Park, a walking tour of Blandy Arboretum, a star gazing party, and many more activities in and around the county. Temperatures a little below average won’t keep us indoors, not when there are so many fine community-focused fun things to do. Get out the hiking boots; get the canoe or kayak cleaned up; organize the garden shed; tune up the bicycle; put the snow shovel away and get set to dig in dark soil instead of fluffy white stuff. Spring may not know it yet, but it has arrived. Before long the canopies of the farmers market will arise on Saturday mornings. Time to be outside and enjoy this place. Time to sniff out the smells of spring and think about napping in the grass.
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Boyd’s Nest Restaurant Gives Back to the Community By Rebecca Maynard
Last fall, Boyd’s Nest restaurant owner Kim Ragland organized a fundraiser that sent 20 flood buckets to Houston. Over Christmas, she collected diapers, wipes, toys, infant clothes, bottles, pacifiers, shampoo and more, along with $300 cash for formula for the Red Wagon ministry. Recently, as she was wondering what cause to tackle next, she woke up with the phrase Hungry Backpack going through her mind. Knowing that spring break and other school vacation days can be difficult for students without plentiful food at home, Ragland decided to raise money for Clarke County’s Backpack Buddies program, a group of volunteers that packs food into backpacks for students to take home with them during school breaks.
As a nutritionist, she is keenly aware of the fact that students are less likely to succeed in school when they come from a home with food anxiety – not always being sure where the next meal will come from. Ragland borrowed her granddaughter’s backpack to display with a sign suggesting a $35 donation which she figured could feed one student over spring break. Right away, generous Boyd’s Nest customers began opening their wallets. “By the end of lunch, we had collected $155,” Ragland said. “Our customers are that way.” Donations continued pouring in, and it really snowballed when Ragland organized a Facebook fundraiser. People from Clarke County and beyond shared the page and sent donations, and as of this
(540) 450-8110
writing, $2600 has been raised and more is being collected to fill the snack closets at both Clarke elementary schools. The Backpack Buddy program is not a government program and therefore there are no criteria for qualifying. Students are given shelf stable food to eat at home, but Ragland would love to be able to expand the program to include fresh fruits and vegetables. She is in the process of talking with school counselors about the logistics of expanding the program to the middle and high school, and also helping to spread awareness of the program to those who might benefit and have not heard of it. While the Facebook fundraiser has ended, this is just the beginning. Ragland has had offers from a few corporations and individuals to be sustaining contributors, which she says is very exciting. Anyone interested in donating can stop by Boyd’s Nest
in person or call 540-535-5252. “We want these students to know we care about and love
them,” Ragland said. “It’s important for them to know they are valued.”
Clarke
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Twinleaf Is A Very Early Spring Flower Story and photo by Doug Pifer The end of March might seem too early to be looking for wildflowers in the woods. But that’s when to look for spring ephemerals, the flowers that bloom while the trees are devoid of leaves and sun can reach the forest floor. It was early May when my wife and I first encountered twinleaf, a real gem of a spring wildflower. Big clumps of plants were all around us. Double leaves stretched out more than 8 inches across, like pairs of butterfly wings. Here and there among them grew a strange green seed capsule at the end of a ten-inch stem. I’d seen twinleaf in the wildflower books for years, but judging from the pictures, I always imagined it to be small and unobtrusive. These leaves looked enormous! Late last March we went back to the same woods. Among the white flowers of bloodroot and early clumps of Dutchman’s britches we saw clumps of twinleaf about to bloom. Beautiful purplish buds were just starting to appear above ground. Surrounding them were rolled up leaves that looked like miniature replicas of the big ones we saw the previous spring but most of them were reddish or purplish in color. Many of the buds were nearly open, showing eight pure white petals very similar to the flower of the bloodroot blooming nearby. We came back a few days later to the same spot, hoping to see twinleaf in full bloom. We saw the leaves spread like green butterfly wings everywhere, but no flowers. How could my wife and I, both seasoned naturalists, have missed the flowers of twinleaf? We felt relief to learn that twinleaf is among the hardest flowers to find in full bloom. The sun must hit the flowers to get them to open, but the first strong breeze causes the petals to fall off. The weather had been sunny but very windy, so we had been lucky just to see the buds opening! Last year near the end of June while leading a bird walk at Yankauer Nature Preserve, I saw the big leaves and ripe pods of twinleaf again. The seed capsules were nearly mature, and the top of one of them had opened like a very small, hinged lid. Inside were several seeds with strange, fleshy spikes projecting from them. Called eliosomes, these growths attract ants, which enter the pods and remove the seeds. Ants then carry the seeds into their underground tunnels to feed their young larvae. After the immature ants have nibbled off the good parts, the seeds remain until they sprout into new twinleaf plants. Twinleaf also reproduces asexually through underground rhizomes, which is why the plant often occurs in
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Around Clarke County Promote your event in Clarke. 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.
April
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Irish Music Concert
Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. The Alt, three masters of Irish music, perform. 8pm. $20 in advance, $25 at door, 12 and younger free. Visit www.barnsofrosehill.org or call 540955-2004 (12–3 pm Tuesday to Saturday).
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–15 “The Little Mermaid” Musical
Clarke County High School auditorium. 627 Mosby Blvd. Berryville. Students will bring to life the Disney musical based on the beloved animated movie. 7:30pm Friday and Saturday, 2:30pm Sunday. Adults $12, children $8. brewerc@clarke.k12.va.us.
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Tastefully Simple Open House
Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church. 210 E. Main St. Berryville. All welcome to stop by and sample products. Proceeds benefit Clarke County Relay Team Razmataz. 1–4pm. 540-323-0097. patsyburner1948@gmail.com.
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Downtown Berryville Yard Sale
Various locations in downtown Berryville. Begins at 8am. Contact Berryville Main Street for details at 540-955-4001.
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Family Dance Party and Silent Auction
D.G. Cooley Elementary School Lower Campus. 240 Westwood Road. Berryville. DJ, concessions, silent auction,
glow store, dessert bar and more for elementary students and families. $1 admission. 6–9pm. www.pantherspto.org.
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An Evening with Elvis and Conway
John Enders Fire Hall. 9 S. Buckmarsh St. Berryville. Join the Stone’s Chapel Memorial Association at a special benefit
concert featuring tribute artist Kevin Booth. First half features Conway Twitty and second half Elvis Presley. All proceeds benefit the ongoing restoration of the historic Stone’s Chapel. 7pm. Tickets sold at door only. Adults $10, students $5. 540-955-1110.
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Mount Bleak House Tours
Sky Meadows State Park. 11012 Edmonds Lane. Delaplane. Walk through history by touring historic Mount Bleak House and hear the stories of the many owners of the 1840s house. Free, $5 parking fee. 11am–4pm. 540-592-3556. skymeadows@dcr.virginia.gov.
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Astronomy for Everyone
Sky Meadows State Park. 11012 Edmonds Lane. Delaplane. Hear about the importance of dark skies and light conservation, and look at deep space objects through telescopes. Free, $5 parking fee. 7:30–10:30pm. 540-592-3556. skymeadows@dcr.virginia.gov.
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Desegregation Retrospective Roundtable
Boyce United Methodist Church. 8 Old Chapel Ave. Boyce. CCHA and the Josephine School Community Museum will partner together for a discussion with former teachers and students with firsthand experiences from Johnson-Williams High School and Clarke County High School 2pm. 540-955-2600.
