INSIDE PODCASTERS page 6 SKY BAR page 7 IMPROV page 8 GOODALL BUILDING page 11 HAPPITIME page 14
APRIL 2016 VOL. 10, NO. 11
CCAC Asks for Data on Current Population and Build-Out
FIRST PITCH page 15 CHIMNEY BUILDERS page 9 ULTRAMARTHONER page 14 DIE, BAD WORD page 19 SLICK GREASE pages 20 PAIN IS PAIN page 21 TIPTOE page 22 SPRING SOUNDS page 23 TENNIS SISTERS page 24 CROZET GEOCACHES page 25 GARDEN WEEK page 26 APRIL SNOW page 27 BEE FRIENDLY page 28 HOUSE CHURCH page 30 ALL SAINTS ICONS page 31 ER ROLES page 33 BEREAVEMENTS page 36 PITCH-IN DAY page 38
CVFD volunteers painted over obscene graffiti at the Barnes Lumber property in downtown Crozet. See story page 19.
New Owners For Downtown Properties Architect Kurt Wassenaar and real estate investor Mark Green are the principal partners in a group of investors that recently bought the main commercial properties in north downtown Crozet. The group, operating as Blue Springs Development, based in Charlottesville, paid $1.46 million for the stores stretching from Over The Moon Bookstore to the Crozet Great
Valu, about 25 percent less than the county’s tax assessment value of $2.1 million. Their Crozet project is incorporated as Crozet Center Partners LLC. The properties had been gradually assembled into consolidated ownership over many years by former owner Frank Wood. His heirs came into it upon his death about 10 years ago. continued on page 13
In a resolution at its March 16 meeting, the Crozet Community Advisory Committee asked White Hall District Supervisor Ann Mallek to investigate county data on the current population of Crozet and what can reasonably be projected on the basis of already–approved housing projects. The CCAC also passed a second resolution opposing the “transferability” of density rights. White Hall Planning Commissioner Jennie More raised a concern that county planning staff are making policy recommendations by suggesting that because some parcels in Crozet have developed at their by-right density, others should be rezoned to achieve higher densities than the Crozet Master plan calls for in their location. The case was brought up by the requested rezoning for a project called Adelaide on 20 acres on Rt. 250 that seeks R6 density, or about 90 units, on parcels now zoned R1, or about 28 units. The resolution said, “The CCAC does not believe that density should be ‘transferable’ in a manner inconsistent with the Crozet Master Plan and continued on page 4
Healthy Soil Means Healthy Food To compete with industrial agriculture, organic agriculture needs a support infrastructure, too, and Tim Page of Crozet has stepped up with a company that can revitalize impoverished soils with liquid doses of biological nutrients and minerals. Living Soil Solutions LLC is a year old now. “Our main focus is balancing soil,” said Page, “getting the chemistry and biology where we want it. Those two things influence each other quite a lot. If you can get the chemis-
try in order, the biology is likely to follow. “A lot of times we’ve focused over the years on NPK: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium. This can cause issues over time. It’s not a long-term strategy. Say you’re farming corn. With [NPK] fertilizer, you can tie up trace elements. You can boost yields, but you burn out the organic matter in your soil. That’s what holds the nutrients. You can force the plant to grow
continued on page 10
Courtney Smith, first place female at the Sugar Hollow 5k March 12. See story page 14.
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CROZET gazette
APRIL 2016
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CROZET gazette
MICHAEL J. MARSHALL, Publisher and Editor news@crozetgazette.com | 434-466-8939
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CROZET gazette
APRIL 2016
To the Editor Send your letters to the editor to news@crozetgazette.com. Letters will not be printed anonymously. Letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Crozet Gazette.
Kudos The WAHS Theater Ensemble has really come into its own, as shown with a fabulous, full-scale production of Grease on March 24-26. The depth of talent among the WAHS student body, built by tireless and dedicated director Caitlin Pitts over the several years of her tenure, is remarkable. Sophomores Cutter Mendenhall as Danny, Chloe Horner as Sandy, and junior Ryann Sheehy as Rizzo shone in all aspects of their performances, from singing to dancing to acting. The charming and challenging choreography was executed with polish, and actors in the supporting roles, such as Virginia Garey (Marty), Lauren Rider (Frenchy), and Ben
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that by-right development in one area should not serve as a justification for more dense development in other areas.” The CCAC’s discussion followed two presentations on new projects, one by Southern Development named West Glen that seeks a special permit to build a road across Powell’s Creek that would connect Orchard Drive with Cling Lane. The site is about a half mile west of downtown. The road slices through critical slopes, a no-no in county policy, and fills flood plain to build the road, also a no-no. The county engineer’s report on the road plan opposed it, but the report was not made available to the CCAC in time for their meeting. The proposed project has 40 tightly packed single-family detached houses and 31 townhouses on 1/6th and 1/10th acre lots. Current residents of Cling Lane said they found the density “stunning.” The second presentation was on a request by Riverbend Development to rezone 38 acres between Parkside Village and Foothill Crossings in eastern
Nordbrock (Kenickie), were equally outstanding. Principal Darah Bonham brought down the house as a smooth and sophisticated Teen Angel singing my favorite song, “Beauty School Dropout,” and the ensemble numbers really raised the roof! The show I attended was nearly sold out, and for good reason—the Crozet community has learned they can count on a joyful evening of youthful talent and artistry whenever they attend a WAHS musical. We are so lucky to have the enthusiasm and dedication of the huge cast, crew, and parent/teacher support network (especially vocal and orchestral directors Eric Betthauser and Joel Hartshorn) who deliver such high quality performances year after year, right in our own back yard. Kudos and thanks to everyone involved for a delightful evening! Clover Carroll Crozet
Crozet. The change would alter zoning now allowing 35 units and raise it to permit 210 units. Attorney Valerie Long made the presentation on behalf of Riverbend. She noted that the project would make road connections between Hilltop Street and Park Ridge Road that are sought in the Master Plan. Citizens noted that the road was necessary in order for Riverbend to have lots to sell. Long said there is no plan yet for how the project would be designed. Current residents of Foothill Crossings were on hand and expressed dismay that neighboring zoning could be changed from that they accepted when they bought their houses. In a discussion about how the pace of housing construction has raced so far ahead of corresponding road and school infrastructure, Steve Kostiw offered “the planning principle that infrastructure should be built– in, not bolted on,” a concise expression that won the admiration of many who wanted to express the same point. The CCAC also raised the desirability of a new survey of Crozet community attitudes on
continued on page 34
CROZET gazette
APRIL 2016
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Crozet Elementary Students Take Unique Approach to SOLs: Podcasts By Rebecca Schmitz becca@crozetgazette.com Fifth graders at Crozet Elementary showcased their writing, editing, researching, and recording skills at the school’s Community Night on March 17, treating parents and other attendees to professionalsounding, radio-style web broadcasts known as “podcasts.” Students spent two months working either alone or in small groups to produce the 3-minute segments, which covered topics such as art, sports, baking, Disney trivia, spooky stories, and even the best way to redesign indoor recess. The podcasts were an inventive approach to helping the students master the Virginia Standards of Learning in writing. As a bonus, they got a taste of the complexities of broadcasting by researching and incorporating sound effects and music, and by creating scripts with lively, engaging dialogue. “The entire thing was self-created, start to finish,” said fifth grade teacher Brandy Garbaccio.
Garbaccio came up with the idea for using podcasts as a learning and research tool this summer. She had noticed that some students weren’t comfortable speaking up in class, and thought podcasts might be a more low-pressure way for them to gain confidence expressing themselves. As the students honed their oral deliveries in the sound studio, she was pleased to see the more reserved students gradually open up and appear more at ease. “Everybody was animated,” Garbaccio said. “It also really brought out some stronger writing. Because they were invested in their topics and as their words gained a voice, they were motivated to edit their writing.” Plenty of work went into creating the short broadcasts. After selecting a topic that interested them, the students had to find and evaluate resources, decide how they wanted to structure their broadcast, write and edit the script, incorporate sound effects and music using a free sound website, and practice
Braden Selmer (front) and back (L-R) Eli Scarbrough, Ayden Wyant, and Jaden Steppe display the logo they created for their podcast narrating a Miami Heat/ Boston Celtics game.
Anabella Boyle and Emma Reisch in the studio to record their Disney trivia podcast.
recording. They edited and critiqued each other’s work throughout the process. Listening to each other’s broadcasts created a sense of healthy competition, which encouraged them to revise their own work to make it more distinct and unique. “Each student had to develop a ‘niche’,” Garbaccio said. “We had three groups who were interested in dogs. One ended up focusing on the different kind of breeds. Another focused on how to train a familyfriendly dog. And another portrayed herself as a dog expert helping you to decide on whether a dog is right for you.” In addition to creating a script and recording, the students had to develop a logo that represented and advertised their broadcasts. This presented a challenge, Garbaccio said, as many logos for topics such as DC Comics or Minecraft are copyrighted. “The students created a logo unique to their show and its theme. They had to add their own technique, their own ideas.” Students also created their own “handles,” or nick-
names, which they used on-air, so that their actual identities were protected. Once the scripts were complete, the students practiced their podcasts in the room where morning announcements are recorded. Kinsley Campbell and Maggie Inge, both avid soccer players, had created a podcast that explained the various soccer positions, which were their favorites, and why. They inserted upbeat music, and the sounds of cheering fans, to complement their banter. “We have the sounds queued up. We have royalty-free sound effects. The kids highlight in their scripts where they have music or where they have sound effects, so it’s ready,” Garbaccio said. Between “takes,” she encouraged them to relax and have fun. “We usually do a runthrough first. If we like it, we stick with it. If not, we listen to it, and then we critique it.” Garbaccio recorded the students on her phone, crouching in front of the table where they sat in the recording studio. “Voice memo works beautifully to continued on page 17
For over 35 years, the Green Olive Tree, Inc. has gladly accepted donations of toys, shoes, clothing, household goods, books, linens, and kitchen items that are available to the community at low prices. Please visit us anytime! The third full week of every month is an $8 bag sale. Looking forward to your visit!
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CROZET gazette
APRIL 2016
7
LE FOOT SOCCER CAMP
Sunday, June 12 • 4 - 6 p.m. Monday - Friday, June 13 - 17 • 8:30-11:30 a.m. Crozet Elementary School 1407 Crozet Ave, Crozet
For Boys & Girls Birth Years 1999-2011 Our camp is specifically designed for individual players committed to soccer. Players are carefully grouped according to age and ability. Offered as an excellent tune-up for upcoming travel, ODP/PDP, district and state try-outs. Individuals will greatly benefit from our unique training concepts.
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median age is 43, and 30 percent of those people have a graduate degree. When we project those demographics out to 2020, they’re equally favorable. People who now drive to Charlottesville to shop at Wegmans or Whole Foods will love the convenience of coming to Piedmont Place.” Piedmont Place echoes the design and tone of the Crozet Library, and together the two structures set the architectural tone for the rest of the town, Holzwarth said. Sustainability is a key element of design. A zealot for energy-efficient construction, Holzwarth is using low-flow water systems, LED high-efficiency lighting, advanced foam technology for insulation, and a state-of-the-art HVAC system. He also plans to install a 12kW solar field on the roof to help generate the power needs for the building. “Our goal is to complete construction in a seven-month timeline,” said Holzwarth. “So over the next several months, people in Crozet will get to watch this beautiful structure rise up out of a site that has been an empty lot for too long. It’s not often that you have the chance to build a new downtown,” Holzwarth added, “and we fully expect that Piedmont Place will establish the vision for what we can expect to see in our community for years to come.”
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Crozet is one step closer to establishing a new downtown with the start of Piedmont Place, a 22,000-square foot, three-story, mixed-use development on Library Avenue across from the Crozet Library. “Piedmont Place is a complete lifestyle play,” said Drew Holzwarth, who, with his wife Michelle, bought the property in June 2015. “Our friends and neighbors love our little town and we want to create a locallyfocused place that serves the needs of our community right here on Library Avenue.” Piedmont Place wil have a restaurant with outdoor dining on the terrace-level. The first floor will house seven businesses, as well as a common area for seating. Prospective tenants include a craft brew and wine specialist, a homemade ice cream shop, an organic butcher and a gourmet food counter. The second floor contains four 1,200 square-foot, high-end apartments, and the top floor has two more apartments, as well as the highly anticipated sky bar with outdoor seating 40 feet above street level that will have a panoramic view of Crozet’s Bucks Elbow Mountain. “The 2015 demographics of Crozet, as well as the size of the community, support the type of businesses we plan to offer,” said Holzwarth. “The median household income within a 2.5 mile radius is nearly $100,000, the
iam Walter w/ Travis ies: Will Ellio tt, D r Se r a vi d rite mpster • APR 1 T u 6 J o gw n Sp ewksbur can D in Lunsfor y, B d e Son meri , L rman, Er a e st e r r Y 4 15 A Will Ove Ba rittn Sea l / n • AP d PR D E w R ie
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CROZET gazette
APRIL 2016
Henley Drama Class Brings Brownsville Students’ Stories To Life By Rebecca Schmitz becca@crozetgazette.com Thanks to a collaboration with Henley Middle School’s eighth-grade drama class, Brownsville’s second graders recently had the rare treat of seeing their written words spring from the page to the stage. Four weeks after drafting short stories about subjects ranging from Minecraft to fairies, the five second grade classrooms made the trek across the Brownsville parking lot to Henley, where they watched a group of enthusiastic and talented actors perform their stories live on stage. Henley’s drama teacher, Leslie Tanner, got the idea for this “storytime theater” while attending a workshop for theater teachers in New York City this past summer. “There was a group called Story Pirates,” Tanner said. “They’re professional actors who go into schools and do something similar, although they do more of an improv. That’s where I first got
the idea.” Tanner approached Brownsville second grade teacher Christa Livermon to discuss the possibility of doing something similar between the two schools. Livermon readily agreed. “The drama students came over one morning to pitch the idea. They had simple costumes and acted out little skits. Then they told the kids to ‘get writing!’ Our kids wrote and revised for a few weeks, and then we sent the stories over.” The Henley drama students read the stories—over 100 of them in total—and wrote helpful notes and comments on sticky notes for each story. “The kids were thrilled to read their notes!” Livermon said. Eventually, the two drama classes chose 26 stories to be split between two performances. Eighth grade actor Will Ancona said, “Our voting wasn’t based on what was good and what wasn’t, it based on what we thought we could act out. They could be a really, really good writer, but their story might be
From left: Owen Shaffer, Chanti Anderson, Francesca Gibson, Mary Moffett and Will Ancona
hard to act out.” His classmate Mary Moffett added, “A lot of them had great ideas, but it was just hard to show them on the stage.” Actor Francesca Gibson said, “We tried to choose stories at all different levels of writing, to give all the kids confidence, because they will have a chance to see their work being performed. And it’s just nice to be able to do it because it will
make them really happy.” The eighth graders then had three weeks to rehearse, practicing every other day for three weeks. Before the show began, Will Ancona said he was sure the second graders would enjoy seeing the actors perform their stories. “I think it’s really cool that we’re getting to do this for the kids, because usually when they write their story they just continued on page 15
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CROZET gazette
APRIL 2016
Buying or selling…How-to Begins with Know-How “If you are selling your home, condition is of primary importance. If you’ve
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CROZET gazette
APRIL 2016
Healthy Soil
YOU ARE UNIQUE, AND SO ARE YOUR HEARING NEEDS. LET US HELP YOU FIND THE HEARING SOLUTION RIGHT FOR YOU.
