Clarke monthly April 2018 by Clarke County Observer

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APR 2019

ClarkeVA.com

Clarke

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INSIDE CLARKE FEATURES

Family Restaurant

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Come to the Rescue Horse Show

We also offer a wide selection of quality beer and wines for carry out at our Berryville location!

16 Crow Street, Berryville

By Claire Stuart

955-4730

CLARKEVA.COM

Bradley Stevens Art Exhibit at Long Branch

SELLING HOMES, FARMS and LAND Local, Full-Time Experience Since 1993

By Keith Patterson

ON THE COVER Bluebells by Romy Walker. Romy enjoys sharing the colors and beauty of nature and wildlife with her photography so that when people don’t have the time to ‘stop and smell the roses,’ one of her photos might help them stop and catch their breath.

Hamilton, $740,000

1.5ac in Town of Hamilton

Purcellvlle, $237,500 Historic Gem on 3.75ac

SOLD-Bluemont

Leesburg, $3,395,000

Custom Home in Creighton Farms

Round Hill, $389,500

Charming Cottage w/Updates

Cross Junction, $150,000 Escape to Lake Holiday Estates

As the Crow Flies

Berryville Beat

Around Clarke County

Shenandoah Valley Equine Rescue Network

A Local Treasure

New Courthouse Benches

Joe Lewis Celebrates 30 Years at Long Branch

Sporting Library Free Public Programs

Blue Ridge Hunt Point to Point Races

20 JM Draperies Licensed in VA & WV MarcyC@MarcyC.com ~ 540.533.7453 ~ www.MarcyC.com Facebook @MarcyCantatore Instagram @MarcyCSells

21 Crystal’s 22

New Martin’s Grocery Opens

APRIL 201 9

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 Romy Walker

ADVERTISING SALES

Jennifer Welliver, 540-398-1450 Rebecca Maynard, 540-550-4669

Advertising Information: 540-398-1450 (Mon-Fri, 9-5)

AD DEADLINE 1ST OF EACH MONTH

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 Letters containing personal attacks or polarizing language will not be published.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.

CLARKE MONTHLY

PO BOX 2160 SHEPHERDSTOWN WV 25443

540-440-1373

www.CLARKEVA.com

Clarke

FROM THE EDITOR Toxic Air From W.Va. Factory Would Land In Clarke Can the actions of state and local governments outside Virginia impact life in Clarke and Loudoun counties? Maps depicting the likely depositionpaths of carcinogenic toxicants from air pollution emitted by a proposed heavy industrial site in Jefferson County, W.V., suggest the answer is yes. Cancercausing air pollution is one reason four Virginia towns — Hamilton, Hillsboro, Middleburg, and Round Hill — have passed resolutions of opposition to the Rockwool insulation plant in Ranson. From the beginning, the process of regulatory approval has been an object lesson in how not to run a government of the people. When most of us think of the local economic development authority, we think a cheerleader and facilitator working to attract businesses that align with the local comprehensive plan. We don’t think of backdoor deals that bend truth — or worse.

We don’t imagine that a city council that voted to oppose a factory on grounds that it would pollute water would then vote to approve a bond to connect it to the city’s wastewater treatment plant. The reason for this is the simple math of wastewater treatment in America: Customers pay the bills. So, even though everyone benefits from clean water, only the utility customers pay the bills. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Rockwool arrived in Jefferson County in secret, working with state and local

government officials to misuse zoning and tax laws, and force heavy industry into the heart of a community committed to its rural character and rural-tourism economy. If it is built, the people of Clarke and Loudoun will bear some of the impacts. An event at Breaux Vineyards, April 13 is planned to raise money for the legal battles that many Virginians feel are necessary to protect the local tourism economy. Learn more at JeffersonCountyVision.org.

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Clarke

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As the Crow Flies

For A More Successful Nesting Season Story and photo by Doug Pifer A Community of Integrative Health Practitioners Dedicated to the Flourishing of Our Health & Vitality

Visit us at the Clarke County Farmer’s Market Saturday mornings, 8 am–noon • May-Oct. 208 N Buckmarsh St, Berryville, VA

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Be Seen in Clarke! 540.398.1450

John H.Enders Fire Company & Rescue Squad Pancake Day 9 S Buckmarsh St., Berryville

Easter Sunday, April 21st 7am till 12 noon Pancakes, Sausage, Eggs, Sausage Gravy, Baked Apples, Coffee, Milk, Hot Tea Apple & Orange Juice Adults $8 Children $4 Children under six eat FREE

For Information Call 540-955-1110

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I’ve put up seven bluebird houses at various sites on our property. For the past couple of years, bluebirds have nested in them and successfully raised a brood or two of young. Tree swallows have also used them. When I clean out the nest boxes in late winter, I’m happy to have enhanced some of the wildlife habitat of this small plot of land. But successful nesting is far from certain. Over the three years since we’ve installed new fences, the barn cats have learned to walk on the top boards as if on balance beams. Now they can routinely investigate every bird house that’s mounted on a fence post. Red foxes, raccoons, snakes and other ground predators have learned to keep an eye on nesting boxes, waiting to grab eggs, nestlings, or even adult birds. Hawks and owls patrol the skies day and night.

Alternative nest sites

It’s easy to install bird houses on fence posts, and such sites are attractive to birds such as tree swallows and bluebirds. But studies of nesting bluebirds have shown that over time, fence post nests may be less successful. They offer predators a safety lane across an open field where they can hide, hunt and ambush nesting birds. And if all the bird houses are in the fence line, the nests are set up for failure. A safer alternative is to place some bluebird and tree swallow houses on free standing, nonclimbable posts. Mount bird housing on metal fencing T-posts, PVC, or metal conduit pipe cut to appropriate lengths. Positioning them ten or twelve feet from a woods or fence line makes the nests less accessible to predators.

Installng baffles

Bird houses mounted on posts in open areas are even safer from predators if a baffle is provided. A baffle can be anything that allows the nesting bird easy access but excludes a predator. You can buy one or make it yourself. I put a pre-made baffle on the post supporting the wood duck nesting box I placed next to the creek. It resembles an upside-down funnel about two feet in diameter. A raccoon or blacksnake trying to climb up to reach the wood duck eggs will be truly baffled! Professional wildlife managers

recommend using such baffles on every wood duck nesting box. After reading literature by the Purple Martin Conservation Association (PMCA), I learned that the telescoping metal pole that holds my martin house is climbable by snakes and raccoons. Last season I bought and installed a custom-made metal baffle to protect my martin colony. Great horned owls also can reach their talons into martin houses and grab nestlings. The PMCA sells owl guards that fit in front of martin house openings to prevent such predation, but I have yet to try them.

Predator guards

To further protect bluebird houses, attach to the entrance a 2.5- to 3-inch-thick square of wood, drilled with a hole the same size as the opening. A cat, owl or raccoon won’t be able to reach the birds in the nest with its paw or talons. To also discourage snakes, attach a simple tube of bent wire mesh extending from the entrance five or six inches. The outermost edge of the mesh is cut and bent outwards so the sharp wires deter a hungry snake. Bluebird predator guards are available online or at stores that sell backyard bird feeding and housing supplies.

