Mid December 2015 Warren and Frederick County Report

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Volume X, Issue 24 · Mid December, 2015

FrederickCounty.com

What’s happening to our bats?

The bells are ringing

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

$30,000 Grant Awarded to Shenandoah University’s Religion Department Assistant Professor of Religion Meredith Minister, Ph.D., has been awarded a $30,000 grant by the Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion for fostering religious understanding in the Going Global: First-Year Seminar (FYS) program. Shenandoah University is one of 15 institutions to receive this prestigious award.

“Religious literacy is essential to being a global citizen today,” said Dr. Minister. “I’m excited that this grant will give Shenandoah students the opportunity to explore how religion shapes the world.”

Activities funded by the grant include piloting a series of second-semester FYS classes offered in spring 2016, exploring religious undercurrents not addressed currently in FYS classes. Minister will also hold a series of workshops within the 18month grant period for FYS faculty

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The activities sponsored by the grant are timely, as Secretary of State John Kerry has continued to reiterate the importance of understanding religion for global awareness throughout his tenure at the State Department.

In September, Kerry wrote, “I often say that if I headed back to college today, I would major in comparative religions rather than political science.

That is because religious actors and institutions are playing an influential role in every region of the world and on nearly every issue central to U.S. foreign policy.”

The Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion, located at Wabash College and funded by Lilly Endowment Inc., offers workshops, grants, and resources for faculty in order to develop resources for teaching and learning in religious studies and theology.

Timbrook Food & Toy Drive begins The Ricky L. Timbrook Children’s Outreach Fund has kicked off its 16th season of holiday giving. Please consider donating non-perishable food and toys to the drive which will be delivered to 30 Winchester families just in time for the holidays. Collection boxes will be available at the Timbrook Public Safety Center, City Hall, War Memorial Building and other locations throughout the City

until December 9th.

Register for CERT Training Registration is now being accepted for the 2016 Winchester-Frederick County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training program. When emergencies happen, CERT members can assist and support their community by applying the skills and techniques learned during these training sessions. CERT members can help save and sustain lives

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

Read full issues FREE on www.WarrenCountyVA.com & www.FrederickCounty.com before, during and following a disaster.

Training sessions will be held January 28-March 10, 2016 at 6 pm unless stated otherwise (see schedule below).

A total of eight classes will be held at various locations in Winchester and Frederick County with one designed emergency exercise held at the end.

To register or for more information, please submit the online form, send an email or call (540) 667-2267.

New limited edition glass ornament features Belle Grove Planta-

tion. Give a gift with local flare! It’s time to deck the halls and the Winchester-Frederick County Convention and Visitors Bureau is pleased to offer a beautiful new numbered, limited edition Christmas ornament this holiday season.

The translucent glass ornament commemorates Belle Grove Plantation, depicting an image of the majestic home covered in snow and a sprig of holly with red berries. The ornament is available to purchase for $14.95 at the Winchester-Frederick

Warren County 4-H

All You CAn EAt

PAnCAkE BrEAkfAst Saturday, december 12th community tabernacle assembly of God 7655 Stonewall Jackson Hwy., Front Royal, VA

7:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. takeout Available

Breakfast includes– pancakes, sausage, sausage gravy and drink

$5.00– Adults

6 to 12 years old- $3.00

5 and under– free

To purchase your tickets contact the Warren County Extension Office at (540) 635-4549 or a Warren County 4-H member thAnk You for suPPorting thE WArrEn CountY 4-h ProgrAm

County Visitors Center. The featured photo was taken by Frank Ceravalo and the ornament was produced locally. Due to the limited quantity, be sure to purchase an ornament soon before they’re sold out.

The Visitors Center is open seven days a week from 9 am to 5 pm. The Visitors Center gift shop offers a wide variety of local gift items, including Virginia is for Lovers® merchandise, books on Winchester and Shenandoah Valley history, logo apparel and more. The Visitors Center is located at 1400 South Pleasant Valley Road or call (540) 542-1326.

Substance Abuse Coalition Announces Executive Director The Executive Committee of the Northern Shenandoah Valley Substance Abuse Coalition (NSVSAC) is pleased to announce that Lauren Cummings will join the organization as Executive Director.

Cummings enters the role after serving as the Police Community Relations/Crime Prevention Specialist for the Winchester Police Department for the past three years. She has served as the chairperson of the Community Outreach subcommittee for the Coalition and has been an integral part of launching the Road to Recovery website and bringing awareness to the community about this public health crisis. Cummings’ experience working with numerous stakeholder groups in the region is a key asset for the organization.

Launched in May, 2014, the NSVSAC was formed by community organizations and concerned citizens in the City of Winchester and See FREDERICK,

Tickets available online at www.royal-cinemas.com or the Theater Box Office

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Office: 540.635.6080

Page • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid December, 2015 FREDERICK, from Counties of Clarke and Frederick in response to the growing epidemic of heroin and opioid abuse in the Northern Shenandoah Valley. The number of deaths resulting from heroin and opioid abuse has risen to an unprecedented and unacceptable level from 2011 to 2014, prompting a committed call for action from a diverse group of community stakeholders.

Cummings will establish and implement a plan for a Drug Court, explore local treatment options, seek grant funding, and increase public

awareness around this issue.

The funding for this position was made possible by support from the City of Winchester, the counties of Clarke and Frederick, and Valley Health who are all committed to finding creative solutions to the complex problem of substance abuse in our area. The need for solutions to this deadly epidemic is evidenced by two overdose deaths in our area over the past week, bringing the total number of deaths to 21 this year.

Cummings is a James Madison University graduate and a lifelong resident of the Northern Shenandoah Valley. She will join the NSVSAC

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Bruce Molsky in Concert and Fiddle Workshop led by Bruce Molsky Barns of Rose Hill presents Bruce Molsky. Bruce will also lead a fiddle workshop. Bruce is one of the most influential old-time fiddlers on the scene today.

Bruce Molsky has been dubbed “one of America’s premier fiddling talents” by Mother Jones, and is a twice-Grammy-nominated artist on fiddle, banjo, guitar, and song. Thanks in part to his time spent with old masters, Bruce has earned numerous awards at fiddle and banjo contests around the South, including Galax, Virginia; Mount Airy, North Carolina; and the Appalachian String Band Festival in West Virginia.

His new collaboration with Anonymous 4, “1865 Songs of Hope and Home from the American Civil War,” has just been released to rave reviews. Bruce is also a special guest on rock legend Mark Knopfler’s brand new CD Tracker. Bruce’s latest solo album If It Ain’t Here When I Get Back was released in the spring of 2013. No Depression called it “an album from an absolute master.”

Bruce is the go-to guy for the next generation of fiddlers. He is a highly sought-after fiddle and banjo teacher, and teaches his own intensive fiddle workshop program all over the United States.

On the road 250 days a year, Bruce tours the world solo and with super groups Mozaik, The Jumpsteady Boys, the Old-Time Kozmik Trio, and as a trio with Aly Bain and Ale Möller.

Bruce will also lead a Fiddle Workshop at 4:00 PM on Dec. 5. The workshop takes a hands-on approach to old-time fiddle. Tunes are taught a phrase at a time, first melody, then bowing, and then piecing things together. If you’re comfortable with the instrument and have at least a small repertoire of tunes then you’ll be fine.

The tune is the vehicle, so mostly we’ll be playing! A recorder is highly recommended. Since developing ear training skills is one of the workshop goals, written music will not be provided.

TICKETS AND INFORMATION: Tickets may be purchased in advance either on the Barns of Rose Hill website at BarnsofRoseHill.org or by calling the Barns of Rose Hill Box Office at (540) 955-2004 (Noon to 3:00 – Tuesday through Saturday).

Concert Saturday, December 5 at

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8:00 PM. Doors open at 7:30. All Tickets are General Admission - $15 in advance until 3:00 PM on the day of event or $20 at the door. Children: 12 years and below are free when accompanied by an adult Fiddle Workshop Saturday, December 5, 4:00 to 5:00 PM. Workshop Limit: 20 Students. $25 per pre-registered student or $30 for walk-ins.

Registration Deadline: December 4, 2015, by 3:00 PM

Be on the lookout for flashing yellow arrow traffic signals The Virginia Department of Transportation will install flashing yellow arrow traffic signals at five intersections in the Staunton District beginning December 1, 2015. The flashing yellow arrow is intended only for left-turning traffic, and indicates that drivers may turn left after they yield to oncoming traffic. Frederick County will see the new signals at Route 11 at Route 661 (Redbud Road) and Interstate 81 exit 317 on-ramp; Route 624 (Tasker Road) at Route 636 (White Oak Road); and Route 522 at Route 756 (Macedonia Church Road).

At intersections that currently allow left turns on a green circular light, the new signals should improve safety and reduce crashes by more clearly indicating the need to for drivers to yield before making a left turn.

At intersections currently controlling left turns with a green arrow, the new signals should reduce wait times and improve traffic flow by allowing drivers to make a left turn after yielding to oncoming traffic. VDOT studied numerous intersections in the Staunton District to determine which ones could safely accommodate this change. These signals can be programmed by time of day to accommodate changing traffic conditions. In some locations the signals may show a solid green arrow for part of the day and a flashing yellow arrow during lighter traffic periods.

Installation is scheduled to begin Tuesday, December 1, and be complete by December 18. Drivers should be alert for lane closures at these intersections while the signal work is

taking place. All work is weather permitting.

The VDOT Staunton District serves Frederick, Shenandoah, Clarke, Warren, Page, Rockingham, Augusta, Highland, Rockbridge, Alleghany and Bath counties.

“Christmas around the World” at Belle Grove Plantation Belle Grove Plantation will be decorated for the holidays and open for touring from Friday, December 4 through Wednesday, December 30. Twelve area garden clubs will elaborately decorate each room of the 1797 Manor House to the theme of “Christmas around the World.” In the Parlor is a 12-foot Norway Spruce Christmas tree donated by John and Judith Tole from their Christmas tree farm in Woodville, Virginia. Press photo opportunities are available as the house is being decorated on Tuesday, December 1 and Wednesday, December 2 and on Thursday, December 3 when the decorating is complete.

“Last year when our theme was ‘Christmas in the Valley,’ we noted how many nationalities have settled in the Shenandoah Valley in the last three hundred years. This inspired us to highlight holiday traditions from all around the world during the 2015 Christmas season,” said Kristen Laise, Executive Director of Belle Grove.

Starting Friday, December 4, guided house tours will be offered Monday-Saturday from 10a.m. 4p.m. with tours beginning at quarter past each hour (last tour at 3:15 p.m.). On Friday and Saturday evenings from 4-8 p.m. and Sunday afternoons from 15 p.m., visitors are welcome to take self-guided tours and the Manor House will be lit by candlelight. After touring the house, guests are invited to enjoy spiced tea and homemade cookies by the glowing fire in the Winter Kitchen.

A new addition this year will be children’s story times in the Parlor on Sunday December 13, 20, and 27 with Donna Hughes, Youth Services Division Head at the Bowman Library. Ms. Hughes will read ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, The Po-

Frederick

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Warren & Frederick County Report 122 W 14th Street, PMB 20 Front Royal, VA 22630

Member Virginia Press Association 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 Copy Editor: Laura Biondi editor@warrencountyreport.com Managing Editor Carol Ballard: carol@areaguides.com (540) 551-0644 Reporters Tim Ratigan: tim@areaguides.com Sue Golden 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) 671-2054 fcrwcr@gmail.com Billing Coordinator: Pam Cole: billing@warrencountyreport.com Graphic Design & Layout: layout@warrencountyreport.com Contributors: 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 printed on 100% recycled paper with soy-based ink

lar Express, and lead a participatory “Twelve Days of Christmas” sing-along on each Sunday.

There will be also be live holiday music on Fridays and Saturdays from 6-8 p.m. and Sundays 3 5p.m. The schedule includes: Deborah Balcom (soprano), Richard Follett (tenor and guitarist), Deborah Byrd (cellist), and Colleen Miller (pianist) on Fri-

day, December 4, 6-8 p.m.; Saturday, December 5, 6-8 p.m., and Sunday, December 6, 3-5 p.m.; John Tole of Evergreen Shade on Friday, December 11, 6-8 p.m., Saturday, December 26, 6-8 p.m., and Sunday, December 27, 3-5 p.m.; and Harpist Allen Dec on Saturday, December 12, 6-8 p.m., Sunday, December 13, 3-5 p.m., Friday, December 18, 6-8 p.m., Saturday,

Mid December, 2015 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Page December 19, 6-8 p.m., and Sunday, December 20, 3-5 p.m.

Admission for all tours is $12 for adults, $11 for members of the military, AAA, the National Park Service, and individuals 60 and older.

Students 6-16 and National Trust for Historic Preservation members are $6. Belle Grove members are free of charge as benefit of their membership. Visitors may join Belle Grove and immediately use this benefit at Christmas along with 10% off in the Museum Shop.

The Belle Grove Museum Shop will be open during all touring hours and is the perfect place to find unique gifts. Belle Grove is a member of the Top of Virginia Artisans Guild and features many Virginia products and items from area artists, farms, and businesses. For example, Belle Grove’s signature whiskey chocolates are made by the Cocoa Mill Chocolatier in Lexington using Belle Grove 1797 Whiskey made by Copper Fox Distiller in Sperryville. The Shop also carries natural beauty products, teas, coffees, gourmet food items, jewelry,

Every job we do, big or small, is important because we know you are depending on us to deliver reliable electricity.

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pottery, and books on Shenandoah Valley and Civil War history.

Belle Grove will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. BBB Warning: Avoid These Holiday Scams Santa isn’t the only one keeping track of who is naughty and who is nice! Better Business Bureau is warning consumers to beware of these common holiday scams: Look-alike websites: When shopping online, make sure to use only legitimate websites. Watch out for URLs that use the names of wellknown brands along with extra words.

