INSIDE GROWTH SURVEY page 2 STRONG SALES page 6 CRYSTAL BALL page 7
BLOGGERS page 14
MAY 2017 VOL. 11, NO. 12
Citizens Rank Priorities for Initiative Funds
FRANCES HILL page 17
By Michael Marshall editor@crozetgazette.com
SHOP TALK page 21 SCIENTIFIC AUTHORITY page 26
CLARE WINN
WHAT IT TAKES page 27 PEAS & KALE page 29
MILLER BASEBALL page 32
Daisy and Brownie Troop 76 of Crozet collected over 40 boxes of Girl Scout cookies to donate to the local fire department. The girls presented the cookies to the firemen on April 25, and got a tour of the fire station. Girl Scouts: Nohah Mutkala, Ashlyn Johnson, Addie Chidester, Peyton Haium, Sophia Rose, Ellie Winn, Emma Cobb, Mary Marley, Parker Haium, Emi Rosson, Cecelia Karczewski, Willow Philips, Niyla Hall, Harper Kalergis, and Logan Juhl. Leaders: Sarah Rosson, Clare Winn, and Lauren Haium.
SCHOLARSHIP ATHLETES page 33
Roundabout Coming to Rte. 240
TEAM UPDATES page 30-31
LADY MAVERICKS page 34 WHEN TO CUT? page 35 WHISTLE WORDS page 36 THE BEST MONTH page 37 SCHOOL NOTES page 38 SIT UP page 39 WILDLIFE GUIDES page 40 CALENDAR page 41 OBITUARIES page 42-44 CLASSIFIEDS page 46-47
By Michael Marshall editor@crozetgazette.com Safety and traffic efficiency issues at the intersection of Rt. 250 and Rt. 240 at the Mechums River trestle will be addressed by building a traffic circle there in the next few years, according to Joel DeNunzio, engineer for the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Charlottesville
Residency. The state received money from a federal fund for improving dangerous rural roads, which included Browns Gap Turnpike (State Route 680), which enters the intersection from the north immediately at the west end of the bridge over the river. VDOT’s Lynchburg Residency, which handles Nelson County needs, continued on page 4
House of Straw Proves to Be Sturdy, Economical and Earth-friendly
By Theresa Curry theresa@crozetgazette.com
It turns out the first little pig was on to something, despite the moral of the children’s fable. Dave and Mary Cunningham built their Afton home out of straw bales and have lived in it for nearly two decades.
Wolves have not been a problem and neither have windstorms, snowstorms, hurricanes, crazy cold winters, blistering summers, and countless torrential rains. In fact, because the bales are so thick, the couple can barely hear the thunderstorms that roll over the mountain or feel the huge fluctua-
continued on page 12
Improvements to The Square came out as the top vote-getter when the Crozet Community Advisory Council met for the second month in the cafeteria of Crozet Elementary School May 18 to rank possible uses for Crozet’s share of the county’s $1.4 million Neighborhood Improvement Funding Initiative. County facilitators Emily Kilroy and Laurie Allshouse had prepared two lists, one with ideas presumed to cost less than $50,000 and another with ideas likely more expensive than $50,000. They introduced a system in which colored dots with different values were placed on possible options and the final values tallied. All present got one strip with each color of dot on it to place alongside their preferences. The fifty-and-under list had two stickers assigned to it and the pricier list was allowed three choices. In the under-fifty category the top vote getter, with 340 points, was “Crozet Park improvements . . . including amenities like disc golf, exercise stations and a drone course.” In second was “crushed stone for
continued on page 25
MIKE MARSHALL
CHILDREN’S CHIOR page 9
Shawn Bird placing one of his sticker votes
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CROZETgazette
MAY 2017
From the Editor Let’s Find Out What We Think I’m writing to ask your help in an important community-driven effort that will help shape the future of Crozet. As you may have read in last month’s Gazette, a volunteer committee has prepared a community survey on growth issues and the future of Crozet. The survey is ready for presentation to the public this month. Its results will be the starting point for an update of the Crozet Master Plan in town hall meetings this fall. The committee includes Crozet Community Association president Tim Tolson; retired planning commissioner Tom Loach; current planning commissioner Jennie More; White Hall Supervisor Ann Mallek;
Tom Guterbock, the director of U.Va.’s Center for Survey Research; Shawn Bird, a political polling expert; Crozet Board of Trade president Mike Marshall; and county senior planner Elaine Echols. Other interested Crozet citizens have also attended meetings. The committee has prepared a scientifically valid survey with neutral questions. Some 2,000 households inside the Crozet Growth Area and another 1,000 in nearby areas will be sent letters asking them to participate in the online survey. The goal is to get at least 500 households from this random representative sample to respond, with the heavy majority being from inside the growth area. The same survey will also be available to anyone in the public online or in a paper form
continued on page 10
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.
Crozet Trails Crew The Crozet Trails Crew thanks Starr Hill Brewery for choosing us as the April beneficiary of “Cheers for Charity.” From our kick-off party on April 1, through our business meeting in the waning days of the month, the staff of Starr Hill has made us feel welcome. We have thoroughly enjoyed organizing and, especially, carrying out events at the brewery. We also thank our friends and neighbors who have come out to “Show Crozet Trails Some Love” by drinking a pint or two of Starr Hill beer. It’s exciting to see the growing net-
CROZET gazette
MICHAEL J. MARSHALL, Publisher and Editor news@crozetgazette.com | 434-466-8939
© The Crozet Gazette
LOUISE DUDLEY, Editorial Assistant louise@crozetgazette.com
the
Published on the first Thursday of the month by The Crozet Gazette LLC, P.O. Box 863, Crozet, VA 22932
Member, Virginia Press Association
ALLIE M. PESCH, Art Director and Ad Manager ads@crozetgazette.com | 434-249-4211
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: John Andersen, Clover Carroll, Theresa Curry, Marlene Condon, Elena Day, Phil James, Charles Kidder, Lisa Martin, Dirk Nies, Robert Reiser, Roscoe Shaw, Heidi Sonen, Eric Wallace, Denise Zito.
work of trails in Crozet, and to dream of how they can be helped along by the extra funds. We would love to hear your ideas for how Crozet’s trails can be expanded and improved. You can send us your thoughts via our web site, CrozetTrailsCrew. org, or join us at any of our monthly meetings. It’s spring, and the trails are waiting! We’ll see you out there. Terri Miyamoto President, Crozet Trails Crew Thank you, Crozet I want to thank you all that shared in my mother Nancy Virginia Shroyer Bain’s life. Living out her life in this area was a blessing to her and her family. I want to send out a simple thank you to our wonderful little town by sharing part of my continued on page 25
Don’t miss any of the hometown news everybody else is up on. Pick up a free copy of the Gazette at one of many area locations or have it delivered to your home. Mail subscriptions are available for $29 for 12 issues. Send a check to Crozet Gazette,
P.O. Box 863, Crozet, VA 22932.
CROZETgazette
MAY 2017
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CROZETgazette
MAY 2017
ALBEMARLE COUNTY
Roundabout —continued from page 1
has also been awarded funding for a roundabout at Rt. 151’s intersection with Rt. 250 in Afton, where a temporary traffic light was installed last month. That project could take 10 years to realize, he said, but work on the Mechums River circle will start when money for design and engineering work becomes available in July. DeNunzio said the second draw in a three-year, $3.5 million award will be available in July 2018 and he expects construction to start at that stage. The last draw will be available in July of 2019. Construction could take many months because the road will have to remain open during construction, and that causes construction to proceed slowly. “Maintenance of traffic really takes a lot of time,” he said. “It could take two construction seasons to get done.” “The roundabout has to be large enough to do the job,” DeNunzio said. “We want it to get as large as we can make it.
We do want people slowing down there. That’s part of the safety of a roundabout.” Typical vehicle speed through a circle is 15 miles-per-hour, he noted. He said the Mechums location allows a circle with roughly a 125-foot diameter. The traffic roundabout at the Charlottesville airport has a 130-foot diameter and is a close
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and Rt. 250 will flow very effectively. This will remove the chance of head-on collisions. In circles, accidents are usually sideswipes.” The entrance to the new Mechums Trestle restaurant has been moved as far to the west as possible for its parcel and its parking lot will connect to Rt.
approximation of what is likely at Mechums River. The roundabouts in Old Trail village have 110-foot diameters. “I think it’s a great place for a roundabout,” said DeNunzio, who is a fan of the design. “We have a sharp turn there [onto Browns Gap Turnpike] already and Rt. 240 is stopped, so it will move more efficiently,
continued on page 22
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CROZETgazette
MAY 2017
old trail townhomes that take your breath away...and the views to match. The Ridgeview, the most affordable new construction in Old Trail, starts at $399,900. Enjoy the stunning views from your beautiful kitchen, spacious great room, rear deck, or roof top terrace with available wet bar and wine fridge. These contemporary Old Trail townhomes are only steps away from the restaurants and shops in the Old Trail Village Center. The Ridgeview touts a 2-car garage, ample storage, and can be configured into a 3 bedroom or dual master layout. It is fun and easy to personalize almost every aspect of your new Southern Development Homes’ townhome in our 3,000 sq ft Design Center. Tour our fully furnished model home located at 5422 Ashlar Avenue in Old Trail. STARTING AT $399,900 | CONTEMPORARY OLD TRAIL TOWNHOMES | SQ FT 2,110 – 2,403 Nancy Witte I 434-245-2238 I nwitte@southern-development.com | southern-development.com
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MAY 2017
Western Albemarle First Quarter Real Estate Report
Homes Keep Selling in Crozet The first quarter of 2017 may in fact end up being like any other, but it sure doesn’t feel that way now. There is uncertainty and discord seemingly around every corner. With a new president and party in power, plenty of international apprehension, and interest rates trending higher, it would seem logical that real estate might take a breather. And while in some parts of the country that may be happening—in fact prices are even going down in places— that sure isn’t the case in Crozet. There were 50 sales in the first quarter of 2017, up 14 percent from the same time last year. This is ahead of the county total sales figure, which remained unchanged year-toyear (see attached Sales Trend graph provided courtesy of Nest Realty). The average price per square foot of finished space for
homes in Crozet was up 4 percent, and median and average sales prices were both up around 10 percent. There were no sales over $1m in the quarter, and there was only one distressed sale. There were four land sales in the quarter, up from two at the same time last year. Twelve of the 50 sales were for homes on land parcels of an acre or more. These tend to be in outlying areas of Crozet; the figure represents about 25 percent of all sales, which is fairly consistent quarter to quarter. The only indicator that was “down” for the period was dayson-market, which is actually a reverse indicator. The 66-day average that properties sold in was down sharply from 111 days in the first quarter of 2016. Houses are selling faster, and for more, which is leading to, or is the cause of, reduced inventory. There were 34 sales of detached homes in the quarter, down one sale from the same
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time last year. The average price for these homes was $505,000, up 7.5 percent from last year. Of these homes, 12 were for new construction. Six of these were in Old Trail, three in Foxchase Landing, with the rest in Chesterfield Landing, Foothills and Westlake. The average price for these newly constructed homes was $642,000, costing about $202 per finished square foot. The average size of these new homes fell slightly from 2016 to 3,245 sqft. There were 16 attached homes sales in the quarter, double the 8 that sold in the first quarter of 2016. All but three were resales, the majority of these being in Highlands and Waylands Grant. The average
price for sales of attached homes rose four percent to $249,000. The three new attached homes were roof deck models in Old Trail. These sold for an average of $402,000, and at a cost of $189 per sqft. There remains a limited selection for new townhome purchase, which is often the most affordable of new construction choices. Fresh on folks’ minds right now is the just-passed 2016 tax filing deadline. Several friends who currently rent their homes lament the inability to deduct their rental costs like homeowners can deduct their mortgage interest and property tax payments. So not only do homeowners get annual deductions, they typically realize a profit continued on page 40
CROZETgazette LISA MARTIN
MAY 2017
126 GRAYROCK DRIVE, CROZET • In popular and convenient Grayrock • Walk to all things Crozet • Custom home built in 2012 • 4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths • 3293 sqft. • Fenced rear yard • HUGE Blue Ridge views • Brownsville/Western Albemarle schools MLS#559664 $465,000
Amy Wright advises a student on Naviance.
Naviance: A New Tool for an Old-School Journey By Lisa Martin
lisamartin@crozetgazette.com
How do you like to learn? What are your interests? What do people with interests like yours sometimes do for a living? Questions like these provide a low-stress launch into a new program called Naviance, an online system designed to help students choose and achieve their post-high-school goals. The set of integrated college and career readiness tools has been introduced this year to students in 6th through 12th grades at all schools in Albemarle County. “We had been hearing about the program at conferences for several years and are so excited that the county was able to get it for our kids,” said Amy Wright, Director of School Counseling at Western Albemarle High School. “It’s really a one-stop shop for career and college planning. There’s so much to offer our students.” The program was rolled out this year with activities mapped out for each grade, from a relaxed introduction to the idea of a career for middle-schoolers to a consolidated application process for college-bound seniors. The progression focuses on student strengths and interests every step of the way, gradually channeling those interests into a plan for life after high school. Henley Middle School sixth-graders will begin using Naviance in coming weeks with
a module called Roadtrip Nation. After answering a few questions about themselves and what best describes them, they can access a series of short videos produced by PBS about real people with similar interests in their real-life jobs. The students can view the videos at home as well, and can repeat the process as they find new interests. “It’s a great way to get their feet wet,” said sixth grade school counselor Kimberly Warnick, “and they can utilize these resources throughout their entire time here.” As they prepared for their annual Career Expo held in March, the seventh grade classes tried out a Career Cluster Finder, a survey tool which identifies broad categories (or clusters) of interest such as education or health care. The Expo event is organized by a similar set of clusters, making it easier for students to locate and browse the various fields. Eighth-graders used a Strengths Explorer in December with an eye toward their transition to high school. “We can tie the results of that survey in with a four-year planning tool, to give students an idea what their four years of high school might look like,” said eighth grade school counselor Kristy Lancaster. These early preferences travel with the students in their Naviance virtual portfolio as they head to high school. “Counselors can learn a lot
continued on page 11
Supporting Meals on Wheels for 20 years
David H. Ferrall
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Associate Broker, Nest Realty
434.882.LAND (5263)
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CROZETgazette
MAY 2017
TORI JACKSON
8
Crozet Speech & Learning Center
Welcomes MEGAN KAUFFMANN, M.Ed. Counseling, NBCC,
National Board Certified Counselor
Left to right, front to back: Reese Miller, Nichole Heon,Laura Grice, Kyle McCullough, Johnny Riordan, Jennifer Mowad, Mia Donalson, Zoe Berr, Caitlin Adams, Cayla Craig, Sami Callinan, Jack Weyher, Ava Terrill, Aubrey Campbell, William Campbell, Angelina Hillier, Laura Chatterson, Marion Alcaro.
WAHS Student Art Show at Artisans Depot in May Classes for
summer 2017
• Tutoring • Occupational Therapy • Speech Therapy • Music Therapy
&
Social Skills / Friendship Groups Ages Preschool - Middle School
CALL TO SCHEDULE: 434-298-4599 crozetspeechandlearningcenter.com
WAHS Visual Art and CTE students will hold an art show and sale at the Crozet Artisan Depot throughout May, with a reception on May 13 from 3 to 5 pm featuring pottery demonstrations, music, and refreshments. To prepare for the show, Jennifer Mowad of Cocoa & Spice (center holding sign), a Depot partner, visited the class to share marketing tips for hand-made items. “People buy with their eyes,” she declared,
“so presentation is everything. Show your passion about your product. Every event is worth it, regardless of sales, because you make connections with potential customers.” “This show and sale are really special for our students,” explains Ceramics teacher Laura Chatterson (center back row), “because the Depot is generously allowing them to keep 60 percent of their sales price to cover the costs of materials.”