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— Tammy Garber, Au.D. Discover the value of working with a doctor of audiology for yourself.
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Third Thursday at The Lodge at Old Trail april 21 5:30 pm
Wildlife at Home with Marlene Condon
faster and larger than it’s meant to, which weakens it and leaves it susceptible to disease and pest pressure. “One important benefit of trace elements is they allow the plant to produce enzymes that strengthen the plant and create what are called secondary metabolites. Those influence flavor and color. For example, compounds like caffeine. Plants use them as communication signals, so when you plant in a living, well-balanced soil it’s much better able to grow to its genetic potential. “This is so dynamic. These processes have been happening for millions of years and we’ve screwed it up in less than half a century. We’ve produced a lot of food, but our topsoil is in the Chesapeake and so are the nutrients. “Any time you rip up soil you destroy fungal networks. Nature has its own system. We need to learn to mimic the system, not try to control it. One way to look at it is feed the soil, not the plant. Let the soil feed the plant. The more in-depth we look at soil biology, the more we understand that soil feeds the plant and it has a regenerative system. “People see some plants as weeds. Often that’s a consequence of the state of the soil. If you’ve applied uncomposted manure over and over again, the potassium is excessive. What will happen is you have an environment where certain weeds will thrive. They can out-compete the plants you’re trying to grow. A herbicide deals with the
symptom. Looking at the nutrients in the soil deals with the problem. We’re trying to get to the root of the problem, not deal with its symptoms. Page’s company makes a compost “tea” from a raw material of worm castings from worms that Page grows. “It’s rich in biology, protozoa especially. What ends up happening is you create a web of life where your foundations are consumed by larger organisms, such as bacteria. Bacteria contain more protein than protozoa can hold onto, which is released as nitrogen—ammonia—which is a plant-available nutrient. The idea behind compost tea is to create life through micro-organisms that support soil and the plant. Micro-organisms live in the leaves of the plant, too. So spraying beneficial organisms on the plant you help protect it and reduce the chances that pathogens will occupy the leaf. It’s checks and balances. The same idea works in soil. Healthy soil sequesters a massive amount of carbon.” Depending on the situation, an acre of land could require 20 to 25 gallons of tea, Page said. Tea can be made to be fungaldominant or bacterial-dominant, depending on what is needed. “First we soil test to see where you are and then we decide on an approach.” Page has a 250-gallon tea tank he pulls on a trailer. For homeowners he brews and brings it to the yard. For farmers, he tries to create a site on the farm where tea can be brewed. So getting to know the client is important because
continued on page 34
Nature writer Marlene Condon will provide a personal look at the backyard wildlife that inspires her writing. In this photo and video presentation you’ll see that there’s much more to a nature-friendly garden than birds and butterflies! Marlene’s wildlife commentaries are widely published, appearing in such publications as The Washington Post and Baltimore Sun and major newspapers throughout Virginia. Locally, she writes for The Crozet Gazette. Following the Q & A, Marlene will sell and sign copies of The Nature-Friendly Garden.
Make your reservation early. RSVP to 434.823.9100 or rsvp@lodgeatoldtrail.com
330 Claremont Lane, Crozet, Virginia 22932 | www.lodgeatoldtrail.com
INDEPENDENT LIVING • ASSISTED LIVING • MEMORY CARE
Tim Page
CROZET gazette
APRIL 2016
By Phil James
11
phil@crozetgazette.com
Meet You Crozet was a happening place at the turn of the 20th century. In existence officially for barely two decades, it had already attracted business leaders and others with a progressive bent determined to generate amenities in their village that would be both useful and enjoyable. As early as 1881, the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway promoted Crozet’s earliest entrepreneurs, those households who were prepared to receive summer boarders escaping the less-pleasant conditions of the lowland cities to the east. Guests were entertained with lawn parties, dances, hayrides and the coming and going of the trains. Each home touted their particular comforts including spacious shaded lawns, pure mountain water, and fresh, plentiful victuals at regular meal times. Political speakers arriving by train were assured of an inter-
at the
ested crowd of hundreds to listen to and debate their particular agendas. A local branch of the “Commercial Building and Loan Association” was formed in 1894. By 1897, the fertile Piedmont lands surrounding the town were supplying commercial quantities of apples, cherries, grapes, peaches, plums, raspberries and strawberries, shipped by the crate, basket and barrel via the C&O. Lucrative eastern and northern markets clamored for more. By the early 1900s, village churches included the Baptists, Episcopalians and Methodists. Mail arrived daily on the 11:45 a.m. train. Messrs. Ellison, Haden, and O’Neill operated general stores. John Moomau opened Crozet Pharmacy in 1904 in a simple building with a wooden sidewalk next door to Ellison’s Store on The Square. When Ruth Wayland Nelson
Crozet Drug’s soda fountain countertop was gleaming and the stools were lined up and waiting for the next round of riders in this early-’60s view. [Original photo by Mac Sandridge]
Drug Store!
Looking down on the corner of The Square. The original Crozet Hardware was replaced by an A&P grocery store that closed in 1946, which made way for Red Front Market. [Original photo by Mac Sandridge]
(1892–1983) recorded some of her memories of Crozet’s “horse and buggy days,” she wrote, “Down on the corner where the drug store now stands was a tiny shoe repair shop.” A new Crozet Drug Store was opened in 1909 “down on the corner” of The Square. McChesney “Ches” Goodall, son-in-law of Crozet businessman James Ellison, fashioned and had built the two-story red brick edifice. The Goodall Building, as it was generally known, became the envy of western Albemarle County and a welcoming respite to all who arrived via the C&O.
Crozet Hardware Company, co-owned by William McLeod and Morton Sadler, opened in the large room adjacent to the drug store, fronting on The Square’s handsome new concrete sidewalk. Its proprietors found a ready clientele for their lines of hardware, gardening and farming implements. Ellis Harris opened the Crozet Hotel in 1910 on the second floor of the Goodall Building and was soon joined in the business by his daughter Mae. This hotel joined Ellison’s c.1885 Liberty Hall Hotel in welcoming the continually continued on page 12
This early view of Crozet’s Goodall Building was “Published by Crozet Pharmacy” and postmarked 1911. [Courtesy of the Phil James Historical Images Collection]
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APRIL 2016
CROZET gazette
Crozet Drug
Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea —continued from page 11 Company open growing stream of business trav- up shop in the former hardware elers and summer tourists. space. Jack Phillips operated a com- store bination shoe repair, barber- Managed by Lyle A. “Jack” Wagner, shop, and print shop in the rear the chain grocer’s of the Goodall Building. The signature red underpass beneath the railroad tracks was opened in 1917, clos- storefront became the namesake for ing out a period of nearly 40 Wagner’s own years when all highway traffic passed directly through The Red Front Market when the A&P Square. ceased its operaDr. E.D. Davis Jr. began his tions in Crozet in medical practice in Crozet in 1930. He purchased the drug 1946. busy summer afternoon, c.1951, in downtown Crozet. Tickets for the Trailways buses were sold at “Meet you at ACrozet store and set up his office in the Drug. [Original photo by W. Hubert Gentry] the drug store” rear of the business. In 1939, became a common shout-out Dr. Davis moved his practice their local discoveries were other conveniences and merinto his new Crozet Hospital around Crozet, and one never published as English Folk Songs chandise. With his retirement building across the back alley, knew just whom they might from the Southern Appalachians. and the closing of the store run into there. High school stufronting on Main Street. His In the late 1940s, daughters c.1997, a historic era in Crozet oversight of the store business dents raced across town after of Harry and Emileigh Schultz came to a close. school for malts, milk shakes continued until the arrival of noticed storyteller Richard The venerable Goodall Conway Stanley as Crozet’s and ice cream cones. Shoppers Chase sitting at the drug store’s Building had seen it all: from settled in for a sandwich and counter. The popular folklorist, horse-and-buggy days and coalpharmacist in 1957. A 19-year-old clerk hired on nickel Coke. Crowds exiting the well known for his compilations powered steam engines to diesel at the drug store in 1929. movies at Crozet Theatre of Jack Tales, had entertained locomotives; from medicinal During the next 48 years, swarmed across the street to during a program that day at recipes mixed by hand to miraRobert S. “Bob” Black greeted spend their leftover change at Crozet High School. Sprinting cle drugs in a capsule. Every the soda fountain. countless customers, shooed home to tell their mother, they gaggle of friends recalls their In September 1916 and again youngsters away from the magahurried back to invite him favorite soda jerk, fountain zine rack, and, short of filling on a cool, damp April day in home for dinner. A memorable drink concoction, and ice cream prescriptions, performed every 1918, the eminent English bal- evening followed at the Schultz flavor—and the best friend who lad collector Cecil Sharp and his job in the house necessary to home on Railroad Avenue. promised to “Meet you at the keep the popular small town noted assistant Maud Karpeles Respected Crozet photogradrug store!” drug store in fine trim. Along arrived by train and relaxed over pher Mac Sandridge established the way, Bob became the vil- lunch at the drug store prior to a portrait studio on the ballad-collecting expeditions second floor where the lage’s official Justice of the Peace into Brown’s Cove and Buck’s former Crozet Hotel had and its beloved unofficial mayor. Elbow Mountain. Several of The year 1929 also saw The been converted years earlier into rental apartments. His craft added to the long list of services available at this location at one time or another. Crozet druggist Conway Stanley bought out Dr. Davis’s drug store business interest in the mid-1960s. Jack Wagner’s Red Front Market completed its transition to the IGA Foodliner in 1967, and Stanley renovated and expanded into the entire downstairs area. During 40 years Samuel “Bob” Black (1910–1987) began behind the pharmacy Robert working at Crozet Drug Store in 1929. He served counter, his trademark customers and dispensed humor and wisdom Crozet Drug interior, c.1938. L-R: (standing) Warner T. Wood, druggist; Jimmy “Service to the Sick” “down on the corner” for 48 years. [Photo Sandridge; George Pollock; unidentified Crozet High School teachers (seated). [Photo courtesy of the McCauley Collection] complemented a host of courtesy of Robyn Black Eaton]
Follow Secrets of the Blue Ridge on Facebook! Phil James invites contact from those who would share recollections and old photographs of life along the Blue Ridge Mountains of Albemarle County. You may respond to him through his website: www.SecretsoftheBlueRidge.com or at P.O. Box 88, White Hall, VA 22987. Secrets of the Blue Ridge © 2003–2016 Phil James
CROZET gazette
APRIL 2016
Locals Night EVERY WEDNESDAY
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from CHAMOMILE & WHISKEY
Kurt Wassenaar and Mark Green
New Owners —continued from page 1
Renee and David Wyant had been serving as property managers and oversaw recent improvements intended to catch up maintenance issues. The barn-like Fruit Growers buildings, as they were once commonly known, on the west end of the properties, were built in 1902 to serve as cooperages that supplied crates and barrels for the local fruit industry. The cooperage’s office is now Crozet Pizza. The Crozet Shopping Plaza on the other end dates to 1965, when the Crozet IGA Foodliner moved to larger quarters from its former location on The Square. Wassenaar and Green are also partners in the South River Mills property in Waynesboro, the former Compton Mill, where corduroy and velveteen were manufactured until the collapse of the American textile industry to foreign competition in the 1980s. The company has an office there where they handle their property management operation. South River Mills now has 28 tenants in a variety of businesses, mainly light industrial. Wassenaar, who formerly taught in the School of Architecture at the University of Virginia, is a serial entrepreneur who started Wassenaar and Winkler, an architectural and planning firm that specializes in commercial building design; Vibethink Corporation, a digital marketing and website development (among his clients are Stanford University and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts); and a clinical information system for medical uses, a company he has since sold.
Green had a career in property development and management in California before coming to Virginia, where he has family. “We’re a vertically integrated company,” explained Wassenaar. “We can provide all the services we need in-house.” He described his partnership with Green as one with “very complimentary skill sets.” “We got interested a year ago [in the Crozet properties],” he said. He already knew the Wyants. “We’re sort of careful, quiet developers. Our first thing will be to get the property maintained.” All the spaces are now leased except for the former Patterson’s Flower Shop, which started in the world as a Virginia ABC store with counter-only sales and has windows only on the street front, and the former bank branch office, an end unit with a drive-up teller’s window. They said they will lease space at a monthly rate of $15 per square foot. “It’s pretty much all leased,” said Wassenaar. “We don’t want to disrupt that.” “A lot can be done without new buildings,” said Green. “Just a general upgrade. There’s an ideal tenant mix you want to get to.” “The buildings are pretty much what people think Crozet is about. It’s an important and delicate exercise to preserve that in a careful and thoughtful way when you redevelop,” said Wassenaar, who noted that the firm has also done a commercial redevelopment project of historic buildings recently in Michigan. “We’ll be cleaning up the vacant spaces, fixing leaky roofs, continued on page 29
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CROZET gazette
APRIL 2016
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Walker, Smith Take Sugar Hollow 5K Matt Walker of White Hall won the Sugar Hollow Three Bridges 5K Race March 12 with a time of 22:48. The winner among women was Courtney Smith with a time of 25:43. Second among men was Rob Cushing of Crozet and in third was Bob Hammell of Charlottesville. In the 10K race Sean Stanford was the winner in 39:04. The women’s winner was Megan Bower of Charlottesville in 39:47. The race was run under favorable conditions, cool and overcast, on Sugar Hollow Road along the gurgling sounds of
Moormans River. The course, which has two lengths, one 5K and one 10K, is all uphill on the way out and down hill on the return leg to the finish line. The 10K turns around at the Sugar Hollow dam. The race had 85 entrants, who were all treated to a pancake breakfast afterward at the White Hall Community Center. The race is sponsored by the White Hall Ruritans as a fundraiser for its scholarships and to maintain the WHCC, which has had several needed repairs made over the last year but still needs a kitchen upgrade.
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The final graduation from Happitime preschool will occur in May after 31 years of service to the Crozet community. School head Linda Reaser started her teaching career in 1967 in West Virginia before moving to this area in 1968 and teaching at Broadus Wood Elementary for one year and Greenwood Elementary for six years. She operated a small preschool while her children were small and then opened Happitime Preschool in the fall of 1984. Her love for children and passion for teaching and learning led her to have a tremendously successful and rewarding career as a preschool teacher. She believes that learning fundamental values and skills, plus taking responsibility for your own actions, are critical in a child’s development and
growth. Every activity she led had a learning objective and expected outcome as she prepared the children to enter kindergarten. Besides her preschool work and church commitment, Reaser has been associated with the Girl Scouts in the area since 1968 as a troop leader, life guard, Sugar Hollow Day Camp director, as well as serving on the Skyline Counsel Board of Directors. One of her greatest joys was being the advisor/mentor to many girls who earned the Girl Scout Silver and Gold Awards. An open house celebrating her years of service to the community will be held Sunday, April 24, at Olivet Presbyterian Church, 2575 Garth Road in Ivy, from 2 until 5 p.m., with a brief program at 3:30.