Fake shipping notifications: These can have attachments or links to sites that will download malware on your computer to steal your identity and your passwords. Don’t be fooled by a holiday phishing scam.

E-cards: Electronic cards can be great fun, but be careful. Two red flags to watch out for are: the sender’s name is not apparent; you are required to share additional information to get the card.

Letters from Santa: Several trusted companies offer charming and personalized letters from Santa, but scammers mimic them to get personal information from unsuspecting parents. Check with bbb.org to find out which ones are legitimate.

Grandparents scam: Seniors should be cautious if they get a call from a grandchild claiming to be in an accident, arrested or hospitalized while traveling in another country. Never send money unless you confirm with another family member that it’s true.

Phony charities: Everyone is in a generous mood at the holidays, so scammers take advantage of that with fake charity solicitations in email, on social media sites, and even by text.

Check out charities at give.org before donating.

Temporary holiday jobs: Retailers and delivery services need extra help at the holidays, but beware of solicitations that require you to share personal information online or pay for a job lead. Apply in person or go to retailers’ main websites to find out who is hiring.

Unusual forms of payment: Be wary of anyone who asks you to pay for holiday purchases using prepaid debit cards, gift cards, wire transfers, third parties, etc. These payments cannot be traced and cannot be undone. Use a credit card on a secure website; look for https in the address (the extra “s” is for “secure”) and the lock symbol.

Free gift cards: Pop-up ads or email offering free gift cards are often just a ploy to get your personal information that can later be used for identity theft.

Social media gift exchange: It sounds like a great deal; buy one gift and get 36 in return. But it’s just a variation on a pyramid scheme and it’s illegal.

Send your news items to: briefs@warrencountyreport.com

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

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

Is there a decline in Warren County’s bat population?

A big brown bat. These bats are found in Warren County, but have not been noticeably affected by the white-nose syndrome which has decimated certain other species.

By Carol Ballard Warren & Frederick County Report Responding to an anonymous tip to the editorial team at Warren/Frederick R, we investigated a rumor that Dominion’s Warren County Power Station was closed for a few months due to thousands of bats dying around their stacks, and that it may

have been the result of emissions from the plant.

After checking with Dan Genest, senior communications specialist with media relations at Dominion Virginia Power/Dominion North Carolina, the issue was cleared up, but it also sparked curiosity about the bat population as a whole and whether it was thriving or not.

Warren County Parks & recreation Department

Genest’s explanation for bat deaths around the plant was this, “The plant was taken offline on September 18 for normal scheduled maintenance, and hasn’t been producing power.”

So it hasn’t been closed because of a bat problem, but bats have died there. He said that workers at the plant found about 200 dead bats that had died in the air-cooled condenser.

The species found included the Eastern Red Bat; Big Brown Bat; TriColored Bat (Eastern Pipistrelle) and the Hoary Bat. He said that none of these bats are on the endangered list, and less than 200 died. Besides working with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, they are consulting with Dominion’s own biologists.

The plant needs to produce steam and the towers are 80 ft. high with fans forcing air upward, and have lights to illuminate the area.

“I think at night, bugs are attracted to the lights and then the bats fly up to get them under the air cooled condenser,” he said, and added, “What is done during shutdown is check on issues like this. We hired a bat consultant specifically and are working with the Virginia Department of Agriculture on it.”

Since bats are active from April to late October and then go into caves for hibernation, they won’t be flying around there for another few months.

“So far we’re not in violation or netting fines from anywhere, but our goal is to have a solution in place before the bats come out in spring.

The Tri-colored bat is a species that is being affected by a fungus called white-nose syndrome. - Photo courtesy of United States Fish and Wildlife Service Maybe we’ll put up some netting or screening,” he said.

Warren’s power plant is located north of Front Royal on a 39-acre site in the Warren Industrial Park. So, it looks like the plant is not the cause of significant bat deaths in the area, but some observers in the county have noticed changes in the bat population at the Shenandoah River Raymond R. “Andy” Guest Jr. State Park.

“I’ve seen fewer bats there in the

past few years,” said Dan Mc Dermott, editor and publisher of the Warren/Frederick County Report.

He said that in earlier years, there were clumps of bats gathered on signs in the park.

As of this December, after an inquiry whether bats were on the decrease in the county, Wildlife Biologist Rick Reynolds, of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries responded, “We don’t have infor-

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Read full issues FREE on www.WarrenCountyVA.com & www.FrederickCounty.com mation specific to Warren County, but with the onset of white-nose syndrome (WNS; first discovered in 2009 in Virginia), populations of several common bat species including: little brown; northern long-eared; and tri-colored bats, have declined by over 90 percent.

“The little brown bat was a common species that could be found in residential areas and was a common bat that could be found in human dwellings during the summer. Not all species of bats in Virginia have been impacted by WNS, the Virginia bigeared bat and big brown bats appear

to either not be affected or minimally so.”

So, since some of the tri-colored bats are native to Warren County, this could explain the decreasing numbers in the state park, although this hasn’t been verified by park officials.

According to McDermott’s Oct. 26, 2009 story, The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service awarded a $322,000 grant to the Smithsonian Institute’s National Zoo just south of Front Royal, to fund the creation of a permanent secure colony of endangered Virginia big-eared bats at the zoo’s Conservation and Research Center. The goal was to establish a healthy population of bats while scientists worked to stop a deadly fungus that threatens the entire species.

This is good news for the bats, of course, but there are dangers from bats for humans.

According to Charles J. Devine, III, M.D., Health Director of the Lord Fairfax Health District and Interim Health Director of the RappahanSee BATS,

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Page • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid December, 2015 BATS, from nock Rapidan Health District, there are certain situations that may put you at a higher risk of contracting rabies from bats.

These include: living in an area that is populated by bats; traveling to developing countries; living in a rural area where there is greater exposure to wild animals; frequent camping and exposure to wild animals; being

Read full issues FREE on www.WarrenCountyVA.com & www.FrederickCounty.com under the age of 15 (rabies is most common in this age group).

Bats are the cause of most rabies deaths in the U.S. and Canada and there is no test for humans to detect the early stages of rabies infection.

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) reports that there are 16 species of bats in Virginia. Three (Gray Bat, Indiana Bat, and Virginia-Big-eared Bat) are federally endangered. One, the Rafinesque’s Big-eared Bat, is state endangered, and the remaining 12

are non-game protected species in Virginia. The Big Brown Bat, Evening Bat, and Little Brown Bat are the three bat species in Virginia that are most likely to take residence in a building.

But for anyone trying to get rid of bats, be warned that it is illegal in Virginia to: transport, release, or relocate a bat anywhere other than the property it was caught on and poison any animal (including bats) other than rats and mice on your property.

There are three species of bats in

Virginia that are Federally endangered and are therefore protected under the Endangered Species Act which explicitly prohibits anyone from attempting to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct any endangered or threatened species.

Before implementing any control technique, ensure that your problem bat is not one of these three endangered species (Gray Bat, Indiana Bat, and Virginia-Big-eared Bat).

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Read full issues FREE on www.WarrenCountyVA.com & www.FrederickCounty.com How does a homeowner identify which kind of bat is causing a problem?

“To help identify the species of bat you may have, use the county occurrence map for each species,” the website advises. These can be found online by searching for “county occurrence maps for bats” These can also be found in DGIF’s “Short Species Booklets”.

Their advice continues with, “The county occurrence maps represent counties that have been documented to contain that particular species.

The occurrence maps do not indicate the only areas that a particular species may be found but they are a good way to identify the species that you are likely to have. Pay particular attention to the threatened and endangered species, management options may be limited due to federal and state laws.

“In Virginia bats are not considered a game species or a fur-bearing species. This means that a bat may be killed if it is considered to be a threat to a homeowner.

“The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) defines nuisance as species found committing or about to commit depredation upon ornamental or shade trees, agricultural crops, wildlife, livestock or other property or when concentrated in numbers and manners as to constitute a health hazard or other nuisance.

“However, the term nuisance does not include animals designated as endangered or threatened. The mere presence of a bat does not constitute it as a nuisance.”

If a bat is found in a home where people live, the Virginia Department of Health recommends capturing the bat and having it tested for rabies.

While less than one-half of one percent of all bats actually carry rabies, this is a time for caution.

They strongly advise that heavy leather work gloves should be worn if you must handle the bat in any way.

Here they offer more helpful advice.

“If you find you have bats in your attic or under the eaves, here are

some solutions that may help. If you have an area with a large buildup of bat guano (droppings) and you must be in the contaminated space, immediately put on gloves and something to cover your nose and mouth. Bat droppings can harbor histoplasmosis fungi spores and should be cleaned up by a professional. Easy solutions for removing bats include: Wait until dusk and watch the outside of your house until about a halfhour after sunset, see if you can detect where the bats are leaving from as they go out to forage. Once you are sure all of the bats have left, cover the hole with wire mesh (screen door mesh is sufficient). CAUTION: From May through August, bats may have young still present in the inhabited space. Be sure no young have been left behind before you plug the hole.

If possible, put up a bat house on your property to encourage roosting away from your house.

The best and only good way to remove bats from a structure is to exclude the bats from the building. If bats are found in a building their ac-

Mid December, 2015 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Page cess point can be located by viewing the structure in the evenings when the bats vacate to feed. Once the source of entrance is located, the access point can be sealed off to prevent the bats from reentering the structure. It is very important to ensure that all bats have left the structure before closing it off. Another benefit of this technique is that it allows for removal without the homeowner coming in contact with the animal.

But surprisingly, they also say that there are benefits to having bats around…

“Bats are great neighbors to have around the house. One little brown bat has been documented eating upwards of 600 mosquitoes in one hour.

Imagine what several individuals flying around in your yard could do!” the report concluded.

For more detailed information on White Nose Syndrome, visit www. whitenosesyndrome.org.

For general information, refer to: www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/problems/bats/ – carol@areaguides.com

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Page 10 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid December, 2015

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Council votes 4-2 to allow backyard livestock Residents have permission to raise chickens, rabbits and beehives in town limits

By Timothy Ratigan Warren & Frederick County Report Front Royal Town Council met on November 23 for their end of month council meeting and voted on several items.

One of the items voted on was a second reading on changes to the town code, creating regulations for urban agriculture. This measure will allow the keeping of a limited number of livestock in certain residential properties with an approved zoning permit. Residents of a single-family home or duplex and two-family homes will be able to obtain a permit to keep up to six hens, honeybee hives and rabbits on the property.

During the public comments section of the meeting Front Royal resident, Mike McCool voiced his concerns on the proposed measure.

“In the first two weeks of owning chickens, they are cute and fluffy.

After two weeks is over they are no longer cute or fluffy. Chickens are very social animals, they do not like being confined to small places. You need to check on the chickens every day. They require fresh water every day,” he said.

He also have a brief explanation on how much work was involved in the proper care of keeping back yard chickens and mentioned that chickens have been known to carry certain parasites.

Jessica Jansen spoke in favor of the proposed measure, urging the council to consider voting in favor of the measure.

“In my opinion, limiting the number of six chickens would not cause any major environmental problems,” she commented.

During the council discussion period Councilman Eugene Tewalt again spoke out against the measure, having given his opinion before in a previous meeting. He stressed that such a measure would serve as a detriment to the larger percentage of town residents and would adversely affect property values. He maintained that allowing livestock inside the town limits would create more waste that the town must treat as mandated by state and federal law to meet environmental regulations.

Councilman Daryl Funk voted in favor of the measure, saying that legalizing the measure that already exists would allow the town to better regulate the activity.

Councilman John Connolly voted in favor of the measure, and noted that the town will be able to revisit the measure a year from now.

Councilwoman Bébhinn Egger voted in favor of it, and said that the ordinance allows the people of Front Royal to move toward a more sustainable lifestyle.

The two dissenting votes were from Councilman Tewalt and Vice Mayor

Hollis Tharpe.

The measure passed on a 4-2 vote.

Also on the agenda was a public hearing concerning a proposal to cut the tax rate that people pay when they stay in one of the hotels inside the town limits.

Back in September, Councilman Bret Hrbek requested that the council consider bringing the tax rate for hotels down from 6 percent to 2 percent of the total amount paid for a motel/hotel rental.

The town would see its revenue from taxes collected from lodging drop by at least $200,000.

Local businessman and Front Royal resident Mike McCool was the first to speak against the proposal saying that when he stays at a hotel he never inquiries about the amount he will have to pay for lodging taxes and didn’t believe the difference between 6 percent and 2 percent would make that much difference to people. He also pointed out that the town would need to find a way to make up for the lost revenue if it were to lower the tax rate.

Jason Aikens, with the Hampton Inn located within the town limits, said that he saw the importance of creating a level playing field by lowering the rate while acknowledging that lowering the rate would reduce revenue, and that lost revenue would have to be made through some other means.

Brent Jackson of the Holiday Inn said that he would like to see Warren County increase its lodging taxes to the maximum amount allowed, that of 4 percent, and the town’s rate remain the same.

Local resident and the current vice chairman of the Warren County Republican Committee, Matthew Tederick, also claimed that he usu-

ally doesn’t ask about the lodging tax rates when stays in hotels either, echoing McCool’s earlier statement.

While Tederick applauded Hrbek’s willingness to lower taxes he went on to challenge Hrbek to lower taxes for all businesses rather than just a small segment of them.

When Mayor Timothy Darr closed the public hearing he was prepared to open the floor for discussion by the council members. However, Councilman Daryl Funk was quick to remind the mayor that the public hearing was for community discussion and input. This effectively closed the matter for the remainder of the meeting.

This reporter later sought out Hrbek and asked some pointed questions regarding the ramifications of suggested actions by Matthew Tederick.

“We are very conscious about the money we are spending. We set our spending priorities, what we believe the town needs in order to provide the services that the taxpayers expect of us and we set the tax rates from there. If the tax rate is unreasonable then we come back and look at reducing the spending plan. I don’t think we have a spending problem. I think cutting taxes at this time would be fiscally irresponsible.

