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Megan Dye Provides Professional, Compassionate Dog Grooming at Battletown Animal Clinic By Rebecca Maynard
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Many Clarke County pet owners are already aware of the quality veterinary care provided by Battletown Animal Clinic. However, some may not know that professional dog grooming services are now available onsite, courtesy of Megan Dye. Dye has been a dog groomer for about two years, and joined Battletown Animal Clinic last summer. She enjoys providing professional, compassionate care and has many regular clients. “It’s very beautiful out here,” said Dye, who lives about 30 minutes away in West Virginia. “The people are absolutely pleasant, too.” Dye’s love of animals is evident when she explains the care she puts into each appointment. Some dogs are petrified because of bad experiences with groomers who did not take their time, she said. “I try to make it a stress free environment,” Dye said. “I see a lot of rescues who may have
had bad past experiences and are dealing with anxieties and fears, and I want to make them comfortable again.” “Some dogs need a little more time, and I read the dog’s body language,” Dye said. “I give nervous dogs more time, and I also pay special attention to senior dogs.” When puppies come in, Dye tries to give them the best experience possible, so that they will respond well not just during her grooming, but also for any future groomers. Appointments are available Tuesday through Friday from 9am to 5pm. Dye’s services include bathing, blow drying, brushing, ear cleaning, nail cutting, teeth brushing and anal gland expression. “I offer nail polish, but it hasn’t taken off yet,” she laughed. People are welcome to stop in anytime to chat and ask questions, Dye said. They can also ask questions over the phone or call to make an appointment at 540-955-1151. “I try to take care of each dog as if it were my own,” Dye said.
high frequency radio wave that cuts and coagulates the surgery site. Benefits include decreased postop pain, less post-surgical swelling, less blood loss, and reduced risk of infection. •
“On call” board-certified surgeon: Specializes in orthopedic and soft tissue surgery.
•
Onsite radiography and ultrasonography, with access to boardcertified radiologists.
•
Dental radiographs with all dental cleanings.
•
Kitten and puppy wellness exams and vaccinations.
•
Comprehensive Eye Exams: ocular pressure testing with Tonopen, Schirmer tear test, direct and indirect ophthalmoscopic exam, and slit lamp exam.
•
Laser Therapy is a surgery free, drug free, noninvasive treatment to reduce pain, reduce inflammation, and increase speed of healing. Most problems require a number of sessions, but each treatment takes a matter of minutes. Disorders that respond well to laser therapy include arthritic conditions, wound healing, lick granulomas and anal gland abscesses.
•
Small Animal Intensive Care for sick and postsurgery patients
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On-site lab, EKG, and blood pressure
About Battletown Animal Clinic
The clinic strives to offer the best pet care possible, and currently offers the following services: • Internal Medicine: Full comprehensive exams, consultations with boardcertified specialists •
Surgery: General soft tissue and extra-ocular surgery
•
Radiosurgery: Involves a
For more information visit battletownanimalclinic.com.
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FROM THE EDITOR
STAFF
David Lillard, Editor/Publisher Jennifer Welliver, Associate Publisher Aundrea Humphreys, Art Director Hali Taylor, Proofreader
FEBRUARY CONTRIBUTORS David Carr Rebecca Maynard Doug Pifer Claire Stuart
COVER IMAGE Lark Sparrow; photo courtesy of Blandy Experimental Farm
ADVERTISING SALES
Jennifer Welliver, 540-398-1450
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.
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PO BOX 2160 SHEPHERDSTOWN WV 25443
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Vaccination Rate Outpaces Virus Transmission For all the fury and frustration about the rollout of vaccines against Covid-19 (say it with me, “the illness caused by the novel coronavirus”), let’s be clear about one fact: In little more than a month, more people have received at least one dose of vaccine as were reported infected in all of 2020. Let’s say that another way. In a year which saw the worst pandemic in a century shut down life as we know it — and which, to date, has taken nearly a half million lives and millions of jobs and countless businesses large and small — something else happened. Multiple vaccines were developed in under a year, with two approved for emergency use in the U.S., and doses have gone into the arms of nearly 30 million people. Here are the statistics as of Thursday, February 4, 2021: • Number of reported Covid-19 cases nationwide, according to NY Times Covid-19 database: 26.5 million •
Number of people who have received at least one vaccine dose, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: 27.2 million.
•
Number of people fully vaccinated, says CDC: Over 6 million.
After a year of being holed up in our bunkers, everyone who wants a vaccine wants it right now, as if it were like clicking the “buy” button and seeing the blue van in the driveway later that afternoon. Even people who think the virus is a hoax want a vaccine, sparking stories of irate callers screaming, “I want my [expletive] vaccine for this [expletive] fake virus!” But maybe that’s just urban legend. Okay, the rollout did not start as smoothly as everyone had hoped. In the absence of a national strategy, that was to be expected. The states have been fending for themselves since the beginning of the pandemic, and, when it comes to getting shots into arms, some states are doing better than others. And we all have our own opinions about which group goes first. Should it be the elderly, educators, essential workers? I don’t know. Those charged with getting us vaccinated are learning from one another. Clearly, a first-come, first-served plan was not a good idea. Appointments are more efficient; it’s better to be frustrated while waiting on the phone or trying to snag a spot on a website than to stand in line for hours only to be told there are no doses available. Things will get better each week. The important thing is for all of us to take a breath, and be grateful we can.