Restoration Features Delicious and Seasonal Chef-Driven Menus with Gorgeous Mountain Views
Come Join Us for Daily Happy Hour Specials on Our Breathtaking Patio Check Our Website and Facebook for Updates and Upcoming Events 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Sunday - Thursday 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Friday & Saturday restorationcrozet@gmail.com 434-823-1841 www.restorationcrozet.com
CROZETgazette
MAY 2017
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By Clover Carroll clover@crozetgazette.com The new Children’s Choir of Central Virginia made its debut public performance with the Crozet Community Chorus Sunday, April 23, to a full house at Crozet Baptist Church, under the direction of Brian Sousa with accompaniment by Narumi Sousa. And what a performance it was! Singing an ebullient “Jim-Along Josie” complete with dexterous hand dancing, as well as joining the 50-strong adult choir for a razzle-dazzle mashup of “I Love You/What a Wonderful World” arranged by Craig Hella Johnson, they proved themselves to be outstanding budding musicians clearly led by a gifted director. They sang out confidently and clearly enjoyed themselves. Their entrances were strong and their pitch and rhythm nearly perfect—not a small feat for 8-14 year olds. The Children’s Choir started in mid-February and performed at Our Lady of Peace on April
1, but this was their big coming-out party, and they made quite a splash. Several audience members commented that, as typically wonderful as the adult choir was, the children’s participation was the highlight of the concert. You won’t want to miss their first solo concert, on Saturday, May 13, at 2 p.m. at the Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased online at www.childrens choircentralva.com. The springthemed program will feature eight songs in four languages, with a special Bach piano performance by Isabelle Wang. Proceeds will benefit the Interfaith Movement Promoting Action by Congregations Together (IMPACT), whose focus this year is affordable housing for over-65 seniors in Albemarle County (impactcville .com). “My main goal is to teach kids to read music like they can read text. We want the children to be musically literate. This is a skill they can enjoy all their
MIKE MARSHALL
Children’s Choir Brings the Joy of Music to Crozet
The Children’s Choir of Central Virginia in concert April 23
lives,” says Sousa, who holds a B.M. in sacred music and organ as well as an M.M. in choral conducting from James Madison University and serves as Organist/Choirmaster at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. “What I love most about working with kids is the joy and willingness that they bring. They have no reservations about learning something new.” Sousa has always wanted to start a children’s choir, and when he
met his wife Narumi, who had experience with children’s choirs in Japan, they teamed up to make the dream a reality. They were supported and encouraged by Julia White, director of the Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir, who loaned curriculum and music theory resources. The Children’s Choir, with the motto “Dedication, Excellence, and Beauty,” is open to boys and girls ages 8-14.
continued on page 24
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CROZETgazette
MAY 2017
Peachtree Baseball invites you to join us at
Meet your friends and family at Starr Hill and enjoy local beer and bid on great auction items.
Friday, May 12 12 - 9 p.m. Starr Hill Brewery, Crozet
Silent Auction StArtS At 4
$1 per pint donated back to the league 50/50 raffle Proceeds will support
Peachtree Baseball’s
FieldS oF tomorrow cAmpAign
Clover Carroll, Mike Marshall and Allie Pesch at the VPA Awards Ceremony
Gazette Wins Five Virginia Press Awards Crozet Gazette graphic artist Allie Pesch won a first place award for advertising design at the annual Virginia Press Association’s Awards Dinner in Richmond April 8, one of five total for the paper for the 2016 contest year. Pesch won two second place awards as well as two alternate awards in other advertising categories.
From the Editor —continued from page 2
Your Local Tree Care Professionals
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published in the Crozet Gazette and also available at Crozet Library. These responses, valid and sought after, will be analyzed and reported separately. The committee has made diligent efforts to be thrifty about the cost of the effort. The expense, including sample purchase, comes down to less than $2 per invitation for the 3,000 letters and follow-up postcards should the letter not get the needed 500 participants. The Crozet Board of Trade is undertaking to raise $6,000 to cover the cost of the survey. We believe this information is worth getting. The results will be publicly available. The Board of Trade is a civic nonprofit that traditionally has raised funds for Crozet’s Independence Day fireworks show. It also raised the funds to create the Crozet Historic District. Your contribution is tax deductible and will be acknowledged. This is a worthy cause. I hope you will send a contribution made out to the Crozet Board of Trade to P.O. Box 261,
Clover Carroll’s language and literature essays won second place for columnists, and editor Mike Marshall won third place for news writing portfolio. The Gazette falls into the VPA’s “specialty” publication category and its competition includes C-ville Weekly, Richmond Magazine and Style Weekly. Crozet, Va. 22932. You can also donate online at this address: crozetcommunity.org/2017/04/ donate-survey (Please note that 3% of your donation is kept by Network for Good as its fee.) Thank you for supporting your hometown and believing that our caring can make its future prosperous and bright. Nancy Virginia Bain The Gazette notes with deep sadness the passing of Nancy Virginia Bain last month. She was, unofficially, the Queen of Crozet and one we can be proud of. She knew the town intimately and was busy helping it at all times. Whatever the situation, she was a sunbeam and glowed with charity and compassion. Her answer to life was yes. She sparkled. She deserves to remembered as the co-founder, with June Andrews, of The Green Olive Tree thrift store. This vital volunteer enterprise provides affordable goods for our community and donates thousands from its income every year to worthy Crozet community causes. This legacy alone is monumental. No doubt St. Peter waved her on through the gate.
CROZETgazette
Naviance —continued from page 7
LISA MARTIN
more about a child before they arrive in the building,” said Michael Craddock, lead coach serving as project manager for the district’s Naviance implementation. “They can use that information to offer more targeted electives.” Resume and portfolio-building tools will also give students a jump start on applying for jobs or preparing for college. Amy Wright described the Career Interest Profiler given in tenth grade as a vehicle for students to drill down into career fields and stresses the importance of both the wide-open interface and student privacy. “Naviance gives kids an individual way to explore their interests without having somebody looking over their shoulder,” said Wright. “The career side is really important. If you love the idea of technical training instead of college, we can get you there.” For many at WAHS, a big part of the junior/senior year interaction with Naviance will be oriented toward finding the right college match. According to Wright, “Seventy percent of our graduates will go to a fouryear college after graduation and another twenty percent will go to a two-year college.” Naviance provides ways to keep students informed about schools they have identified as ones they are “thinking about,” by, for example, sending an electronic notification to the student when any of those schools send a representative to visit WAHS. This year’s senior class was the first to apply to colleges via Naviance. “The seniors were
Michael Craddock, project manager for Naviance.
MAY 2017 champs in going through the process with the new system,” said Craddock. “The exciting piece is the integration of electronic transcripts.” Instead of having to order individual transcripts sent to each college (and paying a fee for each), now students incur no additional cost and can track when transcript requests are received, sent out, and picked up by the college. Teacher recommendations were similarly integrated into Naviance this year, which means the program can monitor the status of every piece of the application process. On the horizon for next year’s college-bound seniors is a feature called a scattergram, a graphic that can show a current student, using his or her GPA and standardized test scores, how similarly-situated WAHS students in past years have fared in applying to almost any college in the U.S. Acceptance data from the past eight years has been loaded into Naviance to provide an anonymous, school-specific picture of a student’s chances. While these graphs don’t take into account other factors such as extracurricular activities, community service or legacy status, they do provide a quick way to judge whether a student is in the ballpark of a college’s typical acceptance range. Naviance is provided to school systems by subscription, based on the number of students using it and the types of services provided. Albemarle County’s cost is $43,000 per year, which works out to about $6 per student. In the years ahead, aggregate outcomes will be reported back to the School Board and to individual high schools as Naviance matches student information with college data on enrollment, retention and graduation rates, providing a picture of how the school system is doing in helping students achieve their goals. Curious parents can do a “live look-in” at all of this activity at any time via the PowerSchool portal, and they may be pleasantly surprised by their student’s progress toward defining their career and college goals. “We really want students to explore all of the depth the program has to offer,” said Wright. “I tell them to play around, you can’t break it!”
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Third Thursday at The Lodge at Old Trail may 18 5:30 pm
“From The Ground Up” with Master Gardener Yvette Graham This month we’re excited to welcome gardener extraordinaire Yvette Graham and “From the Ground Up”. She’ll cover a range of gardening topics such as why we garden, how to instill your own creativity in your garden, how to work with Mother Nature and much more. Ms. Graham is a Master Gardener
and does presentations for the Piedmont Master Gardeners. She has been a member of the Federated Garden Club for 50 years! Join us for an amazing and unique evening with lots of information on how to make your garden flourish like never before. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! 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
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we’re hiring! ready to work outdoors, travel, and earn a real paycheck?
Full-time & seasonal positions available
Straw House
great summer Job For students!
—continued from page 1
tions of temperature that mark our climate. All this while reaping the benefits of utility bills between half and one-third of what homeowners would normally pay for a similarly sized (7,000-square-foot) home. The couple designed the house, and it’s not along the lines of the prairie hut you might associate with straw bale construction. It’s spacious and open, with all the architectural refinements anyone could want, including some occasioned by the super-thick walls: wide sills enhanced with ornamental tiles and beautifully curved and sculpted door and window openings. Stucco is the material traditionally used to cover the straw, and it’s an important element, since the bales must be able to release moisture through their coating. The Cunninghams chose a sunny color to tint their
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stucco, a lemon yellow, that works well with the dark wood and turquoise trim. The Cunninghams are not alone in their appreciation of this renewable form of insulation. Old European and Midwestern straw bale homes are still standing. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends straw insulation for energy efficiency, and there are examples of 20th-century straw houses on the prairie that have withstood tornadoes. In researching straw bale construction, the Cunninghams found that––once stripped of their seed-bearing heads––the dry stalks were of less interest to pests like mice and insects than wood framing, and that the tightly-baled straw was more resistant to fire than traditional building materials. As they researched, they found experts in this type of construction who were willing to travel to Virginia to teach a workshop to anyone interested
THERESA CURRY
Te nTing | Travel | FesTivals | evenTs
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A small portal reveals the building material inside the stucco.
CROZETgazette
Extra-wide walls require some artistry when windows and doors are cut.
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Development Rights
Private Oasis
rooftop solar panels will add to nature’s friendly assist to the home’s frugal and earth-friendly profile. With their two children grown and gone, the Cunninghams have opened their home to guests via Airbnb. Visitors choose the “Sherpa Forest Home” because of its beautiful mountaintop setting and location near a number of wineries, but many also come specifically to see the unique building features. The couple is also glad to answer questions about their home from anyone interested in learning from their experience. Dave’s a financial consultant, and he likes the idea of the long-term savings that result from a little initial investment as well as the moral wisdom of conservation. Working it out over time, the Cunninghams have realized an 18 percent yearly tax-free return delivered by thoughtful planning. In the end, he said, saving money on routine expenses is one of the best strategies for financial independence: “So far, no one’s figured out how to tax money that’s not spent.” THERESA CURRY
in learning. In turn, the workshop graduates would supervise anyone local who would show up and lend some muscle to the old-fashioned house raising. It didn’t go off without a hitch, the Cunninghams remember, as Hurricane Dennis struck on the very day they’d planned to gather. Nevertheless, they carried on. The house finally got built and provided comfortable, low-cost living for the couple and their two children. Nothing about the outward appearance of the house gives visitors a hint about its secret ingredient. But near the great room there’s a glass window where guests can see the wall behind the stucco, with the hay bales (from a farm in Stuarts Draft), the bamboo poles providing extra stability and the twine (synthetic to prevent tearing or rotting) that binds the bales together. The straw bale construction draws a great deal of attention, but it’s not the only feature that keeps energy costs down for the Cunninghams. Since underground temperatures remain around 55 degrees, they installed small water tubes that begin underground and run through the house moderating the above-ground temperature. Extra south-facing windows and the greenhouse basement floor also help when more heat is needed. A unique four-foot square cooling tower above the roof allows the hot air that collects in the house during the day to escape, and draws up the cool underground air. Soon
THERESA CURRY
MAY 2017
COME ENJOY THE RIDE!
Looking for something fun for your visitors this summer?
RENT A BIKE
& tour the trails & roads around Crozet!
434.966.7224 5877 THE SQUARE, DOWNTOWN CROZET Dave and Mary Cunningham at their Afton home.
CROZETBICYCLESHOP.COM
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practical advice, appreciation for nature and inspiration for living.
Those neighbors you wave to as they head east to the airport? They may have an international audience for their ideas on personal growth or political ethics or wildlife photography or garden design. The recipe that’s become a family favorite may have been created less than a mile from your home. Those breathtaking images of sunrise on the Blue Ridge that you’ve admired may have been snapped by the guy next door before he sets out his trash. Thanks to the reach of the Internet, those with unfolding stories find more ways than ever before to present them to the world, even if they create them from their kitchen in their flip flops. Blogs (web logs) use video, art work, links and audio elements to illustrate and provide footnotes in ways that wouldn’t have been possible in the kitchen ten years ago. Our area has a diverse and talented crew of bloggers, full of
Diane LaSauce: “home, garden, life” dianelasauce.wordpress.com Diane LaSauce uses her skills in photography and design (she formerly owned a successful interior design business in northern Virginia) to produce “home, garden, life,” a chronicle of her adventures in gardening, cooking and supporting the birds and butterflies of Free Union. When she bought her first home in Albemarle County in 2000, she discovered that home ownership is like riding an ornery pony: “In order to stay on top, one must be quick, adept, and ready for a wild ride.” LaSauce has been documenting her life for as long as she can remember. While a schoolgirl in Albemarle County, she won a Thomas Jefferson essay contest. Her blog is distinguished by gorgeous photography and a skillful literary approach to both the trials and delights of life in the country. People respond in a variety of ways, she said, either because they’re on the same path or because they live vicariously through her stories and photos: “One apartment dweller in Spain cheers me on, as she merely gardens in balcony pots.”
COURTESY DIANE LASAUCE
By Theresa Curry Theresa@crozetgazette.com
Diane LaSauce
Andrea Witt: “Vermilion Lane” www.vermilionlane.com During one of the coldest winters ever recorded in Indiana, Drea Witt began her blog as a creative outlet for herself and named it after her favorite color, a vivid pink-or-
THERESA CURRY
The Expert Next Door: Area Bloggers Cover Local & Universal Topics
Andrea Witt blogs from her home in Old Trail. Witt’s blog includes how-to videos for crafts.
ange mix. Luckily, the fictitious place was portable, and Witt now blogs from her new neighborhood in Crozet. In it, she documents her experience creating a home for her family, which includes three teenagers attending local schools and an eccentric pug that has trouble staying awake. Witt formerly worked in special education in Fairfax County. After her move back to Virginia, she expanded the “Vermilion Lane” brand to include website design and custom wreaths. Witt makes good use of all the bloggers’ tools–– how-to videos, guest posts, sponsored posts, links and cross-referencing––to keep the blog lively and organized. She said she finds design inspiration,
even cooking ideas from the Blue Ridge views that surround her. Many of her posts are inspired by questions people ask her as she does errands in the community, and in response to requests, she plans to add fashion to her blog. She said she appreciates the moral support: “People in Crozet want their friends and neighbors to do well.” Terry Newell: The Huffington Post www.huffingtonpost.com Terry Newell is an author and the director of Leadership for a Responsible Society, focusing on values-based leadership, ethics, and decision-making. (There’s more: see his full bio on The Huffington Post.) His blog-
rd.Com a h C r o h c a e p s e Chil Crozet, VA 3 8 5 1 • 3 434 • 82 berries w a r t S n -Ow Pick-Your
CROZETgazette ging reflects his long-held conviction that people should be encouraged to look at all sides of the issue, rather than assembling facts that support the ideas they already have. Newell also hopes to motivate people to write and respond in a way that’s reasonable and respectful. After a blog post some years ago asking Washington politicians to respect each other and the democratic process––titled “Civil Wars”––he got a response he’ll always remember: “One person replied that she though the last Civil War we had (the one from 1861-1865!) was a good thing and that another one might not be so bad!” Despite Newell’s assessment of the current state of political discourse, he remains hopeful. His biography states that he’s a believer in the power of a positive vision: “As Bloody Mary said in South Pacific, ‘You gotta have a dream if you wanna have a dream come true.’”
