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“Bee Happy,” a photo by Tim “Kimo” O’Connor.
4
Blue Ridge Wildlife Baby Shower
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Around Clarke County
9
As the Crow Flies
16
Foster Families Needed
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CCEF Announces Seminar Recipient
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Community Briefs
Berryville, $400,000
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Correction to the “Needles and Pins” article in the April edition:
Turiya Yoga is located at 13 E Main St, Berryville, VA 22611.
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MAY 20 1 8
Clarke STAFF
David Lillard, Editor/Publisher Jennifer Welliver, Associate Publisher Aundrea Humphreys, Art Director Hali Taylor, Proofreader
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3
FROM THE EDITOR The Joys of Doing Nothing Could things back then truly been so different from now? For those of us of a certain age, whether we were farm kids or city kids or denizens of the emerging suburbs, our summer memories track along a familiar theme. In the morning, there were chores. These were followed by hours of aimless wandering through the neighborhood or woods, or on highly focused work on a project of historic importance like building a fort or damming a stream (yes, we did that back then). Some kids got to go to summer camp for a week, most of us visited grandparents or cousins for extended stays. Mostly, other than the morning chores, the main responsibilities were to be home in time for supper and to bathe before bedtime. It is easy to be nostalgic for times that now seem ancient. Still, looking at the range of cool things for kids to do today in summer at our local Parks and Rec and other community organizations, maybe kids today have it better than we often acknowledge. I wonder, though, whether we are losing the balance between structured recreation and independent, completely unstructured leisure time — time to hang out with friends or siblings and do nothing. Maybe there are no right answers. Every kid is different; every parent is different. Every summer a new opportunity to explore the world
together, whether only in that special hour between suppertime and dusk, or making extra time to go fishing or paddling on Saturdays, or taking advantage of rainy weekends by getting those board games out of the closet and sitting down to a challenge. The winner does the dishes. --Spring came late this year, so before we transition into summer, we pause for one final celebration of the season.
A Verse to Welcome Spring By Diana Kincannon, Chair
How have you been this winter long, As wind and cold have kept you in? Perhaps four knits and two blankets thick. Perhaps a fire and a cup of gin. Yet time has passed, with words and song. So into springtime, long withheld, Pansies and daffodils, color unbound Reaching skyward, all hopeful and strong In air that shimmers with life new-found. No more of winter! We banish it now, Go out into sunshine that stirs the blood To explore, to replenish, restore and revive, Inspired by light and belief in the good. More coming in, the trees leafing green, Even the fields beseeching the plow.
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Clarke
MAY 201 8
4
Blue Ridge Wildlife Baby Shower
Annual Spring Event At Long Branch A Community Love Fest By Claire Stuart Save this date: June 3! You’re invited to a baby shower! It’s Blue Ridge Wildlife Center’s (BRWC) eighth annual Baby Shower at historic Long Branch Farm. There will be games and family fun, and you can meet the Wildlife Ambassadors and learn about BRWC’s work. It’s free, but every family is asked to bring a shower gift from BRWC’s wish list. Since 2000, BRWC has been caring for injured and orphaned native wildlife suffering from a host of injuries and illnesses. They get no funding from federal or state government and depend on donations. Executive director Hillary Davidson notes that they care
for all native wildlife EXCEPT black bear and deer. The prohibition on deer includes fawns because this area is part of the State of Virginia’s Containment Area for control of Chronic Wasting Disease, a fatal disease of deer. She added that by law, they cannot accept patients from West Virginia or Maryland. BRWC is one of just two fullservice wildlife hospitals in Virginia. They moved to their new facilities in 2016, with state-of-the-date surgical and radiology rooms, their own diagnostic laboratory, and roomy indoor and outdoor cages for animals in all stages of recovery. Staff veterinarian Dr. Jennifer
(540) 450-8110
Riley has a comprehensive background in wildlife medicine, serving animals large and small. She treats illnesses and mends beaks, wings and bones. She performs surgery, patches wounds, and fixes damaged turtle shells. She added: Watch for turtles when you mow! Davidson reports that in 2017 they had over 1,800 patients. Over half were birds, from hawks to hummingbirds. Nearly 800 were mammals, mostly rabbits, squirrels and opossums, but with a good number of raccoons, foxes, skunks, mice, bats and even a coyote. The rest were reptiles and amphibians, mostly turtles. By April of this year they had already surpassed the number of patients last year at that time. Said Davidson, “I don’t know if there was an uptick in animals needing assistance
or whether our community outreach has more people knowing about us.” Jennifer Burghoffer, manager of education, reports that most patients are brought in by the public, and she encourages finders to call first for advice and instructions. The animal must be safely and securely contained, and if the finder is unable to do that, a
member of the BRWC staff can call on an experienced person. There is staff on hand seven days a week and the hotline answers before and after hours. “We recommend that you call and let us assess the situation,” said Davidson. “We get a lot of calls about orphans at this time of year, and a baby bird or animal left by itself is not necessarily an orphan. Its
Clarke
MAY 20 1 8
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Call 540-667-7100 mother may simply be away feeding or in the process of moving a litter.” Burghoffer noted, “Most deaths of animal patients happen within the first 24 hours. We have a 70 to 80 percent success rate with the survivors, and our goal is to release all of them back into the wild if possible.” The majority of patients are admitted in late spring and early summer, and many have to stay for months. They are released at the time of year that gives them the best chance of survival. Hawks and owls are released in September and October. Foxes usually come in in March and April and are released in fall. Rabbits are in care a maximum of six weeks. Burghoffer explained that many basic survival skills are instinctive, but animal parents teach their young how to improve their skills. This is left to the BRWC staff in the case of orphans. “Foxes, for example, have to learn hunting skills,” she said, noting that when they are physically ready, they are placed in open cages to come and go as they perfect their techniques. “We continue to
provide them with some food until they finally go off on their own, which usually takes more than a week.” Burghoffer added that some animals are not releasable because of the nature of their problems. They are evaluated for educational use at the Center or elsewhere. Unfortunately, those not suitable for education—because they are dangerous or would be unhappy spending the rest of their lives in captivity—have to be euthanized. “We are not a sanctuary,” Davidson explained. “The state regulates how long we can keep injured animals.” “We might have as many as 400 animals to feed and care for every day in summer,” said Burghoffer, “and we couldn’t do it without volunteers and summer interns. We need volunteers at all times, and there are many things to do in addition to animal care.” The Baby Shower is one of two major fundraisers per year. The Center is in need of all sorts of items, ranging from animal food to medical supplies and office supplies. Gift cards are always welcome. See the web site for the Center’s wish list.
