Clarke monthly May 2019

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MAY 2019

ClarkeVA.com

400 WEEMS LANE

WINCHESTER VA

540-678-1791 W W W . M A L L O Y T O YO TA . C O M

Clarke

MAY 201 9

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INSIDE CLARKE FEATURES

Family Restaurant

SPEC IAL C Offers

Happy Hour Every Day 3-7pm

goo

Private Dining for Family or Corporate Dinners

OU

Buy o d through May PONS of equ ne meal ge 31, 2019. t al val ue ha one lf off.

Kids Meal s $3.5 0 plus drink .

Althouse Pottery Offers Unique Artistic Pottery and Classes

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

16 Crow Street, Berryville

By Rebecca Maynard

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955-4730

CLARKEVA.COM

A Gem in Performing Arts

By Rick Kerby

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ON THE COVER A late, lingering spring means longer time for some of our favorite early harvests. Photo courtesy of Christine Siracusa.

Hamilton, $725,000

1.5ac in Town of Hamilton

Leesburg, $3,395,000

Custom Home in Creighton Farms

Lovettsville, $839,500

Charles Town WV, $600,000

Bluemont, $60,000

Purcellville, $237,500

11 Fenced ac, Horse Ready, Views

.77ac, Deeded River Access

69ac with Incredible Views

Historic Gem on 3.75ac

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

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As the Crow Flies Circa Blue Festival Around Clarke County Dispatch From a Local Bee Enthusiast Memorial Day Service Berryville Beat Garden Club Donates Bench to Senior Center Health Would You Pay to Snuggle a Goat?

Community Briefs Remembering John “Pappy” Gallagher B Chord Brewing Events

MAY 20 1 9

Clarke

Clarke

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FROM THE EDITOR

STAFF

David Lillard, Editor/Publisher Jennifer Welliver, Associate Publisher Aundrea Humphreys, Art Director Hali Taylor, Proofreader

CONTRIBUTORS Rebecca Maynard Keith Patterson Doug Pifer Jesse Russell JiJi Russell Claire Stuart

COVER IMAGE Christine Siracusa

ADVERTISING SALES

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

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

AD DEADLINE 1ST OF EACH MONTH

Clarke prints signed letters-to-the-editor of uniquely local interest. Letters containing personal attacks or polarizing language will not be published.

Letters may be edited. Send letters to the editor of 300 or fewer words to: editor@clarkeva.com.

CLARKE MONTHLY

PO BOX 2160 SHEPHERDSTOWN WV 25443

540-440-1373

www.CLARKEVA.com

Congratulations Class of 2019 You’ve done it! You’ve made the grade. Now you’re starting an adventure that will be one of your own making. You’re probably getting advice from many relatives and friends, so we figured we’d pile on and offer another serving.

Here’s an old missive given to a young graduate long ago . . . .

Spend as little time as possible trying to find yourself. And by this, I mean spend no time at all trying to find yourself.

Instead focus your energy and your love creating yourself. In many ways, the person you will be when you are 22 will be different than the person you are now. You at 30 years of age might be only a shadow of the current you. By the time you reach the ages your parents are right now, all you will retain of the current you will be the spirit of your parents’ fondest wishes for you to live an honest life surrounded by friends and family who “get you.”

Inside, of course, you will still be you.

Still, be prepared to reinvent yourself from time to time. Your career, your attitudes toward politics and people, the things you value, your lifestyle — all of it might change, then change again. Be prepared to enjoy the reinvention.

Each time!

Let no person tell you who you should be; let no person tell you that you should be different. Let no person who says they love you try to change you.

Let no person who says they love you try to stop you from continually reinventing yourself.

Emerging from your own private chrysalis into your new self each time, look at yourself in the mirror and smile, knowing, “I love, therefore I am.”

And one more thing. Be sure to label everything in the house you want to save; the rest is getting boxed and donated.

Don’t forget to text now and then.

THE GROOMING SALON at

BATTLETOWN ANIMAL CLINIC

(540) 955-1151 Professional Grooming by Sara Anderson located next to the veterinary clinic at 3823 Lord Fairfax Hwy, 1/2 mile north of Berryville

Clarke

MAY 201 9

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As the Crow Flies

Rough-Wings Are Somber Swallows Story and photo by Doug Pifer

A Community of Integrative Health Practitioners Dedicated to the Flourishing of Our Health & Vitality

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

info@sanctuaryberryville.com • sanctuaryberryville.com

Be Seen in Clarke!

540.398.1450

Isabelle Truchon Exhibit At Long Branch

New works by Isabelle Truchon, inspired by the Wild and "Free" roaming Kiger Horses of the West.

"Showing the attributes of gentleness, vulnerability, dignity, and strength set the intention for the ROAM collection.

The paintings and drawings are inspired by the experiences of my sojourn in The Steens Mountain Wilderness, the nature of the place and the horses that roam there.

Exhibit from May 3rd through June 30th 830 Long Branch Lane Boyce, VA 540-837-1856 www.vistlongbranch.org

I saw my first rough-winged swallow when I was a teenager fishing along a creek in western Pennsylvania. I thought it wasn’t much to look at. It had a graceful swallow shape, but otherwise it was plain and dull.

Skimming low over water, catching insects along with other swallows, a rough-wing lacks their polished plumage and contrasting, iridescent colors. The back, head, and wings are wood-brown and the throat is drab, shading to gray on the chest and sides. The belly is a dirty, brownish white. Only the undertail feathers are dazzling white. The black, shiny bill looks very short, even for a swallow.

When we moved to our house near Rocky Marsh Run, I learned to appreciate this somber swallow. Starting in August, I noticed groups of swallows landing on the utility lines that spanned the upper pasture. They grew more plentiful each day. Throughout September a few hundred swallows regularly circled the house and barn, skimming over the pasture and lining the wires. Some of them were tree and barn swallows, but the vast majority were rough-wings. Many of the phone videos I made of local wildlife through the spotting scope in the fall included the passing forms of rough-winged swallows. But by September’s end, most of the swallows had gone.

The following spring, I noticed a pair of these brown, graceful beauties alighting on the pavement, chasing each other and perching on the line extending from our house to

the pole next to the bridge on Rocky Marsh Run. I watched them fly repeatedly to and from a drainage hole in the bridge abutment. They evidently nested there.

In mid-May they were arrowing down to the bridge with beaks loaded with insects to feed their young. A few days later I discovered two swallow fledglings in the bare branches of a dying ailanthus tree in the paddock. The begging youngsters were as brown as their parents, with chestnut-brown edgings on their wing coverts.

When a baby opened its mouth to receive food, I noticed a yellow gape which, viewed from the front with beak closed, resembled frowning clown lips!

John James Audubon wrote in his journal in 1819 that he

hunted a flock of ibis in Bayou Sara, Louisiana. The ibis eluded him that day, but he managed to shoot two birds he believed were bank swallows (which he called sand martins). Close examination revealed they were larger and browner. Audubon named the new species “roughwinged” after the leading primary wing feather, which has a serrated outer web. This odd characteristic is more pronounced in the male bird.

Every April we anticipate and appreciate seeing our rough-wings return to their bridge. We feel especially lucky to know they’ll use our pasture as a staging area to gather with their friends and relatives this fall, before their trek to Central America for the winter.