FEB 20 21
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As The Crow Flies
Mediation • Collaborative Law • Litigation Brenda Waugh, Lawyer & Mediator waugh@brendawaugh.com
304-728-3660 (Charles Town) • 540-501-5501 (Leesburg)
Stream Gaging Station Affected By Beavers Story and illustration by Doug Pifer
—Schedule your free initial consultation online at brendawaugh.com
BATTLETOWN ANIMAL CLINIC Serving the community for over 30 years. 3823 Lord Fairfax Hwy, 1/2 mile north of Berryville
(540) 955-2171
Pa. Game Commission.
No creatures on earth can change their environment more drastically than humans and beavers. In the natural world, beaver dams create new wetland habitat for a variety of wildlife. Fishermen, hunters, bird watchers, hikers, and outdoor recreationists love to visit beaver dams. But when beavers cut down trees, obstruct and divert waterways, and flood fields, septic systems and basements, their “damming” activities place beavers in direct conflict with humans. Such a beaver-human conflict happened recently on Scrabble Road near Shepherdstown, W.Va. Over the past six months, a colony of beavers has been building a series of dams which have destroyed private property. The resulting high water has disrupted several months of data the United States Geological Survey (USGS) collects at one of its stream gaging stations. The gaging station stands along the bank near the bridge over Rocky Marsh Run. The USGS has been aware of the disruption at the bridge, and has
removed beaver dams from this stretch of the creek several times. Meanwhile, a local trapper removed several beavers. Then during heavy rains Christmas eve, the beavers tried to keep their dam under the bridge from flooding. We discovered they had cut down and removed two of our neighbor’s large shrubs to make their dam repairs. Days later another beaver was trapped, and the dam under the bridge was again torn down. I had always been curious about the USGS stream gaging stations I’ve seen at various spots along local waterways. To learn more about how they operate, I contacted Mark Gress, field office chief supervisory hydrologic technician of the USGS in Leetown, W.Va. He gave me an overview of how the federal agency monitors its nearly 8,000 stream gages nationwide. The USGS provides continuous information to water managers, scientists, engineers and the public on the stage and discharge of the rivers and streams in the United States.
Measuring the hight and rate of flow
“Stage” is the measurement of water level. River stage
used to be measured with a simple float and a paper tape installed inside a roofed cylinder (called a stilling well). This system was expensive, time-consuming, and labor intensive. Gage houses like the one near Scrabble Road are a more recent innovation. Such stations use a pressure sensor attached to a gas line in the water to measure stage data. The pressure transmitted through the gas line and into the sensor is directly proportional to the height of the water. Data is recorded and transmitted via satellite radio antenna. Stage monitors using radar are the latest innovation. These new sensors use radar technology to measure the height of the river without ever touching the water surface. They can be mounted some place above the river, such as on the side of a bridge, where they’re less likely to be
Clarke
F EB 2021 washed away or destroyed by floating debris during floods. “Discharge,” a combination of the rate of flow and the amount of water, is calculated in several ways. For many years this simply involved a hydrographer wading into the water and carrying a rod attached to a current meter. Sometimes the current meter was suspended in the water using a weight cable system. Nowadays, the USGS uses hydroacoustic meters that measure water velocity with doppler radar. Pulses of sound from a transducer are reflected back when they bounce off solid particles in the water. The shift in the sound frequency is proportional to how fast the solid particles move in the water, thus measuring the water velocity. To measure low flow with more accuracy, acoustic doppler velocimeters can be mounted on a wading rod and carried into the water by a technician. Hydroacoustic instrumentation to calculate discharge has been adapted in a variety of ways for use by manned, remotely controlled or stationary watercraft.
Reporting the data
Water courses all fluctuate naturally over time, and
change because of low or
highwater during floods, drought, debris from storms, or obstructive beaver dams. So, measurements are collected and tabulated at 15-minute intervals and transmitted electronically each hour. Discharge and stage data are plotted immediately and are available to the public within minutes. Additional measurements are made by the USGS at intervals of six to eight weeks or during significant weather events. This information is vital to the National Weather Service, the Army Corps of Engineers, climatologists, and a host of private and government agencies. Now it’s possible to follow the depth and rate of flow of our waterways minute by minute. And we can monitor droughts and floods, detect blockages by debris and measure the results of natural events all from a distance and in real time. But sometimes beavers can still mess things up!
So, you thought it was gauge?
The variant spelling of gage is a unique part of the USGS history. From the USGS website: In 1888, USGS Director John Wesley Powell met a very forward-thinking graduate student named Frederick Haynes Newell. Powell was
so impressed that he made Newell the first full-time appointee to the new Irrigation Survey, which was created to investigate the potential for dams and canals in the western United States. At that time, there were no practical and systematic techniques for obtaining daily streamflow (or discharge) records, so Newell set up a training camp on the Rio Grande River at Embudo, New Mexico. Newell’s Camp of Instruction developed water measurement methods that are widely used by the USGS today. During the next ten years, Newell continued to play an important role in the development of streamflow gaging techniques and methods, and he eventually became the first Chief Hydrographer of the USGS. Newell is purported to be the person responsible for the adoption of the USGS spelling of “gage” instead of “gauge”. Around 1892, Newell reasoned that “gage” was the proper Saxon spelling before the Norman influence added a ‘u’. USGS historian Robert Follansbee speculated that Newell might have also been influenced by the adoption of “gage” in the Standard Dictionary (the first dictionary produced by Funk and Wagnalls).