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QUALITY CONCRETE & MASONRY Over 20 Years Experience Wildlife Center Hours: 7 days a week, 9am–5pm 106 Island Farm Lane, Boyce, Va. Website: blueridgewildlifectr.org Wildlife emergency call Hotline: 540-837-9000 2018 Wildlife Baby Shower Where: Long Branch Historic House and Farm, Millwood When: Sunday, June 3, 12:000 - 3:00 PM Admission free, but please bring a baby gift
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Around Clarke County Promote your event in Clarke. Send notices by the 1st of the preceding month to jennifer@vaobserver.com. Keep event descriptions to 125 words, following the format of these pages. One or two CMYK photos, saved as tiff or jpg at 200 dpi, are always welcome.
May
17
Walking Tour of Arboretum
Blandy Experimental Farm. 400 Blandy Farm Lane, Boyce. Come see glorious displays of flowering trees, shrubs and wildflowers. 1–2:30pm. Free. Reservations required. 540-837-1758.
17
Community Blood Drive
VFW Large Hall. 425 S. Buckmarsh Street, Berryville. Donate blood in memory of Matthew Lloyd Bell. 1:30–7pm. 800-REDCROSS. www.redcrossblood.org.
18
Blind Boy Paxton Concert
Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Court, Berryville. Award-winning multi-
instrument performance with storytelling. 8–10pm. $15 in advance, $20 at door, 12 and younger free. Visit www. barnsofrosehill.org or call 540955-2004 (12–3 pm Tuesday to Saturday).
18
-20 Lucketts Spring Market
Clarke County Fairgrounds. 820 W. Main Street, Berryville. Live music, beer gardens, enticing food trucks and fun workshops. 10am–5pm. $10. www.luckettstore.com/ shop-the-spring-market. luckettspringmarket@gmail.com.
19
Boyce Community Flea Market
Boyce United Methodist Church. 8 Old Chapel Avenue, Boyce. Third annual event will feature drinks, snacks, donuts and hot dog lunches.
$10 to rent a space; bring your own table and/or tent. Advance registration preferred. 8am–2pm. 540-336-3585.
20
Lyme Disease Education
The Sanctuary Wellness Center. 208 N. Buckmarsh Street, Berryville. Lyme Alive leader Adrian VanKeuren and Registered Medical Herbalist Geo Giordano will talk about symptoms, prevention, complications and more. A question and answer session will follow. Free; preregistration appreciated. 3–5pm. 540-931-6507. www. sanctuaryberryville.com. adrianlymie@yahoo.com.
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Guided Walking Meditation
Blandy Experimental Farm. 400 Blandy Farm Lane, Boyce.
Annual Strawberry Festival will be held May 26 at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. Learn to slow down and draw on nature through guided meditation, silent walking and personal reflection. Dress for the weather; for those 16
and older. FOSA members $10, nonmembers $15. Reservations required. 6:30– 8:30pm. 540-837-1758.
The Family Trust Numismatic 18 N. Church Street. • Berryville, VA 22611 (Across the Street from the Berryville Post Office)
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25
Jeremy Bass Concert
Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Court, Berryville. Guitarist from Berryville performs a variety of music. 8–9pm. $10 in advance, $15 at door, 12 and younger free. Visit www.barnsofrosehill.org or call 540-955-2004 (12–3 pm Tuesday to Saturday).
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Annual Strawberry Festival
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. 219 N. Buckmarsh Street, Berryville. The public is invited to enjoy delicious fried chicken lunches, homemade ice cream, scrumptious strawberry shortcake and fantastic baked goods. Enter to win prizes including a $100 gas card, restaurant gift cards or a plant. Lunch is $10; all proceeds benefit St. Mary’s outreach projects. 11am–2pm. 540-9554617 or 540-837-2374.
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Memorial Day Service
Rose Hill Park. E. Main Street, Berryville. Remember those who gave all in service to their country. 2pm. 540-955-1119.
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Soul-Full Community Meal
Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church, 210 E. Main Street, Berryville. All are welcome to partake in a meal provided by different churches each month. Free. 5:15pm. 703-477-8940.
June
1
The Gina Clowes Project Concert
Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Court, Berryville. Innovative and unique musicianship and songwriting, although based in traditional music modalities, breaks free from the assumed constructs and makes a new musical statement. 8–10pm.
$15 in advance, $20 at door, 12 and younger free. Visit www.barnsofrosehill.org or call 540-955-2004 (12–3 pm Tuesday to Saturday).
1
Yoga at Sunset
Sky Meadows State Park. 11012 Edmonds Lane, Delaplane. Harness the mental, physical and spiritual powers of yoga overlooking the exquisite pastoral views of Crooked Run Valley. Open to all skill levels. Bring your own yoga mat and water. Held every Friday in June. $20. 7:30–8:30pm. 540-592-3556. skymeadows@dcr.virginia.gov.
2
Joan and Joni Tribute Concert
Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Court, Berryville. A tribute to Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell performed by singers/ songwriters Allison Shapira and Kipyn Martin. 8–10pm. $15 in advance, $20 at door, 12 and younger free. Visit www. barnsofrosehill.org or call 540955-2004 (12–3 pm Tuesday to Saturday).
2
Relay for Life
Johnson-Williams Middle School. 200 Swan Avenue, Berryville. Volunteers needed. Raffle for Farmers Market Dinner for Four prepared by Geneva Jackson will be drawn. $5 per ticket or five tickets for $20. 4pm–12am. 540-323-0097. patsyburner1948@gmail.com.
2
Historic Demonstrations
Sky Meadows State Park. 11012 Edmonds Lane. Delaplane. Stop by the kitchen garden and visit with volunteer gardeners, watch blacksmiths at the farmer’s forge and see historic cooking demonstrations. 12–3pm. 540592-3556. www.skymeadows@ dcr.virginia.gov.