Clarke

MAY 20 1 9

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Circa Blue Festival

By Keith Patterson

Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers at the Circa Blue Fest, photo by Susie Neel.

(540) 450-8110 CLARKEVA.COM Seldom Scene at Circa Blue Fest, photo by Susie Neel.

Don’t miss the fourth annual 2019 Circa Blue Festival at the beautiful Harry D. Shelley Park Fairgrounds, 2419 Golf Course Rd. in historic Martinsburg WV, from Friday, June 7 thru Sunday, June 9 for bluegrass, BBQ, camping and workshops. This year’s stellar musical lineup includes The Seldom Scene, Nothin’ Fancy, Little Boy and Lizzy, Circa Blue, Buds Collective, Springfield Exit, Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers, Remington Ryde, and many more.

This year’s headliners, The Seldom Scene, hardly need an introduction. They are long-time stalwarts of the bluegrass genre and even have a couple Grammys stashed over next to the woodstove above the pickle jar — or so I’ve heard. I have enjoyed their set on several occasions and look forward to hearing them again. If you have not yet done “the Scene,” then this is an ideal setting to get started. And if you’re already a fan, then you better get your tickets now.

Steve Harris and Circa Blue, a nationally

touring contemporary bluegrass band out of Martinsburg, are the hosts of this shindig. All of the bands on the bill have a national and/or international profile, and are all creators of original music. The Circa Blue Festival is a wonderful opportunity to hear the very best of bluegrass and get your barbeque on in a beautiful and accommodating setting.

For campers, there are 30 electric water sites and five electric-only sites, and unlimited rough camping, RV, and tent sites available. Check-in is Thursday at noon. Checkout is Sunday at 4pm.

There is no curfew in the campground. RV camping is $50, and tent camping is $30.00. Festival tickets are extra.

Vendors will be offering many delights including barbeque, soft shell crabs, and a bounty of cool and refreshing beverages to tickle your fancy and mellow you down easy.

Buy your tickets and check out the details at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4089473.

The Family Trust Numismatic 18 N. Church Street. • Berryville, VA 22611 (Across the Street from the Berryville Post Office)

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Competitive Buyers - COME SEE!

540-955-8067 • (Fax) 540-955-8171

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MAY 201 9

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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.

May

16

Karan Casey Band Concert

Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. Karan Casey has long been one of the most innovative, provocative and imitated voices in Irish traditional and folk music.

8–10pm. $25 in advance, $30 at door, 12 and younger free. www.barnsofrosehill.org.

540-955-2004.

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–19 Lucketts Spring Market

Clarke County Fairgrounds.

890 W. Main St. Berryville.

More than 200 of the best “vintage hip” vendors on the East Coast, featuring painted furniture, vintage garden gems, architectural salvage, crusty

antiques, live music, beer gardens, enticing food trucks and fun workshops.$15. 12–5pm.

703-779-0268.

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Raku Firing

Althouse Pottery. 1320 Chilly Hollow Road. Berryville.

Raku is a process in which work is removed from the kiln at bright red heat and subjected to post-firing reduction (or smoking) by being placed in containers of combustible materials, which blackens raw clay and causes crazing in the glazing process. All invited to outdoor event. Raku pieces for sale after being fired, cooled and washed. Food and other activities offered. Free admission. 10am–5pm, rain date May 19, 11am–6pm. 603-355-7761. www.althousepottery.com.

18

Pedal for Pooches

Briggs Animal Adoption Center. 3731 Berryville Pike. Charles Town, W.Va. Enjoy a beautiful ride through historic Jefferson and Clarke Counties to support the adoption center. $35, includes Tshirt, cue sheets, maps, SAG support, rest stops, snacks and drinks. 10am–3pm, with preregistration beginning at 8:30am. 304-725-0506, extension 202. www.baacs.org/pedal.

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“The Great Hound Match of 1905” Talk and Book Signing Long Branch Historic House and Farm. 830 Long Branch Lane. Boyce. Martha Wolfe, twice a John H. Daniels Fellow at the National Sporting Library, discusses her book, “The Great Hound Match of 1905.” Doors open at 5:30pm for light refreshments, talk begins at 6pm. 540-837-1856. www.visitlongbranch.org.

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Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church. 210 E. Main St. Berryville. Pops concert with show tunes, TV themes, rock songs and other favorites. 2pm. clarkecountycommunityband.com.

Four Forces Wellness. 424 Madden St. Berryville. Learn now to grow sprouts and make some living, fermented foods. Take home recipes and samples. $20 ahead by May 17, $25 at door. 2–4pm. www.4forceswellness.com.

Clarke County Community Band Concert

Sprouting and Fermenting Demo

20

Resilient Meditation Series

Sanctuary Wellness Center.

208 N. Buckmarsh St. Berryville.

Rev. Sunday Cote will guide an exploration based on Dr. Rick Hanson’s book “Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength and Happiness.” $10–$20 per session. 7–8:30pm. revsunday@cslleesburg.org. info@sanctuaryberryville.com. www.sanctuaryberryville.com.

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Guided Walking Meditation

Blandy Experimental Farm.

400 Blandy Farm Lane. Boyce.

Slow down and draw on nature through guided meditation, silent walking, and personal reflection. Dress for the weather; for those 16 and older. Some walking over uneven ground. FOSA members/

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MAY 20 1 9

UVa alumni $10, nonmembers $15. 6:30–8:30pm. 54-837-1758. www.blandy.virginia.edu.

25

Hubby Jenkins Concert

Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church. 210 E. Main St. Berryville. 13 local churches get together to provide a meal open to all in the community the fourth Thursday of each month. Free. 5:15–6:30pm.

540-955-1264.

Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. Old-time American music with southern roots, following the thread of African American history that wove itself through country blues, ragtime, fiddle and banjo, and traditional jazz.

8–10pm. $20 in advance, $25 at door, 12 and younger free. www.barnsofrosehill.org.

540-955-2004.

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Soul-Full Community Meal

Arboretum Walking Tour

Blandy Experimental Farm Library. 400 Blandy Farm Lane.

Boyce. Explore the arboretum’s gardens and collections. Dress for the weather. FOSA members/UVa alumni $10, nonmembers $15; member families $20, nonmember families $25. 2–3:30pm. 540-837-1758. www.blandy.virginia.edu.

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–25 Greenhouse “Xtravaganza”

Loudoun Valley Herbs at Airmont. 19405 Woodtrail Rd. Round Hill. Wide variety of garden-centric items including bedding plants, herbal spa products, botanical jewelry, culinary items, locally made functional pottery and more. 10am– 4pm both days. 540-554-2748. loudounvalleyherbs@yahoo.com.

25

Strawberry Festival

St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. 104 N. Buckmarsh St. Berryville. The public is invited to enjoy fried chicken lunches, homemade ice cream, strawberry shortcake and baked goods. Raffle tickets available for large basket of cheer, $100 gas card, restaurant gift cards or a beautiful plant. All proceeds benefit the church’s outreach projects. $10 for lunch.

11am–2pm.

540-955-4617.

540-837-2374.

Lyme Disease Film Screening

Bowman Library. 871 Tasker Rd. Stephens City. Awardwinning documentaries “Under Our Skin” and “Under Our Skin 2: Emergence” will be shown. 12–4:30pm. www.lymealive.weebly.com.

