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JUNE 2017 vaOBSERVER.com A MONTHLY MAGAZINE SERVING CLARKE COUNTY
Celebrating our roots, honoring our river
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vaobserver.com SELLING HOMES, FARMS and LAND
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The River and Roots Festival brings out the unbridled joy in everyone. Photo by Jennifer Lee.
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As the Crow Flies
6
Around Clarke County
8
Real Estate
10
Healthy Outlook
14
Sandy Williams Joins Main Street
15
River and Roots Festival
16
Community Briefs
19
Sleep Apnea
20
Community Band Celebrates 25 Years
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JU NE 201 7 :
FROM THE EDITOR STAFF
David Lillard, Editor/Publisher Jennifer Welliver, Associate Publisher Aundrea Humphreys, Art Director Hali Taylor, Proofreader Sinead Juday, Intern
CONTRIBUTORS Karen Cifala Wendy Gooditis Jennifer Lee Rebecca Maynard Doug Pifer JiJi Russell Claire Stuart
COVER PHOTO Jennifer Lee
ADVERTISING SALES
Jennifer Welliver, 540-398-1450 Rebecca Maynard, 540-550-4669
Advertising Information
The Observer Becomes Clarke, Just Clarke The time has come at last. After dozens and dozens of suggestions and variations on those suggestions, the time has come for the Observer to have a new name. The circumstance, you may recall, was brought on by the sale of the Observer of Jefferson County little more than a year ago. We appreciate everyone’s ideas and input — including the sometimes late-night emails or texts, which touched us because they told us you were thinking about this even at times when we were not. There were some really wonderful names, some of them connoting our particular place in the northern Shenandoah Valley’s, others the river itself, others our distinctive cultural geography west of the Blue Ridge. There was even the idea put forward by several people to resurrect the name of another noted paper of our county’s past — a fluttering idea, but one we declined out of respect for the historical position that name holds, a position we aspire to, but a mantle we cannot claim.
As a monthly, we don’t so much bring readers the news of the county as celebrate community life, share what’s going on in the month ahead, and offer a context about the people, businesses, and institutions that make Clarke County special. Of all the comments and suggestions, one thing was consistent. That is that this little monthly belongs to Clarke County. “Why not just Clarke,” became a common refrain, “that’s what this monthly is all about.” Such a name is about more than the topics we cover. It’s also about how we connect with the communities nearby. That idea stuck. And so that is what we shall be called, beginning with the July edition: Clarke. With the new name comes a renewed commitment to do a better job at what we do. To mature from our adolescent years into something lasting and worthy of the name of our unique county.
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JUNE 201 7
Work Out Any Time by Claire Stuart
People who do shift work or work late or irregular hours often find it hard to stick to a fitness routine. Maybe it’s too dark to go for a run or a bike ride when you get home, or maybe the gym is closed when you want to work out. Now there’s no excuse not to stay in shape, because Anytime Fitness in Berryville is open to members 24 hours a day, seven days a week. New owner Jerry DeLauder explained that a gym had operated at the location since about 2007 or 2008, but since his takeover in late February,
he has made a lot of changes. “We brought in brand new cardio equipment, personal training, we added manager Claressa Mees.” Originally from Frederick, Maryland, DeLauder loves our area and is happy to be a part of the community. He also owns Anytime Fitness gyms on Senseny Road in Winchester and on Warrior Drive in Stephens City. DeLauder is a dedicated runner and has participated in marathons and triathlons. He says that it’s been two years since his last marathon, but
The
Clarke County Community Band preSenTS THeir
25th Anniversary Concert
Bring the family and a picnic and help celebrate with an evening of traditonal band music and show tunes.
at the gazebo
Rose Hill Park in Berryville
Friday, June 23 6:30pm 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. This Ad is Sponsored By: Loudoun Mutual Insurance Company www.loudounmutual.com
he may do another in the near future. Meantime, he still runs and he coaches new marathon runners for charity events. “I love the Freedom’s Run in Harpers Ferry,” he said. “It’s one of my favorites.” Claressa Mees, who grew up in Clarke County, says she comes from an athletic family. “I’ve always been an athlete,” she said. “I have been playing softball since I was six and I played in college. My younger brother and sister are very competitive. We’re always out in the field. I always had a personal trainer — it helped me get in shape for college.” Mees was injured in her junior year of college, so she started seriously working out to regain her strength. “Working out took over the adrenalin rush I had been getting from playing,” she explained. Noah Trenary is on staff as a trainer. He says that he started training in order to lose weight and successfully lost 90 pounds. He became certified as a trainer and transferred to Berryville from the Stephens City gym. The refurbished gym features a functional movement area with exercise balls and steps. There is a free-weight area with dumbbells up to 100 pounds. The cardio section’s treadmills and steppers are state-of-the-art, complete with wi-fi so that you can watch TV or Internet while you work out. The Expresso bike, a favorite with bikers, allows you to create your own account to track your cumulative miles from one visit to the next, and includes games to play to enhance the experience. The strength machines are very user friendly and illustrate which muscles are working out. Members have access to Anytime Fitness’ own proprietary
Claressa, Jerry & Noah, Anytime Fitness. Photo by Claire Stuart.
smartphone app. It can connect to your watch or Fitbit. It provides easy access to over 1,000 workout plans and videos for exercise, goal-setting to stay on track, the ability to monitor your progress, and communication with your trainer wherever you are. “We encourage the overall wellness picture,” says DeLauder. “That’s the big goal. Quality of life as we age. Challenging your body. We have a great mix of people. Most are between 25 and 85—a good spread. Everyone interacts so well.” “Old members, new members,” said Mees. “We are getting to know the old members, getting to know their goals.” “Many people have specific goals,” added DeLauder. “They might want to tune up for a particular thing.” Some people want to get in shape for bathing suit season. A woman soon to be married wants to fit into her wedding dress. Someone is training for a competition. A high school athlete hopes to be recruited for college sports. The gym is staffed Monday through Thursday, 11am to 7pm, and 10am to 4pm on
Fridays, but members can come in any time. Appointments can be made for weekends and outside of staff hours. Since Anytime Fitness is a franchise chain, DeLauder explains that members can use any of their over 3,000 gyms across the U.S.A. and in 20 countries. He provides a map to commuters, showing them the location of all the other associated gyms in the area. “If they want to stop at another gym on the way home from work, they can.” DeLauder explained the gym’s security system for members after hours. There are security cameras in the building, the parking lot and the gym. Each member has a key fob that opens the gym door. Once the door opens, an electronic reader counts the people who enter. All of this data is transmitted to DeLauder’s home. Inside the gym, there are panic buttons that connect directly to the police. Anytime Fitness, 19 First Street, Berryville, 540-955-5555; www.anytimefitness.com/ gyms/1357/berryville-va-22611.