“We have services that we have to provide to the tax payers such as roads, planning, and the new police department. These are things that our taxpayers expect from their municipalities. It’s not like we are running a surplus in any of those departments. If we are running a surplus it is because of the efficiencies and the diligences of our staff doing their jobs in being good stewards of the tax payers’ money. Would we like to see a tax cut? I think the answer is yes. It’s

just a matter of where we cut. We’ve done a pretty good job of keeping the growth of our government minimal.”

Hrbek said, regarding Tederick’s challenge.

He continued by saying that we have to come up with other means of attracting new business to the community, and that a good start will be when a community developer comes on board. The community development director will be responsible for planning, promoting, and implementing programs and activities to develop and support the town’s community development goals. The hope is that Council will appoint the position by 2016, according to Town Manager Steven Burke.

One other item of business was a

request for the council to advertise for applications to fill the unexpired term of Councilman Daryl Lee Funk, which would have expired December 31, 2016, but when Funk won the clerk of court race back in November, it meant that he will vacate his unfulfilled seat on December 31, 2015.

The council members voted to move forward with the advertising of that seat, with advertisement running from December 14, 2015 through January 4, 2016.

So far the only resident of Front Royal who has expressed interest in seeking that seat is Robert Tennett, town resident and former town council candidate.

– tim@areaguides.com

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Mid December, 2015 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Page 11

Supervisors hold five public hearings at final November meeting

By Timothy Ratigan Warren & Frederick County Report The Warren County Board of Supervisors held their final meeting for the month of November on the evening of the 17th.

One of the items discussed was the acceptance bid for the remainder of the Eastman Park Trail project, but Supervisor Archie Fox asked the item to be removed for further discussion before voting on it in the consent agenda.

Fox had some concerns about the breakdown of the funding for the remainder of the trail system. As it stands now the Federal Government is funding two thirds of the program with the local government funding the remainder. Fox stated that he was very supportive of what the county is doing, however the local government’s responsibility will be close to $124,000. Fox asked where the additional funding would come from.

County Administrator Doug Stanley reported that the program could move forward with the money set aside from last year’s budget and what was budgeted for this year.

Fox expressed additional concerns about the funding of the project by pointing to what he termed as “difficult” times ahead because of the new school being built.

“I think this is a great project, but my concern is at some point we are going to have to take a good look at

$100,000 going here and another $100,000 going there. It almost seems that without passing taxes that any unnecessary items will have to be passed on. We have to set ourselves in the mindset that any tax increase is inadvisable. I might be the only person concerned about this but I think it is something that we should all be concerned with,” he stated.

Supervisor Tony Carter added, “I think that we all are concerned about those things. The thing with this item is that it is a one-time deal. We certainly don’t want to take Capitol Improvement money for operational expenses. We can get by with it for one or two years but you can find yourself getting behind. It is going to be a difficult budget year coming up with what we have and what the schools have. I appreciate your concerns but this is something that we have targeted for the completion of the project. This fund is for a one time expenditure and can’t really be used for operating expenses.”

Supervisor Linda Glavis asked Grants and Special Projects Coordinator Brandy Rosser to give a brief rundown of what the third phase of the Eastman Trail consists of.

Rosser explained that with the second phase of the trail ending at Skyline High School and the Warren County Safety Building, the remainder of the project will take visitors to Skyline Vista and allow them to cross over 340 and into the National Park

Property. There is also an agreement with the National Park Service that will connect the third phase of the trail to Dickey Ridge in the Shenandoah National Park. When the final phase of the project is complete they hope to have signalization to get pedestrians across 340/522 by Joe’s Steak House and the 7-11. When the trail is complete they hope to be able to connect the trail to the town’s trail at Criser Road Since the item was pulled from the consent agenda, a motion was needed to move forward. Fox moved to accept the bid of $377,447 for the construction of the Eastman Park Trail Phase Three. The motion passed on a 5-0 vote.

Next on the agenda was public hearings. The first concerned a conditional use permit for a Motor Freight Terminal and Truck Company by Michael and Pat Manuel. The terminal is to be located at 280 Kelly Drive. The company is a small trucking company that has 20 employees, 14 of them drivers, four shop employees and two office staff.

Supervisor Dan Murray raised concerns about the possibility of fuel storage on the site. He was assured that there would be no fuel stored at the facility. The public hearing was open and since no speakers signed up, the hearing was closed. The motion passed with a 5-0 Vote.

The second public hearing was a conditional use permit to build an of-

fice/storage facility, to be located on Gussin Way. The facility will be used primarily to store equipment like a tractor with plow attachments for the sub-division. There will be small amounts of fuel, oil, and waste oil stored there as long as the containers are clearly labeled as such. General maintenance will be performed on site with no welding taking place. The public hearing was opened and two residents of the subdivision spoke.

Their concerns were that the facility would be close to the subdivision’s lake and that possible noise issues and private use of the facility could cause problems. After the public hearing was closed, the vote was taken and passed with a 5-0 vote, with conditions set that fire marshal regulations be enforced and that only owner association vehicle work will be done at the facility.

The third public hearing was about the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan Schedule. This public hearing was a basic housekeeping measure to correct and add the schedule to the implementation plan to the comprehensive plan. The public hearing was opened and closed with no one signing up to speak. The motion passed on a 5-0 vote.

The fourth public hearing of the night was a motion to charge peddlers who sell goods at festivals or events a $30 tax, not to exceed $500 a year and to add an exemption to the tax if the event is conducted by a non-profit organization and the event is held for the furthering of the non-profit organization. This measure was brought forward by the office of the Commissioner of the Revenue. The public hearing was opened and then closed due to lack of speakers.

Supervisor Murray moved to table the motion until a work session after the December meeting. Murry stated concerns with organizations running events becoming non-profit that the measure would have no enforceable measures to protect against groups who are working with the non-profits and avoiding the paying of the fee.

Murray stated, “We have organizations coming in from out of town under the non-profits selling their goods and reaping the profits. We need to rework this to make sure it is fair for everybody.” The vote to table the motion for a work session to rework the motion passed on a 5-0 vote.

The fifth and final public hearing was a motion to amend the definition of Farm Winery to be in compliance with the State Code and to bring the County Ordinance up to date to reflect the changes in the State Code to also reflect the percentage change of alcohol in wines from 18 to 21 percent. The measure would also add additional language governing events held by Farm Wineries such as a conditional permit now being required for events attended by more than 100 people.

The public hearing was opened and closed with no residents speaking.

The measure passed on a 5-0 vote.

Chairman Richard Traczyk asked for any more business to brought before the board, to which Murray replied with an announcement of two birthdays taking place in November: Chairman Traczyk and Supervisor Glavis. Murray then proceeded to lead the chambers in a singing of Happy Birthday.

Chairman Traczyk then hastily adjourned the meeting.

– tim@areaguides.com

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Page 12 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid December, 2015

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Local officials share family holiday traditions

By Teresa Brumback Warren & Frederick County Report

We asked local officials’ about their favorite holiday traditions.

While many of us are quite content to be stuffing ourselves silly in front of the fire or Christmas tree, others enjoy hiking, horseback riding and skiing. See below: Warren County Doug Stanley:

Administrator

“We look forward to celebrating the holidays with our extended family. Since we have the youngest children, we are now in the enviable position of hosting all of the Stanley family. Each Christmas brings the annual pilgrimage to the basement to pull out and install the Christmas lights and decorations. One of the traditions that we have developed in recent years is our annual Christmas hike on the Appalachian Trail with my son, brother, and nephews on Christmas Adam (day before Eve).

Nothing like working up an appetite after walking 8-12 miles! Lastly we enjoy dinner on Christmas Eve followed by the kids sprinkling glittery reindeer food in great anticipation of Santa Claus’ visit.”

unique to our family. The family member who had the most Grinch like qualities in the past year gets the award.

I have also found the time period between Christmas and New Year’s is a good time to travel and try to make it a pilgrimage or a retreat. Of course the most important part of our Christmas tradition is recognizing and celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Front Royal Mayor Tim Darr:

I know this is going to sound corny but the things that I enjoy most over the holidays are spending time with family, friends, and our pets. I enjoy sharing the holiday spirit with those less fortunate, most of all, the children.

I enjoy spending time with the wife watching the Christmas shows on the Hallmark Channel and of course

the great food and drinks-especially oysters!

It truly is a special season when we can get away from the hustle of our busy lives and focus on the good things As mayor I really enjoy the season by being allowed to be a part of so many great events and the great people of Front Royal.

Warren County’s North River Supervisor Daniel J. Murray: Back in 1953 or so, my Dad told us of our Family Elf, Deek. He made Deek from machine parts. Deek would hang on our tree. He would arrive on Thanksgiving Day and return to Santa’s North Pole on New Year’s Day. (Elf on the Shelf seems to have ‘heard’ my Dad’s story as it has been published back in the 90’s).

In my own family, one was never allowed to ‘touch’ Deek as he was

Warren County Supervisor-Elect Tom Sayre of the Shenandoah District: My immediate family is made up of 6 girls and 1 boy, so along with my wife and 2 sons-in-law, that makes for 11 in my family. Some of our Christmas and New Year traditions are fairly normal. We attend church, go on hikes in the local area, we laugh and joke a lot. Normally I try to plan some physical exercise around Christmas; one year we went snow skiing, another horseback riding, and once we took a hike up a mountain.

One year we drove through the night as a family to Jacksonville, Florida and it was so much fun. The personalities of your children come out stronger when packed into a vehicle.

We love to play board games and card games. Pictionary is one of our favorite board games and Michigan is one of our favorite card games.

However, our yearly bestowal of The Grinch Award is probably pretty

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often perched on the tree, in the kitchen, on a window sill, etc. If you touched him, he would turn to stone!

Horrors!

My friends would come into my home in the 1950s and 1960s looking for Deek! (The TRUE Elf on a Shelf ).

My Dad also made Deek for my own children’s children and he is cherished! To this day, my childhood friends (I am 68 years young!) would tell me they loved Deek and ask if he has arrived to keep an eye out for all good boys and girls!

The tradition continues in our family with my grandchildren anxiously awaiting Deek’s arrival on Thanksgiving Day! In our family however, he goes home on January 8th as he stays around for our daughter’s birthday!

My Dad passed away around Thanksgiving, Nov. 2007, so it’s heartwarming to know that this tradition continues around the same time as he entered Heaven.

Deek is actually in my Dad’s pocket as he rests in peace.

– brumback@areaguides.com

Engle’s Angle:

“December - Past, Present and Future”

By Kevin S. Engle December Past I stood in the grocery store aisle and stared, waiting, hoping for a sign.

Nothing.

Should I get it or not?

Come on! Make a decision!

For most people, this wasn’t a big deal.

For me, it was.

It’d been several years since I’d had egg nog, and for the life of me, I could not remember whether I liked it or not.

I thought I did. My wife thought so too. But something was telling me not to buy it.

Every December, the elusive egg nog makes its annual return from wherever it goes the rest of the year.

Maybe it hangs out at the North Pole, with Santa, and he delivers it to all the stores in early December.

Sort of a test run for what he and the reindeer will do a few weeks later on Christmas Eve. Well, there it was, looking me in the face, along with several irritated shoppers who were trying to get around me.

“What the heck,” I mumbled as I grabbed a container and tossed it in my cart. The smallest one on the shelf.

If I didn’t like it, I wouldn’t have as much to finish. And if I did, I could always get more.

When I got home and we’d put all the groceries away, I opened it and poured some into a glass.

I now know the answer to my question.

No! No! No! I do not like egg nog.

To clarify, I can’t stand it.

Talk about sweet.

It’s like drinking Juicy Fruit® chewing gum. I like Juicy Fruit® chewing gum. A lot. But I don’t want to drink it.

I enjoy sweet things. Egg nog is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay beyond that.

Just thinking about it gives me the shakes.

December Present You hear a lot about fruitcake around the holidays.

And most of it isn’t good.

But people must buy it or stores wouldn’t sell it every year. Right?

I’ve never had a piece of fruitcake. I don’t think so anyway.

If all you ever heard about something was how bad it was, would you want to try it?

Me neither. I’m a chicken.

But then again, maybe I’d really like it? Maybe fruitcake would become one of my favorite holiday desserts?

I should get one.

I’m going to get one.

And if I don’t care for it?

My wife won’t eat it. She’s already warned me.

How about Santa? Maybe I can pawn it off on him.

Instead of milk and cookies, why not egg nog and fruitcake?

(December Future) If ol’ Saint Nick didn’t like the new snack, he may not stop by my house any more.

I’d better give him a choice.

With and without rum.

The author will be sleeping in this Christmas Eve. Santa might need a designated driver that night.

– kevinengle456@comcast.net

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

Mid December, 2015 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Page 13

Party Down at the...Hospital?

Spirit of Women Events Seek to Educate, Entertain

By Teresa Brumback Warren & Frederick County Report Question: What do you get when you bring together bunch of loud, cackling women for free dinners, the chance to gab and get party gifts, and then a chance to schmooze with doctors?

Answer: Doctors on the run.

Wrong!

You get the same women plus more of their friends wanting to repeat the experience over and over again.

Such is the case with Valley Health’s successful health-oriented parties, held monthly at Winchester Medical Center and elsewhere in the area, as well as an annual “Girls’ Night Out” extravaganza held recently at the Holiday Inn in Front Royal. It’s

all part of a “Spirit of Women” program catching on nationally, which seeks to empower women to learn more about and take charge of their health.

The events include presentations by health professionals, visiting speakers, free dinners and at times a chance to meet privately with doctors in a given area of health expertise.

It’s now in its fourth year with anywhere from 100-250 attending each month and more than 1,800 women members to date, hospital officials say.

The events take a lot of the sting out of a trip to the hospital. Fear and anxiety are replaced with an atmosphere of learning, laughter and in the end, a nice night out on the town which can be rare for some working women.