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Guided Historic Tours

Historic Long Branch House and Farm. 830 Long Branch Lane. Boyce. Led by Colette Poisson, who worked with the previous owner, Harry Z. Isaacs. Adults $8, children younger than 12 free. 12–4pm.

540-837-1856.

26

Memorial Day Service

Rose Hill Park. E. Main St. Berryville. The theme of the program will be “Women in the Military.” Nancy S. Braswell, retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, will deliver the Memorial Day message. 2pm. Free.

540-303-0774 or tvorisek@ comcast.net; 540-554-8291 or jimwink@erols.com.

28

Community Meal

Boyce Volunteer Fire Company. 7 S. Greenway Ave. Free meal prepared by county churches on the fourth Tuesday of every month. 5:30pm.

Contact Eleanor Lloyd at 540-247-6311.

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DuoDuo Quartet

Barns of Rose Hill.

95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville.

Old-time American music with southern roots, following the thread of African American history that wove itself through country blues, ragtime, fiddle and banjo, and traditional jazz. Jordan Springs Barbecue sold prior to show.

8–10pm. $20 in advance, $25 at door, 12 and younger free. www.barnsofrosehill.org.

540-955-2004.

June

4

Trivia Night

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

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Wana Wõromaa Wunkorkestri Concert

Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. Loudoun Mutual sponsors free folk concert performed by people from Vana-Võromaa (old historical Võromaa in South-East Estonia), where the local dialect and culture are still strong and very much alive. 7–8pm. www.barnsofrosehill.org.

540-955-2004.

6

“The Lady and the Outlaw Horse” Talk and Film Long Branch Historic House and Farm. 830 Long Branch Lane. Boyce. Director Lou Buttino, winner of “Best Biographical Documentary” by New York International Independent Film Festival, discusses “The Lady and the Outlaw Horse.” $10 in advance, $15 at door.

Doors open at 6:30pm for light

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

• Drain Cleaning & Sewer Jetting • Video Sewer Cameras • Septic Inspections for Home Sale & Refinance Over 30 Years Experience Serving Clarke, Loudoun, & Fauquier Counties

Thomas O’Conner - Owner

www.ShenandoahSeptic.com

540-955-2072 • cell# 540-622-7158

Clarke

MAY 201 9

refreshments, talk begins at 7pm followed by film. 540-837-1856. www.visitlongbranch.org.

begins at 3pm. $10 in advance, $15 at door. 540-837-1856. www.visitlongbranch.org.

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“Triple Crown Glory” Gala

Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. Guests will enjoy catered hors d’oeuvres, an open bar, music, friendship, and laughter, silent auction and an opportunity to choose the winning horses. Belmont Stakes race airs live on our big screen. $75. 5:30–9pm. www.barnsofrosehill.org.

540-955-2004.

8 Sale Ends 5/31/19

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8

Huge Yard Sale and Car Wash

St. Bridget of Ireland Catholic Church. 1024 W. Main St. Berryville. Annual, parish-wide yard sale with huge selection of items. Enjoy breakfast and lunch at snack bar. 8am–3pm.

304-667-8508. 540-955-3990.

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Community Conversations

Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. All viewpoints welcome. Each conversation will be led by a facilitator and light refreshments will be available. Race and Racism (Walk a mile in my Shoes): A community conversation with a panel will have community share experiences, concerns, and ideas on race and racism, cultural differences and perspectives, and how exposure to different experiences opens minds. Free. 4pm. www.barnsofrosehill.org.

540-955-2004.

9

“Sir Barton” Talk and Book Signing

Long Branch Historic House and Farm. 830 Long Branch Lane. Boyce. Jennifer Kelly discusses “Sir Barton and the Making of the Triple Crown,” the legacy of Sir Barton and his seminal contributions to thoroughbred racing. Doors open at 2pm for light refreshments and talk

Sunday Wellness Series: Backyard Pharmacy Sanctuary Wellness Center.

208 N. Buckmarsh St. Berryville.

Learn how to harvest common backyard and field plants with Geo Giordano. Presentation at the center followed by carpool ride to Geo’s Farm and Garden.

Bring water, notepad, camera and sun and bug protection. $40 per person, $70 per couple. 2–5pm. 410-707-4486. info@sanctuaryberryville.com. www.sanctuaryberryville.com.

14

Friday Night in the Park

Gazebo in Rose Hill Park. E. Main St. Berryville.

Clarke County Community Band performs. 7pm. Free. clarkecountycommunityband.com.

14

–15 “Leap Across the World” Performance

Millbrook High School. 251 First Woods Dr. Winchester.

Presented by Blue Ridge Studio for the Performing Arts.

Advance tickets at Sweet Peas Children’s Shop in Berryville.

Adults $12 ahead and $15 at door, students $7 ahead and $10 at door. 7pm Friday, 1pm Saturday. 540-955-2919.

15

Nat King Cole Tribute Concert

Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. The Eric Byrd Trio has performed throughout the world and they hold the prestigious honor of a Kennedy Center Jazz Ambassadorship. Jordan Springs Barbecue sold prior to show.

8–10pm. $20 in advance, $25 at door, 12 and younger free. www.barnsofrosehill.org.

540-955-2004.

15

–16 Beauty and the Beast Performance

Millbrook High School. 251 First Woods Dr. Winchester.

Presented by Blue Ridge Studio for the Performing Arts.

Advance tickets at Sweet Peas Children’s Shop in Berryville.

Adults $12 ahead and $15 at door, students $7 ahead and $10 at door. 7pm Saturday, 1pm Sunday. 540-955-2919.

21 Film

“Unbranded, A Wild Mustang Expedition”

Long Branch Historic House and Farm. 830 Long Branch Lane. Boyce. Documentary tracks four fresh out of college buddies as they take on wild mustangs to be their trusted mounts. Rated PG-13.

Doors open at 6pm for light refreshments and viewing of Isabelle Truchon’s ROAM art exhibit. $10 in advance, $15 at door. 540-837-1856. www.visitlongbranch.org.

Ongoing Farmers Market

Saturdays, May–October, 8am–12pm. Town parking lot next to Dollar General. 20 S. Church St. Berryville. Many vendors selling meat, produce, cheese, vegetables and much more. clarkecountyfarmersmarket.com.

“Saddle Up!” Museum Exhibition

Long Branch Historic House and Farm. 830 Long Branch Lane. Boyce. Long Branch, the Clarke County Historical Association and the National Sporting Library jointly present a historical museum exhibition about sport horses in Clarke County through June 30. Adults $5, children younger than 12 free. 540-837-1856. www.visitlongbranch.org.

Clarke

MAY 20 1 9

Isabelle Truchon Art Exhibit

Long Branch Historic House and Farm. 830 Long Branch Lane. Boyce. Isabelle Truchon will present paintings from her collection, ROAM, inspired by the wild mustangs of the Steens Mountain Wilderness region of Oregon. Exhibit is on display through June 30. Free. 540-837-1856. www.visitlongbranch.org.

Yoga at Long Branch

Thursdays, 5:45pm. Historic Long Branch. 830 Long Branch Lane. Boyce. Vinyasa Flow class has you move at a sweet and mindful pace. $20 to drop in or ask about class passes. 540-837-1856. www.visitlongbranch.org.

Alcoholics Anonymous

Tuesdays, 8:15–9:15pm.