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Meet the Beekeepers
Sky Meadows State Park. 11012 Edmonds Lane. Delaplane. Meet with local apiarists Doug and Ramona Morris and discover the art of beekeeping. Free, $5 parking fee. 1–3pm. 540-592-3556. skymeadows@dcr.virginia.gov.
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Wildflower Identification Workshop
Blandy Experimental Farm. 400 Blandy Farm Lane. Boyce. Two day event also held April 19 uses Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide and the Flora of Virginia app to identify spring wildflowers in the lab and field. Bring lunch, a 10x ocular, and books and app if available. 9am–2pm. FOSA and VNPS members $35, nonmembers $40. Reservations required. 540-837-1758.
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Live Trivia
Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. CCHA and the Clarke County Library team up to bring live team trivia with categories including history, movies, literature, science and more. Prizes donated
by local businesses. 7pm. Free. 540-955-2600.
21
Spaghetti Dinner
Boyce Fire Hall. 7 S. Greenway Ave. Boyce. All you can eat dinner with food, fun and fellowship to benefit Boyce United Methodist Ministries. Takeout trays available. Free will offering. 4–7pm. 540-336-3585.
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Conservation Event
Llangollen Farm Horseshoe Barn. 21515 Trappe Road. Upperville. Numerous speakers will hold a conversation about the future of our landscape and our communities. Free, but RSVP is requested. 9am–12pm. 540-687-6681. www.mosbyheritagearea.org.
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Earth Day Celebration
Sam Michael’s Park. 235 Sam Michael’s Lane. Shenandoah Junction, W.Va. Local artists, musicians, food vendors, environmental organizations, kids’ activities. Free. 11am–7pm. 240-520-7058.
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Garden Tour
Headquartered at Blandy Experimental Farm. 400 Blandy Farm Lane. Boyce. Tour four local properties featuring beautiful views and architecture. Hosted by WinchesterClarke Garden Club. $30 ahead, $40 onsite, single site admission $20. 10am–5pm. Visit vagardenweek.org for details.
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CCHS Band Fundriaser
Clarke County Band Assoc. is hosting a fund-raising event for the CCHS Band programs. Touch a Truck. There will be several types of trucks for all to see and touch. (NO rides) There will also be a Petting Zoo, classic cars, kids games, bake sale and a Basket Raffle. Sunday 11am to 3pm. (No rain date) Admission: $5 at the gate, age 2 & under free. Event is located
at Clarke County High School, 627 Mosby Blvd, Berryville, VA. Any question please email ccba_prez@yahoo.com.
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Lularoe and Perfectly Posh Fundraiser Open House. 6 Spring House Lane. Berryville. Browse a large selection of clothes in sizes for most body types, as well as body pampering products. Drop in anytime, children welcome, refreshments provided. A portion of proceeds benefits the MS Society. 3–6pm. 540-6640670. sm1day@yahoo.com. www.facebook.com/groups/ LuLaRoeSheilaShriver.
22
Arbor Day Celebration
Blandy Experimental Farm. 400 Blandy Farm Lane. Boyce. Outdoor workshops, panel discussion, Foundation of the State Arboretum annual meeting and social with refreshments. 2–7pm. FOSA members free, nonmembers $15. Reservations required. 540-837-1758.
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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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Cars and Trucks
All Makes and Models
Blue Ridge Hunt Point to Point Races
Woodley Farm. 590 Woodley Lane. Berryville. First race at 12pm. Stick horse races for children and other activities. $25 per car, $150 for VIP tailgate parking. 540-631-1919. diana.perry@viasatinc.com.
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Art at the Mill
Burwell Morgan Mill. 15 Tannery Lane. Millwood. Runs through Sunday, May 13. 250 artists display for sale over 1000 works of art in a historic
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Lularoe and Posh Open House
Sunday, April 22nd, 3-6pm • 6 Springhouse Lane, Berryville Children welcome. Refreshments provided.
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Clarke
A PRIL 201 8 18th century, operating mill. Saturdays 10am–6pm, Sunday– Friday 12–5pm. 540-837-1799.
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World Tai Chi and Qi Gong Day Event
Sanctuary Wellness Center. 208 N. Buckmarsh St. Berryville. Qi Gong instructor Marisol Mayell will lead the event open to all fitness levels, with no previous experience necessary. 10:30–11:45am. Free. Preregistration appreciated, walkins welcome. 540-227-0564. info@sanctuaryberryville.com.
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Methylation Mutants Presentation
Sanctuary Wellness Center. 208 N. Buckmarsh St. Berryville. Dr. Susan Fidler will present current strategies for navigating genetic mutations and cellular pathways associated with complex health issues. 4–5:30pm. Pre-registration
recommended. 540-227-0564. info@sanctuaryberryville.com.
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Spring Fever 5K
Sky Meadows State Park. Parking at Turner Pond. 1111 Winchester Road. Paris. Beautiful course followed by music and prizes. Pre-registration is $35. 9–11am. 540-5923556. runsignup.com/race/va/ paris/springfevertrail5k.
May
1
Bird Conservation: Past, Present, Future
Brewbaker’s Restaurant, back room. 168 N. Loudoun St. Winchester. Dr. Eric Kershner shares conservation successes of the past 100 years and explores challenges for the next 100. Free; food and drinks available for purchase throughout. 7–8:30pm. Free. Reservations required. 540-837-1758.
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Sanctuary Wellness Center. 208 N. Buckmarsh St. Berryville. Training will prepare students to practice Reiki on themselves, their family, friends, pets and surroundings. Friday 5–9pm, Saturday 2–5pm. Pre-registration recommended. 703-244-4427. www.amyhopegentry.com.
Burwell Morgan Mill. 15 Tannery Lane. Millwood. Enjoy the 1000 pieces of displayed art for sale and meet the artists in a historic 18th century, operating mill. 2–5pm. 540-837-1799.
5 Reiki Training Level 1 Workshop
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Homeopathy for Children
Sanctuary Wellness Center. 208 N. Buckmarsh St. Berryville. Certified Classic Homeopath Kathy Miller will speak about one of the easiest and safest forms of wellness treatments for children. 2–3:30pm. Pre-registration recommended. 540-877-4303. kmillerhomeopath@gmail.com.
Meet the Artists at the Mill
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Walking Tour of Arboretum
Blandy Experimental Farm. 400 Blandy Farm Lane. Boyce. Come see glorious displays of flowering trees, shrubs and wildflowers. 1–2:30pm. Free. Reservations required. 540837-1758.
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Annual Strawberry Festival
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. 219 N. Buckmarsh St. Berryville. The public is invited to enjoy delicious fried chicken lunches, homemade ice cream, scrumptious strawberry short-
cake and fantastic baked goods. Enter to win prizes including a $100 gas card, restaurant gift cards or a plant. Lunch is $10; all proceeds benefit St. Mary’s outreach projects. 11am–2pm. 540-955-4617 or 540-837-2374.
Ongoing Al-Anon
Tuesdays, 8:15–9:15pm. Grace Episcopal Church. N. Church St. Berryville. For friends and families of alcoholics. If someone else’s drinking bothers you, please join us. 540955-1610.
FISH Clothing Bank
Saturdays, 9am–12pm. Old Chapel Road and Route 340 south of Berryville. Also new location at 36 E. Main Street. Berryville. 540-955-1823.
