Mid January 2015 Warren and Frederick County Report by Warren/Frederick County Report Newspaper

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Page • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid January, 2015

Year in review

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“We cannot insist only on issues related to abortion, gay marriage and the use of contraceptive methods. This is not possible … when we speak about these issues, we have to talk about them in a context … but it is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time.” – Pope Francis

Pope Francis tells his flock to lighten up First Jesuit pope rocks the conservative hard core in August interview cally active ... The church as field hospital

In his first year in office, the first Jesuit pope rocked the ecclesiastical world with some scathing appraisals of both the practice of faith in the modern world, and the economic, political and spiritual shape of that world. Photos Vatican website By Roger Bianchini Warren County Report Is it enough to bring a long-time lapsed Catholic back into the fold? Probably not – but it was at least enough to raise the question in this one’s mind. And who or what, you may ask, has this half-century lapsed Catholic asking such questions? Not surprisingly if you read my December 20 edition exploration of the first official teaching document of his papal tenure, it is Pope Francis himself. The pope’s first grab at my spiritual and intellectual collar came from an interview conducted by Fr. Antonio Spadaro, editor of the Italian Jesuit journal “La Civiltà Cattolica” published in mid-September 2013. The pope’s message for his flock expressed there: mirror God’s own love and compassion for all creation in the expression of your faith, rather than

being motivated by obsessive and egocentric dogmatic hostility toward those struggling with their own spirituality and humanity. WOW! … The in-depth interview ranges through a thoughtful appraisal of the pope’s personal growth within the church, faith versus fanaticism, and compassion versus ideological intransience in the practice of Catholicism. And the repercussions of the pope’s thoughts, now coupled with his November 24 “Papal Exhortation” – a damnation of the practice and self-justifying ideology of capitalist greed, are still reverberating around the world. And perhaps nowhere are those repercussions being felt more than in an American Catholic community, which over the past several decades has grown increasingly aggressively conservative, dogmatic and politi-

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… “I see clearly that the thing the church needs most today is the ability to heal wounds and to warm the hearts of the faithful; it needs nearness, proximity. I see the church as a field hospital after battle,” Pope Francis said, adding, “The church sometimes has locked itself up in small things, in small-minded rules. The most important thing is the first proclamation: Jesus Christ has saved you. And the ministers of the church must be ministers of mercy above all.” Of the exchange on this topic Fr. Spadaro wrote, “I mention to Pope Francis that there are Christians who live in situations that are irregular for the church or in complex situations that represent open wounds. I mention the divorced and remarried, same-sex couples and other difficult situations. What kind of pastoral work can we do in these cases? What kinds of tools can we use?” … Pope Francis replied, “In Buenos Aires I used to receive letters from homosexual persons who are ‘socially wounded’ because they tell me that they feel like the church has always condemned them. But the church does not want to do this. During the return flight from Rio de Janeiro I said that if a homosexual person is of good will and is in search of God, I am no one to judge. “By saying this, I said what the catechism says: Religion has the right to

express its opinion in the service of the people, but God in creation has set us free. It is not possible to interfere spiritually in the life of a person … We must always consider the person. Here we enter into the mystery of the human being. In life, God accompanies persons, and we must accompany them, starting from their situation. It is necessary to accompany them with mercy … I also consider the situation of a woman with a failed marriage in her past and who also had an abortion. Then this woman remarries, and she is now happy and has five children. That abortion in her past weighs heavily on her conscience and she sincerely regrets it. She would like to move forward in her Christian life. What is the confessor to do? “We cannot insist only on issues related to abortion, gay marriage and the use of contraceptive methods. This is not possible … But when we speak about these issues, we have to talk about them in a context … but it is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time. The dogmatic and moral teachings of the church are not all equivalent. The church’s pastoral ministry cannot be obsessed with the transmission of a disjointed multitude of doctrines to be imposed insistently … the proclamation of the saving love of God comes before moral and religious imperatives. Today sometimes it seems that the opposite order is prevailing … The message of the Gospel, therefore, is not to be reduced to some aspects that, although relevant, on their own do not show the heart of the message of Jesus Christ.”

A powerful message of compassion, not condemnation; of a Divine love that reaches out, does not fingerpoint, castigate, vandalize or worse. However, Catholic and other Christian political and social hardliners were quick to react negatively to the pope’s call for compassion and balance in faith. Within a week of publication of the interview it was easy to find websites citing Pope Francis’s statements on the above topics as further “evidence” of the ascendance of a conspiracy of “anti-popes” within the Vatican … Decisions for the flock The question remains, which voice will the thus-far hard-line flock within the faith choose to listen to in the future? Will it be the one coming from the thoughtful, spiritual and compassionate head of Pope Francis; or will it be a voice coming from inside their own, perhaps less discerning and experienced heads … or the defiantly less-thoughtful heads of political and social extremists? For it is inside such heads as those latter ones – prone to the quick answer and easy condemnation of others – that the “Great Deceiver” and “Opponent” of true faith and spirituality may find his most fertile breeding ground … Perhaps we should conclude with a revisiting of our Dec. 20, 2013 exploration of Pope Francis’s condemnation of the callous heart that embraces a capitalist rationale of economic elitism and social exclusion:

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Page • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid January, 2015

Year in review

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“I said that if a homosexual person is of good will and is in search of God, I am no one to judge … Religion has the right to express its opinion in the service of the people, but God in creation has set us free. It is not possible to interfere spiritually in the life of a person.” – Pope Francis

A papal message for all seasons Francis instructs the faithful to reappraise their and society’s values

on law enforcement or surveillance systems can indefinitely guarantee tranquility. This is not the case simply because inequality provokes a violent reaction from those excluded from the system, but because the socioeconomic system is unjust at its root …” Come all ye faithful

Bending to serve – Pope Francis washes the feet of Rome’s poor … By Roger Bianchini Warren County Report Just over two months after he rocked some political activists within his flock with a call for balance and compassion, rather than an obsessive dogmatic fixation on matters of faith, particularly those of a sexual nature related to contraception, abortion and same sex marriage, Pope Francis expanded his commentary on the trappings of faith in modern society. And this time it was in the first official teaching document of his papacy. And for those Catholics rattled by his mid-September observations … the 84-page “Papal Exhortation” published on November 24 may have been truly unsettling. For in it, the first Jesuit pope expands his critique of the practice of faith in the modern world to blast the base values of much of that world. And as the spiritual leader of over one billion people worldwide, Francis’s thoughts on the ultimate dangers of capitalism and how the faithful should approach life within capitalist societies are of interest, even to those outside his faith. In fact, the pope also explores inter-faith relations from a position of mutual respect in this official teaching document.

At the root of the document entitled “Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium” exhorting a new evangelism of faith is a simple message – modern capitalism and the societies that embrace it are in grave danger, both physically and spiritually … “The great danger in today’s world, pervaded as it is by consumerism, is the desolation and anguish born of a complacent yet covetous heart, the feverish pursuit of frivolous pleasures, and a blunted conscience … Now is the time to say to Jesus: ‘Lord, I have let myself be deceived; in a thousand ways I have shunned your love’ … The culture of prosperity deadens us; … a globalization of indifference has devel oped. Almost without being aware of it, we end up being incapable of feeling compassion at the outcry of the poor … Such an economy kills … How can it be that it is not a news item when an elderly homeless person dies of exposure, but it is news when the stock market loses two points? … The thirst for power and possessions knows no limits. In this system, which tends to devour everything which stands in the way of increased profits, whatever is fragile, like the environment, is defenseless before the interests of a deified market, which becomes the only rule … Behind this attitude lurks

… And kisses the feet of a young AIDS victim. a rejection of ethics and a rejection of God …” Trickle-down damnation … “Today everything comes under the laws of competition and the sur vival of the fittest, where the powerful feed upon the powerless … Human beings are themselves considered consumer goods to be used and then discarded … In this context, some people continue to defend trickledown theories which assume that economic growth, encouraged by a free market, will inevitably succeed in bringing about greater justice and inclusiveness in the world. This opinion, which has never been confirmed by the facts, expresses a crude and naïve trust in the goodness of those

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Reform or death The pope warns that a failure to reform the current dominant world socio-economic system will eventually be fatal, not only to the increasing number of have-nots at the periphery of those societies, but to the societies as a whole … “When a society – whether local, national or global – is willing to leave a part of itself on the fringes, no political programs or resources spent

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Within a four month span of the first year of his papacy, Pope Francis has twice challenged his flock to reappraise itself, its methods and for many, their base values. The pope implores those of faith to throw off the chains of self-deception, cultural apathy and the false morality of a consumer culture … has said NO to a monetary-based power structure (didn’t Jesus do the same thing when he threw the money lenders out of the temple?); said NO to the vilification of the poor and the suffering; and essentially instructed his flock of 1.1 billion people to throw off the chains of a familiar false god (the golden calf ) and its modern-day political, legal and judicial shills …

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Virginia

Ex-Gov. McDonnell sentenced to 2 years in prison

Robert F. McDonnell was the 71st Governor of Virginia. Photo courtesy CNS/VCU. By Benjamin May and Sean CW Korsgaard / Capital News Service RICHMOND – Former Gov. Bob McDonnell was sentenced Tuesday to 24 months in prison after being convicted of 11 felony corruption charges in September. At a packed hearing at the federal courthouse, U.S. District Judge James R. Spencer sentenced McDonnell, 60, to two years in prison followed by two on probation. McDonnell will be incarcerated at a federal facility in Petersburg at the request of his defense team. The Federal Bureau of Prisons must determine by Feb. 9 where McDonnell will carry out his sentence. McDonnell said he was “blinded by the busy-ness of life,” as he accepted responsibility for his actions as governor. He asked that Spencer be lenient with his wife, Maureen McDonnell, at her sentencing Feb. 20. “A lot of blame was assessed in the case of the defendant’s predicament,” Spencer said before reading the sentence. He said the McDonnells received a fair trial and had ample opportunity to present a rigorous defense. The defendants filed dozens of motions and were afforded intense examination of witnesses. In short, Spencer said McDonnell was given “all the process that was due him.” “The defendants had good advice and good counsel all over the place,” the judge said, “but Mrs. McDonnell brought the serpent Jonnie Williams into the mansion, and Mr. McDonnell let him in and out of his finances.” The McDonnells were convicted of

accepting gifts and loans from Williams, the CEO of Star Scientific Inc., in exchange for lending the support of the governor’s office for the company’s dietary supplements. McDonnell will be under supervised release at the end of his sentence. No fines were imposed because Spencer said “the defendant would be unable to pay them.” However, McDonnell must pay an assessment of $1,100 and may not incur or apply for credit during his probation. The sentencing began with arguments from the defense on the assessed value of the bribes the McDonnells received from Williams. McDonnell’s lawyers presented the figure of $69,640.53 as opposed to the indictment’s estimate of $177,000. Spencer ultimately said “the government has the best analysis” on how much the gifts and loans were worth.

The defense was able to remove an obstruction enhancement from the sentencing guidelines. This dropped the maximum possible prison term from 12 years to eight years. The prosecution recommended that McDonnell be sentenced to 78 months in prison. The defense asked that McDonnell be assigned 6,000 hours of community service – about three years of 40-hour work weeks. Operation Blessing International, a nonprofit based in Virginia Beach, said it would welcome McDonnell to work in Haiti or Bristol, Va. The Catholic Diocese of Richmond also said it would welcome McDonnell to work in Southwest Virginia. The defense introduced nearly 500 letters of support from sources ranging from Democratic U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine to former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor. Each of the

McDonnells’ children also submitted letters. In addition, nearly a dozen character witnesses asked for leniency for

the disgraced governor. “If Bob McDonnell were to get 50 years (in prison), he wouldn’t be any See McDonnell,

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Virginia McDonnell, from more punished,” said former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder, a Democrat. Wilder earned applause when he pointed out that Williams, who instigated the corruption charges, will walk away a free man. McDonnell once was considered a possible running mate for the 2012 GOP presidential nominee, Mitt Romney, and a possible presidential candidate for 2016. McDonnell delivered the 2010 Republican response to the State of the Union address and was chairman of the Republican Governors Association in 2011. “I stand before you as a humbled and heartbroken man,” McDonnell said in a final statement to the court before his sentencing. “I hold myself fully accountable for my actions as governor.” The McDonnell trial put Virginia in the national spotlight, and has sparked calls to reform the state’s ethics laws – a campaign promise of the current governor, Terry McAuliffe. After the federal court hearing, McAuliffe said that the sentencing “brings an end to one of the most difficult periods in the history of Virginia state government.” “Like many Virginians, I am saddened by the effect this trial has had on our commonwealth’s reputation for clean, effective government,” McAuliffe said. “As we put this period behind us, I look forward to working with Virginia leaders on both sides of the aisle to restore public trust in our government.” McDonnell was the first Virginia governor in state history to be indicted or convicted of a felony, His defense team already has filed an appeal.

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Timeline of the McDonnell case

By Janeal Downs Capital News Service

RICHMOND – Bob McDonnell was elected in a landslide and took office as the commonwealth’s 71st governor in January 2010. On Tuesday, just five years later, he was sentenced to prisonfor corruption. Here are key dates as McDonnell went from a rising star in the Republican Party to the first Virginia governor convicted of a felony. Nov. 3, 2009: With the campaign slogan “Bob’s for Jobs,” McDonnell won 59 percent of the statewide vote in defeating Democrat Creigh Deeds in the gubernatorial race. Jan. 16, 2010: McDonnell was inaugurated. April 2011: Jonnie R. Williams Sr., CEO of Star Scientific Inc., paid for more than $15,000 of Maureen McDonnell’s items on a shopping trip. Star Scientific, now called Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals, sold products such as a dietary supplement called Anatabloc. May 2011: Williams wrote Maureen McDonnell a $50,000 check. June 2011: Cailin McDonnell, one of the McDonnells’ daughters, got married at the Executive Mansion. Beforehand, Williams wrote a $15,000 check to cater the wedding. Maureen McDonnell told investigators the $50,000 and $15,000 checks were both loans. The same month, before her daughter’s wedding, Maureen McDonnell spoke at a meeting with doctors and investors in support of Anatabloc. August 2011: Bob McDonnell and Williams met to discuss the use of Anatabloc as a possible treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. Williams bought a $6,500 Rolex watch. The Executive Mansion hosted an event for Anatabloc. December 2011:With “71st Governor of Virginia” engraved on the back, Maureen McDonnell gave her husband the Rolex watch Williams had purchased. March 2012: Williams gave a $50,000 check to MoBo, a company formed by the former governor, his wife and his sister, also named Maureen. February 2013: After being questioned by law enforcement officers about accepting gifts, Maureen McDonnell wrote a note to Williams implying that they had an agreement for her to return items he had purchased. July 2013: Bob McDonnell apologized to the public and said he repaid $120,000 in loans to Williams. On Twitter, he wrote, “I am deeply sorry for the embarrassment certain members of my family and I brought upon my beloved Virginia and her citizens.” The governor said his daughter Cailin repaid Williams for the $15,000 spent on catering her wedding. He and his sons had also previously charged to Williams’ account while golfing. Jan. 11, 2014: Bob McDonnell left office as Democrat Terry McAuliffe was inaugurated as governor. Jan. 21, 2014: Bob and Maureen McDonnell were indicted on charges of illegally accepting gifts and loans from Williams. July 28-29, 2014: The jury trial began. Bob McDonnell’s attorneys began to use marital problems as a defense. They said Maureen McDonnell had a “crush” on Williams, which resulted in the numerous expensive gifts he gave to the McDonnells. Aug. 12, 2014: A cardiologist from Virginia Commonwealth University’s medical school said he went to a reception honoring Steven Spielberg, who directed the movie “Lincoln” in Virginia, at the Executive Mansion. The physician said Williams brought him to the event to try to persuade him to do research on Anatabloc. Aug. 13, 2014: Testimony revealed that Bob and Maureen McDonnell had almost $75,000 of credit card debt when he took office and that the debt later grew to $90,000. Aug. 20-21, 2014: Bob McDonnell testified that Maureen McDonnell had struggled with her role as first lady. He said the couple had marital issues. Aug. 26, 2014: McDonnell said that he regretted accepting gifts from Williams but that he never promised any favors from his office for the gifts. Sept. 4, 2014: Bob McDonnell was found guilty on 11 of 13 counts and Maureen McDonnell was found guilty on nine of 11 counts. (One of the counts against Maureen McDonnell was later thrown out.) Jan. 6, 2015: U.S. District Judge James Spencer sentenced Bob McDonnell to two years in prison. Feb. 20, 2015: Maureen McDonnell is scheduled to be sentenced.

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Some thoughts on the McDonnell sentence back before charges were brought. “I therefore reduce the Offense Level to 18, and sentence him within those Guidelines.”

Warren & Frederick County Report

2. McDonnell will not go to jail on February 9; his attorneys will get him a stay that will last through his appeal to the 4th Circuit. If the 4th Circuit upholds the convictions, he will appeal to the US Supreme Court and the 4th Circuit will probably grant a stay pending the filing of the appeal to the Court.

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Readership: 30,000 and growing Press releases should be emailed to: briefs@warrencountyreport.com Publisher & Editor-in-Chief: Daniel P. McDermott editor@warrencountyreport.com General Counsel: Georgia Rossiter, Esquire (540) 535-2001 Roger Bianchini, Senior Writer (540) 635-4835 rogerb@warrencountyreport.com Reporter: Sue Golden Copy Editor: Laura Biondi editor@warrencountyreport.com Feature Writer: Carol Ballard crawford0905@gmail.com National & Agency Advertising: Alison Duvall: (540) 551-2072 alisond@warrencountyreport.com Advertising Sales Representatives: Alison Duvall: (540) 551-2072 alisond@warrencountyreport.com Angie Buterakos: 540-683-1847 fcrwcr@gmail.com Billing Coordinator: Pam Cole: billing@warrencountyreport.com Graphic Design & Layout: Jeff Richmond and Bugsy Cline layout@warrencountyreport.com Contributors: Malcolm Barr Sr. Ken Thurman Ryan Koch, Cartoonist Extraordinaire Kevin S. Engle, Humor Columnist Leslie Fiddler, Writer If you are interested in contributing articles to our paper, please e-mail: editor@warrencountyreport.com This publication is proudly printed on 100% recycled paper with soy-based ink.