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Bug Lady
Winter Bug Search By Claire Stuart
Since homes have become classrooms, parents look for learning activities beyond just plugging kids into computer screens. Compounding this is winter weather that limits many outdoor activities. Some science lessons can take place right in an ordinary backyard, and a winter bug search is fun. Although many insects, spiders and related creatures die in freezing weather, some survive as eggs, larvae, pupae or adults. Eggs can be found in protected locations such as under bark or in various types of egg cases. Praying mantis cases are about the size of marshmallows, look like Styrofoam, and are attached to twigs, bushes and other vegetation. A case can contain a few dozen to hundreds of eggs. It is not wise to bring one inside because the warmth can cause the eggs to
Silk moth cocoon.
Swallowtail butterfly pupa under board.
hatch in about a week, presenting you with hundreds of hungry baby mantises that will eat each other if they don’t get fed! It’s possible to raise them if you have a source of fruit flies, but each mantis needs its own container. Egg cases of the tent caterpil-
lar moth are wrapped around twigs, glued in place and covered with a hard, shiny substance that resembles lacquer. Juniper bagworm eggs are in tough silk cases about an inch long, covered with leaves, hanging from twigs like Christmas ornaments. Katydids lay flat,
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overlapping eggs on twigs in a “fish scale” pattern. Variouslyshaped papery-silk egg cases of some spiders are hung in their webs; others make round, very flat egg cases stuck to rocks, trees, etc. See what other kinds of egg cases you can find. Not many insects spend winter as larvae because the larval stage is when insects grow, and to grow, the larva needs to eat. This is not a problem for insects
that spend most of their lives underground feeding on roots, boring into trees, or eating fungus in rotting logs. Many are beetle larvae. You can often find them by turning over old logs, digging through rotting stumps or pulling bark off of dead trees. The well-known woolly bear caterpillars hibernate. Look for them in unheated outbuildings under stored objects on the floor such as boxes, garden equipment, etc.
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Mud dauber wasps have carnivorous larvae. To provide them with food through the winter, mother wasps build clay tube nests and fill them with spiders and insects they have stung and paralyzed. An egg is laid in each tube and the tube is sealed, leaving the egg to hatch and the larva to eat the prey, pupate and emerge in spring. Some build several long adjoining tubes resembling pan pipes, others make short tubes covered with globs of mud. Their nests are stuck onto walls, surfaces and all sorts of objects in sheltered places. Hornet and yellowjacket adults die in winter, except for the next year’s queens that hibernate in sheltered places and build new nests in spring. The old nests are not re-used, and any larvae and pupae still in the nest when cold kills the adults will simply die or be eaten by birds. Winter is a good time to take these nests down and examine them with no danger of being stung. On the other hand, be aware that honey bees do NOT die in winter—they just stay in their hives—so don’t mess with their hives! Insects that winter as pupae spend winter in cocoons or simply in safe shelters. Remember that the pupa is the insect itself and the cocoon is a covering the insect spins out of silk. Butterfly caterpillars do not spin cocoons but some (not all) moths do. Our giant silkworm moths spin large papery cocoons, some attached to small branches and some wrapped in leaves that fall to the ground. Moths that don’t spin cocoons usually bury themselves in soil or debris. A butterfly pupa is called a chrysalis and it is simply hardened skin and it is hung from a twig or other object or hidden away. Some other insects spin silk cocoons, including ants and honey bees. Antlions, commonly called doodlebugs, spin cocoons, as do fleas, some beetles and some wasps. You are probably familiar
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REVEL Tent caterpillar and mantis egg cases. with the imported stink bugs and ladybugs that have been invading homes for the past several years. Generally, we notice them when they appear in fall and again in spring when they start moving around. But where are they in between? Look for them in unheated attics and outbuildings, especially in hidden spots such as inside boxes, in rolled-up rugs, and under or behind things. The same for the red-and-black boxelder bugs, native insects that used to be the number one fall invaders. Insects and their relatives that spend winter as adults will slip into any shelter they can find. Look for sowbugs and pillbugs under plant pots and stepping stones. Wood piles are always full of little creatures. You often see spiders, centipedes, millipedes, beetles, wood roaches, queen wasps, and even flies, and they sometimes get carried into homes with firewood. Winter stoneflies are among the very few winged insects out and about on sunny winter days. These harmless, thin, black insects with two long
“tails” are about the size of ants and bask on warm rocks, the sides of houses, light poles and cemetery headstones. Good luck with your winter bug search! Send your insect questions to me at buglady@wv.net.
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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.
February
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–15 The Great Backyard Bird Count
Blandy Experimental Farm. 400 Blandy Farm Lane. Boyce. Each February, for four days, the world comes together for the love of birds. Blandy is a bird haven, so come by to observe and tally our birds as part of a community science project. Your observations help scientists better understand global bird populations before one of their annual migrations. There is no formal event; come anytime from dawn to dusk on any of the four days of the Great Backyard Bird Count. Go to www.birdcount.org/ participate/ for more information on how to participate. 540-837-1758.