Clarke

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The Berryville Beat My, what a busy month March was for us Town Council members! We began our budget work in earnest during our daylong March 12 budget work session. We have advertised a tax rate of 20 cents per $100 of assessed value for the upcoming fiscal year 2020, which runs from July 1 to June 30, 2020. This tax rate is an increase from our current fiscal year’s rate of 19 cents. However, we agreed to advertise the higher rate in order to give us flexibility to see what we can afford in the upcoming year’s spending plan. It is worth noting that, legally, we cannot adopt a tax rate over what is advertised, but we can adopt a rate under what is advertised, so keeping the tax rate level is indeed a possibility. With any adopted rate and budget as a whole, we need to consider our needs for future planning and rising costs, particularly in construction, without a considerable growth in the tax base. There are several noteworthy items that we are considering for funding in fiscal year 2020: • renovation of the playground in Rose Hill Park; • creation of a deputy town manager position to assist our town manager and be the point of contact for the Public Works and Utilities departments; • replacement of a police department cruiser. Also, as of this writing, we have set aside funding for the three budget goals adopted by the council in the last quarter of 2018: funding for police department accreditation; matching funding, along with the Clarke County Board of Supervisors, for a study on the extension of Jack Enders Boule-

vard; and funding for a branding and marketing study of the town, which would enable us to know our target markets to grow our tax base and foster economic growth. We will adopt the budget and tax rate at our June meeting. We welcome all public input at our upcoming budget public hearing, set for May 14. Another matter before us in March was the findings of a study regarding our utility system. This study recommends increases in both our water and sewer rates to pay for the costs of the system over the next five years. Many of these increases stem from high anticipated capital costs, with a very good possibility that we will be eyeing a significant renovation, if not altogether replacement, of our water treatment plant. That cost, alone, hovers north of $11 million. The consultant who prepared the report is also recommending an increase to our fee for new water connections, but a decrease to sewer connection fees. As much as all of us would like to avoid utility rate increases, the high capital costs, quality mandates we must adhere to, as well as our low user base, means that we must find

a way to fund our system to make sure it provides adequate service for years to come. A point of emphasis — our water and sewer funds are enterprise funds, meaning that they must be self-supporting. These funds have zero impact on our general fund, which is funded by our real estate and personal property taxes. So, an increase to water and sewer rates has no bearing on tax bills, and vice versa. The report, which is available on our website (www.berryvilleva.gov) provides useful information including growth rates of neighboring jurisdictions compared to ours, monthly usage analyses, and historic data on our utility rates. We always welcome and encourage public input. If you are not able to make it to a public hearing or the Citizens’ Forum at one of our meetings, please feel free to email us your thoughts. This monthly column is authored by the members of the Berryville Town Council. For information on town government, including meetings, agendas, and contact information for the Town Council and town staff, visit www.berryvilleva.gov.

(540) 450-8110 CLARKEVA.COM

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Clarke

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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.

Farmers Market Opens With Live Music and Petting Zoo

The Clarke County Farmers Market is starting strong this season with The Sweet Nola’s Po’ Boys providing live New Orleans style jazz music on opening day, Saturday, May 4. The Bar C Ranch petting zoo will also be at the market. The market offers fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, crafts and baked goods every Saturday morning, May through October, from 8am to 12pm in the town parking lot on South Church Street in Berryville. Enjoy something new every week as produce comes into season. “This is only my second season with the Clarke County Farmers Market but I have been overwhelmed by the excellent vendor participation and community support that this market receives,” said market manager Karie Griffin. “We have a great group of vendors who form our market executive committee and they put in a lot of effort every year to make each week a great experience for

everyone, lining up great local music and family friendly events. I’m honored to be a part of it.” Visit the market’s Facebook page, Web: clarkecountyfarmersmarket.com; Email: manager@clarkecountyfarmersmarket.com.

April

Various locations in downtown Berryville. Begins at 8am. Contact Berryville Main Street for details at 540-955-4001.

Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. The finest musicians in the area perform. 8–10pm. $20 in advance, $25 at door, 12 and younger free. www.barnsofrosehill.org. 540-955-2004.

Downtown Berryville Yard Sale

Easter Egg Hunt

–14 Quilt Show

Clarke County Parks and Recreation Center. 225 Al Smith Circle. Berryville. Northern Shenandoah Valley Quilt show will be held. For details, visit www.nsvquiltshow.com.

Fundraiser Dinner

Boyce Volunteer Fire Company. 1 S. Greenway Ave. Bake sale during dinner. Free will offering. 4–7pm. 540-837-2317.

Clarke County Parks and Recreation’s Lloyd Field. 225 Al Smith Circle. Berryville. Bring a basket and don’t forget the camera for when the Easter Bunny hops in. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be held inside the Senior Center side of the Recreation Center. $3 per child, tickets can be purchased in advance at the Recreation Center (cash, check & credit) and day of at Lloyd field (cash & checks only). Ages 1–2, 11am, 3–4, 11:20am, 5–7, 11:40am. 540-955-5140.

Rose Hill Chamber Orchestra Debut Performance

Community Conversations: Common Ground

Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. A trained moderator will oversee a discussion open to all residents and designed to help people from different backgrounds and viewpoints connect and better understand each other. 4–6pm. Free. www.barnsofrosehill.org. 540-955-2004.

Talk and Book Signing With Jesse Russell

Long Branch Historic House and Farm. 830 Long Branch Lane. Boyce.

Dream it. Own it.

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Clarke County native and local history expert Jesse Russell will discuss his new book, “Juliet: From Slavery to Inspiration.” Refreshments prior to talk. $10 ahead, $15 at door. 6pm. 540-837-1856.

Sunday Wellness Series: Brain Matters!

Sanctuary Wellness Center. 208 N. Buckmarsh St. Berryville. Registered medical herbalist Geo Giordano presents issues of the brain relating to toxins, diet and lifestyle, and solutions will be discussed and the video interview “The End of Alzheimer’s” will be shown. $20 with pre-registration, $25 at door. 2–4pm. 410-707-4486. info@sanctuaryberryville.com. www.sanctuaryberryville.com.

Physical Therapy for Vertigo Workshop

Berryville Physical Therapy and Wellness. 322-A N. Buckmarsh St. Learn about this troublesome condition and various forms of treatment. Free interactive session with questions and answers at end. 540-955-1837. 6:30pm. www.berryvillept.com/ vertigo-workshop.

Reiki Share

Sanctuary Wellness Center. 208 N. Buckmarsh St. Berryville. Led by Amy HopeGentry. $10 per person. 7pm. amyhopegentry@aol.com. www.amyhopegentry.com. www.sanctuaryberryville.com.

Easter Egg Hunt

Historic Long Branch. 830 Long Branch Lane. Boyce. Carriage rides, moon bounce, face painting, petting zoo, Jordan Springs Market barbecue and more. 12–4pm. Adults $5, kids younger than 12 free. 540-837-1856.

Spring Craft Show

Chet Hobert Park. 225 Al Smith Circle. Berryville.

More than 75 crafters and artisans will offer unique, handcrafted products. Show moves into recreation center in case of rain. Free admission. 9am– 5pm. 540-955-5147.

Bumper Jacksons Concert

Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. Early jazz and country with a unique, DIY style. Dance party after concert. Dinner at 6pm with Jordan Springs barbecue for sale, concert at 7pm. $20 in advance, $25 at door, $30 at door for seated and dance party tickets. www.barnsofrosehill.org. 540-955-2004.

Community Pancake Breakfast

John Enders Fire Hall. 9 S. Buckmarsh St. Berryville. Come support your fire and rescue squad and enjoy the finest pancake breakfast in the area. Adults $8, children $4, children 5 and younger free. 7am–12pm. 540-955-1110.