By Lloyd Snook Attorney at Law 1. I had predicted that former Va. Gov. Robert F. McDonnell would receive 27 months. He received 24 months. Why did I think he would get 27 months? By looking at the way that federal sentences are supposed to work. The Probation Officer had assigned Bob McDonnell 32 offense level points, which translates–for someone with no record–to 121 to 151 months. Of that 32 points, he gets 18 points just for being an important public official convicted of bribery; the other 14 points are added on for things like the amount of money involved, whether he lied during the course of the investigation and trial and whether there was just one bribe or more than one bribe. But for just being a Governor getting a bribe, he gets 18 points, which translates into 27 to 33 months. If the judge wants to depart downward from the Guidelines, he is supposed to give a principled reason. The Judge is not supposed to just say, “121 months is too much.” He IS supposed to say, “I find this behavior is not ‘in the heartland’ of bribery cases,” to use the language of the Sentencing Guidelines. The ‘heartland’ is the kind of stuff that former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and former Louisiana Rep. William J. Jefferson did. The conduct here is illegal, but it is not like selling a senator’s seat or pocketing $90,000 in cash. The money the McDonnells received was paid

3. Much has been made of “the Virginia Way” of doing business with government -- where government officials and business people have an easy friendship, a mutual backscratching society. What McDonnell and Johnnie Williams were doing was exactly what happens in Virginia government all the time. The argument in Virginia has always been that we don’t penalize the conduct; we just require that it be disclosed. Well, I can tell you that there is a lot that is never disclosed, and what IS disclosed makes very clear just how cozy things are: hunting trips, fishing trips, tickets to football games. Lots of social events, some disclosed and some not. I have spent some time over the years looking at the financial disclosures of elected officials (opposition research) and the files are full of things like the well-connected Main Street law firm that puts on a fund-raising dinner for the Delegate, at which the law firm’s clients contribute... the law firm doesn’t actually write the check, but it puts on the party. Or the trade association that takes its favorite Delegates on a fancy hunting trip out of state. That’s not illegal, but you are supposed to disclose it. Which leads me back to the old saying -- what is astonishing is what is done in Richmond that is all perfectly legal. 4. This case represents something of a clash between this “Virginia Way” and the federal conflict-of-interest mentality that is pretty clear -- disclosure is not good enough; you just don’t do it. We will see the

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Robert F. “Bob” McDonnell was the 71st Governor of Virginia. In September, 2014 McDonnell and his wife Maureen were convicted on federal corruption charges for a series of loans and gifts from a businessman seeking consideration for a health supplement. McDonnell was sentenced January 6, 2015 to two years in federal prison followed by two years of supervised release. Former First Lady Maureen McDonnell is to be sentenced Feb. 20. McDonnell is the first governor in Virginia’s history to be indicted or convicted of a felony. Photo courtesy Wikipedia. Virginia law come much closer in the next year or two to the federal standard. 5. This case, on the law, presents a fact situation that is at the intersection of the case law like Citizens United that says “access is not corruption” and the case law like US v. Jefferson, where William Jefferson had $90,000 of marked money in his freezer that he got in return for promises to get government contracts for some foreign business interests. I don’t think that this is an easy case on the law for the appellate courts, but ultimately

I think the conviction will stand for one reason -- McDonnell took money into his own LLC, not into a campaign account. If he had gotten a $50,000 campaign contribution and then had called his staff to say, “Can we get this guy an appointment to talk to someone about Anatabloc?” there would have been no crime committed. But when he took the money personally, he landed more in the camp of William Jefferson. Lloyd Snook has practiced criminal law in Charlottesville, Va. for 35 years, in both state and federal courts.

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Year in review

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“A few years ago I was asked by the American Petroleum Institute to speak periodically to various community organizations about both traditional and renewable energy sources …” – Dr. J. Winston Porter

Rotary told oil & gas is the present and future of energy But speaker elusive on continued ties to the oil and gas industries By Roger Bianchini Warren County Report On Friday, July 11, the Front Royal Rotary heard from a man claiming to present a neutral perspective on America’s current energy situation and future energy prospects. Invited as both a Rotary guest and at the behest of a public relations firm promoting Dr. J. Winston Porter’s appearance here, I was an interested observer at his Rotary luncheon presentation. The gist of Dr. Porter’s message was that while sustainable energy sources such as solar, wind and hydro may have minor niches, fatal flaws will always relegate them to minor players in our energy future; and that oil and gas will and should continue to dominate our future energy production. Porter repeated assertions on the advisability of continued reliance on oil and gas production, as opposed to increased investment into sustainable energy sources that he has often made publicly to Rotary clubs across the nation. Also repeated was his unreserved enthusiasm for fracking for natural gas and the advisability of constructing the full Keystone XL pipeline … Porter claims to be interested in a cleaner energy future and utilized the coal industry as a whipping boy to point to the relative cleanliness of oil drilling, and fracking for natural gas. Fracking remains a controversial process critics say accepts severe damage to the environment, particularly groundwater supplies, as a trade off

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for cheaper, quicker and more-profitable natural gas production. And even after throwing coal under the bus of relative cleanliness, he pulled it back out, noting, “Fossil fuels, coal included, will remain the centerpieces of our energy mix for decades.” … Porter also minimized the potential of sustainable energy sources like solar and wind due to irreversible limitations, essentially that “the sun don’t shine” and “the wind don’t blow” all the time, not to mention that they require too much land to put up all those windmills and solar panels … Porter was quick to follow up his cautionary “buts” on the limitations of sustainable, alternative energy sources by claiming, “I’m not against alternative energy sources”. However, when Porter did NOT utter a single cautionary “but” concerning continued long-term reliance on oil and gas production, the alarm bells went off – at least between my ears. But, Dr. Porter … Because even if one remains skeptical about the overwhelming scientific evidence surrounding climate change impacts from oil production or human health hazards related to fracking for natural gas, one would think they would at least deserve a dismissive nod during a supposedly “fair and balanced” overview on energy production … After more than a few phone and email follow ups to their initial contact over the course of two days, I asked my primary contact person if she worked for Dr. Porter himself or an agency that promoted his public appearances. Only then did I learn that it was the American Petroleum Institute that was so aggressively pushing local media coverage of Dr. Porter’s presentation on “a balanced look at our energy future”.

2012, quarter 3) … By Oct. 20, (2010) API spent over $39 million on advertising strictly relating to energy and environmental issues … Profiling Dr. Porter Near the end of our one-on-one interview following his public presentation to Front Royal Rotary I asked Dr. Porter who he now works for. “I work for myself now,” he replied. A biography he later provided stated that Porter is “president of Environmental Strategies (ES) in Savannah, Georgia. The ES is an independent research and consulting organization which deals with environmental and energy management for both governmental and business organizations.” … Trying to establish exactly how and why that “side work” came his way, as well as how such work might relate to his consulting business, I continued my inquiry, asking, “Are you a paid consultant for the government or the gas industry or petroleum?” “I have a wide range of clients, a wide range of people that come to me,” Porter said without directly answering my question and concluding our interview. During his introductory remarks to Rotary, Porter acknowledged that

his engineering background began in solid waste management. A biography he later provided states: “Dr. J. Winston Porter is a leading environmental and management consultant, whose recent experience includes solid waste management, waste site remediation, urban rivers cleanup, agricultural biotechnology, water & energy resources, and global climate change.” … As for past professional ties, Porter’s bio states that he once worked for Bechtel Corporation, including serving as vice president “of several Bechtel affiliates in the Middle East” where he “directed the master plan for the $30 billion Jubail Industrial City in Saudi Arabia.” Its website states “Bechtel is the world’s No. 1 choice for engineering, construction, and project management.” Bechtel is listed as the nation’s largest construction and engineering company and the fourth-largest privately-owned company. Bechtel has myriad projects related to oil and gas infrastructure and its business extends to projects in 40 nations around the world … So, it appears we have a professional chemical engineer whose primary career focus was in solid waste management, who says he has taken up

“increasing involvement with energy matters in more recent years.” … I guess there’s two ways to look at all this: 1. Dr. J. Winston Porter is an experienced professional engineer who after coming late in his professional life to energy matters, has objectively concluded that oil, gas, and coal should remain America’s primary sources of energy, with alternatives relegated to minor “niches”. So, consequently and logically it is in the oil and gas industries’ interests to see his viewpoint is well publicized; 2. OR, that as an engineer with long professional ties to the oil and gas industry, as well as the administration of one U.S. president with family business interests in oil, Porter continues to find it professionally profitable to promote the oil and gas industry line that the past is the future as far as national energy production goes; and that the American Petroleum Institute membership’s soaring profits are best left as they are, with minimal investment in research and development of alternative energy sources, coincidentally with a much lower potential corporate profit margin for API members. – rogerb@warrencountyreport.com

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Profiling API … API says it represents almost 400 members, including ExxonMobil, BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Dow Chemical Company, Halliburton, and Shell Oil. In that role API represents the business interests of its membership … “These companies provide funding for API, which in turn champions the industry’s interests in the government and through public outreach* … As the premier lobbying organization for the oil and gas industry, the American Petroleum Institute has spent over $33 million on lobbying in the last five years (2008-

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Mid January, 2015 â&#x20AC;˘ Warren & Frederick County Report â&#x20AC;˘ Page

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Are you a paid consultant for the government or the gas industry or petroleum?â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; writerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s question â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have a wide range of clients, a wide range of people that come to me.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Dr. Jâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reply

Year in review

One last question, Dr. Porter â&#x20AC;Ś ergy sources.Â The idea was to present balanced and objective views on these subjects.Â I agreed to give these speeches with the understanding that I would have total control over the preparation and presentation of such speeches â&#x20AC;Ś I see no purpose in debating further our respective views on alternative energy sources, except to note that I will continue to investigate energy matters in order to steadily improve my goal of presenting objectiveÂ and usefulÂ information regarding â&#x20AC;&#x153;Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s energy future.â&#x20AC;? Best regards, Win Porter RB to WP, July 21, 4:05 PM Dr. Porter, thank you for your reply. However, I find your most recent

answer as elusive as previous ones on exactly what, if any, financial connection you and your consulting business have with the American Petroleum Institute and its membership to date. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to needlessly debate varying perspectives any more than you do â&#x20AC;Ś But I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t, really â&#x20AC;&#x201C; I was just trying to figure out who pays [your] bills these days.

Letters to the Editor are welcome but must include the authorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name and town and should be emailed to: editor@warrencountyreport.com

Fracking â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a cheap and questionable way to extract natural gas By Roger Bianchini Warren County Report As I approached my story on Dr. Porterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s local appearance (initially brought to my attention by the American Petroleum Institute) I made one final effort to pin the good doctor down on exactly how his professional interests were primarily funded these days. I print the following e-mail exchange to illustrate that effort â&#x20AC;&#x201C; draw your own conclusions:

RB to API press contact, July 17: Hi Jackie, I have some follow up Qs on Dr. Porterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current consulting work & APIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interests, direct or indirect, in his public presentations on the future of energy nationally â&#x20AC;Ś Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be real honest, at this point the story is that his presentation promoted as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;balanced look at our energy futureâ&#x20AC;? was anything but â&#x20AC;Ś SO, my followup QsÂ forÂ Dr. PorterÂ are: 1/ are you currently a paid consultant of the oil & gas industry?

2/ what proportion of your past private consultant fees have come, or current private-sector income, comes from the oil & gas industry? 3/ considering the catastrophic potential of some of theÂ documented & suspected consequences of oil and gas production, why are all your cautionary â&#x20AC;&#x153;butsâ&#x20AC;? limited to sustainable energy â&#x20AC;Ś with NONE allowed for well-known, scientifically-based Qs on potential negatives tied to oil & gas production? â&#x20AC;Ś Roger Bianchini WC-FC Report â&#x20AC;Ś Dr. Porterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reply, July 21, 11:43 AM Dear Roger:

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I wanted to respond to your recent email to Jackie regarding my July 11 energy speech in Front Royal. Let me first outline my environmental and energy consulting practice which I started some 25 years ago after my stint as an assistant administrator of the EPA â&#x20AC;Ś Most of my consulting over the years has focused on advice for hazardous waste sites remediation and improved recycling of municipal solid wastes, with increasing involvement with energy matters in more recent years â&#x20AC;ŚÂ A few years ago I was asked by the American Petroleum Institute to speak periodically to various community organizations about both traditional and renewable en-

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Page 10 â&#x20AC;˘ Warren & Frederick County Report â&#x20AC;˘ Mid January, 2015

Year in review

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County resolves opposition to natural gas pipeline While word not uttered, fracking process likely at mining end of line By Roger Bianchini Warren County Report

During its Aug. 5 meeting the Warren County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted a Resolution of opposition to construction of an underground natural gas pipeline through the county. The pipeline proposed by Duke Energy will connect gas mining sites in Pennsylvania to production and distribution facilities in North Carolina. The gas transported through the pipeline proposed to go through the western part of the county is designed to feed growing energy needs in the South Atlantic region by 2018, according to a county staff summary. Asked if fracking was the process utilized by Duke Energy to access the natural gas at the Pennsylvania mining sites, County Administrator Doug Stanley acknowledged, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Probably.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;Ś Among things noted in the Resolution of opposition were the board

belief â&#x20AC;&#x153;this project must receive a comprehensive review under all applicable state and federal regulations and requirements with special attention to reviewing environmental and public health impactsâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;that a portion of the proposed path parallel to the Dominion Power 500 kV electrical transmission line includes several federal and state designated historic districts â&#x20AC;Ś historic sites â&#x20AC;Ś scenic byways (15 miles), rivers, agricultural and forestal districts, the Appalachian Trail (22 miles), Civil War battlefields, historic sites and conservation easements.â&#x20AC;? Consequently, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the Warren County Board of Supervisors urges Duke Energy to select another proposed corridor for its energy needs rather than that proposed by Spectra Energyâ&#x20AC;? and further resolves that the Warren supervisors oppose â&#x20AC;&#x153;any plan that proposes an alignment in Warren County that would harm the lives and livelihoods of its citizens â&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;? As part of that initiative to gain

its desired and perhaps path of least resistance, Spectra representatives are apparently putting the full-court press on involved municipalities along the route. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They have indicated that they believe this proposed project will benefit the South Atlantic region in several ways: by making more diverse natural gas supplies available; by creating the new pipeline transportation facilities necessary to support the needs of other regional power gener-

ators and natural gas customers; and by addressing the growing demand for environmentally friendly natural gas,â&#x20AC;? the county summary states. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Environmentally-friendly natural gasâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; hmm â&#x20AC;Ś OKAY, does anybody but me see

more than coincidence at play in the early July appearance of oil, natural gas and fracking proponent Dr. J Winston Porter before the Front Royal Rotary Club??? I mean, really â&#x20AC;Ś â&#x20AC;&#x201C; rogerb@warrencountyreport.com

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I do not recall any loud outcry from then Supervisor Tederick against such policies when they were being utilized by the county and the very same EDA now poised to negotiate redevelopment of two vacant commercial spaces INSIDE the Town of Front Royal, rather than on county land.

Year in review

Downtown merchants overwhelmingly favor building swap Why shouldn’t the town, EDA help facilitate Afton Inn redevelopment?

Don’t think we’ll see this again any time soon – the Afton Inn, circa 1920s By Roger Bianchini Warren County Report After a Jan. 29 Public Hearing, the Front Royal Town Council tabled action on the proposed swap of old Town Hall for the Afton Inn to the next council meeting, scheduled for Feb. 10. During the public hearing 11 people spoke in favor of the swap, 7 against it. So far, only one councilman, Daryl Funk, has expressed opposition to the plan, though one, if not two more

votes seem less than fully committed to the idea. A five-vote “supermajority” of the six-seat council is required to approve the plan. That plan would utilize the towncounty Economic Development Authority to negotiate the property trade and then market the long-derelict Afton Inn sitting at Front Royal’s main historic downtown intersection, for sale and redevelopment. The plan puts strict covenants on redevelopment of old Town Hall in a timely manner that will preserve its

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historic façade. If not developed according to those contract guidelines the EDA would be able to re-purchase Town Hall at its then assessed value. EDA Executive Director Jennifer McDonald also said there would be strict parameters about timely redevelopment attached to a contract on the Afton Inn. If the public hearing indicated anything, it was that neighboring downtown business owners overwhelmingly support the swap designed to put the huge and long-derelict Afton Inn up for sale under parameters that seem to assure movement toward redevelopment of both properties. Among those Front Royal merchants

speaking for the proposal were Mike McCool (National Media Services), Rick Novak (Royal Cinemas), Craig Laird (Royal Oak Computers), Christian Failmezger (Vino 124), Herb Malreath (Daily Grind Coffee Shop), Sharon Smith (Main Street Confections), and former Councilman Tom Conkey (Killahevlin Bed & Breakfast). Other public hearing supporters were Linda Allen, Tim Ratigan and Laurie Glasscock. Also at the request of council, EDA Director McDonald opened the public hearing by outlining the history leading to the proposal and stating her and her board’s positive outlook on the plan and its commercial redevelopment potential for the town. Of the supporters, it was Royal Cinemas’ Novak, himself a past EDA board member (late 1990s-2007), who seemed to best galvanize the consensus for the proposed trade. In stating his support, Novak opened with a playful exchange with swap opponent Matt Tederick, who preceded him to the podium. However, Novak then got serious as he observed he would just have to disagree with Tederick about this proposal. And it was the fundamental disagreements between these two old friends that were, to this observer, at the heart of the debate over the plan. Let’s pretend (Government has a role) Tederick opened his comments by telling council, “Let’s pretend you have the right to do what you are proposing to do – and the key word is pretend.” Tederick’s assumption apparently being that government has no right to propel forward commercial business transactions, even indirectly through appointed agencies created to stimulate economic

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growth within their communities. And despite the fact the town and EDA have been working on this plan for over six months, Tederick insisted the town was moving forward without performing due diligence. Among the “undone details” Tederick called for prior to movement on this real estate deal was a cost assessment for a fire-suppression system for the now-gutted Afton Inn and “a plan” for the building. Both points ignore the published parameters of the plan indicating the Afton Inn will NOT be owned by the town for redevelopment, but will be marketed for sale by the EDA to a private-sector owner willing to redevelop either the building or the site. Now I’m just a simple, small-town journalist (scratch, scratch – spit), not a real estate agent or lord of the marketplace, BUT isn’t it at that latter point of commercial transaction one might logically assume such detailed redevelopment dynamics Tederick cited would take place? And perhaps it is not on the front end of an anticipated deal, but on the back end where contractually-mandated redevelopment and the resulting annual tax revenue and commerce generated from two fully-functioning commercial properties, would be realized by the town government. “In a perfect world this would have been done by the private sector. But we’ve waited 20 years – we’ve waited long enough,” Novak responded to Tederick’s notions that the town government either has no authority to propel such a commercial transaction forward, or has failed to properly do so. Double standard? And if our memory serves us, Tederick should be very familiar with such concepts as financial incentives offered by government to the private sector and deferred benefit from his 1990s tenure on the Warren County Board of Supervisors. During that time, such economic incentives were a commonplace tool used by the county and the EDA to attract first industrial, then commercial development into the county’s 522 North Corridor (with the help of town central water and sewer extended into the county) … I do not recall any loud outcry from Supervisor or citizen Tederick against such policies and the creation of Enterprise Zones to facilitate them, at least not when they were being utilized by the county and the EDA … – rogerb@warrencountyreport.com

Page 12 â&#x20AC;˘ Warren & Frederick County Report â&#x20AC;˘ Mid January, 2015

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Year in review

Council approves Afton Inn-old Town Hall swap Now itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s up to the EDA to make councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;supermajorityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; look good â&#x20AC;˘ Was the town destroying a historical resource dating to 1935 and FDRâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New Deal successes in federallystimulated job creation and municipal development? â&#x20AC;˘ Was the town overstepping its municipal authority and moving into the realm of commercial development? Counterpoint

Winter of their discontent â&#x20AC;&#x201C; despite very vocal opposition the Afton Inn is now under town control for marketing, while old town hall will soon be in out-of-town private-sector hands. By Roger Bianchini Warren County Report Well, slap me senseless (settle down out there, figuratively, NOT literally) but in an upset of gargantuan proportions â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Super Bowl XLII (42) comes to mind, Giant and Patriot fans â&#x20AC;&#x201C; on Feb. 10, the Front Royal Town Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s early-polled 5-vote â&#x20AC;&#x153;supermajorityâ&#x20AC;? held up to some oldschool political pressure and typical conservative hyperbole (see related story). As a result of that 5-vote stand, including by two Republican swing votes (Tharpe, Sayre), with only Daryl Funk dissenting, the Front RoyalWarren County Economic Development Authority will now move toward acquiring the long-derelict (2005 since any use) Afton Inn property at the center of Front Royalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s historic downtown in exchange for the more-recently derelict (late 2013) Town Hall building around the corner. The focal point of the plan centers on gaining municipal control of the huge and once magnificent (so Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m told) Afton Inn, which sits unused,

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boarded up and less than magnificent â&#x20AC;&#x201C; sort of like a clogged artery â&#x20AC;&#x201C; at Front Royalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s major downtown intersection of Royal and Main. Point Substantive opposition centered on several points, including: â&#x20AC;˘ Would the town receive equal value in the trade of the two buildings? â&#x20AC;˘ Would the proposal primarily be a benefit the Afton Inn owner, rather than the community as a whole â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and was that owner being rewarded financially despite perceived past offenses against the town??