3
Color Me Clarke Fun Run
Clarke County Parks and Recreation. 225 Al Smith Circle, Berryville. The Clarke County Education Foundation in partnership with CCPS and CCPR hosts the fourth annual run/walk 5K with “be a hero” theme. Course is not certified and is designed to be fun for all. DJ, awards, color finale. 7:30am check in/packet pickup, race waves begin at 9am. $28 in May; $35 in June and day of event. www.ccefinc.org. www. runsignup.com/race/va/ berryville/colormeclarke.
3
Jade Woman Qigong
Sanctuary Wellness Center. 208 N. Buckmarsh Street, Berryville. Six week series held Wednesdays through July 18 and led by Marisol Mayal is useful for all genders and provides increased energy, metabolism, vitality, circulation and help for emotional imbalances. 11am–12pm. 540-227-0564. www.sanctuaryberryville.com.
7
Bikes and Trikes
Atv's, Side by Sides
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23 North Buckmarsh Street, Berryville www.kennysautoandtrikeshop.com
Love at First Bite Catering & Event Planning
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Foster Parent Information Session
Children’s Services of Virginia. 311 Airport Road, Winchester. No obligation information session to learn more about becoming a foster parent. Free. 5pm. Also held at same time June 13. 540-3987938. www.csv-inc.com.
6
Cars and Trucks
All Makes and Models
Homeopathy: Bumps, Bruises and Scrapes
Sanctuary Wellness Center. 208 N. Buckmarsh Street, Berryville. Learn homeopathic remedies useful for the summer months. 2–3:30pm. Pre-registration recommended. 540-877-4303. kmillerhomeopath@gmail.com.
6
7
Rhythm Runners Trio Concert
Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Court, Berryville.
27 Years of Experience
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540-955-3705 Private Parties Events Fundraisers
Lularoe and Posh Open House
Sunday, April 22nd, 3-6pm • 6 Springhouse Lane, Berryville Children welcome. Refreshments provided.
Sheila Shriver, Fashion Consultant 540-664-0670 lularoesheilashriver@gmail.com sheilashrivervip.com
Clarke
MAY 201 8
Come out and see The
Clarke County Community Band at the gazebo
Rose Hill Park in Berryville
Friday, June 15 7pm Bring the family and a picnic and enjoy an evening of traditonal band music and show tunes.
Free Admission The Band is sponsored by the Clarke County Board of Supervisors, the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Seattle guitarist Greg Ruby, New York multi-instrumentalist Dennis Lichtman and New Orleans bassist Cassidy Holden perform original compositions, New Orleans traditional jazz and Hot Club Swing. 8–10pm. $20 in advance, $25 at door, 12 and younger free. Visit www. barnsofrosehill.org or call 540955-2004 (12–3 pm Tuesday to Saturday).
9
Astronomy for Everyone
Sky Meadows State Park. 11012 Edmonds Lane, Delaplane. Hear about the importance of dark skies and light conservation and look at deep space objects through telescopes provided by their Dark Sky volunteers. $5 per vehicle. 8:30–11:30pm. 540-592-3556. skymeadows@dcr.virginia.gov.
10
Meet Ed Maliskas, Author
Josephine School Community Museum. 303 Josephine Street, Berryville. Ed Maliskas will discuss and sign his book “John Brown to James
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8 Brown: The Little Farm Where Liberty Budded, Blossomed, and Boogied.” The distinctively American saga unfolds on a small piece of farm property in rural Western Maryland from which John Brown led the raid on Harper’s Ferry in 1859, and which, a century later, was purchased and developed by the IBPOEW (“Black Elks”) and hosted performances by the giants of rhythm and blues, including James Brown, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, and scores of others. Free. 3–5pm. 540-955-5512.
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Trauma-sensitive Workshops for Women Sanctuary Wellness Center. 208 N. Buckmarsh Street, Berryville. Learn homeopathic remedies useful for the summer months. Music Therapist Leigh Jenks and health coach and yoga instructor Rachel Dollard present a five week series to learn about the impact trauma has on brains and bodies and various modes and activities to promote healing and resilience. 4–5:30pm. $150 if registered ahead. Pre-registration recommended. 540-227-0564. ljenks@awakened-potential.com.
Ongoing Farmers Market
Saturdays, May–October, 8am–12pm. Town parking lot next to Dollar General. 20 S. Church Street, Berryville. Many vendors selling meat, produce, cheese, vegetables and much more. clarkecountyfarmersmarket.com.
Al-Anon
Tuesdays, 8:15–9:15pm. Grace Episcopal Church. N. Church Street, Berryville. For friends and families of alcoholics. If someone else’s drinking bothers you, please join us. 540-955-1610.
FISH Clothing Bank
Saturdays, 9am–12pm. Old Chapel Road and Route 340 south of Berryville. Also new location at 36 E. Main Street. Berryville. 540-955-1823.
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Clarke
MAY 20 1 8
9
As the Crow Flies
Attack The Bird In The Mirror
(703)946-0191 - cell (703)509-0880 - office
tiffany@dwellwellgroup.com www.dwellwellgroup.com
Story and photo by Doug Pifer My wife noticed an accumulation of small bird droppings lying on the ground where she entered the door of the passenger side of our Explorer. Because I usually park it beside the enormous Forsythia bush, I figured it was a sign the birds thought it was a good place to hang out. But I was wrong. The answer came next morning when I walked up from the barn after feeding the animals. I heard a repeated thumping sound and looked toward the car just in time to see a male cardinal perched on the edge of the car door. Thump, went his bill as he launched himself against the side mirror. He was attacking his own reflection! Yesterday I set up the scope and took some phone pictures as the cardinal raged against the bird in the mirror. It was obvious he saw what looked like a rival. This was his home territory, and he was defending it. Over the next few days I noticed him there in the mornings, but not at other times. Maybe the light was different then, and the reflection showed up better. He didn’t seem to be damaging the car or himself, so I left him alone. I’ve listened to many complaints about birds attacking their images in windows, disturbing people and making a mess with their persistence. These birds are territorial males that mistake their reflection for an intruder. Northern cardinals and American robins are the most frequent species that do this. For some reason mockingbirds and house finches don’t attack reflections as often, even though they also like to nest in shrubbery around suburban houses.