Blue Ridge Hunt Point to Point Races

Woodley Farm. 590 Woodley Lane. Berryville. First race at 1pm. Easter egg hunt, antique car show, Nantucket Beagles on parade and more. $25 per car, $150 for VIP tailgate parking. 540-631-1919. diana.perry@viasatinc.com.

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.

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.

Winedown Yoga

Historic Long Branch. 830 Long Branch Lane. Boyce. Led by Amy Hope-Gentry. Contact Amy for details and to register. 5:45–7:45pm. amyhopegentry@aol.com. www.amyhopegentry.com. www.sanctuaryberryville.com.

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 www.clarkehistory.org or 540-955-2600.

Spring Spaghetti Dinner

Boyce Fire Hall. 7 Greenway Ave. Fun, food and fellowship with takeout plates available. Free will offering benefits Boyce United Methodist Church Ministries. 4–7pm. 540-336-3585. 540-409-7197.

Art at the Mill Opening Day

Burwell Morgan Mill. 15 Tannery Lane. Millwood. Runs through Sunday, May 12. 250 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.

Bud’s Collective Concert

Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. Powerful group of pickers from the hills of West Virginia in the bluegrass tradition. 8–10pm. $15 in advance, $25 at door, 12 and younger free. www.barnsofrosehill.org. 540-955-2004.

Summer Riding Camps Starting June 10 SHENANDOAH SEPTIC, INC. ALL TYPES OF SEPTIC REPAIRS

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Thomas O’Conner - Owner

www.ShenandoahSeptic.com

540-955-2072 • cell# 540-622-7158

Clarke

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World Tai Chi Day

Chet Hobert Park. 225 Al Smith Circle. Berryville. Led by Adrian VanKeuren. Participate in demonstrations, experience grounding and chi flow and learn how Tai Chi can bring stability to your life. 9–11am. www.worldtaichiday.org. www.sanctuaryberryville.com.

Lyme Alive Support Group

Sanctuary Wellness Center. 208 N. Buckmarsh St. Berryville. Adrian VanKeuren leads with the topic of preventing Lyme and tick-borne illnesses. 2–4pm. taichiavk@gmail.com. www.sanctuaryberryvillecom.

28 Sale Ends 4/30/19

BERRYVILLE HARDWARE 600 EAST MAIN STREET BERRYVILLE 540-955-1900

RAMSEY HARDWARE 703 N ROYAL AVE FRONT ROYAL 540-635-2547

At Eternity’s Gate Film

Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. Film explores the world and mind of Vincent Van Gogh. 4–6pm. Members $5, nonmembers $8. www.barnsofrosehill.org. 540-955-2004.

Guided Historic Tours

Historic Long Branch House

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8 and Farm. 830 Long Branch Lane. Boyce. Led by Colette Poisson, who worked with the previous owner. Adults $89, children younger than 12 free. 12–4pm. 540-837-1856.

Cooking Demonstration

Four Forces Wellness. 424 Madden St. Berryville. Nutritionist Christine Kestner will show how to make a whole food, plant-based lifestyle work. Samples and recipes to take home included. $20. Register ahead. 2pm. 571-277-0877. christine@4forceswellness.com. www.sanctuaryberryville.com.

Yoga Fundamentals Class

Sanctuary Wellness Center. 208 N. Buckmarsh St. Berryville. Four week class led by Amy Hope-Gentry. $65 per person for the series. Register ahead. 11am–12pm. amyhopegentry@aol.com. www.sanctuaryberryville.com.

Jarlath Henderson Concert

Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. Youngest ever recipient of BBC Young Folk Award, who featured on the soundtrack of the movie Brave, performs. 8–10pm, Jordan Springs barbecue sold before show. $20 in advance, $25 at door, 12 and younger free. www.barnsofrosehill.org. 540-955-2004.

May

Folk Concert

Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. Lloyd Martin and Vox perform folk music with ukulele, mouth trumpet, hand percussion, bass, finger-picked guitar and harmony. 8–10pm, Jordan Springs Barbecue available ahead for purchase. $15 in advance, $20

at door, 12 and younger free. www.barnsofrosehill.org. 540-955-2004.

Wild Edibles Festival

Farmers Market Season Opening Day

Watoga State Park. 4800 Watoga Park Rd. Marlinton, W.V. Geo Giordano is keynote speaker at festival with foraging hike, vendors, demonstrations, live music and more. 3pm. www.wvstateparks.com/ event/wild-edibles-festival. www.sanctuaryberryville.com.

Town parking lot next to Dollar General. 20 S. Church St. Berryville. Food trucks, Bar C Ranch petting zoo, live music and many vendors selling meat, produce, cheese, vegetables and much more. 8am–12pm. clarkecountyfarmersmarket.com.

VHSA Horse and Pony Hunter Show

Sandstone Farm. 3805 Millwood Rd. Millwood. Call for details. 540-837-1261, or day of show 540-532-2292.

Blue Ridge Singers Concert

Christ Church. 809 Bishop Meade Rd. Millwood. The Blue Ridge Singers will perform under the direction of Dr. Jeff Albin. Light refreshments served afterward with meet and greet with performers. Free, suggested donation $10. 4pm. 540-837-1112.

Fiesta in the Garden

Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. On Cinco de Mayo, join Sustainability Matters and Lord Fairfax Soil & Water Conservation District for a Fiesta of sustainable gardening. 1–4pm. $30 in advance, $25 for Barns or Sustainability Matters members, $10 for children. www.barnsofrosehill.org. 540-955-2004.

Clarke

APRIL 201 9

Angela Marchese Concert

Clarke County Farmers Market opens for the season on May 4.

Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. Soprano Angela Marchese is a passionate and versatile artist whose “rich, burnished voice” has thrilled audiences both locally and abroad. 8–10pm. $20 in advance, $25 at door, 12 and younger free. www.barnsofrosehill.org. 540-955-2004.

Horse Fair

Artist Opening Reception

Historic Long Branch. 830 Long Branch Lane. Boyce. Reception and artist talk with Isabelle Truchon, who will exhibit paintings from the ROAM collection. Refreshments served. Free. 6–8pm. 540-837-1856.

Trivia Night

Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. The Clarke County Historical Association and the Clarke County Library team up once again to bring live team trivia. Categories include History, Movies, Literature, Science and more. Prizes donated by local area businesses. Barn doors open at 6:30 p.m., trivia begins at 7pm. Free. 540-955-2004. www.barnsofrosehill.org.

Hiroya Tsukamoto Concert

Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. Internationally acclaimed guitarist and composer takes us on an innovative, impressionistic journey filled with earthy, organic soundscapes that impart a mood of peace and tranquility. 8–10pm. $15 in advance, $20 at door, 12 and younger free. www.barnsofrosehill.org. 540-955-2004.

Historic Long Branch. 830 Long Branch Lane. Boyce. 4H all-breed horse parade, demonstrations by local experts, expo, food and drinks and more. Admission to Saddle Up! Museum exhibition and art show included in ticket price. $5 per person, children younger than 12 free. 12–4pm. 540-837-1856.

Karan Casey Band Concert

Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. Karan Casey has long been one of the most innovative, provocative and imitated voices in Irish traditional and folk music. 8–10pm. $25 in advance, $30 at door, 12 and younger free. www.barnsofrosehill.org. 540-955-2004.