On the latter issue, as we have pointed out previously â&#x20AC;&#x201C; despite a reluctance to accept or understand it by some opponents â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the town will NOT be developing the Afton Inn property commercially and will not utilize taxpayer revenue to renovate or redevelop the property. Rather, the property will immediately be marketed by the EDA to the private sector for redevelopment, a redevelopment that according to town and EDA officials will be mandated under strict timelines within a sales contract â&#x20AC;Ś And as for RELATIVE VALUES of the two buildings, that is somewhat problematic, though due to stated long-term financial and redevelopment goals, perhaps not as pivotal as opponents would maintain. Recorded values include: Afton Inn, assessed in 2011 at $515,000; Town Hall assessed in 2011 at $815,600; Town Hall appraised in 2013 at $610,000. Barros and his company had the Afton Inn on the market at a bloated figure of $1.2 million, over twice what

he paid for it in 2005, three years before the national real estate market tanked, eventually taking both the national and international economies with it. Some have asserted that the actual current value of the Afton Inn might be closer to what it sold for in 1995, $110,000. Be that as it may, if the primary goal of the town is to bring two nowvacant properties, one municipally owned, on to the commercial tax roles within contractually-mandated developmental guidelines, it is likely

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to be the long-term return and general benefit to the entire downtown business community, rather than short-term gain/loss on the front end of the deal that is guiding the town and EDAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hand. And we might add, swap opponent Matt Tederick even told us that he would agree with such a deferredbenefit scenario, were he to accept it as true. However, that seems something he is reluctant to do without someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signature â&#x20AC;&#x201C; probably Bret Hrbekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in blood â&#x20AC;&#x201C; as a guarantee â&#x20AC;Ś

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Mid January, 2015 â&#x20AC;˘ Warren & Frederick County Report â&#x20AC;˘ Page 13

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Councilman Brooks apologized to the BZA for the process at hand â&#x20AC;Ś Mr. Brooks noted that filing suit in a court of law was necessary, and although it was unfortunate, it was the only option available â&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; June 12, 2006 Council meeting minutes

Year in review

Afton history: Cutting off your nose to spite your face Town to Barros - we like your plan, but weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll sue to see it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t happen

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know how it got their attention â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the new Front Royal Administration building, at right, and the boarded up Afton Inn â&#x20AC;&#x201C; then thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the history. By Roger Bianchini Warren County Report During remarks explaining his coming vote in support of the proposal to gain control of the Afton Inn property in exchange for the nowempty town hall building, Councilman Tom Sayre referenced the contentious legal history between the Town of Front Royal and current Afton Inn owner, Afton Inn, LLC and its principal Manassas Park developer Frank Barros. That relationship, born in mutual hope of redevelopment quickly deteriorated into hostile litigation and

counter threats of litigation â&#x20AC;Ś To recap, Manassas Park-based developer Barrosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s company purchased the Afton Inn from local businessman Tito Howard in 2005 at a price of $550,000. At the time, during the height of the national building boom, the 1867 building once the centerpiece of downtown Front Royal culture was being used only for textbook storage. It had last seen public use as a first-floor restaurant space in the late 1980s, perhaps into the early â&#x20AC;&#x2122;90s. But Barros had grand plans to turn the ancient building into renovated office space, with preliminary design

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plans featuring raised ceilings and elaborate foyers [and] interior fountains. However, those plans included adding a floor and raising the height of the building to 58 feet, 13-feet above a maximum town zoning code height allowance of 45 feet. That code apparently dated to an intention by county and town officials to prevent any structure in Front Royal from exceeding the height of the renovated Warren County Courthouse directly across the street from the Afton Inn. But assuming municipal support for his plans, Barros pressed ahead, asking the townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s appointed Board of Zoning Appeals for a height variance to allow his plan to move forward. In mid-2006 the BZA granted Afton Inn, LLC that variance â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and it all went south, way south, from there. Minutes of town council meetings, as well as a court decision of July 30, 2008, are a front page on opportunity lost and the municipal-private sector black comedy leading us to the vote of Feb. 10, 2014: June-Sept., 2006 â&#x20AC;Ś Following a motion offered by Darr, seconded by Grady, to â&#x20AC;&#x153;authorize the Town Attorney to challenge the recent Board of Zoning Appeals Decision regarding the Afton Innâ&#x20AC;? the meeting minutes state: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Councilman Darr asked the Town Attorney to brief the public on the matter for clarification, and to address the fact that Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision was based on the legality of the BZA

decision, rather than a vote for or against the fourth floor of the Afton Inn. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Town Attorney Mitchell explained that the BZA could have granted a variance to allow the fourth floor only if it was a physical hardship situation according to State law. He noted that although the BZA determined that a physical hardship did not exist, they decided to vote in favor of the request regardless â&#x20AC;Ś â&#x20AC;&#x153;Councilman Foster commended the BZA for their decision and for their actions on behalf of the community. He stated that laws were made by men, and sometimes men should reconcile themselves and change the law. Mr. Foster noted that the Afton Inn project was noteworthy and a benefit to the community; however, the BZAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vote was illegal. He stated that the renovation of the building would be an asset to the downtown area and that he expressed hope the issue would come to a workable resolution.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;Ś Then by a 3-2 vote (Darr, Grady, Brooks for; Foster and Pond against; McDaniel absent) council authorized the town attorney to file a legal challenge of the BZA decision allowing the height variance due to the violation of parameters of state law in granting a variance. Three months later, on Sept. 11, 2006, following a post-election change in its makeup, council unanimously approved a second reading change to the town ordinance on height restrictions â&#x20AC;Ś

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â&#x20AC;Ś in 2010 the town explored municipal condemnation and found state law does not authorize towns, but only cities and counties to do so. A related inspection of the building mandated only that the owner shore up deteriorating portions that presented an immediate public danger. As a result, the owner boarded up windows, stabilized loose exterior bricks and secured the structure from easy public access. As we have noted previously, the inspection found the building structurally sound at its foundation. Feb. 10, 2014 By a 5-1 vote (Hrbek, Tewalt, Parker, Sayre, Tharpe for; only first-term Councilman Funk against) councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2007 mission assigning the EDA to seek positive movement on the property was accomplished by the somewhat circuitous path of exchanging the Afton Inn for the now empty and unwanted by council, old town hall building. As several council supporters of the exchange noted, councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s desire to make the exchange came after a 2013 appraisal and subsequent study of the town hall buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s potential use as a police station or other municipal use. PHEW, that was a tough one â&#x20AC;&#x201C; EDA, the ball is, once again, in your court â&#x20AC;Ś

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Page 14 â&#x20AC;˘ Warren & Frederick County Report â&#x20AC;˘ Mid January, 2015

Read full issues FREE on www.WarrenCountyVA.com & www.FrederickCounty.com

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s up to you on the different circumstances of each application.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; County Attorney Blair Mitchell to the Board of Supervisors on decisions on shortterm rental permitting applications

Year in review

Where will the short-term rental denial dominoes lead?

By Roger Bianchini Warren County Report The dominoes from the property rights battle between Tareq Salahi and, not only Mosby Overlook Estates neighbors, but the Warren County Board of Supervisors, continue to fall. And they appear to be falling on several other homeowners

McEathron to seek 4th term as Warren County Sheriff Warren County Sheriff Daniel T. McEathron, a 33 year veteran of the sheriff â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office, announces he will seek a fourth term as sheriff in the November 3, 2015 election. It has been an honor to serve the citizens of Front Royal/Warren County as your sheriff. I am dedicated to continuing to provide the highest level of professionalism and accountability that the sheriff â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office represents and the community expects. Warren County is not just where I work; it is where my wife Donna, son Eli, daughter Alayna and my family call home. Having a vested interest in my community, I am dedicated to public safety and the quality of life in Front Royal and Warren County. The great community support of the sheriff â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office and the confidence the citizens have had in electing me to three previous terms has been paramount to our success. I look forward to serving the citizens of Front Royal/Warren County as your sheriff for another term. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; From a release

in various county neighborhoods desiring to utilize their properties for short-term rental use as a means of income. On July 15, the county supervisors unanimously denied two applications for conditional use permits for short-term rental use of homes, one in Skyland Estates and one in Apple Mountain Lake. A vote on the Skyland Estates application of Todd and Brenda Peal on Khyber Pass Road had been delayed from late June as the supervisors sought additional input from county legal staff on the implications of a vote. It seemed apparent the â&#x20AC;&#x153;implicationsâ&#x20AC;? at issue were regarding the boardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s earlier denial of Salahiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s CUP application for his Mosby Overlook Estates property and Salahiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legal challenge of that decision. At the outset of the discussion, Shenandoah District Supervisor Richard Traczyk expressed some concern about â&#x20AC;&#x153;how we are going about thisâ&#x20AC;? and that the boardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s process might be viewed as â&#x20AC;&#x153;arbitrary and capriciousâ&#x20AC;?. And concerns about arbitrary and

capricious decisions relates directly to Salahiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contention that was the nature of the boardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 4-1 vote to deny his Conditional Use Application that had been unanimously recommended for approval by the county planning commission. In addition to challenging the legality of county codes cited in the boardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s denial, Salahiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s complaint states, â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;Ś the actions of the Board of Supervisors in denying the Conditional Use Permit were discriminatory, arbitrary and capricious, and bore no substantial relationship to the public health, safety, or welfare.â&#x20AC;? Of interest, not only to Salahi, but perhaps Todd and Brenda Peal and Jon and Susan Fuller, whose CUP applications were denied on July 15, the Salahi lawsuit also contends, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The enabling statutes of the code of Virginia do not expressly, or by necessary implication, allow a government to restrict the amount of time for which a parcel of real property can be leased.â&#x20AC;? However on July 15, after his initial note of caution, Traczyk added of decisions on short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think it is a reasonable expectation if you move next door, your neighborâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not going to turn his home into a motel â&#x20AC;Ś we have to give these things equal weight.â&#x20AC;? Happy Creek Supervisor Tony Carter, in whose district several of the recent short-term rental applications have come from, noted that while seven to nine such short-term rentals already legally operate in the county, that variables specific to each neighborhood had to be taken into consideration â&#x20AC;Ś Asked for a legal opinion, County Attorney Blair Mitchell said there was â&#x20AC;&#x153;a mixed bag of variablesâ&#x20AC;? including the length of short-term rentals, as well as specific issues such as cited by Traczyk and Carter.

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Mitchell noted that stretching back to the middle of the last century weekend rentals of homes in rural, mountainous areas like High Knob and Mosby Overlook Estates were commonplace for property owners who built what were essentially designed to be weekend or summer retreats. However, as the county evolved zoning and populationwise, longer-term rentals to transient workers such as attracted by the Dominion Power construction project had become more prevalent as shortterm rental uses in the county. And once remote, sparsely-built neighborhoods had grown into fullblown year-round residential com-

munities due to changing county zoning and population trends â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and two of those neighborhoods, High Knob and Mosby Overlook Estates, became â&#x20AC;&#x153;gated communitiesâ&#x20AC;? requiring security codes for auto access. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It sort of destroys the purpose of a gated community,â&#x20AC;? Mitchell said of short-term rentals, particularly those designed to attract weekend partiers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s up to you on the different circumstances of each application,â&#x20AC;? Mitchell told the supervisors elected to make such decisions on zoning, living and business codes impacting the lifestyle of county residents â&#x20AC;Ś

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“Is it right that you and I should fight, Every night? “It’s only love, and that is all “But it’s so hard loving you” – John Lennon, lyrics “It’s Only Love”

Mid January, 2015 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Page 15

Year in review

In the eye of the beholder - ‘threats’ to society Christian fundamentalists, students at odds over religion vs. rights

Student protesters express belief that love between consenting adults can’t be limited by other people’s faith and belief systems. WHOA – questionable flaming imagery on Charles W. Doughty book cover

Excuse me while I kiss the sky – Seated, perhaps ironically, in the Visiting Student Section of the Skyline High gym, Family Values Rally attendees feel the spirit.

By Roger Bianchini Warren County Report

What I’d seen had been two expressions of deep commitment about what is best for our society from diametrically-opposed sides. The primary issue at stake is the extension or prohibition of legal rights of marriage to same-sex couples. For organizers of the “Family Values Rally” held in the Skyline High gym that day, such an extension of marital and even sexual rights means we are headed into a cultural abyss of a historical magnitude, comparable perhaps to the Biblical account of the destruction of the ancient cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

I found it oddly appropriate that as I left the scene of the May 3 Shenandoah Christian Alliances “Family Values Rally” rally and protest of that rally at Skyline High School, I flipped my car stereo on to hear The Beatles

song “It’s Only Love”. The second verse seemed particularly appropriate in the wake of what I’d just seen and heard: “It’s only love and that is all Why should I feel the way I do? It’s only love, and that is all But it’s so hard loving you”

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However, for the approximately 30 students and parents gathered outside Skyline High School in support of sexual choice and marital diversity, it is the imposition of just such religious authority on American society that poses the greater threat. The debate centers on differing interpretations of the role of “God” in American society and law. It is true “In God We Trust” is a national motto appearing on what is perhaps our real cultural deity – money. But the late 1600s examples of brutal theocratic excesses of Puritan legal authority in New England colonies were a recent memory for our Founding Fathers.

So, they were clear in their intent that U.S. society be based on the laws of man, not anyone’s personal expression of knowledge of a “Divine” authority to be imposed on others. Hence, the separation of church and state was also made a cornerstone in the establishment of government and law in an independent America. And maybe the Founding Fathers were pretty astute to place their trust in God, but NOT in humans purporting to represent special knowledge of, not only the nature of the creative force of the universe, but also the intent of that force/entity/being/thing. But such distinctions between the will of God and man appeared to be of little concern to those attending the “Family Values Rally” in the Skyline High School gymnasium on May 3. Inside, about 150 people heard state Delegate Bob Marshall, R-Prince William, among others, explain that not only same sex marriage, but also “non-traditional” sexual acts themselves (often defined in state sodomy laws as broadly as positional variations or sexual acts of a nonprocreative nature, whether engaged in between same sex or heterosexual couples) are primary threats to civilization, with no historical basis for legal defense in the eyes of God or man. Defense of Marriage? The rally organizers appeared largely connected the Mountain View Church of Christ in Frederick See MARRIAGE, 16

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Page 16 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid January, 2015

Read full issues FREE on www.WarrenCountyVA.com & www.FrederickCounty.com

To advertise in Warren & Frederick County Report, Contact: Alison at alisond@warrencountyreport.com • 540-551-2072 or Angie Buterakos at fcrwcr@gmail.com • 540-683-1847

Year in review MARRIAGE, from 15 County (Winchester, Stephens City) and the New Hope Bible Church in Front Royal under the banner of the “Shenandoah Christian Alliance.” It was staged in support of the recently struck down 2006 Marshall-Newman “Defense of Marriage Amendment” (DOMA) to Virginia’s Constitution. “Only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this Commonwealth and its political subdivisions,” the Marshall-Newman amendment begins, adding, “Nor shall this Commonwealth or its political subdivisions create or recognize another union, partnership, or other legal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage.” … Haters? In light of this deep and fundamental philosophical divide on marital rights, perhaps most surprising to this observer was that there was little personal animosity, and even a certain amount of friendly playfulness expressed between the two sides at the entrance to the May 3 Shenandoah Christian Alliance “Family Values Rally” at Skyline High School … Two participants in the rally even came out to circulate candy among the protesters (hmm), leading one high school aged girl to comment, “You eat one first and then I’ll have one.” It was a comment that drew laughter from all sides, not any visible anger … Having witnessed the type of playful interaction described above, perhaps I should add the first two lines of the third verse of John Lennon’s “It’s Only Love” to the discussion: “Is it right that you and I should fight Every night?” But ultimately it may be hostility, rather than playful disagreement that defines this debate about exactly what “a family” and the “love” at its root can be. For inside the rally the mood was less playful … Once introduced to the podium, Marshall quickly built momentum reiterating his belief that not only same sex marriage, but also certain sexual acts … are abominations of both Divine and U.S. law. “When the 14th Amendment was

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Like rally organizer Charles W. Doughty, some Family Values Rally attendees were Duck Dynasty or hunting supporters.

The mood was playful and friendly outside as candy is handed out by rally supporters.

passed in 1868, all but one state made sodomy a felony,” Marshall told supporters of restoring his state constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage … As noted above, Sodomy has been defined … as broadly as positional variations or sexual acts of a non-procreative nature, whether engaged in between same sex or heterosexual couples …

the outcome of an appeal. But as that likely lengthy appeals process continues, battle lines continue to be drawn between the political left and right,

Background … what is it we are actually arguing about here? – Ultimately, it is sexual activity as an expression of physical love by consenting adults and the legal rights surrounding the intention to legally bind one’s life and assets to another person in an intimate physical and emotional relationship recog-

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nized by the state. Virginia voters approved the Marshall-Newman “Defense of Marriage Amendment” to Virginia’s Constitution restricting marriage to heterosexual couples by a 57-43 percent margin in 2006. However, Judge Allen’s Feb. 13, 2014 ruling declared it unconstitutional for the 14th Amendment reasons cited above, as the expansion of marital rights and challenges of DOMA snowball across the nation. Virginia neighbors Maryland and the District of Columbia are among 19 governments (18 states and the District) that have extended marital rights to same-sex couples (while on appeal in some, same sex marriage is now legal in 35 states and DC) … Judge Allen has stayed her ruling on Virginia’s DOMA pending

as illustrated by the activities in and around Skyline High School in Warren County, Virginia on Saturday, May 3, 2014.

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Mid January, 2015 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Page 17

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Year in review

Fed Appeals Court upholds pro-marital rights ruling Perhaps grudgingly, Virginia pointed toward a future of marital equality By Roger Bianchini Warren County Report

choice of whether and whom to marry is an intensely personal decision that alters the course of an individual’s life. Denying same-sex couples this choice prohibits them from participating fully in our society, which is precisely the type of segregation that the Fourteenth Amendment cannot countenance.” Floyd’s July 28 opinion upheld a Feb. 13, 2014, opinion by Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen of United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. In handing that decision down, Judge Wright Allen said, “Our Constitution declares that

On July 28, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional. In his Fourth Court of Appeals opinion, Judge Henry F. Floyd wrote, “Civil marriage is one of the cornerstones of our way of life. It allows individuals to celebrate and publicly declare their intentions to form lifelong partnerships, which provide unparalleled intimacy, companionship, emotional support, and security. The

‘all men’ are created equal. – Surely this means all of us … We have arrived upon another moment in history when ‘We the People’ becomes more inclusive, and our freedom more perfect.” The appeals court decision marks the third time since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Section 3 of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in U.S. v. Windsor (California) in 2013 that a federal appeals court has declared that state laws denying same-sex couples the freedom to marry or refuse to recognize the out-of-state marriages of

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Page 18 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid January, 2015

Year in review

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“If you choose not to respect my authority I will ask you a second time to be seated. If you choose not to then I will ask the police chief to have you removed … I cannot tolerate the actions that occurred at the last meeting again.” – Mayor Darr on unruly behavior of pro-code elements

Front Royal repeals ‘magic arts’ ban by 4-2 vote As the nation watches, council majority chooses civil law over ‘God’s’

speaker Thomas Centrella repeatedly refused Darr’s order to stop after being denied an extra minute to complete his prepared statement after drawing some audible grumbling from the crowd in reaction to some of his more extreme assertions about liberty, innate evil and U.S. law. After being told he could complete his sentence but not get an additional minute because he had not actually been interrupted by the crowd’s grumbling, Centrella built himself to a fever pitch as law enforcement moved in from two sides to expel him. Lawlessness at the podium Differing perspectives on crucifixion: while Andrew Schmiedicke led children and adults in a prayer circle outside the WCGC, imploring the Lord to preserve Front Royal’s ban on ‘magic arts’, prior to a final vote, inside polytheist, former Catholic and repeal supporter Lynette Nicholis said, ‘I believe until we make peace with the earth, we’re not going to make peace with ourselves.’