Clarke
APRIL 201 8
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Needles & Pins Fiber Art Shop Opens on Main Street in Berryville By Rebecca Maynard
Readers of bestselling author Debbie Macomber are no doubt familiar with the fictitious shop, A Good Yarn, where friends gather to socialize and work on knitting, crocheting, needlework and more. Life is now imitating art, as Round Hill resident Pam Hummel has fulfilled her dream of several years and opened Needles & Pins Fiber Art Shop in
Berryville in March. The shop is located above the Fire House Gallery at 23 East Main Street. Hummel said the idea to open the shop was in the back of her mind for a few years, after having read Macomber’s book, and she joined the Blue Ridge Fiber Arts Guild to start learning. She is now working with five farms, which provide wool that is made in the United States.
“They are all sheep to skein and hand dyed,” said Hummel, who added that one farm is selling lap blankets. “All the farmers have been the kindest people to work with. I would come to them with 100 questions and they would patiently answer each one – I can’t say enough good things about them.” Hummel said she has always loved coming to Berryville to walk the town and browse the shops, and when it came to choosing a location for her store, it kept coming to the forefront of her mind. Then she found out about the incubator space available through Berryville Main Street, which gives startup businesses a temporary space. After launching a business in the incubator space and finding success, Berryville Main Street hopes the owner finds a permanent space in downtown Berryville. The incubator space above Fire House Gallery has previously been occupied
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by Turi Nevin-Turkel, owner of Turiya Yoga, now at the Sanctuary Wellness Center on North Buckmarsh Street; and Christina Kraybill, owner of My Neighbor and Me, now located on East Main Street. In addition to the colorful yarn, embroidery thread and other items for sale, Hummel plans to make Needles & Pins a destination for anyone who wants to come work on a project or just chat. “I had someone come in and just sit down to have a cup of coffee the other day, and that was great,” she said.
She is also finalizing plans for classes for all skill levels in crocheting, knitting, do it yourself projects, needle felting, cross-stitch and more. For more information, call the store at 703-499-1502, email needles_pins@yahoo.com, visitneedlesandpinsfiberart.com or visit the store’s Facebook page. Hours are Sunday: closed; Monday: closed; Tuesday: 1–7pm; Wednesday: 11am– 5pm; Thursday: 1–7pm; Friday: 11am–5pm; Saturday: 11am– 5pm (last Saturday of every month).
Clarke
A PRIL 201 8
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Los Wingeez Adds Flavor to Main Street in Berryville By Rebecca Maynard
Main Street in Berryville recently welcomed a new restaurant that promises to add all kinds of flavor to the town. Los Wingeez, already a successful food truck since 2015, opened in March at 24 W. Main St. Owner Jose Alvarado worked for years for Navy Federal Credit Union before opening a restaurant with partners in Lansdowne. After parting ways with his partners there, he has operated his food truck since 2015, specializing in authentic Peruvian chicken wings marinated in a secret recipe. However, non-wing fans will have plenty of other options. Los Wingeez will also serve street tacos and quesadillas with a variety of fillings including a vegetarian option, sandwiches, salads, burrito bowls and lomo saltado, a traditional Peruvian dish. Everything is organic, gluten and peanut free and non GMO, Alvarado said, and he is also enjoying the sourcing of local ingredients, including honey. Because he deals with food allergies himself, he enjoys making food that everyone can eat. While the restaurant isn’t fast food, Alvarado said that it is designed to be a quick bite and that most orders are filled within minutes. And unlike fast food, everything is made fresh, including teriyaki and barbecue sauce. Alvarado likes to do things right, said his friend and startup assistant Beth Aldhizer. “He doesn’t take shortcuts and everything is always consistent,” said Aldhizer, who runs a pet business in Round Hill. “My family and I love his food!” Alvarado plans to continue making the rounds in his food truck, where he has regular
stops in Herndon, Sterling and Ashburn. However, he is so taken with Berryville that he has found an apartment very close to the new restaurant and looks forward to settling in and meeting people. “A friend of mine lives here and told me I should come and have a look,” he said. “The people here are wonderful and so nice.” Los Wingeez is delightfully decorated with international postcards, cozy pillows, a unique piece of chicken artwork (pictured) and a custom built bar made with local pallet wood with a countertop made from pennies laid like tiles and covered with a protective finish. In addition to running the food truck and the restaurant with the help of employees, Alvarado will continue catering for special events. He is interested in the Apple Blossom Festival and hopes that being involved there might
bring potential customers from Winchester and beyond to Berryville. “I’m going to try to make this a destination,” he said. The restaurant has room to seat 38 people inside and 16 for outdoor patio dining. Lunch specials will be offered and Alvarado would like to introduce a delivery option. The hours are 11am to 8pm Monday through Saturday, and 12 to 7pm Sunday. A website is in the works and information can also be found by following Los Wingeez on Facebook, emailing loswingeez@gmail.com or calling 540-247-9444. “I’m excited and happy to be in Berryville,” Alvarado said, and Aldhizer can’t praise his cooking enough. “It’s a really healthy venue and you can taste the difference between store bought and freshly made,” she said. “There’s a lot of love in his food.”
Clarke
APRIL 201 8
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Excitement Builds For Point-to-Point Races Annual event sponsored by Blue Ridge Hunt nears one hundredth anniversary. By Betsy Arnet
A
lthough billed as the 69th annual running of the Blue Ridge Hunt Point-to-Point Races at Woodley, the event actually dates back almost 100 years. The first “race meet” sponsored by the Blue Ridge Hunt was held in 1921 at Annfield, the home of William Bell Watkins. Watkins was Master of Foxhounds (MFH) of the Blue Ridge Hunt at the time. The races were moved to Woodley in 1949, when thenMFH Alexander Mackay-Smith owned the property. The Blue Ridge Hunt Races are part of the Virginia Pointto-Point Circuit, held each spring from early March to early May. In the past, the Blue Ridge Hunt Races have been one of the earliest meets in the season. However, according to current Joint MFH Anne McIntosh, frequent postponements and cancellations over the years due to inclement weather
led the Hunt to move the races to later in the season. Undoubtedly, one of the reasons that the races have been held at Woodley for the past 68 years is the beauty of the racecourse. Ranging over a series of ridges and swales, Woodley is considered the best pointto-point course for spectators in the Virginia circuit. A ridge above the racecourse allows spectators to see every jump on the course. Several years ago, professional jockey and trainer Jeff Murphy assisted the Blue Ridge Hunt in making modifications to the course and the placement of the jumps to improve safety for horses and riders. “The main difference between a course like the one at Woodley and a sanctioned steeplechase course, like the Gold Cup, is that a sanctioned course is only a racecourse,’ explains Murphy. “The sanctioned courses are groomed all year
for racing. Courses like the one at Woodley are often cultivated during the off-season.” In fact, Joseph Henderson, owner of Chapel Hill Farm across Route 340 from Woodley, grows timothy and alfalfa hay on the Woodley property
Photo by Bre Bogert Photography.
for his herd of Randall Lineback beef cattle. This year, the Blue Ridge Hunt Point-to-Point will feature nine to eleven races, a combination of flat, hurdle and timber. Flat races involve no jumps, hurdle races have jumps over fences that mimic hedgerows, and timber races have jumps over higher wooden rail fences. The races vary in length, depending on the age and experience level of both horses and riders. The course is about one mile. The longer timber races, run by the most experienced horses and riders, make three circuits of the course. “The younger horses run the flat races,” says Murphy. “They need to get fit first, before they can go the distance in hurdle and timber races.” Only one race has a monetary prize, a modest $2,000 purse, so the Blue Ridge Hunt Races are mostly for fun. Murphy describes the races primarily as a venue for trainers to evaluate young horses and for novice riders to gain experience. “We don’t go too fast,” he
says with a laugh. The races are still a thrilling sight for spectators. The 69th annual running of the Blue Ridge Hunt Pointto-Point Races begins at noon on Sunday, April 22, 2018. Admission is $25 per car. Prior to the races, at 11:00 a.m., children ages 3 to 8 can compete in the Stick Horse Races. For more information, visit www.blueridgeraces.org.