COURTESY PHIL GREGORIA
Phil Gregoria: Blue Ridge Mountain Trails exiting I-64 VA f ac e b o o k .c o m / Blu e R i d g e MountainTrailsVA Phil Gregoria uses Facebook to tell his story, a story that progresses mostly in gorgeous photos of the mountains, woodlands and water surrounding us. The Gregorias moved back to the area when their first grandchild was born seven years ago. Gregoria chose this path partly because his former job as an actor and narrator convinced him of the importance of storytelling. As a cast member at Disney World, he was a professional teller of tales. “When we moved here,” he said, “I would send our friends at Disney pictures of the incredible scenery that surrounds us, and I would share some of the stories of the
Phil Gregoria
COURTESY TERRY NEWELL
MAY 2017
LE FOOT SOCCER CAMP
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Sunday, June 18 • 4 - 6 p.m. Monday - Friday, June 19 - 23 • 8:30-11:30 a.m. Field School Of Charlottesville 1408 Crozet Ave, Crozet
For Boys & Girls Birth Years 2000-2012 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. Terry Newell
wonderful people who live here.” It wasn’t long before his friends began to clamor for an illustrated version of Gregoria’s new life, and the Facebook photo page was born. Gregoria also posts videos showing a day at the orchard or the winery or of a storm coming in over the mountains. He plans to continue posting scenes from one of the most beautiful places on earth, and he also wants to feature more of the area’s people. John Jackson: Three Jewels Coaching LLC johnjackson.info John Jackson is a life coach, a believer in thoughtful leadership and a teacher of meditation and other mindfulness techniques. He was formerly on the faculty at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, where he served as coach and mentor to young students and faculty members for more than 20 years, then expanded in recent years to reach professionals around the world. Jackson’s blog shares his ideas about coaching and meditation, reaching a broader audience than he can with his in-person sessions. Many of his posts take the form of dialogues with people he’s met through his work or leaders he admires or summaries of some of the best ideas he’s found for self-development. Regular readers of his blog find the schedule of his classes, including some held nearby, as well as useful written and video lessons for overcoming fear and tapping into the wisdom of the ages for ideas to advance both personally and professionally. Underlying many of Jackson’s ideas for dealing with daily life is his belief in the healing power of nature. continued on page 22
Visit www.art2beat.com to download application Contact Lesly Gourdet: jahrah@art2beat.com or 347-698-3953
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Introducing the new Golf Card at Old Trail Golf Club Pick a card that fits your budget Unlimited Card
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Family / Junior Card
$205 Individual (monthly) $285 Family (monthly)
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Prices vary depending on program chosen
BENEFITS: • Unlimited golf at no extra charge • 20% discount on Pro Shop merchandise • 10% meal discount in Restoration Restaurant • Discounted guest fees • Additional discounts with Old Trail Merchants
BENEFITS: • Up to 50% off Green Fees • 20% discount on Pro Shop merchandise • 10% meal discount in Restoration Restaurant • Discounted guest fees • Additional discounts with Old Trail Merchants
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CROZETgazette
MAY 2017
By Phil James
phil@crozetgazette.com
Frances Walker Hill: Hands When little Frances Lelia Walker was born at home in Crozet on the 3rd of July 1919, she joined the ranks of eight other siblings ranging in age from 13 to two. Truth be told, the children may have been looking forward more to Independence Day fireworks than another baby sister whom they would surely be called upon to help look after. But in the home of William and Mary Lizzie Walker, deacon and deaconess in Crozet’s recently organized Union Mission Baptist Church, loving and serving one another, and their neighbors, was the order of the day—even as they were bent to the task of scratching out a daily existence to keep a sound roof over their heads and food on the table for their growing family. William Walker, Sr. married Lizzie Brown on Christmas Eve, 1902. He was employed as a 21-year-old operator of shovels, picks and sledgehammers, maintaining the Chesapeake & Ohio rails that passed through western Albemarle County. When John Barnes established Crozet Lumber Company in 1922, he became aware of the steadfast qualities exhibited by Walker and hired him to drive one of the business’s delivery trucks, transporting lumber over relatively primitive roads to customers on both sides of the Blue Ridge.
Young Frances Walker’s backyard bordered the Carter-Herbert Ice & Cold Storage plant a block off downtown Crozet. [Photo courtesy of the Walker family.]
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to
Work
and a
Heart
for
God
Frances Walker Hill, left, a 1938 graduate of Albemarle Training School, stands with her former principal, the much-loved Mary Carr Greer. [Photo courtesy of the Walker family.]
At their home a block off Main Street, Mary Lizzie Walker worked as a laundress for the more affluent in her community, even as she was surrounded by “stair steps,” as her daughter Frances described their household of eleven children who arrived every one to three years between 1906 and 1924. The never-ending demands of cooking, cleaning, washing clothes and keeping some semblance of order became shared responsibilities. “That’s what we had to do,” said Frances. “And wear the others’ clothes. I was so glad when I got big enough to make a dollar and could buy me something for my own. You get tired of wearing hand-medowns. You wanted something new, but your parents just couldn’t afford it. Yessiree, it was tough times. “I used to work for Mr. Jack Phillips and his wife [on Blue Ridge Avenue]. I guess I was about 8 or 10 years old. Mr. Phillips used to walk down to the barbershop, and he would stop by and tell my mother that his wife wanted Frances to come up and help her. Go up there and wash dishes. Time for vegetables, go help them in the garden. Time for peaches, help peel peaches to can. Gave me about a dollar and a half a week and I thought I had some money. “Babe Foster lived in that house next to the Gulf filling station where you come in Jarman’s Gap Road. I went down there and
helped his wife wash and iron clothes. Their children went to Crozet High School. “Mr. Curtis Haden had a store right beside Mountainside [Senior Living]. My Daddy would give us a little allowance. You could get three or four Mary Janes for a penny. It would be a couple of ginger snaps for a penny; a caramel candy wrapped three for a penny. Child, we’d get a whole lot of candy for ten cents. And they had some kind of long black licorice candy we liked— that stuff was good. Then by the middle part of the week, you’d be done ate up all your candy, and we could go to E.L. Grasty’s store. He had ice cream in something like a deep freezer and had popsicles in there— five cents a piece. I’m going to tell you, them old days was good days. “Carter was the man that built the Cold Storage. Later, Herbert took over. We used to go up there and get ice, ’cause people had iceboxes during that time. They would chop up whatever you wanted: a 10¢ piece, or a 5¢ piece. You’d get a little bitty piece for 5¢. A half-a-block would cost you 50¢. How many times have I taken my wagon up there to the Cold Storage and gotten ice on Sunday when I come from Sunday School with my sister. Carried it around to the Blue Goose Inn to Mrs. Mae Owsley who ran the hotel. continued on page 18
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Frances Hill —continued from page 17
“On Sunday, ice cream was their main dessert. Lillian Spears was the cook there for 20 years. She would have cooked the custard and got everything ready. All we had to do was bring the ice, put it in the freezer and turn the freezer, I and one of my sisters. And that was an eight-gallon one, so you know how big that was. “Momma worked at home from Monday to Saturday, and on Sunday she worked for Mr. Charlie Wayland at Wayland Park. She’d have us helping her on Saturday night to cook the dinner for us to have at home on Sunday. “She’d leave home about eight o’clock Sunday morning and go to Mr. Wayland’s. Leave there and go to church at eleven, then come back to work. They had a big dining room and table that reached from here to diddy-wah-diddy. Never saw such a
great long table. Their children and grandchildren came on Sunday. “At 4:30 or 5:00 we’d take our wagon, get the ice and go on over to the Waylands’ and freeze ice cream for their dinner. His freezer was the same size as Mrs. Owsley’s, ‘cause, you see, those old families used to have from ten to twelve people for their Sunday dinner. It was in the 1930s. They’d eat dinner about 5:30, quarter-to-six. Momma would get back home, it would be every bit of 6:30, quarter-to-seven. “They had a hard time getting people on Thanksgiving and Christmas, so they’d get the help to come on the day before and help them fix all this dinner and everything. Ohhh, it was something else.” Frances Hill’s adult work life mirrored her earlier years in many ways. She was away from her own home for extended periods as she worked for private homes in Farmington and at Ash Lawn. On Sundays, one
The Chesapeake & Ohio/Chessie System passenger depot at Crozet closed in 1977. Crozet native Frances Hill used its connections for both work and pleasure. [Photo courtesy of the Walker family.]
could often find her playing the piano or singing beautiful Christian solos with her church family. She was not timid to remind others that her heart leaned
A modest bungalow on the corner of Carter and McComb Streets in Crozet filled the bill for Frances Hill’s dream of home ownership in 1947. Hard work and a goodly measure of prudence paid off its bank note in 1962, allowing her a lifetime abode. [Photo courtesy of the Walker family.]
mightily on her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Her faithful walk showed that she was heavily invested in, and with, those in her family and community.
William F. and Mary Lizzie (Brown) Walker raised eleven children in their home (upper arrow) at the base of Crozet’s towering, iconic water tower. Their ninth child, Frances (1919–2011), purchased a house (lower arrow) in 1947 directly across the street, where she lived out the balance of her long life. [1950s photo by Mac Sandridge.]
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 © 2003–2017 Phil James
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Business Briefs
By Theresa Curry theresa@crozetgazette.com
Local business news
THERESA CURRY
Join us for a traditional
Argentine Asado
Friday, May 26 5:30 - 8:30 pm Mike Wood and Have Food Will Travel are grilling a selection of meats and a cash bar will be available for your favorite King Family Vineyards’ wine.
Rod Phillips at his new Crozet RE/MAX office on Crozet Avenue.
RE/MAX franchise opens in Crozet
Reservations required. Tickets available online. $26 wine club / $30 general public. No refunds after Friday, May 19. info@kingfamilyvineyards.com
www.kingfamilyvineyards.com
CharlottesvilleFamily Favorite Award Winner 2015
It's the right move at the right time, said Rod Phillips. He's just opened the office for a RE/MAX franchise in the Blue Goose Building at 1186 Crozet Avenue in downtown Crozet. After a ten-year career with Roy Wheeler Realty Co., Phillips is glad to set up an office for his new franchise that's close to his Ivy home. "This is phase one, and we'll outgrow this space," he said, "but I like the idea of keeping things simple and lean at the start." Phillips is joined in this endeavor by G.R. Falls and Pat Burns of RE/MAX. They'll provide a full range of services to buyers and sellers, and hope to grow the business to include six to 10 agents, with a mix of seasoned professionals and newer agents. In the next weeks and month they'll be interviewing potential agents at the Crozet office. Already, he's heard from dozens of local buyers and sellers, Phillips said. He grew up in Virginia, then spent the early days of his profession in Florida. When his children were young, he and his wife, Christy, decided to make a move. "We wanted a place where there was more culture, more diversity," he said,
"and we were looking for good schools." Phillips said they also appreciate the quality of life in western Albemarle with its beauty and friendliness. Christy Phillips works for Willow Tree on the downtown mall. The two children go to local schools: Trent's an 11th grader at Western, and Casey is an 8th grader at Henley. The Crozet RE/MAX franchise plans a grand opening later this month. Reach Phillips at 434-987-6399 or 540-9671042.
Claudius Consign & Design Now Open The team behind the new shop in the Crozet Shopping Center is Sheila Trunzo, the owner, and her sister, Antonia White, the manager. The women––both veteran Valley entrepreneurs––were seeking a retirement business aligned with their talents and hobbies. The well-curated store has a little bit of everything: whimsy and jewelry; collectibles; modern, handbuilt furniture; small items of mid-century design; and a few well-chosen, never-worn clothing items. Many of the consigners are local artisans, creators of a range of small items from jewelry to notecards. The sisters' commit-
Tabor Presbyterian Church (USA) Worship Service: Sundays
10:30 a.m. • FOLLOWED BY FELLOWSHIP Community Hand Bell Choir Concert
Wednesday, May 10 • 7 pm Welcome to our New Accompanist, Naila Khakimova!
Traditional in worship, Progressive in outreach, Inclusive of All
5804 Tabor Street, Crozet • www.taborpc.org • 434-823-4255
CROZETgazette
MAY 2017
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THERESA CURRY
5587 SUMMERDEAN RD, CROZET • In popular Westhall • Walk to pool, parks, downtown Crozet • Custom built and loaded with upgrades • 4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths • 3621 sqft. • HERS rated for low utility costs • Crozet trail access across the street • Western Albemarle schools MLS#559655 $439,000
Antonia White, manager of Claudius Consign & Design, near Crozet Great Valu.
ment to providing a showcase for artisans earned them a spot on the Monticello Artisans’ Trail before they even opened their doors. In addition to the handmade items and consigned items there's a good selection of specially-purchased new items, like the hand-loomed rag rugs and flour sack towels that are there simply because they caught the owners' eye. White said the shop has a couple of "pickers" who scour Virginia for items of interest. They also receive items for consignment every Tuesday by appointment. Hand tools, collectibles, cast iron, small pieces of furniture, quality household goods and instant cameras are always in demand, said White. A discerning eye on the part of the sisters keeps the interior fresh and organized. There are pleasing groups of similar items in little cubicles, and this also creates little virtual vignettes for the store's well-designed and frequently updated Facebook page. Call first if interested in consigning: 434-812-2129.
Mi Rancho Coming to Old Trail It's just a matter of days before Mi Rancho opens at the former La Joya spot in Old Trail, said a spokesman for the Torres Segoviano family. The hard-working family has restaurants in Waynesboro, Fishersville and Verona, and a
delayed visit by the health inspector is the only reason the Old Trail site hasn't opened as yet. Family members said that Crozet diners can expect the same menu, friendly service, spotless interiors, and fresh home cooking that have made the three restaurants in the Valley so popular. To see the menu, go to miranchomexican. com.
Restoration Reopens A little more than a month ago, Restoration––at the top of Golf Drive in Old Trail–– opened under new management, with a new menu, a new chef and new staff. Outside seating has been especially popular with diners, said Liza Federman, assistant food and beverage manager. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The menu, as well as any special meals or events, is available on the Facebook page.
Supporting Meals on Wheels for 20 years
df@NestRealty.com
David H. Ferrall
434.882.LAND (5263)
Associate Broker, Nest Realty
The Rooftop at Piedmont Place The Rooftop at Piedmont Place opened in late March, with spectacular views, small plates, salads, snacks, pizza and desserts. The Rooftop's hours are Thursday through Sunday, 5 to 11:30 pm. It's the latest addition to Piedmont Place.
Mother Knows Best
My mother, Peg, created a unique seasoned salt that enhances the taste of any food. A pinch of Peg’s makes cooking easy and delicious. That’s it! A perfect gift of love and flavor, locally made. Sold at Crozet Market, Greenwood Gourmet, Whole Foods, and many other stores
www.pegssalt.com
HOURS: Monday - Thursday 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. X-Ray Services Available On Site
Mark Keeley, MD Amie Munson, MD
• •
Russ Sawyer, MD Anne Boyland, NP
New Patients Welcome!
434-823-4567 • 1646 Park Ridge Drive • Crozet
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CROZETgazette
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COURTESY JOHN JACKSON
Bloggers —continued from page 15
Marshall Faintich: Marshall Faintich.net Accomplished wildlife photographer Marshall Faintich posts photography, essays, audios and information about the conditions present during his photographs through carefully organized links on his website. Blogging, he says, fills all his requirements for the perfect hobby: search, discovery, learning, and sharing. It started from his habit of emailing his photos to a few friends. “I got positive feedback, and a lot of other people have asked to see my photos and read about my
Haircuts|Beard Trims|Shaves Free eyebrow, ear & mustache trim with haircut Straight razor shaves include hot lather, hot towels & aftershave Find us on Facebook!
Mon. Tues. Thurs. & Fri. 7:30 - 5:30 Saturday 7:30 - 3 Walk-Ins; No Credit Cards
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Shenandoah Valley's premiere outdoor store since 1987.
COURTESY MARSHALL FAINTICH
1202 Crozet Avenue 434-823-4223
1461 E. Main Street • Waynesboro • 22980
540-943-1461 • RockfishGapoutfitteRs.com Marshall Faintich
Roundabout —continued from page 4
240, not to the new roundabout. Denunzio said the center of the circle will be mowed grass, but that VDOT would consider a low profile landscaping plan if the County were interested in maintaining it. “The center will have to be open for sightlines. You have to be able to see all the approaches,” he said. “I think people are learning how to handle roundabouts. They’re getting comfortable. Roundabouts have a proven track record for safety and efficiency.” Denunzio said that Rt. 151 has been identified as a road with proven safety issues. VDOT’s STARS program looks for small improvements that can help safety on such roads and that led to funding for the temporary light. Denunzio said changes in the program mean the intersection can be upgraded to a roundabout, which offers
John Jackson
adventures.” Writing a neardaily record has also forced him to more closely observe and record the details of the shot, so he can share the weather, exact location and trail conditions, a record that is useful to him as well as any Old Trail neighbors wanting to see for themselves. Faintich is a man of many interests, some of them regularly featured on his site. He’s an astronomer by training, a cartographer by trade, and a student of ornithology, numismatics, archaeology, and history. It’s a pleasant surprise, he says, when he runs into birders far from home who have visited his blog, read his books or seen his photos, and so recognize his name. more safety and lower longterm maintenance costs. The cost is estimated at $4.5 million. The location offers more space and the roundabout will likely be on the order of 150 feet in diameter. “The approaches will divide the roadway and add curves to the approach.” But a circle may not get built there for another 10 years, he said. “We may be able to accelerate it, but design funding won’t be available until 2020. The [Charlottesville-area] did well in the last round of Smart Scale funding and we’re looking to deliver as soon as we can.” DeNunzio said that it’s a common misconception that roundabouts are unfriendly to pedestrians. “If you look at the statistics there are fewer accidents with pedestrians at roundabouts.” The Mechums roundabout will include a walking path along the north side of the road and pedestrian crossings at the north (Browns Gap Turnpike) and west (Rt. 240) approaches.