Pro-‘magic’ ban speaker Thomas Centrella gets wound up as he defies parliamentary order in the name of God. By Roger Bianchini Warren County Report Under increasing scrutiny from national media outlets, on August 25 the Front Royal Town Council voted 4-2 to repeal a controversial and ancient town code barring bands of gypsies or others from “pretending to tell fortunes” or practice other “magic arts”. As he suggested he would, Hollis Tharpe changed his Aug. 11 first-reading vote to keep the code, precluding the necessity of the mayor breaking another 3-3 tie. That switch left council’s two attorneys, Tom Sayre and Daryl Funk, alone in opposing repeal of a code Town Attorney Doug Napier told council on Aug. 11, mirrored other codes repeatedly struck down by state and federal courts nationwide as unconstitutional. The second and final vote to repeal came in front of a meeting room packed with about 150 people, 27 of whom spoke during a public con-

cerns portion of the meeting about Town Code 110-17. Unlike the Aug. 11 Public Hearing debate in which 18 people spoke in front of about 80 people, most of whom supported prohibitions on such “magic arts”, this time supporters of repeal appeared to outnumber supporters of the ban on gypsies and magic arts by about 2-1. The public comment split was 16 in favor of repeal, 11 in favor of keeping the code, compared to a 12-5 split favoring the code on Aug. 11. Many of the Aug. 25 public comments echoed arguments heard pro and con on Aug. 11 and reported in detail in our previous edition. Those arguments can be summarized as: • on the repeal side – live and let live, everyone has a constitutional right to believe, speak and act as they see fit as long as those beliefs, words and actions do not violate already standing criminal codes; • on the keep and enforce side – such practices as fortune telling and tarot

card reading are the work of the devil, the anti-Christ or both, and so are inherently evil, and criminal in that they are fraudulent and predatory in nature. The often heated debate and second council vote to repeal came in front of, not only local media, but national network affiliates … Warren County Report Publisher and online guru Dan McDermott has tracked down media coverage of the Aug. 25 public debate and council vote on Code Section 110-17 from coast to coast, including Washington, D.C., New York City, Chicago, San Francisco and many local points between. Supporters of the code and its prohibitions against “magic arts” again appeared to be largely from the local Catholic community, including a board of directors member of Human Life International and several people who identified themselves to national media outlets as members of the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Front Royal … Peace in the valley - please In opening the public comments just three minutes into the meeting, Mayor Tim Darr said he would not accept a repeat of the unruly behavior of elements present on Aug. 11, who attempted to shout down both a pagan minister speaking for repeal and a councilman stating his opposition to what he had heard from supporters of the code. “I will limit each speaker to three minutes … If you choose not to respect my authority I will ask you a second time to be seated. If you choose not to then I will ask the police chief to have you removed … I cannot tolerate the actions that oc-

curred at the last meeting again,” Darr said of physically removing unruly elements of the crowd. And the mayor only had to threaten removal once, when pro-code

“So I say to you, choose this day who you will serve – the lord God our Creator who is the source of all of our rights and is the foundation of our rights” at which point Mayor Darr first attempted to stop his now over three-minute presentation “or a spirit of lawlessness that will always lead to anarchy.”

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Mid January, 2015 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Page 19

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“Choose this day who you will serve and for me and my HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD!!!” – Code supporter Thomas Centrella (as police chief and a uniformed officer closed on him for repeatedly ignoring mayor’s time limit calls to halt his remarks)

Druid Reverend Kelyla Spicer addresses council - the three, from left Sayre, Tharpe and Funk, who initially voted to keep the ban on ‘magic arts’ listen. Only Sayre and Funk again voted to keep an code deemed unconstitutional by the town legal staff.

Irma Powell introduces her personal savior to the ABC news camera as she begins her remarks urging council to limit, if not outright ban ‘magic arts’ in town. “Thank you, please” the mayor again injected trying to halt the speaker.

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“Let me finish my sentence,” Centrella replied … As the pro-repeal elements of the crowd began to join

Year in review

Ordained Inter-faith Reverend and Pagan High Priestess Esmeralda Barnes asked council, and perhaps our community as a whole, to “make ignorance your enemy, not us.” in, yelling for Centrella to leave the podium, he leaned into the microphone, his voice rising to the heavens … “Choose this day who you will serve and for me and my HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD!!!” As the police chief closed in from his left and a uniformed officer from his right, Centrella hastily retreated to his seat in the rear of the room where he was greeted to a smattering of applause … Ironically, before his own little outburst of lawlessness, Centrella told council that to condone “lawlessness” was to condone “tyranny” … Centrella began his flirtation with civil disobedience by suggesting America was built on religious law, and that civil law could be ignored if it conflicted with “God’s law” or at least his faith’s version of it …“Some have accused us of trying to push our views onto others but the opposite is the case. We’re simply respecting what God has revealed and those promoting this lawlessness are trying

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to push their views on this community and substitute those views for God’s law,” Centrella claimed.

There is some debate about who has been playing “The Fool” in the Front Royal “magic” code debate.

Whose law? A former town councilman who did not run for re-election in 2012, Tom Conkey, owner of Killahevlin Bed & Breakfast in town … began by quoting from Virginia’s Act to Establish Religious Freedom, made law in the commonwealth in 1786, and predating the U.S. Bill of Rights adoption to the U.S. Constitution in 1791. and authored by Thomas Jefferson. “Well aware that God almighty has created the mind free and that all attempts to influence it by temporal punishments or burdens or by civil incapacitations only begets habits of hypocrisy and meanness,” Conkey quoted Religious Freedom Act author Thomas Jefferson, “Any departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion who being lord of both body and mind, yet chose not to propagate it by coercions on either, as was His almighty power to do so.” Conkey pointed out that this root of all religious freedom in the U.S. “disestablished the Church of England as the official church of this commonwealth [and those colonies, and that without implementation of, first that document and subsequently the U.S. Constitution’s protections of religious freedom, the Catholics and other non-Anglicans present would NOT be free to practice their faiths, much less limit someone else’s.] “We have two members on this council who are supposedly attorneys – attorney as I understand it is an officer of the court,” Conkey continued pointedly. “The court has determined that this law is illegal and is unconstitutional. I don’t understand how an officer of the court can vote to keep a law in place, which the court has said is illegal.” Those attorneys, Sayre and Funk … cast the only votes against the motion to repeal the code; unlike Tharpe, re-

Spirits from beyond: who runs council now – Zoltan or Matt? peating their August 11 first votes to maintain a law mirroring others repeatedly deemed unconstitutional according to town legal counsel. And so the mysterious workings of law, politics, freedom of thought and religion go in Front Royal, Virginia, a community with the historical nickname “Helltown” gained by a general mood of lawlessness and intoxication on its streets in its earliest days as a commercial river barge stopover.

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Page 20 â&#x20AC;˘ Warren & Frederick County Report â&#x20AC;˘ Mid January, 2015

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Voodoo practice is one small step away from tarot cards, which is one small step from Satanism. What is next â&#x20AC;&#x201C; should we want Front Royal recognized as an upand-coming center for the black arts?â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Tarot opponent Jane Elliot

Year in review

Wine, (witch)-craft, gypsies and fear in â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Hell Townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; By Roger Bianchini Warren County Report

A group of about a dozen people that appeared largely based in the local Catholic community made their feelings known on the subjects of gypsies, mysticism and most specifically tarot card readings at the May 27 Front Royal Town Council meeting. At issue for the contingent, who applauded the comments of three speakers during the â&#x20AC;&#x153;public concernsâ&#x20AC;? portion of the meeting devoted to non-agenda items, was the recent presence of a tarot card reader in a downtown, East Main Street business, though apparently that presence was aborted by the store owner about three weeks ago after complaints from concerned citizens. The speakers, perhaps some of the same who lodged the initial complaint to the owner of host business at 113 East Main Street, urged council to uphold an old town ordinance

against gypsies roaming the streets telling fortunes for money. Failure to do so, we were warned, raises the specter of the rise of â&#x20AC;&#x153;black artsâ&#x20AC;?, Satanism, human and animal sacrifice and a general descent into lawlessness and violence right here in River City. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Voodoo practice is one small step away from tarot cards, which is one small step from Satanism. What is next â&#x20AC;&#x201C; should we want Front Royal recognized as an up-and-coming center for the black arts?â&#x20AC;? warned Jane Elliot. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Are you prepared to designate which town alley will be the red light district; which store fronts will be drug dens; bathhouses; hold regular sĂŠances with the dead???â&#x20AC;? asked Elizabeth Poel â&#x20AC;Ś â&#x20AC;&#x153;I happen to think our ancestors were smart and what they did with town codes was well thought out,â&#x20AC;? Manuel Vincennes added in defense of Town Code Section 110-17 â&#x20AC;Ś

that drew the ire of the anti-tarot card contingent addressing council on May 27 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the Chamber of Commerce-sponsored annual Wine & Crafts Festival also felt the cold chill of a divine wind blowing the path to hell that night. The reason â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the presence of tarot card readers at past festivals, as well as alleged generally bad behavior in a public display of Satanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s game plan of non-family values in a Helltown populated by non-sacramental wine drinkers and fortune tellers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I used to attend the Wine & Mushroom (now Craft) Festivals,

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but stopped because of the nature of the festivals in recent years. There is much lewd, disgusting behavior at the festivals and I cannot subject my grandchildren to the possible and probable physical, mental and spiritual dangers therein. What indeed is this town coming to?â&#x20AC;? Poel asked council. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Last year I had to inform a town council member of what I had wit-

nessed at the 2013 Wine & Craft Festival, which did have tarot card readers as vendors,â&#x20AC;? Elliot observed, adding, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Is this is what is meant by â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Craftâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in Wine & Craft? Lewdness in speech and action, as well as public drunkenness displayed for all to see up and down Main Street on a Saturday afternoon â&#x20AC;Ś Do the members of council want this locality once again to be called Helltown?â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;Ś

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;On September 15, 1958, the new Governor of Virginia, J. Lindsay Almond Jr., in accordance with the Massive Resistance Law ordered the Warren County High School closed and removed it from the public school system.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Rev. James Kilby describes events of 1958-59

Mid January, 2015 â&#x20AC;˘ Warren & Frederick County Report â&#x20AC;˘ Page 21

Local history

Breaking segregation in Warren County schools Friends of Samuelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Public Library host Black History Month observance

Four member of the 1959 class of 23 black students who integrated WCHS are surrounded by a new generation of students who take racial integration for granted. From left in back, Matthew Pines, Jr., Suetta Dean Freeman directly in front of Pines, Ann Rhodes Baltimore and Rev. James Kilby. By Roger Bianchini Warren County Report (Writerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s note: While the events commemorated in this February Black History Month event happened in 1959, it was one of our favorite 2014

events commemorating the social history of Front Royal and Warren County â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and the now public domain art recording those events acquired by Samuels Library staff were just too good not to revisit.)

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Black students ready for a historic climb, from right Gwendolyn Baltimore Smith, Steve Travis, Archie Pines,Â Mary Coleman Washington with a fifth student obscured behind Washington. Public Domain Photos/Samuels Library Archives-Life Magazine-Grey Villet As part of Black History Month, on Feb. 27, 2014, the Friends of Samuels Public Library hosted a remembrance of the tumultuous days 55 years ago when Front Royal citizens, particularly its high school age children, found themselves at a focal point of our national history. It was a history that reflected the best and worst of human nature upon which all history is written. As court-ordered integration proceeded following a Sept. 5, 1959 decision in the U.S. Western District Court of Virginia, WCHS was the

first Virginia school officially closed by the governor under the doctrine of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Massive Resistanceâ&#x20AC;? to the federal mandate to racially integrate the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s public schools. Special guests at the library remembrance of that history included four members of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Warren 23â&#x20AC;? Class of 1959 who initially walked up the hill to integrate WCHS on February 18, 1959. The school had been closed for five months as the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s racist political hierarchy fought to preserve state authority to retain racially-segregated schools. Present from that group

of county students were Suetta Dean Freeman, Ann Rhodes Baltimore, Matthew Pines, Jr. and the Rev. James Kilby. Among others attending the library event were first and second graders from four of the five county public elementary schools, part of a new generation of students who take racial integration for granted. The events of 1958-59 described by Rev. Kilby led his father James W. Kilby and other black families in this community, with legal assistance from Richmond NAACP attorney Oliver Hill, to challenge Jim Crow segregation laws in Virginia â&#x20AC;Ś â&#x20AC;&#x153;On August 27, 1956, in response to the Supreme Court decision, the Virginia General Assembly passed â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;massive resistanceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; laws to prevent white children from attending school See HISTORY, 22 with blacks in the State of Virginia â&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;? Kilby explained to the library audience that following the September 1958 federal court order to integrate WCHS, â&#x20AC;&#x153;On September 15, 1958, the new Governor of Virginia, J. Lindsay Almond Jr., in accordance with the Massive Resistance Law ordered the

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Page 22 â&#x20AC;˘ Warren & Frederick County Report â&#x20AC;˘ Mid January, 2015

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Let us not forget that no one is born prejudiced. Prejudice is learned and can be unlearned. Prejudices are attitudes rooted in ignorance and fear of differences.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lost Class of 1959â&#x20AC;? Student Government Vice-President June Myers Jeffrey

Local history HISTORY, from 21 Warren County High School closed and removed it from the public school system.â&#x20AC;? However, on Feb. 10, 1959, Judge John Paul in Harrisonburg, Va. Ruled that Warren County High School had to open its doors to the black students, leading to that historic walk by â&#x20AC;&#x153;the Warren 23â&#x20AC;? into WCHS on Feb 18, 1959. That court battle and the eventual return of white students to WCHS in coming years was one of many steps this nation has taken and will continue to take as it continues to try and reach the ideals upon which the nation was founded, rather than simply reveling in the lowest common denominator of our collective social behavior. It seemed an oddly appropriate moment of historical reflection as state legislatures and advocacy groups across the nation battle over initiatives designed to take away, rather than expand freedoms and public rights guaranteed to all citizens in our founding national documents. Things change but they stay the same, as a sage observer of history once stated â&#x20AC;Ś Asked by an audience member how his father and the others involved had found the strength

Student Frank Grier strides up the hill amidst a horde of local and national press covering integration of WCHS and Virginiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;massive resistanceâ&#x20AC;? to it. Public Domain Photos/Samuels Library Archives-Life Magazine-Grey Villet to stand up to the virulent and often physically-threatening opposition to equal education for his and the communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s other black children, Rev. Kilby pointed to his fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s faith â&#x20AC;Ś â&#x20AC;&#x153;I believe we were anointed by our Creator for this mission â&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;? In opening his remarks Rev. Kilby recalled â&#x20AC;Ś the story of Emmitt Till,

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a 14-year-old black boy sent to visit relatives in Mississippi from his Chicago home in the summer of 1955. Till was beaten, murdered, mutilated and lynched by a mob of whites after speaking to a white woman. At Tillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s funeral in Chicago, his mother left her sonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coffin open so the nation could see the true face of the racism that murdered a 14-year-old boy for speaking â&#x20AC;&#x153;out of turnâ&#x20AC;?. Having seen photos of Tillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s battered face as he lay in his coffin, it would not have been an easy image to carry with you up that hill to WCHS in the small, racially-divided southern Town of Front Royal, Virginia in 1959 â&#x20AC;Ś Unity out of division [Warren Heritage Society Director Patrick] Farrisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s comment about the debt we own that entire generation

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While blacks were going up the hill to get an education, at the urging of adults who should have known better, white children eventually termed the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lost Class of 1959â&#x20AC;? were headed in the opposite direction into an unknown educational future. Public Domain Photos/Samuels Library Archives-Life Magazine-Grey Villet of 1959 county high school students took us back the celebration of the countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s white and black high school students of 1959 when the Massive Resistance state historical marker was dedicated on the ground of old WCHS on June 8, 2011. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lost Class of 1959â&#x20AC;? Student Government VicePresident June Myers Jeffrey told listeners that despite the division forced

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Mid January, 2015 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Page 23

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“When we put water and sewer out there we created an entity competing with our own businesses. We essentially were cannibalizing our own businesses.” – Councilman Bret Hrbek, Monday-morning quarterbacking the 1998 Corridor Agreement

Year in review

As K-Mart closing looms, town meets with corridor reps Corridor businesses urge county, town to return to negotiating table

K-mart closing looms, corridor negotiations stalled By Roger Bianchini Warren County Report Early Thursday evening, October 16, Front Royal’s mayor, one councilman and several administrative staff sat down with North Corridor business representatives to discuss a town plan to re-implement PILOT fees tied to meals and lodging taxes. The initiative reported here previously is a last-ditch effort by the town to recoup an approximate $500,000 of lost corridor revenue annually. That lost revenue came as a result of the Corridor Meals tax lawsuit that ruled the meals tax PILOT fee was not a tax on businesses, but rather customers of those businesses that brought the lawsuit, Cracker Barrel, Applebee’s and TGIFriday’s. The thinly-attended meeting came against a backdrop of the pending closing of K-Mart in the Royal Plaza Shopping Center on the town’s south side. Sources inside the store indicate a planned closing date of January 18, 2015. The closing of the town’s oldest

and largest, multi-inventory discount retailer could be viewed as a direct result of competition from North Corridor retailers like Wal-mart and Target. Those north corridor business, in fact, all North Corridor retail center commercial enterprises were enabled by the 1998 Corridor Agreement between the town and county and approved by a three-judge state panel as a state precedent-setting agreement. The agreement was seen as an alternative to a hostile annexation battle between the Town of Front Royal and Warren County over the extension of town central water-sewer utilities into the corridor. Without those utilities it is unlikely the corridor’s commercial development would have occurred … During the PILOT fee informational meeting, Hrbek told corridor business representatives, “When we put water and sewer out there we created an entity competing with our own businesses. We essentially were cannibalizing our own businesses.” Present from the corridor business

Crooked Run Center owner-developer Ed Murphy, white shirt, listens glumly. Others less than enthralled include Lido Pizza’s Annis and Allan Mailley, front row. community were Lido’s Pizza owners Annis and Allan Mailley; Brent Jackson, general manager of the Holiday Inn; Ed Katona, GM of Houlihan’s; Michael Ahrnsbrak, GM of Blue Ridge Shadows Golf Club; and Ed Murphy, principal of Realty Development Services and owner-developer of the Crooked Run Shopping Center. Murphy noted he had also been involved in development of Riverton Commons, the corridor’s other major shopping center … Told their original 2007 utility contracts made them exempt from the potential reinstitution of a 4-percent meals tax-based PILOT fee, Lido’s Annis Mailley observed that if they ever wanted to sell, the shadow of the additional PILOT fee hanging over the head of any new owner, might make sale relatively impossible. That impossibility stems from a potential combined 8-percent meals tax on top of the state’s 5.3-percent sales tax, a total of 13.3 percent on all prepared food purchases for all cor-

ridor utility contracts formulated after the lost 2009 Corridor Restaurant lawsuit. As pointed out to the Mailleys, old contracts do not transfer with ownership changes. At the outset of the meeting, Mayor Tim Darr assured those present that the PILOT fee proposal had yet to be approved by council and that the town was seeking meaningful feedback from corridor businesses on the proposal. He said that while he and the former county board Chairman Archie Fox had met numerous times on the corridor revenue issue “we could never come to a conclusion on what would be best for us and best for them.” Town Manager Steve Burke explained that the lawsuit was lost because a fee based on a tax (meals) the court ruled was a pass-through tax on customers, rather than on the business itself, was not clearly spelled out in the original water-sewer contracts … The PILOT fees were approved by the state as part of the 1998 Corridor

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Agreement to compensate the town for lost commercial tax revenue from facilitating commercial development on county land with its water-sewer utility extension. Utility contracts issued to corridor business since 2010 have stated that the town has the right to impose such a pass-through tax-based fee. And now the town appears poised to act on that condition. “Why’s that?” Murphy asked. “Because we can’t reach a resolution with the county,” Mayor Darr replied. “So, unless the town and county can sort out their differences, businesses will suffer – and I’m not saying who’s right – but it’s becoming more and more clear to me that a town-county impasse is at the root of this,” Blue Ridge Shadows GM Ahrnsbrak said … Hrbek replied that the town has explored all its options and was left with this as a potential solution to try and plug a financial hemorrhage … Town Manager Burke wrapped the meeting up by suggesting those businessmen present, as well as others in the north corridor contact county representatives to urge a return to the negotiating table with not only the town, but the corridor business community, to try and reach an equitable solution for all.