Pam Henry-Sievert of Bentonville, a high school guidance counselor, has been to many sessions ranging from heart health to pre-diabetes and diabetes prevention, and Parkinson’s disease.

“They had renowned doctors who supplied us with current information about hot topics, like how heart attacks are different in women than in men,” she says.

A former recreation major in college, she says she enjoyed the chance for a session of “vibrant exercise” or dancing at the end of some of the sessions.

The Bentonville woman says she also enjoyed that the information presented was in layman’s terms.

“It wasn’t so technical that we couldn’t understand it,” she said.

A workaholic by nature, Henry-

Sievert says she enjoyed the chance to get out with some of her girlfriends since she lives in a rural area.

A photo booth at some of the gatherings offered everyone the chance to get free photos while dressing up in funny hats. “We got to be a little silly,” she notes.

The food at the events is always free and catered. “The event in Front Royal was over the top, fantastic,” she notes, recalling the buffet that included carved roast beef, shrimp alfredo, pasta with sausage, steamed shrimp, steamed vegetables, fruit, and strawberries and marshmallows under a cascading chocolate fountain.

In addition to all that free food, outside the meeting room were vendor booths with girlie stuff and free tote bags, buttons, pens, refrigerator

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True, we spend most of the winter months in those “nests.” We have very cold sensitive paws and the snow is a killer (just try finding squirrel mittens in the L.L. Bean catalogue or at Stokes).

Because we don’t do so much running, jumping and frisking about during the winter, we don’t need so much food. Mostly we rely on the candied pecans Aunt Josie sends at Christmas and every once in a while we score a protein bar from the health

magnets and more. Some women sold jewelry and other crafts, as well as essential oils. Free chair massages were given and elsewhere were other health-oriented vendor booths. One targeted breast cancer, showing a plastic breast and inviting the passerby to try to find the lump inside it.

It wasn’t easy, even for someone who found a lump that turned out to be malignant breast cancer earlier this year.

For each vendor booth the visitor received a sticker on a card. With a full card was a chance to enter giveaways at the end for various gift baskets and other prizes.

For Sandy Flynn Kiepfer, a former journalist with WAZT-TV who covered local government and other news, she says the Front Royal gathering was a rare chance to get off Blue Mountain where she lives and enjoy a fun night out. More importantly, she says it gave her a chance to meet with doctors since she has no health insurance. They reinforced what she already knew, she says, that she needs to have a heart condition regularly monitored.

Valley Health became a member of Spirit of Women in late 2011. It’s part of a national network of 100 hospitals which see the benefit of the program’s model in providing well-researched, well-designed resources and events, health officials say.

“It’s a well-known marketing tenet that women are by far the primary healthcare decision makers in any given family,” says Carol Weare, Valley’s Health’s public relations manager. “Their predisposition to becoming informed about their health and making smart decisions will likely have a direct influence on the health of others in their household, their extended family, their workplace, their See SPIRIT, 14

store. The whole thing about burying nuts every Fall is just something we came up with to amuse the homeowners. Can you imagine trying to find and identify buried nuts?

We’ve tried board games but rolling the dice can be awkward and someone is always falling asleep and missing their turn.

Our favorite pastime though is pondering life-altering issues like “What is the difference between shrubs and bushes?” This took a good eight days to get every squirrel to focus. Our conclusions or even our coherent thoughts are this: Shrubs are sometimes referred to what is grown in your garden and bushes are what are in the woods. Even arborists don’t seem to have a specific definition. When we give directions we will say “under that bush” or even “under that shrub” - depends who’s saying it and where they are from.

We googled this one too (you didn’t think we had WiFi did you?) and found out there is really no conclusive answer. So we had Joey write down all our ideas, questionable or not.

• a landscaper will always say shrubbery so that he will sound impressive • if it looks like a rose, smells like a rose, it is a bush • If it talks to you in a very deep voice and is hot to the touch, it is probably a bush At this point Ned got fed up and said “NUTS” and that was the end of our deep thinking.

Life in the Woods

- Stewart

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

Page 14 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid December, 2015 SPIRIT, from 13 neighborhood,â€? said Weare. “We liked the program’s approach to educating and inspiring women to take control of their health,â€? explains Spirit of Women Coordinator Misty Warren, also a supervisor of community outreach for Valley Health.

Women, she says, are drawn to the accessible health information, the opportunities to learn and socialize together at special events, with the goal to improve the health of women

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and the important people in their lives.

Spirit of Women welcomes men, too, she says, with membership benefits and invitations to special men’s health programs.

The program’s philosophy is consistent with Valley Health’s mission, hospital officials say. “Spirit programs motivate women of all ages to make positive changes in their lives, emphasize overall wellness and demonstrate that sometimes healthy lifestyle choices can be more about treating ourselves to fun experiences and sound health education than about denying ourselves anything,�

Warren says.

With their free membership, Spirit of Women members receive a magazine, monthly health promotions, related emails and invitations to quarterly programs and to the signature “Girls Night Out,� which attracts more than 200 each fall.

Monthly health promotions this year addressed the well-woman check-up, women’s heart health, prediabetes and diabetes prevention, food allergies, obesity, menopause, thyroid disease, bullying, hip pain, breast cancer and dementia. The four-seminar series explored diabetes, gynecologic cancer, muscle and joint pain, and Parkinson’s disease.

A recent event featured Nan Little who described her battle against Parkinson’s disease with a good diet and

Read full issues FREE on www.WarrenCountyVA.com & www.FrederickCounty.com lots of exercise, particularly hiking.

She gave a slide presentation about her climb to Mount Kilamanjaro.

In response to a question, Little described how she accidentally met the noted Hollywood actor Michael J. Fox, himself an outspoken Parkinson’s victim, at a fancy fundraiser.

The actor snuck up behind her and pinched her in the thigh. When she looked around, he explained, “I just wanted to feel the thigh of someone who climbed Mount Kilamanjaro.�

For more information on “Spirit of Women,� or to join, call (540) 5366168 or go to the Spirit of Women

link at valleyhealthlink.com. A full monthly agenda is planned for 2016 with the health events in Front Royal, Winchester, Woodstock and elsewhere in the region. – brumback@areaguides.com

Claudia Bell (right) is a nurse who wanted to share a hug and admiration for Nan Little, speaker and author (left), who was the keynote speaker during a recent Spirit of Women event at Valley Health’s conference center in Winchester. Little spoke about her successful battle against Parkinson’s disease through rigorous hiking and a good diet.

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

PageMaster Books reinvented by new owner

By Carol Ballard Warren & Frederick County Report

On a rainy November afternoon, Front Royal’s PageMaster Bookstore was a warm and welcoming place to be.

The familiar sight of books draws visitors in to a brand new version of an existing business. The store’s friendly owner Carl Pegler, took over

the store at 904 John Marshall Highway in October of this year.

He was busy chatting with and helping Linda Szelak who had been a customer of the book store when the previous owners had it, but said it had been a while since she’d been in.

“I’ve got a Kindle, but I miss books,” she said.

“I love the feel of books,” added

Carl.

They talked about the good qualities of books for a few minutes and finally Szelak said, “My kids don’t get it that I like books better than the Kindle, but I’m going back to books.”

The store is a good place to start.

Its shelves are filled with colorful, well-organized books. There’s a lot more to the store than books, however.

“It’s a non-video entertainment mecca, with three main entities; PageMaster Books, Incredible Cards and Games and Carl’s Comics,” Carl said, to define the new store.

To celebrate the holidays and to give folks a chance to find books for gifts or to buy some good reads for themselves, Carl wants folks to know that he will be having a sale on books and comics from Dec 9th to the 24th.

Buy three, get one free, or buy five and get two free, and DVDs will be half price. Also, each purchase qualifies someone to win a $50 gift card to be used for books DVDs or comics, for a drawing on Christmas Eve. The winner will be notified if not present at the drawing.

Carl moved to Front Royal about 20 years ago because he wanted to give his children a good environment,

Page 16 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid December, 2015 away from city crime, and “where they didn’t have to live in fearâ€?.

He started his “Carl’s Comics� business in the back of the book store, and has been there since April of 2015. When the owners were deciding whether to sell or close the business last summer, Carl decided to take over. “I started rearranging everything because we had reached maximum density,� he explained.

He expanded an existing area by eight feet to provide more space for Incredible Cards and Games, coowned by Bryan Knepper and Brian Miller. This is a place where members can come and play Magic: the Gathering card games on the weekends and they’re looking for more people to play. It has been operating since January, but now has long tables with play mats that can accommodate 32 players; regulation for tournaments.

The games start at 6 p.m. on Friday and on Saturday go from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. In September, they held a prerelease session at midnight for the latest deck called “Battle of Zendrika�, which was similar to events held at midnight at movie theaters for re-

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Carl Pegler helps Linda Szelak get back to books. leases of new long-awaited movies, and Carl said that players come from a radius of 40 miles around to play.

Shelves in the game room hold a wide variety of accessories for the games like cards, boxes to hold cards, play mats, action figures, along with posters and board games like Yahtzee, South Park and Spiderman.

Carl has a lot of ideas on how to make the store a welcoming place for all types of activities. It’s still a work in progress, since he just took it over in October, but he’s been working

steadily on organizing everything, and tearing out walls to make room for shelves to hold all the books and items for sale. “I’ve talked to a few customers about using the store as a place for book clubs to meet. We could serve “tea and crumpets�, he said with a smile. Then added, “or maybe just coffee and doughnuts!�

He wants to invite musicians to come and play during the weekdays for them, as well.

He also wants people to know that

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includes having it be a place where people are happy to stop by, have fun and enjoy themselves. A place, he says, where like-minded people who love to read can come in and share experiences. “I’d like it to be like the diner in Mayberry, and people can talk about the stories of the day-a personal place

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Carl’s comic books are situated in the back of the store and he has a huge selection, including collections.

He’s been a fan of comic books since 1968 when he was about 12, he said, and his mom was an ally in helping him collect them. She wasn’t the kind of mom who threw out all his comics when he left home, and he said he still has all of the comics he ever collected.

In the 70s, when he really wanted certain comics, he had a hard time finding them because comic book stores and comic book conventions didn’t exist. His mom used to go into “Adult” book stores where the collectors’ comics were sold. He said she’d draw a lot of stares from the customers and staff, because women usually didn’t go in there, but she was on a mission, and wasn’t bothered by their stares or the other items for sale.

“She would bring the comics over to the window and show them to me, because I couldn’t go in there either, then I’d signal which ones I wanted,” Carl reminisced.

“What I like about (comic) books is that they engage you, instead of just entertaining you. They have pictures and not just words, and the fixed pic-

The Incredible Cards and Games room in the store is a place where gamers can come and play Magic Card the Gathering on the weekends. tures make you imagine action and interaction, but you still have to read, so it does two things,” he said.

As a kid, he wanted to know, for example, what Captain America was saying to Red Skull, so they expanded his vocabulary, often sending him to the dictionary to look up words he didn’t know. They also teach a form of science, when talking about things like speed of sound, he said.

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mass consciousness in science fiction form. For example, in the Star Trek series, non-invasive surgery techniques were used, and a form of cell phones were used for communication. In “Back to the Future”, characters were video chatting, which may have seemed far-fetched then. Now anyone can do it.

“When guys write comics, they want to be taken seriously, and if it’s based on science, they have to know facts about the subject,” he said.

And when characters time travel, they usually go to a specific period in time, so history is taught as well.

Carl said that many comic books were the inspiration for movies, such as: Iron Man; X-Men; Road to Perdition; Mystery Men and V is for Vendetta.

He still attends comic conventions (Comicons) and has done so since the early 80s. Twenty years ago, he had his own comic book store in Springfield, Va., So far, locally, there are only about half a dozen collectors, but he will be setting up a website and a subscription service soon where people can come in and order new comic books and books from bookstore on a weekly basis. Books will be set aside for them when the orders come in.

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

Carl’s Comic book room is full of comic books for collectors as well as people who just like to read them.

PageMaster Books has a huge variety of books for all ages.

Some comic book action figures like The Joker and Deadpool are available at the store already.

“I want people to know it’s here, but we’re still getting established,” he said.

Carl has about 50,000 used books on every possible subject, and will buy, sell or trade books. Book donations are welcome.

There’s a table in front with books that have slight imperfections or aren’t in common use, and are free for the taking.

PageMaster Books is located at 904 John Marshall Highway across from Front Royal Diner Family Restaurant.

Call 635-5353, email pagemasterbooks1@yahoo.com, carlscomics1@ yahoo.com, or find him on Facebook at Carl’s Comics. Hours are: Mon. – Sat., 10-a.m. – 6 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., but he’s often there until 8 p.m., so he welcomes people to just come by and check if the sign says “Open.”

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

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Memorable, not perfect: Christmas traditions revisited

Decorated trees available at Blue Ridge Arts Council’s annual “Deck the Halls” gala

By Teresa Brumback Warren & Frederick County Report When it comes to the holidays I’m pretty much a bah-humbug type. I don’t enjoy fussing with decorations, the tree, baking Christmas cookies or shopping for presents. Most of it just doesn’t happen in my world.

After all, the holidays are for children and when it comes to toys I aim for simple, classic toys for my grandkids as I did when my son was growing up. Generally I ignore the adults when it comes to presents and cards but if I’m feeling generous they might get a gift of fruit from the high school or middle school FFA (Future Farmers of America).

However, I do enjoy reveling in local holiday parties and concerts.

These traditions are worth saving while a few others I’m revamping or scrapping altogether.

Let’s start out with the Front Royal Oratorio Society, still going strong after more than 50 years. Led by master conductor George Amos over the past two decades, the chorale should be on everyone’s must-do list over the holidays. The Christmas season or whatever religious day you happen to celebrate, just isn’t the same without it. The group performs Sunday, Dec. 6, at 4 p.m. at Front Royal Presbyterian Church, 115 Luray Ave., Front Royal.