CROZETgazette
MAY 2017
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CROZETgazette
MAY 2017
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Practices are held on Mondays from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Crozet Methodist Church, and on Thursdays from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church in Charlottesville. Members are only expected to attend one of these, and then the two groups combine for rehearsal before each concert. The choir also holds a retreat and potluck at the beginning of each semester where the two groups can get to know each other. The cost is $100 per semester, with a $75 registration fee that will be waived for anyone who registers before May 31. The fees pay for music, instruments, curriculum materials, and staff salaries. Sousa also offers musicianship classes and private voice lessons for all ages. If you have a child younger than 8 who might be interested, there is a form on the website to sign up; when at least 10 younger children express interest, a new group will form (www.childrenschoircentralva.com). Talking to Sousa, it soon becomes clear that he is lit up inside. His innate joie de vivre, love of music, and love of children are infectious. “I always try to strike a balance between being fun and being strict. The uniforms”—which cost $140 and consist of a grey pleated skirt, white blouse, and navy blazer with the Children’s Choir’s own crest featuring two gryphons and a torch—“show discipline and emphasize that we are a family.” Sousa uses the Kodaly method, in which the children sing first by ear, then break it down to show how it works on the musical page. “Brian is great with the kids. He is enthusiastic and the joy he brings to what he does is palpable,” said Sonia Crimaldi, whose 8-year-old daughter Isabella’s singing has improved since joining the choir. “The children love him because he can be silly and playful, but his fun side is combined with extensive training. He is working to create a high quality choir. He believes that when we challenge kids, they rise to it. He has them singing in Latin!” Sonia continued. Christina Flamm, mother of 9-year-old
Brian Sousa
Annie, agreed. “I am so happy to see that they are learning music theory. Sousa is organized, thorough, and uses manipulatives like toys, balls, and puppets. He is good at communicating, and always looking for ways to involve them in the community. Annie loves music and loves to sing. She tried piano, ballet, even hip hop—but since joining the choir, she says she’s ‘found her thing’ now. She also enjoys the friendships.” The Sousas plan to grow the choir to accommodate as many children as possible. In addition to the May 13 concert, they are offering a Summer Music Camp July 24 - 28, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, with a performance and family potluck on Friday afternoon. Future plans include singing at Montpelier for National Children’s Day on Nov. 20, the Children’s Choir Festival of Central Virginia this fall, possible day trips to Richmond or D.C., and a spring concert to benefit the U.Va. Children’s Hospital. “We want to show the kids that it’s important to give back,” Sousa explained. A possible trip to perform in Finland next summer is in the works. The Crozet Community Chorus, under the direction of John McCarty with mellifluous accompaniment by Tracey Reed, brought their beautiful six-part harmony blend to an eclectic program of 15 songs in four languages, ranging from folk to pop to sacred, all on the theme of “The Glory of Love.” The ever-crowd-pleasing chorus is accepting new singers for its fourth season, to start on September 3 with a retreat and potluck of their own and a fall concert planned for December 2 (it’s not too early to mark your calendars!) We are lucky to have so many high quality musical enrichment opportunities here in Western Albemarle!
CROZETgazette MIKE MARSHALL
MAY 2017
25
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—continued from page 1
Crozet trails” (290 votes), and next came street light decorations, such as seasonal banners (234 votes). In the above-fifty-thousand category, “The Square improvements to address parking, runoff, sidewalk issues, as well as walkability to the north side of the tracks” was the highest priority. Next came the development of “western park” in Old Trail and the third priority was trail improvements, to include gravel, signage and a new multi-
To the Editor —continued from page 2
tribute to my mother at the celebration of her life on April 19: “My mother knew she was lucky to be born and grow up and live in one small town. Case in point, just a week ago she told me of someone recently coming up to her to praise her father for his help, saying, “I would not have ever owned my house, if not for your father.” My mother told me this happened on multiple occasions, and it was evident to me those occurrences meant a lot to her. For those of you that shared this with her, I thank you. Everyone, please seize the chance to share with others. These small acts have an incredible, positive impact.
I was lucky to be born and raised in the same small town as my parents. It took a village to raise me. The many small town eyes keep mischievous young boys out of trouble. I want to thank any of the so-called little birdies that helped my mother try to keep me on the straight and narrow. What a blessing my parents had a small town life and wanted their children to have the same small town experience. Our family truly does not need your sympathy. I do hope you all feel lucky she was part of your life. My family knows how lucky we are. Please keep on smiling; my mother smiled right to the very end.”
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MAY 2017
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April March This is the Inquisition gunning for Galileo. – Denis Hayes, March for Science, Earth Day, 2017. Selected by Time Magazine as one of its “Heroes of the Planet,” Denis Hayes gained national prominence when, at age 25, he served as the National Coordinator for the first Earth Day held April 22, 1970. Back then, 20 million Americans— about one out of every ten citizens—took part in the largest simultaneous demonstration in the nation’s history. Rallies and teach-ins were held in cities and towns across the United States, and at tens of thousands of primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities. A senior in high school at the time, I remember the excitement galvanized by this nationwide protest against flagrant pollution of the environment and unjust allocation of the Earth’s bounty. Eagles were dying, rivers were catching fire, smog was choking our lungs, people were starving. Responding to this broadbased, groundswell of public concern, President Richard Nixon and the U. S. Congress established the Environmental Protection Agency in December of that year. Today, Earth Day is observed in 192 countries and is coordinated by the nonprofit Earth Day Network. Denis Hayes, Chair Emeritus of the EDN, describes Earth Day as “the largest secular holiday in the world, celebrated by more than a billion people every year.” This April, the March for Science was held in conjunction with Earth Day at locations around the world. March for Science “champions robustly funded and publicly communicated science as a pillar of human freedom and prosperity. We unite as a diverse, nonpartisan group to call for science that upholds the common good and
for political leaders and policy makers to enact evidence based policies in the public interest.” At the March for Science/ Earth Day rally held on the Mall in Washington, D.C., Hayes was a featured speaker. He told the assembled crowd who carried signs proclaiming Science = Truth, “We’ve got a president, a vice-president, a cabinet, and the leadership of both houses of Congress who are all climate deniers. … America has had 45 presidents, but we have never before had a president who was completely indifferent to the truth. Donald Trump makes Richard Nixon look like Diogenes. … Today is the first step in a long-term battle for scientific integrity, a battle for transparency, a battle for survival.” I wish to make two observations about Earth Day and the March for Science. First, Earth Day. I realize now, as I did not back in 1970, that we can no longer “protect” the environment. Our global economy—being, as it is, deeply misaligned with Nature’s economy—has grown too big, too relentless, for that approach to work into the future. Here is an analogy that captures a bit of what I mean. Imagine a grassy football field on which high school games are played once every other week. Now picture that same field on which games are played continuously every day of the week, rain or shine. In short order, lush turf will be ground down to mud and dirt, especially in the middle of the field where most action takes place. As long as games are being played daily, no amount of protection of the football field (restricting the weight of football players, banning cleats on shoes) can ameliorate fully the damage caused by overuse and misuse. So it is with Nature. There is only so much pounding she can take. As helpful as environmental regulations were to ensure clean air and water in the past, they cannot cope with a rapacious, overly consumptive economy
operating on a global scale. The only answer is to transition to an economic system that truly protects the diverse ecosystems of a finite planet by mimicking the precepts, limits and boundaries established by Nature over billions of years. This is a core mission of the Floriescence Institute: to design the underpinnings of our human economy to thrive in ways that comport with Nature’s ways of flourishing. Now, my thoughts on the March for Science. Its organizers say they offer a nonpartisan voice and venue for people who “have remained silent for far too long in the face of policies that ignore scientific evidence and endanger both human life and the future of our world. We face a possible future where people not only ignore scientific evidence, but seek to eliminate it entirely. Staying silent is a luxury that we can no longer afford. We must stand together and support science.” Science has given us so many things so fast that I do not fear that we will ignore scientific evidence so much as I worry we will be overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of facts and the huge scope of technologies it offers. Governmental policy, which always is a lagging indicator, will have an increasingly hard time keeping up with the opportunities and challenges science and technology present. This I take as a given. The more important point is: scientific evidence and truth do not tell which way to march. Unless the organizers of the March for Science also provide and defend a system of values and meaning by which to interpret scientific evidence, how do they hope the public will achieve consensus on what to do with the avalanche of scientific data and myriads of technological expertise? Should we build more nuclear power plants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that would otherwise be generated by gas-fired power plants? Should we genetically modify food to increase yield and alleviate malnutrition and starvation? Should we give Ritalin to attention deficient/hyperactive children to make their behavior better conform to the requirements of sit-down, textbook learning? Should we preferen-
tially abort females because males are perceived to be economically or culturally more desirable (in India, through abortion of female embryos and fetuses, millions fewer women are alive today because of this medical practice)? We cannot answer these questions using scientific evidence alone. Furthermore, my personal experience tells me that broad, wide-ranging scientific literacy is poor among all walks of American life, including scientists, who are rewarded for being specialists! This makes crafting complex, science-based public policy a dicey business. How can voters evaluate what they do not comprehend? Beyond this, science at its best is an on-going process of searching for the truth, making humility a necessary virtue. Scientific understandings mature over time. For example, dietary guidelines from the government and other experts seemingly turn on a dime every decade. And we now know, as Einstein did not when he came up with e = mc2, that energy (e) and matter (m) comprise only a few percent of the “stuff” of the universe. What originally appears all-encompassing or set in stone can change as science marches on revealing deeper truth. Finally, there are issues that touch all our lives that go beyond public policy based on science. For example, should we as a nation continue to borrow money and increase our 20-trillion-dollar national debt so that the University of Virginia can continue to receive federal grants totaling in the hundreds of millions to conduct scientific research? I am glad for Earth Day and for those who wish to promote the value of science. I applaud their desire to advance the common good. Sadly, however, Hayes lamented to the March for Science/Earth Day crowd: “Forty-seven years later, to my astonishment, we are back in the same spot.” After a lifetime of effort, he felt he was back where he started all those years ago. Perhaps a new approach is warranted. Comparing, as Hayes did, the nascent Trump Administration—so far often characterized by inconsistency continued on page 44
gear up at
CROZETgazette
Winter is for Running
MAY 2017
27
W E W ERE MAD E TO RU N
by John Andersen
Milestones in Transformation I recently posted a narrative of a workout I did training for a big race I have this summer, the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run. It was an evening workout. I was exhausted from work and lack of sleep, and I really didn’t want to do it. But I knew at the same time, that to truly accomplish what I want to this summer in my race, I needed to start getting used to successfully doing what I don’t want to do, and even what I don’t think I can do. This post got a lot more comments and feedback than most of the stuff I share, and so I figured somewhere in there I struck a chord with a lot of people. Regarding our fitness, the truth is that we just don’t like to get uncomfortable. So, most of us don’t. Ever. But I’m not sure we can really grow in our fitness journey unless we push ourselves into, and then through, uncomfortable challenges. As they say, you gotta get out of your comfort zone. Only then can the physical and emotional transformation that we seek occur. And so, for this month’s column, I’m just going to share this little glimpse into the outside of my comfort zone: ••• The warm up for tonight’s workout was predictably rough. Despite my refusal to grow up, my hamstrings and calves are truly 41 years old. I just finished an 11-hour workday and it was warm and humid. I checked my phone—no rain. Sure looked like it’s gonna rain. I warmed up around U.Va.’s business school and law school. I realized that I pretty much only run in the mountains, so I felt like a stranger in a strange land. Buses, sidewalks, law stu-
dents. Different. Tonight’s goal was two hard 5Ks, one on the trail and one on the road. There would be no time goals to meet, not with 36 miles and 9000 feet of elevation change on my legs in the last two days. Tonight’s goal really was to once again ask myself how much I really want this. Western States. Less than two months. Zooming out another level, tonight was another day in a plan of transformation. Transforming into a better runner. This is a slow process. And I’m not sure if you transform on group runs or on easy runs. I’m pretty sure most of my transformation happens on solo runs. Hard runs. This is where you first ask yourself— am I going to do what I set out to do?—am I going to do the workout I planned?—nobody is watching, I can always go easy. I’m tired, ya know. And second, when it’s hard and your legs are burning, you ask yourself, “are you going to finish?” You can always let up, change the workout, save it for another day. You’re tired ya know. And so I hit the Rivanna trail. There was an immediate climb that made my heart and legs work a little too hard so early in the evening. This quickly gave way to turning and twisting trails, loaded with roots and close-growing brush. I thought there would be more light, but it was already getting a little dark. Flying down the trail, the footing was a bit sketchy. But this was definitely not the time to be careful. Careful doesn’t quite allow for transformation. Arms flailing, branches whacking me in the face and neck, continued on page 28
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Sometimes, dear reader, I astonish myself with my own ignorance. When it was proposed that we visit our daughter in New Zealand a few years ago, I said, “Why spend all the money to go there? They speak English and there is no food culture.” (For me, the only reason to travel is to hear another language and see how well I can bumble along—and to eat something wonderful). After visiting the South Island, I still contend that you don’t visit New Zealand for the food, but oh-my-goodness, the beauty of that land! During our three week stay, we circled nearly the entire island by car then traversed it and in that time saw beautiful coastland, a glacier, a rainforest, a vast, dry expanse of land, and green, lush gardens and vineyards. I had never seen The Lord of the Rings movie, so I just didn’t realize. We stayed in Airbnb homes and met the most charming, friendly people. Like my cousins in Houston, who get few visitors because the rest of us live so far away, the Kiwis seemed just delighted to have someone visit from out of town.
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and fleeting light, I pushed hard on the trail. With a mile to go, my legs were feeling dead. There was that voice again “you can always back off.” But I’ve learned to ignore it and try to change that mindset and just keep going. I remembered Brad Hinton out-kicking me with a mile to go at Promise Land a few years back. I don’t want to get out-kicked anymore. 3.1 miles. Beep. Walk. Slow jog. Getting hotter. Head to the track for the road stuff. 10 minutes later, I’m looking for some good ways to delay the start of the road 5K, but its time. The watch goes beep. This time there is no trail to slow me down. No roots or
Most evenings when we arrived, the host would say, “The barbie (that would be the barbeque) is on, bring your food and join us!” Since we were where we were, I insisted that I would dine on lamb every evening—and so we did. We’d buy some lamb, vegetables and an always-excellent bottle of New Zealand wine and cook outdoors. I regret to say that the lamb was about the same price there as it is here, but no matter; it was vacation (or as they say “holiday”) and I loved every meal. Occasionally we did visit a restaurant and had to learn that the server will never bring you the bill—you just go to the cash register and pay there. And no tipping! The service fee is always included in the bill and the wait staff earns a living wage. These people are so civilized. The spring peas arrive here in May and so I bring you the one New Zealand lunch that was truly outstanding, with the recipe recreated here for your enjoyment. And I’ll suggest that if you’re given the opportunity to visit New Zealand—go!
twists or branches. The focus turns to relaxing up top, extending the hips, major impact on the feet as I race on the pavement and sidewalks. This is different. More intense. Less enjoyable. I hammer down to The Park—not breaking any speed records, but my legs, body, and mind are tired. I really don’t want to be doing this right now. More accurately, legs are burning. It’s just about dark out now. Pounding around the fields, the asphalt path is punishing, but that’s kind of the point. I’m some random runner, breathing all hard, while everyone else is playing softball. But that’s kind of the point. Second loop around the fields and I’m getting to that point I wanted to get to. Where you
CROZETgazette
MAY 2017
Pea Risotto with Kale Chips 2 T olive oil 1 small onion, diced 4 cloves minced garlic 1 cup Arborio rice ½ cup white wine 2 ½ cup chicken stock, vegetable stock, or water
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 ½ cup fresh peas (or, if you must, use frozen peas) Juice of half a fresh lemon 4 large kale leaves Another tablespoon of olive oil Salt and pepper
If using fresh peas, boil a large pot of salted water and cook the peas for 3 minutes, then drain and reserve. If using frozen, they will cook quickly when added to the rice. Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Wash the kale and dry it well. Tear into pieces about 2 inches square. Toss with a tablespoon of olive oil. Salt generously. Place on a baking sheet, spreading the kale pieces so that they are one layer thick. Bake the chips for ten minutes and then check every few minutes until they are crispy. Remove from oven and reserve. Warm the broth or water. Heat 2 T of olive oil in a heavy saucepan. Sauté the onion over medium heat, till it is translucent, then add the garlic and cook briefly. Add the rice and stir till the grains are coated with oil and allow the rice to toast in the pan for about a minute. Continue stirring. Add the wine and stir till all wine is absorbed, then add the broth or water, about a half cup at a time and stir continuously until it is absorbed by the rice. Continue adding small amounts of broth or water and stir while it absorbs. Do this until all liquid has been added and absorbed and the rice is now cooked and tender. This step takes 10-15 minutes of stirring. Now add the cheese, salt and pepper to taste. Then stir in the peas. Next, stir in the lemon juice. Pour into a shallow, heated serving bowl and top with the crispy kale. Serves 3 as a main dish or 4 to 5 as a side dish.
feel like you reached a little too far today and your body is not quite responding like you feel it should. There’s one more mile to go, pretty much all uphill. Then I thought of David Goggins and a recent podcast, talking about how he just finds a way to transform from hating these hard moments to just loving them. “I love this s^#t!” he would say as he and his Navy Seal brothers face the trials of their Hellweek training. Hitting that hill, I laugh and tell myself “I love this s^#t!”. I’m huffing and breathing ridiculously as I fly past law students on their phones and the bus stop. But it’s perfect, this isn’t about anyone else, just me. I think of mile 98 of Western States. Will I get overrun or will
I outrun. That is not answered on race day; it’s answered today. Powering up the hill, breathing slightly out of control, I feel rain. Just a few drops at first. Guess the phone was wrong. 1/2 mile left. Then it RAINS. Seemingly out of nowhere, it starts pouring. Hard. Sheets. Wind. Slick sidewalks. But this is definitely no time to be careful. I am suddenly soaking as if I jumped in a lake, tearing down the sidewalk, gasping for air, pumping the arms, splashing. Desperately waiting for 3.1 to show up on the watch. Beep. The doubt of finishing the workout has left. The doubt of getting chased down at the end of the race has left. A little bit of transformation happened tonight.