CROZET gazette
APRIL 2016
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Your Local Real Estate Broker Landon Smith threw out the first pitch of the 2016 Peachtree League season at Crozet Park.
Peachtree Opening Day Landon Smith threw out the first pitch of the 2016 Peachtree League season at Crozet Park March 19. Smith was given the honor in appreciation of his Eagle Scout project, building a tent-like canopy and a concrete pad for the bleachers outside the right field fence. Smith played in Peachtree and Babe Ruth league at Greenwood Community and now plays on the Western Albemarle High School team. The day was chilly, just 42 degrees as play started, and the boys bravely acted as if they were warm as they stood in their new uniforms. Snow and rain had been forecast, too, so they were happy not to be wet as well. League president Cheryl Madison congratulated the
players on their success last year when they were district champs in two divisions, 11-year-olds and rookies. “Our goal is for the kids to learn baseball, make friends and have fun,” she said. She thanked Jimbo Barber of the county’s Parks and Recreation Department for his excellent field maintenance and read out the extensive list of local business whose sponsorship of teams allows the league to exist. Madison has been president for nine years and her boys have played in the league for 21 years. “I love it,” she said. “There’s a voice out there for the kids.” The league will host a home run derby at the park April 23 and a corn hole tournament on May 21.
Henley
remember when my sister used to go here and I would get so excited when I got to go to Henley.” The second graders were indeed enthralled with the performance, which was broken up into 13 short skits. The actors were all dressed in black clothing, and would add a few small props or accessories depending on which part they were playing in which skit. During each skit, one student sat in a chair and held a large book, as if settling down in front of a fire for storytime. The student would read the story with exaggerated excitement, pausing periodically so the actors could act out parts of the story. The actors were enthusiastic and animated, and
—continued from page 8
get a smiley face on it. I think they’re going to be so excited to see us put their stories into live action, and if I were a kid like that, I would be over-the-top excited to see my story being acted out. And I think they’re going to be a really engaging audience.” Mary Moffett agreed. “They’re going to find a lot more stuff exciting, and they will be a lot more into it. Each play is going to be a little different, so everyone should find something they can enjoy. And they get to come over to the middle school, which is a really cool experience for them. I
continued on page 17
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CROZET gazette
APRIL 2016
From left: Lisa Custalow, Mary Keaton, Norm Addington, Edgar Keaton, David Stoner, Ann Mallek, Larry Lamb, Phil James, BRHP founder Bill Henry, Sally James and Paul Cantrell
Blue Ridge Heritage Project Forms Albemarle Chapter The Blue Ridge Heritage Project, a campaign to erect memorial stone chimneys in the eight counties surrounding the Shenandoah National Park to commemorate the sacrifices made by families forced to move from their homes when the park was created, formed an Albemarle chapter at a meeting at Crozet Library March 16. BRHP founder Bill Henry told the group, “We hope each county’s chimney will be different. We want to keep the history of these families alive and to keep their culture alive.” He gave mountain music, storytelling and basket making as examples of the culture to carry on. “We don’t want each county to reinvent the process,” Henry said. A memorial has been constructed in Madison County and its dedication last November drew a crowd of 300, including many descendants of the resettled families. “This is a grassroots project,” said Henry. “People are making it happen and we’re seeing movement on it.” The project has only two requirement of its chapters, he said, one that they build a chimney, and two, that the family names of the displaced be on a plaque on it. “The memorial should be on this side of the county. It happened here. Displaced people often settled at the foot of the mountain they left. We want it locally driven.” He pointed out Paul Cantrell of Afton who had agreed to chair the Albemarle chapter. Three things need to be done,
Henry said. First is get a complete list of the names of the displaced families, second is to find a location for the memorial and third to raise money for the plaque. He estimated the project would require a budget of $10,000. The BRHP is a taxexempt 503(c)(3) organization and will handle money for the local chapter. “We don’t want the memorial to be just for the descendants, but for the story of the park to be told. It makes people’s enjoyment of the park so much richer. It’s also for visitors. We need to tell the truth unemotionally.” Cantrell raised the possibility of a shelter being nearby. “Many families have reunions and it would be nice if it could be a place for that,” Henry agreed. He said SNP continued on page 28 MARGARET MARSHALL
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Historic chimney at Mint Springs
CROZET gazette
APRIL 2016
17
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Eliza Schultz and Emmy Franklin recording their “Baking Wars” podcast.
Podcasts
—continued from page 6
upload it to iTunes. It’s been really ideal for us.” The two girls seemed at ease behind the microphone. “We liked talking about soccer because we both play soccer and we’re both good at it,” Kinsley Campbell said. She did note that the most challenging part was “…trying to get everything set up, and trying not to laugh!” Emmy Franklin and Eliza Schultz based their podcast on their mutual love of baking. Franklin said their podcast is “…kind of like ‘baking wars.’” “We announce names and give tips to them,” Schultz said. “It was fun, and we liked making the logos.” Other interests were also well-represented. Eli Scarbrough, Jaden Steppe, Braden Selmer, and Ayden Wyant commented on a 2001 Heat vs. Celtics basketball game. Sam Simmons and Owen Jones debated the respective merits of DC Comics vs. Marvel.
Henley
—continued from page 15
the second graders were clearly enjoying themselves, giggling throughout and often roaring with laughter. Both actors and audience were on stage together—the second graders sat at one end of the stage on risers, while the actors performed at the other end. The intimate setting was designed to put the second graders at ease and help them feel as if they were a part of the story. Christa Livermon found the experience to be a great success and hopes they can repeat it in future years. “The children had
Technology played a role in the unveiling of the podcasts to parents. Students were told to keep the topic of the podcasts secret from their parents. At Community Night, parents could download an app to their phone that allowed them to scan the logo of each podcast. When the logos were scanned, the identities of the voices behind each podcast were revealed. The podcasts were a welcome addition to the school’s popular Community Night. “It is a night that radiates throughout the Crozet community,” Garbaccio says. “Former students come back to say ‘hello’ and to see their teachers’ reactions to how much they’ve grown. Also, students bring family members to the fifth grade to check out what the ‘big kids’ are doing.” “Overall, this project proved to be a great example of an engaging way to cover all of our writing standards of learning,” Garbaccio said. “All the students have enjoyed showing what they know!”
the benefit of seeing their stories come to life and seeing their hard work pay off in a way other than sharing with a peer or with a teacher. It gave them an authentic reason to write—a real audience! Going to Henley was so exciting for them. Walking across the street to the big middle school was a first for most. Many of them had never stepped foot inside the building. (They were very impressed with the lockers!) They also couldn’t believe that they might get to be in drama when they got to Henley. I loved that they got a peek at middle school and saw it in such a fun and positive light.”
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All sessions are drop-in--no appointment necessary! For more information, contact Denise McClanahan at outreach@pvcc.edu, or call 434.961.5275.
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CROZET gazette
APRIL 2016
by John Andersen
Go For It A few weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to get a front row seat in witnessing one of my best friends win his first trail race. Matt Thompson, Crozetian, my neighbor and training partner, had a thrilling victory at the Terrapin Mountain 50K trail race. Okay, disclaimer: please excuse me while I write again about ultramarathon running. I know that on its surface, it’s not very “back-to-fitness-y.” However I strongly feel that distance running fully captures the commitment and perseverance that is required to keep fitness in our busy lives. And trail running, well, that just exemplifies this beautiful area in which we live. Now back to Matt. This was such a thrilling victory because Matt was not supposed to win. Don’t get me wrong, he is a talented runner, much faster than me. However, he’s just a “regular guy.” He works full time as an IT guy, owns a home, and is married with three young boys. When I go to his house, it’s only a few minutes before I feel like I have to slowly back away from the chaos that comes with raising three boys. The heavy favorite in this race was a guy named Aaron Saft. Aaron is also a great guy and also a family man, but he’s
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more of what we’d call an elite runner. He has won his last five races in a row, and 10 of his last 13. In short, he’s a stud and most of us just dream of having his speed and endurance. Despite having a great race, Saft didn’t win. Our guy Thompson won! Matt had one of those days you dream about, where everything goes right and you find superhuman strength somewhere in the body and mind. But none of this would have happened if he didn’t go for it. Going for it starts in training. It starts with 4:30 a.m. wake ups so you can get your run in before walking the dogs, feeding the kids, and heading to work. It means heading out alone in the dark, with just a headlamp as your guide. It means facing the constant stress of training vs. your family life and your job. It means pushing yourself when nobody is watching. It means getting out the door when you really just don’t feel like it. Matt also went for it on race day. One of the intriguing things about ultramarathon races is that they are very long and, around here, are in the mountains. So you really have to figure out what a sustainable effort is early on in the race. You can’t look at your watch for pace
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as a guide, because a 16-minute mile could be great if you’re climbing up a steep mountain grade. If you go out too hard, the consequences are usually pretty epic. Out of gas and mentally deflated, you may find yourself defeated with many, many miles yet to go. Right out of the gates, Thompson went for it and hung with Saft for as long as he could, about 9 miles. At that point, Saft started running away from Thompson as they started up the second big climb of the day. By the halfway point, Matt found himself 4 minutes behind and tired. But did he panic or get discouraged? No! He put his head down and kept moving. Going for it means going for it the whole race, not just at the start. It is very easy to get discouraged in this situation, knowing you have 15 more tough miles to run and your competitor just pulled away from you. You can always “just finish” and still have a good day. It takes a special motivation not to give up and still go for the win. As the miles ticked off, and the terrain started to change from endless mountain climbs to endless mountain descents, the gap started to close. With
about 10 miles to go, Thompson caught sight of Saft. Now there was a switch in his mind. This can happen. From doubt to possibility, Thompson kept going for it and in a few more miles caught up with Saft, then ultimately passed him with about 6 miles left to go! Saft never let up and remained just 1 minute behind for those remaining 6 miles. Being chased like that is exhausting, but Thompson was going to finish what he started. He held on, winning by just one minute, and collapsed at the finish line, exhausted and thrilled. So, how does this story relate to you? Ultimately, only you can decide that, but I think “going for it” should really strike a chord with anyone who is trying to get back to fitness. There is a lot at stake: your health, your family, your job. And there are uncertainties. What if I fail? What if I’m just back on the couch in a month. Why bother? What if I get hurt? What if I just look like a fool? Doubt will come, but set a lofty goal and take one step at a time. Nothing happens if you don’t get out the door. Amazing, transformative things happen, though, when you go for it.
WAHS JAMES SUN May 14 COLOR RUN Saturday, 9 a.m. / 2 miles 2016 Western Albemarle High School
Contact: jamesunmemorialrun2016@gmail.com For more information & to register, visit the WAHS homepage All Ages Welcome / Proceeds benefit Compassionate Friends
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CROZET gazette
APRIL 2016
19
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Graffiti Gone Crozetians have been complaining about conspicuous obscene graffiti on the sides of abandoned buildings on the former Barnes Lumber Company property for months and the junior members of the Crozet Volunteer Fire Department had finally looked at it too long. With paint and supplies donated by Blue Ridge Builders Supply, they painted over the bad words in quick fashion March 26. “My daughter Grace was bothered by it,” said CVFD fireman Gary Dillon. “She’s offended every time we come by. That’s how it came about.” “Die!’ said Grace Dillon, a Crozet Elementary student, as she took a turn with a paint roller and battleship gray smothered the nasty screed. On the crew were Will Von Henert, Mark McGill, Christian Torres and Anna Rumsey. The CVFD has six junior members
To help disabled children receive a free, appropriate, public education
now, firefighters in county training classes but not yet 18 and eligible for regular membership. Not available for the painting day were Connor Evans and Ethan Cole. “We joined to serve the community and because it’s fun,” said Von Henert, a student at Western Albemarle High School. “It’s like doing a sport because of the [duty] time it takes and all the [training] class time.” Property owner Frank Stoner came by as the job was being done and promised to remove a steel ladder that has allowed access to the roof of one building where the graffiti got billboard elevation. The job requires a cutting torch. Stoners said he does not plan to demolish the buildings soon. Teens interested in joining the junior department should contact Capt. Mitch Fitzgerald at the firehouse.
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Emmanuel Episcopal Church 7599 ROCKFISH GAP | GREENWOOD, VA 22943 | 540.456.6334 | emmanuelgreenwood.org 3.4 miles west of Western Albemarle High School on Route 250
WELCOME TO OUR PARISH! Mission: May we live in Christ and seek to do His Work from this place. SUNDAY WORSHIP
September - May
9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Children’s Worship 11:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Adult Choir
Christian Education 10:00 a.m. For All Ages Nursery Care Available 9:00 a.m. – Noon Join us in the Parish Hall for Coffee Hour after services!
Kids Age 5-10 $25, 8:30 a.m.-Noon. Optional afternoon 12:30-4 p.m. for additional fee.
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❀ Sunday May 1, 10 am.-Noon Shop for new plants for your own garden and gently used gardening equipment. Proceeds benefit scholarships for our parish retreat weekend.
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CROZET gazette
APRIL 2016
Grease cast members surround, from left to right, Lauren Rider as Frenchy, Chloe Horner as Sandy, Ryann Sheehy as Rizzo, and Virginia Garey as Marty.