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As the Crow Flies
Love at First Bite
Catering & Event Planning
Mobbed By Crows
Creative Menus Adorned with Flair
Story and photo by Doug Pifer
27 Years of Experience
Returning from a wonderful spring walk along the creek near where I live, I noticed a loud commotion among the crows. I realized the sound seemed to be coming from our place. By the time I reached our road, the din had grown much louder. The cawing and screaming seemed to be coming from the woods just behind the barn. I grew more curious as more crows passed overhead from several directions, all heading towards the sound. Approaching our front gate, I saw that the tall sycamore trees behind the barn were full of crows. I grabbed my spotting scope from the kitchen and was soon sneaking along the fence line toward the source of the excitement. Oblivious to my approach, the shouting crows were joined by a pair of redshouldered hawks. Occasionally a hawk would strafe through the trees. Was it attacking its enemies or joining them against a mutual foe? Up close, the din was deafening. Scolding calls with growling undertones meant the birds were mobbing a predator. Following their line of assault, it wasn’t hard to discover a great-horned owl—pressed up against the trunk of a denselybranched boxelder tree. Distracted by his hecklers, the owl appeared intent to stay put. The crows seemed too excited to care that I set up the tripod and attached my phone to the scope to take pictures. It was hard to see the owl through dense leaves, half hidden by a heavy limb. Giving up on photography, I settled for watching the crows. Viewed through the scope,
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the crows looked palpably angry. Intrepid crows would alight on a big limb next to the owl, or crash through obstructing leaves and branches to attack. Several times the owl flinched or a piece of down floated away as they struck home. Less emboldened crows acted out, as if trying to displace pent-up energy. One crow kept twisting off leaves and twigs. Another one hammered a dead branch with its bill, like a woodpecker. All day long we kept hearing a red-shouldered hawk and several diehard crows out there, still heckling the owl. This continued until 6:30pm when I went out again to take pictures. There was the owl, hunkered down in the same hiding place, well shielded from the onslaught. The light had
changed. I could occasionally glimpse majestic eyes and head adornments of an owlish face as it slowly swiveled toward its tormentors. I took a few poor pictures and folded up the tripod to leave, whereupon the owl flew to another tree with his noisy entourage in hot pursuit. There I was better able to get pictures and the accompanying video. (See www.vaobserver.com). The light was fading, the crowd was thinning, so I packed up to leave. Throughout the bedlam, the owl stayed relatively calm. Owls must get used to this, but the crows’ persistence surprised me. Didn’t they have babies to feed or nests to look after? Sometimes the most exciting things happen in your own backyard!
540-955-3705
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Around Clarke County Promote your event in TO 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.
June
and $43 for youth. Visit www.ssmtva. org/box-office or call 540-665-4569 Monday–Friday,10am–6pm.
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Town Mountain: Bluegrass and Barbecue
Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. Town Mountain performs raw, soulful music with a honky-tonk edge. 8pm. $20 in advance, $25 at door, children 12 and younger free. www.barnsofrosehill.org.
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Jazz Concert
Rose Hill Park. Berryville. Mick th’ Stick performs jazz music. Free. www.berryvillemainstreet.org.
17
Family Firefly Festival
Blandy Experimental Farm Library and Grounds. 400 Blandy Farm Lane. Boyce. Celebrate the wonder of fireflies with activities, crafts, games and more. $10 for FOSA members and UVa alumni, $12 for nonmembers; $20 for FOSA and UVa families, $25 for nonmember families. Registration ahead recommended. 540-837-1758 ext. 224. www.blandy.virginia.edu.
22
Oklahoma! Opening Night
Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre at Shenandoah University. 1460 University Dr. Winchester. Classic musical tells the story of cowboy Curly McLain and his romance with farm girl Laurey Williams. The first of three shows in Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre’s 34th season, runs through July 2. Adults $36, seniors $30, youth $18. Season tickets are $86 for adults, $72 for seniors
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Clarke Community Band 25th anniversary concert
Rose Hill Park. Main St. Berryville. Celebrate the Clarke Community Band’s 25th anniversary with a wide range of music. 6:30pm. Free. www.clarkecountycommunityband.com.
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Boyce Community Flea Market
Boyce United Methodist Church. 8 Old Chapel Ave. Boyce. Concessions available for purchase. $10 to rent a space on lawn to sell; please bring your own table or tent and register ahead. 8am–2pm. 540-336-3585.
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Tom Principato Concert
Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. Passionate roots music with funky guitar. Doors open at 7pm, concert starts at 8pm. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Children 12 and younger free when accompanied by an adult. Visit www. barnsofrosehill.org or call 540-955-2004 (12–3 pm Tuesday to Saturday).
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Clarke County Equine Alliance Meeting/Signup
Long Branch Farm. 830 Long Branch Lane. Millwood. General membership meeting and signup. The CCEA is now reorganized and gathering information for the new directory, web-
Keith Patterson and Cosmic Harvest Band July 1 at Barns of Rose Hill. site and listing on “yesclarkecounty” website. Refreshments after meeting. www.clarkecountyequinealliance.com.
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-28 Life Down Under Camp
Blandy Experimental Farm. 400 Blandy Farm Lane. Boyce. Explore life down under, for rising 2nd–4th graders. Call for details. 540-837-1758.
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sequence, always finishing up with relaxation. 11am–12pm. $14. Visit www. barnsofrosehill.org or call 540-955-2004 (12–3 pm Tuesday to Saturday).
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Bluegrass and Country Concert
Rose Hill Park. Main St. Berryville. Pockets and Loose Change performs. Free. www.berryvillemainstreet.org.
Fold and Flow Yoga Class
Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. Every Wednesday through August 2. Gentle awakening stretches, connecting breath to movement, some deeper (yin style) holds, and a creative vinyasa (flowing)
July
1
Cosmic Harvest Band Concert and Fundraiser
Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. Event includes art exhibit
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and Keith Patterson painting drawing to benefit F.I.S.H. of Clarke County. Doors open at 7pm, concert starts at 8pm. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Children 12 and younger free when accompanied by an adult. Visit www. barnsofrosehill.org or call 540-955-2004 (12–3 pm Tuesday to Saturday).
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Kids Drama Workshop Play
Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. Goldilocks is put on trial by her peers. Sly defense attorney, Jack, tries to convince the jury of many familiar fairy tale characters that Goldilocks is innocent. Will she be found guilty? Tickets are $5. Children 12 and younger free when accompanied by an adult. Visit www. barnsofrosehill.org or call 540955-2004 (12–3 pm Tuesday to Saturday).
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Bluegrass and Barbecue
Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. Cricket Tell the Weather performs awardwinning songs delivered with honest vocals and thoughtful arrangements with a modern edge. Jordan Springs barbecue available for purchase. Doors open at 7pm, concert starts at 8pm. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.. Children 12 and younger free when accompanied by an adult. Visit www.barnsofrosehill.org or call 540-955-2004 (12–3 pm Tuesday to Saturday).
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-9 Johnson Williams High School Reunion
Best Western Hotel and Conference Center. 711 Millwood Ave. Winchester. Saturday night is a dinner dance with Warren Fountaine from 2nd Chance performing and Sunday morning is a prayer breakfast with spiritual message by Rev.