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People living in wooded areas report similar attacks by wild turkeys and ruffed grouse. One man had a ruffed grouse run into his garage to attack its reflection in a storm window. Another reported a wild turkey attacking a car sitting in his driveway. Some turkeys and grouse have become “territorial terrorists,” fearlessly attacking people and pets when spring awakens their instinct to defend their home turf. What if a bird has decided to attack its reflection in your window? Suggestions I found include placing a plastic bag over your side mirror, taping semi-opaque plastic drop cloths to the outside of windows, hanging plants in front of a window, or moving your car to a spot outside the bird’s territory. Others suggest setting up a plastic owl decoy outside or taping a black hawk or owl silhouette to the inside of your window. Some people suggested hanging wind chimes, foil pans or old CDs in front of the window to distract the birds. Somebody even suggested, “Leave the window dirty.” Most of these won’t work
very well because birds are determined creatures. They’ll just find another window or continue the attack if they see even a tiny bit of reflective surface. Many people don’t have the luxury of moving their car outside a bird’s territory. Birds get used to distractions, and seeing hawks or owls during nesting season may prompt some birds to attack rather than flee. My favorite suggestion, from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, is to clean the inside of the window and then to draw a colorful grid on the inside of your window using color highlighters. Draw the vertical lines no more than four inches apart and horizontal lines no more than two inches apart. If you buy several colors, you’ll have enough ink to replace lines that fade in the sun, and the lines can be easily cleaned off the glass at the end of the bird breeding season. This color grid discourages birds because it looks like a barrier to them, yet allows you to enjoy your window. You can conveniently draw the lines from inside the house, so you don’t have to go out and climb a ladder to do it!
Clarke
MAY 201 8
BATTLETOWN AnimAl CliniC Serving the community for over 30 years.
10
Keep the Home Fires Burning A World War I remembrance in Clarke County By Stephen Willingham
3823 Lord Fairfax Hwy, 1/2 mile north of Berryville
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Photo by Bob Wade. This year’s Clarke County Consolidated Memorial Day Service will honor the World War I Centennial. This event on Sunday, May 27 at 2pm at Rose Hill Park in Berryville will kick off with a series of activities being organized by the WWI Centennial Committee to remember the service and sacrifice of veterans of “The Great War”. Events to follow are: Lloyd Williams Day on Saturday, July 14, with a parade and a WWI mobile museum; Veterans Day on Sunday November 11; and the American Legion Post 41 Centennial in the Fall of 2019. As usual, local Post 41 and VFW Post 9760 will work in tandem to highlight Clarke County veterans past and present. A special attraction for 2018 will feature David Shuey, of Carlisle, Pa., who will portray General John J. “Black Jack” Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Force. Shuey will deliver the keynote address in character, as General Pershing. While putting the finishing touches on the Memorial Day services, Bob Ferrebee, commander of American Legion Post 41, and Tom Vorisek, commander of VFW Post 9760, took time out to talk about the event. Ferrebee, a Vietnam vet, and Vorisek, who served in Korea during the same period, were both eager to discuss the added importance of this year’s Memorial Day activities. Ferrebee started by offering evidence of deep-
seated community support, rarely seen today, when a reported 5,000 residents turned out to welcome the troops home in 1919. This number would have included nearly every man, woman, and child in the county at the time. Ferrebee said that 262 Clarke citizens had served in the war, with 16 being killed in action. The first to die was Lloyd Williams, a Marine officer, for whom Post 41 is named. Ferrebee went on to explain that General Pershing delivered a eulogy for Williams when his coffin arrived from France in 1922. The Marine Corp base at Quantico sent a caisson to Berryville, to meet William’s casket at the train station and to then bear it to Grace Episcopal Church, where his funeral was conducted. Afterwards Williams was interred in Green Hill Cemetery. Vorisek stressed the importance of involving county youth in the Memorial Day activities, thus aiding in handing down history to the next generation. The Clarke County High School Band will perform along with the school choir. On Saturday, May 26, the graves of all veterans will be decorated in Green Hill Cemetery, with the graves of African-American veterans, in Milton Valley Cemetery, being decorated on Memorial Day, May 29. “It’s more than a three-day weekend,” Vorisek emphasized. “It’s important for young
Clarke
MAY 20 1 8
people to gain insights. After all, we’re several generations removed, and the passage of time makes it harder to make a connection.” “Remembering helps us to know how history has molded us into what we are today,” Ferrebee reflected. “If you don’t know where you’ve been, you can‘t know where you’re going.” “It’s important not to forget,” added Vorisek. “There used to be a grand processional on what was called Decoration Day, from the Legion building (Dollar General Store) to the cemetery,” Ferrebee said. “Elementary school children, and just everybody, would march out to the cemetery and decorate the graves.” When asked about a general lack of interest in history and the attitude that history is the past, it’s old and done, Ferrebee responded, “The world has gotten so fast with technology and all that. People aren’t interested in what happened 20 years ago, let alone what happened 100 years ago.” Ferrebee credits his interest in history to his father who would never bypass a roadside marker. As a retired school principal, he chuckled, “I doubt if most high school history classes ever make it as far as WWI.” Vorisek said the Clarke High band director
June 21-July 1
makes participation in the Memorial Day Service nearly mandatory. For good or indifference, at least students are being exposed to history, and how we’ve arrived at the point where we currently find ourselves as a nation. “It’s a good time to pause, remember, and honor,” Ferrebee said. When asked about the fear connected with going into combat that has to be a common bond for all veterans from all ages throughout history, Ferrebee, who served under fire in Vietnam responded, “It’s terrifying, absolutely terrifying. It never changes, no matter how many times you do it. What you do is learn how to manage your fear. This is how you survive. If you curl up in the prenatal position, you’re going to die. Combat is something you never get used to.” For his part, Vorisek said that service in the military, “forms great bonds with your buddies and those who you depend on.” As a municipal salutation, Berryville has declared 2018 “The Year of the Vet” Following the service on May 27, there will be an “open to the public” luncheon, for those interested at the VFW post at 425 South Buckmarsh Street in Berryville.