Audience “Hopelessly Devoted” to WAHS’ Production of Grease By Becca Schmitz becca@crozetgazette.com
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The Pink Ladies, T-Birds, and other assorted nerds, cheerleaders, and greasers from Rydell High invaded Western Albemarle High School over Easter weekend. Donning bobby socks, circle skirts, leather jackets, and yes, plenty of slicked-back hair, the cast of Grease perfectly channeled the beloved characters that made the Broadway play and subsequent 1978 movie such timeless classics. Sophomore Chloe Horner expertly captured Sandy’s youthful innocence and enthusiasm, while senior Cutter Mendenhall, as the leader of the T-Birds, brought Danny Zucco’s sweet bravado to life, pompadour and all. But perhaps the most thunderous applause of the night was reserved for Western’s principal, Darah Bonham, who ably stepped into Frankie Avalon’s shoes to play the Teen Angel and croon “Beauty School Dropout” to a pink-coiffed Frenchy (Lauren Rider). How did the musical’s director, drama teacher Caitlin Pitts, persuade Bonham, who has no singing or acting experience, to take on the role? “Honestly, I think the kids just bugged him enough until he gave in,” she says with a chuckle. The audience seemed delighted by Bonham’s performance, hooting and clapping when he was wheeled onto the stage on a rolling staircase. Other WAHS teachers made cameos as well. The show opened on a Rydell High
reunion held in the 1970s. Dressed in bell bottoms, wide collared shirts, bohemian style dresses—or, in the case of swim coach and teacher Dan Bledsoe, an impressive thick black mustache, gold chain, and exposed faux chest hair—about 15 teachers played the part of former students reminiscing about the days when the Pink Ladies and T-Birds ruled Rydell. The modern day high-schoolers transformed into 1950s teens for the night with ease. Ryann Sheehy turned in a performance of Rizzo that would have made Stockard Channing jealous. Her soaring, heartfelt rendition of “There Are Worse Things I Could Do” was a crowd favorite. Virginia Garey handily captured Marty’s flirtatious, lovesick personality, displaying a strong vocal talent on “Freddy My Love.” Lauren Rider infused Frenchy with bubbly, optimistic charm, and Carly Haling perfectly portrayed Jan’s quirky, goofy demeanor. The T-Birds—Ben Nordrick as Kenickie, William Sigmon as Sonny, Genesis Brockett as Doody, and Ben Jessee as Roger—often had the crowd in stiches with their bumbling braggadocio. Jackie Burke captured Cha-Cha’s trademark swagger and attitude, demonstrating flawless dancing skills during the prom scene, and Noel Brockett was a smooth, confident Vince Fontaine. Director Caitlin Pitts says she chose to Grease as this year’s spring musical because “I knew the kids were incredibly excited
continued on page 35
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CROZET gazette
APRIL 2016
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Their Pain Is Our Pain It was a very typical Monday m o r n i n g . Walking into the hospital a few minutes late, I could see from the deep exhale of our receptionist that it was already a crazy morning. The newest addition to the packed schedule? A young Labrador had been run over by a car. You could tell right away that “Hunter” was a sweet boy. Just two years old, he was fit and well socialized and made the best eye contact when you looked at him. Unfortunately, he was also what we call a knucklehead. Hunter’s family lives out in the country, and when his dad was driving up their driveway, Hunter ran right in front of their pickup truck. As one of our nurses described it, “Dr. Andersen, Hunter didn’t get run over by a pickup truck, Hunter got run over by a monster truck.” Needless to say, Hunter was in pain. He looked at me with a sad, pleading face while his rear leg lay hugely swollen and dangling at an unnatural angle. So here is a dog in what we can only imagine being immense pain. Yet when I leaned down to pet Hunter’s face, he somehow managed a weak tail wag and looked at me with just a tiny bit of joy from the attention. I can only imag-
ine how I would have entered the ER: sweating, screaming, crying, and hysterical, probably. Don’t worry, folks, we got Hunter loaded up with pain meds and eventually all patched up again. A dislocated hip, comminuted femoral fracture, and lots of lacerations and bruises, but he got through surgery just fine and, incredibly, avoided more serious harm. How do our dogs and cats feel and express pain? Let’s start with an honest observation, which is that you would assume that dogs and cats just don’t feel pain like we do. I see dogs and cats in both acute and chronic pain every day and here are some common examples: Problem: Dog has its flank ripped open by a bear. Response: Seems completely oblivious to the 12” laceration on its side. Problem: Cat has a mouth full of broken and rotting teeth. Response: Cat acts completely normal at home, interacting with family members, rubbing against owners. Problem: Dog gets run over by a monster truck. Response: Dog is very quiet, but still wags tail if looked at and still eats treats. Problem: Dog has a large, broken tooth in its mouth that you can wiggle with your finger. Response: Dog eats its dry food continued on page 35
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APRIL 2016
inthegarden@crozetgazette.com
Tiptoeing One of my earliest recollections of a public garden is the now-defunct Sterling Forest Gardens near Tuxedo, New York, about an hour northwest of Manhattan. When it opened in 1958, planted with one and a half million tulips, Princess Beatrix of The Netherlands came for the dedication. As a kid in my early teens, I was somewhat less thrilled than the princess might have been. The gardening bug had not yet bitten, and I can only recall being overwhelmed by a sea of tulips in blazing primary colors. Decades later, my attitude toward tulips has mellowed, although I still favor the pastels over the bolder colors. The Netherlands is the main commercial producer of tulips, producing up to three billion bulbs per year and accounting for 87 percent of the globe’s acreage devoted to their cultivation. Small wonder that Princess Beatrix came to U.S. for that garden dedication in the Fifties. Despite all the Dutch associations, tulips are not native to Holland. One of fifteen genera
in the lily family, the approximately 75 species of wild Tulipa are native to a swath extending from the Iberian Peninsula, through the Mediterranean, and into Central Asia. Cultivation of tulips began in Persia, probably in the tenth century. They were then spread widely by the Turks throughout their empire. (The word “tulip” may be connected to the Persian word for turban, owing to a similarity in shape.) The exact time of their arrival in northwest Europe is unknown, but Carolus Clusius planted them at the Vienna Imperial Botanic Garden in 1573. They reached their adoptive homeland in the Netherlands by 1593. Their subsequent great popularity was in part fueled by a disease, Tulip Breaking Virus. Despite weakening the tulip’s bulb, it also caused flaming and feathering in the flowers. These unusual and attractive effects led to wild speculation in tulip bulbs— Tulip Mania—beginning in 1634. The bubble collapsed in 1637, leading to a considerable weakening of the Dutch economy. Tulips were recorded in the United States as early as the
Mulch & Compost
it down, you’ve got red, yellow, white, pink, purple, and hints of green, as well as seemingly endless combinations of all these on one flower. Then there are shape variations that go beyond mere “tulip-shaped”: fringed, doubles, parrots, and lily-shaped. Perhaps the major question to answer when buying tulips: do you want them as perennials, or are you willing to treat them as annuals? (Personally, I could not abide that much digging for something that lasts just one year, but that’s just Mr. Lazy Gardener talking.) Much of the tulip’s reputation as an iffy perennial comes from the use of complex hybrids that are not that durable, not to mention the growing conditions we typically provide. Recall the tulip’s native haunts: usually mountainous areas with good drainage, cool to cold winters with ample moisture, followed by hot, dry summers. Some of that doesn’t jibe too well with southern Piedmont clay soil and sum-
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1730s in Williamsburg, Virginia. I have to wonder if the Dutch didn’t bring them to New Amsterdam even earlier than that. Perhaps they were more concerned with raising edible crops and exporting beaver pelts. Later, many Dutch also settled in southwest Michigan, bringing windmills and, presumably, tulips. Today, the area around Holland, Michigan has a tulip festival, but it doesn’t appear that tulips are actually raised there currently. (And the Michigan Bulb Company is headquartered in Lawrenceburg, Indiana?!) The Skagit Valley of Washington was a major bulb raising area, but imports have taken a bite out of that enterprise. With about 3,000 registered tulip cultivars, how do you decide which to plant? You could start by choosing among short, tall, or in-between. The teeniest tulips ring in at about 3” to 4” high; the tallest stand more than two feet. Probably the more interesting question to most gardeners is color. To boil
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CROZET gazette
APRIL 2016
Piping Down the Valleys Wild by Clover Carroll | clover@crozetgazette.com
Ah, to be in Crozet, now that April’s here! But wait— lucky me, I am! I doubt the England originally celebrated by Robert Browning (18121889) in this line from “Home Thoughts from Abroad” could hold a candle to the glorious explosion of leafy greening, blossoming, and wildlife appearing all around us at this time of year. And one of the earliest, most magical harbingers of the season in our blessed little corner of the world is the wild, ethereal trill of the spring peeper frogs, pulsing through the dusk from March through May. This year, I first heard them earlier than ever, on March 1, and the warmer it gets, the louder their chorus—now sometimes accompanied by the bass thrumming of the bullfrogs. Sounding like a cross between a piccolo, a katydid, and the music of the spheres, the rhythmic “advertisement” call of genus pseudacris crucifer arises from shallow ponds, creeks, and other swampy areas in a mystical celebration of spring, as males notify females of their suitability for mating. My heart leaps up when I behold the lovesong of the peepers! Clearly poets love the spring as much as we do; this echoes William Wordsworth (1770-1850), and our title comes from William Blake’s Songs of Innocence (1789). When I first moved to Charlottesville in 1977 to attend graduate school at the University of Virginia, we lived in a relatively remote Greenwood cottage near Newtown. Driving around the hairpin turn on Rt. 690 one evening that spring, my husband and I, both of whom had grown up in the city, were bewildered by a loud, highpitched, rhythmic chorus of sound, the likes of which we had never heard before. Was it insects? Birds? Aliens? We couldn’t imagine, and were amazed eventually to learn from local residents that it was, of all things, frogs! Slated for development, that swampy area has since been filled in, but you can hear a similar level of enthusiasm now at King
Family Vineyard, which has several ponds and low watery areas on the property. Once, while exploring property in Advance Mills, we were astonished to see that this commanding chorus is created by hundreds of tiny, translucent amphibians, each measuring between 1 and 1.5 inches, and weighing a mere 0.11 to 0.18 oz! If you are similarly puzzled by the sound of distant fluting music in the dusk, it is probably the peepers, wailing away in the wild joy of awakening. The sound is blissful, ecstatic, and mesmerizing. I will leave the biology (aka herpetology) of these amazing creatures to my fellow science columnists, Marlene and Dirk; I am more interested in their possible role in folklore and legend. I have written previously (April 2010 issue) about my favorite spring poem, “In Just-” by e.e. cummings (18941962). In this poem, the three-peat of the “little lame balloon man” whistling “far and wee” is a reference to Pan, Greek god of wild nature, fertility, and rustic music, as he ushers in spring on his reed “pan pipes.” This meaning is made clear by his further description as a “goat-footed balloonman,” referring to the myth that Pan had the hindquarters, legs, and horns of a goat, like a faun or satyr. The Native Americans of the Southwest U.S., including the Hopi and other tribes, also venerated a spring flute player, namely, the fertility deity Kokopelli, appearing in petroglyphs and pottery as early as the first century AD. Kokopelli’s flute-playing not only chases away the winter and brings about spring, but also represents the spirit of music. This trickster god usually appears with feathers or antennae adorning his head, so he may have had his origin as a singing insect (such as a katydid). Many tribes, such as the Zuni, also associate Kokopelli with the rains. I have often thought that these two spirits of music in nature have something in common. In both mythologies, these messengers of spring are heard and not seen as they mark—even cause—Earth’s awakening with
in Justspring when the world is mudluscious the little lame balloonman whistles far and wee and eddieandbill come running from marbles and piracies and it’s spring when the world is puddle-wonderful the queer old balloonman whistles far and wee and bettyandisbel come dancing from hop-scotch and jump-rope and it’s spring and the goat-footed balloonMan whistles far and wee
– e. e. cummings (1920)
their ecstatic, almost erotic, whistling. Might not the distant, mysterious piping attributed to Pan in Greek mythology have been the singing of frogs similar to peepers? And might not the myth of Kokopelli also have been inspired by Southwestern singing amphibians, who increase in number with increased precipitation? Since online guides to frogs rarely include their calls, my research on frogs in these far-flung locales has proven inconclusive. But it seems to me to be a strong coincidence that three cultures—the ancient Greek, Native American, and our own—have detected a musical herald of spring in nature. So whenever I hear the jubilant, hypnotic symphony of the spring peepers, I think of Pan and Kokopelli piping in the season, and of our distant ancestors creating these myths to personify the mystical beauty and music
8:30 am - contemporary worship 10:00 am - Christian Education Hour 11:00 am - Traditional Worship
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CROZET gazette
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Sisters Drive WAHS Tennis Fortunes By Jerry Reid jerry@crozetgazette.com Maddy and Rosy Ix are sisters on the move with the Warriors girls tennis team. Maddy’s the senior, with Rosy just one year behind. Storming through her last season, Maddy won her 100th victory on March 17 when the team topped Orange County 8-1. Aided by their pursuit of excellence under the versatile and widely respected coach Ellen Markowitz, the team has that golden look of major success. They take nothing for granted, and hard work is accepted as essential for winning. As of spring break, they are undefeated (6-0 District) and will next play at Charlottesville on April 12. Savannah Diamond, Molly Servine, Lily Stoke, Sarah Candeto, Sarah Inman, Cate Roesch and sisters Hannah and Lauren Kearns are complementing the Ix girls. While doing their own things off-court, the Ix sisters’ connection when the ball’s in play is something they both will miss when Maddy heads off to an asyet-unannounced college. Rosy said, “It’s great. She
Maddie Ix
Sam Hearn looks for the zone.
Warrior Baseball Looks for Identity By Jerry Reid jerry@crozetgazette.com Rosy Ix
gives me a critique, but in a good way. She gives me very good constructive criticism because we’re related. We’re really close and we have a support system. I know I’m going to miss her when she’s gone.” “I’m happy with my game,” said Maddy, “but there’s always room for improvement. . . . I definitely don’t want to just sit there and volley. I want to get the point over early.” Rosy likes the challenge of playing with someone better, namely her sister. While Maddy feels that “we’re not extremely competitive with each other,” Rosy asserted that, “Maddy is the competitive one out of the two of us.” Both know that tennis is a huge part of their high school careers, and they are thankful for the teammates, teachers and administrators who, as Maddy succinctly put it, give the feeling that “someone’s got your back.” Meanwhile, Maddy has her sights set on a good education and doesn’t necessarily feel the need to let tennis rule her college years. For her, club level tennis could be good enough. But in a possibly telling aside after the interview, her coach said, “There’s not a D3 team out there that couldn’t use her.”
The Western baseball team hit a district speed bump against Fluvanna’s superb pitching on their third game in a row heading to spring break on March 30. Despite a good all-around team effort and an excellent mound outing by Sam Hearn, the 2-1 loss dropped Western to 3-4 overall, and 1-2 in the district. It’s to be expected that good players come to a team for four years and then they’re gone, and some years the incoming players aren’t immediately ready for prime time. Five seniors from a 19-5 season in 2015, including a trip to the regionals, left the Warriors camp. This year, coach Chip Hudgins still has all the pieces to come on strong, including the savvy experience of seniors Jack Davies, Henry Kreienbaum (.519 batting) and Sam Hearn (6-1 pitching). Shortstop Chris Hughes and outfielder Derek Domecq (.346 batting, 6-2 pitching) are guys who know how to get the job done. Their 2015 statistics prove that. “I really like this group and expect us to get better and better as we go,” Hudgins said, adding “We lost a lot of good players over the past two years, and knew it would take some time to iron things out.” He sees the light at the end of
a short tunnel for this team. “I thought last week we made big strides in the right direction. We knew playing three days in a row would be a challenge.” So far this year Kreienbaum is punishing the opponents with a .462 average but needs more RBI’s from the three slot. Hughes is pounding the ball at a .400 clip, Hearn is muchimproved to .316, and Matt Mandell is solid at .316. More production is needed from Domecq, who slid to .263 from .346. There isn’t much margin for error, as the Warriors have allowed 22 runs while scoring only 24. Hudgins expects that the squad will turn the corner and be a force to be reckoned with as the season moves on. That movement forward has to come from the players themselves. “[The captains] are outstanding leaders and doing a great job, and my goal each season is to create an atmosphere where all the players are leaders in their own right,” Hudgins said. Since 1983 (33 years), Hudgins’ program has been turning out good players, and evidently good people, by having a consistent, challenging and nurturing program. This season is just another day in the park at Western, where caring for each other is expected without question.
CROZET gazette
APRIL 2016
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Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m.