Blue Ridge Hunt
The Blue Ridge Hunt was founded in 1888, organized by Archibald Bevan, an Englishman who had settled in Clarke County. 130 years later, today’s members of the Blue Ridge Hunt carry on the fox hunting tradition. Some things, of course, have changed. Foxes are run to ground, not captured or killed. Anne McIntosh, one of three current masters of the hunt, has been foxhunting with the Blue Ridge Hunt since 1989 and has been a Master since 2006.
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She and her fellow Masters coordinate with the landowners within the Hunt’s territory, which includes most of Clarke County, parts of Warren County to the south, and parts of Jefferson County, West Virginia, to the north. The Blue Ridge Hunt meets are held from September 1st to March 1st each year. The hunting season ends in early spring to avoid causing harm to livestock during calving and foaling seasons. “We couldn’t do what we do if the landowners didn’t allow us to cross their lands, and so we are very respectful of their property,” Anne says. “We are fortunate here in Clarke County, that due to land conservation efforts, hunting hasn’t changed much over the years.” One opportunity that the public has to see the Hunt in action is the annual Thanksgiving meet at Long Branch. On Thanksgiving morning, Hunt members and foxhounds gather on the lawn at Long Branch and enjoy refreshments before the hounds move off. Visitors are welcome. The Blue Ridge Hunt currently owns about 70 foxhounds, trained and cared for by huntsman Graham Buston.
Nearly every morning, Buston walks the hounds near the Blue Ridge Hunt kennel. It’s an amazing sight to see, seventy hounds walking along the road as politely as can be, following behind their huntsman. Following the end of the American Revolution, sons of many Tidewater gentry families moved into the area that is now Clarke County. Woodley was originally part of the Llewellyn estate and was owned by Warner Washington, a cousin of George Washington. Warner Washington died in 1829, and the Llewellyn estate was divided among his heirs. In 1833, his son Fairfax Washington sold more than 300 acres to Daniel Sowers, another transplant from the Tidewater region. In 1835, Sowers built a house on his new property. Woodley is a fine example of Federal style architecture, virtually unchanged in appearance since it was constructed. The twostory, five-bay house is built of brick laid in Flemish bond, has a side-gable roof with three gabled dormers, and interiorend parapet chimneys on both ends of the house. A one-story portico with paired Ionic col-
umns accents the front door with its elliptical fanlight, a hallmark of the Federal style. A two-story addition on the back of the house was originally a single story, as evidenced by the change in brick color midway up the walls. While the front of the house faces Route 340 and overlooks the racecourse, the back of the house enjoys stunning views of the Blue Ridge. In 1990, Woodley’s 383 acres were placed into conservation easement with the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, ensuring the property’s protection from subdivision and development. It is located with the Chapel Rural Historic District, one of nine National Register of Historic Places districts in Clarke County. The Chapel Rural Historic District is characterized by large estates like Woodley and its neighbors, Chapel Hill and Llewellyn. When it was owned by Alexander Mackay-Smith, the Blue Ridge Hunt often held meets at Woodley. The undated photo shows the hunt on the front lawn of Woodley, probably in the 1950s.
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Point-to-Point Adds Stick Pony Races! By Claire Stuart
Riders have been following the hounds, chasing foxes over hill and dale in Virginia since George Washington’s times. In 1888, English émigrés organized their sport with the founding of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Hunt. This year, Blue Ridge Hunt celebrates the 69th year of its Point-to-Point races. Point-to-point horse races are steeplechase races run in the non-hunting season and originated in England to keep hunters fit. A few changes have been made to the races this year, the most important being the change of date. The Point-toPoint was traditionally the first race of the season, held in March. Unfortunately, March weather is known to be unpredictable and frequently cold, rainy, windy or snowy, making the Point-to-Point an event that was sometimes attended by only the most dedicated fans. In an effort to make the races more popular for the whole community, this year’s race was scheduled for April 22,
when we should be rewarded with perfect spring weather. This year’s Point-to-Point features 10 exciting races over hurdles, on the flat and over timber. The V.I.P. parking area has been doubled and vendors will be on hand in Saddlers Row, offering everything from useful information to fine merchandise. If you would like to make the races a group outing for your family or business colleagues, you can reserve a 20-by-20-foot party tent, with tables as needed. New this year, especially for the kids, are the Junior Stick Pony Races, open for children three through eight years old. There will be three age groups: 3-4 years old, 5-6 years old and 7-8 years old. Kids are encouraged to bring their “steeds” and run a race. There is no registration fee, but if there are children without ponies, a few will be available to rent on race day for $10 on a firstcome basis. Stick ponies, also called hobby horses, have been popular
children’s toys for hundreds of years, especially in the days before motor vehicles. With just a long stick and a horse’s head made of wood or fabric, a child could pretend to be riding a
horse just like the grown-ups, much as they do today with toy cars, trucks and ATVs. Actually, hobby horses date back to at least the 15th Century. For most of that time, they were not used as toys. Instead, they were used by adults in costumed celebrations and festivals. Most elaborate were the ones called “tourney horses” which were made with a horse
head and a frame resembling the body of a horse wearing a blanket. It was worn around a person’s waist to make it look like he or she was riding. This can be seen in a popular old Monty Python movie! All sorts of stick ponies are welcome to the Stick Pony Races, whether “store bought” or home made. There is no particular pattern to follow for a stick
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Photo by Bre Bogert Photography. To view or purchase Bre’s rural and nature photography, visit brebogertphotography.pixieset.com.
pony. Children are encouraged to use their imaginations and come up with their own ideas. In fact, they could even make an animal of another kind—a stick tiger, a stick bunny, a unicorn or even a dragon! There are literally hundreds of ideas for stick ponies available on the Internet. Their heads can be made of just about anything, from carved and painted wood to paper bags and plastic bottles. Some have realistic-looking heads made of fabric and wear elaborate leather bridles. Others can be made in minutes from socks, mops, yarn, oven mitts and even swimming pool noodles. It’s important that the children name their stick ponies. The stick pony races will be run between regular races, and the regular announcer will announce the stick pony races just like the real horse races, with the names of the ponies
and riders. There will be ribbons awarded for 1st through 4th place in each age group. There will even be a winner for Best Turned Out Horse and Rider in each age group, so kids and their ponies should look their best! Registration for the stick
pony races will begin at 11:00 on race day at the Paddock and end when the first race of the day begins. Parent or guardian must be present for registration and participation. Bring your picnic basket and stick ponies and enjoy a day at the races!