July 5-15
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THIRSTY A memoir by Keith Patterson
I
counting heavily on there being a town right there where I was straddling my ten-speed in the middle of the road. “YOW!” Searing pain in my feet alerted me that the rubber soles of my shoes were melting! I shambled off of the ovenlike asphalt onto the relative safety of the road’s shoulder. I dropped my bike and hopped from foot to burning foot. I opened one pannier, took out The oppressive heat had only my two books and placed them increased and was beginning to on the ground. I removed my feel deadly. I was looking for melting shoes and my socks came off with them. I stood on the books to protect my Presenting quality bare feet from the scorched community theater in the sandstone roadbed and with Shenandoah Valley my left foot set firmly on the Tao Te Ching and old King James protecting the heel of July 14-21, 2018 June 16-23, 2018 my right. I tried to catch my breath, clear my head and assess my situation. Upcoming I peered back down the road Production from whence I’d come. There The Explorers Club Nell Benjamin Book & Lyrics by DavidbyLindsay-Abaire was no sign of my cycling Music by Jeanine Tesori partner, Ted Aschenbrenner. Based on the hit film, it’s an He was carrying more water The famous tale of swashbuckling irreverently funny musical than me, and I had gotten way adventure comes to the stage..... with a powerful message for with a few twists and surprises. the whole family. out in front of him because of my lighter load. For tickets and information: 540.662.3331 wlt@wltonline.org After a month pedaling on was alone and out of water, pedaling my beatup road-bike in the highdesert badlands near the border of western Colorado and Utah. It had been 113 degrees Fahrenheit before sunrise that morning at the lone gas station in the last town some 50 miles behind me to the east. The sun was directly over my head, and I figured it to be around noon.
a town or a gas station or any sign of human life. I had already pedaled at least 50 miles so far that morning and at least ten miles since I’d swallowed my last drop of water. I began cramping from dehydration, and let my bike drift to a stop in the middle of the baking blacktop. As I cupped my hands above my brow and scanned the unforgiving panorama, I could see for many miles in every direction. There was nothing moving anywhere. I had been
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the open road and several consecutive days laboring in desert drought conditions, Ted and I had figured-out that we each needed to carry an extra gallon of drinking water, in addition to our clip-on waterbottles, to pedal 40 miles. The first three days since we’d left the relative comforts of a K.O.A. campground in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, we had found another town before running out of our water supplies. That morning, as we consulted Ted’s map before embarking on the day’s leg of our cross-country journey, Ted said. “There’s no town for a hundred miles. I’m gonna carry two extra gallons of water with me today, and you’d better do it too.” “Let me see that.” I said. Ted relinquished the worn, stained Colorado road map. We weren’t sure if the road we were on was even on this map. “Dude, there’s no town for a hundred miles,” he repeated. I scratched at the map and uncovered a dot on the grid about where we wanted to go. “Dude, that’s a piece of grease from the chicken wings we had in Steamboat Springs
last week. That’s no town. You better carry two gallons. I’m not sharing.” Ted was serious. He tied down his two extra gallons of water, mounted his over-burdened ten-speed and wobbled off onto the black-top headed west with or without me. I made my decision concerning my supplies, tied down, mounted up and started out pedaling after Ted, who was struggling with his two extra gallons of water a hundred yards ahead. My decision to carry only one extra gallon paid early dividends as I was able to find a rhythm to my pedal stroke and easily over take Ted, who was understandably hampered. As I passed him by, Ted grumbled, “I’m not sharing my water. You better go back and get more.” “I’ll save you a seat at the lunch counter,” I replied as I pedaled by. At least four hours and 50 miles had passed by since I’d seen or spoken to Ted. I was out of water. Ted was at least twenty miles behind me. There was no lunch counter, gas station or any other sign of comfort anywhere in sight.
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MAY 20 1 8 And I couldn’t just stand there, forever, on the side of the road, balanced between Lao Tsu and Saul of Tarsus. “Ted must have stopped early for lunch” I surmised. I needed to make a decision. And it looked, to me, like I only had three choices. I could keep moving forward. I could go back from where I’d come, or I could stay put. I didn’t have the energy to go anywhere without some water, shelter, and rest. I decided to stay put and wait for Ted or a passing car to save me. I put my still-smoldering shoes back on and then noticed the ruined first course of an old block structure across the road so I rolled my bike over and propped it up against the broken block. I stretched my jacket and shirt over the frame of my bike and crouched down under it, leaning my bare back against the block as I sat on my books and attempted to piece together the decisions that had put me in this predicament. The Aschenbrenner brothers, Ted and Dan, had planned and trained for this cross-country bike trip for months. A deal gone south had convinced me to jump in at the last minute, and off we went, from the waterfront of Alexandria, Virginia, headed west towards adventure and glory. Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Mountains ruined Dan’s right knee and we had to leave him in Radford, Virginia to recuperate. Ted and I continued west, grinding through Appalachia and out into the heartland, counting corn through Kansas and then conquering the Rocky Mountains in Northern Colorado. We summited Trail Ridge Pass and Rabbit Ears Pass, the tallest paved roads in the continental United States, and then cruised down from altitude into Steamboat Springs, Colorado, where we met a pretty girl in a V.W. bus named Mona and got into a tussle in a cantina from which we were forcibly removed by some of the local gentry.
“WHOOOOOSH! A pick-up truck drove right past where I was crouched under my makeshift shelter! I was so deep in my thoughts that I didn’t hear it coming. I jumped up and waved my arms and tried to yell! I could only croak. I felt skin on my lower-back tear away, stuck to the fossil concrete. Someone in the back of the passing truck yelled “JERK!” and tossed off a couple of beer cans. I recognized his face and voice from the fracas in the saloon in Steamboat Springs a few nights back. I quit waving my arms as the truck bounced off into the distance and walked my bike along the shoulder of the road towards the beer cans that were thrown from the back of the pick-up.
I tried not to get my hopes up that the cans were full of cold beer. The two cans of PBR were empty except for scant warm backwash which I poured at my throat and it wasn’t enough liquid to pry my tongue off of the roof of my mouth. I blinked my squinted eyes and noticed a small cloud south of me up in the endless, pale blue sky. The cloud was peculiar looking and left a trail that reached down to the horizonline which was obscured by some scrub pines. “Smoke!” I looked down and noticed what could be a rough driveway that led down into a ravine and south into the scrub pine. Again I carefully scanned both east and west. There was no Ted and no traffic of any kind coming my way. It was time to make a decision and it needed to be the right decision.