Robert Morgan and gospel music by Winfield Parker. Tickets for $50 can be purchased from any committee member and all proceeds will go toward the CCTS-JWHS Scholarship Fund. Contact Vernie White at 703-791-3196 or Dee Dee Liggins at 540-542-9355, or visit www.cctsjwhs.com.
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–14 STEAM Camp
Blandy Experimental Farm. 400 Blandy Farm Lane. Boyce. Explore nature with science, technology, engineering, art and math, for rising 2nd– 4th graders. Call for details. 540-837-1758.
14
Blind Boy Paxton Concert
Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. Multi-instrumentalist blues musician and vocalist from Los Angeles performs a night of music, humor, and storytelling. Doors open at 7pm, concert starts at 8pm. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.. Children 12 and younger free when accompanied by an adult. Visit www. barnsofrosehill.org or call 540955-2004 (12–3 pm Tuesday to Saturday).
15
Yard Party
John H. Enders Fire Department. 9 S. Buckmarsh St. Berryville. 66th annual yard sale begins at 8am with “fill a bag for a buck” at 6pm. Free truck rides. Meal starts at 4:30pm and includes barbecue chicken, country ham, chicken salad, green beans, cole slaw, drinks and homemade desserts. Adults $10, children 6 and older $5, children younger than 6 eat free. www.endersfire.com.
15
Battle of Cool Spring Commemoration
Shenandoah University’s River Campus at Cool Spring Battlefield. 1400 Parker
Lane. Bluemont. The McCormick Civil War Institute will hold programs from 10am to 3:45pm. Free and open to public. 540-665-4501, jnoyalas01@su.edu.
15
Kevin Engle Book Signing
Winchester Book Gallery. 185 N. Loudoun St. Winchester. Kevin Engle signs “The Best of Engle’s Angle” from 11am–1pm. 540-667-3444.
15
Garden Talk
Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. Free talk, How I Learned to Love (Some) Garden Bugs. Visit www.barnsofrosehill.org or call 540-955-2004.
17
-21 EcoExplorers Camp
Blandy Experimental Farm. 400 Blandy Farm Lane. Boyce. Investigate, collect and analyze nature data, for rising 5th– 8th graders. Call for details. 540-837-1758.
21
Concert and Film Fundraiser
Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. Concert and screening of “Keith’s Blues,” local resident Keith Harrington’s documentary about his life with Parkinson’s. Proceeds benefit Michael J. Fox Foundation. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Visit www. barnsofrosehill.org or call 540955-2004 (12–3 pm Tuesday to Saturday).
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Family Fun Event
Wee Angels Educare Center of Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church. 210 E. Main St. Berryville. 20th anniversary celebration includes free hot dogs, chips and drinks, magic show, balloon animals, face painting and more. 540-955-1264.
Chapel Estates Views - Location - 4 bedrooms, 3 baths – 3200 sq. ft. brick and stone Cape Cod – Excellent condition – 5 acres – Prime location in quiet neigh’hood btw’n Millwood and Berryville - Incredible, wide views of Blue Ridge across 2 neighboring farms in conserv’ easement – Major upgrades in 2008 – Gourmet kitchen – Main level bedroom & full bath. $569,000
540-247-5408
Tom Cammack
www.sheridanmacmahon.com
110 East Washington Street - P.O. Box 1380 - Middleburg, VA 20118
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JUNE 201 7
Real Estate
Clarke County – An Island Of Green By Karen Cifala
R
eferring back to an article we wrote in 2014 “Change is Gonna Come…or is it?,” census numbers showed our population growth at slightly over 1 percent a year for Clarke County. For many, authors included, this was good. It meant Clarke would stay as much the same as possible. We surmised that one of the main reasons that fewer people were moving in was because of the Great Recession. Berryville Glen, located in the town of Berryville just off Springsbury Road, had just started development of their 72 new homes on half-acre lots, and we posed the question two years ago: How long will it take to build and sell all the lots? We are here to report that there are two lots left. Understand they have sold 69 houses, all in the high $300–400,000 range, and have sold them all in less than three years! Many of the projections that were made in
early 2014 are now on their way Total Populations Projections, 2020-2040 to becoming fact. Again, noted in our 2014 arti 2016 2020 2030 2040 % growth % growth % growth cle, that the implications for the VA State 8,411,808 8,744,273 9,546,958 10,201,530 4% 13% 21% town of Berryville and county were potentially major — with the increase in residents and inLoudoun 385,327 440,445 572,994 694,911 14% 49% 80% creased traffic on Springsbury Frederick 83,998 86,574 101,471 114,663 3% 21% 36% Road, and additional children Warren 39,181 39,925 44,444 48,256 2% 13% 23% entering the school system Clarke 14,240 14,337 15,226 15,965 0.68% 7% 12% over time. Our county does not allow for developments of this scale, and protection of open space and farmland is the rule through a system called Sliding Frederick County, bringing easy commuting distance from growth by 2030 and 80 percent Scale Zoning. by 2040. approximately 1,000 more new Clarke County. The question now is how jobs to the Northern ShenanThis would equate to a popumuch effect will the projected doah Valley, and Navy Federal According to the UVa Wel- lation increase of approximatefuture growth and expansion of Credit Union’s expansion of don Cooper Center for Pub- ly 300,000 people in Loudoun the surrounding counties have their operations center to Win- lic Service Demographic Re- County alone in 23 years. If you on Clarke County? chester, creating approximate- search Group (demographics. don’t consider this possible, The new FBI Central Re- ly 1,400 jobs. That’s almost coopercenter.org), the orga- look at the amount of undevelcords Complex is breaking 3,000 new jobs being created nization which does most of oped commercial land around ground this month in Fred- just in these three projects. In the forecasting for the State Dulles Airport, and note the erick Coounty, slated to bring addition, we know that Proc- of Virginia by county and ma- number of cranes that are there just shy of 500 jobs located tor and Gamble is building a jor cities, projects the largest right now building new office very close to Clarke Coun- new plant just across the West growing county in the state will buildings. And if you want to ty’s western border. Amazon Virginia state line that’s cre- be Loudoun County, with a pro- see the next big wave of resihas begun site work on their ating an as yet unclear num- jection of 14 percent popula- dential development, drive into fourth e-commerce facility in ber of jobs that will be within tion growth by 2020, 48 percent Gilberts Corner at the cross-
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road of Rt.15 and Rt.50, where hundreds of new homes are under construction on both sides of Rt.50. The projections for Clarke and its neighboring Virginia Counties are shown in the table. The domino effect of this type of growth brings more jobs, homes, and traffic. We are already seeing a migration from the east into Clarke and Frederick counties to escape the high taxes and congestion, and now for jobs, as well. For the last few years, approximately two thirds of the residential transactions in Clarke County have been bought by people moving from east of the Blue Ridge. Another interesting population trend was the fact that the general projected population growth in the more western and southern counties are showing a projected negative population growth, with Henry County, for example, weighing in at 17 percent population loss by 2040 and Buchanan County a loss of 28 percent. It would be safe to speculate that the loss of population is due to the lack of jobs and transportation to better jobs in the more populated areas of our state. Hard to miss in the report
is the projected population growth in areas like Charlottesville, Richmond, and the surrounding counties , but none rivaling the growth happening north between Loudoun and Frederick counties. Even Arlington County’s projected growth (32 percent by 2040), although above the state norm, is less than Frederick County. Here’s another question: We are already complaining about the amount of traffic on Rt. 7 and Rt. 50 and I-81 now, what will happen by 2030 or 2040 if another 30,000 people live in Frederick County and commute along those roads? How will the growth around us affect our county, and how will we accommodate the squeeze of commuters traveling through to Frederick County? Assuming the state mostly uses population growth to allocate state funds for roads, will Clarke get appropriate funding to deal with being the thoroughfare? Another concern that accompanies population growth is the obvious competition to hire and keep public sector jobs such as teachers and police. On a more optimistic note,
the future for Berryville seems bright. While the larger scale retail and businesses are moving into places like Leesburg, Middleburg and Purcellville, smaller businesses are moving west in search of lower rents and overhead. The town of Berryville inevitably will grow. Our county right now is the green spot in between three neighboring counties that have set out to become job centers — and thus population centers. Clarke County has gone a different way, and the majority of residents commute to other counties to work. What’s the difference? Our zoning, which precludes large scale subdivisions in the county — which is where you get your big jumps in population growth? For now, Clarke County is attracting those buyers that want more privacy, seclusion, and rural character than the counties around us can offer. Chip Schutte along with his teammates Karen Cifala and Wendy Gooditis work, live, and play in Clarke Count, and work as a team with Remax Roots in Berryville. As always, we appreciate your comments which you can send to chipschutte@mris.com.