A variety of the types of containers you may find when geocaching.
Geocaching on the Crozet Trails By Nana Corley Geocaching is a fun activity for all ages, and there are plenty of opportunities for geocaching close to home. A geocache is a hidden object, and to play the game you use a GPS receiver to discover and log the objects. The fun comes in discovering interesting places and uncovering the caches, which are often camouflaged or hidden in unique ways. Many geocaches are hidden along the Crozet trails. The Lindy Bain Loop in Old Trail has caches that have been in place several years. Until recently, the Crozet Connector Trail has been a blank spot on geocaching maps, but the Crozet Trails Crew has started placing some caches along this trail, which connects the neighborhoods of Westhall and Foothill Crossing and includes a section along Lickinghole Basin. To get started in geocaching, visit the official web site, geocaching.com., and register; it’s free. Watch the video to learn how, then check out the map of geocaches around your location. Most mobile phones have a
e.e. cummings —continued from page 23
that surround us as the earth reawakens each spring. By this way of thinking, the froggy chorus links us, not only to nature, but also to our imaginative, lit-
GPS built in, so you can play right away. The web site provides you with GPS coordinates; you can download an app to run on your smart phone, or enter the coordinates into a stand-alone GPS device that will guide you to the location of the cache. Once you’ve arrived at that location, the search begins. When you find the cache, sign the log and leave it hidden for the next cacher. If you haven’t visited the Crozet trails yet, you can see where to enter them by using the map on the Crozet Trails Crew web site, CrozetTrailsCrew.org, (Choose “Find a Trail” then “Trails by City” and “Trails Near Crozet”). Geocaches can be as large as a bucket, or as small as the head of a screw. They can be easy to find, or take a few trips and some hints before you manage to turn them up. Geocaching is a great excuse to take a stroll on some of our trails and enjoy the beauty hidden behind our houses. It may lead you to seek out caches in new places wherever you travel. There are about 2.8 million caches all over the world, and even as far away as the International Space Station. erary, and spiritual past. To learn more about the frogs and toads of Virginia, visit virginiaherpetologicalsociety.com/ amphibians/frogsandtoads/ frogs_and_toads_of_virginia. htm After clicking on the name of a particular frog, click on the speaker icon to hear its call.
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CROZET gazette
APRIL 2016
Garden Week Features Morven, Flordon, April 23 & 24 Historic Garden Week tours will be held April 23-25 in Albemarle. Morven estate and gardens will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday the 23rd. Sunday’s tour, also from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., highlights Flordon, a neighborhood in a lush, rolling, woodland setting just west of Charlottesville, with access to five private properties. Monday features free tours of the Pavilion gardens at the University of Virginia, as well as Carr’s Hill, the U.Va. president’s home. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and on the Virginia Landmarks Register, the three-story brick manor house at Morven was built c.1820 in the late-Georgian/Federal style by builder Martin Thacker for David Higginbotham, a local merchant. Its 19th-century ambience remains even after 20thcentury additions and interior renovations. The land was part of the original 1730 Carter family land grant and was known to Thomas Jefferson as
“Indian Camp,” which he purchased for his “adoptive son” Col. William Short in 1795, who in turn sold Morven to David Higginbotham in 1813. The last private owner, the late John Kluge, gave the farm to the University of Virginia Foundation in 2001. Extraordinary grounds feature the formal and cutting gardens renovated by Annette Hoyt Flanders in the 1930s, as well as gardens added by Kluge. Tulips, phlox, lilacs, viburnum and deutzia, among other shrubs and perennials, fill a series of distinct garden rooms. Notable trees include a pair of Osage orange trees, the state champion Chinese chestnut, and a dove tree. Morven was a charter property open for the first Historic Garden Week in Virginia in 1929. The Flordon tour includes five gardens: Credenhill, a stone Georgian estate with myriad garden paths leading to, among other highlights, a restored Gillette garden; the welcoming home of a young family, a stately
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hilltop home with extensive acreage and incredible views; a Dutch Colonial filled with American folk art; and a childfriendly garden-only home. This is a walking tour and there may be uneven or slippery surfaces. Wear comfortable walking shoes. The tour is not handicapped accessible. There will be shuttles to the Flordon neighborhood from the The University of Virginia Foundation parking lot, located on the grounds of Boar’s Head Inn, 200 Ednam Drive, Charlottesville. The last shuttle
will depart the parking area at 4:15 p.m. No parking is permitted at the houses. There is also no roadside parking in the Flordon neighborhood and violators will be towed. Tickets are $45 per person (children 6-12, $10) and are available at the designated parking area at the University of Virginia Foundation parking lot. Only cash or checks accepted. Tickets for Morven (at 791 Morven Drive near Charlottesville), $15, are sold separately.
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CROZET gazette
APRIL 2016
Crozet
Weather Almanac
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Save The Date & Join Us
MARCH 2016
By Heidi Sonen & Roscoe Shaw | weather@crozetgazette.com
3 2 L I R AP
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Equine and Backyard Poultry Lectures
• 10am & 1pm, Equine General Nutrition & Deworming Lecture with Ruth Hopke • 11am & 2pm, Backyard Poultry Lecture with Tyler Cockerham • Equipment Demonstrations
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Livestock Feeds • Pet Foods • Paint Demonstrations • Pond Fish Wild Bird Feeding • Fertilizer (and buggy), Crop Protectants Live from 10 AM - 12 Noon
VISIT with the
Snow in April? It Happens! As we write this, snow is flying through the air and landing on green lawns and fresh flowers. Yes, it is April. No, we haven’t been drinking. It happens around here, especially in the mountains. April snow falls every few years, but usually melts when it hits the warm ground. But sometimes, it comes down hard enough to stick. Our 100+ year weather log has at least 17 different times snow stuck in April. In the higher mountains of Virginia and especially West Virginia, accumulating snow is actually quite common in early April. But at the 800 feet of elevation of Crozet, it’s much harder to get it to stick. The most recent significant April snow was April 7, 2007 when an inch and a half coated the ground in the morning before melting. The snow lasted all day on the mountains. The latest snow in the season that we could find that accumulated was 1.5” on April 20, 1953. Snow fell in Crozet on April 23, 2012, but it refused to stick. Wintergreen got 4” that day. The heaviest snow here in April was 3” on several occasions including 1959, 1971 and 1990. What usually causes April snow is bitter cold Canadian air.
When the cold air moves over the warm ground, the atmosphere becomes very unstable. On an April afternoon with an arctic air invasion, the temperature in Crozet could be 45 degrees, but the top of Wintergreen would be just 22 degrees. This big drop in temperature with height produces unstable snow showers that are often briefly intense and then followed by sunshine. This is also your best time to see it snow with temperatures in the 40s. I once witnessed brief snow at 50 degrees. This is possible because the air is so cold aloft that a snowflake hasn’t melted yet when it reaches he ground. The snow is not much of a threat to spring vegetation. The snow actually coats and protects fragile spring growth and usually falls with temperatures above freezing. Much more troublesome are the hard freezes without snow. That is also likely this week, and a couple of 25 degree nights will do real damage. March Recap When March started, the ground was a muddy mess. But we didn’t get any heavy rains during the month and conditions dried out nicely. Overall, only 1.18” fell at our house
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CROZET gazette
APRIL 2016
Bees in Your Backyard You’ve probably heard that bees and other pollinators are disappearing. As a result, many folks are creating pollinator gardens, the point of which—in most people’s minds—is to grow nectar-producing plants. But in the case of bees, you can do more than just provide food plants! How about building a bumblebee house, a bee nest bundle, or a bee block—structures in which certain species can nest? Or you might want to create a sand pit where particular bee species can reproduce. You can learn about these bee “homes” and the many ways in which you can help bees with the assistance of a new book, Bees in Your Backyard by Joseph S. Wilson and Olivia Messinger Carril. Subtitled A Guide to North America’s Bees, this book doesn’t just help you to identify bees, as a typical field guide does. It’s a real book (weighing in at 2¼ pounds) that delves into much more, perhaps far more than you thought possible to know about these insects. The information presented by the two biologists is both fascinating, and more importantly, useful. You will learn the differences between bees and their close relatives, the hornets and wasps, as well as between bees and flies, many of which mimic bees in their coloration. In addition, you can read about their life cycle and behavior, the animals that prey upon them, as well as how to provide bee habitat. You may know that bees assist with seed (or fruit) set in 70 percent of the world’s flowering plants, including many of our food plants, by inadvertently moving pollen between them. But did you know that this occurs thanks to their hairy bodies to which pollen adheres easily, unlike the “naked” bodies of wasps? Or that the bee hairs are branched (the easier to “catch” pollen), being quite similar in structure to bird feathers? Despite the huge number of bee species (more than 4,000 in the United States and Canada) living among us, and their importance to us gastronomically and economically, most folks know very little about them. Say the word “bee” and for most people, the honey bee immediately comes to mind. Yet even though they are ubiquitous, these bees aren’t native to America. They were brought here from Europe. Although honey bees live in colonies
above ground in a hive, most other kinds (70 percent) of bees live solitary lives below ground. A single female digs out a hole in a manner that’s no different from that of a burrowing mammal, carefully preparing her nest site before laying any eggs in it. Different species make use of different types of soil. Some kinds of bees prefer hardpacked clay while others favor loose or sandy soil. In our area, bees using hardpacked clay shouldn’t have any problems finding the proper habitat, but you can create a sand pit for the bees that need a sandy loam. The authors tell us to simply fill a raised bed or a planter box with these hard grains of rock or even to just make a pile of sand out in the yard. Easy! Some bee species reproduce within hollow wooden twigs or dried plant stems that are left over from the previous year (another reason to disregard horticultural advice to clean up your garden in fall). You can also drill holes of the proper size into a piece of wood and place it into a sunny spot in your garden. Details and photographs for these suggestions are provided in the book. Unfortunately, as seems to be the case with books written by scientists whose careers involve insects, the subject of collecting them (killing the creatures to stick them on a pin for display purposes) invariably comes up. You may be aware that I am totally against killing arthropods solely for the pleasure of looking at your own personal display case of them. Killing any life form just for fun (“sport”), or exhibit purposes only, turns the organism into something of no importance. Insect collecting illustrates a total disregard for the value of each of these living beings, which, more than ever, we need—alive—for the proper functioning of our environment. I can tell you for a fact—because I’ve paid close attention to the natural world for as long as I can remember—that the numbers of most kinds of insects are way, way down from when I was a child. We are facing a crisis that people are only slowly coming around to recognizing, such as the current general awareness about declining numbers of bees and other pollinators. Thus the authors do include a brief discussion about whether killing bees is “bad.” But as I’ve found to be invariably true when it comes to wildlife conservation issues, people always manage to convince themselves that whatever they want to do is either harmless to the overall wellbeing of a species, or that it’s going to help the species by
A pollen-covered bee, clothed in lovely bright-yellow hair, feeds upon the nectar of a Field Thistle (Cirsium discolor) in the author’s yard. (Photo: Marlene A. Condon)
making other people care about it, or at least contribute money for “the cause.” But if virtually everyone thinks he’s justified in his actions, even if it costs the life of “just one” individual, the numbers of individuals overall can add up to a substantial reduction of life forms that are already greatly diminished in number. To conserve life, people should follow the Hippocratic Oath to “take care that [an individual organism] suffer no hurt or damage” at their hands unless there’s a darned good reason for it. It’s strange that when people talk about recycling, each individual’s actions make a difference. But when people talk about wildlife conservation, suddenly each person’s conduct is held to be harmless. Despite my objection to any encouragement of insect collecting, I highly recommend this book. The subject matter is fascinating and easily understood because the writing style is very friendly. It’s an enjoyable read.
Heritage Project —continued from page 16
Superintendent Jim Northup “is 100 percent behind us.” Ann Mallek suggested that one of two county parks, Mint Springs Valley Park and Byrom Park north of Crozet, could be sites. Mint Springs has the air crash memorial and two picnic pavilions and would be easy for visitors to find. It also has a ruined cabin chimney still standing beside one of its main trails. “If the families and the committee want it, I think we can find a way to make it happen and overcome obstacles,” Mallek said. Local historian Phil James volunteered to help with identifying family names. The chapter formed with Lisa Custalow, Mary and Edgar Keaton (himself a descendant), Norm Addington, David Stoner, Ann Mallek, Larry Lamb, Phil and Sally James and Paul Cantrell volunteering. If you are interested in joining, email Paul Cantrell at aftonbcrozet@gmail.com
CROZET gazette
APRIL 2016
29
Brownsville Crepes It was Easter dinner, 1984, and the extended family was sitting around the dining table after a big roast lamb dinner. Most of us were chatting, but my brother Tom was reading the classified ads (people used to find jobs by looking in the back pages of the newspaper—imagine!). He said: “Hey, look at this… young French student wants to do farm work in exchange for learning English.” I was about to give birth to our third child, which would clearly cause us parents to be outnumbered, plus we could use the help, so we answered the ad. Instead of a young Frenchman, we were contacted by an eccentric, elderly woman who was looking for a position for her great nephew. She was doing the interviews and after meeting with us, she ‘chose’ our household. Thus did Frederique come to stay with us. He did a little farm work, ate a lot of our food, learned some English and ultimately got a job at Miller’s as a bartender. We liked Fred; he was a very nice guest. But it was after many guests and sev-
eral years later, when we visited Fred and his family in Paris, that his younger brother Stéphane, the grand prize of houseguests, entered our lives. I wrote a little about Stéphane in the February issue of the Crozet Gazette. Most of what I remember about his brother Fred, was how much he ate. With Stéphane, the best memories are of what he cooked. Stéphane had graduated from the Hotel and Catering School of Paris and had come to us to improve his English—and in so doing, he improved our eating. When it was time to begin he would say “DEENEESE, I need a pound of butter!” Bread, cream puffs, cakes, roasts, grilled sandwiches, delicious sauces and crepes. It was impossible to find Nutella (hazelnutflavored creamed chocolate spread) in the U.S. at that time, but Stéphane brought some from Paris and made crepes. Naturally, one can use a savory filling like creamed spinach or mushrooms, but what did my three little kids adore? The sweet treat of Stéphane’s crepe spread with Nutella.
Stéphane’s Crepes 1 kilogram flour (6 cups) 10 gm salt (2 tsp) ½ cup sugar
12 eggs 8 T oil 2 liters milk (2 quarts)
Mix all ingredients and allow to sit overnight in the refrigerator. Heat a crepe pan or any round skillet. Brush the skillet with oil and pour enough batter to cover the pan. Flip the crepe when the bottom is light brown and brown the other side. Remove from the pan, spread with nutella and roll up the crepe to serve.