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Happenings at the Mill By Claire Stuart Since 1990, Art at the Mill has been a highly-anticipated spring event for art lovers throughout the region. This year’s show runs Saturday, April 28 through Sunday, May 13. Situated in a lovely meadow in the sleepy hamlet of Millwood, the Burwell-Morgan Mill is one of Clarke County’s historic architectural treasures. In spring and again in fall, it is transformed into a gallery with works from about 300 artists, featuring paintings, mixed-media, sculpture, fine woodworking, and pottery. There is always something for every taste and budget. On other weekends, May through November, the mill resumes its life as a working grist mill, with grinding on Saturdays. You can take a tour, watch the mill running, and purchase freshly-ground flour and cornmeal. Art at the Mill is a fund-raiser for the Clarke County Historical Association (CCHA) for operation of the mill and CCHA Museum and Archives. Mill Manager Roger Steyaert is the mill’s only employee, and volunteers take care of all operations, maintenance and repairs. “This mill is one of the few restored mills in the U.S. still operating in 80% of its original building,” he reported. The mill was built in 17821795, around the end of the Revolutionary War, through the cooperative efforts of Lt. Colonel Nathaniel Burwell and General Daniel Morgan. “Burwell had money and Morgan had knowhow and a workforce,” said Steyaert.” The beautiful stonework was the work of Hessian master stonemasons. Joe Guenther, mill volunteer for over 25 years, explained that at the end of the war, Hessian mercenary soldiers who had fought for the British surrendered. General Morgan was in charge of Hessian POWS.
Some were shipped back to Europe, but some stayed. Many were skilled craftsmen, and Morgan found jobs for them with German-speaking immigrant farmers in the Shenandoah Valley. At that time, Steyaert related, this area was an important supplier of wheat for Europe and the West Indies. Burwell grew wheat and had to transport it to the east coast. Grinding the wheat would reduce the volume of wheat for shipping. Hessian stonemasons built the mill, as well as Burwell’s home, Carter Hall (now home of Project Hope), which was built in 1786-1792. The mill was in full industrial production by 1795, and it ran seven days a week, day and night. “In the old days,” said Guenther, “they ground 300 to 400 pounds of wheat per hour. Last year, we ground about 150 pounds a day every grinding day.” Millwood became a real town around the mill, with wagon makers, coopers, a blacksmith shop, schools, churches, stores, distilleries and a grog shop. The mill survived the Civil War because the area changed hands several times and both armies needed a mill. The mill continued to operate into the 20th Century. In the 1940s, a corner of the building caved in and crushed the waterwheel, and the owner ran the mill for several years using a motor. Competition from Midwestern states caused a shift in local agriculture to apples and livestock and a steady decline in business. The mill was abandoned in 1953. The CCHA acquired the mill in 1964 and began a seven-year project to restore it, financed by fund-raisers, private donations, and volunteers. Additional major work was done in 1997 to replace and restore the huge internal wooden water-
wheel, gears and flume. There are two sets of millstones, but one needs repair. They are made of French quartzite, shipped from France, said to be the best type of stone. They were in the mill when renovations began so their exact age is unknown. In addition to grinding, other activities are planned for the Mill later in the year. Colonial Kids Day at the Mill is coming up in July, with living history demonstrators, Revolutionary War re-enactors,
hands-on activities, Colonial crafts and games. Clarke County Heritage Day will be celebrated at the Mill in the fall. There will be demonstrations of everyday colonial life, including blacksmithing, cooking, spinning and, of course, grinding, as well as an encampment of Revolutionary War reenactors from the Second Virginia Regiment. Finally, there will be Fall Art at the Mill. Watch for further announcements for these activities.
Steyaert reports that although the mill can be operated by two people, three is actually the optimum number. Volunteers are needed to help operate the mill. He especially hopes to recruit members of younger generations who would like to learn and participate in hands-on history. Apprentice millers are placed with an experienced miller for about five or six grinding days. Teenagers and up are welcome.
ART AT THE MILL, BURWELL-MORGAN MILL, MILLWOOD Saturday, April 28 through Sunday, May 13 Mill is open Friday through Sunday, May-November except during art shows Hours: Friday and Sunday, noon–5pm, Saturday grinding 10am–5pm Private groups and school tours can be arranged. Contact mill manager at 206-715-8601 Or CCHA Director at 540-955-2600 To volunteer: Contact CCHA at director@clarkehistory.org
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The Microbiome A landscape of healing potential by JiJi Russell
CLARKEVA.COM
Within the last five years or so, a groundswell of interest and research in the medical science community has been placing the human microbiome under a microscope. Scientists and doctors hope that a vast ecosystem of organisms that live in and on the human body could provide healing potential for a multitude of chronic conditions, including allergies, obesity, and much more. Many people have heard of “good bacteria,” which comprise part of the microbiome of one’s intestinal tract and can be found in cultured foods like yogurt. But the microbiome is much more than that. It’s comprised of bacteria, fungi, and bacteria-like organisms called archaea, as well as viruses (most of them non-pathogenic). The human body contains about 100 trillion cells. About one in ten is actually “human”; the rest comprise the microbiome. Put another way, about one to three percent of the
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A Unique Community
The microbiota that comprise your microbiome live on your skin, in your nose, and all along the digestive tract from the mouth to the large intestine. They also live in the lungs. One team of prominent scientists and physicians called Viome is looking to unlock the healing potential of the human microbiome through research and technology, including artificial intelligence. According to literature from Viome, “while your DNA is very much the same as that of other humans, your microbiome is not. Any two humans share 99% the same DNA. In contrast, two humans share about 5% the same microbial DNA. This means that each person’s microbiome is incredibly unique.” Furthermore, research shows the microbiome holding influence over which genes get expressed in any one individual. Because of the observed connection to gene expression,
scientists are looking to the microbiome to help solve problems of chronic disease. A dysfunction within the microbiome, or “dysbiosis,” could point to possible sources or cures for various conditions. According to NIH, “dysbiosis of a microbial community … could be considered as a perturbation that departs from an otherwise balanced ecology to prolong, exacerbate, or induce a detrimental health effect.” Diseases including inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, diabetes (types 1 and 2), allergies, asthma, autism, and cancer all have been associated with dysbiosis, according to NIH research. Other associations are being shown between colitis, chrohn’s disease, obesity, irritable bowel syndrome, allergies and more, according to Viome. For his part, Dr. Mark Cucuzzella, a Professor at WVU School of Medicine, notes that “association” does not equate to “causation” in medical terms; but when enough evidence shows two conditions “traveling together” (as in a depleted microbiota and a chronic condition), one might want to apply some scrutiny to diet, the basis of good health.
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body’s mass can be attributed to the microbiome, according to the Human Microbiome Project, a research program of the National Institutes of Health.
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As far as Dr. Cucuzzella is concerned, any person looking for optimal health, or looking to improve health “should want the flora in your gut to be like a rainforest of diversity.” Cucuzzella notes that “over the last generation, the diversity of species in the western microbiome has decreased and is far less than other places on the planet that are living more traditionally.” This narrowing of diversity has been accompanied by huge spikes in chronic illnesses, from diabetes to digestive disorders. The disturbance of our internal ecosystem is well documented by Dr. Martin Blaser, director of the Human Microbiome Program at New York University. Dr. Blaser has been studying the role of bacteria and health for more than 30 years and wrote the book Missing Microbes.