Ongoing Art at the Mill

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.

Bradley Stevens Art Show and Sale

Long Branch Historic House and Farm. 830 Long Branch Lane. Boyce. An exciting opportunity to purchase work by renowned Virginia contemporary realist painter and portrait artist Bradley Stevens. Through April 22. 540-837-1856. info@visitlongbranch.org.

Yoga at Long Branch

Thursdays, 5:45pm. Historic Long Branch. 830 Long Branch Lane. Boyce. Vinyasa Flow class has you move at a sweet and mindful pace. $20 to drop in or ask about class passes. 540-8371856. www.visitlongbranch.org.

Alcoholics Anonymous

Tuesdays, 8:15–9:15pm. Grace Episcopal Church. N. Church St. Berryville. AAVirginia.org. 540-955-1610.

FISH Clothing Bank and Food Pantry

Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9am–12pm. 36 E. Main Street. Berryville. 540-955-1823.

Bingo

Boyce Fire Hall. 7 S. Greenway Ave. Thursdays at 7pm, Sundays at 1:30pm. Proceeds benefit the volunteer fire department. 540-837-2317.

SUNDAY, APRIL 21 ! BERRYVILLE EFARM, T POST TIME: 1:00 PM WOODLEY A D W NE340, PLEASE ENTER ON BRIGGS ROAD 1/2 MILE FROM RTE SUNDAY, APRIL 23 FEATURING: Kids’ Stick-Horse Race Easter Egg Hunt Blue Ridge Hunt Fox Hound Parade POST TIME: 12 NOON WOODLEY FARM, BERRYVILLE

Nantucket-Trewerin Beagle 1/2 MILE FROM RTE 340 PLEASE ENTERParade ON BRIGGS ROAD Classic Car Show

GENERAL ADMISSION: $20 PER CARLOAD RESERVED PARKING:ADMISSION: $150 (CONTACT: JENNY 202-664-4664) GENERAL $25 PERIRWIN, CARLOAD

RESERVED PARKING: $150

CONTACT: DIANA PERRY 540-631-1919

CHAIRMAN: BRIAN E. FERRELL, MFH BlueRidgeRaces.org

540-550-7015

CLARKEVA.COM

Clarke

A PRIL 201 9

Geothermal Scott Heating and Cooling Quality Work - Reasonable Rates

Design • Repair • Install

Come to the Rescue Horse Show By Claire Stuart

All Types of Heating and A/C Equipment

(540) 379-3179

Scott Smith / Master HVAC Berryville, VA

Garden Fair Mother’s Day Weekend

May 11 & 12 • 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

$15 per Car or $10 Online in Advance Huge Plant & Garden Supply Sale Annuals, Perennials, Small Trees, Berry Bushes, Veggies, Native Plants Plus Fine Items for Home & Garden

Virginia’s Best Garden Party!

State Arboretum of Virginia

At the University of Virginia’s Historic

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Rachael McCarthy recalls the first time she and her husband went to the horse kill pen in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, the largest kill pen on the east coast. It ships 300 horses a week to slaughter in Canada, in addition to those shipped to Mexico. She went to get a horse for her birthday and wanted to save one of those horses. She still gets choked up remembering the barrels of halters and horseshoes taken from the doomed horses. Her family farm, Locke Meadows, has been hosting horse shows for 21 years—the oldest series of horse shows in Clarke County. The farm has been in her family since 1774, before Clarke County was Clarke County. Her ancestor, John Locke, was the recorded owner. However, she’s the first in her family to be into horses. The property was an apple orchard and later held cattle. McCarthy is very supportive of equine rescue organizations and many patients of her husband, equine dentist Sean McCarthy, are rescue horses. Last year, they decided to celebrate rescue horses by giving them their very own show. This year welcomes their second Rescue Horse Show. All equines are welcome, and as long as the owner says they are rescues, they are welcome.

“The horses for the show have all been in bad situations,” McCarthy said. She recalls that the first rescue show had the judge in tears, hearing the stories of some of the horses. “This show proves that they have value. They can be old with medical problems or be young and healthy. People can see their horses participate in shows even if they were cheap or free horses.”

The Rescue Horse Show will offer over 20 events, from halter and showmanship to pleasure driving, and events for English, Western, jumping and gaited classes. There will be something for every horse, pony or mini. This year, they’ve expanded the classes to take thoroughbreds off the racetrack to show that they can have a life after racing. There will even be special events for

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APRIL 201 9

horses rescued from auctions and kill pens. “Last year,” McCarthy said, “a woman named Vivian Jones brought her horse, DaVinci. She got him through the Heart of Phoenix Rescue. He had been run through auction as an eight-year-old unhandled stallion—typical for slaughter— and it was thought that nothing could be done with him. Jones, a professional trainer, had him for six months before bringing him to the show, where she won first place in her class.” McCarthy noted that the general public assumes that horses that go to kill pens are old, lame, have medical problems, and can’t be rid-

den. “That is farthest from the truth,” she declared. “Good horses are shipped to slaughter every day—young, healthy horses that easily could be in somebody’s home and be the love of their life. They just need a chance. Seeing horses actually participating in these shows, you can see that they have the looks, the movement, and can be show horses.” According to McCarthy, the biggest cause of horses in need is the need for education on the part of owners. “People just don’t seek help when they need it,” she said. “Everyone should take riding lessons for at least two years before getting a horse—not just riding

WHAT: Rescue Horse Show WHERE: Locke Meadow Farm, 972 Wadesville Rd., Berryville, Va WHEN: Saturday, April 20, starting at 9:00 am COST: $10 entry fee per class, spectators FREE WEB: www.lockemeadows.com Show attire and tack is NOT necessary

lessons, but handling a horse on the ground. Any horse, just like any child, can be dangerous if it’s allowed to get away with inappropriate behavior. There’s no perfect horse, just like there’s no perfect kid. You just have to keep correcting them, showing them the right way to do things. Eventually it clicks and they get it.” She cited her own family’s errors. “I got my first horse when I was nine years old, before getting lessons. He was an unbroken three-year-old. It was a mistake. My mom and dad didn’t know anything about horses. We sold him and got two older mares in their 20s. It was the best decision.” At one time, McCarthy had 30 horses. “People were calling us, asking us if we could take this horse, that horse. Lots of people like my husband and I, not part of any rescue, have a field full of horses. A lot of them just needed training, and I was able to do that, so they were suitable to go to the next home.” Unfortunately, some injuries are keeping her off horses. She believes that older horses definitely have their place. “My and my husband’s horses

Shenandoah Valley Equine Rescue Network Aids Horses In Need By Claire Stuart Shenandoah Valley Equine Rescue Network was founded in 2010 when the Frederick County Sheriff seized 18 horses, and there was no place to put them. Some local residents formed a network of farms so that if it ever happened again, there would be places for the horses. Georgia Andrews, president of the board, was not part of the original group, but explained, “I’m an equine attorney, and I helped the organization start.”