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Aimee Curl and Danny Knicely Concert
Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. Masks required; 30 person maximum, concert will be live streamed on Facebook or at website below. Singer/bassist Aimee Curl has an unmis-
takable breathy sound and sultry style that combine in a musician of incredible depth. She now performs with Furnace Mountain at many major festivals and venues in the U.S. and overseas. Danny Knicely is a fourth generation Appalachian multi-instrumentalist from a Virginia family steeped in mountain music tradition. He has won many awards for both his mandolin and guitar expertise, including first place in the
mandolin contest of the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. 7–9pm. $20 in person, $5 suggested donation for live stream. www.barnsofrosehill.org. 540-955-2004.
storative yoga poses to improve health. All welcome. 4:30–5:15pm. $5. www.amyhopegentry.com/events. info@sanctuaryberryville.com.
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Sanctuary Wellness Center. 208 N. Buckmarsh St. Berryville. Amy Hope-Gentry teaches traditional re-
Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. Masks required; 30 person maximum, concert will be live
Myofascial Release and Stretch
Voted “Best BBQ in the Shenandoah Valley" since 2010! Locally owned and operated for over a decade, Jordan Springs Market is open 7 days a week.
We smoke Beef Brisket, Pork, Chicken, Ribs and more and make delicious homemade sides and sweet treats every day.
741 Jordan Springs Rd Stephenson, VA catering@jordanspringsmarket.com
Stop in for takeout, dine in with us or have us cater your next special event from 10 guests to 1000! www.jordanspringsmarket.com
Tanya Anisimova and Lydia Frumkin Concert
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streamed on Facebook or at website below. Cellist Anisimova is described by the Washington Post as a highly focused artist graced with spiritual authority and an easy mastery of her instrument. 7–9pm. $30 in advance, $35 at door, $5 suggested donation for live stream. www.barnsofrosehill.org. 540-955-2004.
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Magic Lantern Theater Film: “Sword of Trust”
Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. Masks required; 30 person maximum. A cantankerous pawn shop owner acquires a Civil Warera sword, which is said to prove that the South really won the war. Comedy is a gentle ribbing of the “lost cause” with touches of poignancy. 4pm. Barns members $5, nonmembers $8. www.barnsofrosehill.org. 540-955-2004.
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Chris Timbers Trio Concert
Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. Masks required; 30 person maximum. A Northern Virginia native, singer/ songwriter Timbers draws inspiration from soul music, contemporary jazz, blues, rock and country. 7–9pm. $15 in advance, $20 at door. www.barnsofrosehill.org. 540-955-2004.
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Forest Bathing
Blandy Experimental Farm. 400 Blandy Farm Lane. Boyce. Kim Strader, certified forest bathing guide, invites you to open your senses to explore local natural areas and parks in a way that supports overall health and wellness. Ages 18 and older; private appointments for groups including ages as young as 5 available, with adult supervision required. 1–3pm. $35. www.blandy.virginia.edu.
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Aphrodisiacs, Red Wine and Chocolate Online Workshop
Presented by Sanctuary Wellness Center in Berryville. Geo Derick Giordano teaches healthy pleasures online workshop through Zoom. 3– 4pm. $30. www.eventbrite.com/e/138702646349. www.sanctuaryberryville.com.
March
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Women in Leadership Series: Achieving An Equal Future in a Covid-19 World Also March 12, 19 and 26. Virtual series presented by Clarke County Historical Association (CCHA). The theme celebrates the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. CCHA
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wants to honor and highlight local women who have an impact in the community. Join us as we explore these women. 7pm. $5. Register at www.clarkehistory.org.
7
Sustainable Weight Loss: A Virtual Workshop
With Christine Kestner of Sanctuary Wellness Center in Berryville. Learn about different approaches to weight management, the pros and cons of each, and how to achieve sustainable weight loss. Get recipes and enjoy an online demonstration of one recipe from the e-book included with registration. 4–5:30pm. $25. www.eventbrite.com/e/139249592279. info@sanctuaryberryville.com. www.sanctuaryberryville.com.
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Women in Leadership Series: Achieving An Equal Future in a Covid-19 World Also March 19 and 26. Virtual series presented by Clarke County Historical Association (CCHA). The theme celebrates the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. CCHA wants to honor and highlight local women who have an impact in the community. Join us as we explore these women. 7pm. $5. Register at www.clarkehistory.org.
Sale Ends 2/28/21
BERRYVILLE HARDWARE 600 EAST MAIN STREET BERRYVILLE 540-955-1900
RAMSEY HARDWARE 703 N ROYAL AVE FRONT ROYAL 540-635-2547
13
–14 Women in 18th Century Clothing Workshop
Burwell-Morgan Mill. 15 Lane. Millwood. 9am–3pm. at www.clarkehistory.org.
Tannery Register
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Women in Leadership Series: Achieving An Equal Future in a Covid-19 World Also March 26. Virtual series presented by Clarke County Historical Association (CCHA). The theme celebrates the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. CCHA wants to honor and highlight local women who have an impact in the community. Join us as we explore these women. 7pm. $5. Register at www.clarkehistory.org.
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Women in Leadership Series: Achieving An Equal Future in a Covid-19 World Virtual series presented by Clarke County Historical Association (CCHA). The theme celebrates the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
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FEB 20 21
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CCHA wants to honor and highlight local women who have an impact in the community. Join us as we explore these women. 7pm. $5. Register at www.clarkehistory.org.
