Around The Panhandle September - October 2012

Sept + Oct 2012

M A G A Z I N E

The Heart & Soul Of The Chamber Things to Do...

Get Some Ink The Breeders’ Classics

The Press Room Local Pizza Parlors

Meet Brian Romine Women of Distinction

Places to Go... $2.99

People to Know...

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FEATURES

September & October 2012

Things To Do - 36 -

The Running of The Breeders’ Classic

- 104 -

Visit Your Local Ink Shop

Places To Go - 10 -

Our Favorite Pizza Parlors

- 36 -

On The Cover Sept + Oct 2012

- 95 -

The Press Room in Downtown Shepherdstown

E M A G A Z I N

People To Know

The hearT & mbSouerl of The Cha

- 10 -

Meet Brian Romine Every I look I see GREEN.

- 36 -

The Girl Scouts Honor Three Women of Destinction

Things to Do..ing.

Go Kart The Breeder’s Classic

Places to Go..s. Room

The Pres Local Pizza Palours

w...

People to Kno Brian Romine

$2.99

Meet Red Top Studios

- 21Tina Combs - The Executive Director of the Martinsburg Berkeley County Chamber of Commerce Makeup by Personal Reflection Day Spa

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Around The Panhandle | SEPT • OCTOBER 2012

contents 6 Dear Readers 10 Our Favorite

Pizza Parlors

16 Arndt-Mcbee

A Desk, a Chair, and a Phone

19 Caption Contest 21 Tina Combs

The Heart and Soul of the Chamber

26 Exclusively Faces

Resort Spa Atmosphere with Urban Experience

32 Vandalia Brewery

Don’t be Afraid of the Cans

54 Posh Pets 58 Lodestar Llamas

Pam and Ross Curtis

63 Thunder Over

The Show Goes On

62 EPSHRM 68 Rely on Rick 70 Summit Point Kart

Getting A Taste of Victory

74 Panhandle

Healthy Living Do Good...

78 Apple Blossom

84

42 Brian Romine 47 Berkeley Plaza 7 50 Our Top Ten

88 WV Breeders’

95 The Featured Eats

Destinction

Disgusting Ingredients You Probably Ate Already Today



111

98 Now It’s Your

Turn - Recipes

100 Discover

Downtown Charles Town

104 Apples & Oranges

Places to Get Your Ink

106 Sunset Water

Service The Unknown Eater 110 Meet Dylan Hahn

Just In Time Seafood Mall Face Lift

36 Women of

- 95 -

the Blueridge

Classic

92 Lending a Hand

Lady Appleseeds The Press Room

- 104 -

You Can’t Afford to Miss CLIP & SAVE

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[5]

THE

{ x Around o b l i {Ma PANHANDLE September / October 2012 | VOL 4 | NO 3

Dear Readers: We’ve made a genuine effort to bring you the stories you care about, the events you look forward to, and the community information you seek. In turn, you (our wonderful audience) have shown us nothing but enthusiasm and good will, and we couldn’t be more grateful. This issue merely personifies our mission to bring you the most captivating things to do, places to go, and people to know in and around our lovely Panhandle.

Without a doubt, this was the easiest cover to choose since we’ve been in business.

The subject of course is the lovely Tina Combs from the Martinsburg - Berkeley County Chamber of Commerce. Tina, always selfless gives the credit to her team who work tirelessly to support her and the business community in Berkley County.

We also feature three amazing women who earned the honor of being named the 2012 Women of Destiction by the Girls Scouts of America. I would be remiss if I didn’t bring up the two most influential women in my life - who both “make it happen”. My mother, Kathy, and my wife, Kresha. Mom, you have always been my dream catcher and standard by which I compare all others to. No one, except my beautiful, inspiring wife, Kresha, has matched up or made the grade. I guess that’s why the two of you are so close and feel the need to gang up on me all the time. Kresha, you are my rock, from which I clutch when I need grounded, and the perch upon which I stand when dreaming or planning future adventures.