Letters to the Editor are welcome but must include the author’s name and town and should be emailed to: editor@warrencountyreport.com

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Page 24 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid January, 2015

Year in review

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RSW Jail superintendent ‘retires’ as facility opens Stunning development as tri-county jail navigates opening transition

By Roger Bianchini Warren County Report The less-than-seamless transition to a regional jail for Rappahannock, Shenandoah and Warren Counties got hit with an unexpected blockbuster on June 30, when RSW Jail Superintendent Robert Mulligan announced his “retirement”. The retirement was effective July 1, 2014, the long-anticipated target date for the RSW Jail opening. However, the three involved counties had been transferring prisoners into the new facility for about 10 days in the wake of the official ribbon cutting of June 16 and Open House that saw over 2,000 people tour the facility on June 17 … In the release issued by RSW Authority Chairman and Warren County Administrator Doug Stanley, Mulligan is quoted stating, “It is with mixed emotions I am announcing my retirement from the Law Enforcement community which began over 31 years ago. It has been a pleasure working with all of you during my career with Loudoun Sheriff ’s Office

and most recently the RSW Regional Jail. I am sad because I am sure I will miss the challenges and self-fulfillment of doing the job, but am excited about my new challenges which include improving my golf game, motorsports and fishing …” The press release adds that RSW Jail Deputy Superintendent Russ Gilkison has been appointed as Acting Superintendent. “Russ … has over sixteen years’ experience as a law enforcement professional; six of those as an executive level manager for the Loudoun County Sheriff ’s Office as the Assistant Division Commander of the Corrections Court Services Division,” the press release states. Reached by phone on July 2, Mulligan said while the retirement may have been unexpected to others, it had been his plan all along but “I saw no reason to broadcast it to everyone.” However, he added there were personal family dynamics involved in the decision. “It’s just my time,” Mulligan said, adding, “They’ll be fine without me; Gilkison’s a good guy, he trained to do the job – they’ll be fine.” …

Mulligan was hired from a field of eight candidates, five of whom were interviewed by the RSW Authority on April 15, 2013. Mulligan officially got the jail authority’s nod 10 days later. Now it’s back to the drawing board. Among bumps in the tri-county transition to a regional jail facility from which their prisoners must be transported back for county courthouse legal hearings was the transport of the wrong prisoner to a hearing in Shenandoah County on June 27 … The RSW Regional Jail is located in northern Warren County, off Route 340/522 North.

friends over ongoing operational issues. Often those issues are related to understaffing, most prominently of about 20 guards and key medical positions. Those medical vacancies are

cited as one cause of negatively-impacted medical services like access to prescription medications and treatment programs.)

Council votes to contract visioning consultant

(Writer’s note: Despite the October hiring of a permanent replacement for Mulligan, William Wilson, the RSW Jail continues to contend with complaints of inmates, family and

The London ‘Eye’ – tourism potential in action Year in review: By Roger Bianchini Warren County Report Other things than arguing about whose faith is magic and should town law comply with the U.S. Constitution actually happened at the Aug. 11 Front Royal Town Council meeting. Most prominently was a 5-1 vote, Funk dissenting, to contract the Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) to continue Front Royal’s decade-long effort to come up with a plan to move to-

ward an ideal blend of small business opportunity, citizen lifestyle and impetus toward increasing the town’s viability as a tourist destination – I guess that means it will be at least another two years before we might get our BIG Ferris wheel (I could have put that vision in motion two years ago, if they’d asked – you know, like the one in London along the Thames River). In fact, I think I’ll launch a citizen survey of my own right now on that front – please make the town aware of your preferred location for a BIG Ferris wheel in Front Royal …

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Mid January, 2015 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Page 25

Year in review

Republicans sweep ‘non-partisan’ town election Large partisan turnout may have backfired on pro-November advocates

It’s still a non-partisan Front Royal Town election by code, right?

Voters were greeted by a veritable jungle of political signage at polling places – except for sign maker Shae Parker, who rose above the political fray, and lost. By Roger Bianchini Warren County Report In a result that excited some – we thought Tom Sayre was going to hurt himself at the Warren County Government center as he attempted to simultaneously leap into the air and high-five Daryl Funk when the final precinct tally showed a Republicanendorsee sweep; disappointed others – “this town is in trouble now,” one disgruntled voter commented of a final result some believe indicates a potential partisan, ideological majority that might pursue either privatization of municipal government functions and/or consolidation with the county that would end the town’s

existence as an independent municipal entity after 226 years. In fact, a local result that mirrored gains of neo-conservative libertarian-styled Republicans in federal and state mid-term elections nationwide actually led to some Monday-morning quarterbacking of the strategy of moving town elections from standalone May, to November when national and state and partisan elections are in full swing. Elected were two Warren County Republican Committee members, incumbent and two-time Councilman Hollis Tharpe and first-time, 27year-old candidate John Connolly; and conservative independent Bébhinn Egger, at age 26 also successful

in her first run for political office. Ousted was moderate independent Vice-Mayor Shae Parker, whose campaign was marked by a perhaps too heavy reliance on ballot name recognition after six years on council. In a forest of competing campaign signs on Election Day we saw just three Parker signs while driving through town to three different polling stations. Incumbent Mayor Tim Darr was comfortably re-elected despite an aggressive write-in campaign by DUI checkpoint and things should be better advocate Jim Rogers. Darr collected 2,127 of 2,731 votes cast in the mayor’s race. The write-in total was 604 votes, though how those write-

There was a mood of almost Dark Ages despair at Democratic and independent headquarters around, not only Front Royal, but the nation on Election Night 2014. ins were divided between Rogers, Mickey Mouse, Goofy or other anticandidates wasn’t intially clear. However, final, official tallies indicated that Rogers collected 539 of the 604 write-in votes for mayor. Incumbent Republican Councilman Tom Sayre did not run for re-

election as he prepares for an anticipated run for the Shenandoah District seat on the Warren County Board of Supervisors next year if, as expected, Republican incumbent Richard Traczyk retires at the end of his current term …

Page 26 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid January, 2015

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Community

Dog Park developing an extended - canine & human - family ing “off ” (mid-afternoon or evening) hours. Acclimating often lone dogs to each other has been one of the park’s major successes. We’re finding that a majority of dogs are “rescues” which is heartening to those of us deeply involved in the animals, including those dedicated folks at the Julia Wagner animal shelter. Many of us have come to appreciate the county employees who appear to take a pride in the park’s upkeep, along with work release guys and gals from the new regional jail. Park regulars are inclined to watch out and have a poop bag ready for the relative few who don’t clean up after their dogs. Please note that dogs must be spayed or neutered to legally enter the park. The rules are posted but just a few unfixed males can make the park a dangerous place for other dogs. Females in season are also highly discouraged and calls have, on occasion, been made to the Sheriff ’s department animal control reporting violations. Citations and fines and bans from the park can follow.

Mirror image?

Jerry By Malcolm Barr, Sr. Warren County Report Almost 2-1/2 years have passed since Warren County’s Dog Park near the bank of the Shenandoah River in Front Royal was established through the energies of local artist Kelly Walker and the generosity of the Eastham family which donated the picturesque property beside the

river at the foot of Luray Avenue. As time passed, more and more owners brought their dogs, large and small, to the two parks, one of which is dedicated to the smaller and toy dogs. From an owner’s point of view - and probably the dogs’, too - the establishment of these parks is perhaps one of Warren County’s outstanding gifts to the community.

Thanks for the hydrant! Besides allowing unlimited exercise for the dogs (and some owners!), the parks have become a veritable “community center” where social gossip is exchanged and political and other views argued. Park regulars have established times, like the early morning crowd that includes Digby (owner, the Mike Graham family), Kosie, and the aforementioned Kelly

Walker with her dogs. They’re there, often rain or shine, from 7 a.m. There’s the noontime crowd which Pola and me are likely to be part of, along with Len Sherp and LuAnn Jacobs with Mugsy, Rochester, and their new adoptee, Joey. Many of us organize a small grapevine, calls back and forth assuring there will be multiple dogs at the park even dur-

1. GEOGRAPHY: What is the only Central American country that doesn’t have a coastline on the Pacific? 2. LANGUAGE: What does the Latin phrase “in media res” mean? 3. MOVIES: What movie featured the line, “The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed — for lack of a better word — is good”? 4. AD SLOGANS: What American manufacturing company once used the slogan “Quality is job one” to sell its products? 5. MUSIC: What does it mean to play notes in a “staccato” style? 6. U.S. PRESIDENTS: What was the Secret Service’s code name for Ronald Reagan? 7. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: How many official languages does the United Nations have? 8. MYTHOLOGY: Who were the Norns in Norse mythology? 9. TELEVISION: What television sitcom featured parents who were named Al and Peggy? 10. MEDICAL TERMS: What is the common name for monochromatism? Answers 1. Belize 2. In the midst of things 3. “Wall Street” (Michael Douglas) 4. Ford Motor Co. 5. Abruptly or in a disjointed manner 6. Rawhide 7. Six (English, Arabic, Spanish, Chinese, French and Russian) 8. Female beings who rule the destiny of gods and men 9. “Married With Children” 10. Complete color blindness © 2015 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Mid January, 2015 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Page 27

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Community

Dog Park ‘daddy’ files away the names of 135 canine regulars

Well, hello there!

Santa’s little helper.

Ophelia

A run for the roses By Malcolm Barr, Sr. Warren County Report Len Sherp of East Stonewall Drive is semi-retired and moved to Front Royal with wife LuAnn Jacobs for the peace and quiet not afforded in Washington’s metropolitan area where the couple once lived with daughter Libby. When the county’s dog park opened in September 2012, Len and

a small retinue of dog owners, or people owned by dogs, immediately visited the park, and have done so several times a week since. That includes me and our two Siberian huskies, the late Lola and her successor, Pola, a six-year-old rescue. It was more than a year in that I noticed Sherp’s ability to identify by name almost every dog entering the park during our visits together, and if he spotted a “strange” dog he’d in-

quire the name of the dog, his breed, and, sometimes, the name of the owner. Then, over the holidays, I thought to ask Sherp just how many dogs he “knows” by appearance and by name, and was amazed when he answered “about 125.” How many owners? Not so many. Challenged by the incredulous me, he produced a list which space limitations make impossible to re-produce here, but which I will excerpt from. Sherp begins, of course, with his own three dogs - Rochester, Mugsy, and Joey - and his daughter’s dog, Blue, who was visiting from Arlington. Also, mine - Pola, 60 pounds, and occasional visitor Ophelia, a miniature black pug weighing in at 18 pounds - the odd couple. He lists more dogs than owners, and recognizes fewer owners, by name, than dogs. Some folks, like Trevor Smith, aged around 80 and, like me, a veteran of the Royal Air Force, regularly walk the path beside the Shenandoah River but don’t enter the park. Sherp didn’t know Trevor’s full name (I did!) but he greets his two dogs with a, “Hi Mindy, hi Joey,” and Gordon and Valerie’s dog, Ras-

cal, invariably gets a warm greeting from Len. Then there’s Ripken (why Ripken? guess!); Ranger (Lab mix) and Ranger (husky); Banana (blue heeler) and Marley; K.D.; Stanley and Chloe (golden retrievers, two owned by Nancy); Florence’s Chihuahua, Itty Bitty, and mutts Milo and Mindy; Louie, the beagle; and Zona, Fossie and Dixie, three other beagles who Len can tell apart. Also Luda whose girlfriend of record is Pola; and Cody, the Papillion; and Donna’s Beau, a very large Great Pyrenean; Dean’s shy and very black Kozie; and Pablo’s very tiny and pampered Chihuahua, Rico, who Pablo actually brought in from Mexico last year. President Obama owns a Portuguese waterdog and so does a guy named Buckner, according to Sherp’s list. His name is Chesapeake and he often hangs with Guinness and Lula who owns a gal named Linda. Collette brings hounds Davis and Desmond to the park while Patty and Mike Graham are escorted by Digby; and then there’s Mosby, whose master, Mike, recently got a new job (we all cheered for Mike); plus the husky

bunch, Chief, Ranger, Brody, Aspen, Shiloh, Isla and Dobah. Annie, late of R-MA, may not be seen with Terry quite so often since she’s now in a new job at Shenandoah U., and Patty and Tory’s Rumpy has disappeared from the gang. Apple and Penny, the long-haired dachshunds, both are recognizable to Len, as is Jack, the German shepherd and Gracie, the toy schnauzer, and Leda and Levi, the two Dobermans. Sean is midday regular with Bailey, a West Highland, and Jasper, an aging “golden” who is everyone’s friend. We’ve mentioned two pugs, Ophelia and Mugsy, but we’re forgetting three others, Yoda, Mocha and Frank. My editor challenged me to get all of the dog’s names remembered by Len Sherp into a limited space, so, here goes, starting with Kristen’s Pacer, also Zak, Tank and Ollie; Ricky, Lilly and Reilly; Andy, Moose and Bonnie. Not forgetting Joy and Jerry’s Lulu; and Lola, Hetty and Woody. Then there’s Bubba, Loki, Kosmo and Augie; Remi, Calum, Duke and Harley. Also, Kona, Sophie, two Bears and Boots. A German shepherd named Wednesday (Whinny for short); and Steel, Tuck and Boy. There’s Belle, an English coon hound, and Bella, a yellow lab mix, along with Ebony, Kila, Khalish the Rottweiler, Ace, Smokey, and Tucker. Next time you’re at the park, look for the slowest dog in the neighborhood (Mugsy the pug) and the fastest dog on the park (Rochester) and maybe the smallest, named Joey, and you’ll find Len Sherp who can sure remember names, if not faces. And if you’ve read this last paragraph, I succeeded my editor’s challenge! (Editor’s note: Some of the dogs mentioned you’ll find in the photos taken by a visiting amateur photographer named Valerie Farret of Crofton, MD, who was fascinated by the plethora of Warren County dogs she met while visiting a Strasburg friend who owns the Doberman Jerry. Thanks, Valerie, for sharing.) We Mow Lawns

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Page 28 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid January, 2015

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Real estate

Distressed home sales decline 33% in Warren in 2014 By Beth Medved Waller Realtor

A quick comparison of the reported number of residential homes sold in Warren County in 2014 may cause homeowners to panic (582 total sales in 2014 vs. 678 in 2013), but rest assured last year was a landmark one in the local real estate recovery. Though the official Metropolitan Regional Information System (MRIS) 2014 reports won’t post until later this year, analysis of their numbers is quite encouraging, despite the nearly 15% decrease in the number of homes sold in the county. A historical perspective of the stabilizing sales numbers and decrease in distressed sales (short sales and foreclosures) offers a refreshing glimpse of the health of the local market as the new year begins. In 2014, the amount of standard sale closings more than doubled over 2010 numbers. A remarkable 79% of all homes sold last year (461) were neither foreclosures (91 total) nor short sales (30 total) as total closings consisted of only 21% distressed sales. Of those standard sales, the average list price was $220,000 and average days on the market for the properties were 97 days. Those are encouraging numbers, especially compared to 2011 when the average days on the market for properties in Warren was 169 days and the average sold price was $185,000. The phenomenal growth in 2012 and 2013 paved the way for a more stable market in 2014. Sellers were able to get more for their homes, and buyer frenzy slowed somewhat due to stricter lender guidelines. Though fewer first-time home buyers were in the market in 2014, there were also fewer investors competing with them and limiting their negotiating power. The change in buyer demographics, coupled with the drastically reduced discounted foreclosure and short sales listed, prompted a more steady growth in the overall market. Reported sales include 126 cash purchases, 196 conventional loans underwritten and 140 FHA/VA loans closed. Of those, 60% included sellers paying at least a portion of buyer’s closing costs and many involved 100% financed loans. Agents and buyers hope the inventory of homes will increase as the year progresses, “There are under 300 homes on the market and 55 of

them are new construction. With so many active buyers and nowhere to put them, the depleting inventory often makes home searches extremely challenging,” said Jessica Cook, a Team Waller Accredited Buyer’s Agent with Weichert, Realtors. Her counterpart Holly Goode added, “Buyers need to make the time to see anything new that comes on the market as soon as possible, especially in the lower price range. A serious buyer needs to be pre-approved by a lender so we can work quickly to present a strong offer. There are many multiple offer situations forcing buyers to write more than one offer before a contract is ratified.” Currently, there are approximately 80 homes under contract, 9 of which are new construction. Fueling the low inventory is seller’s desire to wait until spring to list. Jennifer Avery, Lead Listing Agent for Team Waller, encourages sellers to contact a Realtor this winter to brainstorm and be open to listing sooner than later while being willing to do all they can to get the home in move-inready condition. “It’s no surprise that the homes selling best are move-in ready homes which are priced right. Last year, Team Waller listings averaged 51 days on the market and sold for 96% of original list price. Those numbers prove that strategic pricing works, and show how important it is for sellers to do all they can to maximize curb appeal and position their homes to attract buyer traffic,” added Avery. Cory Michael, Owner and President of local CBM Mortgage, continues to see bidding wars on properties, which is also indicative of the low supply and high demand in Warren. Noting that it is most often less expensive to buy versus rent locally, he continues to close many 100% financing loans. He believes interest rates will climb to nearly 5% by the end of the year and has noted that buyers are not just bargain shopping, they are buying because of their genuine need for housing, which is helping the market regain its stability. The pursuit of the “American Dream” in Warren County was but a pipe dream to buyers who couldn’t afford to buy in the boom and a nightmare to sellers whose equity vanished in the bust. Finally, residents can sleep more soundly in 2015. Beth Medved Waller has been a

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real estate agent in Warren County since 2002. Throughout her career, she has been the recipient of several local, regional and national awards, including a national Top Producer for Weichert, Realtors since 2007 and the #1 Listings Sold Associate in the Weichert Capital Region. She has been in the top 5% of Realtors nationwide for Weichert, Realtors since 2004. In 2014, Beth and her colleagues with Team Waller Real Estate of Weichert, Realtors succeeded in closing over $24.7 million in sales. In addition to her real estate success, she has a passion for community and civic engagements. She has been the recipient of the “Clara Barton Award”, the “President’s Award” from the Front Royal/Warren County United Way and been named “Citizen of the Year” by the Front Royal/Warren County Chamber of Commerce.

*Statistics pulled 1/7/2015 per MRIS * Numbers based on research of Metropolitan Regional Information Systems data pulled 12/26/14-1/7/15. Team Waller and colleagues are hosting a free 2015 Real Estate Boot

Camp at 10am on 2/28 at the Warren County Community Center for citizens interested in learning more about the local market statistics, trends and sales/purchase process.

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Mid January, 2015 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Page 29

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Public safety

Crime prevention gets boost with new See Something, Send Something app

Virginia 3rd state in nation to launch safety mobile application

With the month of December being one of the busiest times of the year for the Commonwealth’s airports, highways, malls, restaurants, movie theatres, places of worship, and countless festive venues, Virginia residents are encouraged to keep their environments safe. Be-

cause suspicious activity can happen anywhere at any time, Virginians now have another means of helping safeguard themselves and their community, especially during the holiday season. Today, the Virginia State Police launched the new crime prevention mobile application See Something, Send Something®. The reporting app enables suspicious, criminal activity to be captured as a photo or written note and sent to the Virginia State Police. “The fundamentals of investigating and solving a crime haven’t changed,” said Major Rick A. Jenkins, Deputy Director of the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, at the press conference held in Prince William County, Va., Friday

to launch the app. “But, keeping the public engaged with us through the crime-solving, tip-sharing process has evolved and now so have we. This app is simply the 21st century version of the traditional telephone crime tip line or hotline.” The application, which can be downloaded at no cost for iPhone and Android phone users, also includes information on what to look for and when to report suspicious activity. The service is already available in Pennsylvania and Louisiana. The

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app does not replace 911 and should not to be used for someone needing immediate police action or to report an emergency. The photograph or information submitted by a citizen via the app goes to the Virginia State Police for review and analysis. If the tip is relevant to an ongoing criminal investigation or incident, then it will be forwarded on to the investigating law enforcement agency. If the tip is unfounded, then the information provided, and the name and phone number of the tip’s

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provider, are permanently deleted. There is no archiving of tips or collection database. The app provider, My Mobile Witness, uses patent-pending privacy protection software for safeguarding the integrity of tips and citizens’ personal information. The system allows law enforcement to engage citizens without tracking one’s location or storing personal information. Submitted tips are immediately removed from the mobile device and purged from the My Mobile Witness system once delivered to the Virginia State Police for analysis. To help encourage Virginians to download and use the app, a 30-second public service announcement has been produced and is available for viewing/download at www.vsp. virginia.gov.