My brain was feeling the effects of heat exhaustion and making good decisions would only get more difficult unless I found some water and shelter. I decided to follow the smoke and hoped that it was coming from a ranch-house cook fire and wasn’t just a strange cloud. The would-be driveway was rough and uneven at best, or just a washed out ravine. I had to walk my bike. With every step I took I worried that Ted or a saving passer-by would pass me by out on the road and nobody’d never know it. I kept on moving south deeper into the depths of the rough scrub. The further away from the road I got the further away the smoke seemed to be. The ravine was rough, and I knew that my already damaged tires and un-trued rims were getting worse with every jolt and twisted turn. I considered reversing course with every difficult step but I kept on trudging, further away from the paved road and deeper into the ravine. I lost count at two thousand steps, and then lost track of the wisp of smoke that I’d been following; I became disoriented. My already desperate hopes went to a deeper place. A lone tear drop partially cleared one of my dust-choked eyes just enough, and then I saw it, a small dirtcolored farmhouse with smoke coming out of the chimney, about thirty yards away! I hustled towards my savior’s humble mansion and tried to call-out a welcome but all that came from my parched throat was a hoarse croak. I approached the front porch of the house, leaned my bike against the corner post, took two-steps as one and pounded on the front-door as politely as I could. No answer. I pounded again, less politely. Still no answer. I was thirsty and I didn’t knock again. I looked for a rock or something with which to break a window and get in the dwelling. Seeing nothing within reach, I thought of a
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MAY 201 8
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suitable object and spun around to retrieve my tire pump and came face-to-face with a double-barreled shotgun in the hands of a grizzled, filthylooking rancher. “What the heck are you doing out here?” he hollered. “I… I… “ My voice was just a whisper. “I’m… bicycling… across… America! I’m out… of … water…” The leather-faced farmer looked me up and down in a flash of cold, blue eyes. “Well you’re crazier’n you look! Now get the heck off’a my porch!” The farmer waved that shotgun in my face. My grandfather had a gun just like it, and I could tell that the gun wasn’t cocked. “Please, Sir,” I pleaded. “I just need a small drink of water… dishwater… bathwater… any water.” “BATHWATER?” said the farmer, sarcastically. Then his tone got deadly serious. “My cattle are dead and dying. My children have not had a bath in over a month. It ain’t rained yet this year. You ain’t getting’ any water here, boy. Get it through your head. There’s some water in the next town down the way. You look like you can make it another forty miles. Now
14 get the heck off’a my porch and off’a my property.” The rancher continued waving the barrel in my face. I knew that the model of the shotgun whose barrel was two feet from my nose was difficult to cock. I calculated the fraction of a second that it would take the farmer to manipulate the double side-cocking hammer and prepared to make my move to snatch the gun and get some water… because I was thirsty. The farmer and I locked eyes. He saw what I was thinking and cocked the gun. I stopped calculating. “You get the heck off’a my porch . . . NOW! I swear it . . . I’ll bury you, boy.” I complied and backed off the porch. “Don’t you even look at me, boy . . . and not one word, I swear it! I’ll bury you!” The rancher didn’t have to tell me again. That model shotgun was difficult to cock, but had a hair-trigger. It was all uphill as I hauled my bike back out to the blacktop from my fruitless misadventure. I was beyond tears. I was beyond desperate. I was crushed, physically and emotionally. Each step was further than I thought that I could go. I found a low place that I hadn’t noticed on the way in and stopped. There seemed to be moisture down in a crack too small for my hand. I reached in my pocket and retrieved one of my two pieces of folding money and stuffed the twentydollar note down into the crack to soak-up the moisture. That’s when I heard the snake’s rattle! I left my greenback imbedded in the crack and jumped out of that low place like a scared rabbit, dragging my bike unceremoniously behind me until I finally dragged myself back out to the baking pavement where the merciless sun was a little further to the west. I had forty miles to pedal with the sun in
my face and a headwind from the Northwest beginning to kick-up. I looked back towards the east and thought that I saw some movement. Something was moving towards me at a leisurely pace from a great distance. Then it separated from the horizon and revealed itself to be a lowflying thing. As it got closer I realized that it was many flying things. And then a flock of vultures flopped to the earth about a hundred and fifty yards away. I didn’t like the looks of the creatures, and there was no sign of Ted, so I got back on my beat-up road bike and started pedaling. It was a brutal slog. My body and brain, with deep cuts to process and function, were forced to work independently of each other as I careened west towards the afternoon desert sun. I knew that I was down to two choices now. I could keep pedaling or stop to die. About every mile or three those buzzards would take to the air and flop about a half-a-mile ahead of me. I just kept pedaling. Through the fog and misery of early onset heat stroke, my lizard-brain reflex took over and began to sync up the rhythm of my body’s various aches, cramps and injuries with the regular grindings of dust-clumped gears’ “cring cring cring” and the droning bumping “wumpa-wap-wap… wumpa-wap-wap” of my badly-bent front-rim. I could not open my mouth as my lips were stuck together. I could not really think because my fried brain pain was shutting down nonessentials. Random thoughts flew by like note-cards in a tempest. The sun was in my eyes. My eyes were closed. I navigated by the shadows through my eyelids. My conscious mind was scorched clean of all precondition and I stepped on through and glimpsed the dawning of this universe from
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the Singularity that followed the collapse of the universe before this one… “And when the Three Arrows of Time intersect at the Coming Singularity, Time = Consciousness. Consciousness x Energy, which is freed from equaling MC2 by the collapse of the Physical Universe = The Mind of God. And if Einstein, Heisenberg, Hawking and old Saul are even remotely correct, the Mind of God is searching to know the mind of His god . . . .” Beyond all thought patterns recognized by humans is the primordial response. Through the crust of my eyelids I could see that the buzzards, lulled to sleep by the regular rhythms of my grinding monotony, failed to take flight as I approached broadside of them. I snatched my tire pump and leaped from my wounded metal steed. I would bash the brains of the nearest vulture and bite a hole in his neck from which to drain its carcass of all useful fluids! As my feet hit the ground my weapon was raised above my head and I was bent on mayhem! But my body would not respond to the instruction of its lizard overlord, and my cramped and depleted body crumpled down face-first into the dirt and scrabble. The buzzards, twenty yards away, didn’t budge an inch. They had been here before. I lay there for a long, hard moment. The surface temperature of the dirt in which my face rested was a
little bit less scorching than I had expected. I lay there, with my face in the dirt, and cooled off for a long moment. When I finally raised my head up off of the ground I caught glimpse of a green road sign about a half-mile up ahead. I slowly remounted my bike and struggled on. The sign came into focus. “Dinosaur, Utah, 10 miles.” You never really know what you can do until you have to do it. I had already pedaled at least eighty miles so far that brutally hot day, the last forty without water. I knew that I had another ten miles in me. I rolled into Dinosaur five minutes before McDonalds, the only restaurant in town, closed its doors for the night. I had one piece of folding money in my pocket and some change. A dollar seventy-eight got me some fries and a coke, and I was saved! I maxed out my free drink refill quota before the staff asked me to leave so they could lock up, then I ambled on over to the K.O.A. campground just down the street. I could see Ted’s bike, but no Ted. I recognized a V.W. van parked next to Ted’s bike. It was Mona’s — the young woman that we’d met in Steamboat Springs several days before. Then it started raining, cold, hard rain, the first rain in six months. The campground’s bathroom door was locked and I had given up my tent the week
before in order to carry extra water. So I placed a piece of plastic over a picnic table and hunkered down. In between peals of thunder I could hear Ted and Mona in the camper. They were playing Yahtzee! And Mona was winning.