This year the voices have been joined by piano, organ, harp and brass ensemble, though some selections are a cappella. The acoustics in the church are outstanding. They make you feel as though you’re an angel floating in heaven.

I participated in one rehearsal under Amos’s direction last season but due to scheduling conflicts I had to stop. But even the rigorous practice was a wonderful experience. He aims for perfection but he uses humor and gentle cajoling to get the most out of his group.

I still fondly remember being in the audience years ago when the group performed my favorite arrangement of “Silent Night.” The rising and fall-

ing crescendos alternating from different sections of the choir were breathtaking and overwhelming.

Picture being at the beach during an approaching weather event with waves rolling in and falling back from different directions. The experience was something like that. The sound was out of this earthly realm. It was breathtaking, a spiritual epiphany that brought this crusty old woman to tears. A former music major in college I can honestly say there aren’t many concerts where I’ve experienced that depth of emotion.

The Oratorio Society concert is one of a very few events each year where I get all dressed up in something sparkly and actually wear makeup, (thanks to the makeup sampling counter at Peebles in Front Royal. They love me; they really do…) I hope to be

accompanied by my very sweet but beastly boyfriend of 28 years: a hunk who looks something like Chuck Norris but is much more handsome than that TV and infomercial star. If he gets dressed up it means he will wear his camouflage jacket and jeans, that is, if I manage to drag him along.

We’ll see.

When my son was growing up I’d drag him to this and every other concert within my means and my reach.

I’m hoping he will take his family this year.

In a new tradition, the last couple years I’ve paid homage to the holidays by also attending the Blue Ridge Arts Council’s “Deck the Halls” gala. This year, the group had 75 artificial trees pre-decorated by the members, each with a different theme. The trees and wreaths generally range from $20 to $150. Also featured were a live auction with a golf outing, a girls’ night out event, and more, and silent auctions of gift baskets and things. I got a group of friends to go. Tickets were just $10 and we pigged out at a huge table of dinner-worthy appetizers with an open bar included. The event was organized by executive director Kym Crump and volunteers including her husband David Crump at the bar. David is still a lawyer, having worked as a local lawyer, a local General District Court judge and a corporate lawyer in DC. Thanks to BRAC, I put up a gorgeous pre-decorated tree that replaced the ratty one I’ve been using the last 25 years. My son, with eyes rolled upward, can describe our Christmas tree tradition: Years ago I threw on a few decorations, tinsel and lights for one time and one time

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only. My annual holiday tradition?

Each year I lightly dust it and bring it up from its permanent home in the basement and I hope that nothing falls off and breaks. I lose a few ornaments every year but that’s OK. It’s all part of the tradition. In five minutes or less my tree is up and brightly shining.

Believe it or not, the BRAC trees are SO much better. Each has a

theme, ranging from nature to butterflies to school and sports themes, snowmen, monochromatic or twotoned or multi-colored trees. They are created and donated for this annual event by local artists. Last year I bought a violet-colored one with faux crystals and sequins. It was just gorgeous. I gave it to my brother. I also bought an ocean-themed tree that I used year round. It is a white tree

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This year I almost bought one but I didn’t have room for any more trees.

Tree or no tree, I have managed to keep Front Royal’s hometown parade on my tradition to-do list. The annual glittering hometown parade sponsored by the Front Royal-Warren County Chamber of Commerce will begin this Saturday, Dec. 5, at 106 Chester Street. It’s a small town treat that will be remembered for years to come. For more information call (540) 635-3185.

Also on Saturday, the Front Royal Farmers’ Market will present a Christmas bazaar with arts, crafts, food and entertainment under tent,

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from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The market is on Main Street around the town Gazebo.

Caroling and live entertainment are planned on Saturday at the Gazebo 3-5 p.m., open houses and specials at many downtown merchants, as well as the official lighting of the Town Christmas Tree.

Also on Saturday, Heaven Scent/ Americana Signs gift shop and Tony T’s Apple Orchard and Farm and Kitchen will host an open house at Heaven Scent, located at 119 Chester Street, Front Royal, with refreshments, poinsettias, the White house Christmas ornament, Amish furniture, cards, religious items and books, home-baked goods, honey, and much more.

Elsewhere on my tradition “to-do”

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list this year are plans to see “The Nutcracker with a Twist,” to be performed by the local Connect the Dots Youth Dance Ensemble the following Saturday at 2 p.m., Dec. 12, at Samuels Public Library. The event is free and open to the public, featuring a Christmas dance performance of the beloved Nutcracker story, told with updated music and choreography. For more information call (540) 635-3153.

Last, but certainly not least, make going to a church or even a live Nativity scene or something remembering the true meaning of Christmas or your other religious celebration part of your annual tradition.

When I was growing up in Wheaton, Md., my mother for some reason insisted, during every snowy, blustery winter that our family walk to Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. It was about a mile walk from our house to pick up my friend and her family around the corner and then trudge through the snow-covered

Mid December, 2015 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Page 19 sidewalks and streets to St. Catherine Laboure Church on Viers Mill Road. Perhaps she did it to remind us of the Holy Family’s arduous journey to Bethlehem. But they didn’t have to deal with snow. Perhaps it was her own way of reliving her family history, growing up as the daughter of a tenant farmer during the Depression on the plains of South Dakota. They never missed church or school on account of the weather. They went by horse and wagon if necessary. When she taught at a school on the prairie she was just 16 and my grandfather would arrive at school the night before to get the coal stove fire going.

They were tough as nails.

But that journey through snow is one tradition I’m not going to relive.

Church is always a good thing but I live in the country almost ten miles away; there’s no way I’m walking through snow or riding a horse to get there. But it would be an interesting adventure to tell my grandkids.

Those are some of my traditions

over the holidays. What are yours?

– brumback@areaguides.com

Snowman tree from the Blue Ridge Arts Council’s annual “Deck the Halls” gala

Page 20 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid December, 2015

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Local charity organizations help folks in need Salvation Army, Toys for Tots and Camping for Hunger prepare for Holiday fundraiser season

Toys for Tots collection box sits ready at Down Home Comfort Bakery for new unwrapped toys!

A look at the inside of the Camping for Hunger bus. The River 95.3 spent the entire week of the campaign broadcasting live from the bus!

By Timothy Ratigan Warren & Frederick County Report In the late July edition of this paper I did an article on the poverty situation in Front Royal and Warren County. In that article I highlighted two organizations that are available to the citizens of Front Royal and Warren County in need of financial assistance and assistance in filling their pantry during difficult times in their lives.

I mentioned in that article that during Thanksgiving and Christmas, people’s minds and hearts seem to be centered on the poor more than any other time of the year.

Well folks that time is now. As I sit here writing this article I am reminded of several initiatives going on in our town and county right now.

In the bulletin of my church for the last several weeks, I have read a small paragraph advertising the need for donations of cash cards from Martin’s, Food Lion or Walmart to help with the food baskets for the Thanksgiving and Christmas season.

A little over a week ago The River, 95.3 hosted their annual “Camping for Hunger” and their bus is parked in the Royal Plaza Shopping Center.

Citizens, businesses and civic organizations from across the county are

lining up with monetary assistance and bags and boxes of non-perishable food. More on them later In this article, I would like to concentrate on three organizations.

They are: The Salvation Army, and their motto/slogan “Doing the Most Good”; The Toys for Tots program; and the annual Camping for Hunger food drive hosted by The River 95.3.

Some of the work the Salvation Army does for the local community includes the following: They provide: Food services. Families in need can receive nonperishable grocery items from the on-site pantry to supplement their food supply.

Clothing assistance: Families or individuals in need can receive a voucher to go to the on-site thrift store and receive clothing, shoes, linens, and other home items.

Emergency furniture assistance: Families in need who have been victims of natural disasters or domestic violence can receive assistance with their basic household necessities to replace lost items and help them to get back on their feet.

Emergency financial assistance: Qualifying clients/families who are in danger of eviction from their homes or loss of utility service can receive a one-time financial contribution to-

Camping for Hunger Bus parked at the Royal Plaza Shopping Center stands ready to receive donations of funds and food items. ward the past-due balance on these necessary bills.

Tools for Schools program: Children receive such essentials as clothes, shoes, notebooks and backpacks to help them prepare for school in the fall.

Thanksgiving meal: A nourishing, warm meal is served at the Corps Building to all who ask. Many local restaurants and families assist by preparing, donating and serving the food.

Christmas Good boxes: Individuals and families in need during the holidays can receive boxes of nonperishable food for their family holiday meal.

Angel Tree Program: Each year during the Christmas season, families and individuals purchase Christmas gifts of clothing, shoes, toys, personal items and other gifts for needy children. Local businesses and churches provide Angel Tree sites.

As you walk into Wal Mart or Big Lots you will be greeted by Salvation Army bell ringers standing in the cold and rain or sunshine depending on the weather; collecting donations for the needy. They are by far the most visible signs of the good work being done by the Salvation Army.

Perhaps a chance for the public to express their thanks in person is in order, and as my pastor always says “dig deep until it hurts”.

The next organization I would like to report on is a group that is very near and close to my heart as a U.S. Navy Veteran and Hospital Corpsman.

The Toys for Tots Program is a function of the Marine Corps Reserve, but since there is no Marine Corps Reserve Unit In this area, the Toys for Tots program is coordinated by the Winchester Detachment of the Marine Corps League and is totally manned by a group of dedicated volunteers. The Marine Corps League is a group of former Marines and Fleet Marine Force Medics (Navy Corpsman).

This year we started placing boxes on Monday November 2, and will start collecting the boxes the week of December 14th. Last year we collected 14,808 toys, purchased 2,000 toys and bicycles, and distributed 20,991 toys to 3,871 children in Frederick, Warren, Clarke, Page and Shenandoah Counties.

We are in need of cash contributions for toys for babies, toddlers, or older children 9 years old and older.

We have no paid personnel, and all of our people are volunteers, so between $.95 and $.97 of every dollar collected locally is used to purchase toys for children in this area.

All of the toys collected here are distributed to children in this area.

To apply for Toys for Tots or to request a toy collection box, email chesty890@aol.com or call 540-3274127.

As you walk in and out of businesses, whether it be the I-HOP out in the corridor or Down Home Comfort Bakery at 120 E. Main Street in Front Royal, please be on the lookout for the large Toys for Tots collection boxes inside.

As promised, I would like to talk about the Camping for Hunger campaign hosted by The River 95.3 ear-

lier in November.

I sat down for an interview with Lonnie Hill of 95.3 The River.

“Joe Woodall was the one who initially put this all together about seven years ago after discovering a need in the community. We discovered that a lot of the food bank shelves were empty, so we decided that something had to be done. Joe suggested doing some of sort of camping event,” he said.

After discussing the possibilities a bit they came up with the idea that soon became a reality; “Camping for Hunger”. The bus was provided by the Warren County Fire Department.

“So for the last seven years we have been trying to throw hunger under the bus,” he said.

The amount of food collected varies from year to year. The first year doing this, 95.3 collected approximately 10 to 12 thousand pounds of food. In 2014, it was closer to 30,000 pounds of food. All of the food collected goes to C-Cap in Front Royal.

So all food collected in Front Royal/ Warren County stays in the community.

When talking about large one time contributions, Hill mentioned that when Dominion Power was building

Read full issues FREE on www.WarrenCountyVA.com & www.FrederickCounty.com the Warren County power plant they got very involved in the community and contributed a total of six pickup truck loads of food in 2013.

Hill also reported that for this year some of the top donors were Sparky’s Electric with one van load of food.

The local boy scouts of Troop 52 col-

lected about 700 pounds of food for the campaign as well.

Front Royal Christian School held a classroom competition and managed to collect 900 pounds of food.

Hill talked about one special case.

A gentleman in not the best of circumstances, and in need of assis-

tance himself walked up to the bus and contributed the grand total he had on him; 50 cents.

So it is the “Widow’s Mite” that helps support the community and poor as well.

Hill also said that while the River is set up at the Royal Plaza Center, they

Mid December, 2015 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Page 21 do all of their broadcasting at the Camping for Hunger Bus. Century Link provides the DSL line to connect them back to the station. Having the Camping for Hunger Bus doesn’t cost the radio station anything, due to the generosity of community business owners who contribute services that make the campaign possible.

Some of the community businesses that pitch in to help include Papa John’s Pizza and volunteers from the community like the career class from

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Front Royal Christian School.

So this wraps up our report on a few of the charitable activities taking place in Front Royal/Warren County.

There may be many more that have not come to our attention, but they are all doing wonderful work.

As the Christmas/Holiday season progresses, the citizens of Front Royal and Warren County will have many opportunities to help each other.s After we are all in this together.

– tim@areaguides.com

CRIME OF THE WEEK

Winchester Crime of the Week The Winchester Police Department is investigating a burglary in the 20 block of Gibbons Street. The incident occurred between 6:30 p.m. October 21 and 9:15 a.m.

October 26, 2015. The suspect(s) broke into the home and stole jewelry, two televisions, a lawn mower, and a leaf blower.

If you have any information regarding a suspect, 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 15041496, Officer Eiland.

Frederick County Crime of the Week - November 23, 2015 On September 21, 2015, the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a concerned citizen in reference to an acquaintance of his who had been missing for days. Deputies responded to the area of Mountain Falls Park and were informed the missing person was Jeffrey Charles Koller, also known as “Dutch”, age 59. All attempts to locate Mr. Koller were unsuccessful at that time. On September 22, 2015, the same concerned citizen contacted the Sheriff’s Office stating that he and another unnamed person conducted a walking search of the area and located a deceased body along a gravel road leading to Chipmonk Trail in the Mountain Falls Park area. Deputies responded to the scene and discovered a partially decomposed body of a white male.

Due to the decomposition, the body could not be identified as the missing Mr. Koller.