The Network, or SVERN, takes only equines, including horses, ponies, minis, donkeys, and mules. Their goal is to provide care and rehabilitation to unwanted, abandoned, abused, and malnourished horses. They have horses from Shenandoah, Rockingham, Warren, Frederick and Spotsylvania counties. When the founders were unable to continue, Andrews took over SVERN two years ago and formed a new board. Shannon

Ott serves as executive director. Andrews reports, “Our horses were seized by the sheriff or abandoned.” Ott added: “We don’t get horses from the racetrack. There are organizations that specialize in thoroughbred care. But people recognize thoroughbreds as horses in need more than backyard ponies.” “Some rescue organizations only deal in adoptables,” Andrews explained. “We take sei-

11 are both in their 20s, even though both of us are experienced horse people. It’s nice to sit on a horse that you don’t have to worry about!” McCarthy looks forward to

the upcoming Rescue Horse Show. “I think the show is one of the greatest things we’ve ever participated in, and I hope it grows year after year.”

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zures. If we have no room, we find a place for them. We take any horse as long as a vet says it’s okay and it has some quality of life. We have one old girl that’s 30!” Ott smiled. “We say that she’s in hospice care!” “We’ve had people call us that are ill or just can’t afford their horse and want us to take it,” said Andrews. “We don’t do it, but if the horse meets our requirements, we’ll do a courtesy post and do our best to adopt it out for them.” They vet adoptive homes carefully. Requirements depend on the individual horse’s needs—a companion, a good barn or run-in shed, access to food, the correct type of fence. Minis must have a dry lot. Horses have to be rehabbed. Ott explained that sometimes horses are in shock when they arrive. They’ve been shoved into a trailer and brought to a place they don’t know with strange horses and people. “Sometimes you can figure out pretty quickly that they’ve been hit — that something’s happened to them,” Ott said, “but sometimes you just don’t know until you get some kind of reaction from them. There’s definitely an evaluation period. It takes a week to a month to get them used to you and you to them. Two horses were left on their own in a field for about

A SVERN fundraiser called Flights and Bites is held the first Wednesday of every month at 5:00 pm in the El Camino Real restaurant in Berryville, with snacks and wine tasting for $15 a person, $5 going to SVERN. To adopt, donate or volunteer, see www.svern.org.

Vivian Jones at our Rescue Show last year with her rescue Da Vinci courtesy of Locke Meadows Farm.

4 years; we’ve had them since October. It took four hours just to get halters on them – now we can lead them. They’re remembering how to be horses. We’ll see how they do when we get a saddle on them.” “Some come in and they’re ready to go,” said Andrews. “We have one girl we take on trail rides. We just got five seized horses. One will be a great trail horse and an adoption is pending. Two are babies and were never taught anything. They’re scared of everything.” Ott noted that minis are sometimes abandoned because the owners looked at them as if they were dogs. “Then they found out that they are real horses and need everything that horses need. Little feet cost as much as big feet!” Ott emphasized that all of their horses are not unusable or un-ridable and that unrideble horses have a lot more utility beyond riding. “They are companions, they till fields, pull carriages. Minis are used as seeing-eye horses! There is therapy with vets, parolees,

youths. Damaged people can connect with damaged horses. They gain confidence as they bond with a horse and learn they can control an animal so much bigger and stronger than they are.” SVERN depends on volunteers. Ott does outreach to schools and many Clarke County High School students volunteer, especially in summer. “Finances are the big concern,” said Andrews. “We get no money from the SPCA, county, or state, and yet we’re housing animals that are technically in the sheriff’s care. One thing for me is to try to get funding for the animals we take in. If there’s nowhere to put them, they go to a kill pen. The most important thing for people to understand is that this is a community thing, and the community needs to support it. Horses are expensive. The horse community needs to support horse rescue.” She added that all the rescues are presently full. She encourages anybody looking for a horse to look in a rescue first.

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13 Clarke Parish Holy Week Celebration

This Grumpy Old Woman Is A Local Treasure

April 14th 10 AM - Palm Sunday Liturgy of the Palms at St. Mary's followed by Procession through town and Eucharist at Grace

Jane Caspar, photo by Kristen Voytek.

By Diane Sheehey

“I sold my first framed painting at Art at the Mill,” recalls artist Jane Caspar, who turned a young 91 in February. Caspar, a longtime resident of Boyce and known throughout the area for her paintings, pottery, quilts, murals, crocheted animals, and fiddle playing, reminisced recently with me about her life in art. “I have entered art in just about every art show at the Mill since the show first started,” she said. Jane moved to Clarke County in 1955 when her husband, Alan Caspar, a geneticist, joined the staff at Blandy Farm, the Virginia State Arboretum. “He was the scientist and I was the artist,” she fondly recalls. They met at Cornell University, where she majored in fine arts and picked apples in an orchard. No wonder she immediately took to Clarke County. “I am definitely a rural girl — I have never lived by a sidewalk,” said Jane. Active in local theater, both on and offstage, Jane often

performed character roles like “the grumpy old woman next door,” while also designing and building sets. She recalls a Blue Ridge Players performance where she played Winnie-thePooh to Betty Gilpin’s Christopher Robin. A muralist, Jane feels “painting big” helped her theater work. (Jane’s mural Battle of Cedar Creek, which depicts 1004 “little” Civil War soldiers, is still on display in the Wayside Inn restaurant.) Jane has played fiddle with Winchester Celtic Circle for “years and years and years” since the group formed. As a young child, her father taught her to play on her great-grandfather’s fiddle, which she still uses today. Readers can tap their toes to Jane’s music at an Artist and Volunteer Reception at the Burwell-Morgan Mill on Sunday, May 5 from 2-5pm, open to the public. For this year’s Art at the Mill, Jane will show oil paintings and her infamous pottery sculptures from the Gossip Girls series. “I think it is funny

to create grumpy ladies. I have their eyes going in different directions — some looking to the sky, others looking down in disgust. People love them!” And indeed, Jane is much loved by art patrons, music lovers, Powhatan School alumni, and her local Clarke County neighbors. Jane’s work will be on display for sale at Art at the Mill from April 27 through May 12. There are tickets available to preview art at Patron’s Night, Friday, April 26. Art at the Mill is held at the Burwell-Morgan Mill, 15 Tannery Lane, Millwood, Va. Proceeds from the sale of art benefit the Clarke County Historical Association and keep the water wheels turning at the mill. For information, call 540-955-2600.

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Clarke

Bradley Stevens Art Exhibit at Long Branch Historic House and Farm By Keith Patterson

Painting by Bradley Stevens.

s the British were about to capture the White House during the War of 1812, Dolly Madison sprang into action. She ordered her kitchen staff to cook everything in the larder and pantries. As the servants laid out the massive feast upon every available table and counter, she took a carving blade and removed as many of the mansion’s priceless paintings and portraiture from their frames as she could carry. She rolled them up and escaped with this treasure trove of precious art just before the King’s men arrived with their orders to burn the building to the ground. The British troops, famished from their day’s march, put off their pursuit of the vanquished and the torching of our seat of executive power until the great feast was consumed. It was late in the evening before the last plate was licked clean and the arson fires were kindled. The British left the White House to burn but a fortuitous gale brought heavy rains that quenched the fires and covered Dolly Madison’s tracks as she and her staff disappeared into the night. The most prized of all the artwork saved from the British on that awful night was a life-size portrait of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart known as the Lansdowne

Portrait. The original adorned the walls of Mount Vernon until it deteriorated beyond usefulness. The greatest modern portrait artist in the land was summoned and commissioned to copy this masterpiece. His name is Bradley Stevens. His remake of the Lansdowne Portrait currently graces the walls of Mount Vernon. And this very same artist is currently displaying his paintings at Long Branch Historic House and Farm in Clarke County. The lighting and classically beautiful architecture and appointments of Long Branch are the perfect backdrop for Bradley Stevens’ stunningly realistic work. For me, these are joyous and uplifting creations, the subject and structure of each piece laid out in Euclidean logic and tonal absolution. Stevens’ includes breathtaking landscapes, seascapes, and architecture. We are blessed to have this rare opportunity to view the masterworks of the very best. Admission is free. Open daily 10am–5pm, Monday–Friday, until the end of April.