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CROZETgazette
MAY 2017
ERIC WALLACE
ERIC WALLACE
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Kunkel poised for a free kick in a game against E.C. Glass
Boys Varsity Soccer Hungry to Stake Claim Sophomore first-baseman Gracie Shiflett fielding a ball in a recent home game.
Girls Softball Rebuilding After Record-breaking Year By Eric J. Wallace eric@crozetgazette.com For WAHS’s Lady Warrior softballers, last year was a record-breaking season. “We had six strong seniors that led us all the way to the regional quarter finals, which was the farthest a [WAHS] softball team has ever made it in the postseason,” said head coach Greg Shiflett. However, the loss of so many veteran players has left this year’s squad needing to rebuild. “We didn’t have a big group of upperclassmen ready to step in and fill those gaps, so we’re a very young team and that can be tough,” explained Shiflett. “We’re looking at this season as an opportunity to work extremely hard, learn with each game and use this experience to get better as a team and as individuals.” Anticipating the youthfulness of his team, Shiflett emphasized the importance of his players getting together during the offseason and working on skills like batting and fielding. “A lot of the softball girls have jobs, which can make it hard for some of them to come out during the off-season,” he said. “But those who did worked especially hard on becoming
better hitters and we’re looking to build on those efforts throughout the regular season, because that’s where we need the most work.” Indeed, with more than six scrimmages and nine games under their belts, the Lady Warriors have had a tough time getting on the scoreboard. Concerning the shaky start—at the close of April the team is currently 1-7-1—coach Shiflett said the team is continuously working out the kinks and getting better. “We basically graduated our entire infield and that’s put us at a bit of a disadvantage,” he said. “But we’re continuing to make adjustments and work hard in practice and learn how to play together as a team.” And given their positive attitude and knack for making things fun no matter what—an ability he described as inspiring to behold—Shiflett added that it was only a matter of time before the girls begin to see results. “We have tremendous talent, it’s just a matter figuring out how to develop it and bring it out together as a team,” he said. Shiflett named four players to watch. First was junior third-baseman and shortstop continued on page 34
hasten the rebuilding process, Oakland emphasized having the JV and varsity groups take time to train together. “It was great After winning last year’s state to watch the older guys meshchampionship title, the WAHS ing with the younger players boys varsity soccer team graduduring fitness and pickup ated 10 starters. “That team was games, and I think it bodes well full of seniors, so in a lot of for the program to see that type ways we’re starting over,” said of community between the two head coach Milo Oakland. “But teams,” he said. “They often feel there are a lot of returning playlike separate programs and the ers who are excited about the preseason offers the perfect opportunity to step up and opportunity to bridge the gap lead. Our overall success this and make everyone feel like season will be determined by they’re a part of the same thing.” our new junior and senior Also softening the loss of so classes’ ability to transition from many seniors was the fact that, role players and followers to star with its feeder programs, the players and leaders.” WAHS talent pool is notoriNearing the midseason point, ously deep. “While we are a with a record of 7-2 as of April young team, I count myself 27—and those tough, close, lucky in that I benefit from a away-game losses coming at the very strong soccer community,” hands of Mills Godwin and vetOakland said with a laugh. “I eran-stacked and undefeated hope I never catch myself comCharlottesville—the team plaining about depth!” appears to be accomplishing However, that youthfulness just that. “We don’t get to play means less experience which, in teams that good that often, in turn, means Oakland has had to fact they may be the best [two] adapt alternative strategies. teams we’ll play,” said Oakland. “We’re a smaller team than we “Albemarle is great, Mills were last year and while we’re Godwin is great, so we feel good strong defensively, we have to about how we played and the fact we were in it until the end.” learn to move the ball more quickly and develop more creConsidering the boys’ ativity on the offensive side of resolve, for those in the know things,” he said. “But those the success isn’t coming as a surthings take time and that’s prise. “Our preseason got where the development comes started just after winter break in.” Meanwhile, with what he and the dedication and work described as his players’ soccer ethic of these young players IQ being so high, Oakland was were just immediately apparquick to say that, in terms of ent,” said Oakland. Hoping to potential, the sky is the deepen ties between younger and older players, and thereby continued on page 44 By Eric J. Wallace eric@crozetgazette.com
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hearing health ASSOCIATES May is Better Hearing & Speech Month
From top row, left to right: assistant coach Dana Boyle, Colby Carbo, Marlena Flynn, Shelby Flynn, Captain Genevieve Russell, Mady Starsia, Izzy Shaffrey, Anna Fagerli, Madeline Hamer, Saoirse Heneghan, head coach Tara Hohenshelt. Lizzie Kelly, Ann Carter Sipe, Annie Meenan, Audrey Russell, Marley Herring, Katherine Krese, captain Bella Moriconi, captain Joie Funk, captain Hanna Schuler. Catherine Adams, Anne Patterson, Kira Repich, Reid Ferguson, Anna Kreienbaum, Courtney Schoeb, Erin Flynn, Ava DiVita. Not pictured: Heidi Hahn, Gigi Goldstein.
Girls Lacrosse Seeks to Turn the Tide By Eric J. Wallace eric@crozetgazette.com Following a successful season in which the team won the district, conference and regional title, and advanced to the state semi-finals, the WAHS girls lacrosse team graduated seven starters. For many programs, that kind of loss would spell a season dedicated to rebuilding. But for head coach Tara Hohenshelt’s Lady Warriors, that’s far from the case. With a roster of 28 players, including 10 seniors, Hohenshelt said the transition was easy due to the team’s culture of leadership. “I think that last year’s girls led by example and did a great job of raising the bar for those around them and teaching the younger players how to really take care of their teammates,” she said. “So now we see the new seniors taking what they learned and applying it to the current situation. While it’s true we’re feeling the loss, our graduates left a legacy of being competitive and taking care of one another through serving as strong mentors.” Seeking to solidify that strong core of leadership, the group drilled hard throughout the preseason, working to hone individual skills. “During the season, the team becomes the primary focus, so we used those first weeks together as a way of
building our confidence individually,” explained Hohenshelt. “We practiced a lot of ballhandling and put a lot of energy into conditioning.” Making matters easier was the fact the girls showed up wanting to get down to business. “They’re a tight knit team and take care of one another like sisters. You could see them pushing each other, fighting to do their best,” added Hohenshelt. “It was amazing to see how hungry they were—they came to practice ready to work and showed tremendous commitment and hustle. And that’s carried over into the season.” However, the season began a bit bumpy. The team lost three of its first five official games, but according to Hohenshelt, they have gelled and are on the upswing, winning their last three games, including big wins against Monticello and Midlothian. Leading the charge are senior midfielders Hanna Schuler, Bella Moriconi, Joie Funk and Genevieve Russell. Together, the four serve as the team’s captains. “Hanna has signed to play at Arizona State University and is the player on our team that’s constantly making things happen whether that’s on the ball or getting the ball back into our possession,” said Hohenshelt. “She exhibits amazing work
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Guided by Billy ‘the Kid’ Wagner, Miller Swings for State Title This spring the Miller School of Albermarle boys varsity baseball team is striving to up the ante: having replicated last year’s conference championship performance, they’re poised to make a run at the state title. Coming as the first such championship victory for an MSA baseball team in over a decade, the 2016 win was celebrated as the fruit of coach Billy Wagner’s 5-yearlong effort to overhaul the program. Wait… Billy Wagner? As in former-Major League Baseball superstar Billy ‘the Kid’ Wagner? Yep, that’s the one. What happened was, back in 2000, following the advice of Charlottesville-resident and former Houston Astros third-base coach, Mike Cubbage, the seven-time MLB All-Star purchased 200 acres of land in Crozet, where he moved with his wife Sarah and their four children hoping to “establish roots.” Just over twelve years later, after retiring from the limelight in 2010, following a 16-year career that netted the relief pitcher 422 saves and landed him fifth on the alltime saves list, Wagner took a gig as an assistant baseball coach at the Miller School of Albemarle. The following year, when varsity head coach Sammy Beale retired due to health complications, Wagner stepped into his spot. But why would a world-renowned likely future-Hall-of-Famer decide to take a job coaching at a small private school in rural Virginia? Namely, his kids. At the time, Wagner’s middle son Will was a budding eighth-grade second-baseman at MSA and was crazy about baseball. Following in Will’s footsteps was the pitcher’s next-to-youngest child Jeremy, which made the deal even sweeter. “To be able to get to watch your sons on a daily basis grow and enjoy their passion for the game, that’s a father’s dream,” said Wagner, who is now 45 years old. “Not every father has that opportunity… I could have pitched at least one more year.” Indeed, in his final season with the Atlanta Braves, Wagner logged 37 saves and was voted a National League All-Star. “Probably more of a reason to retire was so I could be around my kids and coach them. By the luck of the draw I was able to come home and have a coaching job to be around my boys and my daughter.” Settling into the new role, Wagner fell in love with the game all over again. As a pro, over the course of his lengthy career, the sport had become more about business, less about play. “It became very much like a job,” he said. “Everything before and after [the game] was long and drawn out… But my experiences [as a coach] have invigorated me to the point that I get excited about coming to baseball practice…I enjoy doing a lot to help these kids.”
TOM PALLANTE
By Eric J. Wallace eric@crozetgazette.com
Coach Billy Wagner (far left) with the Miller School of Albemarle’s 2017 Mavericks.
Described by assistant coach Tom Pallante as a natural, despite a chuckle, Wagner claimed he believes he enjoys coaching better than playing. “He’s still like a big kid himself—he has the perfect balance of fun and energy,” said Pallante. “He has a knack of working with younger kids [and when new students apply] he talks academics first. He doesn’t push his status in any way. He kind of makes you feel equal…. I can’t overemphasize how positive this experience has been.” As a player Wagner wielded a blistering 100-m.p.h. fastball and was known for his win-or-go-home mentality. As a high school coach he takes a very different approach. “Our goal each year for each kid and for our program is to focus on individual kids rather than wins,” he said. “They’re like sponges and each kid has his own way of learning…. I realize that dealing with 15 different kids, you have to communicate in 15 different ways—you can’t coach them all the same way.” Wagner described his coaching strategy as process-oriented and dedicated to drilling the fundamentals. “We consider our ‘process’ to be the learning block of establishing baseball IQ, work-ethic, teamwork, team-building, positional mechanics and baseball terminology,” he said. The team has also implemented a weight and conditioning program to “build strong bodies and strong minds.” Meanwhile, concerning the latter, Wagner asserts that education always comes first: “I tell the kids, ‘I’m not here to make you a professional baseball player, you’re here for the education.’ Many coaches use wins as their top motivational tool, but we use baseball as a tool for getting to college…. We take pride in the fact that we put all our players into college.” After five years in the saddle, Wagner’s
influence on the program shows. Finishing with a record of 14-8, last year’s team not only won the conference title, but they also made it to the semi-finals of the VISAA state tournament and had two players go on to play baseball at the Division I level. “We had Alex Chan go to Davidson College and Connor Gillispie to VCU,” said Wagner. This year, while the Mavericks opened the season with three straight losses, they bounced back to win 16 of their last 17 games and beat Covenant 3-0 to claim their second straight conference title on April 27. Leading the team were four senior offensive standouts and infielders, all of whom have committed to play baseball in college at the Division I level. There was Tanner Morris, who batted .509 and signed with the University of Virginia; Ethan Murray batting .500 and signing with Duke University; Adam Hackenberg hitting .419 and committing to Clemson; and yes, the coach’s son, Will Wagner, batting .475 and signed to play at Liberty. With under 200 students enrolled at the school, spread between grades 8-12, Wagner’s accomplishments at MSA haven’t gone unnoticed. However, while there have been rumors about potential offers from Division I college teams or even professional clubs, Wagner said he aims to stay right where he is. To understand his reasoning, it’s best to consult a statement he made post coaching a 2013 game against his former Tazewell High School team and former coach, 30-plus year veteran Lou Peery: “It was a great experience just to be on the field with him. He’s a great friend and always has been there for me. He’s probably one of the main reasons I want to coach, because he taught me a lot... If I can be one-half the coach he is, I’ll call that a success.”
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Attention Runners! Back By Request…
Running Injury Workshop Reveals How to Prevent and Naturally Heal Running Injuries. Do you suffer with foot pain or knee pain after running? Do you have pain in your heels or Achilles tendon? Do you want to improve your training and reduce the number of days you have to lay off between runs? Are you afraid your pain will get worse if you don’t do anything about it? From left: Ryan Albee, lacrosse, Randolph; Courtney Berry, volleyball, Washington and Lee; Eleri Hayden, basketball, Roanoke; Ryan Ingram, basketball, Swarthmore; Morgan James, swim and dive, Catholic; Sam James, baseball, St. Mary’s; Olivia Nichols, volleyball, Sewanee; Nate Riely, wrestling, American; Jarrett Smith, football, Washington and Lee; Noah Yourkavitch, football, Hampden Sydney; not pictured: Madison Masloff, track and field, Virginia.
Area Athletes to Play College Sports By Eric J. Wallace eric@crozetgazette.com After hours upon hours of hard work and dedication, it’s that time of year when the most gifted of our area’s high school athletes announce their plans for continuing their athletic careers. In commemoration of these young men and women’s accomplishments, here’s a list of WAHS and Miller School student-athletes that will go on to play in college or, in one instance, professional sports. WESTERN ALBEMARLE HIGH SCHOOL Girls Rowing Carrie Smith, Notre Dame University Grace Von Elter, University of Virginia Field Hockey Valerie Hajek, either the University of Pennsylvania or John Hopkins University Volleyball Olivia Nichols, Sewanee Courtney Berry, Washington & Lee University Girls Basketball Eleri Hayden, Roanoke College Girls Track Averi Witt, James Madison University Madison Masloff, University of Virginia
Girls Lacrosse Hannah Schuler, Arizona State Football Noah Yourkavitch, Hampden-Sydney College Jarrett Smith, Washington & Lee University Boys Basketball Ryan Ingram, Swarthmore College Wrestling Nate Riley, American University Boys Lacrosse Ryan Albee, Randolph College Boys Swim & Dive Morgan James, Catholic University Baseball Sam James, St. Mary’s MILLER SCHOOL OF ALBEMARLE Girls Basketball Secret Bryant, Southern Methodist University Boys Baseball Tanner Morris, University of Virginia Ethan Murray, Duke University Adam Hackenberg, Clemson University Will Wagner, Liberty University Boys Cycling Laurent Gervais, Aevelo U-23 Professional Cycling Team
If you have answered YES to any of the above questions (or have a stubborn spouse who is in denial) – the Running Injury Workshop may be a life changing event for you… “I had almost immediate positive results. All the folks at PT Plus were professional and helpful. I hope not to be injured again, but if it happens I will gladly return to PT Plus.”