The body was transported to the Medical Examiner’s Officer in Fairfax, Virginia. After conducting an autopsy on September 24, 2015, the Medical Examiner’s Office officially identified the body as that of Jeffrey Charles Koller and concluded that the cause of death was a result of multiple gunshot wounds and the death was classified as a homicide.

If you have any information regarding a suspect or a 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 #15004920 Investigator Jared Nail

Page 22 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid December, 2015

Warren County Report Pancake Day!

The Kiwanis Club of Front Royal will host its 59th annual Pancake Day on Saturday, Dec. 5 at E. Wilson Morrison Elementary School at 40 Crescent Street in Front Royal.

All-you-can-eat pancakes and sausage are available from 6 a.m. until about 3 p.m. Advance tickets, available from any Front Royal Kiwanis member, are $5 each. Tickets at the door are $6 for adults and $3 for children under seven.

Advance tickets are also available for sale from Bill Powers’ State Farm Office at 135 North Royal Ave in Front Royal.

Pancake Day is the largest fundraiser of the year for Front Royal Kiwanis. Proceeds go to projects to benefit local youth and include everything from scholarships to support for playground equipment.

adult male who had solicited a 15 year old male via the internet. The adult male had also shown up at the juvenile’s residence with the intent of transporting him to a local motel to engage in sexual acts. The juvenile’s parents intervened and advised the adult male to leave their residence. During an investigation conducted by Investigator Bates it was determined that the adult male was 51 year old Kirk Jeffrey Jacoby of Bristol, PA. It was determined that Jacoby had initially made contact with the juvenile through Facebook which led to text messaging and then phone conversations.

During the early morning hours of November 22, it was learned Jacoby was staying in room 114 at the

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Budget Inn Motel in Front Royal.

Surveillance was conducted on the motel and Investigator Bates obtained an arrest warrant for Jacoby in reference to violation of § 18.2374.3 code of Virginia, solicitation of a juvenile by electronic means for the intent of taking indecent liberties with a child.

Investigator Bates also obtained a search warrant for the motel room and a vehicle that Jacoby had been driving which resulted in seizing items of evidence in the case. Jacoby was taken into custody without incident and transported to RSW Regional Jail and taken before a magistrate. Jacoby is being held without bond pending an appearance in court.

Anyone with additional information should contact Investigator Bates at (540) 635-7100.

Warren Ave Shooting Front Royal Police Chief Norman Shiflett has announced additional charges that have been placed on shooting suspect, Phillip Danyel Wilson in connection with the Warren Avenue shooting. On November 1, 2015, Timothy Wayne

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Christmas Community Dinner The 1st Annual Christmas Spirit Community Dinner is Friday, December 25th from Noon-6pm or while supplies last. Registration in advance required.

What: A FREE hot meal, including a fabulous array of desserts, goodies, and beverages.

Where: North Warren Volunteer Fire Department, 266 Rockland Court, Front Royal, VA 22630 Who: Everyone Welcome!

If you are alone, new to town, low on funds or simply want to experience a magical, family oriented Christmas Day, please join us! Registration required.

Each registered family member will have the opportunity to take home a personal gift bag.

Note: If someone cannot make it to the hall for dinner, arrangements can be made to have a meal delivered.

To register, volunteer, or donate please contact the following people: Dana Knave – dana.knave@ gmail.com 540-671-5871 Tony Knave – tony.knave@yahoo. com 540-671-1478 Kimberly Knight – kimberlyknght@yahoo.com 540-6839846 Suspect arrested for solicitation of a juvenile On November 21, Deputy Brogan took a report of an unknown

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Carter, 37, was a victim of a gunshot wound to the chest and was airlifted to Fairfax Inova Hospital where he is still being treated for his injuries.

Wilson was served 2 additional felony charges on Wednesday, November 18th, 2015 of felony shooting with intent to main and/or kill and felony use of a firearm in committing a felony for his role in this incident. Wilson has been held at RSW Jail without bond since his arrest on November 2, 2015 for felony possession of a firearm after being convicted of a felony. Wilson’s next scheduled court appearance is on December 2, 2015.

Front Royal Police requests the public to contact Detective David

L. Fogle at (540) 636-2208 or dfogle@frontroyalva.com with any information regarding this case.

Parade day street closures and parking restrictions The Front Royal Police Department has announced street closures and parking restrictions in conjunction with Front Royal’s Annual Christmas Parade.

On Saturday December 5, 2015, parking restrictions and street closures will be in effect beginning at 3:00pm. There will be no on-street parking permitted on the following streets: Luray Avenue from West Criser Road to Kilby Drive

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Kilby Drive West Stonewall Drive South Royal Avenue from Stonewall Drive to Main Street East Main Street from Royal Avenue to Blue Ridge Avenue Chester Street from East Main Street to 3rd Street 3rd Street from Chester Street to North Commerce Avenue Front Royal Police will begin blocking off these roads at 3:30pm for the parade, which is scheduled to start at 5:00pm. Royal Avenue will be closed at approximately 4:40pm until the parade has ended.

Motorists are encouraged to detour the parade area via the truck route, which is South Street and Commerce Avenue.

Participants in the parade are required to enter the Luray Avenue lineup area from West Criser Road or Kerfoot Avenue to avoid congestion. Luray Avenue will be marked as an eastbound only one way street during the parade preparation and lineup.

The parade route will start from

Luray Avenue and proceed onto Stonewall Drive then north on S. Royal Avenue; east on E. Main Street; north on Chester Street, and continuing until turning onto 3rd Street and ending at the Warren County Government Center.

Chief Norman Shiflett advises that “Motorists should add a little extra time to their travel plans and be patient as we assist in this Christmas celebration. For the safety of the participants and the spectators, if you encounter a barricade or traffic control device please obey it and redirect your route. It is illegal to move, go around or through barricades or to disregard traffic control devices. Let’s make this a safe and happy holiday season for everyone.”

Upcoming Checkpoint On Saturday, December 05, 2015 the Front Royal Police Department will conduct a joint sobriety and safety checkpoint with assistance from the Warren County Sheriff ’s

Office. These enforcement efforts are in support of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) National crackdown program on drunk driving this holiday season that focuses on combining high-visibility enforcement with heightened public awareness through advertising and publicity.

Officers will stop all vehicles passing through the checkpoint to inspect drivers’ licenses and vehicle registrations. In an effort to increase traffic safety during the holiday season, officers will be apprehending or citing persons who violate licensing laws, operate unsafe vehicles, or operate a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The maximum penalty in Virginia for the first conviction for driving under the influence is 12 months in jail, a $2,500 fine and a 12-month suspension of driving privileges.

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

Please don’t drink and drive With the holiday season now in full swing many families will be having parties and dinners to celebrate. Some of these events may be serving alcohol and the Front Royal Police Department wants to remind party goers of the dangers of drinking and driving.

“A lot of folks think that they know their own limits” says Police Chief Norman Shiflett. “They think that if they’re only a little ‘buzzed’ then they’re okay to drive, but buzzed driving is still drunk driving.”

In December 2013, 733 people were killed nationwide in accidents involving a drunk driver. Front Royal Police ask that if you plan on drinking, arrange a sober driver ahead of time to reduce the chances of making what could be a fatal mistake. Drivers in Front Royal can expect to see extra officers on the streets targeting drunk drivers as well as checkpoints to ensure sobriety. Chief Shiflett advises that officers will be out in force to ensure that everyone has a safe and happy holiday season.

Samuels Public Library December Events English as a Second Language: register and attend the English as a Second Language course. This course will be every Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. The ESL course is completely free. Learning English will not only enhance your quality of life but open many doors and present new opportunities.

General Education Development: register and attend the General Education Development course.

This course will be every Tuesday

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and Thursday at 10:00 A.M-12:30 P.M (except on school holidays or closings). The GED course is completely free. Let this course be the stepping stone to your success.

TnT Book Club: attend the TnT (Twenties and Thirties) Book Club!

On Saturday, December 5th at 12:00 P.M., the book The Pocket Wife by Susan Crawford will be discussed. Dana Catrell is horrified to learn she was the last person to see her neighbor Celia alive. Suffering from a devastating mania, a result of her bipolar disorder, Dana finds that there are troubling holes in her memory, including what happened on the afternoon of Celia’s death. As evidence starts to point in her direction, Dana struggles to clear her name before her own demons win out. The closer she comes to piecing together shards of her broken memory, the more Dana falls apart.

Is there a murderer lurking inside her... or is there one out there in the shadows of reality, waiting to strike again? A story of marriage, murder and madness, The Pocket Wife explores the world through the foggy lens of a woman on the edge.

The Shenandoah Valley Civil War Era Dancers: join us in learning early American period dancing! The dances include line, circle, square sets and waltzes. The dance class will be on Thursday, December 10th, music starts at 5:00 P.M. and dancing starts at 6:00 P.M. No prior experience is necessary.

Young folks and those with two left feet are most welcome!

Holiday Workshop: Nature Crafts: make holiday ornaments and gifts with materials supplied

by Mother Nature including owls, reindeer angels, elves and more with pine cones, twigs, leaves and nuts. Tell your friends and join us on Saturday, December 12th at 10:00 A.M. Books and Beyond Book Club: attend the Books and Beyond Book Club! On Wednesday, December 16th at 10:00 A.M., Growing Up

by Russell Baker will be discussed.

This is Russell Baker’s story of growing up in America between the world wars--in the backwoods mountains of Virginia, in a New Jersey commuter town, and finally in the Depression-shadowed urban landscape of Baltimore.

Vibes at the Libes: Christmas Carols: sing in the holiday cheer. Join us for a free lunch time music series at the library! Bring your lunch and enjoy the performance from John Kovak and Friends. Come out for an afternoon of Christmas Carols on Tuesday, December 22nd at 12:30 P.M. Holiday lights contest The Town of Front Royal is again sponsoring the 2nd Annual Holiday Lights Contest. The contest is open See BRIEFS, 24

Page 24 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid December, 2015 BRIEFS, from 23

to all Town residents who wish to submit a photograph of their own holiday decorated residence for a chance to win first prize of a $100.00 credit towards their utility bill; second prize of $50.00 or third prize of $25.00. The Town also encourages you to vote for your favorite decorated house. Winners are those who receive the largest number of online votes. To enter and/or vote visit the Town’s website page at www.frontroyalva.com and click the “Holiday Lights Contest” icon.

You may also enter through your Facebook account or the Town’s Mobile App. Rules and regulations are available when you enter. Submission of photographs is open until December 27 and voting ends January 1, 2016.

Fire safety for holiday decorations The winter holiday season is upon us again, which means many of us are scrambling to decorate and tidy our homes for visitors and organize family gatherings. However, in the hustle and bustle of planning for holiday social events many households fail to prepare for the unthinkable – a home fire.

The Warren County Department of Fire and Rescue Services are reminding every household to be

prepared and safe during this winter holiday season. To assist you in protecting your family and property, consider the following tips from the fire and rescue department to reduce your chances of becoming a holiday fire casualty: If you have an artificial tree, be sure it’s labeled, certified or identified by the manufacturer as fire-retardant.

If you choose a fresh tree, make sure the green needles don’t fall off when touched; before placing it in the stand, cut 2” from the base of the trunk. Add water to the tree stand, and be sure to water it daily.

Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit, and is at least three feet away from any heat source, like fireplaces, space heaters, radiators, candles and heat vents or lights.

Use lights that have the label of a recognized testing laboratory, and make sure you know whether they are designed for indoor or outdoor use.

Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords, or loose bulb connections. Read manufacturer’s instructions for number of light strands to connect.

Never use lit candles to decorate the tree.

Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving the home or going to bed.

After Christmas, get rid of the tree. Dried-out trees are a fire haz-

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ard and should not be left in the home or garage, or placed outside the home.

Bring outdoor electrical lights inside after the holidays to prevent hazards and make them last longer.

“The holidays can quickly turn from joyful to tragic when a fire occurs,” says Fire Chief Richard E. Mabie. “By taking simple precautions, people can avoid potential fire hazards, and make this time of year a healthy and happy one.”

Together we can make this holiday a safe and uneventful day. For more fire safety information call fire administration at (540) 636-3830 or visit us on the web at www.warren-

countyfire.com.

Annual Christmas Concert at R-MA The annual Randolph-Macon Academy (R-MA) Christmas Concert, featuring the Randolph-Macon Academy Chorus, the R-MA Handbells, and the award-winning 91st Virginia Air Force JROTC Band, will be held on Sunday, December 13, 2015 at 7:30 pm in Boggs Chapel. The performance will include a number of Christmas favorites, and as has become an R-MA tradition, it will conclude with the band and chorus performing the “Halle-

lujah Chorus” together. This concert is open to the public; admission is free. For more information, contact erichards@rma.edu, or call (540) 636-5200.

Randolph-Macon Academy (RMA), founded in 1892, is a collegepreparatory, coeducational boarding school for students in grades 6 through 12. Students in grades 9-12 participate in R-MA’s 91st Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC). R-MA is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and is located in Front Royal, VA. Send your news items to: briefs@warrencountyreport.com

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

Discovering Warren County: The bells are ringing

Local officials help the Salvation army deliver food at this year’s Thanksgiving dinner

By Ken Thurman Warren & Frederick County Report The familiar sound of bells ringing here and throughout the land means the Salvation Army is kicking off their annual red kettle campaign to raise money for the many programs and services that they provide to our local community. The Army has been a critical service provider for our community for over 50 years supporting Warren, Page and Rappahannock Counties.

I have gotten to know the dedicated

staff and volunteers who serve over 8,500 individuals in our community with food, clothes, and a wide variety of family services including: A Women’s Ministry to provide support and encouragement to women through fellowship, the Free Food Table where individuals in need can stop by and pick up perishable food items, Winter Outerwear Program for those in need of coats, hats, gloves, and scarves for the winter, the Family Services Programs designed to provide food, clothing, utility and rent/mortgage assistances, Christmas Assis-

tance providing gifts to children and adults through their Angel Tree, Toy Shop, and Sheetz Family Christmas plus holiday food drives, Community Care Ministries bring gifts and cheer to our area nursing homes during the holiday season and throughout the year, Club 316 which acts as a safe haven for youth in our area and provides warm meals, recreation, and character building, plus Camp Happyland a no or low cost children’s summer camp.