PUBLISHER

Mike Hornby

ASSISTANT PUBLISHER

Victoria Kidd

EDITOR

Victoria Kidd

EDITORIAL DESIGN

Mike Hornby James Schaffner

WEBSITE

Hornby Publishing LLC ProDesign , Brian Jolliff www.professionaldesign.com

WRITERS

The Unknown Eater Stephen Reed Debra Cornwell Dana DeJarnett Victoria Kidd Rick Hemphill Bonnie Williamson Natalie Greene Bethany Davidson Tera Sakisat

PHOTOGRAPHY

Eric Fargo - Fargofotos.com All Photos unless otherwise specified are by Eric Fargo

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PRINTER

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BUSINESS & CIRCULATION Kresha Hornby SEND MAIL TO

PO Box 1254 Martinsburg, WV 25402

CONTACT US AroundThePanhandle.com

[304] 851-7460

Enjoy

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Hornby Publishing, LLC | PO Box 1254 | Martinsburg, WV 25402 | 304.851.7461

[6]

Around the Panhandle is a bimonthly publication of Hornby Publishing LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. The magazine is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or photos.

Distributed through subscriptions, advertisers, online and at ROC’S convenience stores throughout the Panhandle.

Subscription price is $18.99 per year. Single issues $2.99. To subscribe, send check or money order for $18.99 payable to Around the Panhandle; PO Box 1254, Martinsburg, WV 25402 or subscribe online and pay by credit card at www.AroundThePanhandle.com.

Around The Panhandle | SEPT • OCTOBER 2012

As the Eastern Panhandle has grown, so have we.

We set a course to become the region’s leader in medical care.

And now, just look inside City Hospital and Jefferson Memorial and you’ll see the difference.

It’s about our growing staff of gifted doctors. It’s about our people.

Healthcare professionals holding themselves to a high standard of excellence. It’s care from the heart.

It’s WVU Healthcare’s statewide commitment to medical excellence...working for you.

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{

Keeping it product LOCAL reviews

By ATP Team

Our Favorite Local Non-Chain Pizza Parlors

{

Brothers Pizza

- Martinsburg, West Virginia The enticing aromas of freshly baked pizza greet you at the door of Brother’s Pizza at 603 B Winchester Avenue in Martinsburg. The menu is extensive including pastas, burgers, and appetizers. They use only fresh ingredients in their Sicilian style hand-tossed pizza. The basic pizza tastes like “more” than the name implies and you can choose from over 20 toppings that increase the desire to keep the whole pie for yourself. The large dining area of this former grocery store is framed with big screen TVs and iconic movie posters. Brother’s Pizza offers several secret recipe selections than cannot be found anywhere else and they mean it when they say “nobody makes a pie like we do!”

Dolce’s Pizza Gourmet and Eastern European Restaurant

- Hagerstown, Maryland When you open the door to enter Dolce’s Pizza Gourmet and Eastern European Restaurant in Hagerstown, you are immediately greeted by Chef Julia with a broad smile and a very vivacious “hello.” It makes you feel at home or in your favorite aunt’s kitchen. Sitting quietly at 792 Frederick Street in Hagerstown she provides an expansive menu starting with breakfast and moving from gyros, subs, and sandwiches to Italian and European dinners. Her absolutely homemade pizzas include four cheeses, Hawaiian, country meat, and even a white pizza style plus many others. The fresh ingredients and Julia’s personal handmade style and European spices make her pizzas unique and simply scrumptious. She will be genuinely glad to see you.

King’s New York Pizza

- Martinsburg, West Virginia You can always tell a great pizza joint by the many customers weighted down with square cardboard boxes of hot pizza. King’s New York Pizza at 313 Rock Cliff Drive in Martinsburg is just such a place. For the last twelve years, Sal has manned the counter to take your order, while Rosa keeps a constant banter with the customers as she cleans the tables or checks the service. There are lots of Italian and American items on the menu, and, with twenty-two toppings for both New York and Sicilian styles, your choices couldn’t be better. The cheese steak pizza is simply outstanding. Sal will ask your name the first time you stop by, and, with a firm handshake, you become more than a customer, you are a friend. Friends come back again and again. So will you. [ 10 ]

Around The Panhandle | SEPT • OCTOBER 2012

Andy’s Pizza

- Ranson, West Virginia Andy’s Pizza at 809 N. Mildred Street, Ranson, WV, Ranson Square Shopping Center, is a family-oriented kind of restaurant. No frills. The brown walls are covered with the names of different menu items like calzones and pizza, all written in large black letters.