15 Meet the Author
Sunday, June 10th from 3–5pm Ed Maliskas will discuss and sign this distinctively American saga about the small piece of farm property in rural Western Maryland from which John Brown led the raid on Harper’s Ferry in 1859, and which, a century later, was purchased and developed by the IBPOEW (“Black Elks”) and hosted performances by the giants of Rhythm & Blues James brown, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, and others.
Josephine School Community Museum Book Club 303 Josephine Street, Berryville | 540-955-5512 | jschoolmuseum.org
Cindy Acland 540-533-7943
Peter Acland 540-409-1156
Cindy.Acland@SigoraSolar.com
Peter.Acland@SigoraSolar.com
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May is National Foster Care Month, established by proclamation by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. It is a month for acknowledging the contributions of foster parents, volunteers, child welfare professionals, and all the rest of the community members who help children in foster care. Jennifer Allen, Foster Parent Trainer at Children’s Services of Virginia (CSV), hopes to use this month to promote awareness of foster care. “We want to get people interested in learning more about becoming a foster parent,” she said. CSV is a licensed, private child-placement agency with 26 years experience providing treatment foster care, kinship care (service to relatives of children in foster care) and foster-to-adopt. Some foster children have
suffered abuse and/or neglect, and referrals for placements are received from the Department of Social Services. Underlying family problems include addiction, homelessness, unstable housing, incarceration and lack of family support. The need for more foster parents is critical, reports Allen. “Our agency was referred over 100 kids this year, but we were only able to place 20. We need more parents!” The largest number of children needing homes are aged six thru 12; the rest are roughly divided into teens and birth through age five. The average length of a placement is about a year to 18 months. “The opioid epidemic has brought a lot of younger kids into foster care,” noted Allen. “Lots of babies and toddlers are being exposed.”
Very often, sibling groups come into foster care, and they try to place them together whenever possible. “The largest sibling group we had was ten children,” Allen recalled, “and they had to be split up because the maximum in any one home is eight.” The goal of CSV is to return the children to their birth families when their problems have been solved, hopefully within a year, but sometimes things happen in the family that prevent it. Almost half of the children are unable to return. When parental rights are terminated, the foster family is often asked whether they would like to adopt. Some foster parents enter the program because they want to adopt; others want to help as many children as they can. “Every foster parent has
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their own motivation,” said treatment foster care worker Linda Smith. “We’ve had foster parents who were foster kids and want to give back. Or their parents were foster parents, and it was a good experience.” Said Allen, “Many foster parents say that they just want to foster, and then, when they get children, they realize that they want to adopt.” Foster families are expected to have some sort of contact with birth families, when appropriate. “Foster parents have a relationship with birth parents,” said Smith. “They bring kids to safe visits with the family.” “We bridge the gap between foster and birth parents and support reunification,” added treatment foster care worker Stephanie Ruffner. “Visits have a positive impact,” Allen reported. “The birth family learns that the foster parents are there to help them. We keep our caseloads low so we can serve individual families with support.” CSV licenses its own foster parents. Pre-licensure training is required, as well as a DMV check and criminal background check, and foster parents must be financially self-supporting.
Training sessions are held throughout the year. “Even after the training is complete, foster parents need to maintain their education,” said Ruffner. CSV provides continuing support with monthly training and support groups, at least two home visits every month, and phone and e-mail contact with a caseworker. “We’ll cover any type of topics they need help with,” said Allen. “For example, about half of foster parents have kids of their own. We train the biological kids of foster parents to help them and help the foster kids. We train foster parents how to work with birth parents. ” They deal with subjects such as special-needs children, abuse and neglect trauma, and behavior management. “We want every placement to be successful,” said Smith. Foster families can choose children of an age range and gender. Foster families receive a monthly reimbursement check to help offset the cost of food, clothes, activities and daycare for the foster child. All health care expenses for foster children are provided for. CSV serves the northern
half of Virginia, with offices in Winchester, Harrisonburg and Fredericksburg. You can make a difference in a child’s life by becoming a foster family. For more information contact : Jennifer Allen, Foster Parent Trainer, Children’s Services of Virginia, Inc., 311 Airport Road, Winchester,VA 22604. Or call 540-667-0116; email: jallen@ csv-inc.com. Or visit their website csv-inc.com.