Ongoing Fine Art and Objects Sale to Benefit Long Branch
Long Branch Historic House and Farm. 830 Long Branch Lane. Millwood. Now through the end of February, purchase fine art and objects to support the historic estate. Art includes a 1960 Samuel Baldwin Pratt oil on board, “Shenandoah Valley Landscape,” and a 1948 Lionel Edwards oil on canvas, “Young Lady Driving a Tandem.” Face coverings and social distancing required. 540-837-1856.
World of Wood Exhibit
video tours, puzzles, oral histories, our Archivist’s blog, online tutorials, there’s something for everyone! The museum is open again Tuesday–Friday, 11am–3pm. CCHA staff monitor email and phone messages at 540-955-2600 or director@clarkehistory.org.
Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. Stop by the Barns through February 27 to enjoy the work of a dozen highly skilled craftsmen, including fine furniture makers Jeff Headley, Ron Light and Jack McAlister, frame maker Peter Miller, wood turners Larry Cochran and Mike Fraser, and luthier Marty Fair, plus the whimsical creations of Don Becker and Dale Root. Exhibit is sponsored by Local Wood and the gallery is open Tuesdays through Fridays, 12–3pm. www.barnsofrosehill.org. 540-955-2004.
Virtual programs for kids and teens with crafts, puppets, yoga, video game night, and more. www.handleyregional.org/blog/virtualand-live-programs-kids-teens Hoopla – Handley’s online streaming service for movies, TV, music, eBooks, audio books, and comics. Also, Hoopla is offering additional downloads for free on select content that do not count against your 6. More info on how this works at www.handleyregional.org/hoopla.
After-school Tutoring
FISH of Clarke County
Clarke County Parks and Recreation Center, at 225 Al Smith Circle in Berryville, offers tutoring Tuesdays and Thursdays by appointment for ages 5 to 15. Each session will help the student excel in many subjects, including writing/grammar, phonics, spelling, math, science and history. $35. 540-955-5143. smartin@clarkecounty.gov.
Clarke County Parks and Recreation
225 Al Smith Circle in Berryville, offers a wide variety of activities and programs for people of all ages. Classes, programs, and special events are detailed in The Core, found at https://www.clarkecounty.gov/home/ showpublisheddocument?id=4910. Published three times each year, The Core is available at the Recreation Center and is mailed to residents who ask to be on the distribution list. It is also available via email. To receive print or electronic versions of The Core, contact Shannon Martin at 540-955-5143 or email smartin@clarkecounty.gov.
Clarke County Historical Association
CCHA has developed a wealth of online content for people of all ages to use to enjoy history. History challenges, behind the scenes
Handley Library System
540-955-1823. FISH will continue delivering to clients who can’t get out, but will now also meet clients by appointment on Wednesdays, 8:30–11am, for no contact food pickup. Anyone interested can call 540-955-1823. For monetary donations, the mailing address is PO Box 1154, Berryville, Va, 22611.
Barns of Rose Hill
The Barns of Rose Hill, at 95 Chalmers Ct., Berryville, has reopened its art exhibits, gift shop and Visitors’ Center. Hours are 12–3pm Tuesday through Saturday. Donations are appreciated, as many programs have been canceled. Follow Barns of Rose Hill on Facebook, or contact the Barns at 540-955-2004 or info@borh.org.
Sanctuary Wellness Center
208 N. Buckmarsh St. Berryville. A number of online classes are being held, including OM’Line Yoga with Amy Hope-Gentry and Yoga Nidra with Gayle Bohlman. Contact Amy at www.amyhopegentry.com/yoga or Gayle at gaylebtcc@ comcast.net to register. For more information, email info@sanctuaryberryville.com or visit http://sanctuaryberryville.com.
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Public Announcements
11 Poe’s Home Improvements New Building & Remodeling Est. 1976
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Camp Branch Wetlands, Floyd County
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Cape Charles, Northampton County
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Cave Hill, Augusta County
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Chestnut Ridge, Giles County
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Deep Run Ponds, Rockingham County
Difficult Creek, Halifax County
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Grafton Ponds, York County
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Lyndhurst Ponds, Augusta County
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Pedlar Hills, Montgomery County
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Pinnacle, Russell County
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Contributions may be made on Schedule VAC, Section II which accompanies the individual tax return Form 760 Line 31. To choose the Open Space Recreation and Conservation Fund, taxpayers must write Code Number 68 in the section for voluntary contributions. To learn more about how the commonwealth benefits from the contributions to this fund go to www.dcr.virginia.gov/checkoff.