Grace Episcopal Church. N. Church St. Berryville. AAVirginia.org. 540-955-1610.

9 J M Draperies

FISH Clothing Bank and Food Pantry

Wednesdays, 9am–12pm, and Sundays, 2–5pm. 36 E. Main Street. Berryville.

540-955-1823.

Custom Made Draperies

(540) 532-1861

Bingo

jennifer@jmdraperies.com

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

www.jmdraperies.com

Jen Kitner Full Service Real Estate Agent Clarke County Resident

Dispatch from a local bee enthusiast

Text -540-660-1804 jkitner@ttrsir.com sothebysrealty.com

Save bees and time as a lazy lawnmower

6474 Main St. The Plains VA 20198 | 540-212-9993

By Valerie Martin With several species of small flowering plants, a typical backyard serves as a refuge for bees and other pollinators. Simple efforts to support these beneficial critters can go a long way toward strengthening our local pollinator communities. For example, mowing your lawn (or sections of your lawn) less frequently allows more flowers to bloom, and these help supply valuable food to the bees in your area. This was demonstrated in 2018 by a group of ecologists in Massachusetts, who published an article in Conservation Biology showing that two- and three-week intervals between mowing on suburban lawns significantly increased the abundance and, in some cases, the diversity of bees in their neighborhood.

In addition, reducing or eliminating pesticide applications on your lawn and garden can also make a big difference for our pollinator populations. This includes the use of organic-approved permethrinbased sprays, which can be less harmful to humans but remain harmful to bees, butterflies, and

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other pollinating insects. Finally, if you want to go the extra mile to help promote pollinator diversity in Clarke County, consider converting some or all of your lawn to a wildflower meadow. Beautiful wildflower meadows offer dense floral resources for our pollinator friends. There are lawn seed mixes that, once established, are typically low-maintenance and only need to be mowed

once or twice per year.

Any steps you can take to support your neighborhood pollinators will help ensure the success of Clarke County’s future gardeners, farmers, and wild spaces. For those interested in learning more about bees and pollinator-friendly plants, check out the Pollinator Garden at the State Arboretum of Virginia (right off of Route 50 near Millwood and Boyce).

Get Your Tickets Early!

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RRYVILLE, V IRG IC BE IN IA

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BARNS OF

ROSE HILL

ENRICHING LIVES THROUGH THE ARTS, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY

Y LIVE MUSIC Z

HUBBY JENKINS

DUODUO QUARTET

Old-time American music blues, ragtime, fiddle, banjo, and storytelling.

An unforgettable night of music, song, and dance with Irish and Scottish roots.

Concert sponsored by Earthworks Landscaping.

Concert sponsored by Frazer and Lisa Watkins.

Sat., May 25

Thurs., May 30

LIVE MUSIC | FILMS | EXHIBITS | LECTURES, CLASSES & WORKSHOPS | AND MUCH MORE!

See What’s Coming Up at www.BarnsofRoseHill.org 95 Chalmers Court | Berryville, VA | 22611 | P: 540.955.2004 95 Chalmers Court | Berryville, VA | 22611 | P: 540-955-2004

Clarke

MAY 201 9

10

Clarke County Memorial Day Service On May 26

Clarke County’s Memorial Day Service will be held on Sunday, May 26, at 2pm in Rose Hill Park in Berryville. The theme of the program will be “Women in the Military.” Nancy S. Braswell, retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, will deliver the Memorial Day message.

Colonel Braswell served as a career intelligence officer and proudly completed two tours in Thailand during the Vietnam War, a tour at HQ Tactical Air

THE HORSE IN SPORT & HISTORY OF CLARKE COUNTY

Long Branch Historic House & Farm, the Clarke County Historical Association & the National Sporting Library in Middleburg have collaborated to present a museum exhibition that will be presented on Long Branch’s historic gallery space during May & June 2019.

Exhibit tickets are $5.00 per person & kids under 12 are free.

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Command, a tour in Germany at HQ US European Command, and several years in the Washington, D.C. area. She is a distinguished graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College and a graduate of the Air War College.

Since her retirement from the Air Force, she has served as a community volunteer with her church and various non-profit organizations in the area, including the American Red Cross, Literacy Volunteers Winchester Area, Faith in Action, the Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society, the Godfrey Miller Historic Home and Fellowship Center, and the Residents’ Association of The Village at Orchard Ridge, where she and her husband Gary—also a retired US Air Force officer—now reside.

“I was asked to speak by Colonel John Gallagher,” Braswell said, noting that the retired Berryville resident died April 30.

“He dubbed 2019 the year of the military woman and asked me to speak about the role women have played.”

Braswell noted that Memorial Day is when we honor our dead servicemen and women, and Veteran’s Day is when we honor all veterans.

Braswell plans to talk about World War I, covering its history and mentioning a Clarke County

woman who served in that war and, Braswell believes, returned from Europe to live in Clarke.

The Clarke County High School Band and Chamber Choir will provide prelude and postlude selections and the National Anthem. The Sons of the American Revolution and the Clarke County Honor Guard will also perform at the service.

In addition to the Memorial Day Service, members of VFW Post 9760 and American Legion Post 41 will place American flags at veterans’ gravesites on May 25 at Green Hill Cemetery and May 27 at Milton Valley Cemetery in Berryville.

In case of inclement weather, the Memorial Day Service will be held in Berryville’s Barns of Rose Hill, a cultural and civic center adjacent to Rose Hill Park. The sponsoring organizations, Clarke County Memorial VFW Post 9760 and American Legion Post 41, invite all attendees to join them at the VFW Post at 425 South Buckmarsh Street in Berryville for a social event and free luncheon following the ceremony.

For additional information, contact Tom Vorisek at 540-303-0774 or tvorisek@comcast. net;or Jim Wink at 540-5548291 or jimwink@erols.com.

Clarke

MAY 20 1 9

11

Berryville Beat

As we find ourselves in the midst of the adoption of the fiscal year 2020 budget and a new water and sewer rate schedule, we thought it might be an appropriate time to look back on some of the good news we received in the month of April.

We were able to celebrate Berryville’s ranking as the second safest city in the state of Virginia, according to SafeWise’s fifth annual Safest Cities report. That is up seven spots from our ranking last year. We owe a debt of gratitude not only to our public safety personnel with the Berryville Police Department, Clarke County Sheriff’s Office, as well as our firerescue partners, but to you, the greater community. As long as we stay a town that checks on and cares for our neighbors, we find no reason to believe that we can’t one day be #1. In our minds, we already are.

April was also a wonderful month for businesses in town.

The grand opening of Martin’s on April 5 saw a line out the door before the store opened for business at 8am. We are grateful to Martin’s for showing they are a true commu-

nity partner, with donations to FISH, Clarke County Education Foundation, the Berryville Police Department, and John Enders Fire & Rescue Company.

It is wonderful to have such a wonderful grocery store for our residents and visitors.

We also saw dirt moving on the McDonald’s restaurant in the lot in front of Martin’s. We expect McD’s to open its doors this summer, barring any unanticipated delays.

The Berryville Yard Sales attracted a huge crowd April 14, and we were thrilled that Mother Nature cooperated. We hope that all our businesses saw some healthy business from all the extra foot traffic, and initial reports indicate that is so.

As summertime approaches, there is much to look forward to. The weekly Clarke County Farmer’s Market on Saturdays promises to again be a draw.