The recent Thanksgiving dinner provided meals for over 200 individuals and will again be providing Christmas food boxes to area individuals in need.

Currently the Salvation Army in “Doing the Most Good” is ringing bells at Walmart in Front Royal and Luray and Big Lots in Front Royal.

Counter kettles can be found at multiple banks and area businesses in the area including City National, Union Bank & Trust, Sona Bank, Jack Evans Chevrolet, and True Value.

To adopt an Angel Tree child in need you can visit a number of locations in our area and help a child who might not otherwise receive gifts at Christmas. Locations include: Walmart in Front Royal and Luray, BB&T, Wells Fargo, First Citizens Bank, United

Bank, Warren County High School, Front Royal Federal Credit Union, the Chamber of Commerce, Riverton United Methodist Church, Front Royal United Methodist Church, and E. Wilson Morrison Elementary School (stockings).

To find out more or if you find yourself or loved ones in need of food, clothing financial services or need a place for fellowship, support and a sense of belonging to the community,

you can stop by the Family Store at 296 South Street which is open Monday – Saturday or visit the Corps Community Center located at 357 Cloud Street Monday – Friday. Captains Jim and Beth Forrer and the helpful staff can be reached at (540) 635-4020 or you can visit them at http://virginiasalvationarmy.org/frontroyalva/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook. com/salvationarmyfrontroyal

Salvation Army’s red kettles stand ready for this year’s donations.

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

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Discovering Warren County: Truly Heaven Sent

By Ken Thurman Warren & Frederick County Report One of Warren Counties most in-

spiring couples that I have had the privilege to work with and to get to know, Maggie and Steve Sill have been an integral part of our commu-

nities for over 20 years!

Since retiring from the Air Force and moving to Front Royal, Steve and Maggie have been active in our community and are probably best known for Front Royal’s Christkindlmarkt which they created, organized, and sponsored for 10 years at Christmas time. Who can forget Hilbie the juggler, Mr. and Mrs. Claus and of course the Silent Monks of the Shenandoah (who by the way are scheduled to perform at First Night New Year’s Eve).

Through the years the couple has been active on the boards of the Downtown Business Association (DBA) and Downtown Front Royal (DFR) raising funds and organizing events including: the Christkindlmarkt (2004-2013), Founders & Homecoming (a two year running commemorative event to entertain our seniors 2004-2005), and “This your Life� based on an old TV show to honor local business owners (2002 and 2006). And don’t forget their instrumental role as members of the Power Of Partnerships Alliance (POPA) in creating and sponsoring this year and next year’s second annual St. Patrick’s Day Festival (March 12th 2016).

They have accomplished all of these while running their own businesses, Heaven Sent Shoppe and Americana Signs & Engraving since October 1995. Their location has changed six times over the years but has been at 119 Chester Street in Front Royal for the last nine years.

Heaven Sent Shoppe is a wonderful mix of unique collectibles, inspi-

rational items and souvenirs that any visitor could want and should see.

The inviting atmosphere is amplified

by Maggie as she hosts you through all the shops delights. Americana Signs & Engraving has provided signs, plaques, and banners that we all see every time we enter the town of Front Royal or visit downtown.

The pair is closing their brick and mortar store Christmas Eve. But don’t despair, you will still be able to purchase and take advantage of their design and fabrication abilities online as they move to E-Commerce (www.

HeavenSentShoppe.com). This Sat-

urday, December 5th with Tony T’s Apple Farm and Kitchen they will be sponsoring a Christmas Open House at their 119 Chester Street location from 9am – 4 pm. I encourage everyone to visit them, enjoy all they have to offer and congratulate them on their 20 year anniversary. You can also reach them by phone at (540) 622-2060.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank them both for their friendship, kindness, and the inspiration that they have instilled in me over the past 11 years.

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

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Friday, December 4 Forecast 53° | 30° 11am - 11:30am Dance Party Fridays! Handley Library. Toddlers, Preschoolers, & their grown-ups are welcome to come boogie down! Now offered EVERY Friday!

1:30pm - 2:30pm Education Committee. Chamber Office Saturday, December 5 6am - 3pm Pancake Day! E. Wilson Morrison Elementary School,

40 Crescent Street, Front Royal. The Kiwanis Club of Front Royal will host its 59th annual Pancake Day with allyou-can-eat pancakes and sausage.

Advance tickets, available from any Front Royal Kiwanis member, are $5 each. Tickets at the door are $6 for adults and $3 for children under seven. Advance tickets are also available for sale from Bill Powers’ State Farm Office at 135 North Royal Ave in Front Royal. Pancake Day is the largest fundraiser of the year for

Front Royal Kiwanis. Proceeds go to projects to benefit local youth and include everything from scholarships to support for playground equipment.

8am - 4pm Warren County Fair Flea Market. Warren County Fairgrounds. The Flea Market is open every weekend expect during the fair.

For more information, call (540) 6355827.

9am - 12pm Book Drop-Off Morning. Bowman Library, 871 Tasker Road, Stephens City. Drive to Bowman Library and make your donations of used books, DVDs and CDs.

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Your donations help your libraries.

11am - 3pm Christmas at the Shelter. Frederick County Esther Boyd Animal Shelter, Fort Collier Road, Winchester. There will be a silent auction, light refreshments, a blessing of the animals done by Rev. Mohn and pet pictures with Santa for a small fee.

11am - 12pm Jingle Bell Rock party. Bowman Library, 871 Tasker Road, Stephens City. Join us for a holiday celebration for all of your family! Make jingle bell bracelets and elf headbands, sing along with our puppets, hear stories like the Polar

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1pm - 2:30pm Paws for Reading.

Bowman Library. Read a favorite book to a reading tutor. It is Paws for Reading! These canine listeners are patient and love to hear kids read books. Come meet our certified therapy dogs.

2pm - 4pm 46th Annual Evans Home Doll Auction. Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, Amherst Street, Winchester. Mark your calendar for the 46th Annual Doll Auction benefiting the Evans Home for Children.

This year for the first time the event will be hosted at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley.

6:30pm - 9:30pm Bingo. North Fork Resort Associates, 301 North Fork Road, Front Royal. Doors open at 4:30. Early birds at 6:30. Food available for purchase. Door prizes, progressive games, queen of hearts, progressive pull tab. Also, brand new Electronic pull tab games. Find us on Facebook. (540) 636-7152. Must be 12 to play. No smoking.

Sunday, December 6 8am - 4pm Warren County Fair Flea Market. Warren County Fairgrounds. The Flea Market is open every weekend expect during the fair.

For more information, call (540) 6355827.

2pm - 6pm Middletown Christmas Parade. Main Street, Middletown.

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street. Lineup starts at LFCC. After, cookies with Santa & Mrs. Claus at the Wayside Inn. Award ceremony after for parade.

ing’s 2nd Floor Conference Room.

7pm - 8pm Council Work Session.

Town Administration Building, 102 E. Main St.

Monday, December 7 10:30am - 11am Preschool Time.

Handley Library. Programs are free and open to the public. No registration is required. Most appropriate for Preschoolers, age 3 and up.

11am - 11:30am Toddler Story Time.

Bowman Library, 871 Tasker Road, Stephens City. For children three and under. A lively story time program of stories, songs, finger plays, flannel boards and movement.

4:30pm - 5:30pm LEGO Club.

Bowman Library, 871 Tasker Road, Stephens City. Design and construction themes are different each week.

Free! No registration required!

5pm - 6pm UFAC Meeting. Front Royal Administration Building, 102 E Main Street, Front Royal. The Urban Forestry Advisory Commission (UFAC) meets tonight at 5:00p in the Front Royal Administration Build-

Tuesday, December 8 10:30am - 11am Baby & Me Story Time. Handley Library. For Infants birth to 15 months. Enjoy stories, finger plays, and songs!

10:30am - 11am Preschool Story Time. Clarke County Library. Hear great stories and have fun with Mary!

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 - 7pm BAR Meeting. Town Administration Building, Front Royal.

Wednesday, December 9 11am - 12pm Preschool Story Time. Bowman Library, 871 Tasker

Road, Stephens City. Best for ages 2-5. A lively 30-minute program of stories, puppets, dancing and songs.

3:30pm - 5pm Chamber Board Meeting. Chamber Office.

4:15pm - 4:45pm Learn Spanish.

Bowman Library. Learn Spanish with Angela. Using games, songs, puppets and picture books, children and their parents will learn the Spanish language. Contact Donna Hughes at (540) 869-9000 x215 for more information.

4:30pm - 5:30pm Gingerbread Jamboree. Handley Library, 100 W Piccadilly St, Winchester. Gingerbread Jamboree! Celebrate the holiday season, and join us for all things Gingerbread! Stories, songs, & holi-

day fun.

6pm - 8pm Shenandoah Poetry Alliance. Handley Library, 100 West Piccadilly Street, Winchester. Poetry for all poets. In the auditorium and sponsored by Friends of HRL. 6:30pm - 9:30pm Bingo. North Fork Resort Associates, 301 North Fork Road, Front Royal. Doors open at 4:30. Early birds at 6:30. Food available for purchase. Door prizes, progressive games, queen of hearts, progressive pull tab. Also, brand new Electronic pull tab games. Find us on Facebook. (540) 636-7152. Must be 12 to play. No smoking.

Thursday, December 10 10:30am - 11:30am Preschool Sto-

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EMPLOYMENT 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

Now Hiring Ad Sales Reps Email: Dan@AreaGuides.com

Job Fair Staff Management Group at the Virginia Employment Commission Winchester office. 100 Premier Place, 540 535-2875 Tuesday, August 25th, 2015 from 10-4pm 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:

Dolls for sale, all prices. Cookie Jars, $20 and up.. Old wicker baby stroller, $100.

Large ceramic owl, $25.00. Blue canning jars $4 each. Mens size 11 Florsheim shoes, like new, $50. Old Schwinn girls bicycle, needs tires, $50. Call 540-662-9023 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 RENTALS Rental, Temporary housing. Mountain Lodge, high atop High Knob. 2-BR,2-BA full furnished, Winter rate $2,200 mthly incl.all util. maidservice + snow removal. Avail.Dec.5 call 703-860-2711 110 N. Massanutten Street, Strasburg, Va. Commerical space. $750 per side. Call 202302-9129

Job Number / Title

<PM ;]KKM[[ aW]¼^M JMMV [MIZKPQVO NWZ Q[ I XPWVM KITT I_Ia

$20 OFF your first lesson!

when you sign up for one month of lessons (discount applies w/ coupon)

691285 / Warehouse Workers 691281 / Class A CDL Driver Dedicated local 690848 / Floating Financial Services Advisor 690402 / Equipment Mechanic 690480 / Department Manager 690382 / Backroom Associate 689956 / Branch Administrator 690044 / Home Hemo Dialysis RN 690046 / Facility/Clinical Admin Asst 690033 / Dialysis Patient Care tech 689921 / Retail Thrift Furniture Store 689938 / It Network Engineer Winchester 689158 / General production Worker 689386 / Small Business Spec 689136 / Project Manager - Operations 689568 / Training Instructor

Your business listed here. 6 lines only $35.00 for 4 weeks.

Ad pre-payment required.

Email: classifieds@fredcoreport.com or call Angie at 540-671-2054

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

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

Death notices

Henry Irvin Snider, Sr., 84, of Frederick County, VA passed away Friday, November 27, 2015 at his home surrounded by his family. Memorial contributions may be made to Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 W. Cork Street, Suite 405, Winchester, Virginia or Charity of donor’s choice.

Nellie Virginia Hawes, 72, of Winchester, Virginia, died November, 26, 2015, at her home. Memorial contributions may be made to Blue Ride Hospice, 333 Cork Street Suite 405, Winchester, VA 22601.

Anna Lee Milburn Lineweaver, 85, of Frederick County, VA died Friday, November 27, 2015 at her home. Memorial contributions in memory of Anna may be sent to The Alzheimer’s Association, National Capital Area Chapter, 3701 Pender Drive, Suite 400, Fairfax, Virginia 22030 or Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 W. Cork Street, Suite 405, Winchester, Virginia 22601 Michael Knight Dorsey, 59, of Winchester, VA, died November 24, 2015, following a battle with Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), a rare neurological disorder for which there is no known cause or cure.

Larry Howard DeHaven, 69, of Winchester, Virginia, died Monday, November 23, 2015, at Winchester Medical Center. Memorial contributions may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, 900 East Main Street, Richmond, VA 23219 (www. woundedwarriorproject.com.

Phyllis Ford Baker of Winchester died on Nov. 24, 2015. Memorial contributions may be directed to Village at Orchard Ridge to benefit the Winchester Benevolent Endowment Fund, 400 Clocktower Ridge Dr., Winchester, VA 22603, or Christ Church Living Memorial Fund, 114 W. Boscawen St., Winchester, VA 22601.

Aymara L Luizaga, 21 was a resident of Winchester VA. Aymara went home to be with the lord on November 25, 2015. in lieu of flowers we ask that you donate to the Lizbeth C. Ventura College fund which is in her memory for her 2 year old daughter, 132 pioneers Rd Winchester VA 22602.

Garland Truett Greer, 61, of Winchester passed away on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 at his home in Winchester. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the SPCA of Winchester, Frederick and Clarke Counties, 115 Featherbed Lane, Winchester, VA 22601.

ry Time. Clarke County Library, 101 Chalmers Court # C, Berryville. Preschool Story time A lively 30-minute combination of stories, finger plays, songs and rhymes for preschool children and their families. Clarke County Children’s Room (The Byrd Nest).

10:30am - 11am Toddler Time.