Tabor Presbyterian Church (USA) Camp Hanover June 27 - July 1
For children entering grades 1 – 6
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Chiles Pickford fellowship hall
Rev. Dr. Jewell-Ann Parton, Pastor Traditional in worship, Progressive in outreach, Inclusive of All
5804 Tabor Street, Crozet • www.taborpc.org • 434-823-4255
New Owners —continued from page 13
working on some persistent drainage issues and painting and making façade improvements,” said Green. “We’re locally friendly developers,” said Wassenaar, who lives in Ivy. Parking is a chronic issue on the Fruit Grower’s end. “Space behind the buildings is not developed,” Wassenaar said, also describing the pull-in parking along Rt. 240 as “a muddle.” Wassenaar said the firm has made a digital three-dimensional model of all downtown Crozet to explore design possibilities. He said he has examined the zoning terms of the Downtown Crozet District. “I basically agree with it,” he said. “We’re starting to look at opportunities. It’s a longer-range plan. One of the keys to good [downtown] development is a mix of residential and commercial properties.”
He said Crozet needs more apartments. “Anything that’s built is already gone,” he said. “The last thing we want to do is upset the apple cart,” said Green. “It can be improved, but there’s value in what we have there today. “We’re very much an urban re-development company,” said Wassenaar. “We restore commercial buildings. We have a sensitivity to town fabric and structures. We’re renovating the King Lumber building on Preston Avenue [in Charlottesville] now.” He said he has been consulting with Barnes Lumber property developer Frank Stoner about plans for those 20 acres. Wassenaar said he has also seen plans drawn by architect Bill Atwood nearly a decade ago that proposed two floors of apartments over some of the existing structures he now owns. That plan stalled and then expired when the real estate market deflated in 2007.
Email us! We love to hear from our readers! news@crozetgazette.com
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CROZET gazette
APRIL 2016
House Church Marvin Rankin, an ordained elder in the Church of the Nazerene, had been living in Alexandria for 22 years as the pastor of a church before moving to Crozet two years ago with a new vision of church in mind. Now he’s something of a maverick pastor. “We went into a dying, stuck-in-the-mud church and then we started getting more Spanish-speaking families and it took off in the fourth or fifth year,” he said. “God gave me a vision of our sanctuary filled with all kinds of people. In 15 years, we had three services and two congregations, one Spanish.
We had an Eritrean congregation, too, so we would be singing in three languages. “We wanted to do something else—start a church. We looked into how new churches start and none of it appealed to me. We wanted to connect with people who have no connection to a church anywhere. “New churches attract Christians from other churches. We didn’t want to do that.” About 45 percent of Americans go to church and attendance is going down, said Rankin, who supports himself, now, as a driver for the University Transit Service.
Crozet Farmers Market Opens May 7 The Crozet Farmers Market will open Saturday, May 7, in the parking lot of Crozet United Methodist Church (CUMC). Market hours are 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday through October 15. Reminders have been mailed to past vendors; if you are a new vendor, please contact the market manager, Al Minutolo, at 434-823-1092 prior to April 15 to discuss your product, space availability and market rules. The Crozet market is a growers’/producers’ market, providing vendors the opportunity to sell their locally grown produce, homemade baked goods and handcrafted items to the public. The market has been very successful; in 2015, $1,000 was returned to the community through a donation to the CUMC food pantry. The pantry is a USDA-approved facility that serves 120-170 families monthly, feeding as many as 300 people, including more than 100 children. The average monthly food distribution is 3 to 4 tons. Cash donations are important to the food pantry and are a significant multiplier for the purchase of food locally at the central food bank. Although food costs vary, $1 will often purchase 8-12 pounds of food. The market offers a variety of locally grown vegetables, bed-
Al Minutolo
ding plants, vegetable starts, cut flowers, homemade baked goods, handcrafted jewelry, wood-craft and pottery. Another popular feature is the Horticulture Help Desk (HHD), staffed by volunteer Piedmont Master Gardeners every second and fourth Saturday of the market season. The HHD staff is available to answer questions about horticultural practices, including plants, pest control, and plant diseases, with an interest in safeguarding against adverse effects to the consumer and the environment. Samples of pests or problem plants can be brought in. HHD volunteers can access the resources of Virginia Cooperative Extension both locally and at Virginia Tech, to answer questions. Buy fresh and buy local.
Marvin Rankin
“Among millennials it’s 38 percent,” he said. “It’s crazy. “We wanted to be a mission to these people. Sometimes they have been hurt or ostracized, or they drifted away. They are hard to minister to.
“Now I’m the pastor of about 30 unchurched people. We build the relationships for the sake of the relationships. The whole movement is called ‘organic church, or house church or cell church or simple church.’” People meet at Rankin’s house on Saturday nights. “They’re already believers,” he explained. “They’re being trained to lead small groups.” Some meetings are for religious purposes and some are music nights. A guitar player, Rankin has been joining in at the ‘jamming at the depot’ nights, too. Rankin is also doing weddings and premarital counseling, as well as filling in for other area Nazerene ministers when
continued on page 37
Green Olive Tree Snippets By Sheila Freeman April is one of God’s gifts. The birds and blossoms and breezes lift our spirits. February and March can be fickle, but April makes us forget winter’s harshness. On the downside, it’s the month for income taxes. The Green Olive Tree, though tax-exempt, is required to file a tax return. This can be quite complex because of our variety of gifts, monetary and material. Jo Ann Perkins, a former Western Albemarle math teacher and a member of our board of directors, navigates through the detailed paperwork of our 501(c)3 forms. Janet Martin and Nancy Virginia Bain complete our triad for financial accountability. Here’s some of what they record. The Tree gave away more than 20 tons of clothes to the Weyers Cave-based mission Equipping The Saints. We gave dozens of boxes of books to the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library. In our little “blue book” we keep track of the thousands of dollars we give to area churches and needy groups. The truckloads of goods sent to The Vietnam Vets and The Salvation Army are assigned an estimated value. Obviously, it’s a lot of work and requires a knowledgeable person. We are accurate stewards in reporting to the IRS. We are proud to be part of
this community that can give so much to so many. This is not just us, but all of you, our donors, customers and volunteers. We strive to keep the store a cheerful place having little to do with money. Many customers stop by every day. They browse or chat; they don’t necessarily buy. Some are waiting for their clothes to be finished in the Crozet Laundromat. There’s always news to hear and we like to be a welcoming source of information to new people in the area. You may have noticed the signs in the store penned in lovely calligraphy by our new volunteer, Dorothy White. In May, our Saturday manager, Paul Clark, and his wife will move to Texas to be near their children and grandchildren. As great as Crozet is, what can compete with close-by family? Paul has been with us five years and he will be greatly missed. He had much to offer because of his retail experience with J.C. Penny. Two of our volunteers have retired after many years of service. Pete Garnett, our friendly Friday man, and Pat Dillon (with her assistant pup Punkin) will also be missed. Fortunately other volunteers are stepping in and The Tree continues to grow and thrive. Our next bag sale will be the week of April 18. Come see us.
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APRIL 2016
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All Saints Ivy Gets Sanctuary Icons Fr. Glenn Spencer at All Saints Anglican Church in Ivy marked his 25th anniversary as pastor of the church at Easter this year, celebrating as well the installation of two new icons above the altar, one of the Mother
of God and the other of St. John the Baptist. The icons were made by painter and iconspecialist Jonathan Edwards of California, according to traditional specifications. Both are slightly more that five feet tall and in a height-to-width ratio of 3:1. They are drawn from Russian examples from the sixteenth century. Basswood, the wood of the linden tree, a rare type, is the basis for the panels. The wood is lightweight, insect- and rotresistant and capable of lasting hundreds of years. Each panel had 25 layers of gesso applied, a base made of rabbit-skin glue with marble dust in it. The figures are painted with egg-tempura (egg yokes mixed with natural mineral pigments) and the background is made of 23.5 carat Italian gold leaf. There is symbolism in the icon’s manufacture as well as in the image on it, Fr. Spencer explained. The materials represent the animal, vegetable and mineral kingdoms of creation—meaning they take in all creation. “I make the icons as truthful and beautiful as I can,” Edwards told Fr. Spencer when he took on the commission. Both icons are designed, from prototypes, to be looking down on the altar from different sides, stressing its centrality. The altar itself embodies both the Ark of the Covenant and Calvary, said Fr. Spencer, who got his theological training at Duke University’s Divinity School. All Saints belongs to the eastern diocese of Anglican Province of America, which formed in 1998 in reaction to developments in the Episcopal Church and other liturgical movements in Protestantism. It is not related to the Anglican church in England. All Saints has existed since 1981 and has roughly 150 members, with whom Fr. Spencer says he keeps in close touch. Virginia has three APA churches; the others are in Blacksburg and Gloucester. There are roughly 90 parishes in the eastern diocese. “We are Catholic,” said Fr. Spencer, “But not Roman Catholic. We believe in the seven sacraments. We believe in the Real Presence [in the eucharist]. We believe in confession.” But, similar to Orthodox churches, they also allow married priests. Anglican churches have been invited to join the Roman Catholic Church, under what is called the ‘Benedict option,’ and some have, or have become Orthodox churches, Fr. Spencer said, but All Saints has not.
Father Glenn Spencer
The church has services at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on Sundays, and on Wednesdays has a regular supper with a study period afterward that ends in time for parents to get their young children home for bed. The church offers ministries for men and women and a Bible study group. Recently the men’s group finished a study of St. John of the Cross’s Dark Night of the Soul and next is taking on St. Teresa of Avila’s Interior Castle. The church also has a vacation Bible school in the summer.
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The Art of the Deal ACROSS 1 Lasso make-up 5 TV studio sign 10 Loafer wearing 14 Nautical call 15 Miss Popularity 16 Bunny kin 17 Dealer’s choice 19 And others 20 Request for aid: Be _____ 21 “Don’t _____ me, Bro!” 22 Belonging to that 23 Western Albemarle Rescue Sq. member 25 Skirt profile 28 Dealer’s skill 34 Exist 35 Disney to Mickey 36 Amtrak’s northeast express 39 First NYC subway co. 40 Gets close 44 “As I was _____ down Paradise Street”: from “Blow the Man Down” 47 _____-Tsu: “He who speaks does not know.” 48 Dealing correctly 51 Actress Kirsten of “Oedipus Wrecks” 52 Horse morsel 53 Quasimodo portrayer Chaney 54 Assoc. for elders 58 Throw a three-pointer 62 Ifs and buts companion 64 Need for dealer, desire for player 66 Hearts
67 Muscat native 68 Trim 69 “At Last” singer James 70 Stocking stuff 71 Positive votes DOWN 1 Indian monarch 2 Forboding syllables 3 Jab 4 Holey cloth 5 Baby docs 6 Former candidate Gingrich 7 Inter _____: among others 8 Woes 9 Passed out again 10 This girl 11 Slangily, jealous put-down 12 Declaim at the podium 13 Convention attendees: Abbr. 18 Rotational speed measures 24 Missing compound in hemp? 26 Simba or Scar 27 Memo phrase 28 Flight org. 29 Curve segment 30 Understand 31 Dickens Heep 32”Architect of the nuclear age” 33 Crisco: “_____ the can.” 37 Reposed, with “has” 38 Crafts other half 41 Solve for x math 42 Hoo follower?
Kids’ Crossword
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43 Bibulous one 45 Poplar Forest shape 46 Oxfam or Greenpeace, e.g. 48 Rachel Maddow or Bill O’Reilly 49 Poison ivy 50 Home to Odysseus 51 Tasty carb 53 Shine a light on
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55 Warrior group 56 Not imaginary 57 Rama opening and photo app 59 Without others 60 Garfield dog 61 Recipe abbreviations 63 RR stop 65 Word with foil and can
April Showers...
by Louise Dudley
1
by claudia crozet
ACROSS 1 _____, Jefferson, founder of U.Va. (born April 13, 1743) 4 Opposite of “over” 6 Spring musical at Western Albemarle High School 8 Make this to display your project at school or the science fair 10 Dog, or cat, or bear, or horse, or . . . 12 “Happy birthday _____ you” 13 Night light in the sky 14 Youngest age for Peachtree Tball players 15 Reaction to a skinned knee 16 Kind of tax to report on April 15 18 Tree with white (or sometimes pink) flowers 19 Band instruments that bang out the beat 21 Spring _____, a week’s vacation for teachers and students 23 Number of days in April 24 “There was an _____ woman who lived in a shoe . . .” 26 Yellow flowers with ruffled cups
DOWN 1 Flowers whose name sounds like parts of your mouth 2 The Boston _____, a 26.2-mile race that’s the oldest in America 3 The Dogwood _____ and princesses ride in the parade 5 The entire land ruled by a king or queen 7 What to say if you trick someone on April 1 9 “April showers bring May _____” 10 The fourth month 11 The smallest particle (it’s invisible to our eyes) 17 Place with fun rides for kids at the Dogwood Festival 18 Home Run _____, an April event at Crozet Park 20 Wipe your muddy feet on this at the door 22 50 percent is this part of a whole pie 24 “Diary _____ a Wimpy Kid” 25 Slang for a hair style
Solution on page 39
CROZET gazette
APRIL 2016
33
BY DR. ROBERT C. REISER
crozetannals@crozetgazette.com
Many Hats Being an ER doc is not just a job, it’s many jobs. Dr. Amita Sudhir, an ER colleague, pointed this out to me recently, and we explored it in a series of email exchanges. AS: I didn’t know how many hats I was going to wear when I started this job. Some of them sit more comfortably than others, but they are all essential parts of being an EM physician. Here are a few: Chaplain: in a recent documentary about emergency medicine, a physician describes emergency departments (EDs) as the cathedrals of the 21st century, because we are the lastresort refuge of many. It makes sense, then, that the ED doc must take on a pastoral role. No one teaches us how to do this in medical school, but sometimes the only thing there is to offer is comfort. You have to do it without knowing the religious background or beliefs of your patient or them knowing yours. And we have to do it in the blink of an eye because there are dozens of other patients waiting for us, some of whom need what we have to offer medically. This role is most prominent in the death notification. We can explain the medical reasons for why someone’s family member died, but in the end, they often only want to know if they suffered and if they could have done anything to prevent it. Survivor’s guilt is a powerful thing and anything we can say to prevent its onset is helpful. RCR: This is hard-won knowledge indeed. In addition to ministering to patients and families suddenly going through the worst moments in their lives we also must shepherd our residents, students, and staff through these cataclysms time
and again in ways that preserve their compassion and promote resiliency so that they can continue this hard work. In a previous column one of my nursing colleagues shared our “Pause,” a silent moment after a failed resuscitation, honoring the dead and acknowledging the feelings of the caregivers who must move on. AS: Parent: Every so often, we deal with drunk college students. Most are over 18 so we are not allowed to let their parents know that their child drank “just a couple” of beers and ended up on a stretcher in an ED hallway. When they sober up and are discharged, we find ourselves in loco parentis, lecturing them about the bad things that can happen when they drink too much. And then there are the patients, many old enough to have their own children, who come in for a cold. Drink plenty of fluids and gargle with salt water, we tell them. “That’s what my mom said!” they exclaim with some surprise. Well, it turns out your mom is often right. RCR: Well, when the parents get the ER bill there may be some explaining to do. RCR: Bouncer: Once in a while a patient under the influence of alcohol or drugs will attempt to assault our staff. This gets the entire staff’s attention very quickly and in true ER fashion a team response occurs immediately to immobilize the patient safely, with many hands making light the work. Also, Substance abuse counselor: See above. AS: Nurse: Sometimes the simple act of getting a blanket or a cup of water for a patient makes all the difference in the world. RCR: Friend: Some of our patients we know well and they continued on page 34
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CROZET gazette
APRIL 2016
Healthy Soil —continued from page 10
everything has to be customized. Besides the tea, he offers amendments like humic acid, which makes nutrients more available to the plant. It stimulates microbiology. Amendments can be used by themselves or added to tea. Another product is a seed inoculant comprised of specialized microbes that go on a seed before it’s planted to improve germination, protect from pathogens and solubilize nutrients in soil. All the amendments are certified organic products. “If I spray a yard, the dogs and the kids are safe,” he said. “I don’t work with animals, but I work with farms that do, and we try to get animals managed in a holistic way. The Polyface way has proven to heal land,” he said, referring to Joel Salatin’s famous “grass farm” in Swoope, Virginia. “There’s a symbiosis in nature. We have to understand how plants and animals operate so we can use it to our advantage.” Page was a history major at Radford University. His ancestors owned Page Florists in Charlottesville, which once had greenhouses on 14th Street near where Boylan Heights restaurant is now. “We were always big gardeners,” he said. He worked for a food coop in Charlottesville, then for farms in the Valley. “I wanted to farm on my own,” he said. So he and his wife moved to Hawaii, where he worked on a farm in Maui that was dedicated to a perma-culture system. He spent five years as the farm manager, then he came home. “I was able to learn it. I had never really understood plants and terrain before, or how to work with land to create a sustainable envi-
CCAC
—continued from page 4
growth trends. A survey conducted in 2009 found a strong community consensus behind the terms and goals of the Master Plan. A new survey would probably be done online. The CCAC also heard news
ronment. I really got into forestry and forest restoration. There were a lot of invasives. We composted them and planted high densities of diverse plants. The idea is to speed up natural succession from 100 years to 50. These are long-term systems. They’re thinking 100 years ahead. I hadn’t been exposed to that type of thinking. It stuck with me and it makes so much sense, so I hold to that.” Page is a certified arborist now and a member of the Virginia Association of Biological Farmers. “When I work with farms we want to look 100 years down the road, not just at this harvest. The problem with farms is they have become dependent on fertilizer. They have to keep applying more and more to get the same yield. With genetically modified crops, it’s so backwards. The more you use, the more resistant things are. It’s a downward spiral that nothing good can come from. It’s bad for the health of the land and bad for our health.” The cost to treat a half acre is about $100. “We try to make it affordable for everybody. The goal is to educate and provide a public service that benefits the next generation (Page has a young son now.) If I go at it trying just to make money, you lose the focus on what you’re trying to do. I’m tuned in to the business, but I want to stay up with the science and serve the community. “We work in the Valley and around Charlottesville. We’ve even gone out of state. I can teach some of it to people and get them set up on their farms so they can create a proper biological system in their soil. It really works. We’re not making stuff up here. This is like building up our bodies’ immune response.”