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CCEF Awards Loudoun Mutual Teacher Scholarship Seminar to Amanda Booker By Rebecca Maynard
Be Seen in Clarke! 540.398.1450
The Clarke County Education Foundation (CCEF) is pleased to announce that JohnsonWilliams history/social studies teacher Amanda Booker has been awarded a Loudoun Mutual teacher scholarship seminar valued at $1500. The scholarship allows Booker to select one of James Madison’s Montpelier’s six seminars over the next year. Each of the three day seminars dives into different Constitutional issues. The Robert H. Smith Center for the Constitution at James Madison’s Montpelier offers intensive, content-rich programs taught by nationally recognized scholars. According to the center, James Madison believed that an educated citizenry was necessary to maintain our form of government, and therefore the future of the United States lies in educating citizens to ensure that our democracy will continue to thrive. “This is a great opportunity,” said CCEF executive director Amy Lowell. She said that principals from each Clarke County school campus turned in nominations, and although Booker was asked to attend the School Board meeting on April 23, she did not know the reason, so the award was a surprise. “Earlier this year I had asked to be considered for the scholarship, so it was exciting to get the news that I had been chosen,” Booker said. “I feel very honored. The scholarship gives me the amazing opportunity to attend a three day seminar at Montpelier to study Constitutional principles and how they apply to modern day challenges.” “The seminars are well
known for bringing some of of accommodations, meals, the best scholars across the reading materials, teaching nation to present and allowing resources, and documentation teachers to collaborate for recertification credits. and have thought-provoking Lowell expressed gratitude to discussions, Booker said. “What Loudoun Mutual Insurance I learn from this seminar will president Christopher Shipe, give me a deeper understanding who sponsored the scholarship of the Constitution and civic and is also involved in engagement which will directly numerous other Clarke County influence my instruction in organizations such as the the classroom. Overall, I’m Clarke County Community very grateful to Loudoun Band and John H. Enders Fire Mutual and the Clarke County Company and Rescue Squad. Education Foundation for this “Mr. Shipe is a strong amazing opportunity.” supporter and sponsor of CCEF “I am very pleased Amanda and many local organizations Clarke County, said Booker has received the in Loudoun Mutual Montpelier Lowell. “Loudoun Mutual’s Scholarship,” said Johnson- philanthropy has truly Williams principal Evan benefited Clarke County in so Robb. “Mrs. Booker is a many ways!” dedicated educator committed For more information about to professional growth. As the CCEF, visit www.ccefinc. Principal of Johnson-Williams, org. The website also has details I value all the partnerships about the organization’s Color needed to make this Me Clarke 5K Fun Run/Walk, professional development scheduled for Sunday, June 3. a reality.” Everyone in the community is Scholarships cover the cost invited to participate.
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Community Briefs Lucketts Spring Market held for second year at Clarke Fairgrounds
The annual Lucketts Spring Market, a popular event that showcases more than 200 of the best “vintage hip” vendors on the east coast, is being held this year for the second time at the Clarke County Fairgrounds May 18–20. It features painted furniture, vintage garden gems, architectural salvage, crusty antiques, and more. The event, now in its 19th year, has a huge and loyal following from all over the D.C. metro area. Live music, beer gardens, enticing food trucks, and fun workshops all make for a spectacular and engaging shopping weekend. The three-day market hosts more than 8,000 visitors in search of the perfect vintage find. “Join us! We promise you won’t be disappointed,” says Jenn Garner, the Old Lucketts Store marketing director. The market will be open each day from 10am to 5pm. Admission is $10, payable at the door. For more information, visit www.luckettstore.com/ shop-the-spring-market or email luckettspringmarket@gmail.com.
Eat pancakes for a good cause
Blue Ridge Center for Therapeutic Ridging invites everyone to join them for a pancake breakfast at the Greene Turtle Sports Bar and Grille next to the Alamo Theater, 185 Kernstown Commons Blvd, Winchester. The event will be held May 29 from 8–10am. Your donation will help Blue Ridge Center for Therapeutic Horsemanship provide camp scholarships for special needs children this summer! Tickets are $10 each - BRCTH keeps $5 of every ticket sold! To purchase/reserve your tickets - contact us at 540-533-2777 or at brcthinc@hotmail.com.
Jared Brock book talk and film at Handley Library
Jared Brock, author of The Road To Dawn: Josiah Henson And The Story That Sparked The Civil War, will be featured in a book talk and documentary at Handley Regional Library in Winchester. Brock, a contributor to Esquire and Huffington Post will showcase a documentary and talk on Josiah Henson’s escape from slavery and impact on hundreds of freedmen. The event takes place May 22 at 7pm in the Handley Robinson Auditorium at Handley Regional Library. The Road to Dawn is the sweeping biography of Josiah Henson, the heroic slave who escaped to Canada and was a key inspiration for Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Brock will also feature the accompanying documentary, Josiah, a 39-minute film narrated
by actor and activist Danny Glover and includes interviews with leading experts on slavery and abolition, as well as two of Henson’s descendants. Sponsored by the Friends of Handley Regional Library, the interactive event is free and open to the public. Winchester Book Gallery will be onsite providing book copies for purchase and author signing. In The Road to Dawn, Brock delivers the full narrative of a great man’s great life—a life that symbolized the definitive triumph of the human spirit over the brutality of slavery. He chronicles Henson’s 41 years in bondage, his eventual escape to freedom, and his rise as a great preacher and orator who used his freedom to uplift his fellow man for the entirety of his life. Brock is also the author of A Year of Living Prayerfully and Bearded Gospel Men. In addition to Josiah, he is the director of Over 18 and Red Light Green Light. His writing has appeared in Esquire, Huffington Post, Writer’s Digest, and other national outlets. He has traveled to over 30 countries and has spoken in over 100 cities in North America. For more information on this event or how Handley Regional Library System serves the surrounding communities, visit the library website at www.handleyregional.org or call Barbara Dickinson at the Handley location at 540.662.9041, extension 31.
Virginia’s Expected Winter Wheat Production Up 23%
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) announced the results of the Agricultural Yield Survey conducted at the beginning of the month by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The report includes information on Virginia’s winter wheat forecast and on-farm hay stocks and is the first indication of crop acreages for the 2018 growing season. Virginia farmers expect to harvest 11.7 million bushels of winter wheat during 2018. The expected crop for 2018 would be 23 percent larger than the previous year. Farmers seeded 230,000 acres last fall with 175,000 acres to be harvested for grain. Based on crop conditions as of May 1, and assuming a normal growing season, farmers expect a yield of 67 bushels per acre, up one bushel from 2017. Acres for other uses totaled 55,000 acres and will be used as cover crop or cut as silage or hay. As of May 1, Virginia on-farm hay stocks totaled 250,000 tons, down 290,000 tons from May 1, 2017, stocks. Farmers have used 77 percent of their hay stocks since Dec. 1, 2017. Because it was a dry fall and the late spring slowed grass growth, farmers had to start feeding hay early.
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