John H. Enders Fire Co.
67th
Annual
Firefighters’
Yard Sale & Chicken BBQ Saturday, July 15, 2017
9 South Buckmarsh Street, Berryville
Yard sale starts at 8am with “Fill a Bag for A Buck” at 6pm. Meal starts at 4:30 • Annual Cake Sale starts at 6 Menu Includes: BBQ Chicken, Country Ham, Chicken Salad, Green Beans, Cole Slaw, Drinks, and Homemade Desserts Adults - $10 • Children 6 and up - $5 Children under 6 eat free.
Free Fire Truck Rides!
To donate items for the yard sale or for more information, call 955-1110 www.endersfire.com John H. Enders is a Volunteer Fire Department and a 503c Non-Profit Organization.
This Ad is Sponsored By:
Loudoun Mutual Insurance Company www.loudounmutual.com
The Pond House 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths - 3300 sq. ft. home on one level - On beautiful, large pond in central Clarke near Old Chapel – 20 acres – Very private - Contemporary stone home completely renovated in 2017 – Open floor plan – New kitchen – High end Thermidor appliances – New oak floors – New ceramic bathrooms – New Anderson windows & doors – New roof – New HVAC – 1 add’l DUR – Viewshed beyond pond in conserv’ easement. $895,000
540-247-5408
Tom Cammack
www.sheridanmacmahon.com
110 East Washington Street - P.O. Box 1380 - Middleburg, VA 20118
10
JUNE 201 7
Healthy Outlook Rejecting the New Normal for Health
All Makes and Models
WE DO IT ALL!
Cars and Trucks
Bikes and Trikes
• Brakes • Exhaust •Tires • Tune Ups • Timing Belts • Transmissions • Engines • 4 x 4
• Harley • Honda • Yamaha • Suzuki • Polaris • ATV Dirt • Street • Enduro
23 North Buckmarsh Street, Berryville
540-955-2100
www.kennysautoandtrikeshop.com
VAOBSERVER.COM
Be the Change to Make a Change by JiJi Russell
In Bob Dylan’s “Subterranean Blues,” a song rife with social-political commentary, Dylan states: “You don’t need a weather man / To know which way the wind blows.” How true with respect to our state of health as a nation these days. Just look around you; or talk to a few folks. Do you notice a “new normal” with respect to health and well-being? Who’s not overweight? Who doesn’t have some variety of chronic pain? Who doesn’t suffer from anxiety and/or depression? Which population was newly enveloped into the diabetes epidemic? All of it: It’s killing us slowly and uncomfortably. Poor health and bundles of chronic conditions are making us tired, less engaged in life and work, less happy; limiting our elders’ quality of life; costing us millions in health-care expenses and lost productivity.
BE the change It’s time to make a change. It’s time to stop accepting the new normal and BE the change. Our poor collective health as a nation affects us all, either personally, within our family, within our workplace or community, and certainly: financially. We owe it to ourselves, our loved ones, and our nation to staunch our losses and reverse the devastating health epidemics that threaten our very existence. Three maladies loom larger than ever for us: diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. These “diseases of affluence”
are preventable, and we all need to do our part to prevent and better manage them, most urgently for our children. Let’s start first by considering some facts from the Centers for Disease Control. •
More than one-third (36.5%) of U.S. adults have obesity.
•
Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes, which each make the list among the top 10 causes of death in the US, and are preventable.
•
The percentage of children with obesity in the United States has more than tripled since the 1970s. Today, about one in five school-aged children (ages 6–19) has obesity.
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The estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the U.S. was $147 billion in 2008 U.S. dollars
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About one in every six U.S. healthcare dollars is spent on cardiovascular disease each year. By 2030, the CDC Foundation expects medical costs associated with cardiovascular diseases to rise to more than $818 billion, while lost productivity costs could exceed $275 billion.
Our health-care system, already crippled by many measures, faces a great burden from dealing with staggering,
preventable, chronic conditions and related illnesses, instead of focusing primarily on acute or emergent conditions. We need to take care of the chronic conditions at their root, and we can do this by starting with ourselves.
No magic pill Lifestyle changes, though not always easy to achieve, are the key to change when it comes to our chronic conditions. Would you rather change your eating habits, or manage diabetes for the second half of your life? Would you rather prioritize good sleep every night, or live in chronic pain every day? Daily choices and habits are the stuff that either erodes you or restores you. We’re living longer, but perhaps not better than our ancestors. With a current average life expectancy of about 78 years, a lot of thought currently is aimed toward the decreasing quality of our lives as we age. What if we could live until 80 and feel well until the very end? Health and wellness practitioners are attempting to hack away at the factors that contribute to a so-called “compression of mortality,” or the state of healthy, vital living up until the moment of death. Once again, the daily-ness of healthy living -- good food; regular movement; adequate sleep; and social connections – tend to make their way into many studies and evidencebased research on healthy living as we age.