Heel Pain and knee pain can ruin your running program: It can cause you to miss vital training sessions. It can take your focus away on enjoying your life… like playing with children or grandchildren… It can mess up your work or force you to do a job you don’t want to do… It can ruin your travel plans… And it can take away your ability to live life to its fullest. And less movement and enjoying life can lead to bigger problems like a sedentary lifestyle (mostly sitting… not moving much) which leads to other health problems… and life problems. Here at PT Plus, we’ve helped 100’s of people from right here in Crozet…and the rest of Albemarle County…who have suffered needlessly with running related injuries.
So by request, I’m hosting a Running Injury Workshop here at PT Plus May 20, 2017 at 10:00am. We are located at 5690 Three Notch’d Rd Suite 107 Crozet, VA 22932. If you’re confused about what to do and looking for answers, here’s some of what you’ll learn: The Single Biggest #1 Mistake runners make when dealing with running related injuries. The 3 Most Common running injuries. A Sure-Fire Way to Pick the Right Treatment for the Cause of Your Pain (and save you a ton of time and money) What successful treatment and permanent relief looks like without the side effects of medications, injections or surgery.
How Do I Register for the Running Injury Workshop? Call our office to register at (434) 823-7613. We only have 20 seats available for the event…and this will be going out to all of Western Albemarle County. So if you would like to attend, be sure to register now… Call (434) 823-7613.
How Much Is It to Attend?
FREE
As a Special Bonus…the first 10 people to call and register for the event will receive a special gift. Looking forward to seeing you there, Dan Freed-Pastor, DPT PT Plus Health and Wellness Centers PS – The first 10 People to call and register at (434) 823-7613 will receive a special gift. PPS – This event is limited to the first 20 people to register. When you register, you can bring a guest (we do this because many people request to bring their spouse or other family member).
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TOM PALLANTE
Softball
—continued from page 30
General Meeting
Monday, May 15 7:30 p.m. •••
Pro Re Nata
6135 Rockfish Gap Turnpike, Crozet
••• The CROZET BOARD OF TRADE is an IRS-recognized non-profit organization of western Albemarle business owners and other concerned citizens, founded in 2003, whose purpose is the economic and civic development of Crozet.
Lacey Pugh. “She puts in maximum effort and genuinely wants her team to do well,” he said. Second was junior pitcher, third-baseman and shortstop Tiana Knight, who “constantly cheers on her teammates and works to improve her skills to help the overall team.” Third came sophomore first-baseman Gracie Shiflett, who was described as extremely reliable both as a fielder and at the plate, and an excellent teammate. Lastly, there was senior pitcher, shortstop and team-leader Makenzie Sims. “Being one of the older and more advanced players on the team, she’s always offering her teammates great advice and helping them improve,” said Shiflett. “She’s sort of the glue that’s keeping us all together.” Despite the off year, Shiflett remains optimistic, viewing things on the bright side. “We’re going to make the best of the opportunity to get out there, gain experience and play ball,” he said.
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The Miller School of Albemarle girls basketball team celebrating their state championship victory.
Miller Basketball Wins Fourth Consecutive State Title By Eric J. Wallace eric@crozetgazette.com After finishing the season with a 22-10 record, the Miller School of Albemarle varsity girls basketball team went on to win the Blue Ridge Conference Championship for the sixth year in a row and, by way of a grand finale, claimed its fourth straight Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division II state championship title. According to head coach James Braxton, the bulk of the team’s losses came early—with three dished out by eventual state champions from other divisions—and were the result of shaky teambuilding. “We had just three starters returning, so it took us a little while to settle in and gel,” he said. “Combine that with a tough preseason schedule and we were looking at
a 3-8 start before going on to win 19 of our last 21 games.” The team was led by seniors Secret Bryant, Hannah Woodard and Yasmine Taylor. “Secret was a captain and our go-to player, averaging 12 points and five assists per game,” said Braxton. “Her efforts led her to be recognized as the [BRC] Player of the Year as well as the VISAA Division II State Player of the Year.” While the Lady Mavericks featured a quintet of strong underclassmen including Jalyn King, Olivia Wagner and Kianna Johnson, only one starter will be returning. “We’ll be leaning heavily on them as well as Hannah to form the backbone of next year’s team, but we’ll need to add a few pieces to the mix if we’re to going to continue to be successful,” said Braxton.
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When to Spay or Neuter? One of my favorite parts of my job as a veterinarian is the steady stream of puppies and kittens that come into the door. The obvious enjoyment here is that puppies and kittens are always adorable and entertaining. Brand new, soft fur, pudgy legs, and round faces, they are always a pleasure to examine and get to know. However, I also enjoy witnessing a new and significant relationship start between the owner and the new pet. These babies are going to be with their new parents for the next 10-20 years—that is a significant chunk of any person’s life. To see these very first steps, as each party is getting to know the other, is a joy and honor. A common question that ultimately comes up for any of these pets is “when should I spay/neuter my pet?” The answer used to be straightforward, but now it is changing. Here in the U.S., there has been a heavy push to spay and neuter all dogs and cats. This is mainly to curb the unwanted pet population, and generally speaking, I agree with this policy. Head into any shelter or SPCA and you will see way too many stray animals. The need for homes will simply never be met. “Spaying” refers to removing both the ovaries and the uterus (ovariohysterectomy) of female dogs and cats, whereas “neutering” refers to removing the testicles of male dogs and cats. I will also add that just like in people, dogs and cats that are “intact” have a very high rate of problems with their reproductive organs when they age. Intact male dogs that are over 10 years old are extremely likely to get prostate infections that can be very difficult to deal with. Intact females over 8 are very likely to get uterine infections (pyometra) after their heat cycles, as well as mammary can-
cer. My experience with geriatric pets who are not spayed or neutered is that they are very likely to suffer some significant health problems from their reproductive organs. All that being said, early spay and neuter seems a no-brainer. However, recent studies over the past 10 years suggest that there may be some unintended consequences to early spay and neuter. A recent study done at the University of California at Davis and published in 2013 looked at a large number of Golden Retrievers and examined the relationship between spaying/neutering and the incidence of a few specific problems including hip dysplasia, ACL tears, and cancer. Hip dysplasia is common in many breeds and leads to hip arthritis when pets are older. ACL tears lead to significant knee arthritis and require surgery. Cancer is, of course, just bad. This study showed that neutering dogs early increased their risk of getting all of these things. Whoa. Are we doing something wrong by neutering/spaying our pets? Should we not do this anymore? Well, before you go spreading a soundbite of “if you spay your dog, they’ll get cancer!”, let’s examine the limits of this study a bit more. First, one thing that is not known is exactly why these pets are more at risk for getting the orthopedic problems and the increased incidence of certain cancers when they are neutered at an early age. Is it specifically the lack of estrogen/testosterone? Or, is it possible that spayed/neutered dogs are more likely to become overweight and thus overload their joints and have a less healthy body condition. Another study needs to be done that looks at these dogs and splits them in to “overweight” and “not overweight” categories so we can see if a thin, but early-spayed dog is truly at a higher risk for hip or
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Whistle Words Workshops Underway by Clover Carroll | clover@crozetgazette.com or have had, breast cancer. Matthews will offer free, in-person workshops starting Monday, May 1, from 10:30 a.m. to noon at Olivet Presbyterian Church on Garth Road, and running every Monday throughout May. It is never too late to sign up! Journals and refreshments will be provided, and the instruction will be designed to get you in touch with your deepest feelings. You can come to only one or all of them, as convenient for you. Starting Wednesday, May 3 from 6 to 9:30 p.m., Matthews will also be running virtual, online workshops every Wednesday via Blackboard, which is interactive in real time using video technology. You may either tune in at that time to participate interactively, or watch later at your convenience. Matthews only asks that you not pop in in the middle of a workshop, say at 7 p.m. Charlotte Hilary Matthews is the author of Green Stars (2005), Still Enough to Be Dreaming (2007), and Whistle What Can’t Be Said (2016). She received the 2007 New Writers Award from the Fellowship for Southern Writers for Poetry, and teaches in U.Va.’s Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies Program. You may have seen her in the past at the Charlottesville City Market, where she wrote poems on demand at her “The Poet Is In” stand. She plans to reprise this unique service at the Crozet Farmers Market this summer. “I have baskets of words and of intriguing objects. People choose a word and/or an object, and tell me what they want their poem to be about. I write it on my 1941 Corona typewriter” (faculty.vir-
During radiation nothing gives— all the steel and glass and plaster. The machine closer and closer until it’s an inch from the absent breast— Why can’t I say what happened? I’m trying to—but I’ve been instructed not to move, not even a millimeter, or the radiation will reach my heart. All I want is to hear my neighbor call his cows home at dusk, to see him touch their bellies, feel the fur that swirls between their eyes.
– Charlotte Hilary Matthews
ginia.edu/poetsstudy). Betsy Cox, owner of Red Spark Films, is a documentary filmmaker who likes to tell social issues stories. Her last film, Southeast 67, was about kids growing up in the Anacostia section of Washington, D.C., during the crack epidemic, who were saved by a benefactor who offered them college scholarships. She named her company Red Spark because “the red represents courage and the spark represents the new insight that I hope will come from sharing these stories.” She is currently working on a short film based on one of Matthews’ poems, to be released in July (redsparkfilms.com). “I’m glad I have this [cancer],” Matthews says. “I see the world in a different way now. It allows me to navigate the world with gratitude, and small worries have lost their sheen.” To share your story and let what you’re experiencing be heard, visit www.whistlewords.org, where you can sign up for the free writing workshops and/or sign up for a newsletter to keep up to date on the project. CLOVER CARROLL
Charlotte Matthews is on a mission—a mission of empathy and sharing stories. After undergoing a radical double mastectomy for stage three breast cancer 12 years ago—followed by six months of chemotherapy—she felt overwhelmed, like she didn’t know who she was any more. In spite of all the love and support she received from family and friends, “something was missing,” she remembers. “Cancer diagnosis and treatment tend to be a passive endeavor: you are diagnosed, you are staged, you are given chemo, you are given radiation—all of this passive. But I found that writing was something I could do. I could write. I could make a record of what transpired. And in this way, I regained power, authority.” Her third book of poetry, Whistle What Can’t Be Said, came out of this realization. “It felt so empowering. So I began to dream of empowering other women who were going through the same thing, by bringing writing workshops to them.” Soon she was collaborating with her friend, filmmaker Betsy Cox, and together they plan to produce a feature-length documentary film that will give voice and character to the writings that result from her workshops. “Whistle Words is a multimedia project for women impacted by breast cancer, and all those who love them,” said Mathews. “It’s the story beyond diagnosis and treatment. It’s about giving voice to all that is too often left unsaid—honest talk about all of the facets that affect you when you’re going through what I did. Writing can bring out things you didn’t even know you were feeling.” The project has two, separate aspects: the workshops and the film, which “will be different than your usual documentary,” Cox explained. “It will be a kind of visual poetry that weaves the creative writings from the workshops—both poetry and prose—into a chorus of women’s voices and stories.” They are hoping to involve women from all walks of life, and from diverse socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic groups. Eventually, they hope to publish an anthology of the women’s writings, along with a facilitator’s guide, so that the project can be replicated all over the country. “What a gift it would be to help women express this. To hear from people we love, and be able to support them.” Matthews and Cox are seeking funding for the project from breastcancer.org and other support organizations (www.whistlewords.org). Writing workshops are being offered now both in person and online for all who have,
Whistle What Can’t Be Said
Charlotte Matthews and Betsy Cox are making a film based on the creative writing of women who have or have had breast cancer.
CROZETgazette
MAY 2017
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Is May the Nicest Month of the Year? Many people consider May to be the finest month of the year in central Virginia. The days are long and the temperatures are usually pleasant, generally hovering between 50 and 80. The countryside is so green that Heidi and I call Crozet “The Emerald City”. I have no record of snow ever falling at valley level during the month, although some snow might fall this week in the very high mountains of West Virginia. But the weather can get crazy at any time and sometimes it does in May. The temperature hit 100 on May 27, 1941 and that was the fourth time that month that we topped 97. Frost is possible but that is very rare. Low lying rural areas can be vulnerable on clear, calm nights, but the coldest we have ever measured was 29 in May 2002. Overall, a freeze happens just once every 700 May days. May rainfall averages an ample 4.21”, but sometimes we can get that much in one day. In 1924, almost five inches fell in a single day. The worst weather in May is usually when the winds turn east and a cool drizzle hangs around for a couple of days. Other parts of the country
fear May because of the risk of tornadoes, but we are fortunate in this respect. Tennessee is one of the most dangerous places for tornadoes in May, but the rough terrain of the Appalachian Mountains breaks up most rotational storms. Tornadoes are almost non-existent in western Virginia. Around here, a rare tornado will touch down but they are much more common around the Tidewater area and closer to the DC Metro area. Perhaps the worst part of May is the insane rate that the grass grows. April is too cold and June is a bit too warm, but May is Goldilocks…just right. April Recap April was much warmer than normal again. The average of 62.5 was almost 5 degrees above the long-term average. The past 12 months have been almost the warmest ever here, surpassing over 99 percent of rolling yearly averages. That might be alarming if it were a clear trend but the opposite happened back in 2014 when we were historically cool. Globally, temperatures cooled in April. The eastern USA was warm, but most of the West was cold and so was almost all of Canada.
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CROZETgazette
MAY 2017
Onward and Upward lisamartin@crozetgazette.com LISA MARTIN
Meghan Hundley and
Show and Tell
their art.
demonstrated a messaging and fire detection device he designed and built. Seventh-grader Lilly Clark’s pyramid and the items it contained were constructed entirely from reused materials, as her classroom featured transformation and repurposing projects. “The Repurposing Project allowed students to investigate surface area and volume of 3-dimensional shapes through a project that challenged them to reduce their ecological footprint by repurposing an everyday item,” said teacher Christine Martin.
Jonah Ratan, rising 6th
grader.
LISA MARTIN
LISA MARTIN
Henley Middle School showcased student learning and skill with their annual EXPO and Talent Show last month. Thirtythree classrooms were open for visitors to browse and engage with projects ranging from the artistic to the scientific. Sixthgraders Meghan Hundley and Nora Wood (who happen to be cousins) showed off their Impressionist artwork, done in bright acrylics, while seventh-grader Kieran Garrod
Nora Wood pose with
Fifth grade classes from Murray Elementary combined with those from Brownsville Elementary to visit Henley Middle School in April for a half-day of activities designed to introduce them to their next school environment. “Henley always does a nice job of making our fifth-graders feel comfortable transitioning to sixth grade and middle school,” said Murray teacher Courtney Dillard. “On our orientation visit, Murray students especially enjoy touring the school, seeing LISA MARTIN
By Lisa Martin
old schoolmates, meeting their future teachers, and seeing the Henley Hornet mascot.” Murray student Jonah Ratan enjoyed the preview. “Seeing some of my friends’ brothers was fun,” he said, and he noted several differences such as the hall lockers and bell schedule. Though Henley is huge compared to Murray, Ratan is not worried. “I’m going to make myself a map, so I always know where to go.” Fifth-graders from Meriwether Lewis Elementary and Crozet Elementary received their orientation the following day, and the total from all four elementary schools will be 267 students joining the Henley community in the fall.
Get Smart
Llly Clark shows off her rep
Three quick-witted and detail-oriented teachers at WAHS comprised the “Best Western” entry in this year’s WordPlay competition, a live game show event held annually at the Paramount Theater. The event raises funds for Literacy Volunteers of Charlottesville/ Albemarle, a nonprofit agency that combats local illiteracy.
urposing project.
Da
Lani Hoza, Jill Williams, and Dan Bledsoe competed April 27 against 47 teams from area schools and businesses, and finished in fourth place after hitting the same high mark last year. The trio’s knowledge base spans a little bit of everything, from geography to sports to anatomy to literature, and team captain Hoza said they have fun
ni Hoza of team
Williams, and La niel Bledsoe, Jill
with the game show format. “To practice, we entered local ‘Trivia Night’ competitions sponsored by groups like District Trivia and Geeks Who Drink,” she said. “We were actually the World of Beer
Best Western.
regional champions.” Students take note: This is one instance where being a know-it-all serves a good cause. For more info about WordPlay or to support the organization, go online to literacyforall.org.