The Genesis
The constitution of one’s microbiome could begin before birth. Microorganisms live in the uterus, and are shared with babies in utero. Even the
PREBIOTIC-RICH FOODS Ginger Asparagus Mushrooms Garlic Dandelion greens Jicama Berries Greenish bananas Sweet potatoes
PROBIOTIC SOURCES Yogurt Raw Cheese, like goat cheese Apple Cider Vinegar Fermented Foods, like… Tempeh Miso Kombucha Kefir Sauerkraut Kimchee
mode of a baby’s delivery can affect the microbiome, according to Viome and Cucuzzella. Babies who are born through the vaginal canal receive microbiota from their mothers during birth. Those born via Cesarian section show a microbiome more akin to that of adults in the hospital environment. Some birth centers use “gauzing” to help impart a mother’s microbiota onto her infant. This method, which is safe according to Cucuzzella, gives babies born of C-section a gauze of the mother’s vaginal microflora to suck on. The microbiota of babies who are breast fed versus bottle fed also might vary significantly. While factors like sleep, exercise, and stress levels are considered important to the health of one’s microbiome, multiple reports and perspectives postulate that the two most important factors when it comes to microbiome health (and by extension gut health) center on what is consumed through one’s mouth: food and/or medicine.
The Extinction
According to Viome, antibiotics can depress or even wipe out entire species of microbiota. Other medications that have a documented effect on the microbiota include metformin for diabetes; acid blockers; and drugs for inflammatory bowel disease. Dr. Blaser shows research that antibiotics have contributed greatly to a mass extinction of gut microorganisms in the western world, largely due to overuse. Says Cucuzzella: “I work in a hospital; not all use of antibiotics is over-use. We use them for appropriate things, but if you’re out there in the community and someone suggests an antibiotic to you, or especially for your child, and it’s kind of a plus/minus thing, maybe you’d consider just seeing how it goes for a few days, because there
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is downstream effect of these constant courses of antibiotics. Even two or three courses in grade school can have broad effects.”
Fertilize the Garden
So, what can you do to promote a healthy microbiome? Eat a diversity of foods; avoid medications that might tamp down a nuisance that might otherwise diminish with a more appropriate diet (eg., acid blockers for acid reflux); and include prebiotics as well as probiotics in your diet. Put simply, a prebiotic is the type of food that the microbiota consume. Such foods commonly contain a lot of insoluble fiber. If you feed your flora with prebiotic foods, it’s more likely to survive and thrive. What’s more, the metabolic process of microbes consuming prebiotics has a host of additional health benefits to you. (see sidebar for a short list of prebiotic foods) Probiotics, by contrast to prebiotic substances, are live microorganisms that, “when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host,” according to NIH. They come in the form of foods, drinks, pills, and powders. Fermented foods have been transformed by microorganisms and also show or promote probiotic populations (see sidebar). While scientific research keeps up with this growing field of microbiome data and intrigue, one thing we can all do is choose wisely what we put in our mouths. JiJi Russell has been immersed in holistic health for more than 20 years. She currently serves as the wellness program manager for American Public University System, creating and delivering health and wellness programs for more than 1,000 staff and faculty members. A registered yoga teacher since 2002, she also teaches a Yoga HIIT class at Turiya Yoga in Berryville.
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A cool, windy, sun-splashed day in the middle of the first March since my father’s passing started me reminiscing about a formative father-son moment from my childhood. And while there were many moments that I shared with my father that helped to encourage, discourage, guide and mold me, the story about to unfold reveals the moment when we both knew exactly who I was. In later years I became very close to my father. As a child, I wouldn’t have said that we were as close. And I certainly don’t place the blame for that on him, as I was a difficult child to be close to. I spent all of my time either inside of my own head or drawing doodles and pictures on every available surface within my reach. My father was a baseball guy and wanted to bond with me through baseball, and I couldn’t give a lick about baseball. Plus, I showed absolutely zero talent at any facet of the game and a firm reluctance to pursue improvement. Sometime about the middle of my sixth or seventh year, during the Johnson Administration, my parents began to recognize that baseball was never going to be my thing, and signed me up to be a Cub Scout. The Den Mother of our Cub Scout Troop, Sary Koons, was a hard-drinkin’, chain-smoking, pool-shootin’, hell raiser of a woman and the mother of my meanest friend, Johnny. Sary was married to Jiffy Koons of Jiffy Koons and the Koonskinners, a second-rate regional touring opening act on the semi-big-time Country Music scene. They were always off touring in their big bus and left the smaller touring van at home with the family. Sary Koonz would cram her clutch of us Cub Scouts all in
the van and off we’d go. Our Scout troop spent most den meetings at truck stops and billiards lounges. And while I did learn a lot in Scouts that fall and winter, including how to smoke unfiltered cigs and shoot pool behind my head, I was just holding out, like every other Scout in the troop, for the first of spring and the Cub Scout Kite Contest. There were two categories that you could enter in the contest: Highest Flying Kite and Best Decorated Kite. I was all over it, and laid out my plan for victory and world domination. I think it crossed my mind that after my huge victories in both categories I’d definitely get invited to appear on the Ed Sullivan Show the next time that the Beatles were on. In typical O.C. narcissistic fashion, my enthusiasm became maniacal and all-consuming. I spent every available moment bent on consummating my vision. My father recognized an opportunity to bond with me and cheerfully offered me encouragement and advice. “Don’t you think you ought to build your kite or at least design it first before you decorate it? And . . . what is that, anyway, that you’re drawing there?” Burning rage raced up my
spine! I did my breathing exercises and struggled mightily to keep my cool. “What is that?” Had the man completely lost his mind? I had been doodling for days and my masterpiece was nearly complete. “And Son?” “Oh God, here it comes!” “I don’t think you want to build your kite out of that piece of drawing paper that you’re working so hard on there. It’s too small and it’ll just rip apart before it gets off the ground.” “That’s it!” For a white-hot moment I thought for sure that my head had exploded, and was genuinely surprised that it was still on my shoulders. I wisely held my tongue and kept my thoughts to myself. “Moron baboon no-nuthin’ meat headed ding-dong,” or some such thought ran through my head. “C’mon, Son. Let’s go up to the hardware store and buy some materials. I’ve built a few kites in my day and I’ll betcha that, together, we’re gonna build the best darn kite in Cub Scout History!” Ed Sullivan will see right through this yahoo. I’ll make sure he stays at home, I thought. At the hardware store we picked-out some balsawood sticks for a frame and two yards of heavy brown paper off
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of a big roll. “We already have some glue back at home and we can make the tail out of an old sheet.” Despite my father’s misguided attempts to get in the way, kite construction began in earnest. We checked-out a book from the library about how to build kites. We chose a design and then my father and I built two identical kites. The first one that was finished was our practice kite. The second kite was the one that got the serious decoration and would be the kite that was actually entered in the contest. The weekend before the big event, my father and I went over to the high school athletic field with the practice kite. “Son, let’s decide which way the wind is blowing and then turn so that the wind is blowing straight into our faces.” Oh, great. Now he’s probably going to ask me to spit. “Now walk into the wind, and let the kite trail behind you while you let out a little string.” I complied but deep in my core I knew that it was ALL WRONG! “That’s right, Son. Now let out a little string and let go of the kite and she ought to lift right on up.” I couldn’t breathe. I was living a lie. None of it made sense. “Walking into the wind? What chicanery!” I fought against fate as long as a mortal can. And then, trusting instinct over superstition, I turned around and ran in the opposite direction. The wind was at my back and so was the practice kite. It smacked me in the head with every stride I ran. Somewhere in the distance I could hear my father yelling for me to turn around and come back. That wasn’t going to happen. The kite stayed pinned to my back, smacking me in the head as I ran with the wind towards the woods at the far end of the athletic field. When I was finally forced to stop running by the