We also have many exciting events in town coming up — the Lucketts Spring Market at the fairgrounds, the Memorial Day ceremony in Rose Hill Park, July Fourth festivities, the Clarke County Fair and the popular downtown cruise-in. We

also anticipate the opening of some new businesses in town, which is always exciting to see.

This monthly column is authored by the members of the Berryville Town Council. For more information on town government, including meetings, agendas, and contact information for the Town Council and town staff, visit www.berryvilleva.gov.

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12

Althouse Pottery Offers Unique Artistic Pottery and Classes

By Rebecca Maynard

Chances are, you or someone you know owns a Berryville mug made by Carrie Althouse, owner of Althouse Pottery east of Berryville. But as popular as the mugs are, (made famous locally through the Clarke County Community Happenings Facebook page) Althouse Pottery offers much more, as well as classes and an upcoming live Raku firing.

Raku is a process in which work is removed from the kiln at bright red heat and subjected to post-firing reduction (or smoking) by being placed in containers of combustible materials, which blackens raw clay and causes crazing in the glazing process.

All are invited to the outdoor event at 1320 Chilly Hollow Road for the live event, which will take place May 18 from 10am to 5pm with a rain date of May 19 from 11am to 6pm. All Raku pieces will be for sale after they’re fired, cooled and washed.

“It’s a great learning experience for the whole family,” Althouse said.

Althouse graduated from Mansfield University with a BA in Art Education. After spending three years teaching in Maryland, she taught for six years in New Hampshire while starting a life with her husband Mike and soon to be born daughter Sydney.

“I decided to set up shop in our garage, just tinkering around on a wheel and figuring out this new job of “stay at home mom,” she said. The Althouses decided they needed to be closer to family and opportunities and moved to Bluemont, where Carrie took a year off from potting as they welcomed their second daughter Zoe into the family.

After deciding they needed more space and moving to Leesburg, Althouse revived her passion for potting.

“It didn’t hit me until I was desperate for a creative outlet again that I decided to clean up an old chicken coop in my backyard and turn it into my very own pottery studio,” she said. “I was quickly introduced to black snakes in the spring,

wolf spiders in the fall and mice in the winter!”

Althouse began to sell her works through outlets such as Facebook, friends, family, events and stores. She started teaching adult wheel throwing classes and kids’ camps in 2010 and has been loving it ever since.

In 2017, the Althouses moved to their current home east of Berryville, where she now has a separate, newly remodeled studio for her work. She teaches adult wheel throwing classes at Round Hill Arts Center, but also offers one time classes in her home studio that introduce people to the basic skills of throwing on the potter’s wheel.

No prior experience is required and participants keep what they make (not to exceed three pounds of clay per hour). Preregistration is required and dates are flexible.

In addition to the popular Berryville mugs and other dishes and containers, Althouse enjoys making and selling many other pieces, some inspired by her love of the outdoors, such

as trees and pieces uniquely textured to resemble bark.

Her chicken and cow decorations also prove very popular with buyers.

“I consider myself lucky and privileged to be able to stay at home with my girls doing what I love,” Althouse said. “What an awesome journey!”

For those interested in

browsing her many pieces for sale, she is usually in the studio Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11am to 4pm, but because it is a one person operation, contact her to make sure she is there or make an appointment to stop in. Call 603-355-7761 or visit www.althousepottery.com.

Clarke

MAY 20 1 9

13

Garden Club Donates Bench To Senior Center

By Cathy Kuehner The Town and Country Garden Club of Berryville recently donated a bench to the Clarke County Senior Center, located at Clarke County Recreation Center in Chet Hobert Park. Garden club members and individuals who regularly meet at the center gathered for a brief dedication ceremony on April 23.

“Seniors now have a place to sit while waiting for their transportation,” said club president Donna Phillips. “Or, they can simply enjoy sitting outside.”

This is the third bench the Town and Country Garden Club has donated to the Clarke County Parks and Recreation department. The other two benches, purchased in 2014, are along the walking trail, enabling walkers to take a break and enjoy the serenity.

One of the club’s missions is “to encourage and assist in civic improvement” and Clarke County Parks and Recreation has been a favored recipient, Phillips said.

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Parks and Recreation Director Lisa Cooke (third from left) is surrounded on the new bench by Town and Country Garden Club of Berryville members Linda Lawson, president Donna Phillips, Loretta Allison, Micki White, Helene Hatcher, Diane Taylor, and Karen Williams.

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In 2015, the Town and Country Garden Club of Berryville helped finance an Eagle Scout project: a raised garden bed outside the center where se-

niors plant vegetables.

The club also developed and maintains the Sarah Burton Flower Garden near the entrance to the recreation center.

The garden is a living memorial to the garden club’s founder, Sarah Burton.

The Town and Country Garden Club of Berryville meets on the third Tuesday of most months. Anyone who is interested in joining the club should contact Marilyn Heikes at 540-313-7520. Follow “Clarke County, Virginia” on Facebook.

—Cathy Kuehner, Director of Public Information

Clarke County Senior Center regulars Edith Blackwell and David Porter were among the first to relax on the new bench.

Berryville-Clarke County Government Center 101 Chalmers Ct., Second Floor, Berryville, VA 22611 clarkecounty.gov

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A Gem in the Performing Arts Blue Ridge Studio Presents Its Annual Spring Production

By Rick Kerby

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Here in our small community of Clarke County (motto: a cow for every resident), we are fortunate to have a gem in the performing arts community — the Blue Ridge Studio for the Performing Arts with Director Nela Niemann. As I write this, the studio is getting ready to perform its annual junior and senior dance company shows, “Leap Across the World” and “Beauty and the Beast,” at the Millbrook High School auditorium the weekend of June 14–16.

I remember when my wife asked me if I would help with the Blue Ridge Studio’s senior dance recital many years ago. My daughter had been dancing there since age 4, and my wife joined their adult tap and jazz class a year after my daughter started. The show would be a celebration of the studio’s first 10 years highlighting previous dance numbers with updated choreography. My job was to operate a projector showing a brief snippet of the original dance number before each updated version.

When I went to my daughter’s first recital, I didn’t know what to expect. She was four, so I figured I would get some cute pics, and if there were no casualties onstage the performance would be a success. It would be kind of like going

to your kid’s first music recital — yeah, he kind of sounds like a wounded moose, but at least he’s brave enough to sound like one on stage! What I saw was far better than I had expected. The younger students showed skill and ability that belied their ages and was obviously the outcome of a lot of hard work and dedication from the students and their teachers. Just to see how well they handled being on stage hitting their dance cues in front of a large audience was amazing.

The student’s level of ability is attributable to the studio’s artistic director Nela Niemann.

Nela grew up immersed in the arts. Her mother, Cornelia, had been a professional actress, and in our little rural community of Clarke County (motto: searching for the right grocery store since 1734), Cornelia directed all the plays at CCHS and founded two theatre groups — Battletown Players for kids and Blue Ridge Players for adults. Nela herself started taking dance lessons at age 7 under instructor Dorothy Ewing, for whom the dance studio at Shenandoah University is named. She opened the Blue Ridge Studio in Berryville in 1991.