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Where do you stand? With respect to the big three — diabetes, heart disease, and obesity — there are several assessments you can take . . . and many daily choices to be made. Determine your WHR. Figure out your waist-to-hips ratio (WHR), which is showing a higher correlation to potential heart disease and stroke than the body mass index (BMI) measurement. (BMI measures the ratio of your weight to your height.) The WHR measures the ratio of your waist circumference to your hip circumference. It determines how much fat is stored on your waist, hips, and buttocks. With medical research showing correlations between certain WHR values and heart disease and/or diabetes, it could help to know where you currently stand. (see sidebar for WHR resource) Monitor your blood sugar levels. In-home kits for testing blood glucose levels are readily available, and many
AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION Learn Your WHR and Blood Sugar. Calculate your waist-to-hip ratio and learn your level of risks at www.sparkpeople. com/resource/ calculator_waist.asp Download a free ebook on healthy blood sugar: https:// lifespa.com/bloodsugar-secretshealth-longevity
health advocates believe collecting relatively frequent data on blood glucose serves as a better indicator of your body’s ability to process sugar and your future risks than one day’s worth of lab results will show. Take some time to learn about healthy blood sugar. It might make you look at food differently if you know your current food choices and blood sugar reactions are setting you up for a future disaster. A free ebook on the topic, written by chiropractor and Ayurvedic doctor, John Doulliard, synthesizes the latest research with holistic mind-body evidence to educate all of us on this ever-important indicator of health and future risk. (see sidebar) Swim against the mainstream. Look outside the perimeter of the health-care system in order to find guides, coaches, mentors, and microcommunities working for greater health. Join, or even form, a support group for a condition you might contend with. Consider health coaches; chiropractors; herbalists; massage therapists; licensed counselors; personal trainers; yoga teachers; local farmers/ CSA providers; acupuncturists; physical therapists; and others who have discovered lowtech inroads to good health. There is no one way – or quick way -- to good health. It comes as a result of every decision, every day. You don’t have to be an example of perfection to “be the change.” Here are some simple ways to keep health and wellness at the fore every day: 1. Establish a walking group with friends or co-workers. 2. Pack your lunch and take food with you on outings, in order to eat healthy on the go. 3. Keep a change of clothes
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and athletic shoes in your car, or at your office so that you can be spontaneously active. 4. Pack water with you always. Sometimes thirst disguises itself as hunger. Focus on getting the “big four” for health and well-being in order: Food choices and habits. Ask someone besides yourself to observe you and make recommendations on what and when you eat. Movement. All kinds are good kinds; get moving.
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We are all in this together. All of us know, care about, or will care for someone with obesity, diabetes, or heart disease someday. We can do better than we’re doing. Reject the new normal, and make your choices every day. Realize that they affect all of us. JiJi Russell enjoys the pursuit of vibrant health. She serves as the corporate wellness program manager for American Public University System. She is a registered yoga teacher and has completed training in Integrative Nutrition, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Mindful Leadership, and Thai Yoga Bodywork. You can reach her at jijiyoga@yahoo.com
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Pizza Amore! The Village Market in Pine Grove serves (and delivers) food with love and a smile Article and photos by Jennifer Lee
T
he take-away you’ll get from shop owner Harry Neidig and The Village Market in Pine Grove — in addition to a delicious, handmade pizza — is the love of making it. Harry says it’s all about “making people happy. Whether it’s how much they like the pizza, or the smile on their face when they notice that we’ve begun to stock their favorite brand of beer, or just the friendly chit-chat here in the store with the regulars, I LOVE this job!” Harry and his wife Lindsey acquired the business rather
by accident and the need for a sandwich: “In August of last year (2016), I came to the store to get a sandwich. It was owned by Josh Burgess, who is a good friend of mine. But the store was closed, so I called Josh to see if everything was okay. He said he had to close the store unexpectedly. I looked at my watch, and asked him when he thought he’d be back, and he clarified that he had closed it a week ago. Closed indefinitely. I asked him if there was anything I could do to help.” At that point Burgess joked and said, “Sure, you wanna buy a store?”
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Harry joked right back and said, “Sure, how much?” So Harry and Burgess discussed figures. “I spoke to my wife about it. The next Monday, we re-opened the store with partial hours and very little inventory. During that week, we used all our sales proceeds to buy more inventory and supplies. Saturday that week we had our grand opening, a mere 10 days from when we first conceived the idea.” In the first couple months, Harry and his team, composed mostly of family members, were making about 18 pizzas a week for local residents in
Pine Grove and neighboring Shenandoah Retreat. Now, on a busy Friday and Saturday, they are making at least 35 pizzas a day and their customers are in Bluemont, Round Hill, Berryville, and beyond. They also offer delivery service of pizza — they even offer gluten-free pizza — sandwiches, soft drinks, cigarettes, beer, and anything else in the store within a 15-minute drive of the store for a $3 delivery fee. Each pizza is made fresh to order, with hand-stretched and tossed dough (“the biggest factor”) and plentiful ingredients, including an extra
helping of mozzarella cheese. Additional toppings include pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, black olives, onions, green and jalapeno peppers, bacon, anchovies, ham, and pineapple. The crust is thin but with great “tooth,” and has a hint of sweetness to compliment the savory toppings. The shop also offers an array of fresh sandwiches, including their signature steak and cheese sub, meatball, Reuben, breakfast sandwiches, and burgers. Another favorite that isn’t officially on the menu is the Philly Cheesesteak. “It has fewer toppings, but more meat
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and more cheese. If you get it ‘Harry’s Way,’ it has grilled onions and peppers, and comes on a garlic bread roll,” Harry says. The Neidigs plan to offer pan pizza, wings, fries, and panzarotti (deep-fried pizza) in the near future. The Village Market is truly a family affair. Harry was a single father of four young children when he met his wife, also a single parent with four young kids of her own. Two of the children have now moved on to college, but a few of the younger ones help regularly doing a variety of tasks at the market. One measures the cheese, one controls the ovens and “runs the floor,” two sons deliver products, while Harry and Lindsey make the food. “Never have I had a job that afforded me the opportunity to spend so much time with my wife and kids. That is the best part. And they care in a way others wouldn’t, and take real
pride because it’s our family business,” Harry says proudly. Harry was born in Philadelphia, “into a very Italian family. During my childhood, I gained a huge appreciation for the difference between pizza and GOOD pizza,” he says. He learned how to toss dough at a local mom-and-pop shop. Before owning the market, Harry served in the U.S. Army for 12 years, had a civilian job in Leesburg, and operated a small handyman business called Handyman Harry & Sons. He still does some handyman work as time allows, but with the increased business at the store, those hours are diminishing. “I always wanted to have a pizza shop, I just didn’t know it,” Harry exclaims with a wide smile. The history of the Pine Grove Village Market is colorful in itself. According to an article by Rene Locklear White in a 2012 edition of the Clarke Daily
News, local legend and longtime Pine Grove resident Louise Tapscott McClaughry (Ms. Louise) opened the market in 1969 with her husband, Ray, and provided essentials like drinks, bread, hunting licenses, gas, and even babysitting to the local community. She leased the market in the mid-1980s when she was spending more time in Florida, but returned in 2006 to operate the store for six more years before closing it in 2012 after 42 years of service. Mrs. McClaughry died at home at the age of 92 in 2016. It seems safe to say that the Village Market has a promising and long future ahead, given the growing popularity of its offerings and the enthusiasm of its owners. “Food is its own language of love. It just tastes better when it’s made with love, and I love making this food,” Harry says. One bite of their cheesy, delicious pizza is all the evidence you need to believe.