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Virginia Horse Tests Positive for Equine Herpesvirus-1
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On January 27, the State Veterinarian’s Office of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) became aware of a single horse testing positive for Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1), the virus that causes Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy. The infected horse was at a boarding stable in Hanover County. The horse first demonstrated neurologic signs on January 25. The equine’s condition worsened resulting in euthanasia on January 26. The boarding stable has been placed under quarantine. All exposed horses on the farm are being monitored twice daily for fever, a temperature over 101.50 F, and other clinical signs. A single horse was exposed after visiting the farm on January 24. This horse’s home stable, a small privatelyowned farm in Hanover County, is under quarantine. No additional Virginia horses were exposed. According to the State Veterinarian’s Office, there is no cause for alarm concerning the general horse population in Virginia. EHV-1 is a virus that is present in the environment and found in most horses all over the world. Horses typically are exposed to the virus at a young age with no serious side effects. A large percentage of horses carry the virus with no clinical signs for the remainder of their lives. Rarely do exposed horses develop the neurologic form of the disease. Horse owners with concerns should contact their veterinarian. Visit the Equine Disease Communications Center Biosecurity website at equinediseasecc.org/ biosecurity for more information on best practices for disease prevention in horses. VDACS
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Virginians who are passionate about land conservation efforts and funding outdoor recreation projects may contribute to the Open Space Recreation and Conservation Fund by donating all, or a portion of, their state tax refunds. The fund is made up entirely of voluntary contributions. Citizen contributions are used to acquire lands that preserve natural areas as well as for matching grants to local governments to fund outdoor recreation and conservation projects. The fund supports the Virginia Natural Area Preserve System, which protects some of the state’s best examples of natural communities, and rare plants and animals. Many natural area preserves have parking areas, trails and water access that allow people to study nature, observe wildlife in their habitats and enjoy low-impact recreation opportunities. Visitation to these areas has been overwhelming during the past 12 months of the pandemic. In 2020, 14 natural area preserves benefited from donations to the fund: • Antioch Pines, Isle of Wight County
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Clarke has more information on EHV-1 at vdacs.virginia.gov/animals-equine-herpes-virus.shtml. Horse owners may also contact VDACS’ Office of Veterinary Services at 804.786.2483.
NOW OPEN FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSULTATIONSUSING OSHA SAFTY GUIDELINES Our Holistic Health Practitioners are Licensed or Certified & offer Classes & Workshops monthly!
Please visit our FB page / website or sign up for our newsletter announcing our monthly schedule.
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Those interested can visit www.dcr.virginia. gov/state-parks/youth-conservation-corps to learn more and apply. Due to COVID-19, Virginia State Parks reserves the right to make changes to YCC programs to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
Shenandoah University Testing for Variant Strains of COVID-19
Thank you to Clarke County Economic Development and Tourism for the 2019 CARES Act grant supporting our work, and our community!
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State Parks Youth Conservation Corps Accepting Applications
Virginia State Parks is seeking qualified candidates to fill Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) summer residential service opportunities across the state. Two three-week programs will be offered this summer. YCC crews will assist Virginia State Parks staff with a range of operational projects including, but not limited to, trail maintenance, habitat improvement, and campground construction and restoration. Room and board is provided to all YCC crew serving at Virginia State Parks. Applications for both crew leaders and crew members are being accepted for the following sessions: Session 1: June 20 – July 10, 2021 Session 2: July 18 – Aug. 7, 2021 Crew members will gain valuable experience in trade skills and resource management. Ideal applicants for crew member positions are young adults, ages 14-17, have a demonstrated interest in environmental protection, the physical ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions and the desire to make a difference in the communities they serve. Crew members who successfully complete a three-week service program will receive 120 service learning hours and a $500 stipend. Applicants for crew member positions are being accepted through March 15. Crew leaders will supervise a group of 10 Youth Conservation Corps members and work directly with park staff to complete a variety of projects that will enhance visitor experience. Upon completion of a three-week program, crew leaders will receive a $1,800 stipend and $350 travel voucher. All crew leaders are required to attend training at Twin Lakes State Park June 14-17. For continuity of the service programs, crew leaders are encouraged to apply for both three-week sessions. Eligible crew leaders will be entering their junior year of college or equivalent. Applications for crew leaders are being accepted until filled.
Shenandoah University is now testing positive COVID-19 samples for potentially more contagious or deadly variants to better ascertain the viral outlook of Winchester and Frederick County. Over the past few weeks, variants in the SARSCoV-2 virus (the virus that causes COVID-19) have been identified in the UK, South Africa and Brazil. These variants spread quicker and could be deadlier than the common SARS-CoV-2 strain. Shenandoah’s pharmacogenomics and biopharmaceutical sciences departments have recently begun sequencing positive samples from the university community (faculty, students, staff) and those provided by Winchester Medical Center to identify any possible variants. They have yet to find any, but if they do, they will report these findings to local public health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC. “Sequencing gives us a better idea of what the local outbreak looks like; it is the only way for us to find new and existing mutations in the virus’s genome,” said Assistant Professor of Pharmacogenomics Solomon Adams, Pharm.D., Ph.D. “Sequence data is shared with the growing international collection of SARS-CoV-2 sequences. Our Frederick County and Winchester outbreak is part of this contribution.” Dr. Adams said those in the pharmacy department will be able to sequence 12 COVID-19 positive samples each week between Shenandoah’s Winchester campus and its location at INOVA Center for Personalized Health (ICPH) in Fairfax, with the possibility of sampling more in the near future. Sequencing involves using PCR, or polymerase chain reaction, to amplify the viral nucleotides, then sequencing with MinION sequencers from Oxford Nanopore. The process takes about two full days in the lab to complete. Shenandoah is the only university sequencing for COVID-19 variants locally and one of the smallest in the country doing variant sequencing. It joins Harvard Medical School, Stanford University, Cornell University, and others in this quest. Adams said Shenandoah would not be able to do this kind of testing without the support of the university leadership. “I give the administration a lot of credit,” he said. “They recognized that this is something we can do and should do.”