of a music festival sponsored by Starr Hill Brewery slated for June 25 from noon until 7 p.m. across the street from the brewery. The event is expected to attract 1,500 to 2,000. In its annual officer elections, the CCAC chose David Stoner as chair and Mary Gallo as vice chair.
Medicine —continued from page 33
come in from time to time with a quasi-medical complaint but really more just to have some social interaction. In their personal lives they are isolated by illness or personality disorders and have few other opportunities for human contact. They know all the doctors and nurses by name and joke with us as we go about our business caring for the other patients. Eventually we make up a quasi-medical discharge plan and off they go,
Tulips
—continued from page 22
mer showers. So, some tips to get your tulips to perennialize: Pick the right kind, often marketed as “good for naturalizing or perennializing.” Species tulips, such as T. clusiana, T. bakeri or T. batallinii work well, as do some hybrids, namely the Emperors and the Darwins. Plant in a well-drained area, such as a raised bed. Adding organic matter or Permatill will also help. Plant deep, about 8” measured from the bottom of the bulb and including any mulch. For example: five inches of soil, plus three inches of mulch, equals your eight inches. Water immediately after planting. After the blossoms peak, clip off the flower heads, but leave the foliage to die back naturally. Removing the flower heads will allow more energy to go into the bulb, but will be tedious if you have a lot of tulips. Fertilize in the fall with a low-Nitrogen material such as well-rotted cow manure. Don’t use bone meal. It will only
Weather
—continued from page 27
compared to a normal of almost four inches. March temperatures were much warmer than normal in contrast to the cold April start. The overall temperature was 5.7 degrees above normal.
refreshed, until the next time. And, as usual in our exchanges, Dr. Sudhir has the last word. AS: Clinical medicine is often satisfying, but sometimes frustrating. It’s good to remember that we have other roles as well. Hippocrates said the goal of medicine was to “cure sometimes, relieve often, comfort always.” It’s often the other roles that provide the most comfort (except maybe bouncer!), not just to the patient, but the physician too. (And generally, I leave the bouncing to Dr. Reiser and his martial arts skills.) encourage squirrels to dig up the bulbs. And speaking of squirrels, deer and other pests….full disclosure: they will go after tulips, so employ whatever strategy that works for you. (If any!) For the bulbs themselves, some folks put hardware cloth or sharp gravel around or over them. As for those “blazing primary colors”? I’m okay with them sometimes, and if that’s what you like, have at it. But if you mix primaries with pastels, the soft colors lose the battle. Red and yellow blossoms combined scream, “Fast Food Restaurant!” to yours truly; putting some orange flowers between the two quiets things down a lot. And don’t be afraid to mix your tulips with other bulbs and perennials. The latter can hide the dying foliage of the bulbs. A good place to see and buy bulbs as well as other perennials is Brent and Becky’s Bulbs in Gloucester, Virginia. They also offer guided tours of their gardens on Wednesdays and Saturdays beginning in the middle of March and continuing through April 16 of this year; a small fee is charged and reservations are required.
Rainfall Crozet Mint Springs 1.18” Crozet Elementary 1.31” Ivy 1.37” Wintergreen 1.59” White Hall 1.2” Nellysford 1.67” Waynesboro 1.28” Univ. of VA 2.33” CHO Airport 1.49”
CROZET gazette
Gazette Vet —continued from page 21
enthusiastically every day. You’ll have to take my word for it that I’m not exaggerating. These are very common, if not daily presentations. I see animals that must be in significant pain, yet are not displaying anything to tell their owners such. And most of the time I’m dealing with very in-tune owners and very spoiled animals. So, do animals feel pain like we do? Or are they just tougher than we are? My short answer is that yes, of course they feel pain just like we do, and yes, they are indeed programmed to be tough. To address the question of how animals feel pain, we need to look at our own bodies. Dogs and cats are mammals just as we are and, really, our bodies are incredibly more similar than they are different. In particular, the set-up of the nervous system is very much the same. Dogs have all the same nerves and skin response as we do, and their central nervous system processes the signal of pain in the very same way as we do. Remember that pain is a very important survival tool, teaching us about our surroundings. Feeling pain is very important! So yes, the anatomy and physiology is the same, and this has all been very well validated with research. Your dog’s tooth root infection hurts just as bad as your tooth root infection. The real difference is in the programmed response. Let’s take each species (dogs, cats, and humans) and look at why they respond to pain as they do. Dogs: All of our domestic dogs originated from wolves. If you’ve read my columns over the years you know I love looking at wolf behavior to give us insight into how our spoiled dogs behave. In every wolf pack, there is a strict hierarchy. From the alphas to the omegas, every wolf is subject to the pecking order. When you examine which are the alphas, they are not necessarily the largest and strongest in the pack, nor are the omegas the smallest and weakest. There is simply the natural stacking of personality traits along with physical traits and interactions
APRIL 2016 between the wolves that leads to the resulting pecking order. This hierarchy gives the pack order and discipline and functions to keep the pack working together as a strong unit. However, there is always tension within the ranks. Those who seem weaker, more sullen, less energetic, etc. will likely be demoted in the pack’s ranks. Thus, wolves have likely evolved to hide pain because it is definitely not in their best personal interest to look weak. Getting beat up and having more limited access to food and mates is the result. Cats: Cats are interesting in that they are an incredible predator, highly effective at hunting small rodents, lizards, and birds, but are also a prey species, at risk of being killed or hunted by larger carnivores or even hawks and owls. This is likely why cats have such a strong scare response and tend to be much more cautious in nature than our domestic dogs. Knowing that they have to watch out for these larger species, they likely have evolved to avoid looking like easy prey. All good predator species are skilled at picking out the weak and sick in a herd. One can only assume that for cats there is a natural tendency not to show signs of sickness or illness because of this point. Humans: The early pioneers would likely look at us today and say that we humans have gotten a bit “wimpy.” Admittedly, we all live pretty soft lives and if I’ve injured my knee, you’re probably gonna hear about it at work, on Facebook, etc. Actually, humans are also designed to be pretty tough about pain, but most of us don’t have nearly the amount of regular physical suffering in our lives as our forefathers did. We humans are cerebral creatures, able to communicate our feelings and thoughts with so much expression, making it quite difficult to know if my son truly does feel like he is going to die from the paper cut on his finger or not. A lot of people do live with intense pain, and I predict they, too, are able to keep it under wraps most of the time and, much like Hunter, even wag their tails occasionally. So, when you see your dog or cat has an issue that seems like it would be painful to you, it likely is.
Grease
—continued from page 20
about it and wanted to do it, and the music is so great. “ Although the climax of the original Grease involves Sandy, the main character, transforming her appearance and affecting a “bad-girl” persona to win the affections of Danny—and Danny likewise donning a letter jacket and adopting a more serious tone to appeal to her— Western’s production focused more on themes of friendship and being true to one’s own self. “We wanted to portray it more as not that she changes herself for the guy, but that she becomes more of herself at the end, and that’s attractive to him,” Pitts says. The students also decided to donate a portion of the ticket sales to Equality Now, an international human rights organization dedicating to protecting the civil, political, economic, and social rights of girls and women. The cast and crew put in many hours preparing for the production, practicing three hours a night, five nights a week, for the last three months. “It’s a big commitment. It’s the equivalent of being on a sports team,” Pitts says. For the last three weeks before the show, they practiced four to five hours each day. Leads Cutter Mendenhall and Chloe Horner admit the practices were tough, but they wouldn’t have had it any other way. “We do spend a lot of time here. Lately it’s been from 4:008:30 every night, which makes homework kind of hard. But it’s totally worth it. I’ve met so many people. Honestly, there really isn’t anything negative I’d say about it,” Horner says. Mendenhall is new to Western, moving here from Utah in mid-January. He auditioned for the role after the original Danny left the production. Being part of the cast has eased the transition to his new school, he says. “They lost their Danny, so they had an opening, and I was able to audition,” he says. “It was meant to be! It was a great way to get to know people. I’ve been having a great time.” Both Horner and Mendenhall have impressive credentials. “I take voice lessons, and I’ve also
35
performed professionally and in community theater since I was seven years old,” Horner says. “I’ve performed at Ash Lawn Opera, Heritage Theater, and Four County Players. I started in opera when I was 11, but I found that musical theater was more of my thing.” Mendenhall also has experience on the stage. “I’ve been taking voice lessons for a couple of years. I’ve done school and community theater since around second grade.” Dancing was new to him, however. “I just learned it on the job. I really like dancing, actually. I was going to start dance lessons anyway.” Horner says it wasn’t hard for her to get into character as Sandy. “Her personality and my personality are really similar. It’s been really easy to act the role because there are so many similarities between us.” Mendenhall says he doesn’t have much in common with Danny Zucco, but still enjoyed playing the T-Bird leader: “Danny’s a lot different than I am, which has been difficult, but I’ve learned a lot just putting myself into a character who’s so different from me.” The actors weren’t the only secret to Grease’s success, Pitts says: “There is a crew of 20 kids who were moving set pieces, running lights, and running sounds.” She said one of the most challenging parts was working with the wooden car because it had to be driven off and on the stage and it had to be coordinated with all the actors’ movements. “For any of the set pieces that rolled, we had to spend a lot of time rehearsing,” she said. Kids and parent volunteers worked on the weekends to build the set pieces. “Parents did most of the serious building, and the kids helped with everything. The kids did a lot of painting; they did smaller jobs.” Pitts enjoyed her experience directing the musical: “This group of kids have been the most hardworking group that I’ve had here. I’d say they’re the most hard-working and the nicest. It’s just an incredibly nice group of kids,” Pitts says. “There are a lot of seniors— they’re so great—and I really hate to lose them! I’ll be so sad to see them go.” Sounds like those 1950s values are still alive at Western today.
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CROZET gazette
APRIL 2016
BEREAVEMENTS Ardella Harris, 76
February 20, 2016
Wallace D. Elliott, 73
February 24, 2016
Margaret B. Brown, 89
February 27, 2016
Raymond Carroll Conley, 71
February 27, 2016
Hunter E. Fortney, 93
February 27, 2016
Betty Ann Raines, 72
February 28, 2016
James William Shiflett, 78
February 28, 2016
Vivian Lorraine Whitlock Zimmerman, 88
February 28, 2016
Dwight Daniel McGee, 65
February 29, 2016
Wayne Dale Fisher, 65
March 2, 2016
Richard Hayden, 71
March 2, 2016
Presley L. Andy Hayes III, 73
March 2, 2016
Andrew G. Lefko Jr., 76
March 3, 2016
William Edward Morris, 83
March 3, 2016
Peggy Birckhead Kessler, 79
March 4, 2016
Evelyn Jenkins Lamb, 87
March 4, 2016
Jane Bellomy Phillips, 84
March 5, 2016
William Anthony Woodson, 55
March 5, 2016
Louise Austin Cook Ferguson, 96
March 6, 2016
Cora Kirby Mawyer, 107
March 9, 2016
Harrison L. Pete Batten, 82
March 10, 2016
Kathi Deene Sandridge, 50
March 10, 2016
Janet Phillips Harrison, 95
March 12, 2016
Clarris May Shifflett, 83
March 12, 2016
Howard Douglas Bragg, 68
March 13, 2016
James Aubrey Morris, 69
March 13, 2016
LaMont Dudley Sr., 92
March 17, 2016
John Silas English, 86
March 18, 2016
Robert M. Byrom, 87
March 19, 2016
Giovanni Jerry Finazzo, 67
March 19, 2016
Leslie R. Fitzgerald Jr., 75
March 19, 2016
Dwayne Avis Jessee, 46
March 19, 2016
John Carr Jones Sr., 93
March 20, 2016
Horris Dabney Stephens, 89
March 20, 2016
Lillian Catherine Arnold, 88
March 22, 2016
Frederick Neve Shifflett, 84
March 22, 2016
Montrose Graham Tull Jr., 89
March 22, 2016
John Bailey Forloines III, 65
March 23, 2016
Goodwin Bland Robertson, 94
March 24, 2016
Michael Lee Valenti, 70
March 27, 2016
Ronald Sterling Critzer, 66
March 29, 2016
Mildred V. Kennedy, 91
March 31, 2016
Leslie R. “Pug” Fitzgerald, Jr. Leslie R. “Pug” Jr., 75, of Crozet departed this world March 19, surrounded by his loving family. Pug was preceded in death by his parents, Leslie R. “Boodley” Fitzgerald Sr. and Clara Kidd Fitzgerald. He is survived by his wife, Mary (Lou) Wooten Fitzgerald; his children, Kim Sementelli and her husband, Tony of Florida Troy Fitzgerald of Waynesboro. Jonathan Fitzgerald and his partner , Kellie Carter of Crozet; a stepdaughter, Tammy Caul of Crozet; two sisters, Ruby Seal and her husband Wayne of Crozet, and Anne Patton of Crozet, 14 grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. Pug was a 1958 graduate of Nelson County High School. He retired from Wells Fargo Bank in 2003. Pug was an avid NASCAR fan and looked forward to watching his favorite soap opera, Days of our Lives, daily. Pug enjoyed many things during his time here on
earth, racing Corvettes, boating at Lake Anna, listening to his favorite musician Bennie Dodd, Sunday dinners with his family, and most importantly, being “Papa Pug” to his grandchildren. A memorial service was held March 26 with Reverend David Collyer officiating. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Crozet Baptist Church.