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On April 1 Clarke County Maintenance Department employees installed two benches in front of the courthouse at 104 N. Church St. in Berryville, the final step in a process that began almost two years ago. Supervisors Barbara Byrd and Terri Catlett led the project that aimed to provide outdoor seating for individuals who are participating in proceedings at General District Court or Juvenile & Domestic Court. They worked with the courts, the town, and others to identify the best spots for the benches, which were completely funded through private donations. Each bench has an engraved plaque, honoring people who have made significant contributions to the well being of Clarke County and its residents. One plaque reads: “For Supervisors A.R. “Pete” Dunning, John “Jack” Hardesty, Robert Hummer, Eustace Jackson, and Raleigh Watson Jr. who

Maintenance Director Joey Braithwaite (blue jacket), Dennis “Bub” Michaels (brown hooded sweatshirt), and Frank Huff (green fleece), and Mark Clemons (red cap) install one of two benches that now sit outside General District Court and Juvenile & Domestic Court on North Church Street in Berryville. adopted Sliding-Scale Zoning, Oct. 16, 1980.” The other plaque reads: “In honor of Angie Jones and her 30 years as Director of Clarke County Social Services.” Watson is the only surviving Supervisor from that era. Jones retired from Social Services in 2018. Placing benches outside the courthouse was especially

important to Byrd, who has served on the Social Service Board since 2000. “There’s a vestibule inside the courthouse with seats and benches, but it can get crowded,” she said. “Now, there are seating options outside, where it’s pretty and peaceful.” — Cathy Kuehner

APRIL 201 9

Clarke

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Joe Lewis is joined by three friends who welcomed him to Long Branch in 1989, when then-owner Harry Isaacs was in the midst of the massive renovation: Colette Poisson (left) was the estate’s curator, Joe Hickey was the farm manager who hired Lewis as an assistant, and Jodie Popio (right) was the executive director. The cake is decorated with round bales of hay, pasture, and Joe’s iconic black hat. Joe Lewis, beloved farm manager at Long Branch Historic House and Farm, celebrated 30 years at the 400-acre estate with a party on March 29. One hundred or more friends, coworkers, and former coworkers filled Long Branch to congratulate and celebrate Lewis, who has never met a stranger. Long Branch board member Randy Buckley, who has been friends with Lewis for decades, welcomed guests. “You all know Joe, so I don’t have to tell you he has a heart as big as a house. We often find Joe working through the night, because someone in Millwood or at CCAP or his church was in need during the day. Joe is one of the best ambassadors Long Branch could hope for, and he’s also a fierce voice for the memory of the late Harry Isaacs, who left Long Branch for us to enjoy.” Long Branch Historic House and Farm is open from dawn to dusk for anyone who wants to stroll its grounds, admire its historic home and enjoy its breathtaking vistas. The people who work there and its board of directors want the community to think of Long Branch as its home and the property as its backyard. The Long Branch property has 14 miles of

four-board fence, a three-acre pond stocked for catch-and-release fishing, and a one-milelong driveway — Long Branch Lane — that runs through the property from south to north. Equestrian Stephen Bradley, a three-day event rider and trainer who has represented the United States in international competition, rents and operates the 23-stall stable, and Angus breeder Todd Stotler leases land for some cattle. Owners of 73 elderly horses pay board so their horses can live out their days at Long Branch’s equine retirement facility. The Long Branch property also has five run-in sheds, two hay sheds, a shop, two garages, and two tenant houses. Its main attractions are the magnificent views of rolling countryside, gardens designed by the acclaimed English flower arranger Sheila Macqueen and its10,000-square-foot, Greek Revival mansion that developed around a hipped-roof, Federal-style home constructed in 1811 and added onto over the years. “I love this place. I love everything about it,” Lewis said, smiling and gesturing to the views with his arms widespread. He has no plans to retire.

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Sporting Library Offers Free Public Programs National Sporting Library and Museum: it’s much more than The Hunt The first time I visited the National Sporting Library and Museum in Middleburg, I had planned on a short stay. I was working on a travel book for the Journey Through Hallowed Ground, a national historic area following the route of the Old Carolina Road from Gettysburg to Charlottesville. I read about the library in a tourism brochure, and decided to stop in the next morning, take a few pictures, and add a one-paragraph entry into the book. It didn’t turn out that way. I arrived at 10am, just as the doors were opening to the public, and emerged about four o’clock. During the intervening

hours, I combed through one of the most surprising collection of books on the outdoors. I spent the better part of an hour looking at two illustrated books on fly tying, got lost in books of paintings on hunting and fishing, and marveled at some of the best compilations of wildlife drawings I’ve ever seen. How did I not know about this place? Founded as the National Sporting Library in 1954, by George L. Ohrstrom, Sr. and Alexander Mackay-Smith, the institution has expanded to become a library, research facility and art museum with over 26,000 books and works of art in the collections. The library is

Art Mill at the

Spring 2019

open free to the public — note, it’s a non-circulating library. There is an admission charge to the museum, but you can visit free of charge on Wednesdays and the last Sunday of the month. My hunch is that a lot of people either don’t know about the NSLM or don’t know the breadth of its offerings. Whether or not you’re into the sporting life, the museum’s collections and programs have something for people of any age or interest. Take, for example, the exhibit “NSLMology: The Science of Sporting Art,” which runs April 12 through September 15. It blends art with science to create The Science of Sporting Art, an exhibition exploring

scientific principles through three centuries of paintings, sculptures, works on paper, and hands-on activities. Learn how the human eye processes the speed of a galloping horse; the chemistry of bronze in sculpture; and the workings of wind and clouds and weather. You can experience The Science of Sporting Art free of charge April 27, including hands-on activities and kidfriendly snacks in the Library’s Founders’ Room from 11am till 1pm. NSLM offers a calendar of free programs open to the public. May through August is the Open Late Summer Concert Series. Concerts are free and open to the public, and the museum stays open late — free of charge.

Saddle Up! The Horse in Sport and Art in Clarke County

“French Sunflowers and Memories” by Vicki Vidal Blum

April 27th through May 12th Sunday - Friday 12-5, Saturdays - 10-6 Burwell-Morgan Mill, Millwood, VA 540.955.2600 w 540.837.1799 www.clarkehistory.org Art at the Mill in 2019 is sponsored by Tito’s Handmade Vodka

A collaboration between Clarke County Historical Association, the National Sporting Library, and Long Branch Historic House & Farm featuring exhibits in both art and history. The central focus of the event will be a museum exhibit curated by the National Sporting Library in Middleburg and the Clarke County Historical Association, as well as an art show with new works by Isabelle Truchon (www.isabelletruchonart.com/about1/). From May 11 through June 28, several lectures and films will be presented that cover our region’s long history with horses. The opening day of this event takes place Saturday, May 11, and will include a horse fair with riding and driving demonstrations by local experts — and a chance to “meet the hound” with members of the Blue Ridge Hunt. And more.