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News Shorts The Barns Kicks Off Classical Season
The Barns of Rose Hill hosts the virtuoso Music of the Romani Diaspora, featuring Tanya Anisimova and Lydia Frumkin on February 20. This concert is the first of the Barns’ 2021 classical series. The Washington Post has described cellist Tanya Anisimova as a “highly focused artist” graced with “spiritual authority” and “an easy mastery of her instrument” and her original music as “melodious, mystical, and deeply emotional.” Recent highlights include sold-out recitals at Carnegie Hall in New York, International Port Fairy Festival in Australia, a video performance of Bachʼs Chaconne, as well as performances of Shostakovich Concerto #1 in New Orleans and Tchaikovskyʼs Rococo Variations in Virginia Beach, Stage8 TV and “The Red Door Series” in Connecticut. Lydia Frumkin is a Professor Emeritus of Piano at Oberlin Conservatory. Lydia teaches master classes and festivals in the Netherlands, Switzerland, Iceland, Mexico, Russia, and in the U.S. at University of Michigan, University of Toledo, Tulane University, among others. She has toured extensively throughout the former Soviet Union, Europe, Canada, Mexico, and in U.S. cities including New York (Merkin Hall, WMP Concert Hall), Cleveland (Severance Hall), Washington, D.C. (Phillips Gallery, Strathmore Hall, Corcoran Gallery, McCathran Hall), and many more. Due to Covid 19, the Barns will sell only 30 tickets to this show. Masks are
mandatory, and there is no bar. Tickets can be purchased in advance either on the Barns of Rose Hill website at BarnsofRoseHill.org or by calling the Barns of Rose Hill box office at 540-9552004 (Noon till 3pm, Tuesday through Saturday).
Mary Mcleod Bethune’s Legacy: A Celebration
Handley Regional Library System will offer a new program in celebration of Black History Month, titled Mary McLeod Bethune’s Legacy: A Celebration, through Zoom and Facebook on February 11 at 7pm. You can join park ranger and notable historian, John T. Fowler, II, as he discusses Mrs. Bethune. She used the power of education, political activism, and civil service to achieve racial and gender equality throughout the United States and the world. This is a virtual program with registration required on Zoom at www.handleyregional.org/ mary-mcleod. The program can also be viewed on Facebook at @handleyregional. Bethune was the first person in her family born free and the first person in her family afforded a formal education. Bethune emerged from abject poverty and oppression of the Reconstruction Era South to achieve greatness. A woman of many hats, Bethune was also a chronicler of African American history. She recognized the importance of preserving historical records about the rich and diverse contributions African American women have made to American culture. She envisioned a permanent and growing collection which would be
used by historians and educators. She uniquely understood the significance of maintaining an archives of black women’s history and the impact it would have on future generations. She achieved her greatest recognition at the Washington, DC townhouse that is now a National Historic Site. The Council House was the first headquarters of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) and was Bethune’s last home in Washington, DC. From here, Bethune and the NCNW spearheaded strategies and developed programs that advanced the interests of African American women. John Fowler is a public historian employed by the National Park Service as a park ranger and volunteer coordinator at National Capital Parks-East and serves at the following parks: Mary McLeod Bethune Council House, Carter G. Woodson Home, and Frederick Douglass National Historic Sites.
REC Seeks Partners For Expanded Broadband Services
As Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC) moves closer to establishing its first broadband partnerships, the cooperative faced a major setback to its plans towards the end of 2020. In October, REC’s Board of Directors approved a $600 million broadband construction project that would also allow REC, through an affiliated company, to become a retail broadband service provider. Funding for the approved project was dependent on REC’s previously announced participation in the Federal Communications Commission Rural Digital
Opportunity Fund auction. However, those efforts had to be abandoned when a landowner in Culpeper County filed a federal lawsuit against REC in an attempt to challenge the constitutionality of a recently passed state law. Virginia code 55.1-306.1 allows utilities to use existing easements to install fiber optic cable for nonelectric system use such as providing broadband services. As a result of the financial risk of the lawsuit and scheduling risks associated with the auction, REC withdrew participation in the auction and is no longer moving forward with the plans approved in the fall. Despite having to abandon plans to directly provide broadband, REC continues to
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build an 820-mile, 130 endpoint Fiber Utility Network across its service territory to improve the capabilities and security of its electric grid. While electricity, reliability and sustainability are that project’s primary purpose, it can be used as part of a solution to provide broadband service to the communities we serve through partnerships. To connect with REC and become a broadband partner, please contact Mark Ponton, Director of Broadband and Fiber Services at mponton@ myrec.coop or (540) 891-5874. Members can view REC’s Broadband Position Statement in the Governance and Document Center on myrec.coop.