Owner Andy Colandrea says his pizza is different because, “We make everything right here, which makes a huge difference on the taste. It’s fresh. Everything is made within twenty-four hours.” Andy’s Pizza has been in operation for three years. He says his most popular pizza is his buffalo chicken wings pizza. His pepperoni pizza has a nice thin crust and plenty of flavor. It has a hint of a “kick” to it, providing a little heat that adds a lot to the flavor. Andy’s brother Tony said it all depends on the pepperoni used, but he declines to elaborate further, keeping the details of that secret ingredient a secret!

Tony’s Pizza

- Shepherdstown, West Virginia Tony’s Pizza at 126 E. German Street in Shepherdstown, WV is actually two businesses. Stonewall’s Pub is downstairs. The place has an old-fashioned feel to it, sort of like a historical barroom. There is plenty of seating available, both inside and out, with a bar at the front of the store. Billiard tables and videos machines are located in other rooms. A big screen television is attached to the ceiling. Tony’s has been around since 1989. The restaurant has a wide assortment of offerings, including deli sandwiches, subs and burgers. There is also a kids’ menu, so families are welcome. The pepperoni pizza slice is absolutely huge with a thicker crust. Their food always offers plenty of pepperoni and plenty of flavor.

George’s Pasta, Pizza, and Subs

- Winchester, Virginia The Winchester area offers residents some “good eats,” but, for many locals, George’s Pasta, Pizza, and Subs at 1202 Berryville Avenue is a top choice. George’s place is more than just a local pizzeria. In addition to their comfortable dining area, the location also offers a cozy lounge with a full bar from which patrons can grab a cold one and watch the game. The pizza itself is a hand-tossed delight. Fresh ingredients area married with delicious, gooey cheese. This is truly pizza that one cannot buy from a chain. If pizza is not your thing, their menu offers everything from cheeseburgers to seafood pasta. Guests can expect mouth-watering dishes that have been created with high-quality ingredients. They can also expect to receive the friendly hometown service for which the establishment is known. The best part? They are not greedy with their cheese!

Umberto’s

Toppings

- Winchester, Virginia Tucked away in the Delco Plaza shopping center is Umberto’s Pizza. Since 1997, Umberto Capuano—originally from Italy—has been offering locals an opportunity to taste a true slice of Italy-inspired greatness. The establishment is located at 170-4 Delco Plaza, just a few steps from the popular movie theater located within the plaza.

The dining area itself is designed to deceive the guest into experiencing something more closely associated with larger establishments that offer high-end, outdoor patios.

Complementary to the atmosphere is the incredible food. Their generously sized pizzas are created using fresh ingredients, but it is the combination of perfectly baked crust with carefully crafted sauce that really sets their pizza apart. The only way to illustrate what a guest can expect is to say that they can expect the unexpected. From the environment to the food, Umberto’s creates an experience that is second to none.

- Hagerstown, Maryland Just down the road from the Meritus Medical Center tucked in the far corner of Rosewood Commons sits Toppings – the Hagerstown Pizza Company at 11205 JFK drive in Hagerstown. Place your order, and you can watch them take a ball of fresh pizza dough and throw it into their signature thin crust New Jersey style pizza before covering it with your choice of over twenty-five toppings.

This is not a “one note” pizza joint. Variation is their specialty including white sauce or stuffed pizzas. You can also get an artisan tomato pie and even glutenfree pizza. They have a full menu, including both Jersey style and regular subs.

Their motto is that variety is the spice of life and pizza. www.AroundThePanhandle.com

[ 11 ]

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Sheriff Lemaster, the son of Doris Lemaster and the late Kenneth Lemaster, Sr., has one sister, Carol Laing and brother-in-law, Jack Laing and nephew, Daniel Laing. He’s the proud father of two children - Kent, 22, a senior at West Virginia University and Kristen Kunkle, 24, a doctoral student at Long Island University and son-in-law, Tim Kunkle, a dental intern at Columbia University-New York. A 1974 graduate of Martinsburg High School, Kenny attended Shepherd University for one year studying Pre-Engineering before transferring to WVU to study Industrial Engineering.

He remains active in many community organizations, serving on numerous committees as both board member and chairman In the position of Chief Deputy and Sheriff, Kenny has given numerous presentations and public talks and is a Certified State Instructor.