Food and drinks are available for purchase at the events. See the website for more details and information. Sunday Sketch is the first Sunday of the month, from 2–4pm. Each month a local art teacher or artist leads a sketching session in the art galleries, guiding participants on style, composition, or another aspect of drawing. Supplies are provided for attendees of all ages. Gallery Talks take place every Wednesday at 2pm. NSLM staff give personalized views of traveling exhibitions, new acquisitions, or permanent collections pieces. Reservations are not required and admission is free. The National Sporting Library and Museum is membersupported. Once you attend a free program or two, you might consider supporting the mission and programs by joining. National Sporting Library and Museum 102 The Plains Road Middleburg VA 20117 www.nationalsporting.org 540-687-6542 Hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 10am–5pm. Museum admission: Adults, $10; seniors and youth (13–18), $8; children, free

Clarke

APRIL 201 9

Blue Ridge Hunt Point to Point Races Held on April 21

A DV E R T I S E in Clarke — CALL 540-398-1450 OPENING APRIL 12, 2019 MENTION THIS AD AND RECEIVE 2 FOR 1 ADMISSION!

Aerial of horse race, photo courtesy of the Blue Ridge Hunt. The 70th annual running of Blue Ridge Hunt Point-to-Point Races will take place rain or shine Sunday, April 21 at 1pm. The event has developed into a family fun day with many activities in addition to the races Everyone is invited to come enjoy the day, with an admission price of $20 per carload. The beautiful location of Woodley Farm is available due to the generosity of Brooke and Michele Middleton. The historic 383-acre property, located at 490 Woodley Lane, two and a half miles south of Berryville, was originally bought by Daniel Sowers in the 1830s from George Washington’s cousin and has been used for fox hunting ever since. Parking is available with the $20 per car admission, but reservations can be made ahead of time to park cars and tailgate on the property’s hill for $150. Call 540-631-1919 or email diana.perry@viasatinc.com.

The day will include three different types of races: flat, hurdle jumping and timber fence jumping. There will also be an Easter egg hunt, stick horse race, vendors’ village, fox hounds parade and an antique car show. As Norm Fine notes in his history, today’s followers of the Blue Ridge hounds ride over the same hills and fields and along the same twists and turns of the Shenandoah River as did George Washington nearly 300 years ago when he followed the hounds of his employer and friend Thomas, sixth Lord Fairfax. At 16, Washington had come to Fairfax’s Greenway Court in what is now White Post, to help survey Fairfax’s holdings. The two pursued the native gray fox behind hounds that Fairfax had sent over from England even prior to his arrival. Fine explains that fox hunting in Virginia flourished

privately until the massive changes after the Civil War set the stage for the formation of organized hunts and subscription packs. The period following the war saw a number of Englishmen moving to Virginia, many of whom were fox hunters in their native England. One such Englishman, Archibald Bevan, helped to organize the Blue Ridge Hunt in 1888, and he served as its first Master. Well over a century later, the Blue Ridge Hunt is going strong and welcomes anyone who wants to enjoy the sport of fox chasing. Although that no doubt requires some experience, none is needed to come out and enjoy what promises to be a wonderful afternoon of point-to-point racing at Woodley Farm. Pack a picnic and bring the family! For more information, call 540-550-7015 or visit www.blueridgehunt.org.

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A PRIL 201 9

JM Draperies Has it Covered in Clarke County By Rebecca Maynard

Jennifer McDiarmid and examples of some of her work. Jennifer McDiarmid has been sewing since she was 12 years old. “I grew up in South Africa, and spent four years living on a sailboat with my family,” she said. “We traveled around the world for two years in the early 1980s, at times spending weeks at sea —including a long transAtlantic crossing from Cape Town to Brazil.” It was during her time on the boat that she developed

a love of sewing and spent many hours making things with her mother’s hand crank Singer machine. “I remember making a bikini at one point that I was quite proud of!” she said. Her family later settled in England, and McDiarmid eventually moved to the United States with her husband in 1999, where he began his job as horse manager for Audley

Farm, just east of the town of Berryville. When her daughter, now 17, was small, McDiarmid wanted to find something to do while at home with her and began sewing curtains for friends. Drawing on her sewing background, she taught herself the craft of curtain making by reading books and taking apart old curtains to see how they were constructed.

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She turned this lifelong passion into the business J M Draperies, which she operates out of her home on Audley Farm in Berryville. JM Draperies is described by McDiarmid as a small customer-focused business offering quality custom window treatments, pillows, cushions and slipcovers. Word of her skills began to spread throughout Clarke County, and she began earning money as she gained more customers, including a couple of stores in Winchester that used her for custom drapery work. “It’s a small business, just me, and it’s very personal and intimate,” McDiarmid said. “Quite often I get to be good friends with my customers.” Some people, McDiarmid said, can be intimidated by making an appointment with an interior designer and by how expensive it is. Her own approach is to get an idea of what clients have in mind -often a photo they have seen -- and to work with them and their desires. “I don’t push my style on people,” she said. She works with a couple of fabric lines and provides books of samples for clients to peruse,

providing insight on what types of fabrics work best for different curtain designs. In addition to curtains, McDiarmid offers Roman shades, cushions, pillows, bedding, tableware and more. She has recently started making aprons, napkins and kitchen items. “Berryville is such a nice little town,” McDiarmid said. Her many satisfied former clients are equally enthusiastic about her work. “Working with Jennifer has been a pleasure,” said one client on the JM Draperies website. “She created exactly the look I needed. She had a “cando” positive attitude in creating the finished product. My curtains are very elegant! Thanks Jen!” “Jennifer McDiarmid is exceptional,” said another client. “She came to my home, helped decide which treatment would work, helped me find the right fabric and made the most amazing Roman shades and bedding accents for my bedroom. I would highly recommend her for any custom work you may need for your home.” For more information or to make an appointment, visit www.jmdraperies.com or call 540-532-1861.

Clarke

APRIL 201 9

Crystal’s A Memoir by Keith Patterson

After a flame-out, a burn-out, a bike ride across the nation and a nearly two year sojourn in southern California, I returned home to Virginia and somehow finally managed to wrangle a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from George Mason University in May of 1985. I surveyed the landscape of job opportunities in my field afforded me by my hard won diploma, at which point I decided to pawn my prettily painted piece of parchment puffery, along with the remnant of my Confederate folding money, for a pair of breasts for my boar hog. And being thusly equipped, I launched upon a dual career as a house painter and professional musician. I was a good house painter, and customers told me so. I didn’t receive as much praise for my singing, but I persevered until one day I had a little good fortune come my way. A friend from college, Ken Shubert, landed a job at a new recording studio in Falls Church. Ken invited me in for some low-budget demo work. We were joined in the studio of Cue Recording by some hot licks local musicians and a producer, Tony Bonta, who liked what he was hearing. And at the end of our session we had my greatest hit, Money Thang, which won in the Rap Division of the MidAtlantic Song Writing Contest and garnered some radio play on WHFS in Landover, Maryland. At that point I had some juice; some of our finest local musicians, including Tim Eyerman, Sean Peck and Charles Wright, offered their services for my low budget recording forays. I garnered more air-play on ‘HFS, mostly because I’d pick-up Damian and Weasel at the bus stop down the hill from the station and play them my latest singles on cassette as I drove them slowly up the grade in my hand-painted VW bus. This repeated airplay and notoriety allowed me to assemble the finest group of soloists ever to grace a stage — and to call them my band, Primal Virtue. If only the sum could have equaled the parts.