Something “NOTEWORTHY” going on at your school? Let lisamartin@crozetgazette.com know!
CROZETgazette
MAY 2017
39
BY DR. ROBERT C. REISER
crozetannals@crozetgazette.com
Harmful if Swallowed Pain that wakes you from sleep is a bad thing. More often than not, it is some sort of emergency. My patient had been awakened in the middle of the night with severe chest pain. He was 60 years old. He had no history of heart disease. He had been fine before bedtime. He took his usual two saw palmetto herbal pills after climbing into bed and turning out the light. He explained that they helped him with his prostate, especially at night. He felt as if one of the pills had gotten stuck in his esophagus and he was having trouble swallowing associated with his chest pain. He was very distressed by all of this. We worked him up for a heart attack, which he did not have. We gave him some water to swallow and he did just fine getting it down. We gave him a gulp of lidocaine, a numbing medicine which made his pain go away completely. I explained to him that he had pill esophagitis and that time would heal this without any specific therapy. Pill esophagitis is common and usually occurs after antibiotic pill swallowing but many different kinds of pills have caused it. It is caused by the pill irritating the esophagus without much lasting damage. Symptoms are a feeling that the pill is stuck or severe pain after swallowing the pill. Risk factors for it include swallowing a pill while in bed or laying down right after taking any pill. Copious water swallowing after medication administration can reduce the incidence of this annoying phenomenon. While my patient had not taken an antibiotic, he had taken his pills while lying in bed after turning out the lights and then went right to sleep. The next night in the ED I noticed his name on the track board again and went by to visit
him. This time he was really distressed, writhing and gasping in pain radiating from his central chest. He said the pain from last night had never really gone away and over the course of the day had dramatically worsened. He thought he might be dying. Something was not right. Usually pill esophagitis gradually gets better over time as the irritation resolves. The team caring for him was going off my diagnosis of last night and assuming this was still simply pill esophagitis with an overly dramatic patient. I had the benefit of seeing him earlier in his disease course and so could appreciate the change in this previously reasonable man. I suggested to the team that they admit him due to his significant worsening, with the thought being to examine him with an upper GI endoscope ASAP to make sure he had not ruptured his esophagus. He was admitted and scoped the next morning. The endoscopist found not pill esophagitis but rather a pill bottle desiccant packet stuck onto the side of his esophagus. Desiccant packets are those scary things you often find in pill bottles. They are scary because they say right on them ‘Do Not Eat’ or ‘Harmful if Swallowed’ or they have a skull and crossbones stamped on them. The purpose of the desiccant packets is to keep pills from degrading from moisture. They absorb many times their weight in any ambient moisture. In the dark my patient had mistakenly swallowed the desiccant packet along with his other pill. Where it got stuck it had caused several erosions in the lining of the esophagus. He had a two-day hospital stay during which he was fed through an IV until his esophagus healed
continued on page 44
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CROZETgazette
MAY 2017
MARLENE A. CONDON
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DGIF Wildlife Guidelines For thirteen years, I gave monthly talks during prime tourist season in Shenandoah National Park. Following the program, if there were not too many questions from folks, I would go outside to climb the stairs to the balcony on the west side of Big Meadows Lodge. The Sun would be going down and often there were lovely sunsets to watch. But while most visitors would be looking west, towards the Shenandoah Valley, I would be facing the lodge, waiting for a wonderful show to begin. Before it was too dark to see, large bats would begin to emerge from along the roofline of the historical structure. As I stood against the railing that ran along the edge of the balcony, these winged mammals would fly right over my head towards the forest below. I could never quite figure out where those bats were roosting on or within the building. They appeared so suddenly and moved so quickly that it was impossible in the fading light to pinpoint the crevices that hid them all day. But I did figure out what kind of bats they were, thanks to “A Guide to the Bats of Virginia”, which was published by the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries (DGIF). The dark-colored bats were very big, and our largest species in Virginia is the Big Brown. Once I read the description of this bat’s behavior—that it has a strong affinity for manmade structures—I felt sure of my identification. It is very important to pay attention to size and behavior in order to identify bats because you will not often get a chance to watch them during daylight hours when coloration can be used. It is obviously far more diffi-
cult to discover what kinds of bats are around your home, or at your favorite Virginia vacation spot, than it is to see and identify most other kinds of animals. But if you keep an eye out for bats at the right time of day and in the right seasons, you will probably be able to spot these animals (the only mammals capable of sustained flight). Rarely, you may get to see a bat up close, which makes it far easier to identify with the DGIF booklet. (NOTE: You should never handle a bat because, although most bats are healthy, the one you are viewing could carry the rabies virus, which is deadly). My very first experience with seeing a bat up close was a sad one. I may have been as young as six or seven when I found a dead bat in the woods where I was exploring (my all-time favorite thing to do for as long as I can remember). The animal was hanging from a branch only a few feet off the ground. Although I would have preferred that the bat be alive, I was thrilled to get to see one so well. Unfortunately, I did not have the means way back then to identify it. If you are interested in learning more about our bats, many of which are severely diminishing in number, then you will definitely want to have a copy of the DGIF’s booklet, which is available for $6.95 at www. shopdgif.com The DGIF has also published “A Guide to the Turtles of Virginia.” It is chock full of fascinating information about these reptiles that almost everyone, from children to adults, enjoys seeing. For example, did you know that turtles have been on the Earth since the age of the dinosaurs, and that they have not changed much at all since that time? The box turtle may be the species you are most likely to
Once the author discovered by chance that box turtles liked cherry tomatoes, she placed overripe ones outside the garden fence for them to find. Here, a male (it has red eyes) enjoys its treat!
view in our area. One June day almost seventeen years ago, I visited my larger pond to find a male box turtle cooling off on what was a terribly hot, humid day. As I had never before seen one of these animals in water, nor ever heard mention of them going into water, I was very surprised—and even concerned. At first, I wondered if it had somehow fallen in and could not get out. Thus you can imagine my surprise to find out in this new booklet that “it is not uncommon to find a box turtle swimming around in a flooded forest or attempting to cross a stream or river.” Goodness! Who knew? I certainly did not know until that hot summer day that our terrestrial turtle is not afraid to venture into water. I was curious as to whether the booklet would mention that box turtles eat carrion, something I discovered, again on a June day (this time twenty-three years ago) on a tour of my yard. (I typically walk all around the yard at least three times per day to see what kinds of critters are out and about.)
Real Estate —continued from page 6
when selling that is tax free up to $500,000 for married filers. Home ownership has always been a way to keep living costs down when compared to renting. This has certainly applied to Crozet in the past and most likely will continue for the foreseeable future as local rental rates soar and availability remains thin.
I was shocked that day in 1994 to come upon a box turtle eating a dead common mole! Until then, I’d had no idea that these land turtles were scavengers. Upon turning to the Box Turtle species account when my booklet arrived in the mail, I found that these animals are, indeed, known to feed upon dead animals. Since turtles have no teeth (a fun fact from the booklet), a box turtle feeds—whether on a piece of fruit or a dead animal—by simply tearing off a bite and swallowing it. If you find this kind of information fascinating, you can purchase a copy of the turtle booklet for $7.95. If you are enthralled, as I am, by all aspects of the natural world, you might even want to purchase a complete set of the wonderful wildlife guides put out by the DGIF. There is one on snakes and another on frogs and toads (I did a Gazette review of this one in February 2012). You can purchase the guides individually (the prices vary) or as a set for $19.95.
The advice remains the same: if you have a home to sell, with low inventory and seemingly high demand, now is a decent time to consider putting your home on the market. If you are a buyer, interest rates remain historically low, so get pre-approved by a lender before you start looking. You will not only then know your budget comfort range, but you will be able to act quickly if a property captivates you.
CROZETgazette
MAY 2017
community events at Claudius Crozet Park. Admission is free. Vehicle entries are $20 and accepted the day of event. Prizes will be awarded for all classes, including motorcycles. For more information, email crozetcarshow@gmail.com.
MAY 13 AND 14
Crozet Arts and Crafts Festival
Over 120 jury-selected artists & artisan exhibitors will be selling their own handcrafted works at the annual Crozet Arts and Crafts Festival at Claudius Crozet Park, Saturday and Sunday May 13 and 14, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Virginia wine and beer by the glass, live music and entertainment, food, kids’ activities, massage sessions, photo mini-sessions, and more. Tickets available at gate. Adult Admission is $7, children 12 and under are free and parking is free. Rain or shine. No dogs, please.
MAY 20
Second Annual “Hoop Dreams” Tournament
Registration for the Second Annual “Hoop Dreams” basketball tournament at Rockfish Valley Community Center is now open. The deadline for team registrations is May 13 for the event on Saturday, May 20 on the RVCC’s new outdoor court. The rain date for the event is Saturday, June 3. The 3-on-3 tournament is a fundraising event that will help offset the cost of the new court, which was completed in late 2015. Teams will compete in three age groups: Youth (18 and
MAY 20
Crozet Car Show
The Crozet Car Show is a community event to bring together car enthusiasts while helping to support local charities. This year’s show is Saturday, May 20, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
by Louise Dudley
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under); Adult (19-45) and Geezer (46 and up). A maximum of 5 members are permitted per team, and the team registration fee is $100. A limited number of registration fee scholarships are available for Youth teams. RVCC is proud to partner with Bold Rock Cidery again this year in hosting the event. The tournament will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and hot dogs and soft drinks will be provided for registrants. Food and drinks will be available for purchase by spectators. There is no admission charge to watch the tournament games. Team and event sponsors are still being sought. For more information, or to register a team, go to the RVCC website: rockfishcc.org and select “Events,” or call 434-361-0100.
MAY 28
Memorial Day at Piedmont Baptist
Piedmont Baptist Church will be celebrating its annual Memorial Day program on
ACROSS 2 Roll these to start a game 6 ______ May Alcott, author of “Little Women” 7 Small battery size 8 Pecans, cashews and macadamias 10 Masculine pronoun 13 Player in charge of the Monopoly money 16 Number of railroad companies in Monopoly 18 Biblical first man 20 Supporter of a sports team 21 Collect $200 when you pass this 22 Off-road vehicle famously used by the military 24 Most expensive Monopoly property 26 Cow-speak 28 Fish eggs 30 Do this with Monopoly money before the game 32 Fictional town on the Andy Griffith Show 33 Opposite of always
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Sunday, May 28 at 3 p.m. The Heavenly Milk and Honey Gospel Group of Palmyra will be in concert. There will also be a “tolling of the bell” in remembrance of departed members and friends. Refreshements will be served after the program. The public is welcome.
JUNE 4
Crozet Orchestra Concert
The last concert of the Crozet Community Orchestra’s 20162017 season will be performed Sunday June 4, 2017 at 4 p.m. at Crozet Baptist Church on Saint George Ave. The opera themed program directed by Philip Clark will feature guest soprano soloist Heather Hightower. On the program are works by Verdi, Puccini, Rossini, Mozart and more, as well as music from Peer Gynt. For more information, visit: crozetcommunityorchestra.org. The CCO is a 501(c)(3) Virginia Non-profit corporation. All donations tax deductible.
DOWN 1 Bug that makes a dog scratch 3 Monopoly squares marked with a ? 4 Willie ______, All-Star Major League Baseball player (born 5/6/1931) 5 To applaud 9 Ship that brought Pilgrims to Massachusetts in 1620 11 “_____ I were a hammer” 12 Game with property, houses & hotels to buy 14 Relatives 15 Uncooked 17 Color of Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana Avenues 19 Timid, shy or soft-spoken 22 Unlucky corner square on Monopoly board 23 Short name for an urban train that runs mostly on a raised track 25 Female deer 26 Family member to honor on May 14 27 Color of Monopoly houses 29 Either/____ 31 “____ Baba & the 40 Thieves”
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CROZETgazette
MAY 2017
William Austin Germani Nelda C. (Guerra) Lull Nelda C. (Guerra) Lull passed away April 11, 2017, at UVA Medical Center. Born 12/31/43 in Victoria, TX, she graduated from Hebbronville High School in 1962, attended Corpus Christi Junior College. In 1963 she began working for the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce. After her marriage in 1965 to Ensign Thomas Lull (USN), the family lived in Texas, California, Washington, Illinois, Virginia, and Sicily. She particularly enjoyed the time on Whidbey Island, WA, working for the Forest Department in land reclamation. The family settled in Crozet after her husband’s retirement from the Navy when he began working at the U.S. Army JAG Legal Center and School as purchasing agent for military legal libraries around the world. Nelda is remembered for her total devotion to family and friends. She took great satisfaction from her ability in needlepoint and knitting, winning several blue ribbons at local county fairs. The entire family fondly remembers her Tex-Mex dinners and Thanksgiving giblet gravy. An avid reader she loved family game nights. She was an absolute love and will be missed very much by her family and all who knew her. She is survived
by her husband of 52 years, her daughter Laura and son-in-law John, her son Thomas Michael and daughter-in-law Rosalyn, and her son Ted. There are five granddaughters, four greatgrandchildren, sisters Deanna and Cathy, and brother Reuben Andrew. She was preceded in death by her parents, Reuben and Beatrice Guerra of Hebbronville, TX. In accordance with her wishes she will be cremated and interned sometime this summer with a simple graveside service at the family plot in Rapidan, VA. In lieu of flowers please make a charity contribution in her name to St Jude’s Children’s Hospital or either the local library in Crozet or Hebbronville, TX.
Maynard Dale Strickler Maynard Dale Strickler, born September, 4 1940—promoted to GLORY April 8, 2017. He was an athlete, business owner, farmer, and referee. His primary passion was sports, if not playing he was for the last 50+ years officiating many youth, middle, high school, and adult league sports throughout Charlottesville and the surrounding counties. If you played sports he was probably on the field or court with you. His associations were Piedmont Football, ACC, ODAC, CAA, semi-pro league, ACPR, ASA, Charlottesville Parks/Rec, McIntire Softball Association, USSSA, and SSAA. When asked about his sports highlights he said playing softball with all
four daughters and refereeing the Liberty Bowl. He was Santa Claus to his family and to strangers in need. Some Decembers an anonymous money order from Santa helped brighten a family’s Christmas.
William Austin Germani, 19, of Crozet, Virginia, passed away peacefully on April 29, 2017, surrounded by his family. Born on January 30, 1998, Austin graduated from Western Albemarle High School, class of 2016, and was a freshman at Christopher Newport University. Austin’s smile was as unmistakable as his wit. Old and new friends alike note that his warmth was felt by all those in his presence. His smile was described as lighting the room, ever-present, and contagious, while his hugs were warm and freely-given. At a CNU memorial service for Austin, the Vice President of Student Affairs remarked that Austin already understood the importance and responsibility of distinguishing himself during his time on this earth, which he chose to do in the pursuit of helping others, often before himself. Examples of Austin’s humanity include sitting up at night to help fellow students with their homework, helping one friend reverse their decision to drop out of college, and learning to help another friend control their panic attacks. The enormity of his loss is palpable in the voices of those who knew and loved him. Austin is survived by his brother Colton Germani, his mother Ginger Pomfrey Germani of Crozet, and his father Alan Edward Germani of
Richmond as well as his grandparents, who include his maternal grandmother Sandi Slate of Richmond, his maternal grandfather Ron Pomfrey of Mechanicsville, his paternal grandfather Tony Germani of Louisa County, his paternal grandparents Harriet and Don Taylor of Midlothian, and his maternal great-grandmother Virginia Slate of Richmond, as well as special aunts, uncles and cousins. He is also survived by his girlfriend, Darby Stephens, whom he met at CNU and proclaimed the “woman of his dreams.” A memorial service to honor Austin’s life was held on Wednesday, May 3 at Crozet United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider donating to the Austin Germani Memorial Fund, c/o Old Dominion National Bank, Charlottesville, VA. Donations will support a cause Austin was passionate about: making therapy dogs available for those battling depression or anxiety.