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Coming Soon American Sniper Grace mouths season’s greetings, under prompting from pal and handler Stevie Foster, during Dec. 23 visit to Schewel’s Furniture Store on East Main Street in Front Royal. Grace, who co-starred with Robert Duvall in the film “Get Low”, lent some star power to Schewel’s seasonal sales. In second photo, Ridge Line Design jewelry store owner John Sweat schmoozes Grace and Stevie after spotting them in Schewel’s furniture store front window across the street from his store. Grabbing his camera, John solicited this shot with Grace and Stevie from an unnamed passer by. Footnote: Sweat and wife Gina move their antique emporium to Sperryville on Jan. 31.

Page 30 â&#x20AC;˘ Warren & Frederick County Report â&#x20AC;˘ Mid January, 2015

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Frederick County

Round Hill Ruritan: the small group with a big heart

By Sue Golden Frederick County Report Although small, the Round Hill Ruritan Club, Inc. has a big impact on the community. The Round Hill Ruritans were founded in April of 1952, making them the oldest Ruritan Club in Frederick County. They work out of a former community center, which they own, which was built in 1948. Laura Wiley Hicks, the club treasurer, says people come by all of the time remembering weddings, parties, showers and festivities of long ago held in the building on Poorhouse Road in Winchester. The club has monthly meetings and events all year. Whatever the club is doing, their focus is on helping the community. They have a yellow box outside of their building where they collect clothes, food and other contributions from their neighbors. The club members sort the donations and distribute them to the appropriate organization. The club sponsors a monthly â&#x20AC;&#x153;bazaarâ&#x20AC;? or flea market. Anyone is welcome to come and sell their wares. The club collects the $10 set up fee

as itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fundraiser. Always held on the fourth Saturday of the month, the club strives to include and support its community. For example, the Ladiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Auxiliary of the Winchester Rescue Mission sells food every month. The Ruritan Youth Club makes home made goods to sell and then donates their earnings to local charities. According to Mrs. Hicks, the club supports C-Cap, the Salvation Army, the SPCA, Frederick County Esther Boyd Animal Shelter, The Laurel Center, The Evans Home and more. They had a pet appreciation day this year during which featured pets available for adoption and a public rabies clinic. This holiday season the club took on an even larger obligation. As we recently reported, the Winchester Area Temporary Thermal Shelter, or WATTS, had commitments from local churches and other organizations to house the needy for every week of the year, with the exception of the week of Christmas. The Round Hill Ruritans stepped up to the plate and agreed to host WATTS through the holiday week. According to Mrs. Hicks, the first night was wonderful. The club house

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is decorated with for Christmas. All of the cots were moved in. The Unitarian Universalist Church in Middletown provided lasagna and salad for the twenty-eight males and seven females seeking shelter. The Ruritans provided some of the deserts. Other food sponsors for the week include Westminster Canterbury, the Beth El Congregation, the First Presbyterian Church, the Anglican Church, and the Braddock Street United Methodist Church. This list, however, does not include everyone giving their time this week. Mrs. Hicks said when

she went to help set up the cots, she expected to be setting up the cots with the help of the person delivering the cots. Instead, fifteen to twenty people were there to help. Mrs. Hicks noted that she is always surprised to find that many of the people that participate in the WATTS program have jobs; they do not make enough money to afford housing. The WATTS program will be housed at the Ruritan Club until next Monday. SPOILER ALERT: Santa Clause will be stopping by on Christmas Eve with presents for all.

The Round Hill Ruritan Clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next big project is to upgrade and make handicapped assessable their community center. The upgrade is planned for two phases. Phase one will include using the site plan that is on their website, which was already approved by Frederick County Planning and Zoning. The plan calls for an electrical upgrade, paving, curbs, gutters and handicapped parking. The second phase will include building a twenty-five by twentyfive metal addition on the back of the building. The addition will give the club more open space for meetings, banquets and other community events. The club also will move their kitchen upstairs from the basement that can flood in heavy rain. The total of the two phases is expected to cost approximately $500,000. Mrs. Hicks says the club is ready to go. They have picked a contractor and everything, they just need funds. To donate, visit their website roundhillruritan.webs. com. The Round Hill Ruritan Club, Inc. is located at 164 Poorhouse Road in Winchester. It is an all-volunteer club. Meetings take place at 7 pm on the fourth Thursday of every month. All are welcome to attend. The club house can be rented out for alcoholfree events for $125.

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Mid January, 2015 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Page 31

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Community

One man’s hunt up the ‘Family Tree’ From Ireland and Scotland to Native Americans

By Malcolm Barr Sr. Warren County Report Beneath Warren Brown’s Christmas tree Dec. 25 was the result of a year-long investigation by one of his daughters, Christina, who’d spent that time researching the Front Royal realtor’s “Family Tree.” And it turns out that dad has Irish

and Scottish aristocracy and Cherokee Indian in the background that Christine (Tina) was able to track back almost 450 years, first through her great grandfather’s side (Brown), then her great grandmother’s side (Freeman). Warren, born in Front Royal almost 65 years - his birthday is Jan. 25 - to the late Warren H. Brown

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How Secure Is Your New Tablet? Did you or anyone in your family get a tablet computer over the holidays? Was it an inexpensive one, perhaps purchased on Black Friday? If so, beware. You need to check your device for security vulnerabilities. A number of these tablets were sent out with problems that can cause you big headaches ... especially if you’ve given it to a child who intends to sign up at sites online. Bluebox (bluebox.com), whose business it is to secure mobile data, issued a report on 14 Android tablets being promoted over the big sales weekend. Eleven cost less than $50. Of the 14, only two were deemed “secure,” while the rest had varying levels and combinations of pre-installed vulnerability, security misconfigurations and even a backdoor. One was so bad that the company’s scanning program had never come across an arrangement quite like that. To see the names and models of the tablets, go to the Bluebox site and look for “Santa or the Grinch: Android Tablet Analysis for the 2014 Holiday Season.” The bugs found were FakeID, Futex, Masterkey and Heartbleed. Among Bluebox’s suggested steps to secure your mobile device for iOS:

get the latest software and check for updates; enable the security features, such as passcode, SIM card, restrictions and auto-lock; prompt to join Wi-Fi networks; and turn off Wi-Fi (and your hotspot) when you’re not using it. For the full list of suggestions, go to bluebox.com/ios-user-security-guide. For Android 4x or 5x, Bluebox has security steps for versions 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) up to 5 (Lollipop). While the iOS guide has 15 steps, there are 21 steps to securing an Android device. Tablets aren’t the only devices at risk right now. Days after the Bluebox report on tablets, another security company, Palo Alto Networks (www. paloaltonetworks.com), found a serious problem on 24 models of mobile phones, including a vulnerability that had been modified “to make it much more difficult for antivirus programs to detect the backdoor.” And that very same day, Akamai Technologies, Inc. (www.akamai. com) disclosed a new cybersecurity threat that targets iOS and Android devices, and can include tricking users into downloading malicious apps, which can lead to denial of service attacks and much, much more. Nervous yet? Take steps to safeguard your devices. Keep your software up to date, stay away from free Wi-Fi, turn off automatic steps, be careful what apps you download ... and keep an eye on children using these devices. David Uffington regrets that he cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into his column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply3@gmail.com. © 2015 King Features Synd., Inc.

January 5, 2015

Warren H. Brown Jr. traces his history

Sr., and Virginia Pauline Brown (nee Tice) who, at age 90, continues to live in Front Royal. Daughter Tina (nee Barnes) of Foley, Alabama, traced the Brown heritage back to a German couple, Hans Kurtz (b.1673) and Margarethe Harig (b.1668) and a Scottish knight, Sr James Bishop, (b. 1540) on each side of the family. A son and two daughters of the Kurtz couple landed in America in the 1700s, preceded by the grandchildren of Bishop, John Bishop and his sister Elizabeth Booker had established homes in Virginia in the mid-1600s. A daughter of John, Mary Bishop, married Sylvanus Stokes in Charles City, Virginia, in 1658. Meanwhile, Viscount William Stewart Mountjoy of County Tyrone, Ireland (1653) had gotten into the act as had Elizabeth Riley, born a century later. Elizabeth was a member of the Cherokee Nation in Kentucky. However, it was in the late 1600s that the name Brown first cropped up in the family tree - that was James Henry Brown of Ulster, Ireland. John Brown (b. 1779) appears in the “tree, the first recorded member of the Brown family” in America (Kentucky). He, with wife Catherine Cowan, produced Henry Clay Brown (b.1800) in Kentucky. Then came a series of Browns, John Henry, Mark and Henry Clay Brown among them. Henry, who died in Front Royal in 1939, brought his family to Warren County along with a wife, Frances Jane Freeman (b. 1894 d.1981), the current Warren Brown’s grandparents. The couple, who lived their lives in Warren County, produced Warren H. Brown Sr.( d.2000), the present realtor’s (Brown & Rutherford ERA) late dad. His mother is known

Page 32 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid January, 2015

Warren County

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County begins 2015 with a nod to faith-based patriotism Impacts of rising property values, commercial tax base perused

Chairman Richard Traczyk and Vice-Chair Linda Glavis

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Traczyk, who has served on the Board since January 1, 2004, previously served as Chairman in 2006 and 2007. He has expressed the intention of retiring at the end of his current term, ending December 31, 2015. Coincidentally, former Town Councilman Tom Sayre announced his first official fundraising event to replace Traczyk for January 15. While yet to endorse anyone for the seat he will have held for 12 years upon his retirement, Traczyk did recently appoint former Shenandoah Farms POA officer Ralph Rinaldi as his district’s planning commission member, observing the experience would be valuable were Rinaldi to pursue a run for his seat. “For me, this will complete 20 years of public service and 12 years as a member of the Board. It has been an interesting and fun ride,” Traczyk, a retired DuPont employee and Connecticut native, said in accepting the chairman’s seat, adding, “This Board and I have worked hard to improve dining and shopping opportunities; we have built new schools and created job opportunities. We also built a new library, new soccer fields, a new public safety building, a new baseball stadium, a new skate park, improved

• Making your own flavored yogurt is cheap and much better for you. You can avoid a lot of added sugar. Start with plain, unflavored yogurt and add: pureed fruits, toasted oats, honey, vanilla or almond extract, or plumpedup raisins (add enough hot water to cover a tablespoon of raisins and let sit for a minute or two). Yummy. • “My son was allergic to something in store-bought toothpaste, and the ones at the health-food and specialty stores seemed so expensive. I got a ‘recipe’ to make toothpaste, and it works so well that we all use it now. Just mix 1/2 cup of baking soda with a pinch of sea salt and some peppermint oil (stir in a few drops at a time). I keep it in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake a bit into a little cup, and dip your toothbrush into it. It scrubs off stains and is refreshing. The salty taste takes some getting used to, but it feels really clean for hours. Love it!” — K.S. in Florida • “A pinch of salt tossed in the coffee grounds will cut the bitterness in lower-quality coffee. This is especially useful if you get a good deal on a can of coffee that’s not your normal brand.” — P.L. in New Jersey • You can easily extend the amount of ground meat you have with lentils or oatmeal. They maintain a meaty texture and take up some of the flavor of the meat. There’s a reason Grandma used oatmeal in her meatballs, too: It helps the meat retain moisture. • “If you stick the end of your celery stalks in a cup of water and rocks (or in some very damp dirt), they will begin to regrow. This is a great way to have a never-ending supply of celery. You also can regrow scallions from the root end.” — Y.L.J. in Missouri Send your tips to Now Here’s a Tip, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475 or e-mail JoAnn at heresatip@yahoo.com.

• On Jan. 23, 1775, London merchants petition Parliament for relief from the financial hardship put upon them by the curtailment of trade with the North American colonies. Most critical to the merchants’ concerns were the 2 million pounds sterling in outstanding debts owed to them. • On Jan. 19, 1915, during World War I, Britain suffers its first casualties from an air attack when two German zeppelins drop bombs on Great Yarmouth and King’s Lynn on the eastern coast of England. • On Jan. 20, 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt is inaugurated for the second time as president. The Constitution had originally set March 4 as the presidential inauguration date to allow the winner time to travel to the nation’s capital. • On Jan. 25, 1949, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences holds its first annual awards ceremony in Los Angeles. The now-famous award statuette “Emmy” was a feminized version of “immy,” the shorthand term for the image orthicon tube that was used in TV cameras until the 1960s. • On Jan. 24, 1956, Look magazine publishes the confessions of J.W. Milam and Roy Bryant, two white men from Mississippi who were acquitted in the 1955 kidnapping and murder of black teenager Emmett Till. In August 1955, on a visit to relatives, the 14-year-old Till had allegedly whistled at a white woman who ran a store. • On Jan. 21, 1977, President Jimmy Carter grants an unconditional pardon to hundreds of thousands of men who evaded the draft during the Vietnam War. Some 100,000 young Americans went abroad, with 90 percent going to Canada. The Canadian government had instructed border guards not to ask too many questions. • On Jan. 22, 1981, the final portrait of John Lennon and wife, Yoko, appears on the cover of Rolling Stone. The photo, taken 12 hours before Lennon was assassinated, shows a naked Lennon curled up in a fetal embrace with a fully clothed Yoko. Photographer Annie Liebowitz had been told by a Rolling Stone editor, “Please get me some pictures without [Yoko].”

January 5, 2015

Officers

the South River District for the majority of her life. As a press release on her re-election noted, “She received her BS in Business Administration from Marywood College in Scranton, PA and took graduate level courses at National Judicial College in Reno, NV. Mrs. Glavis, who retired in 1996, worked a combined twenty years with the U.S. Department of Agriculture as the Director of the Warren and Rappahannock County

King Features Weekly Service

The Warren County Board of Supervisors began 2015 on January 6 with the election of a new chairman and re-election of its vice chair of the past year. Unanimously elected chairman in what is anticipated to be his last year in office was Shenandoah District Supervisor Richard Traczyk. Re-elected vice chair was South River District Supervisor Linda Glavis. In greeting the new year, Glavis’s initiative to have the motto “In God We Trust” displayed in the Warren County Government Center meeting room was unanimously passed with-

out comment or discussion as part of the day’s Consent Agenda. Asked about the impetus for the initiative, Glavis replied with a note referencing an e-mail exchange between the Page County Board of Supervisors and the chairwoman of a national “In God We Trust” municipal initiative congratulating Page on joining the program. Glavis commented, “I liked the idea of showing our patriotism, as apparently all board members did … I prefer to focus on things that unite us with our nation and other localities rather than divide.” We replied, asking if non-believers or even non-Christians might find

the road system in the Shenandoah Farms … Warren County has come a long way in past 12 years and I couldn’t be prouder …” Traczyk also expressed hope the county and town elected boards could work toward improved relations in the coming year despite past differences, particularly surrounding north corridor revenue issues (see our Year in Review). Glavis, serving the final year of her second four-year term, was born and raised in Warren County, residing in

January 5, 2015

By Roger Bianchini Warren County Report

such a display exclusive, rather than inclusive. We have yet to hear back from the vice chairman on that query. Online research indicated the “In God We Trust” initiative is part of a recent effort originating in Bakersfield, California, to have all local governments nationwide display the motto. In God We Trust was adopted by the U.S. Congress as a “national motto” to be displayed on paper currency in 1957 during the height of the Cold War with the officially atheistic Soviet Union. According to the US Treasury website, the initiative to have a similar acknowledgement displayed on U.S. coinage originated with Christian activists in 1864 during the U.S. Civil War. “Can we do this?” was Glavis’s notation accompanying the in God We Trust-Page County exchange forwarded to county staff on December 26, 2014. Apparently without much research or discussion of the origins or advisability, particularly in a community still reeling from several contentious faith-based public policy debates (see Year in Review), they could and did. We will explore the history, impetus and reactions to this effort in future editions.

Read full issues FREE on www.WarrenCountyVA.com & www.FrederickCounty.com

Mid January, 2015 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Page 33

“I liked the idea of showing our patriotism, as apparently all board members did … I prefer to focus on things that unite us with our nation and other localities rather than divide.” – WC Board Vice-Chair Linda Glavis on ‘In God We Trust’ initiative offices (now known as Farm Service Agency), and an additional six years with the USDA in Washington, D.C.” Glavis, who retired from the federal government in 1996, began her political career after her husband, retired State Department official George Glavis’s planned run for local office was aborted by Hatch Act re-

strictions on federal employee’s seeking partisan elected office. Short-term rentals In other business also explored in our Year in Review section, the board unanimously voted to deny the short-term rental application of

DEAD

a High Knob couple, Keith and Kimberly Hartke, while approving advertisement for three other short-term rental applications for public hearings. The consensus opinion was that the Hartke application, like Tareq Salahi’s denied previously in a neighboring mountainside gated commu-

ALIVE

Warren County wanted for be eing inefﬁcient, unreliable and da angerouss!

Warren County nity, would negatively impact the character of the neighborhood and the expectations of other residents for a longer-term residential ambience. However, Salahi has promised a legal challenge of his denial, citing the rights of property owners and disputing the stereotyping of shortterm rental users as inconsiderate, frat-party revelers unwilling to observe basic neighborhood or county regulations or behavioral guidelines. Perhaps seeing the writing on the wall from earlier board discussion as their application was put on hold to ascertain potential legal implications, the applicants were not present to give their arguments a final shot. Unlike the Hartke application, which was forwarded by the planning commission with a unanimous recommendation of denial, the three applications forwarded for public hearing were all recommended for approval by the planning commission. The essential difference appears to be a general lack of organized, neighboring opposition to those applications by James Hueser, Joseph Chirico and Gooney Lodge Partners. Reassessments County Administrator Doug Stanley also noted the approaching end of the county’s real estate reassessments. The board also discussed potential implications on the county’s tax rates. By law, a municipality must adjust its taxes up or down to keep the tax rate revenue neutral to reas-

sessment impacts on property values and tax payments unless a public hearing to justify increased or decreased revenue on the municipal revenue stream is held. Stanley noted an average 3.4% increase on county assessments in town and a 7.4% increase on real estate outside the town limits. Commercial-industrial base The county administrator also commented on the impact of the addition of the Dominion Power plant on the county’s industrial commercial tax base. “The community has previously set a goal for the community – included in the comprehensive plan – to achieve a commercial / industrial tax base of 30 – 35%. At the end of the 2015 Reassessment the County has a total percentage of 18% - a commercial/Industrial value of $774,954,000 out of $4,373,802,900 in total real estate value.” However, Stanley added, “This figure does not including the partial valuation of the Dominion ‘s Warren County Power Plant. Based on the investment of $1.1 billion we anticipate the facility having an initial value of $900,900,000 ($900-million900-thousand) or 90% of the investment. This value will be confirmed by the SEC in the 1st quarter of 2015. Based on this estimated valuation, we anticipate the commercial-industrial percentage increasing to 32.90%. The Community should be congratulated for obtaining this long sought after goal,” Stanley concluded.