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Sandy Williams Photography Glad to Join Main Street Family By Rebecca Maynard
Anyone looking for a personal, professional photographer needs look no further than Sandy Williams Photography, which recently opened at 23 W. Main St. in Berryville. Owner Sandy Williams says she has loved photography for many years and started her business from home a few years ago. “I always have had a camera in my hand taking family photos, and then friends began asking me to photograph their families. Word spread and I started getting more and more requests,” Williams said. Two of her friends, as
well as her husband and family, encouraged her to pursue her dream of starting her own photography studio. “My favorite thing about photography is getting behind the camera and creating a memory of someone to last for years to come,” Williams said. “I love being able to capture the fun and loving side of clients and being able to show them something that they typically would not see themselves.” She specializes in maternity, newborns, children, cake smashes, seniors, families, engagements and even pets.
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“Some photographers only specialize in one or two, but I love the variety of being able to shoot so many specialties,” she said. She has a wide variety of props, maternity gowns, crowns, frilly dresses for little girls and some little boys’ outfits available for clients to use during their photo shoots. For now, she will be taking appointments only, but come fall she plans to be in the studio more and will be doing specials for the holiday season. Her Facebook page, Sandy Williams Photography and Instagram, s.k.williamsphotography, will have updates on specials. Williams’ husband Kenny has owned Kenny Williams Construction for more than 35 years and did all the renovation on her studio with his crew. She has three children, all married, and three grandchildren with another on the way. “My family has been so supportive and are happy that I have fulfilled a lifelong dream,” Williams said. “I had been do-
ing sessions in my home which I felt was not giving the clients the ideal experience that I am able to provide to them now.” “I chose Berryville because I love the quaintness of the town vibe,” Williams said. “It is small, but the people here are so friendly and have welcomed me to the town with open arms.” “It is so adorable and my space is perfect for the types
of photography that I choose to do, but I still can and will do some outdoor shots if that is what the client likes,” she said. “I hope by choosing Berryville, when my clients come to me, that they will shop around and eat in some of the amazing restaurants that we have here to offer.” For more information, visit sandywilliamsphotography. com or call 703-304-1075.
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River And Roots And A Grand Time On The River Photo by Jennifer Lee
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(540) 955-2171 Tickets are now on sale for the 4th annual River and Roots Festival, which will take place June 23rd thru 25th, 2017 at Watermelon Park in Berryville, VA. The festival will feature music by We Banjo 3 from Ireland, Michael Daves Trio — featuring banjo legend Tony Trischka and Prairie Home Companion fiddler Brittany Haas — Sherman Holmes, Black Masala, Corn Potato String Band, local favorites Furnace Mountain, and The Woodshedders, Kypen Martin and many more. On Friday, June 24, festival-goers can stock up for the weekend at the festival farmers market. True to its name, River and Roots is one of the finest placed-based festivals anywhere. You can see the fine performers elsewhere during the year — and you should — but something about the venue on our own Shenandoah River and the downhome feel make it truly special. There’s no better way to kick off the outdoor season, the celebration of local food and the regional groups that are dedicated to life along our river and the local scene. Catch up with neighbors, dance with your shoes off, let the kids stay up late, and dance into the night. River and Roots also features world-class learning. A second annual fiddle camp will take place at Watermelon Park Tuesday, June 20 – Friday, June 23 from 1-–3pm, with instruction by Malia Furtado, Dave Van Deventer, and Stacey Sinclair. Fiddlers of all ages are encouraged to participate. Tuition is $100. If you’re planning to stay and eat local, stock up on food by Chilly Hollow Farms and Edgegrove Farms. get all the veggies and meats you
need for grilling by the campfire at the Fest. Local yoga fave Anna Billman will help you get into the groove with a relaxing session for people of all experience levels. And how about the Chip Schutte All Star Teachers Jam Main Stage? The jam features Ralph Gordon, Danny Knicely, Mary Flower, Jamie Stillway, Rob Soper and Matt Munisteri. In our region, there’s no better place to celebrate local, with a special blend of national and international performers. Got a special story to tell about the Shenandoah? A memorable float or day on the water? Stop by The Downstream Project’s tent and get your memories documented for their Voices of the River series. Located on the banks of the Shenandoah River, Watermelon Park has been the home of Shepherd’s Ford Productions events for thirteen years, beginning with Watermelon Park Fest in 2004. The River and Roots festival will benefit the Friends of the Shenandoah River, and feature workshops on river stewardship, local food, and music. “We are honored that we can continue to offer something back to the river that provides us with such a great setting for this festival.” said festival organizer Frazer Watkins. Weekend tickets for River and Roots are $40–$80, and can be purchased at www.riverandroots.com or at the gate. More information on the festival and fiddle camp, including a schedule for the weekend, can be found on the website or by calling 540-955-1621. It all takes place at Watermelon Park Campground, 3322 Lockes Mill Road, Berryville Va.
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Community Briefs CC Training School & Johnson Williams Reunion
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Clarke County Training School and Johnson Williams High School will hold a reunion celebration July 8–9. The event will be held at Best Western Hotel and Conference Center in Winchester. There will be a dinner dance on Saturday, July 8, with Warren Fountaine from 2nd Chance performing. DJ Donnie Young of Sandy Springs, Maryland will DJ. The reunion prayer breakfast will be held Sunday morning, July 9. Rev. Robert Morgan will deliver a spiritual message with a short sermonette, and gospel recording artist Winfield Parker will perform some of his greatest hits, such as Sending Up My Timbers and Lord, I’m So Grateful. Tickets can be purchased for $50 per person from any committee member. All proceeds will be used toward the CCTSJWHS Scholarship Fund. For information, contact Vernie White at 703-791-3196 or Dee Dee Liggins at 540-542-9355, or visit www.cctsjwhs.com.