presence of a chain-link fence the kite finally cleared my head AND the fence and crashed into a tree. The heavy, brown paper was ripped and the balsawood vertical spine was broken. The practice kite was ruined. After I’d climbed the chainlink fence and retrieved the ruined practice kite, as my father instructed, and as he and I walked back across to the far side of the big athletic field where our car was parked, my father said, “I hope we learned something today.” I could hardly wait to hear what was going to follow. Probably some Podunk homily about lift and aerodynamics or some rubbish. What a Charlatan. “Son, we both know that you’re pretty smart.” I tried not to roll my eyes at his sanctimony as I was thinking, “Get on with it, man!” “But Son, folks have been flying kites for a long, long, time. And all of the successful ones have done it exactly the same way, every time. They walked the kite into the wind and let the kite go behind them. That’s the way that it’s done. Do you really think that you’re smarter’n everybody?” Was this a trick question? Now, at an early age I knew logic to be a fickle mistress. And the obvious fact that I knew some things that others do not is logically supported by the fact that everybody else knows plenty that I don’t know. I had a moment of clarity concerning my father’s clumsily leading interrogatory. The day of the Cub Scout Kite Contest finally arrived. It was cold and bright and windy. Perfect kite-flying conditions. This contest was a really big deal. My entire family was in tow, including my mother, father, little brother, and baby sister. We arrived on time, registered unscathed and along with a throng of jacked-up Cub Scouts and their representatives, presented my kite to the judges. I recognized several of the scouts from my den and some
guys from school that were in other dens. There were kites of every known design and in every conceivable palette and motif. There was a bright red box kite painted with a golden dragon. There was a black and white kite with two vertical spines and three tails that was decorated with the Jolly Roger. I had painted the Presidential Seal on my kite, and, just as I had predicted, rode a wave of patriotism to victory in the Best Decorated Kite category. Yes! Halfway home to total victory and world domination! Note to self: Remember to ask Ringo about that weird highhat lick on Love Me Do. Now, don’t get me wrong. I was proud to win the Best Decorated Kite division of the contest. But next up was the Highest Flying Kite contest and every real Cub Scout with a Bobcat pin and a roll of twine knew that this was the Big Show. A hundred Cub Scouts strong lined-up across the middle of the same athletic field where my father and I had practiced the week before. Conditions were similar to the day of our trial run. “Remember what we learned last week,” my father whispered in my ear. “Walk the kite into the wind and let the twine out a little-bit at a time, just like we practiced. You’ve got this, Son.” Can he not give it a rest? What does he think I’ve been doing, non-stop for weeks on end? Following lemmings and sheep? No, I’ve been gleaning every morsel of knowledge that there is to know, searching for an advantage. I already knew that everybody else would be walking or running with their kites into the wind. But I was the Cub Scout that was seeking-out the path less-travelled. “ON YOUR MARKS!” barked the Scout Master as he raised his starter’s pistol above his head. I surveyed the pitch, time standing still as my gaze swept from left–to-right and beheld the gaggle of my Cub Scout rivals jostling for position.
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Sale Ends 4/30/18
BERRYVILLE HARDWARE 600 EAST MAIN STREET BERRYVILLE 540-955-1900
RAMSEY HARDWARE 703 N ROYAL AVE FRONT ROYAL 540-635-2547
The Pond House
3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths - 3300 sq. ft. home on one level - On beautiful, large pond in central Clarke near Old Chapel – 20 acres – Very private - Contemporary stone home completely renovated in 2017 – Open floor plan – New kitchen – High end Thermidor appliances – New oak floors – New ceramic bathrooms – New Anderson windows & doors – New roof – New HVAC – 1 add’l DUR – Viewshed beyond pond in conservation easement. $795,000
540-247-5408
Tom Cammack
www.sheridanmacmahon.com
110 East Washington Street - P.O. Box 1380 - Middleburg, VA 20118
Clarke
A PRIL 201 8 “GET SET!” I felt as if I was in a dream. I have been here before. The Tao finally makes some sense. “Get ready, Son!” I could hear my father yelling from a fogbank somewhere in the distance. “BANG!” The Scout Master fired his starter’s pistol! I fell to my knees in shock as the entire troop ran into the wind and a hundred home-made kites jumped-up into the bright,
sunny, blue sky! “Get-up, Son! RUN!” As I regained my feet my brain was processing thousands of calculations simultaneously, seeking to turn this momentary setback into the impetus for total victory. My Cub Scout competitors were already far away and their kites were all high in the sky. Instinct and new hope stole the microphone from that fickle mistress, Logic, and I began to run. I ran as I had
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Mother’s Day Weekend May 12 & 13 • 9-4:30 Rain or Shine At the State Arboretum of Virginia
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never run before, my legs churning and lungs heaving and I could feel my kite somewhere behind me as I ran wild with the wind in search of fame and glory who were whispering, “Until somebody works out Einstein’s whiffs, gravity is just a theory.” I ran with newly found speed and authority but eventually, as I approached the far-end of the field where my practice kite had met its demise the week before, Einstein’s error, in the guise of my kite, did then again catch up with me. “WHAP!” The kite smacked me in the back of the head and kept-on smacking me, forcing me up against the chain-link fence at the end of the field at the edge of the woods. I was trapped between the kite and the fence and was getting slapped around pretty good before my father finally pulled the kite off of me.
20 As I look back on that memorable day from childhood one thing that stands out to me is the patience of my father, who, when he pulled that kite off of me, didn’t say a word. He didn’t need to say a word because he gave me a look that was worth a thousand of ‘em. Another thing that stands out to me is that, looking back and trying to be honest, if I could do it all over again, I’d probably make the same move. And my father knew this about me. And the look that he gave me said that he knew this about me. It was the moment that we both knew exactly who and what I was, “smarter’n everybody.” A couple of days after the kite contest my father cornered me at the dinner table for some Q & A. “Son, how many categories were there in that kite contest?” Had the old-man gone senile?
He and I both knew that there had been two categories! “Two, right?” “That’s right, Dad. Two categories.” I was barely containing my derision at his waste of verbiage and my time! “That’s what I thought. Well, you came in first in one out of two categories. That’s like batting 500, and that kind of average might get you into the Hall of Fame someday. Nice job, Son.” “Average? Ha! There he is, going for the low-hanging fruit again.” Empathy was not my father’s thing. If he’d had half a clue he’d have known that there was only one thing that I wanted to know from him at that point. “Has Ed Sullivan called?” I never did ask. Now I get to always wonder.
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Feline Foudation Hosts Fundraiser The Feline Foundation of Greater Washington will host a fundraiser at Twin Oaks Tavern Winery in Bluemont, May 5. The all-volunteer FFGW was formed in 1995, dedicated to the rescue, care, and adoption of homeless, stray, abandoned, neglected and abused cats and kittens in the Northern Virginia and metropolitan Washington DC communities. The majority of cats rescued by FFGW are taken from the euthanasia lists of area shelters, but they don’t try to boost adoption numbers by only rescuing cats that will quickly be adopted. Never ones to shy away from the “tough cases,” they focus their efforts on rehabilitating physically and emotionally vulnerable adults, orphaned kittens, and nursing moms and their litters.