He’s also achieved success in many other areas, including securing grant funding needed for the department. Specifically, Sheriff Lemaster has researched and received grants for the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department totalling over $1.5 million. He’s also worked on a Bullet Proof Vest Grant (2003 to present) to obtain over $13,000 toward this expense.

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A Desk, a Chair, and a Phone: Humble Beginnings Make All the Difference at Arndt-McBee

By Stephen N. Reed Doug and Jeff Arndt were born to be in sales. In less than a minute after sitting down to chat with them, you feel like old friends, able to talk about anything. A discussion with these “fifty-somethings” has a great, consistent energy to it—not hyper and overwhelming, but lively and always interesting.

The Arndt brothers’ pleasant selfconfidence no doubt comes from their lifelong involvement with sports. Both played football growing up in Pittsburgh and Martinsburg and have been involved with area youth sports for decades. You can’t help but imagine that they would have been fun guys to have among one’s friends in high school. Clearly, they love life.

But one soon finds a humble side to Doug and Jeff, too, as they return frequently to a man they admire, whose business and life decisions greatly affected their lives: their father, Jerry Arndt.

“Our dad started this company in 1976, having been a field agent for Aetna Life and Casualty,” says Doug. “He moved our family from Pittsburgh to Martinsburg

[ 16 ]

and started his own company after working awhile with SmithNadenbousch Insurance. From the beginning, we’ve been an independent insurance company offering several lines.” Those lines include such famous national insurance companies as Met Life, Travelers, Farmers and Mechanics, and The Hartford.

Health Insurance’ guy. The fact is, they didn’t want to do a lot of that themselves; they were more into property and casualty, along with commercial. So it was kind of a set up! But you know, it worked out great. Everyone has their niche here, so nobody steps on anyone’s toes.”

“I joined the company after attending Shepherd and then enrolling for a year in an insurance school in Philadelphia,” says Doug.

“That was in July 1982, and I’ll never forget my first day. My dad took me into a small office, which only had a desk, a chair, and a phone. He told me that he’d check back with me in two weeks! He was on the road a lot then, so I had to sink or swim, on my own.”

Doug’s younger brother, Jeff, joined the company a couple of years later and had the same “desk, chair, and phone” story. Jeff laughs when he recounts what happened next.

“Doug and my dad asked me what I wanted to do,” says Jeff. “They already had something in mind. They told me that I could be the ‘Life and

Both men agree that their dad did a lot more than teach them about the insurance business.

“Dad taught us about hard work and focusing on each person you’re talking to,” says Doug. “He wasn’t someone who would just give you something. He wanted to teach you to earn it. So as kids, he’d drive us to an orchard in the summertime on his way to work, and we’d pick rocks out of the soil for several hours, making $1.50 per hour. He knew that if he just gave us money, we’d never really appreciate it as much as if we had earned it ourselves.”

“Our dad started with nothing— zero,” adds Jeff. “At age nine, he went through his own father dying, which taught him independence quicker than most. He started this business with one son in college, two in high school, and one in junior high

Around The Panhandle | SEPT • OCTOBER 2012

school. So it was a risk. He was so grateful for what he had.”

This gratitude for providing a needed service in the Eastern Panhandle was expressed in Jerry Arndt’s ability to clear his desk anytime one of his sons or clients needed to ask him anything.

“Dad would just clear away what was on his desk and give that person his undivided attention,” said Jeff. “We try to continue that spirit today by taking whatever time is necessary for our existing clients and walk-ins.”

His brother, Doug, agrees.

“Insurance has changed in some ways today,” said Doug. “So we can’t do some of the old school things Dad did back in his day which made him know his clients so well, like putting together individual insurance policies, all in his own words. But we do maintain his overall commitment to service for each client that comes through our door. ” Both men praise their longtime assistants, Susan Butler and Stacy Battaglini, whom they say have big fans among the company’s clientele.

“Look, I’ve been told by some of our best clients that if you ever lose them, they’re leaving!” says Jeff.

“Doug and I bring business through the door, but Susan and Stacy keep them here with their outstanding service. They are gold.”

Doug and Jeff point to a major decision made by their dad and another rising insurance agent in neighboring Morgan County as one of the best possible developments for their company.