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“Keith’s Blues” Film & Concert for Parkinson’s Research
Amid all the summer action movies, a quieter sort of film called Keith’s Blues: My Life With Parkinson’s will be shown at the Barns of Rose Hill on Friday, July 21. Less dramatic than SpiderMan or Wonder Woman, perhaps, but possibly more inspiring, Keith’s Blues is a documentary featuring Berryville resident Keith Harrington, his lifelong interest in the blues, and his more recent experience
Keith Harrington. with Parkinson’s Disease.All proceeds of the screening and accompanying concert will be donated to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, the largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s research worldwide. “PD” is caused by a shortage of the brain chemical called dopamine, which sends signals to the part of the brain that controls movement and lets the muscles move smoothly. With PD, these nerve cells break down, the body no longer has enough dopamine, and symptoms such as tremors, slowness of movement, stiffness and impaired balance occur. PD is progressive and although there is currently no cure, a number of medications are available which ease symptoms for many people. Harrington is from England, and met his wife, Winchester
native Beverley Byrd, on a local bus in Indonesia. Because he has family ties on both sides of the Atlantic, he originally decided to make a home movie as a way of connecting the people living far apart who likely would not be able to meet in person. “A friend said I needed a producer,” Harrington said, explaining how he ended up working with former BBC producer David Martin. With many hours of footage to organize, Martin finally told Harrington that if he really wanted to produce a documentary he needed to narrow the film down to one subject. Harrington felt that the one subject had to be PD, but the 50-minute film still weaves unique and soulful blues music by a number of performers throughout, including
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JU NE 201 7 Harrington himself, who will be performing with a band he has put together specifically to support showings of his film. The band, Keith and Friends, will play before the film screening. The band consists of Gina Byrd, vocals; Terri Shaeffer, vocals; Donnie Gray, drums; Terry Metz, keyboards; Jon Rose, bass and guitar; Ted Pugh, guitar; and Harrington, bass, guitar, and vocals. Harrington has had PD for over a decade and says the initial diagnosis was difficult. His own father had had a difficult time with the disease, but he said that far more is known about PD now, in addition to availability of better medications. He finds that exercise helps, in addition to medication, and the film portrays him engaged in a variety of activities, including playing tennis and using a treadmill. In addition to keeping as physically and mentally active as possible, Harrington enjoys playing music in the studio adjacent to his home. Giving a tour of his studio, he explained that he plays keyboard with his right hand these days, as PD has made playing with his left difficult. However, what he accomplishes with one hand is delightful, as are his other instrumental skills. “It’s a tricky path, and the point of showing me playing tennis and keyboards and cooking and doing carpentry was not to show off,” he explained. Rather, he wants to be informative and encouraging for those newly diagnosed. Doors at the Barns of Rose Hill open for the event at 7pm Friday, July 21. The concert starts at approximately 8pm and the film starts at approximately 9.15pm and runs for about 50 minutes. Tickets are $25 in advance until 3pm on the day of event and $30 at the door. Children 12 and younger are free when accompanied by an adult. Tickets may be purchased in advance at www.barnsofrosehill.org
or by calling the box office at 540-955-2004 (12-3 pm Tuesday to Saturday). — Rebecca Maynard
Softball Team Proud Of Season
On Wednesday, May 31, the Clarke County High School Varsity softball team was defeated by Goochland in the semi-finals of the regional tournament and the game that would cost them a spot in the state tournament. This loss, however, was one of few in their overall successful season. The Clarke softball team began practices in mid February to prepare for the upcoming season. With many new players, coach Susan Grubbs stated that she wanted to strengthen the team not only with many softball drills and exercises, but also with many team bonding activities. This helped bring many wins to the team this year. The athletes for the varsity softball team were extraordinary both on and off the field. The team took it upon themselves to reach out to Little League in Clarke County and held a clinic in which they helped instruct Little League
athletes on softball drills and stations. Over thirty Little League softball players attended. In addition to the clinic, and a handful of the Little League players assisted in honoring the seniors on senior night and and stood on the field with the varsity players for the National Anthem. Since the majority of the girls played Little League as children, the Clarke County High School varsity softball team wanted to reach back to where they had started their careers in softball. Susan Grubbs, who has been the head coach for Softball at Clarke County High School for the past thirty years and played for the softball team while she attended the high school, helped lead the Varsity softball team to a very successful season. Her excitement for the sport and dedication to her team is what helped carry the group of athletes to the semi-finals of the Regional tournament. Coach Grubbs praises the efforts and abilities that each player brought to the field, especially those of the three seniors who played their last season for the Clarke County High School softball team. Dani Bloomingdale, Sheilia Nappi and Haley Haan each ended
their high school softball careers with a triumphant year and earned the praise of their coaches, teammates and the softball community. While the team was disappointed after their loss, Coach Grubbs reminded the team, “Once you forget not winning and get over the loss, you’ll look back on the season and really appreciate the special memories that you have gained from this season. You really cannot complain about such a good season.” — Sinead Juday
Cosmic Harvest Band Concert Raises Money for F.I.S.H.
The Barns of Rose Hill in Berryville invites one and all for a special evening of art and music Saturday, July 1 from 8 to 10 pm. Come out for the opening reception of Keith Patterson’s exhibit, Drip n’ Splatter, followed by blues music by his band, Keith Patterson & The Cosmic Harvest Band. All attendees will be entered in a drawing for a Keith Patterson painting and proceeds will benefit F.I.S.H. of Clarke County, a nonprofit food pantry and
clothing store. The band includes Keith Patterson on guitar, slide guitar and lead vocals; Pat Craig on guitar and backing vocals; Scott Kidd on keyboards and backing vocals; Joe on bass and backing vocals and Drew Gardner on drums. Influences include Muddy Waters, The Rolling Stones, The Allman Brothers, Led Zeppelin, George Thorogood and Hound Dog Taylor. Keith Patterson describes their music as up-tempo, danceable and fun. “We play both kinds of music,” he says, “Old Blues Standards and Original Old Blues.” Doors at the Barns of Rose Hill open at 7pm Saturday, July 1 and the concert starts at 8pm. Tickets are $15 in advance until 3pm on the day of event and $20 at the door. Children 12 and younger are free when accompanied by an adult. Tickets may be purchased in advance at www.barnsofrosehill.org or by calling the box office at 540955-2004 (12–3 pm Tuesday to Saturday). Don’t miss the opportunity to hear some great music, see an interesting exhibit and support a good cause, all in one night! — Rebecca Maynard
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Historic Art of Quilting is Alive and Well in the Northern Shenandoah Valley Nothing could be more neighborly than a block party — except maybe The Block Party, the 2017 biennual show of quilts made of blocks by the area's needlework groups. They put their handiwork on display back in April at Clarke County Parks and Recreation Center in Berryville, bringing together hobbyists, professionals, teachers, suppliers, and fans from Strasburg, Winchester, Warrenton, Stephens City, Marshall,Toms Brook, and elsewhere for the delight of visitors from many miles around. The ancient art has all sorts of new manifestations, so the show does not have to rely on grandma's taste and techniques, although echoes from the past are part of the charm of the modern products. Kelley Bova, chair of the 2017 show and proprietress of the Scrappy Apple in Winchester, described squares made to illustrate the challenge for 2019's show: "All