Handley Library, 2nd floor Children’s Room, 100 West Piccadilly Street, Winchester. “Toddler Time” is an Early Literacy program designed specifically for active toddlers, ages 2 and under. This program is a developmentally appropriate transition from our “Baby &Me” program (prewalkers) to “Preschool Story Time” (ages 3-6).

11am - 11:30am Baby Story Time.

Bowman Library. For Infants, birth to 15 months. A program of songs, stories, clapping and tapping.

5:30pm - 7:30pm Mother/Daughter Cooking Class. Winchester Parks & Rec, Winchester. Please register

by December 7. Together you’ll make wonderful memories while baking and decorating delicious gingerbread cookies. The instructor will not only teach you her fool-proof recipes, but she’ll also share various decorating techniques and helpful tips and tricks for baking perfect cookies every time.

Fee: $30 Rand $33 NR (cost is total for mother and daughter, ages8-12) (540)662-4946.

6:30pm - 8pm Apple Valley Ringers. Bowman Library, 871 Tasker

New Beginnings Community Greetings “Introducing Your Business to New Homeowners in our Community”

***

P.O. Box 1025 Front Royal, VA 22630 540 635-8660

Road, Stephens City. Very Popular Holiday Concert. Lobby will be open for entry.

Friday, December 11 11am - 11:30am Dance Party Fridays! Handley Library. Toddlers, Preschoolers, & their grown-ups are welcome to come boogie down! Now offered EVERY Friday!

12pm - 1pm Little Noon Music presents Madeline MacNeil. Handley Library, 100 West Piccadilly Street, Winchester. Musical Artist Madeline MacNeil will sing and perform on the dulcimer. A holiday treasure. Sponsored by Friends of HRL. Saturday, December 12 7am - 1pm e-Cycling Electronics Recycling at the landfill. 281 Landfill Rd. Winchester.

8am - 4pm Warren County Fair Flea Market. Warren County Fairgrounds. The Flea Market is open every weekend expect during the fair.

For more information, call (540) 6355827.

10am - 11am Health Insurance Free Assistance/Shenandoah Community Health. Handley Library. Our goal for this community is to help consumers understand their health care options under the Affordable Care Act and get covered and stay covered. We also ensure consumers know the following: 1. Financial help is available 2. Preventive care is freeExamples: blood pressure screening, cholesterol screening, colorectal cancer screening, mammography, well-women visit, immunization vaccines for children, lead screening etc. 3. Application help is available and free with the In-Person Assister from the Shenandoah Community Health Clinic. Appointments can be scheduled with assisters at several locations and we do have Spanish speaking assisters on our team. Loca-

tions: Our Health and any Handley library location (Winchester), Samuel Library(Front Royal), Berryville Public Library (Berryville), Shenandoah Community Health Clinic (Woodstock), Page Free Clinic and Strasburg. 4. You cannot be turned away for insurance if you have a pre-existing condition. 5. Cost and benefits of each plan is explained and you can compare plans. 6. All health insurance coverage must cover the following essential health benefits: Doctor visits (outpatient care),Emergency Services, Hospitalization, pregnancy, maternity, newborn care, mental health, substance abuse disorder services, prescription drugs, rehabilitative services, preventive and wellness services and pediatric services. 7.

Avoid the tax penalty – 2.5 % of income or $695 per adult and $347.50 per child (whichever is higher).

11am - 12pm Story Time. Bowman Library. For children, ages 2-6, and their families. A lively program of stories, finger plays, songs, books, movement, music and puppets.

1pm - 2:30pm Family Film & Picnic. Bowman Library, 871 Tasker Road, Stephens City. Families are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch and a blanket to sit on the floor. Our teens will be serving popcorn and lemonade. December 12: Prancer.

The movie showing is free and sponsored by the Friends of Handley Regional Library and the Bowman Library Teen Advisory Board.

1pm - 4pm Holly Jolly Old Town Celebration. 100 W Piccadilly St, Winchester. Handley Library will be participating with Old Town Winchester in the annual Holly, Jolly Old Town Celebration. Youth and families may drop in to do a makeand-take craft and watch nostalgic animated holiday programs. Lively holiday music will be playing as you try your hand at our North Pole ring See CALENDAR, 30

Letters to the Editor are welcome but must include the author’s name and town and should be emailed to: EXCELLENT SCENIC RIDES

Front Royal Warren County Airport

Cass Aviation (540) 635-3570 •

CFI WANTED

WARREN COUNTY AIRPORT/FRONT ROYAL

Airplane Rides Year-round!

20 Minute Scenic Flights - $65 Per Person GIFT CERTIFICATE AVAILABLE, Intro Flight Training $99,

See Gliders every weekend!

• Group Discount • Flight Training • Aircraft Rentals • Photo Flights

• Glider Club • Charter Flights • New Hangars • Tie Down Avail. *LIW &HUWLÀFDWHV • New Taxiway

editor@warrencountyreport.com

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.

Chose from MANY vets over a WIDE area!

NEW vets added!

Contact Spay Today: www.baacs.org or call 304-728-8330

Page 30 • Warren & Frederick County Report • Mid December, 2015

Read full issues FREE on www.WarrenCountyVA.com & www.FrederickCounty.com CALENDAR, from 29

We Believe.

We believe the best people in the world work right here. And we believe you could be one of them.

Working Here We believe the words “Welcome to McDonald’s” should apply to our employees just as much as our customers. We’re proud of our food, and we’re just as proud of the jobs we create.

Benefits We strive to hire and keep the brightest and the best. And to do that, we’ve put together perks designed to make you smile - even before you pick up your paycheck. From flexible schedules and competitive wages to management training. Our benefits let you know you’re a valued part of our team.

Apply Online www.mcvirginia.com/12132 or www.mcvirginia.com/2075

toss 6:30pm - 9:30pm Bingo. North Fork Resort Associates, 301 North Fork Road, Front Royal. Doors open at 4:30. Early birds at 6:30. Food available for purchase. Door prizes, progressive games, queen of hearts, progressive pull tab. Also, brand new Electronic pull tab games. Find us on Facebook. (540) 636-7152. Must be 12 to play. No smoking.

Sunday, December 13 8am - 4pm Warren County Fair Flea Market. Warren County Fairgrounds. The Flea Market is open every weekend expect during the fair.

For more information, call (540) 6355827.

Monday, December 14 6pm - 7pm Teen Advisory Board.

Bowman Library, 871 Tasker Road, Stephens City. Teen Advisory Board

for Bowman Library meets tonight.

A planning group for library programs and events. Middle school and high school students are welcome.

To join, please call Donna Hughes at (540) 869-9000 x215.

7pm - 8pm Council Meeting.

County of Warren Government Center Tuesday, December 15 10:30am - 11am Baby & Me Story Time. Handley Library. For Infants birth to 15 months. Enjoy stories, finger plays, and songs!

10:30am - 11am Preschool Story Time. Clarke County Library. Hear great stories and have fun with Mary!

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.theriv-

The Oak Club Our best seller at lunch comes with chips, salad or fresh cut fries for just $5.95.

All Sports...

All the time

So what’s it going to be?

White or wheat?

The Oak Grill in Front Royal

$5.95

Front Royal Little League & Washington Nationals Baseball Plus the award-winning News At Noon & Valley Today, local news & sports updates throughout the day and up-to-date weather from local meteorologist Kemp Miller Serving Front Royal and Warren County since 1948

www.facebook.com/SportsRadio1450WFTR

er953online.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, December 16 12pm - 1pm Grant Seeking Basics for Individuals. Handley Library, 100 W Piccadilly St, Winchester. Join us for a Grant Seeking Basics Workshop - Focusing on Individual Grant seekers: Students, artists, researchers and people like you! Each workshop session will focus on resources available through the Funding Information Network Partnership, tips on how to identify funding sources for scholarships and fellowships, and a demonstration of the Foundation Grants to Individuals Online. For more information or to register, please call the Handley Information Desk: (540) 662-9041 ext. 19.

5pm - 6pm Grant Seeking Basics for Individuals. See above.

6:30pm - 9:30pm Bingo. North Fork Resort Associates, 301 North Fork Road, Front Royal. Doors open at 4:30. Early birds at 6:30. Food available for purchase. Door prizes, progressive games, queen of hearts, progressive pull tab. Also, brand new Electronic pull tab games. Find us on Facebook. (540) 636-7152. Must be 12 to play. No smoking.

7pm - 8pm Planning Commission Meeting. County of Warren Government Center.

Thursday, December 17 5pm - 8pm Third Thursday Art Walk. Downtown Front Royal.

Friday, December 18 11am - 11:30am Dance Party Fridays! Handley Library. Toddlers, Preschoolers, & their grown-ups are welcome to come boogie down! Now offered EVERY Friday!

5pm - 10pm Bike Build Party. Front Royal Moose Lodge. Every year, we collect bikes for Toys for Tots – this year, we are on track to collect 150+!!

We could really use your help assembling the bikes. Please visit bikesfortikes.net or check out our facebook page. Contact Shawn Lucas for more information at (540) 692-0168.

Thank you!

5:30pm - 8pm Teen Ugly Festive Holiday Party. Bowman Library, 871

We Mow Lawns

Commerce Ave. across from Southern States Front Royal, Va. 540-635-FOOD

Low Prices Call Gary

540-683-1045

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

Read full issues FREE on www.WarrenCountyVA.com & www.FrederickCounty.com Tasker Road, Stephens City. High school students! Wear your ugliest festive-wear—the holiday socks and sweaters you can wear no other time of the year! Bring a $5 gift for a round of Thieves Gift exchange and your favorite Holiday themed treat to pass -- reject cookies, Grandma’s Worst Fruitcake, and eggnog will be provided. There will be games, holiday music, food and fighting over the “best” gift. Bring a friend or make a new one, this event is open to all! It is free

540-635-4734

with no registration required (ugly sweaters or socks are encouraged, but not required). Adult chaperones will be present. Call Donna Hughes for more information at (540) 8699000 x215.

Saturday, December 19 8am - 12pm Breakfast with Santa. Round Hill Community Fire & Rescue, Round Hill Rd, Winchester.

Breakfast of biscuits, sausage & gravy, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage,

coffee and orange juice. $6. Pictures with Santa. Bake sale items available for purchase.

8am - 4pm Warren County Fair Flea Market. Warren County Fairgrounds. The Flea Market is open every weekend expect during the fair.

For more information, call (540) 6355827.

10am - 11am Chess Champs.

Bowman Library, 871 Tasker Road, Stephens City. Lead by members of Shenandoah Valley Chess for all ages

and all skill levels. Contact Donna Hughes, (540) 869-9000 x215.

1pm - 2pm Tour Handley Library.

Staff members and volunteers will give tours, concentrating on the architecture and history of the library.

The tours will take you behind the scenes to all floors of the library, including the famous glass floors and the well under the stage. The tours are free, but making reservations is helpful.

6:30pm - 9:30pm Bingo. North Fork Resort Associates, 301 North Fork Road, Front Royal. Doors open at 4:30. Early birds at 6:30. Food available for purchase. Door prizes, progressive games, queen of hearts, progressive pull tab. Also, brand new

Electronic pull tab games. Find us on Facebook. (540) 636-7152. Must be 12 to play. No smoking.

Sunday, December 20 8am - 4pm Warren County Fair Flea Market. Warren County Fairgrounds. The Flea Market is open every weekend expect during the fair.

For more information, call (540) 6355827.

Now Hiring Ad Sales Reps in Winchester and Frederick County Email: Dan@AreaGuides.com

Humane Society of Warren County

540-635-4734

Monday thru Sunday 10 am to 4 pm - Closed Wednesday • 1245 Progress Drive, Front Royal, VA • 540-635-4734 • humanesocietywc@gmail.com

HSWC will hold a Rabies vaccination clinic on Saturday, December 5, 2015 from 10am-2pm. The clinic will be held at the Julia Wagner Animal Shelter 1245 Progress Dr. Front Royal, VA 22630. The clinic is first come, first served so please plan on arriving early. All cats must be in a carrier and all dogs must be on leash. Services Provided: 1 year Rabies Vaccine $12.00, 3 year Rabies vaccine $12.00 (must have proof of prior rabies vaccine.) You do not need to be a resident of Warren County to attend.

Roscoe - 3 year old neutered male pit bull.

It doesn’t get much cuter than Roscoe!

Roscoe is a good boy with a handsome smile and a playful personality. He gets so happy to see people that his tail goes a hundred miles an hour and his whole body wiggles.

He also loves toys!

Roscoe’s ad sponsored by:

Hot Tub Heaven Vacation Cabins Dog Friendly!

540-636-1522

HotTubHeaven@yahoo.com

http://www.hottubheavencabins.com

Finn - 2 year old neutered male lab mix. This handsome man is Finn.

Finn can be a little shy with new people, but give him some time to get to know you and he is the sweetest pup you will ever see. He just loves to give hugs and kisses. Stop by the shelter today to visit him!

Finn’s ad sponsored by:

The Front Royal Moose Lodge #829

Lelani - 7-9 year old female pit bull.

Lelanii was brought to the shelter as a stray. She is a very sweet girl with lots of love to give.

Lelani’s ad sponsored by:

Hillbilly’s Junkyard Hillbilly has what you NEED! 4381 Stonewall Jackson Hwy Bentonville, VA • 636-2671 hillbillysjunkyard.com

Leo - 1 year old neutered male hound mix. Leo is a ton of fun!

He loves running around outside and chasing tennis balls. Leo would also love to swim once the weather warms up. Leo is currently in foster care so please call the shelter to arrange a time to visit with him.

Leo’s ad sponsored by:

Wanda Snead

Property Management

Serving the area for 20 years!

Sam Snead Realty • 540-635-9753

SamSneadRealty.com

With your help we have been able to place thousands of animals in good homes. Contact Alison @ 540-551-2072 if you would like to become a pet sponsor too!

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

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