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Page 34 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid January, 2015

To advertise in Warren & Frederick County Report, Contact: Alison at alisond@warrencountyreport.com • 540-551-2072 or Angie Buterakos at fcrwcr@gmail.com • 540-683-1847

Briefs Randolph-Macon Academy January Open House Randolph-Macon Academy will host a community-wide open house on Monday, January 19, 2015; with tours beginning at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Students interested in attending the Academy are encouraged to attend with their parents. Attendees will receive a tour of the campus and meet with admissions counselors, teachers, and students. Reservations are strongly encouraged. For more information or to RSVP, please call (540) 636-5484, e-mail admission@ rma.edu, or sign up online at www. rma.edu/open-house. 2015 Westminster Dog Show Raffle to benefit the Humane Society of Warren County. For a donation of $10 you get a chance to win $350. Each ticket will be randomly assigned an AKC dog breed. If your breed wins Best in Show you win the prize. Breeds will be posted on our Facebook page, “Humane Society Warren County Front Royal VA.” Winners will be contacted on February 18th. Tickets can be purchased at the shelter located at 1245 Progress Drive in Front Royal, VA. The shelter is open 10am4pm 6 days a week, closed only on Wednesdays. PiYo at the Warren County Parks and Recreation Department PiYo is a dynamic form of exercise that is based on the practices of Pilates and Yoga. PiYo is set to music, is fun and accessible for people of all ages and fitness levels. PiYo builds strength and flexibility without the use of equipment. Class Schedule: Wednesdays from 7:00pm - 8:30pm; Saturdays from 9:00a - 10:30am Cost is $5.00/class/person. Classes are held at the Warren County Health and Human Services Complex Cafe,

465 W. 15th Street Front Royal, VA 22630 (Old Warren County Middle School). For more information contact Jessica Hrbek at jessicahrbek@ gmail.com.

WC Community Center at (540) 635-1021, Monday through Saturday, 8am -10pm and Sundays, 1pm -9pm or visit us on the web at www. warrencountyva.net.

Father-Daughter Valentine Dance

Disney on Ice: Worlds of Fantasy Bus Trip

It’s been said that a young girl’s first love is her father. Join us for an evening together for dads and their daughters of all ages enjoying Valentine’s decorations, light refreshments and music to dance to! What better way to make memories of little girls dressed up and fathers giving corsages. A photo booth will be onsite to save these memories of daughters learning how a gentleman treats a lady. Semi-formal attire is encouraged. This program is being offered for those daughters that are 12 years of age or younger. Cost for dance is $15.00; additional daughter fee of $5.00/each. The dance will be limited to 100 participants, so pre-registration is recommended. The dance will be held at the Warren County Community Center, Friday February 6, 2015, 7:00pm – 9:00pm. For more information, call the Warren County Community Center, Monday through Saturday, 8:00am –10:00pm and Sunday, 1:00pm 9:00pm at (540) 635-1021. Detroit Pistons Vs Washington Wizards Bus Trip Warren County Parks and Recreation Department will sponsor a bus trip to see the Washington Wizards take on the Detroit Pistons on Saturday, February 28, 2015 at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. Bus will leave from the Warren County Community Center at 4:30pm; game time is 7:00pm. Cost is $60.00 per reservation, includes admission ticket, transportation and a free Washington Wizards t-shirt. Limit 6 tickets per household. Only 32 tickets available. For more information contact the

2014 Was a Good Year for Trees By Sandra Wilson, President FR/WC Tree Stewards for 2014

Ask Stewart

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The Front Royal/Warren County Tree Stewards had a busy 2014, volunteering 1,864 hours for a benefit to our community of approximately $42,000. Obviously we think trees are an important part of what makes our town and county a beautiful place to live. Also, among other things, trees provide shade and reduce energy costs in the summer, they help prevent erosion, and they provide wildlife habitat. One of our primary missions is to educate the public about trees and we do that in a number of ways. We had our annual All About Trees course in the Fall. This

Come experience a magical Disney fantasy on ice! Rev up for non-stop fun with four of your favorite Disney stories at Disney on Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy. Thrill to high speed stunts as Lightning McQueen, Mater and the crew of Disney/Pixar’s Cars race across the ice. Laugh along with Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear in a fun-filled Toy Story 3 adventure. Dive into The Little Mermaid’s enchanting undersea kingdom and enter the mystical world of Pixie Hollow with Tinker Bell and the Disney Fairies as they reveal the magic that lies within! Bus will leave from the Warren County Community Center at 2pm for the live action adventure at the Verizon Center, in Washington D.C. on Sunday, February 15, 2015; show time is 4:30pm. Cost is $58.00 per reservation, includes admission ticket and transportation. Limit 6 tickets per household, and 32 reservations are available. Reservations will only be accepted at the Warren County Community Center, 538 Villa Ave, Front Royal, Virginia, Monday through Saturday, 8am -10pm or Sunday, 1pm-9pm. For more information contact the Warren County Community Center at (540) 635-1021 or visit us on the web at www.warrencountyva.net.

Bus will leave from the Warren County Community Center at 10:00am; game time is 12:30pm. Cost is $70.00 per reservation, includes admission ticket, transportation and a free Washington Capitals t-shirt. Limit 6 tickets per household. Only 32 tickets available. For more information contact the WC Community Center at (540) 635-1021, Monday through Saturday, 8am -10pm and Sundays, 1pm -9pm or visit us on the web at www. warrencountyva.net. Piano Lessons A fun and inspiring approach to piano and the basics of music as you can learn to read music, play by ear, and be creative at the keyboard. Both Classical and Pop music styles are offered. Playing piano develops the life skills of discipline, goal-setting and independent learning. Private lessons are available for children and adults. Early afternoon lesson times are available for homeschooled students. Session will be held from January through April. Monday from 3:30pm

- 6:00pm; Tuesday from 1:00pm 6:30pm; Wednesday from 3:30pm 7:00pm; and Thursday from 2:00pm - 7:00pm. All classes are held at the Warren County Community Center. Fees vary. For more information or to register, contact Barbara Stepp at barbara@ skylinepiano.com or (540) 635-1919. Couponing Class for beginners Couponing for beginners is a course to teach valuable ways to use coupons and decrease everyday costs of groceries, health and beauty, and cleaning products. You will also learn how to stock pile these items. This class will cover store policies, store rewards, reward programs, where to find coupons, how to compile a coupon binder, how to sort coupons, and how to receive freebies. This course is being held on Friday, January 16, 2015 from 6:00pm -9:00pm at the Warren County Community Center. Cost is $25.00 per participant (cash only, non-refundable). Pre-registration is required, as space will be limited to 50 particiSee BRIEFS, 36

Nashville Predators Vs Washington Capitals Bus Trip Warren County Parks and Recreation Department will sponsor a bus trip to see the Washington Capitals take on the Nashville Predators on Saturday, March 28, 2015 at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. is our largest education event each year. We had information tables and displays at the town festivals and the Farmers Market. We also had fun at the Shenandoah River Fest in August where we had activities for children called Trees Are Cool. The Tree Stewards maintained and planted more trees in the Happy Creek Arboretum along Commerce Avenue across from the flea market. This is a lovely place to walk and the trees are labeled along the trail for you to enjoy. The Tree Stewards participated in Arbor Day on April 26. Front Royal was designated a Tree City USA for the 15th consecutive year and received a Growth Award for the 16th year for exceeding Tree City USA requirements. A White Swamp Oak was planted in the Happy Creek Arboretum as part of the annual celebration. Our Royal Shenandoah Greenway

committee continued to push for a circular walking trail of over four miles through the town and county. The Town of Front Royal celebrated the completion of the greenway along Happy Creek from South Street to Criser Road and posted Royal Shenandoah Greenway signs. This is a beautiful trail, and it provides a great way for town residents to walk to Samuels Library, Burrell Brooks Park, and Ressie Jeffries Elementary School. It also provides a path for people who live along Criser Road to walk in to downtown. The Tree Steward’s website, www. treesfrontroyal.org, has a great deal of information about trees and Tree Steward activities. There is information about tree care and about why to hire an arborist and a link to how to find one. Please contact us through the website with questions and for more information.

The Front Royal/Warren County Tree Steward program began in 1997 with volunteers dedicated to improving the health of trees by providing educational programs, tree planting and care demonstrations, and tree maintenance throughout the community. The group now consists of over 30 active members with several interns working toward becoming certified tree stewards from our annual “All About Trees Class”. Each month Stewart will answer a question from our readers. Please forward it to “Stewart” in care of: frwctreestewards@comcast.net and we may publish it in a future issue. Please visit our website at:

www.treesfrontroyal.org

Mid January, 2015 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Page 35

Read full issues FREE on www.WarrenCountyVA.com & www.FrederickCounty.com

To advertise in Warren & Frederick County Report, Contact: Angie Buterakos at fcrwcr@gmail.com • 540-683-1847 or Alison at alisond@warrencountyreport.com • 540-551-2072

Public Diversions safety

Call in a tip on a crime and you may Receive a reward of up to $1,000 *You will remain anonymous* www.crimesolvers.us

540-665-TIPS

CRIME OF THE WEEK

Frederick County Crime of the Week - January 5, 2015 This week’s Crime of the Week involves a burglary and grand larceny at Fresh Cut Lawn Service, located at 2122 N. Frederick Pike. On December 29, 2014, an employee came to the business and noticed an outbuilding had been broken into and a utility trailer was missing. Upon further checking, he noticed two EX-Mark Zero Turn mowers were also missing, along with two Stihl chain saws. The trailer is described as a 2008 Holm, black in color, approximately 6-1/2 X 14 feet, with a cage in the front. If you have any information regarding a suspect or suspect vehicle in this incident, please contact the Crime Solvers Hotline at (540) 665TIPS (8477). Information leading to the arrest of a suspect may result in a reward of up to $1,000. Incident #14007265 Investigator Darrin W. Bursey

Winchester Crime of the Week - December 29, 2014 The Winchester Police Department is investigating a breaking and entering that happened at Centenary United Church of Christ located at 202 South Cameron Street. On December 14th officers responded to the church and were advised that subjects entered the church over the past couple of weekends and took food items from the church’s food pantry. The wine used for communion was also taken. If you have any information regarding a suspect or suspects in these incidents, please contact the Crime Solvers Hotline at (540) 665TIPS (8477). You can remain anonymous. Information leading to the arrest of a suspect may result in a reward of up to $1,000. Incident #14048704, Master Patrol Officer South

Winchester Man Arrested for Crimes Against Children The Winchester Police Department arrested a man Monday night for sexually assaulting children. LaMarcus Thomas, 30, is charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault against children. The victims in this case are a 12-year-old male and 14-year-old male from Winchester. The alleged crimes occurred on October 11th. Thomas was arrested just after 6 p.m. Monday night in LaMarcus Thomas the 500 block of North Loudoun Street and taken to the Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center where he was held without bond. This case remains under investigation by the Criminal Investigations Division. Anyone with information on this case should contact the Crime Solvers HOTLINE at 540-665-TIPS or Detective C.W. Coleman of the Winchester Police Department at 540-545-4704.

Page 36 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid January, 2015

Read full issues FREE on www.WarrenCountyVA.com & www.FrederickCounty.com

To advertise in Warren & Frederick County Report, Contact: Alison at alisond@warrencountyreport.com • 540-551-2072 or Angie Buterakos at fcrwcr@gmail.com • 540-683-1847

Briefs BRIEFS, from 34 pants For more information please contact Rhonda Williams at (540) 6716275, pre- registration is required and is only being accepted at the Warren County Community Center at (540) 635-1021, Monday through Saturday, 8am -10pm and Sunday, 1pm -9pm. Gymnastic Classes The Warren County Parks and Recreation Department will be accepting registrations for their Gymnastics classes, for those ages 4 years and older beginning Monday, January 5, 2015. Beginner through Advanced and Boys’ classes will be available. • Beginners: Girls 4 year olds & up (no experience) from 9:00am - 10:00am • Intermediate I: All ages (see back of reg. form for requirements) from 10:00am –11:00am • Intermediate II: 11+ years (see back of reg. form for requirements) from 12:00pm – 1:00pm • Advanced: All ages (see back of reg.

form for requirements) from 1:00pm – 2:00pm • Boys: 4 year olds & up from 2:00pm – 3:00pm Classes will be held at the Warren County Health and Human Services Complex gym on Saturdays, March 21 through May 9, 2015. Cost is $82.00 per child and includes uniform. For more information contact the Warren County Community Center, Monday through Saturday, 8:00am -10:00pm and Sunday, 1:00pm 9:00pm at 540-635-1021. Registration will be accepted until March 6. NO registration will be accepted after March 6, 2015 regardless of class size. Hand-Formed Pottery for Kids This class provides youth with the opportunity to try working with clay and teaches the basics of the color wheel. DAY ONE of this two part class will consist of participants hand-forming a pottery piece of their choice; create bowls, jewelry holders, plates, etc. DAY TWO will be spent painting the previously created masterpiece in any way the participant desires. This course will be held on Fridays, February 20 & 27, 2015 from 6:00pm -8:00pm at the Warren County Community Center. Course fee is $10.00 and covers the cost of all materials. This course is open to ages 8-17 and is limited to 15 participants Registration information can be obtained by contacting the Warren County Community Center at (540)

635-1021 or via email at wcccinfo@ warrencountyva.net. Tot Tumbling Class The Warren County Parks and Recreation Department is accepting registrations for their Tot Tumbling Program, for those ages 4 years and younger. This program is geared to provide a safe environment for children to become confident as they develop fundamental movement skills and to encourage participation in physical fitness. Classes will be held at the Warren County Health and Human Services Complex Café on Mondays 12pm12:40pm or 6pm-6:40pm, beginning March 31 through May 5, 2014. Cost is $62.00 per child for the 6 week session with a 10 participant limit per class. Parent must accompany child. For more information contact the WC Community Center office, Monday through Saturday, 8:00am -10:00pm and Sunday, 1:00pm – 9:00pm at (540) 635-1021. Dare to Dream grants now accepting applications Applications are now being accepted for the Front Royal Women’s Resource Center’s annual 2015 Dare to Dream Grants. Grants up to $1,000 are presented each year to local women to help make their dreams come true. The grants are available to women living in Warren County, ages 18 years and older, not currently enrolled in high school. Applications are accepted until January 16. The re-

Spay Today Need to get your cat or dog spayed or neutered? Contact Spay Today, our area’s non-profit, reduced-price spay and neuter program. At the time of surgery, initial shots and tests can also be obtained at lower rates.

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2013 Toyota Corolla for sale, 4-cyl, dohc 16 valve, 4sp-auto, AM/FM/CD/Bluetooth, Magnet grey/bl int., 16” spoke alloy wheels, $15,000/Neg. 540-636-0490 or 540-6310539 leave message

Temporary Housing, Front Royal, Mountain Lodge, furnished, 2BR,2BA, Avail.Dec.10, $2,400/mo. Includes all utilities/maid. Call 703-860-2711 MISCELLANEOUS

1994 Chevrolet Van, 3/4 ton high top conversion. 350 V8. Runs Great $1000 Call 540459-1748 1981 C30 1 ton Dually 350ci 4sp 75220 org miles, mechanics bed & top, runs needs some work--540-660-2913 EMPLOYMENT Current Job Openings. Contact the VEC for additional information at 540-722-3420 or 540-535-2875 or Winchester@vec.virginia. gov. Please enter “Employer Services” in the subject line and job number and title when you inquire about the position: Current Job Openings. Contact the VEC for additional information at 540-722-3420 or 540-535-2875 or Winchester@vec.virginia. gov. Please enter “Employer Services” in the subject line and job number and title when you inquire about the position: Job Number / Title 515996 / Industrial Electrician 515971 / Supply Chain Area Supervisor 515778 / Driver 515736 / Retail Sales Rep. 515516 / FORKLIFT OPERATORS-STRASBURG VA 515556 / Assembly Technician 515568 / Assembly Technicians 515532 / Operations Associate-Shipping/ Receiving 515547 / Warehouse Supervisor 515537 / Full Time Local Pickup & Delivery Driver(CDL-A) 515538 / Extra Board Driver 515387 / Field Technician 515172 / Direct Care Professional 515256 / Assistant Manager Fast Food 515257 / Block Person 515267 / Cashier JOB FAIR Scott’s Lawn Service, a division of Scott’s Miracle Gro Corp and a Fortune 750 company, the nation’s leader in the Lawn and Garden industry, is currently seeking Outside Sales Reps (510246), customer service reps (510397) and Lawn Technicians (510365) in our Sterling, VA office. AT THE VEC, WINCHESTER OFFICE, 100 PREMIER PLACE, 540 535-2875, Thursday, January 15, 2015 10am to 1pm. No experience necessary; complete training provided. Come grow with us! You may apply using the job numbers above on the Virginia Workforce Connection (www.vacw.virginia.gov). Please register on the VWC website prior to the job fair. Sales Manager needed for Winchester/Frederick County area. dan@AreaGuides.com Sales representatives needed for Winchester/Frederick County area. Contact dan@AreaGuides.com Looking for Nail Tech Instructor/ Nail Tech willing to teach. For more info.. visit Star Beauty School Tuesday-Friday 10 am to 6 pm at 2263 Valor Dr. Winchester, VA.

Masonic ring with two .4 caret diamonds, ruby with mason emblem. 14k gold. Appraises at over $7,000. Asking $4000.00. Call 540-662-9023 Woodcarver tools/supply sale: supply of wood, design and project books, sharpening stones, glove, misc. knives and other items (many new and unused). Total of $850+ original cost; sell 4 $400. Contact: 540868-2623 Mercury outboards; 20 hp $800.00, 10 hp $500.00, Prentice vise “old 108” 6” jaws $1000.00, Helen Jean Smith 1987 framed Edinburg print $400.00, John J Pershing 1927 signed photo to General Passaga $1600.00, Antique Oak Ice box, 3 door org wheels $1200.00; Aluminum Light Poles 12’ tall x 4” od, square anchor, call 540-6602913 Honeywell R22 tank with about 25 to 27 lbs of freon left. Only used to charge one heat pump. Will sell remaining for $325, price is negotiable. Call 540-683-1847. Located in Front Royal. Cookie Jars, Aunt Jamima and others, assorted prices. Old wicker baby stroller, $100. Big ceramic owl, $50.00. Canning jars $4 each. Old Schwinn girls bicycle, $50 and need tires. Long Time Collections for sale: Carnival Glass, Pottery; E. Texas, Roseville, Depression glass (green and pink), Jewelry from the 50’s and forward. Call 540-635-1612

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Mid January, 2015 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Page 37

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Death notices

Melvin David Boone, Sr., 86, of Winchester, VA died Monday, January 5, 2015 at the Winchester Medical Center. Geraldine Delia “Gerry” Brown, 82, of Middletown, VA, died Wednesday, December 31, 2014 at her residence. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 2654 Valley Ave #B, Winchester, VA 22601. Randy R. Willis, 54, of Winchester, passed away on Monday, January 5, 2015. Memorial contributions may be made to Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 W. Cork Street, Winchester, VA 22601. Leslie Raymond “Cuse” McKee, 75, of Stephenson, VA went home to be with his Savior, January 1, 2015 at his residence, surrounded by his loving family. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Galilee Christian Church Building Fund, 1831 Welltown Road, Clear Brook, VA 22624, Old Stone Church Cemetery, 858 Green Springs, Winchester, VA 22603 or Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 West Cork Street, Winchester, VA 22601. Barry Alan Kittoe, Sr., 66, of Winchester, VA, passed away on Tuesday, December 30, 2014 in the Winchester Medical Center. Hilary Lombardo, 65, of Winchester, VA died Monday, December 29, 2014 at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Memorial contributions may be made to Area 13 Special Olympics of Virginia, 107 N. Kent Street, Winchester, VA 22601. Kevin Patrick Doherty, 59, of Winchester, died suddenly Friday, January 2, 2015 in Winchester as the result of a bicycle accident. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Kevin’s name to Friends of the Washington & Old Dominion Trail or to a charity of one’s choice. Ruby Reuia Shipe White, 84, of Frederick County, Virginia, died Monday, January 5, 2015, at Winchester Medical Center. Memorial Contributions may be made to the SPCA, 115 Feather Bed Lane, Winchester, Virginia, 22601 or Esther Boyd Animal Shelter, 161 Fort Collier Road, Winchester, Virginia, 22603. Donald “Don” Clair Utz, 69, of Frederick County, Virginia, died suddenly Monday, January 5, 2015, at Winchester Medical Center. Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church, Jubilee Kitchen, 116 South Loudoun Street, Winchester, Virginia 22601. June Elizabeth Wheeler, age 94, of Winchester, Virginia, passed away on Sunday, January 4, 2015, at the Winchester Medical Center. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Grace Lutheran Church, 26 W. Boscawen St., Winchester, VA 22601.

cipients will be announced in March. Applications are available at Samuel’s Public Library and The Front Royal Women’s Resource Center office (316 N. Royal Avenue, upstairs from St. Luke’s Clinic). You may also download an application from the FRWRC website http://www.frwrc.org or call the office at (540) 636-7007. If you have a dream or know someone in your life who has a dream and needs a financial boost to make it happen, this is your opportunity. Farm Bill Meetings Scheduled Two meetings have been scheduled to provide farmers, farmland owners, and other interested people information about the 2014 Farm Bill. The first meeting is scheduled for January 14 at Peter Muhlenberg Middle School in Woodstock beginning at 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. The second meeting is scheduled for January 15 at the Boyce Fire Hall from 1:00 until 3:00 p.m. Participants do not need to attend both meetings (the same information will be presented at both meetings). There is no need to register in advance. If there is inclement weather, please call the Warren County Office of Virginia Cooperative Extension ((540) 635-4549) or the Shenandoah County Office of Virginia Cooperative Extension (540) 459-6140). The Farm Bill was signed into law early in 2014. The purpose of these meetings is to provide participants information about changes in farm programs that are relevant to people in this area. Speakers will include representatives from three different agencies within the U.S. Department

Diversions Briefs

of Agriculture. Mike Liskey with the Natural Resources Conservation Service will review requirements of cropland determined to be highly erodible (HEL) and how this affects eligibility for USDA programs. He also will provide information about changes to the EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program), WHIP (Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program), and the FRPP (Farm and Ranchland Protection Program). Jeanette Smith with the Farm Service Agency will provide information about changes associated with Disaster Programs and Farm Programs. Finally, Bob Swanson with the Farm Service Agency will provide information about several USDA programs designed to help both new and existing farmers secure loans.

view the 2015 Rules and guidelines and register online. A sample of the talent and background music must be included with the application (if needed) as a URl or MP3. Tickets for the three audition events are available online and at the festival office, 135 N. Cameron St., Winchester. The Apple Blossom’s Got Talent event is being sponsored by Car Credit Nation and PMSI. The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival will be held April 24th to May 3rd, 2015. Prizes awarded at the final event include first place, $5,000; second place, $1,500; and third place, $500. For full details on all Festival news and events, go to www.thebloom.com.