A primal beat

Primal Virtue was built to turn the beat around, with as many different time signatures in play as possible. One of our typical math rock constructs was for the rhythm section to play in 6/4, the guitar in 3/4 with the trumpet and vocal in 4/4 time. Every 12 beats the whole band hit on the down beat. Even if we synched-up every twelve beats you couldn’t possibly dance to it. But danceability was never a concern of ours as we composed, rehearsed, performed and recorded. We wanted to do what had never been done before. Dancing had been done before. Primal Virtue consisted of Rafael Fernandez on guitar, Teo Graca on bass, Peter Fraize on saxophone, Alex Krause on drums and yours truly, Rev. Nate, on vocals. By sheer gall we gained some momentum as we played our way around the bar circuit. We did well in a battle of the bands, and landed a showcase gig at Jaxx in Springfield, opening for The Tubes. Fee Waybill, their lead singer, got sick in the dressing room before the show and The Tubes had to cancel. The Road Ducks, fresh off an opening slot touring with Molly Hatchet and Lynyrd Skynyrd, were recruited to open for us, and we had our first and only headlining show at a real venue. The show wasn’t one of our best. The crowd that had come out to Jaxx for the classic southern rock of the Road Ducks were in no mood for our odd-metered adventures. We never got invited back. We really believed that opening for The Tubes at Jaxx Nightclub was sure to be a launch point up to another level of success, but as we passed by the dressing room and loaded-out our gear, the putrid waft of rock star vomit assured me that it would most certainly be a bit less than that. We began to repeat the pattern of playing in the same bars around town. It was a little less thrilling the second time around. We were still playing the same 23 originals that we’d penned and recorded. Nobody had figured out how to dance to it yet, but we did develop some loyal fans. One such enabler, Mark Lemmon, hired us to play his yard party.

After our 3-hour performance, the crowd was less angry than most. We felt a resurgence of belief in our musical message. Mark suggested a gig in a bar that we hadn’t yet played. The owner was a personal friend of his, and Primal Virtue landed a Friday night gig at Crystal’s, a roadhouse on the eastern shoulder of Route 1 in Lorton, about a mile from the Penitentiary.

Tiny and the dancers

The chicken wire in front of the band stand got my attention. So did the 6’8”, 400-pound biker/bouncer, Tiny. The microphone smelled worse than the dressing room at Jaxx after Fee got sick. The crowd was rowdy and was yelling for Freebird before we even got set up. The first half-empty beer bottle smashed into the chicken wire while we were still tuning our instruments. I looked over at Tiny, taking money and stamping hands at the front door. “I think they like you!” Tiny roared with laughter and then cut it short. “Hey, back in line, jerk!” But he didn’t say jerk. The crowd grew restless. It was almost 9pm. “Y’all better start playing, now,” said Tiny. “This crowd looks mean.” Tiny looked concerned. I felt a lump grow in my throat. I addressed the band. “Let’s start with Ascending Half-step Sixes,” I said. “That oughtta piss ‘em off,” deadpanned Teo. “Play Freebird!” Another beer bottle

smashed against the chicken wire! The front door burst open and some wild eyes and gold teeth came busting in! “Tiny!” “Snake! Where you been?” “I just got out of jail! YEEEEHA!” It was a small comfort to know that somebody in the audience was happy. I counted us in. “One, two, three, four, five, six . . .” The band lurched to life and the collective jaw of Crystal’s patrons hit the sodden wooden floor. “What the . . .“ “That ain’t Freebird!” Several bottles hit the chicken wire! They were eye-level and maliciously intended. We played harder and faster in response to the open hostility. Women tried to line dance and were kicking each other’s shins. We finished our first set faster than it had ever been played and paused to take a short break. The crowd hated us not playing even worse than they hated our playing. Tiny glowered down upon us and said, “I don’t think a break is a good idea, tonight. Keep playing.” I counted us in to Dancing with Grandma. It’s in 5/8 and 6/8 with an intro in 17/8. The line dancers twostepped until their shins were bruised and raw. The crowd got ever rowdier and some mean drunks emerged. Tiny broke up fights and threw several men out into the street as we kept on playing at a furious pace. We went through every song that we knew. All three sets. It was only the end

Clarke

A PRIL 201 9

of the second set. The crowd was in a drunken lather. We started packing-up our gear. We didn’t care about getting paid. We just wanted to get out with our lives. “Where in the . . . do y’all think you’re going?” Tiny roared as he blocked the door. “Don’t you want to get paid?” We looked at each other in disbelief. “That’s still an option?” “Play another set! I’ll have your check at 1:15.” Tiny then turned his attentions to a past-due patron and deposited him outside. We quickly set our gear back up. “What can we play?” “Let’s play the first set again.” “They hated the first set.” The beer bottles were smashing into

the chicken wire at increasing velocity and frequency. “Hurry up!” snarled Tiny, real desperation in his voice. “What are we gonna do?” Deliverance at Crystal’s We were in a spot. Time stood still like an enchantment. I pictured the scene in Deliverance where Burt Reynolds is lying in the boat with a compound leg fracture and a killer on the ridge above them, and one of his surviving mates bellows “What’re we gonna do, Lewis?” Burt grimaces, grabs his compatriot by the collar and groans “Just . . . play . . . the game.” I was brought back from my reverie by a full bottle of beer smashing into the chicken wire at eye level. I licked my

lips and said, “Mmmm. PBR.” The band laughed and the spell was broken. “Anybody seen the Blues Brothers movie?” I asked. “Yeah.” “Sure.” “Anybody know Rawhide?” “Maybe.” “Kind of.” Rafael picked out the “ding ding dingaling, ding ding ding ding ding” intro and we were off and running. “Move ‘em out! Move ‘em on. Move along! Keep those doggies movin’. Keep those doggies movin’ Rawhide!” We played Rawhide for forty-five straight minutes. The line dancers got in step. Tiny brought us a round of beers with our check right after the show. As

we loaded our gear into our van there was a fist-fighting, hair-pulling brawl in the parking lot. It was the line dancers, caught up in the moment. Tiny said that we could come back anytime. “Just gimme a call and we’ll set something up.” Mercifully, Crystal’s was bull-dozed before we could take Tiny up on his offer. And Primal Virtue, having peaked in that third set behind the chicken-wired stage, was thusly laid to rest soon thereafter.

Celebrate Easter at

Christ Church Alleluia! He is Risen!

Holy Week and Easter services:

Palm Sunday, April 14 8:00 am Holy Eucharist 10:30 am Palm Procession and Holy Eucharist Maundy Thursday, April 18 6:00 pm Holy Eucharist Good Friday, April 19 7:00 pm Service Easter Day, April 21 6:00 am Sunrise Eucharist at Historic Old Chapel 10:30am

(at the intersection of Rt. 340 and Rt. 255)

Festive Eucharist (Followed by an Easter Egg Hunt!)

All are welcome at Christ Church! (540) 837-1112 809 Bishop Meade Road, Millwood, VA www.cunninghamchapel.org

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APRIL 201 9

Clarke

Berryville’s long awaited, new Martin’s store opened its doors at 8am on Friday, April 5th. The Shop and save closed on March 27th although most of the food items were sold out several days prior. Luckily Dollar General completed a renovation adding a wide range of basic grocery items just two weeks earlier, helping to carry area residents through the temporary closure. The new McDonald’s, located on US 340 in front of Martin’s is slated to open in late June.

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