So as I sat there in my highly technical audio visual role showing clips and watching the danc-

Clarke

MAY 20 1 9

ers perform, it was small wonder I was blown away by the poise, grace, strength, and beauty of the dancers and the precision-like flow of the show. With her many years of experience in the arts and dance, Nela is able to bring a wealth of creativity, professionalism, and, most importantly, fun to her studio’s performances. That day I remember being particularly moved by a ballet performed by the dance instructors to Pachebel’s Canon. Then when I saw my wife and her fellow adult students perform a hilarious tap version of the Beatles When I’m 64, I was hooked.

I joined the adult tap and jazz classes the following year and have been pas de bourreeing ever since (it’s a dance thing).

Most years the performances are separate shows and themes with the Junior Company comprising students from age 4 up to pre-early teen and the senior company consisting of all ages above that. There are classes in ballet, tap, jazz modern, and lyrical. Classes start up in early September, and continue throughout the school year ending in the annual performances in early June. In recent years, Nela and her fellow instructors, many of whom are former students, have taken on choreographing shows based on well known tales like Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, Wizard of Oz, and Peter Pan to name a few.

We adult dancers like this format because it allows us to do a little acting and provide some of the comic relief in the shows which not surprisingly seems to come naturally.

When I tell friends about the studio and what we do, I tell them this: the audience sees a great show, with all the kinks worked out during re-

hearsal week (except for a few flying hats and broken swords). What we who are lucky enough to bring the show to life get to experience is the magic that happens backstage . . . the camaraderie, hijinks, last minute fixes, organized chaos, and support for each other that makes the show so much more than just a dance recital. We are a family and it has been my privilege to be a part of something so positive and beautiful as this.

Recently, Nela arranged for a special guest to visit the studio and hold a workshop. Peter Sklar is a New York-based lecturer, educator, and talent scout who speaks on child development and the arts. After the workshop and the opportunity to witness one of Nela’s classes, he wrote: “I just met a true kindred spirit. Nela Niemann, director of The Blue Ridge Studio for the Performing Arts in northeast Virginia. She is 100 percent high standards of professionalism and 100 percent love and support of her students. Speaking of which, they were among the sweetest, most innocent and genuine group of young dancers I’ve ever met. Founded by Nela decades ago, this place is almost too good to be true. I was fortunate to observe a small bit of a class and was pretty much blown away by how much warmth and energy coincided with the demand for technical precision. Bravo to Nela, her staff, and the rare and valuable gift she has provided her community all these years.”

I could not agree more. Come see our shows in June. We’ve been working hard all year to bring these shows to you and we promise you’ll be amazed and delighted. And next fall, consider joining our family and getting in on the fun.

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MAY 201 9

Come out and enjoy the music of

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Clarke

16

Harbingers of Springtime, Mighty Stalk, Tasty Leaf

by JiJi Russell

Two Shows!

May 19 — 2pm

Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church 210 East Main Street, Berryville Pops concert of show tunes, TV themes, rock songs, and other fan favorites!

June 14 — 7pm

Friday Night in the Park Series, Berryville Gazebo Bring the family and a picnic and help celebrate with an evening of traditional band music and show tunes.

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The Band is sponsored by the Clarke County Board of Supervisors, the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

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Springtime offers one of the most natural moments of year to assess, and perhaps amend, one’s diet. Most people tend to eat heavier, heartier foods in

wintertime — and there were plenty of good reasons for that in olden days. The fall harvests and preparations of heavier foods like root vegetables, nuts, and cured meats sustained humans during times of food scarcity in winter. We don’t have the same scarcity nowadays, with 24/7 food options abounding. Nevertheless, the stuff that grows from the Earth in the earliest, cool spring days still can benefit our bodies tremendously.

According to the ancient science of Ayurveda, a health system that underpins the yoga tradition, the foods that are available in springtime offer the perfect antidote to the slower, heavier foods and ways of winter.

Spring foods are more bitter, astringent, and pungent than those of other seasons.

These taste descriptions comprise three of the six Ayurvedic tastes used to categorize foods.

The others tastes are sweet, salty, and sour, which are

considered balancing during other seasons.

Think of green onions, spring greens, and asparagus. The dominant tastes of these foods are pungent, bitter, and astringent, respectively. Astringent, perhaps the most difficult to translate, refers to a food’s cleansing and wicking ability.

Foods that serve as diuretics are often astringent in nature; they pull water out and thus can have a cleansing effect. Astringent foods are thought to be cleansing, pulling toxins and mucus out of the body. They remain a staple Ayurvedic food choice for springtime.

Veggie Tales

As a lifelong reader and writer, I’ve always enjoyed learning stories, lore, and ritual around foods. To think our ancestors ate something that we eat gives me a sense of connection to the earth and all of her offspring, something that cracking open a bag of chips can never cap-

MAY 20 1 9

ture, no matter how tasty they might seem on the tongue.

Many Native American rituals include corn or tobacco as part of a prayer or expression of reverence for the Earth and her bounty. And the Greeks and Romans had myriad stories that included plants and food within the mythology of their gods and goddesses. In one, the Greek goddess Persephone, after being kidnapped by Hades and pulled into the underworld, deigned to eat a few pomegranate seeds, which consigned her ever after to the underworld for three months out of each year. This is how the ancient Greeks explained the mystery of seasonal change to wintertime, a time during which the earth becomes barren and few plants grow.

One of my all-time favorite vegetables, fennel, has an interesting historical significance. In 490 BC, the Greeks defeated the Persians in a battle that was fought in a fennel field. Legend holds that a runner raced 26 miles to carry the news of Greek victory to Athens. The Greek word for fennel is a close relative of marathon.

As the Shenandoah bursts forth into springtime, I’d like to offer up two quintessential foods of spring to connect you with the energy of the earth and the foods of our ancestors.

In the Presence of Royalty

According to The World’s Healthiest Foods — exhaustive encyclopedia of foods and their nutrient profile, history, and more — in ancient Rome, emperors would dispatch fleets of ships to gather asparagus for the emperors to eat. Sometimes the vegetable is referred to as “the aristocrat of vegetables,” perhaps for this reason . . . or perhaps because it grows from a “crown” of roots that need two or three years to establish themselves in order to produce the edible stalks.

Asparagus is high in vitamin K, folate, vitamins C and A, and many other nutrients, including tryptophan, protein, and potassium. To choose asparagus, look for spears that are firm, with the tips closed, rather than on the verge of

Foraging Spring Foods Find a “spring grocery list” at lifespa.com Keep up with the Farmers Market at clarkecountyfarmersmarket.com Research foods on The World’s Healthiest Foods website: whfoods.org

Clarke flowering. Look for medium-sized spears, rather than the thickest ones, which can become tough and woody. You can bend and break the ends off at the place where they naturally begin to snap off, or cut off about the bottom fourth of the stalk.

One of the easiest ways to cook asparagus is to roast, grill, or broil it. George Mateljan of The World’s Healthiest Foods suggests sprinkling stalks with lemon juice, salt, and pepper, and then placing them about four to five inches away from a flame or coals, and cooking for just 2 to 5 minutes. After you remove the asparagus from the heat, pour a little olive oil over it. Avoid cooking asparagus or other vegetables, at high heat with oil; cooking oil at high heat (at the “smoke point”) can create toxic byproducts called free radicals, which can damage human cells.

Mateljan does not recommend boiling or steaming asparagus, as it may lose valuable water-soluble minerals and vitamins like C and Bcomplex vitamins.