“Apple Blossom’s Got Talent!” is Back with the First Auditions

The Winchester City Sheriff ’s Office Law Enforcement Explorer Post is open to local youth ages 11-18 years of age with an interest in learning more about careers in the field of law enforcement. The group meets every first and third Tuesday from 68 pm at the Joint Judicial Center (5 North Kent Street). Law Enforcement Exploring provides educational training programs for young adults on the purposes, mission and objectives of law enforcement. The program provides career orientation experiences, leadership opportunities and community service activities. Explorers will develop: Leadership skills, Respect for police officers and fellow explorers, New personal skills, Marksmanship, Law enforcement protocols, Explorers will learn: Accident scene procedures, Bomb threat response, Proper equipment usage, Other law enforcement procedures For more information about this free program, please call Winchester City Sheriff ’s Office at (540) 6675770.

The first round of auditions for the 2015 “Apple Blossom’s Got Talent!” competition will be held at 7p.m. on January 14, at the Bright Box Theatre, 15 N. Loudoun Street on the Old Town Walking Mall. Two other nights of auditions will be held on February 11 and March 11, with semi-finals on April 8, 2015. The finals will be on April 29, 2015. A maximum of 30 contestants will be selected to perform at each of the three auditions. Ten winners will be chosen at all three auditions to compete in the semi-finals. Twelve contestants will be selected for the final contest on April 29, during the 88th Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival®. Deadline for registration for the first competition is January 11. You can

Sheriff’s Explorer Program

Christmas Tree Collection Put your tree on the curb & the City of Winchester will pick it up for recycling (no decorations) on January 14th. For more information, contact Public Works at (540)667-1815. New Council meeting schedule The Winchester City Council has adopted a new meeting schedule to improve efficiency and reduce the need for special meetings. The new schedule, which became effective as of January 1, 2015, is as follows: Regular Meetings - 2nd and 4th Tuesday at 6 pm (aired live on cable channel 6 and replayed the following Thursday at 6 pm) Work Sessions - 2nd and 4th Tuesday at 7 pm or immediately following the Regular Meeting (if runs past 7

pm). Work Sessions are informal and provide Council with an opportunity to discuss matters in depth before taking an official vote at the Regular Meetings. Man Posing as Clarke County Deputy Scams Local Residents A man who is claiming to be a Clarke County Deputy is scamming local residents out of money. The Winchester Police Department has received two reports of a male calling local residents and claiming to be “Michael or Mike Crawford” from the Clarke County Sheriff ’s Office. He tells the victim that she missed federal jury duty and that if she loads money on a prepaid card he can get rid of the warrant for her arrest. The first victim, a 44-year-old from Winchester, loaded $100 onto a card and gave the suspect the card information over the phone. The second victim, a 57-year-old from Bluemont, loaded $489 onto the card and gave the suspect the numbers on the card. There are hundreds of scams circulating that involve requests for money to be wired or loaded onto a prepaid card. Winchester Police remind residents to be suspicious of any request for you to wire money or load money onto a prepaid card. You should never wire or send money to someone you don’t know. If someone calls you and claims to be a local law enforcement officer, hang up and call the agency directly. If you believe you have been a victim of this phone scam contact the police department to make a report. Suspects arrested in connection to stolen vehicle Front Royal Police Chief Norman Shiflett announced that two local subjects have been arrested in connection with a stolen vehicle reported on November 30, 2014. The vehicle was left unsecure in the 700 block of Braxton Road when it was taken in the early evening hours of November 29th. Chief Shiflett advised that 19 year old Brandon Pownall and a 16 year old juvenile male, both of Front Royal, have been arrested and charged with Grand Larceny. The two suspects were walking the streets in town and pulling on car doors. A vehicle was located with an unlocked door and a key to the vehicle was located in the center console. The vehicle was recovered several days later in the Walmart parking lot north of town. Chief Shiflett stated that his Criminal Investigations Division worked tirelessly and combed through many leads, which led them to the suspects. This is a reminder to be pro-active by removing any valuable items from inside your vehicle and locking your car doors.

Page 38 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid January, 2015

To advertise in Warren & Frederick County Report, Contact: Alison at alisond@warrencountyreport.com • 540-551-2072 or Angie Buterakos at fcrwcr@gmail.com • 540-683-1847

Calendar Friday, January 9 Forecast 36° | 5° 12pm - 1pm A Little Noon Music. Handley Library Auditorium, Winchester. This format allows for area workers and residents to attend the concert during their lunch hour. January’s featured performance will be by Mike Hoffman, a ragtime-style piano player. Contact Barbara Dickinson at (540) 662-9041 ext. 31 or email friends@handleyregional.org, for details. Saturday, January 10 Forecast 27° | 12° Young Naturalist Program -- CSI: Solving Crimes with Nature. Blandy Experimental Farm, Blandy Farm Lane, Boyce. The Young Naturalist Program – CSI: Solving Crimes with Nature at Blandy Experimental Farm begins January 10th with naturebased activities, crafts, and games. Grades 1st through 3rd meet from 9 a.m. till 11:30 a.m. and Grades 4th through 6th meet from 12:30 p.m. till 3p.m. Evidence from nature is often helpful in solving crimes and other mysteries. You’ll use animal teeth marks, fingerprints, plant parts,and more to solve mysteries and simulated crimes. Come test your inner Sherlock Holmes! The cost is $22 per session ($17 for members of theFoundation of the State Arboretum). Parents who register for four ormore spaces in this five-Saturday series pay only $20 per session ($15for FOSA members). Pre-registration is required. Register online at http:// blandy.virginia.edu, call (540) 8371758 Ext. 224, or download a registration form atwww.blandy.virginia. edu. For program details, call Steve Carroll at (540) 837-1758 Ext. 287. 7am – 11am Pancake Breakfast & Bake Sale. Riverton United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. Adults – $6.00; Children Under 10 – $3.00. Come enjoy pancakes, sausages, scrambled eggs, biscuits, sausage gravy, juice, and coffee. 6:30pm - 9:30pm Bingo. North Fork Resort Associates, 301 North Fork Road, Front Royal. Doors open at 4:30pm, early bird games begin at 6:30pm. Food and drinks are available at the North Fork Resort Cafe. Progressive games, raffles, queen of hearts. Benefits the North Fork Shenandoah River Restoration Foundation. Monday, January 12 4:30pm - 7:30pm Chess Instruction and Open Tournament. Handley Library, West Piccadilly Street, Winchester. Chess Instruction will be on Monday, January 12th and Monday, January 26th, from 4:30 p.m. till 7:30 p.m. at Handley Library at 100 West Piccadilly Street in Winchester. The Chess program is open to all ages and abilities, from beginners to more advanced players. There is no fee for

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participation. An open tournament for all ages will take place Saturday, January 31st from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m. Contact Jennifer Sutterat (540) 6629041 ext. 16 or email jsutter@handleyregional.org for more information. 7pm - 8pm Council Meeting. County of Warren Government Center. Tuesday, January 13 12:30pm - 1pm Tourism Tuesdays. 95.3 - the River radio station. Hear the latest tourism related news and events every Tuesday at 12:30! If you can’t listen live check out the podcasts at http://www.theriver953online. com. 5pm – 9pm Chipotle “Eat for Change” Fundraiser. Pleasant Valley Rd. Winchester. Proceeds to benefit non-profit Blue Ridge Center for Therapeutic Horsemanship (BRCTH). Between 5pm and 9pm, bring flyer or mention to cashier that you want to support BRCTH, and 50% of your purchase will be donated to BRCTH. Funds will go directly to supporting our therapy horses and ponies thru the winter. For further information about this event or about volunteering or registering a student, contact us at (540) 5332777 or at brcthinc@hotmail.com. 7pm - 7pm BAR Meeting. Town Administration Building, Front Royal. Wednesday, January 14 3:30pm - 5pm Chamber Board Meeting. Chamber Office. 6:30pm - 8pm Research your Revolutionary War Soldier. Handley Library, West Piccadilly Street, Winchester. Stewart Bell Jr Archives hosts research sessions for those interested in knowing more about their Revolutionary War connection on the sec-

ond Wednesday of each month from 6:30 p.m. till 8 p.m. The research is guided by veteran genealogical researchers and can be useful for those wanting to join the Daughters of the American Revolution or Sons of the American Revolution. This program is free and open to the public. Contact Becky Ebert at (540)662-9041 ext. 22 or email archives@handleyregional.org for more information. Thursday, January 15 5pm - 8pm Third Thursday ArtWalk. Downtown Front Royal. 6:30pm - 9:30pm Bingo. North Fork Resort Associates, 301 North Fork Road, Front Royal. Doors open at 4:30pm, early bird games begin at 6:30pm. Food and drinks are available at the North Fork Resort Cafe. Progressive games, raffles, queen of hearts. Benefits the North Fork Shenandoah River Restoration Foundation. 6:30pm - 11pm Bluegrass in the Ballroom. George Washington Hotel, Winchester. The George Washington Hotel will be continuing their Bluegrass in the Ballroom series on January 15th. The event, which takes place in the GW’s Grand Ballroom, will feature the super group Springfield Exit. Tickets for the concert are $10, while admission plus dinner costs $20.Linda’s Mercantile pie and coffee will be available for $5. Doors open at 6:30pm; Music starts at 7pm. 7pm - 10pm 15 Artists for 2015: The New Art Forum. The Gray Gallery, South Cameron Street, Winchester. Join the New Art Forum at The Gray Gallery on January 15 to celebrate 2015 with 15 artist presentations. Enjoy artwork, music and poetry from the Winchester region. Email: thegraygallery@gmail.com.

Saturday, January 17 7:00am – 11am Pancake Breakfast. North Warren Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company #10. 89 Rockland Road, Front Royal. Join us for pancakes, biscuits, sausages, bacon, sausage and chip beef gravy, scrambled eggs, baked apples, juice, and hot tea. Adults: $8.00, 4-12 year-olds: $4.00, under 3 FREE! 6:30pm - 9:30pm Bingo. North Fork Resort Associates, 301 North Fork Road, Front Royal. Doors open at 4:30pm, early bird games begin at 6:30pm. Food and drinks are available at the North Fork Resort Cafe. Progressive games, raffles, queen of hearts. Benefits the North Fork Shenandoah River Restoration Foundation. Monday, January 19 Martin Luther King Day 7pm - 8pm Council Work Session. Town Administration Building, 102 E. Main St. Tuesday, January 20 12:30pm - 1pm Tourism Tuesdays. 95.3 - the River radio station. Hear the latest tourism related news and events every Tuesday at 12:30! If you

can’t listen live check out the podcasts at http://www.theriver953online. com. 7pm - 8pm BZA Meeting. Front Royal Administration Building, 102 E Main Street, Front Royal. Today is the Board of Zoning Appeals meeting to be held in the upstairs Conference Room of the Front Royal Administration Building. Agenda are available in the Planning/Zoning Office located at 102 E Main Street. (540) 635-4236. Wednesday, January 21 8:30am - 2pm FCPS Science Fair. Corron Building at Lord Fairfax Community College. Science projects created by FCPS students will be on display throughout the event. Awards will be presented to the winners at approximately 1p.m. 7pm - 8pm Planning Commission Meeting. County of Warren Government Center. Thursday, January 22 4pm - 5pm Anti-Litter Council Mtg. Warren County Government Center. 6:30pm - 7:30pm Addiction support group. Winchester Church of

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Mid January, 2015 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Page 39

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To advertise in Warren & Frederick County Report, Contact: Angie Buterakos at fcrwcr@gmail.com • 540-683-1847 or Alison at alisond@warrencountyreport.com • 540-551-2072 God, North Frederick Pike, Winchester. Last year 33 people in our community died from overdosing on heroin. A new support group has formed to help families in our community who have been impacted by loved ones who are struggling with

addiction. The group will hold its first meeting on Thursday, January 22nd at 6:30p.m. at the Winchester Church of God. This will be an opportunity for loved ones to share their stories and talk with others who can relate to their journey. For up-

Pets Page

dates join the Families on the Road to Recovery Facebook page. 6:30pm - 9:30pm Bingo. North Fork Resort Associates, 301 North Fork Road, Front Royal. Doors open at 4:30pm, early bird games begin at 6:30pm. Food and drinks are avail-

More people begin and end their day with us

Saturday, January 24 6:30pm - 9:30pm Bingo. North Fork Resort Associates, 301 North Fork Road, Front Royal. Doors open at 4:30pm, early bird games begin at 6:30pm. Food and drinks are available at the North Fork Resort Cafe. Progressive games, raffles, queen of hearts. Benefits the North Fork Shenandoah River Restoration Foundation. – briefs@warrencountyreport.com

able at the North Fork Resort Cafe. Progressive games, raffles, queen of hearts. Benefits the North Fork Shenandoah River Restoration Foundation. Friday, January 23 7pm - 10pm Front Porch Style Pickin’ Party. Warren County Senior Center, 1217 Commonwealth Ave. All levels of talent are welcome. Acoustic instruments only.

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$10 adoption fees for dogs and cats through the month of January (doesn’t include spay/ neuter if applicable). Adoptions include a raffle ticket for a chance to win $350 cash! Rufus - 8 year old male coonhound. Rufus is a handsome hound that was brought in as a stray by animal control. He loves people but can be independent as well. Rufus would love a home with a large fenced yard.

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Buford - 6 year old neutered male Walker hound. Buford is a very sweet and gentle boy. He gets along with most other pets and would love a home with a big fenced in yard to run.

Leo - 1 year old male pit mix. Leo is a ton of fun! He loves running around outside and chasing tennis balls. He also loves to swim, and now that it’s summer time why not come down and meet him so he can steal your heart?

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â&#x20AC;˘ POWER STEERING, TRANSMISSION, BRAKE, COOLANT & DRIVE LINE LIFETIME PROTECTION/WARRANTY

Currently Recruiting Technicians for ALL locations.

1994vehiclesandnewerupto5-quarts,Syntheticandsomemodelsslightlyhigher.ExcludesDiesels Plus any applicable tax, shop supplies and environmental fees. One coupon per visit. Coupon must be presented prior to service write-up.Offer ends 1/31/15 .Not valid in conjunction with any other coupons or in-store specials. Good only at MARLOW MOTOR COMPANY.

Buy 4 Tires

Plus any applicable tax, shop supplies and environmental fees. One coupon per visit. Coupon must be presented prior to service write-up. Offer ends 1/31/15. Not valid in conjunction with any other coupons or in-store specials. Good only at MARLOW MOTOR COMPANY.

FREE

AND GET A 4-WHEEL ALIGNMENT

FREE!

Battery & Charging System Check

$89

Receive $20 off purchase of battery and installation if needed NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY!

$AVINGS!

Restrictions may apply, ask for details Plus any applicable tax, shop supplies and environmental fees. One coupon per visit. Coupon must be presented prior to service write-up. Offer ends 1/31/15 Not valid in conjunction with any other coupons or in-store specials. Good only at MARLOW MOTOR COMPANY.

COMPLETE VEHICLE DETAILING â&#x20AC;˘ Hand wax â&#x20AC;˘ Hand wash â&#x20AC;˘ Clean interior â&#x20AC;˘ Clean engine compartment â&#x20AC;˘ Clean trunk

Car

Truck & SUV

129

&KHYUROHW 7DKRH 689 5.3L V-8 cyl Mileage: 131851 Stock #14Q4243B

9,877

any

$25 off factory scheduled service interval FREE 23 point vehicle inspection! FREE vehicle wash and vac!

Some models may be slightly higher. Plus any applicable tax, shop supplies and environmental fees. One coupon per visit. Coupon must be presented prior to service write-up. Offer ends 1/31/15. Not valid in conjunction with any other coupons or in-store specials. Good only at MARLOW MOTOR COMPANY.

$25 OFF

30/60/90,000 MILE SERVICE SPECIAL

Clean Off that Salt - Get that Showroom Look Back!

Fluid System Service

Plus any applicable tax, shop supplies and environmental fees. One coupon per visit. Coupon must be presented prior to service write-up. Offer ends 1/31/15.Not valid in conjunction with any other coupons or in-store specials. Good only at MARLOW MOTOR COMPANY.

-HHS :UDQJOHU 6( 689 2.4L I-4 cyl Mileage:59433 Stock # U524B

'RGJH 5DP 6/7 4.7L V-8 cyl Mileage: 65343 Stock #: A537A

Brake â&#x20AC;˘ Power â&#x20AC;˘ Coolant Transmission â&#x20AC;˘ Drive Line/4x4

)RUG )LHVWD 6(6 +DWFKEDFN 1.6L I-4 cyl Mileage: 42267 Stock #: A535B

$9,977

TAX, TAGS & TITLE FEES NOT INCLUDED. $289 PROCESSING FEE not included. $OO YHKLFOHV VXEMHFW WR SULRU VDOH $35 ÂżQDQFLQJ LV VXEMHFW WR DSSURYHG FUHGLW DQG OLPLWHG WR DQG QHZHU PRGHO \HDU YHKLFOHV $35 IRU PRQWKV UHVXOWV LQ PRQWKO\ SD\PHQW HTXDO WR SHU WKRXVDQG ÂżQDQFHG =HUR GRZQ RQ DSSURYHG FUHGLW

Mon - Fri 7AM - 7PM â&#x20AC;˘ Sat 8AM - 5PM â&#x20AC;˘ Closed Sunday