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Creatures Great and Small." Among the cats and dogs and bear paws were butterflies that echoed the style of the 1930's. At the same time she explained how computer-directed longarm sewing machines can quilt multiple layers of very large, elaborately designed bedding with straight lines or swirls in various patterns, enhancing the old with the new. The range of products is astonishing. Besides bed quilts in all sizes from cribs to kingsized, the creations include lap robes, shoulder throws, hand bags, tote bags,clothing items, pillow cases, Christmas ornaments, flags, door hangings, wall hangings, framed pictures, and more. There is even a practical carrier for quilts! The knot-tied comforts and handstitched patterns of traditional quilting bees are still in vogue along with machine sewn designs. Quilted objects make popular gifts. A boutique at the show offered a wide choice of handcrafted items. The "Twilight Illusion" quilt raffled at the Block Party became a birthday present from the local winner to her friend Paula Hipke of South Carolina. A visit to the May meeting of the Shenandaoh Piecemakers gave evidence of the guild's inspiration. Over two dozen women met to hear a speaker who talked about color choice and to illustrate her points with her widely recognized works in a subtle range of shades. The show-and-tell time gave attendees a chance to admire each other's recent handiwork. They also planned future meetings, inviting in resource people from other guild groups and also setting dates for a couple of social events during the year. They are friends, who
teach and motivate one another. The quilters work for themselves and their families, but they also offer their skills to the community. One Piecemaker has promised a chickenthemed quilt for a 4-H chicken club's fundraiser. Depending on the size of the project, quilt raffles can raise over $1000. Many of the creations, however, go as gifts to folks in wheel chairs, to cancer or dialysis patients, to hospitalized children, to veterans' groups. Besides lap robes and bedding, some quilters are making placemat sized games with entertaining or manipulatable trinkets attached. Last year one group counted 150 handcrafted items given to community causes. That represents scores of hours of patient, delicate work. The several groups in the guild welcome new enthusiasts and look forward to the 2019 show. Shenandoah Valley residents-men and women--who admire fine art made by their neighbors will be impressed by the magic the quilters can do with simple fabric and thread. Meeting times Apple Valley Needle Threaders Quilt Club; 2nd Thursdays, September - July, 9:30am at Clarke County Parks and Recreation Center, Berryville. Shenandoah Piecemakers; 2nd Mondays, September–July, 6:30–8:30pm at Clarke County Parks and Recreation Center, Berryville. Skyline Quilters' Guild; 1st Thursday, 7 p.m. at Strasburg Community Center. Virginia Quilt Museum; Tuesday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. at 301 South Main Street, Harrisonburg. — by Edith Welliver
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JU NE 201 7
Sleep Apnea: More Than Just Snoring By Dr. Ahmed Al Attar, DDS
One of the most common breathing disorders in our society today is Sleep Apnea, but as common as it is, it’s still underdiagnosed leading to a multitude of health issues and complications. There are two recognized types of sleep apnea: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): This is the most common form of sleep apnea. It’s caused by collapse of the soft tissue at the back of the throat leading to partial or complete blockage of the airway. Central Sleep Apnea (CSA): This type is caused by failure of the breathing center (in the brain) to send a signal to the respiratory muscles to initiate breathing. In this type, the airway is unblocked. Obstructive sleep apnea is the more common type. How common? According to a study conducted by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine in 2014, approximately 18 percent of men and 8 percent of women suffer from OSA. Fewer than 10 percent of those are diagnosed and of those, fewer than 25 percent are treated. In order to appreciate the danger posed by sleep apnea, it’s important to have a basic understanding of what happens to a person with sleep apnea while they are sleeping and the effects on their body. The obstruction of the airway during sleep can either cause a complete stoppage of breathing (apnea) or partial stoppage in breathing (hypopnea). These are episodes that can last a minimum of 10 seconds per episode. On average, a person with OSA can have hundreds of episodes in a typical sleep cycle. The result is a decrease in oxygen delivery to the body, disrupting the normal sleep
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VAOBSERVER.COM Private Parties Events rhythm needed by the body to perform important metabolic functions, resulting in major effects on every organ system. This will lead to an increased risk to develop serious health conditions such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, acid reflux disease, as well as other systemic conditions. If left untreated, OSA can potentially increase risk of death by approximately 46 percent. The first step to manage OSA is recognition of symptoms and seeking treatment as needed. Screening for OSA is simple and can be done through a self-administered questionnaire online (https://www.sleepassociation.org/sleep-apnea-screening-questionnaire-stop-bang/). If the test results show an increased risk for sleep disorder, the next step would be to discuss those results with your primary care provider to assess the need for a diagnostic sleep study. This can be administered in a sleep lab or at home, and will provide physicians with the necessary findings to diagnose OSA. Treating OSA can be frustrating to patients; there is no medication that can be taken to manage it. All options presently available have down-
sides that may limit patient compliance. Available modalities include CPAP (continuous positive air pressure) therapy, delivering air via a full face or nasal mask to keep the airway open. Oral appliance therapy, custom-made by a dentist to position the lower jaw forward in order to keep the airway patent. And surgery, by ablating part of the soft palate as well as Uvula and adenoids to achieve the same results. Although CPAP is still considered to be the gold standard in managing OSA, oral appliance therapy is becoming an acceptable alternative in almost all cases where CPAP is not tolerated by patients, thus improving the patient’s compliance and increasing the success rate of treatment. Surgery improves airway obstruction without relying on devices, but risks of complications from surgery, as well as potential recurrence of obstruction minimize long term success. Regardless of which modality of treatment is selected by patients, it’s crucial for people suffering with OSA to recognize the grave consequences of no treatment. They must consider all alternatives if one option does not work for them.
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20
JUNE 201 7
Clarke County Community Band Celebrates 25th Anniversary With Concert By Rebecca Maynard
On Tuesday nights, the band room at Johnson-Williams Middle School in Berryville is packed with practicing musicians, but they are not 6th to 8th graders. They are the Clarke County Community Band, high school and adult amateur musicians of all ages who have been practicing and performing since 1992. The band celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, and it is holding a commemorative concert on Friday, June 23, at 6:30pm at Rose Hill Park in Berryville. All are encouraged to attend and the event is free of charge. The band enjoys playing a wide variety of music, and the upcoming concert promises several treats. John Ford, a previous conductor for the band, created an arrangement of “Shenandoah” that became the band’s signature piece. Ford also created an arrangement of Beatles tunes that will be played June 23. The current assistant conductor, Doug Thompson, has created two arrangements for the band, one an arrangement from Anton Bruckner’s work and the other a fun arrangement of video game tunes called Smash Brothers. David Worthington, president of the band, plays trombone, and his wife, Julie Staggers, plays the clarinet. They have been involved with the band for a number of years. “We play for the joy of it,” he said, adding that some members played in high school, put their instruments away for a time, and then joined the band because they had a desire to play again. Worthington also said that a community band is an ideal activity for people who may not be as mobile as they used to be.
“When you’re into your 80s, you might not be able to play sports anymore, but you can still play an instrument,” he said. On a recent Tuesday evening, under the direction of new director Paul Shoremount (the previous director had to step down for health reasons) and interim conductor Alec Bennington, the group of approximately 45 impressed this reporter as they worked at perfecting Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” A wide variety of ages blended their instruments together beautifully, taking direction willingly from Bennington. Vice president of the band Chris Shipe plays trumpet and his wife Diane, also in the band, plays flute. The two met playing in the Danville Legion Band and one of their attractions to the Berryville/Clarke County area was the community band. In addition to the full band, a sub-group called Dixie Rhythm frequently performs, as does a brass quintet. All three play numerous concerts, and over the years have delighted crowds at the fairgrounds, the local balloon festival, Christmas concerts, and at the annual Clarke County fireworks show, an event they enjoy each year. Rehearsals are held every Tuesday at 7:30pm in the Johnson-Williams Middle School band room. All high school-age and older musicians of all playing levels are welcome. There is no entry audition or membership dues. The band is sponsored by the Clarke County Board of Supervisors. Visit the band’s Facebook page or www.clarkecountycommunityband.com for more information. “It’s a nice community group, and new members are always welcome,” Shipe said.