“It’s hard for a Martinsburg insurance agent to break into a neighboring county without help,” explains Doug. “Nobody knows you. But if you have a friend there who can show you around, make introductions, you have a chance.”

Enter the McBee family of Berkeley Springs. Dwan McBee was rising in the insurance profession in Morgan County at the same time as Jerry Arndt in Berkeley. Dwan was a Nationwide Insurance agent, and he and Jerry shared an account

www.AroundThePanhandle.com

together.

Out of that one shared account came a business partnership that started in April 1984 and is now one of the Eastern Panhandle’s most respected insurance companies: Arndt-McBee. Dwan’s son, Steve McBee, is now a partner in the company and explains that in his Berkeley Springs office, he’s more of a jack of all trades, handling home, auto, and flood insurance. Like the Arndts, Steve is determined to keep the “old school” values his father taught him in play in his modern practice. However, he notes that it can be a challenge with some of the changes that have taken place in the industry.

“We had more leeway in the past to persuade different insurance companies to be more flexible with claims,” says Steve. “We could tell them when a client was deserving, even if he had been through a tough year. But now, the ratings system they’ve all put into place is computer generated.”

As a result of these changes, the partners at Arndt-McBee spend time up front, looking for the right lines and policies that fit each client’s needs, explaining the options clearly to the client.

One sure way that Doug, Jeff, and Steve have maintained the serviceoriented spirit that they have inherited from their fathers is in their multifaceted, deep commitment to their Eastern Panhandle communities. After one hears the sheer number of community efforts the three of them are involved in, it is clear that service is not just a sideline extra but a vital part of their personal and professional lives.

In Steve McBee’s case, some of his volunteer activities sound like other full-time jobs. He is a past Captain and Chief of the Berkeley County Volunteer Fire Department. Steve has also served twenty-five years as a paramedic and—incredibly—has found time to serve as one of three Morgan County Coroners and as Berkeley County’s Medical Examiner.

Steve has supported youth sports for several years as the PA announcer

at the Berkeley High School football and basketball games. He is also a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, where he joins with other church members to sing in the Community Choir.

The Arndts also are heavily involved in their communities, particularly in the areas of youth sports and development. Doug is now in his 31st year of Youth Football, and is currently serving as President of the Tri-County Youth Football League.

He also finds time to coach the AAU Girls Basketball team locally.

Professionally, Doug is serving as the incoming President of the Independent Insurance Agents of West Virginia. More locally, Doug is the Secretary of the Martinsburg Rotary Club.

As for Jeff, he claims he’s out of all leadership roles in the organizations he’s served in the past several years.

However, after hearing him describe how meaningful all of his volunteer hours helping groups like the Boys and Girls Club of Martinsburg has been to him, one would be allowed to be skeptical as to how long his volunteer retirement will last.

“When you have kids, you see the need,” says Jeff. “The Boys and Girls Club is something I got very active in, because it’s such a great investment in young people who need a place to go after school.”

Jeff has also enjoyed serving on the board of Big Brothers/Big Sisters in Berkeley County.

The insurance industry may have changed somewhat in recent decades. However, in all the best ways, the sons of Jerry Arndt and Dwan McBee are living out the old school values of hard work, focused attention to client needs, and community service.

Surely, their fathers would be proud of the growth of Arndt-McBee under their sons’ leadership but also that their family names are synonymous in the Panhandle with sincere devotion to the area’s young people.

A better legacy for Dwan and Jerry would be hard to imagine.

[ 17 ]

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Keep the comments coming!

Thanks to all our readers who gave us something to laugh out loud about!

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[ 19 ]

Leadership, Not Politics Through my years of service, I know how to work with others to get things done. I know how to listen, how to lead, and how to get results.

I know that we can change our future for the better, when we work together.

I’m Donn Marshall and this election should be about our families and: • Bringing good-paying jobs to Berkeley County – parents shouldn’t have to be at a second job when they should be at the dinner table with their family…

• Providing educational opportunities for both children and adults that prepare them for the 21st Century economy…

• Protecting our community and our families from drugs and the crime and misery they spread…

• Broadening our tax base, so we can lower property taxes.