For 22 years, FFGW has used their resources on the cats that need them the most, even knowing some cats will cost more and stay longer. Once in FFGW’s care, volunteers work to provide cats with the highest standard of veterinary care for all medical needs and warm, loving foster care until permanent, forever homes can be found. If an adoption fails, FFGW strives to begin again, and if an adoption never happens, they provide lifelong loving care. FFGW specializes in matching cats and kittens with adoptive parents based on applications and in-depth interviews to identify the kitty characteristics that will best suit the prospective adopters’ desires and lifestyles. Foster volunteers
complete personality profiles on their kitties to facilitate the process of matching each kitty with their best possible future family. FFGW features some kitties at the Adoption Center in the Leesburg PetSmart, (where adoption events are held almost every Sunday from 123pm) and in the playroom at Just Cats Clinic in Reston, (where adoption events are held on the 3rd Sunday of the month from 1-3pm). The two critical resources which make this effort possible are fosters who generously donate time and love, and the generous support of donors. Donors are critical as veterinary expenses are the lion and tiger cat’s share of the Foundation’s expenses. Fosters
are critical not only to FFGW’s ability to take cats from shelters, but also to its mission to learn about each cat’s personality in order to make the best possible placement. FFGW is always in need of fosters. The event at Twin Oaks will feature wine, heavy hors d’oeuvres, live music, silent auction, prize drawings every half hour and, the best part: all
proceeds go directly to the care of cats and kittens. Details: Felines & Wines, May, 5th 710pm at Twin Oaks Tavern Winery, Bluemont, Va. Tickets are available at www. ffgw.org. Please see the ad on the back page of this paper for a list of silent auction items that are sure to please the guys and gals.
CELEBRATING OUR 23RD YEAR SERVING THE TRI-STATE AREA
A PRIL 201 8
Clarke
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Get Ready to Roar at ACFF’s Spring Fundraising Party An enchanted evening of films and festivities awaits in the world of big cats, April 28. The American Conservation Film Festival invites everyone to its annual spring fundraising party, April 28, beginning at 5pm at Reynolds Hall on the Shepherd University campus. While exploring the world of the majestic big cats, the challenges they face, and how you can help, enjoy Indian-inspired hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and live music at the reception. In partnership with Jackson Hole WILD On Tour with the United Nation’s Big Cats Film Festival and CITES, ACFF will present three films on innovative solutions to save endangered tigers, vulnerable snow leopards, and threatened African lions, followed by discussion about big cat and wildlife preservation with conservation experts from leading international and regional organizations. The feature film, Looking for Sultan, follows the journey of one charismatic cat in Rathambore, India who suddenly vanishes, and the father and
son filmmakers who seek to solve the mystery of where he went. The film also explores the broader issues of tiger conservation efforts. Other screenings include two short films: the winner of the “People & Big Cats” category at the 2018 International Big Cats Film Festival about Snow Leopard Trust’s Livestock Insurance Program; and “Nat Geo Inspires: Collecting Data to Save Gorongosa’s Lions,” which highlights the work of Paola Bouley as she collects data on lion cubs in Mozambique, Africa. The film’s filmmaker, National Geographic senior producer and wildlife biologist Sarah Joseph, will be part of a discussion panel. Film screenings will be presented at Reynolds Hall, Shepherdstown, at 5pm, free to the public, but purchase an event ticket to guarantee your seat. Immediately following the films, a reception will be held at the Shepherdstown Community Club where guests
can enjoy Indian-inspired decor, festive foods, drinks and a live auction. Conservation experts on big cats as well as regional wildlife will paticipate in a panel discussion with the audience.
Attendees are encouraged to dress in big cat-inspired attire and accessories. Tickets are required for the reception and can be purchased at: https://tinyurl.com/ACFF-ReadyToRoar.
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Community Briefs Historic Garden Week held April 21 in Clarke County
The Winchester–Clarke Garden Club and The Little Garden Club of Winchester will host four private Clarke County homes and gardens on tour this year for Historic Garden Week. Advance tickets are $30 per person until April 20 and tickets are also available at all sites on the day of the tour at $40 per person, or single site admission $20 per person (check or cash only on day of the tour). Advance tickets are available at The Fire House Gallery in Berryville, Mt. Airy Market in Boyce, Kimberly’s in Winchester, The Museum Store at Museum of the Shenandoah Valley in Frederick County, the Winchester-Frederick County Tourism and Visitor Center, or online at www.vagardenweek.org. Situated in rolling farmland, the four tour properties highlight Clarke County’s natural attributes and provide a contrast of architectural styles and elements. Whether it is from a 435-foot bluff above the Shenandoah, or looking across the ex-
pansive pastures towards the Blue Ridge Mountains, each home reflects a visionary outlook. Through renovation or innovation, whether traditional or progressive, each home brings a renewed perspective to living in this beautiful section of Northern Virginia. Highlights include fox country views, an outdoor ballroom and an award-winning garden. The tour is headquartered at Blandy Experimental Farm in Boyce.
The Band Wagon Screens The Band Wagon
Friends of Handley Regional Library, Old Town Winchester, and Magic Lantern Theater present “The Band Wagon,” at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 14, in the Robinson Auditorium at Handley Library. This 1953 movie musical is considered to be one of the finest of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer musicals produced during the era. Starring Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse and directed by Vincent Min-
nelli, it’s a showcase of American dance. The film also features the hit songs “That’s Entertainment” and “Dancing in the Dark,” both of which are considered part of the Great American Songbook. The Band Wagon tells the story of an aging actor (Astaire) who hopes a Broadway show will restart his career. However, the play’s director has some eccentric ideas and brings in a prima ballerina (Charisse) who clashes with the star. The Robinson Auditorium can be found on the Lower Level of Handley Library in downtown Winchester. For more information contact Barbara Dickinson, Executive Director of Friends of Handley Regional Library, at friends@handleyregional.org or (540) 662-9041 ext. 31.
Explore the Virginia Cave and Karst Trail
Virginia Cave Week, beginning on Earth Day, April 22, and running through April 28, promotes an understanding of Virginia’s caves and the surround-
ing limestone habitats known as karst. Virginia Cave Week’s spotlight this year will be on the Virginia Cave and Karst Trail, a collaborative project between the governor-appointed Virginia Cave Board and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). The Virginia Cave and Karst Trail has more than 20 stops where visitors learn about and appreciate caves and karst features. The purpose of the trail is to educate people about these sensitive environments and to promote their protection. Most stops are in Virginia’s scenic Ridge and Valley province. Each offers visitors a unique experience such as an interpretive program, a scenic view or fee-based tour. A few stops have trails or self-guided tours. Virginia Cave Week is among activities coordinated by the Virginia Cave Board. The board was established in 1979 to conserve and protect the state’s caves and karst landscapes and to advocate for the wise use of caverelated resources. For information, visit, www.vacaveweek.com.
Distinctly Clarke County 67 North Hill Lot2 Beautiful 92 acres, just West of the Shenandoah River, off Route 7, with sublime views, fertile farm land, new 2017 well, high span metal tractor barn, and high tensile fencing
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