Mediterranean Mainstay

A true “looker” of the leafy greens, Swiss chard can complement just about any meal, from breakfast onward (chard and goat cheese omelet, anyone?). It’s an excellent source of vitamins K, A, C, magnesium, calcium, and so much more. Look for leaves that have a vibrant stem, which can be red, yellow, orange, and/or white.

A great way to cook the leaves, which I learned from Mateljan’s book, is the “quick boil” method, which brings out a milder, more sweet flavor, and neutralizes the oxalic acid, and the metallic-type taste that can accompany it (this is also true for fresh spinach and fresh beet greens).

To quick boil, which minimizes nutrient loss, fill a large pot ¾ with water and bring it to a rapid boil. Place the greens in the boiling water and do not cover. Let the chard sit in the water for three minutes. It does not have to return to a boil, though it might begin to. After three minutes, pour the water and chard into a mesh strainer in the sink; then season to taste with salt, pepper, olive oil, perhaps garlic, and/or nuts.

Its popularity in the Mediterranean yields many Swiss chard recipes, which you can readily find online or in cookbooks. The best place to procure these spring foods, outside of your own garden, is the Clarke County Farmers Market. Let us all rejoice for its opening in May! JiJi Russell has been a Kripalu-certified yoga instructor since 2002, and an integrative nutrition health coach since 2010. She spent 6 years building and managing a corporate wellness program that served more than 2,000 employees. JiJi currently teaches a “Yoga HIIT” class at Turiya Yoga, combining strength and fitness moves with moments of delicious well-earned stretching. Contact her at jijiyoga@yahoo.com.

17

Our July 2019 summer program is now sponsored by Berryville Main St and the Virginia Commission for the Arts!

Be a part of a unique new label that will provide a platform for our vibrant musical and artistic communities.

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July programs will culminate in the release of our first record with an art exhibit and dance showcase at Barns of Rose Hill Contact us for all program information, registration, and a free lesson in piano, voice, drums!

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18

Would You Pay To Snuggle A Goat?

By Claire Stuart

Alisha McMaster has been raising pygmy Nigerian goats for about seven years, starting with three that she bought for their milk. She says that goat’s milk is easier to digest than cow’s milk. Some people with allergies to cow’s milk, like her second son, can drink goat milk. Her goats yield almost a half gallon of milk per day each. She does not milk a mother goat until the babies are weaned.

Her children started showing goats, and the herd grew (along with the cost of care and feeding them). McMaster explained that while large goats have a single kid or twins, pygmy goats can have anywhere from one to six babies, the average being triplets.

“One friend’s goat had seven,” she reported. “She’s trying to get into the Guiness Book of World Records.”

McMaster held her first goat snuggle session to help pay for goat care, fencing and goat barn restoration. She had men-

tioned something she’d seen about goat yoga and snuggling to her husband, and he scoffed at the idea, saying nobody would pay to snuggle a goat. It turns out he was very wrong!

The first session was held about three years ago, and people keep coming.

McMaster offered goat yoga, which was catching on around the country. Goats love to climb, including onto the backs of people in yoga poses, and participants enjoy the back massages provided by tiny hoofs. McMaster observed that

some people just want to check off that they’ve done goat yoga, while some come and don’t do any yoga at all. “They mostly just sit and hold the goats!” So she started snuggle sessions.

Yoga sessions are held from June to October while the weather is warm enough to be outside. Snuggle sessions without yoga are held a few weekends a month.

I visited McMasters’ Silver Maple Farm outside Berryville to see a goat snuggle session.

The barn was filled with men, women, and children of all ages.

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While you might expect that any place with children and small animals would be chaotic, the tiny goats seemed to have a hypnotic effect. People sat on hay bales, blissfully cuddling baby goats, while more goats frolicked and leaped at their feet. A few people mentioned that cuddling a tiny goat relieved their stresses.

It would be hard not to want to play with and snuggle a baby dwarf goat. They’re only about the size of a cat or small dog and they’re soft and big-eyed. They playfully head-butt each other, jump straight up in the air with all four feet off the ground and climb on anything or anyone, but they settle peacefully in the arms and laps of anyone who wants to hold them. Aria McMaster, age 10 (almost 11!) helps her mom with the snuggle sessions, offering a baby goat to anyone without one to hold.

McMasters reported that goats are generally not particularly friendly animals, but hers are because they are socialized with people immediately. “This is important,” she said, “because our goats are sold as milk and show animals, and they need to be accustomed to being handled by people.”

A common stereotype in our society is that of the husband who never remembers his wedding anniversary or his

wife’s birthday. Two men at the snuggle session shattered that stereotype.

Larry brought his wife, Dara, as a surprise birthday present.

Along with daughter Krysta and son Jake, they had come all the way from Sykesville, Maryland.

Said Larry, “We’d occasionally talked about getting goats, so I thought this would be a good surprise.” It was!

Brian, wife Thavy, and daughter Laura came from Falls Church as a birthday surprise for Thavy. “I saw something in passing about snuggling goats,” said Brian, “so I looked it up on line. My wife likes goats, so it was a great surprise for her.”

Silver Maple Farm is a working farm, so is open to only pre-registered visitors on goat snuggle days. Walk-ins are not admitted because events are usually full. They also host private parties and business functions. Check the calendar on their web site for available dates. Cost is $20 per person; children under two are free.

Proceeds go to care of the farm’s goats.

Contact Silver Maple Farm Goats: silvermaplefarmgoats .com; Facebook @ SilverMapleFarmGoats; SilverMapleFarmGoats @gmail.com.

Clarke

MAY 20 1 9

19

Community Briefs Berryville Main Street Update

Berryville Main Street has set some ambitious new goals for 2019, striving to expand art and artist promotions, media outreach, and sales. BMS has started up a volunteer program, and currently has three new members participating.

“We are building a directory of artists’ biographies for customers seeking a more personal connection to the art that they buy,” explains Liz Couture, the Firehouse Gallery manager,“ And as we learn from our customers about their preferences, we hope to provide a more responsive and selective art inventory. The abundance of artistic talent in the Shenandoah Valley energizes us. We invited all 106 of our currently con-

signed artists to continue with us as we grow together.”

Ms. Couture continues, “This Spring introduces 15 planter boxes full of flowers provided

by BMS to beautify your stroll down Main Street,” she said.

“The Spring Yard Sale registered 140 participants and was a big success. June and July will introduce the Goldberg Summer Music Program where students will complete art projects in music for exhibition. And this is the beginning of the season for Friday night concerts at Rose Hill Park.”

— Keith Patterson

Isabelle Truchon Art Exhibit at Long Branch This is the second opening of an exhibition of Isabelle Truchon’s art that I have had the pleasure to attend. So I thought that I knew what to expect. But I can honestly say that I was absolutely blown away by what I saw, felt, and experienced at stately Long Branch Historic House and Farm in Millwood. Truchon’s passions and emotions fully inhabit the beauty and ambitious scope of her works. She is a multi-media artist: oil painter, sculptor and film director, whose integrated creations transform, transport, educate, entertain and inspire.

Abstract realism in muted sepia tones captures the desertbred life breath of the Kiger Mustangs, one of the last handful of wild horse herds in the United States. These magnificent animals are built for survival, their wild beauty connected directly to fierce economy. Truchon lived among these horses, breath-

Artist ISABELLE TRUCHON at Long Branch, photo courtesy of Chris Weber Studios. ing their air, becoming familiar, gaining their trust; her art illustrates a deep understanding of their individual confirmations and collective movements.