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Rare Bird Sightings at Blandy Make the Year of the Pandemic “Not All Bad” Story and photos by David Carr, Director of Blandy Experimental Farm
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It goes without saying that 2020 was a rough year, but the pandemic and its associated restrictions ended up creating a new excitement about bird watching. Birding, whether it was from a kitchen window or a trip to a place like Blandy Experimental Farm, proved to be a popular way to spend some socially distanced time. Blandy and the State Arboretum of Virginia have always offered some of the best birding in Clarke County, and some unexpected species that made appearances beginning in late 2019 added spice to the usual variety. The parade of rare birds began with the discovery of a Lark Sparrow on November 11, 2019. I was driving to the Blandy Farmhouse when it flew off the road in front of me. Lark Sparrows have a distinctive white pattern along the edge and tip of their tail that is unique among North American sparrows. Even though there should not have been a Lark Sparrow within hundreds of miles of Blandy, I slammed on my brakes, grabbed my binoculars, and looked at the bird as it perched in a tree about 20 feet off the road. Bold facial pattern, plain white breast with a single black spot — yes, no doubt about it, this was a Lark Sparrow, the first I had ever seen in Virginia, much less Blandy. For the most part, Lark Sparrows are birds of the prairie and western grasslands, but a few show up on the East Coast almost every year. This bird ended up hanging out at Blandy into March 2020. It was never easy to find, and I talked to many birders who searched for it in vain. Missing it on the 2019 Christmas Bird Count was especially painful to me. But for those who persisted, a Blandy
American Golden Plover at Blandy, October 2020. Lark Sparrow sighting was a special thrill. It turned out to be one of many rarities that would turn up in the year. On Christmas Eve 2019, a female Painted Bunting was discovered in the vicinity of Rattlesnake Spring. The male of this species is perhaps the gaudiest of all North American songbirds – a red-breasted, blue-headed, green-backed sparrow-sized neotropical migrant. A male that showed up at Great Falls in Maryland this winter is getting a lot of press (see WashingtonPost.com, search on painted bunting). The yellowish-green females are less flashy, but just as unusual for our region. Painted Buntings breed in the states along the Gulf of Mexico and the southern Atlantic Coast. In Virginia, a few turn up at feeders, usually in the coastal counties each year, but this was a first for Blandy and Clarke County. Needless to say, when I heard about it (word of a rare bird can get around quickly in the digital age), I interrupted my last-minute Christmas shopping to search for it. No luck for me, but a more fortunate birder relocated the bunting on Christmas day. That was the last sighting, though. One of the more surprising
Blandy sightings of 2020 was a male Ring-necked Pheasant. Members of the Arboretum crew started hearing the pheasant’s rasping crow in February, and soon thereafter our buildings staff was texting me photos of the bird. I did not get lucky until June, but when I did, the bird gave me an unusually up-close-and-personal view. Ring-necked Pheasants are native to Europe, but they were introduced as gamebirds to North America. They were once common throughout the mid-Atlantic, including the Shenandoah Valley, but a variety of factors has caused them to disappear from most of our area. Presumably, this pheasant was a recent release by hunters somewhere in our
David Carr, Director of Blandy Experimental Farm, Courtesy of Blandy
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Sandhill Cranes at Blandy, November 2020. vicinity, but this gorgeous bird was an exciting find, nonetheless, and persisted at Blandy through the summer. Back in October I found a species that I had seen at Blandy only once before (22 years ago!). Each year, American Golden Plovers undergo one of the longest migrations in the Americas, a 20,000-mile round-trip from the grasslands of South America to the arctic tundra and back again. Their main migration route takes them through the midwestern U.S., but migrating flocks show up along the Atlantic coast in spring and fall each year. They do not often show up in Clarke County, though. A couple of birding friends and I found at least three American Golden Plovers that were hanging out with a large flock of Killdeer (the only commonly occurring plover in Clarke County) in a recently harvested cornfield at Blandy. They did not stay long, but when you are bound for Argentina, it is best not to linger in Virginia.
I am happy to say that 2020 was not finished with bird surprises. In November, I was leading a small birding tour at Blandy, something I had been offering each month that fall. We were searching for wintering sparrows in one of our meadows when the unmistakable rattling call of Sandhill Cranes spun my head around. Sure enough, flying low over a cornfield was a line of eight cranes, winging their way southward. I have seen Sandhill Cranes only three times in the Shenandoah Valley, but all in the past four years. Sandhill Cranes are a major conservation success story, and they seem to be expanding their range. I am optimistic that they may soon become an annual visitor through Clarke County. So, 2020 wasn’t all bad, I guess. It had its moments. Then again, I am looking forward to seeing what 2021 has to offer. Finches from Canada have been on the move this winter, and a large flock of Evening Grosbeaks made a rare appearance
Ring-necked Pheasant at Blandy, June 2020. at Shenandoah University’s Cool Spring campus in November. Maybe crossbills or Common Redpolls will make an appearance at Blandy. One thing for certain is that despite being at Blandy for almost 24 years, 2021 will provide some things I have never seen before. Adapted from an article appearing in Arbor Vitae, the newsletter of the Foundation of the State Arboretum.
We are regretful yet joyful to announce that after 26 years Dr. Nicholas Snow is retiring from Winchester Gastroenterology Associates effective March 31, 2021. Although he will be missed greatly, we wish him very much luck in whichever future endeavors he pursues. He has added much value to our office and has our unending support. Although he will no longer be practicing Gastroenterology, he will remain active in community education and advocacy to mitigate the detrimental health effects of climate change on our health. He is greatly appreciative of his Patient’s friendship and loyalty. He has enjoyed caring for patients in the office, hospital and even virtually, both during consultations and endoscopic procedures. Our office looks forward to continuing patient care with other Physicians and Advanced Practice Providers. Please see our Facebook Page or Website to read a personal letter from Dr. Snow to his patients.
Winchester Gastroenterology Associates 190 Campus Blvd, Suite 300 Winchester, Va. 22601 Office: 540-667-1244 www.winchestergastro.com