Robert Milton Byrom Colonel Robert M. Byrom, USAF Retired, age 87, of Massanetta Springs, Virginia, formerly of Crozet, and many previous military postings, passed to his Lord’s presence on Saturday, March 19, at INOVA Fairfax Hospital. A memorial service was held March 26 at Kyger Funeral Home in Harrisonburg. Additional funeral services were held in Arlington at Fort Meyer’s Old Post Chapel with interment at Arlington National Cemetery. Byrom is survived by his four sons and two daughters: Robert Randall (Tamra Anne, children Jessica, Joseph, & Jennifer) of South Lyon, MI; Laura Lee Neva (children Allen & Aimee) of Absorkee, MT; James Kevin (Xiao Yin, children Matthew, Christopher, Bobby) of Manassas, VA; Susan Marie Loose (children Sara, Emily, Becca, & Adam) of New Ulm, MN; Douglas Edward (Lisa, children Jeff, Kevin, Ethan, John) of Henderson, NC; Colonel Christopher Lee
(Michelle, children Sam, Anika, Paul, Elsa of Alexandria, VA. On January 7, 1956 he married his wife, Patricia Ann (Bunton) Byrom. He was preceeded in death by his wife (2010); his mother, Lilias Helen (Tuggle) Byrom (1972); and brother, Alfred Martin Byrom (1995). He was born on November 26, 1928 in Atlanta, GA. He moved as a young boy to Arlington, where his love for flying was kindled when, as a young boy, his mother bought him a ticket to fly aboard the Goodyear blimp—whose pilot allowed him the thrill of taking the controls. As a young man he went to watch the U.S. Air Force Acrojets aerobatic demonstration team fly an airshow at Bolling Field, which he later, as an Air Force pilot, flew left wing and subsequently lead for. He worked steadily from 1944 to 2012 (almost 70 years)! He completed High School GED, University of Nebraska Omaha (Bachelors), Catholic University (Law), McGill
CROZET gazette University Institute of Air and Space (Master of Law). His military service began with the Marines (enlisted 1946-1947) and then U.S. Air Force (officer 1950-1975) retiring as full Colonel finishing a 26-year military career: Navigator (celestial), Instructor Pilot (T-33), Demonstration Team Pilot (T-33, U.S. Air Forces Europe Acrojets), Fighter Pilot (F-80 Shooting Star; and F-4 Phantom II - Vietnam, 153 combat missions), Bomber Pilot B-47 Stratojet - America’s first jet bomber; and B-58 Hustler, America’s only Mach II strategic bomber, and his favorite aircraft of his Air Force career, and he retired as Commander, Grissom Air Force Base, IN. Between his career in the Marines and Air Force he also worked with American Grocers, rising to a position of store manager. After retiring from the Air Force, he worked as a lawyer in Charlottesville, with later specialty in aviation law and then, finally, for five years as a nearly full-time substitute teacher for Harrisonburg-area schools. Beginning with his mother’s
House Church —continued from page 30
they need substitutes. “We’re a church without walls,” he said. “It’s real and it’s down to Earth. It meets people where they are and helps them build a relationship with Christ. It’s not us. It’s a movement in the U.S. and Europe. It’s a new way of doing church. It’s what you read about in the Book of Acts. “I think it’s the church of the future in the U.S. We’ve been working in an ‘attractional model’ that stresses who does the best entertainment. The millennials are sort of done with this. They are largely missing from the Protestant churches. This house church model has always been used for missions. We in the U.S. are in a postchurch but not a post-Christian time. People don’t want to give money for buildings. They want to give it for another purpose. I think it’s the salvation [for the decline in attendance]. There’s a call for change that’s happening by leaving the established
APRIL 2016 first driving trips into the Blue Ridge mountains with her two boys, including the first opening of Skyline Drive, Byrom developed a great love of the Blue Ridge, a love shared by his wife that resulted in their purchasing a family farm in Blackwell’s Hollow, where they built their family home and spent 30 joyous years. He later gifted 600 acres of their mountain farm to Albemarle County as the Patricia Ann Byrom Forest Preserve Park for the enjoyment of all. After USAF service, he enjoyed flying as a commercial and private pilot, including commuter airline service, flying for a local parachute club, and trips as far as northern Alaska, Guatemala, and Ireland. He was actively involved with Boy Scouts and Navy Sea Cadets. He earned International and American flying records both as an Air Force and civilian pilot. Memorial contributions may be made towards the P. A. Byrom Forest Preserve at 6610 Blackwell’s Hollow Road, Crozet, VA 22932 and Harrisonburg-area schools, or to a charity of your choice.
church. “The attractional church model used to work, but now it’s dying and the Christian leaders are not paying attention. The status quo was comfortable. “One of people’s chief complaints is that their churches are constantly asking them for money. I think God is saying, ‘Fix my people.’ We’ve lost sight of it and we need to get back to it. You have to cast a vision and touch someone’s heart,” said Rankin, who said he was raised as a Catholic and once wanted to be a priest. He was born again in a Protestant sense after having left the Catholic Church as a teenager. “We’re trying to get a Spanish cell going. I don’t plan to ever build a building. It will be a network of house churches.” “We didn’t know a soul when we moved to Crozet and now we know lots of people. House church is real and it’s New Testament. That’s what we are going to do. We are under pressure to rent and have a worship band, but that’s not what we are going to do.”
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CLASSIFIED ADS COMPUTER CARE: Quality computer repair in your home or office. Virus removal, networking, wireless setup, tutoring, used computers. Reasonable rates. Over 15 years’ experience. Please call (434) 825-2743. CROZET ARTISAN DEPOT welcomes seven new artists in April! Please join us for a reception in their honor on Second Saturday, April 9, from 4-6 p.m. Refreshments served. Local musician Eve Watters will entertain with harp and Native American Flute. NO MORE EXCUSES: M2 Personal Training offers 8 classes per week taught by certified personal trainers in Crozet. Or set up a group training session or one-on-one session in your home to help meet your fitness/health goals. Check out www.m2personaltraining.com for more information. Contact Melissa Miller at 434-9622311. NEIGHBORHOOD YARD SALE, Western Ridge in Crozet, Saturday, May 7, 7a.m. - 12 p.m. Baby/children/ adult clothes & shoes, toys, bicycles, furniture, appliances, house wares, sports equipment, antiques & collectibles and more. COMMUNITY WIDE YARD SALE in OLD TRAIL, Crozet. Visit all of Old Trail’s neighborhoods for individual yard sales on: indoor/outdoor furniture and decor, lawn and garden, books, clothes, toys, and more. No early birds please. Saturday May 7th from 8 AM to noon. Old Trail Community, Crozet. Just off Route 250 across from Western Albemarle High School. BECOME A CONFIDENT PUBLIC SPEAKER and inspirational leader at Crozet Toastmasters every Tuesday from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Tabor Presbyterian Fellowship Hall. Contact cbrown8853@gmail.com. HARDWORKING, DEPENDABLE lady, with references, looking to houseclean, clean offices, or odds & ends jobs to supplement her income. Can be reached at 434-882-5549. Classified ads start at $18 ($16 repeating) and appear in both print and online. To place an ad, email Allie at ads@crozet gazette.com or call 434-249-4211
Serving Western Albemarle Families Since 1967 Robert S. Anderson & John W. Anderson, Jr., D I R E C T O R S
823-5002 5888 St. George Avenue Crozet, VA 22932
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CROZET gazette
APRIL 2016
community events APRIL 9
CVFD Spaghetti Supper
The Crozet Volunteer Fire Department will host a spaghetti supper at the firehouse Saturday, April 9, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The menu includes spaghetti with meatballs, Texas toast, salad, assorted desserts and beverages. Dinner is by donation. The proceeds will go to Junior Department training costs.
APRIL 9
Second Saturdays Art Openings
Downtown Crozet art galleries will host second Saturday artist receptions on Saturday, April 9, from 4-6 p.m. All events are free and open to the public. At Crozet Artisan Depot, local musician Eve Watters will entertain with harp and Native American Flute. Refreshments will be served. Art on the Trax, at Creative Framing and the Art Box, will present “Farm Friends” by Page Peyton. Peyton was born and raised in Charlottesville. The Art Box’s famous ice cream sundaes topped with fruit from local orchards will be served. Through May 11, Over the Moon Bookstore and Artisan Gallery be featuring paintings by Susan Viemeister.
Crozet Gazette Business Card Ads Old School Maintenance & Repair Specializing in Small Engine and Lawn Mower Repair and Maintenance
Mowers • Bikes • 4 Wheelers • Chain Saws • & More Pick Up and Delivery Available
WE OFFER A FULL LINE OF HOUSEHOLD MAINTENANCE!
Clean Gutters • Clean Skylights • Mow Grass Paint • Clear Brush • & More We will haul & distribute mulch, haul away trash & debris as requested Rick Maupin and Brian Thomas
Call 434-329-0034 or 823-6366
Come Visit the Olivet Preschool! 3 day - 3 year old class 4 day - 4 year old class
Providing a Christian preschool opportunity for families in our community
The Olivet Preschool at Olivet Presbyterian Church 2575 Garth Road, Charlottesville 434-295-1367 (church office)
olivetpreschool.org • betsy@olivetpresbyterian.org
APRIL 9
SNP Superintendent Northup to Talk and Hike in Crozet
Shenandoah National Park Superintendent Jim Northup will speak about his 36 years as a National Park Ranger April 9 at the Albemarle Tourism & Adventure Center in the Crozet depot at 10 a.m. He will provide updates on recent happenings in the park and events planned for the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary this year. After his talk, Northup will lead a hike on the North Fork Moormans River Trail above the Sugar Hollow dam. This is an easy to moderate 3.2 mile hike in and out. If you plan to hike, remember proper footwear (there are several stream crossings on stepping stones), a day pack, hiking pole(s), water and a snack or lunch to enjoy. The free event is sponsored by the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau.
APRIL 9, 16, 23
Amnesty Days at the Ivy MUC
Three Amnesty Days will be held at Ivy Material Utilization Center on the following dates from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day: Furniture/Mattressses: April 9; Appliances: April 16; Tires: April 23. Service is available to Albemarle County and Charlottesville residents only. Normal tipping fees will be charged to residents for all non-amnesty items brought on these days. The Ivy facility will accept all above items during normal operation, but with tipping fees.
APRIL 16
Third Annual Pitch-in at the Park
Crozet Park will host its third annual Pitch-in at the Park event Saturday, April 16, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Generously sponsored this year by BB&T Bank, the day brings together volunteers and businesses throughout the community and makes it possible to complete many of the park’s 2016 maintenance activities including painting, fence and shed repairs, mulch spreading and general cleanup. BB&T Bank is providing a community grant to the park to cover all materials and supplies required for the day. BB&T has been a long-term partner of Crozet Park, providing the loan that enabled the park to purchase and install the pool dome and make associated building renovations in 2012. The dome has been a game changer for the park, allowing it to expand aquatic operations from seasonal to year-round.
Interested volunteers may sign-up to spend a half-day or full day and participate in as many activities as they wish. Lunch is provided to all volunteers. Sign-up at: www.crozetpark.org/volunteering
APRIL 13 - JUNE 5
CCO Begins New Season
The Crozet Community Orchestra upcoming session begins April 13 with an all-new program to be performed at a concert June 5, directed by Philip Clark. Weekly rehearsals are Wednesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. at Tabor Presbyterian Church in Crozet. The CCO has openings for string players, flute, clarinet, bassoon and others. For more information, visit the CCO’s website at crozetcommunityorchestra.org. Registration closes April 30. Email inquiries to: crozetorchestra@gmail.com.
APRIL 21
Guitar Jammin’ at the Depot
The next Jammin’ at the Depot session will be on April 21 from 7 to 9 p.m. The theme will be Simon and Garfunkle and songs by Paul Simon. The March session of the Jammin’ at the Depot drew approximately 30 participants and was covered by the local CBS TV station. The group moved to the larger back room at the depot and played with amplifiers and one person played an electronic keyboard. The theme was songs by the Beatles and Irish songs in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. Third Thursday jam sessions are for all skill levels for voice and instrument. Come, play, have fun.
APRIL 30 & MAY 1
Ruritan Plant/Yard/ Bake Sale
The White Hall Ruritan Club will holding its fifth annual Plant/Yard/ Bake Sale on two days, Saturday, April 30, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Sunday, May 1, from noon to 3 p.m., at the White Hall Community Building (2904 Brown’s Gap Road, at the intersection of Routes 614 and 810). Plants, all from local gardens, include flowering plants, shrubs, trees, tomatoes and other vegetables, berries, and herbs. Yard sale items range from jewelry to kitchen items to furniture. Proceeds fund local scholarships and improvements to White Hall’s century-old Community Building.
CROZET gazette
APRIL 2016
Crozet’s Favorite Flicks
Crozet Gazette Business Card Ads
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All aspects of painting Interior and Exterior Gutter Cleaning & Power Washing “No job too small”
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I T HOMA S Q U A UND GR EA S E L L I P A E APOS T E R N MS I H AN B L O P SMOON FOUR O I N D O GWO O D L D L E R H T H B R EAK A Y OL D DA F FOD I A
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MATT ROBB Phone: 434.531.6060 Fax: 888.251.3406 EMail: matt@robbconstruction.com 8803 Dick Woods Road Afton, VA 22920
www.robbconstruction.com Class A Lic. #2705073818A
PMI Charlottesville P.O. Box 143 Crozet, VA 22932 Office: 434.326.4786 www.pmicville.com
Cell: 434.270.5586 michael@pmicville.com
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Mint Springs Valley Park • Crozet, VA • 8 A.M.
$5 entry fee First race in the Charlottesville Summer Trail Running Series Prizes for overall, 13 and under, 40-49, 50-59, and 60+ Kids and families are encouraged to enter! Walkers and hikers welcome! Register Online at www.crozetrunning.com/trail5k
State of $avings.
SPONSORED BY: Crozet
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