Truchon points to several

large paintings inhabiting Long Branch’s main gallery. “I worked on all of these simultaneously,” she explains. “A little at a time, here and there, until I began to capture what it was I been looking

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for.” She gestures towards two large paintings of a single subject. “These are of the same stallion. I felt a special connection.

He wanted to be painted.”

The paintings are stunning

20 on many levels. And as I concentrate on the two she is describing I begin to feel, as well as see this.

Be prepared.

The exhibit is up through June 30, weekdays 10am–4pm, or by

appointment. For information, call 540-837-1856.

—Keith Patterson

Enthusiasts Celebrate World Tai Chi Day

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Area Tai Chi enthusiasts gathered at Chet Hobert Park in Berryville Saturday, April 27th, to celebrate World Tai Chi and Qiqong Day. This year’s event was hosted by Adrian VanKeuren of Therapeutic Tai Chi with Adrian, a Health and Wellness Tai Chi practice (www.taichiavk.com).

The day contained talks on the health aspects of this gentle movement exercise, along with instructions and demonstrations of various Tai Chi movement and meditation practices. VanKeuren also provided a demonstration of the Yang 37 Posture Short form which is the most widely practiced Tai Chi form in the Western Hemisphere.

World Tai Chi Day is

celebrated on the last Saturday of April each year at 10am local time as a global happening that occurs in over 80 nations, in hundreds of cities worldwide.

Tens of thousands of people

come together across racial, ethnic, religious, and geopolitical boundaries for the sole purpose of advancing personal and global health and healing.

Loudoun Valley Herbs Hosts Greenhouse Xtravaganza

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Loudoun Valley Herbs, hosts its annual Greenhouse Xtravaganza Friday, May 24 and Saturday, May 25, from 10am–4pm both days. Located in western Loudoun County on a farm originally settled in the early 1800s, Greenhouse Xtravaganza offers a wide variety of garden-centric items, including bedding plants, herbal spa products, botanical jewelry, culinary items, locally made functional pottery, hypertufas and cement work, and wrought iron garden decorations. They are all situated in and around an old stable surrounded by lush gardens.

Owned and operated by Kim

Labash, Loudoun Valley Herbs grows and harvests approximately 6,000 lavender stems for crafting, 1,000 lavender flower heads for culinary purposes, and about 300 rose heads for both crafting and culinary use each year. All items are crafted by Labash from materials grown on the farm in a chemical free environment.

Loudoun Valley Herbs is located in Airmont at 19405 Woodtrail Road, Round Hill, Va., just off Snickersville Turnpike. For information contact LoudounValleyHerbs@yahoo.com or call Kim at 540-554-2748.

Clarke

MAY 20 1 9

21

Memories of John “Pappy” Gallagher

By Tom Vorisek

With the passing of Colonel John “Pappy” Gallagher, our community has lost a leader, role model, hero, and friend.

Known for his wonderful storytelling and humor, John’s presence filled any room he was in.

He loved meeting people, and had a warm, engaging charm about him. To those of us who knew him well, he will not only be remembered for his personality, but his proud military service and love for his family, friends, and community.

As a career Air Force officer with 26 years of active duty, John served as an instructor pilot, special operations officer, squadron commander, and staff officer for the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Assistant Secretary of Defense. “Pappy,” as he was known to his fellow Air Force pilots, flew more than 600 combat hours during the Vietnam War. One of John’s comrades spoke admirably about John being counted on to accomplish the most chal-

lenging, toughest combat flight missions. During his career, he was awarded many medals and citations for his courageous service. After retirement from active duty, John continued flying as a commercial pilot for ten years with United Airlines.

In 2001, John and his wife Donna and their family moved to Berryville. In Clarke County, John became active in many organizations, including American Legion Post 41, VFW Post 9760, Lion’s Club and Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Winchester. He served as American Legion Commander as well as various leadership positions in VFW. In serving as chair of the Memorial Day committee, John helped establish a unified county community service, an annual tradition that honors our fallen military heroes.

John’s Memorial Day contributions reflect how deeply he cared about his community.

For years, Clarke County observed two separate services

on Memorial Day weekend, one predominantly AfricanAmerican and the second predominantly white. Rightly so, John believed that we were conveying the wrong message to our youth and community by holding separate services. He recognized that all of our men and women served together, trained together, and in some cases, died together. He was one of a small group of citizens who met with local leaders to reach an agreement on a single service. The first consolidated, county-wide service was held in May, 2006. In his published article, “A Story Worth Telling,” John described the single ceremony as “brimming with reverence, patriotism and camaraderie”. Most importantly, John emphasized the importance of the Memorial Day service as a teaching vehicle for the community, particularly our youth. It was essential to include many facets of the community in the program. To this

day, the service includes participation by the Clarke County Band and Chamber Choir, Boy Scout Troop 34, Sons of the

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American Revolution, and the Clarke County Honor Guard.

With his various leadership positions in the military, John had many distinguished contacts as potential speakers for Memorial Day. At the first unified service in 2006, our featured speaker was General Peter Schoomaker, 35th Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army. Following the program, John asked him what he thought of the service. His reply, “Don’t change a thing. What you have here is truly Rockwellian.” It was the perfect description of our quaint, small town Memorial Day service at Rose Hill Park.

As we approach our annual Memorial Day service, let us remember it as part of John Gallagher’s extensive legacy and contributions to our community. He will be missed but not forgotten.

Tom Vorisek is Commander, Clarke County Memorial Post 9760, Berryville, Va.

Clarke

MAY 201 9

22

B Chord Brewing Hosts Two Community Events A.T. fest at Round Hill brewery and Brews in the Ridge at fairgrounds B Chord Brewing Company, the Round Hill, Va., farm brewery, is hosting two events in June — one to highlight the local connection to the Appalachian Trail, the other to celebrate the a rich variety of local breweries in the Shenandoah Valley and the Blue Ridge.

Brews in the Ridge takes place June 8, at the Clarke County Fairgrounds, beginning at 11am. There will be music by local favorites and brews from the best of the region. Musical lineup includes: Songs From The Road Band, The Woodshedders, Hard Swimmin’ Fish, Burning Dirty, and the Randy Thompson Band.

Joining B Chord Brewing,

other local and regional brewers include: Dynasty Brewing Co., Escutcheon BrewingBike TrAle Brewing, Loudoun Brewing Company, Harpers Ferry Brewing, and The Farm Brewery at Broad Run. It will be a great way to try new brews. For information: https://bchordbrewing.com.

The following Saturday, June 15, B Chord hosts the inaugural Round Hill Appalachian Trail Festival, which begins with the official designation of Round Hill as an Appalachian Trail Community. The event takes place at B Chord, 34266 Williams Gap Road, in Round Hill.

Beginning at 11am and

Justin Trawick and the Common Good will perform at the Round Hill Appalachian Trail Fest. throughout the day, there will be music and workshops, and outdoor-skills demonstrations,

including a Leave No Trace workshop offered by Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy.

For information, visit www.roundhillat.org.

REC MEMBER DAY

You’re invited to join REC anytime between 4 and 7 p.m. for an evening of fun!

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