As family gathered for holidays, Maynard often led the kids’ games. He could hide Easter eggs with the best of them. He loved local Crozet/ Charlottesville history and shared stories of the past as he led a walk along the railroad tracks, a hike up the mountain, or riding through our countryside. He leaves behind daughters; Dana Strickler, Vicki Strickler Collier (Thurman), and Robin Strickler Hester (Steve), sister Doris Strickler Davis (Randy), grandchildren Ashlynn, Erica, Casey, Jacob, Tyler, & Travis, companion Tomma Todd and ex-wife Gloria Strickler. He also leaves many brother/sister in-laws, aunts, nieces, and nephews he loved. Preceding him in death are daughters Stacy Strickler, Gloria Dale
Strickler, parents Hugh Strickler, Catherine Via Strickler Kearns, step father Jack Kearns, siblings Joe Strickler, Betty Strickler Taylor, and Bruce Strickler. He wanted to thank his caretakers over these last 13 years, PACE, and Dogwood Village for caring for him. A private burial was held at Rockgate with a memorial service April 15 at Crozet Baptist. An Easter good-bye is just the way he would want to be PROMOTED TO GLORY! He can hide the eggs for all the children in Heaven. Donations can be made in his memory to the Crozet Volunteer Fire Department, Western Albemarle Rescue Squad, Crozet Baptist Ministry of Caring, and Mountain Plain Baptist Church.
CROZETgazette
MAY 2017
Nancy Virginia Schroyer Bain Nancy Virginia Shroyer Bain was born at home at Blair Park in Greenwood, Virginia, on September 19, 1931, to Linden and Virginia Wiley Shroyer. She was blessed to live most of her entire 85 years in her beloved Albemarle County. Nancy Virginia grew up loving the fresh air and wide open spaces, her horse, Rocky Boy, the Blue Ridge Mountains, her family, school, and all the charms of small town life. She graduated from Greenwood High School, Virginia Intermont College, and Madison College where she earned a degree in education. She went on to teach fourth grade in Richmond and Charlottesville. Nancy Virginia married the love of her life, James Kirk Bain, in July of 1955. Whatever James Kirk put his mind or his hand to was done with excellence, especially in choosing Nancy Virginia as his bride. Their seven children came quickly over the next 10 years to complete their sweet family. After raising their children together, she served her husband as office manager for his CPA firm in Charlottesville. Her unwavering devotion to the care of her aging parents was an example to one and all and she never failed to answer the call when needed by her doting grandchildren. Always thinking of others before herself, Nancy Virginia wholeheartedly poured herself out in service to Jesus by volunteering. She helped establish The Green Olive Tree in Crozet nearly 40 years ago with six Christian friends, where she worked diligently since then. She was also a faithful volunteer with Hospice of the Piedmont for over 30 years. Nancy Virginia heard Jesus say, when entering Heaven, “Well done my good and faithful servant.” She was always “on her way,” somewhere, as the license plate on her white Buick proclaimed. She enjoyed delving into discussion with fellow bookworms at her book club, playing Mahjong and Bridge with friends, various Bible study and prayer groups, exercise class, art and writing classes, among many other activities she immensely enjoyed. In each of her endeavors, she left her forever imprint on a community that will deeply
feel her absence. Known for her seemingly boundless energy and her contagious zest for living, underneath it all was love. She loved Jesus first and foremost, her family, friends, and literally everyone she encountered. She never met a stranger and was willing and eager to share a story, a joyful smile, and a word of encouragement with anyone. She displayed a gentle and quiet spirit, always believed the best in people, and was funnier than she realized. Nancy is survived by her children, Ginny Kirk Allen and husband, Chuck; Nancy Corley and husband, Bill; Linden Bain and wife, Kristen; Helen Cook and husband, Scott; Sarah McGahee and husband, Steve; and Ellie Gathright and husband, Tim. She is also, survived by grandchildren, Joseph Allen and wife, Kala; Adam Allen, Hannah Rose Allen, Daniel Corley, Emmaline Allen, Hope Cook, Anna Corley, and Thomas Gathright; and great-grandchildren, Owen Markert, and Harvest Allen. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Kirk Bain; daughter, Rachel Ross Bain; great-granddaughter, Lily Katherine Allen-Ball; her parents; brother, Donald Shroyer, as well as many others who we know she is rejoicing in seeing again. Nancy Virginia went to be with her beloved Lord on Good Friday, the very day Jesus died. On a day that we reflect on the crucifixion of Jesus and His death at Calvary, we rejoice that because of the sacrifice of our Lord, Easter Sunday is coming. This is the hope to which Nancy continued on page 44
43
BEREAVEMENTS Andy Anderson, —
February, 2017
Riley Cassidy Via, —
March, 2017
Elizabeth Hickson Murray, 83
March 31, 2017
Charles Shifflett, 39
April 1, 2017
Barbara C. Andrews, 88
April 2, 2017
Beverly Louise Bartlow, 74
April 2, 2017
Rachael Crowell Gobble, 93
April 3, 2017
Sarah Maupin Wilson, 85
April 3, 2017
Joan Hippert Pugh, 82
April 5, 2017
Wallace Edward Bragg, 70
April 6, 2017
Ernest Burchell Dameron Sr., 83
April 6, 2017
William Daniel Via, 88
April 6, 2017
Maynard Dale Strickler, 76
April 8, 2017
Glenn Allen Anderson, 53
April 9, 2017
Nadine Clark, 66
April 9, 2017
Earl Monroe Sullivan Sr., 80
April 9, 2017
Ella Kathleen Kent Sandridge, 88
April 10, 2017
Rose Marie Alter, 86
April 12, 2017
Vivian Joyce Hilton Barber, 84
April 12, 2017
Charlotte Marie Dabney, 57
April 12, 2017
Hazel Kingsbury Driver, 94
April 12, 2017
Jeannette Alene Rittenhouse, 74
April 13, 2017
Nancy Virginia Shroyer Bain, 85
April 14, 2017
Robert Lee Stokes, 46
April 15, 2017
Helen Virginia Garrison, 73
April 17, 2017
Virginia Elizabeth Shiflett, 90
April 10, 2017
Ricky W. Marshall, —
April 19, 2017
Thelma Mae Thomas, 85
April 19, 2017
William Warner Wood, 55
April 19, 2017
Otis Lee Collier Sr., 89
April 20, 2017
Richard Howard Pugh, 53
April 20, 2017
James Robert Holland Jr., 85
April 21, 2017
Lauren Bayless, 28
April 23, 2017
George Calvin Critzer, 79
April 24, 2017
John Russell Marshall, 79
April 26, 2017
William Franklin Bailes, 87
April 27, 2017
Montie Lee Meeks, 61
April 27, 2017
George Howard Teel Jr., 78
April 27, 2017
Marie Johnson Turpin Ham, 82
April 28, 2017
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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CROZETgazette
MAY 2017
Lauren Michelle Bayless Lauren Michelle Bayless, 28, died at home in Wilmington, North Carolina, on Sunday April 23, 2017 of complications from a congenital illness. Memorial services were held Wednesday, May 3, at Unity of Charlottesville. Lauren grew up in Crozet, Virginia, and was the daughter of Rick Bayless of Lake Monticello and Cynthia Bayless of Wilmington, North Carolina. She is survived by her younger brother Matthew Bayless of Charlottesville and her older sister Angel Dahnke of Tampa, Florida. Lauren was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on December 20, 1988. Her family soon moved to Hagerstown, Maryland, where her father was the executive director of public mental health and addiction services for Washington County, and her mother was director of the Hagerstown Montessori School. Both parents were licensed mental health counselors. In the summer of 2000 her family moved to Crozet, Virginia. Lauren attended Mountaintop Montessori School in Charlottesville, where her mother was a member of the board of directors. She then attended Henley Middle School and graduated with honors from Western Albemarle High
Nancy Virginia —continued from page 43
Virginia clung and what gave her courage through the ups and downs of life. Shortly before she passed, she said to her daughters who were with her, “I’m almost Home.” Each of us who love her, and will
Medicine —continued from page 39
enough for him to tolerate swallowing food and drink. Despite the dire warnings stamped onto these packets and my patient’s experience, pill bottle desiccants are actually nearly completely benign. Every year 38,000 people accidentally ingest pill bottle desiccant pack-
School. Lauren majored in computer science at PVCC and Radford University, and after graduation was employed at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, campus as an information technology specialist. She was a cartoonist and a published poet. She spoke multiple languages, played the piano, guitar and African drums. Lauren pursued a lifelong interest and participation in community soccer leagues in Hagerstown, Charlottesville and Wilmington, NC. She also pursued active interests in Asian culture and languages. Memorial gifts in Lauren’s name may be made to Unity of Charlottesville or All4Cats.org of Wilmington, NC. carry this ache of missing her, rest in the comfort of knowing she finally made it “on her way” to her final destination. The ripple effects of her well-lived life will continue for generations. Burial was held at Hillsboro Cemetery in Crozet on April 19, with a Celebration of Life Service following. ages without any ill effect. Most are under the age of six. Other than a choking hazard in infants, the packets are nontoxic. Silica gel, the most common dessicant is inert. It doesn’t react with anything except water which it absorbs. I still don’t know why this one got stuck and caused so much trouble. Bottom line, don’t take pills in bed and above all don’t take pills in the dark.
Science
and flexibility—to the rigid orthodoxy of the 17th century Italian Inquisition is not an effective strategy for building broad consensus about science policy at a non-partisan event. I am repulsed by those who use science as a sledge hammer to impugn the motive and character of others, including those in elective office. Hayes may be right in certain cases about some individuals. Nevertheless,
saying either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to nuclear energy or GMOs does not necessarily indicate mendacity or indifference to the truth, but may instead reveal a grasp of the complexities involved. It is these motivations, concerns and optimism for a better future that have prompted me to develop the Floriescence framework of science, ethics and aesthetics. The Floriescence Primer, which will layout the groundwork for flourishing in the 21st century, I hope to publish this fall.
Soccer
Lacrosse
limit. “The more time we spend together and the more games we get under our belt, the more our team chemistry continues to improve, both on and off the field,” he said. In terms of leadership, the team is relying on junior captains Wilson Brown, a center midfielder, and Jed Strickland, who plays center back. “Wilson is a very strong player whom we hope will end up playing Division I soccer,” said Oakland. “His specialty is how wellrounded he is—there is no weakness in his game both offensively and defensively… The guys definitely look up to him, and his sharp sense of humor sets the tone for the team during water breaks and bus rides.” Meanwhile, Strickland, a first team All-State standout last year, was described as the ideal teammate and player. “He’s hard-working, athletic, intelligent, talented and tall. He may be a little quieter than Wilson, but he lets his play do the talking.” Overall, regardless of wins, losses and playoff berths, Oakland said the team is abiding by the expectation they maintain each year: to get better. “We have untapped potential that will take time to discover but, with patience, I have no doubt that we can end up right where we want to be,” he said. “My goal for this team is to put in the effort to improve each practice and game. If we do that then, at best, we end the season having attained our goals. At worst, we finish with no regrets.
ethic and hustle and is great at being vocal and honest with her teammates and offering great advice.” Meanwhile, Moriconi is known for her attention to detail and ability to finesse the small things. “She gets the draws, picks up groundballs cleanly, sets up teammates and is always hustling back for defense,” said Hohenshelt. “Despite her offensive presence, she’s the first one on the ball on defense. She’s basically our rock.” Then there’s Funk, an allaround star who plays a utility role in the team’s midfield: “She can handle the ball and put in the back of the net, but can also mark-up a top attacker on an opposing team and shut them down.” Lastly there’s Russell, who serves as the squad’s glue: “She’s very calm, positive, enthusiastic. She keeps everyone together— keeps everyone light, the conversation light—and is really able to boost morale and help the person next to her.” Hehenshelt shrugged when asked for a postseason prediction. “We don’t talk so much about wins and losses but playing to potential,” she said. “We try to focus on things like competing on every play, starting and finishing every game, playing hard to every whistle. We say: ‘Control the controllables, follow the game-plan!’—that’s what our conversations are about. Because it doesn’t make sense to talk about the end-result when you need to focus on what it is that gets you there.”
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CROZETgazette
Gazette Vet —continued from page 35
knee problems than a thin, intact dog. Second, the study defined “early spay/neuter” as dogs neutered before 1 year of age. This category is very broad in my opinion. I would like to compare dogs spayed/neutered before 4-5 months of age, with dogs done after one year of age. Most Goldens are done growing by 10-11 months of age, so it’s probably unfair to group dogs spayed at 11 months in the same category as dogs spayed at four months of age. Third, the study only looked at dogs from one to eight years of age. Thus, what we are missing is “do dogs who were neutered late or not neutered at all have higher rates of cancer when they are 10?” As I stated earlier, I see a lot of problems with intact dogs who are geriatric, and I think that health has to be considered in the overall decision on when to spay/neuter your pet. So, like all studies in medicine, this study begs to be applied to our practice decision-making; however, it needs to be interpreted with critical thinking and clinical judgement. In doing that, here are my opinions on when to spay/ neuter your pets: • For cats—always spay and neuter them before 6 months of age. If you wait, you are very likely to have a cat who has some inappropriate urination in the house. Very likely! This is probably one of the number one reasons people give up their cats to a shelter. So, for cats, who have a lower significance with hip dysplasia and knee problems anyway, the decision is very easy: spay/neuter before 6 months. • For smaller dogs—I tend to recommend spaying/neutering after all of their adult teeth have come and in and all of their baby teeth have fallen out, so around seven months of age. Smaller dogs have a lower incidence of hip and ACL problems and they tend to finish growing much earlier than the large breed dogs. I don’t think we are messing them up by spaying/ neutering them at this time. Generally, I don’t like to do them before five months. This just seems early to me; however, I have no scientific data to jus-
MAY 2017 tify that thought, just judgement and critical thinking. • For large breed dogs—I tend to recommend that males are neutered around 10-12 months of age and females are spayed anywhere from 9-12 months, depending on if the owners want to deal with the dog going through a heat cycle or not. I tell people why I make this recommendation, namely that I think early spaying/neutering may increase the incidence of orthopedic problems, but I also tell them we have to balance this decision with other factors such as their behavior, their environment, and ultimately the owner’s wishes. • I tell owners that spaying or neutering dogs does not cause obesity. Owners cause obesity by overfeeding! I always stress the importance of keeping their pets at a healthy weight because being overweight is probably the biggest problem with joint disease. • I don’t think there is a big downside to waiting until two years of age to spay or neuter. Yes, it’s possible that this can increase their risk for mammary problems or prostate problems when they are older, but I think this risk is fairly low compared to the possible protective benefits of staying intact for a while. • Late neutering (let’s say after 3-4 years) or not neutering at all has an overall negative effect on a pet’s life. We lose a lot of dogs from mammary cancer, uterine infections, and prostate infections every year. I look at these as mostly preventable problems. Also, spaying and neutering them when they are elderly, to fix a problem, is never easy. • One more note: I realize the SPCA will usually spay/neuter any pet that comes in before they are adopted out, even sometimes as early as 10-12 weeks. Is the SPCA messing these pets up? Well, I do support the SPCA on their policy. Remember, they have way too many homeless pets and they are doing their part to decrease the homeless pet population as a whole. Early spay/neuter is an effective step for this problem and trying to delay that could very well lead to even more homeless animals. There is simply no perfect answer here and I feel we are very fortunate to have some great shelters in our area.
45
Nancy Fleischman Principal
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CLASSIFIED ADS NEIGHBORHOOD YARD SALE: Western Ridge in Crozet, Saturday, May 13th, 7am-12pm: baby/children/ adult clothes & shoes, toys, bicycles, furniture, appliances, house wares, sports equipment, antiques & collectibles and more. REGISTERED PIANO TECHNICIAN to service your piano. Tuning, in-home repair. Wendy Parham, RPT 434-218-9093 or wendyrparham@gmail.com. SEEKING A MATURE RESPONSIBLE ADULT to work as an assistant part time to an adult with intellectual & developmental disabilities. Assistants will provide supports in the areas of personal care, daily living skills and community outings, exercise. Travel and use of personal vehicle is required. Applicant must be flexible, reliable, dedicated, kind & compassionate. Work hours are 3 pm to 6. Must have a valid driver’s license, good driving record, pass a criminal background check, TB test & drug screening. Training will be provided by Lutheran Family Services of Virginia and it will include MAR (Medication Administration), CPI (Crisis Prevention Institute), First Aid and CPR, Human Rights, ID Waiver (Intellectual Disablitiies Waiver Training). Pay will be $13.00 per hour + mileage also paid vacation and holidays. Please send e-mail information, resume and references to aknight529@gmail.com. SUMMER TUTORING for PSAT, SAT, and ACT test dates in August, September, and October. Prepare for your test when you don’t have school/ classes to manage! Call Judith Davis, Certified Teacher/Tutor at 434-4654311. THE END OF SCHOOL YEAR is approaching. Will your child obtain good grades? If not, private tutoring can help. Please call Tutoring Par Excellence at 540-456-6682 or email me at Tutoringparexcellence@gmail. com.
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