Unity, Opportunity, Results...Leadership (304) 270-0572 | DonnEMarshall@gmail.com

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Tina Combs: The Heart & Soul of the Chamber

By Victoria Kidd

If you live in Berkeley County, you are, in some way, impacted by the activities of the Chamber of Commerce of Martinsburg and Berkeley County. The Chamber of Commerce is a voluntary, nonprofit organization comprised of more than 1,000 community minded men and women who work together to create opportunities and promote local business. Members enjoy a wide www.AroundThePanhandle.com

range of advertising, leadership, and networking opportunities throughout the year.

Behind the organization’s efforts is a team of professionals led by President and CEO Tina Combs.

Combs has been instrumental in elevating the Chamber’s presence in the surrounding area. Her collaborative leadership style and

innovative development techniques have certainly impacted her success, but, arguably, the greatest impact is derived from a complete and passionate love of the Eastern Panhandle. That love was forged early on, but it was completely solidified over twenty years ago.

Combs grew up in Frederick County, Virginia, but has family roots here [ 21 ]

in Berkeley County. She has many memories of visiting the Eastern Panhandle during her formative years. These activities helped forge a love of the area. In 1987, she and her husband purchased land in Berkeley County and started construction on their dream home.

The home was completed in 1991, and the family moved in. At the time, Combs was working in Winchester, yet living in Berkeley County. It was not long before Combs felt the impact of the geographical separation between her personal and professional life.

“I felt so disconnected since I lived in one community, but worked in another,” Combs explains. “I knew that things needed to change, but I was satisfied with the work I did in Virginia.” She became aware of the open position with the Chamber, and, although she was not actively looking for work, the idea of living and working in the same community was of undeniable interest. She submitted an application and [ 22 ]

“This is a job I absolutely love in a community I am very passionate about, and that truly makes me happy.” subsequently interviewed for the role. “The thought of working where I live was too compelling to pass up.”

Eight years ago, Combs’s application was successful, and she would enthusiastically “get down to business” at the Chamber. She was excited to finally get the opportunity to both live and work in the same area, primarily because the reduced time spent commuting would increase her ability to volunteer and contribute. Ultimately, the Chamber has helped her to feel connected to her community, and such has been

to the benefit of a number of local organizations.

That connection has led Combs to give her time and expertise to a number of worthwhile local endeavors. She serves as a board member for Main Street Martinsburg, and she is a member of the Blue Ridge Community and Technical College Board of Governors.

Combs also contributes her time as a member of the Martinsburg Rotary Club, the Berkeley County Development Authority, the James Rumsey Technical Institute’s Local School Improvement Committee, and many other location organizations.

Combs says, “living here and working for this great organization has opened opportunities for increased involvement. The Chamber recognizes that we have an obligation to be involved in the community. In fact, one of the first things that the board said to me was, ‘get out and get involved.’ My

Around The Panhandle | SEPT • OCTOBER 2012

staff and I strive to be true to that obligation. Seeing the good work we are able to participate in is one of the great joys of working for the Chamber.”

Combs is quick to mention her love for her work, but those who know her best know that there is much more to this incredible local resident than just want she does for a living.

Combs has been happily married for twenty-seven years. The couple are proud to have raised two boys, now nineteen and twenty-four. As a result of raising her sons here, the family has spent many years joyfully contributing time to the local school system and related sporting associations.

When she is not working to do good work in the community, Combs is an avid baseball fan. Specifically, she favors her beloved Baltimore Orioles. Her family has spent many afternoons cheering for their team at home in front of their television or in person at Oriole Park. Baseball has been a true family passion. (Her son even played baseball in college.)

Beyond this love, Combs—true to

her humble nature—believes a lot of people would perceive her life to be disinteresting, but she knows that it has truthfully been a good life. She also knows that the Chamber’s roll in her life has been enriching.

“This is a job I absolutely love in a community I am very passionate about, and that truly makes me happy,” Combs says. “I am very blessed to be able to do something I love for a living, and I am very lucky to be surrounded by so many great people. Together we are able to do great things for this community. This is not a ‘Tina Combs’ thing. It really, really is a ‘team’ thing.”

“Together we are able to do great things for this community. This is not a ‘Tina Combs’ thing. It really, really is a ‘team’ thing.”

with needed services.

“People have this perception of what we do that is really not exactly accurate any more,” Combs says.

“We aren’t in charge of the local holiday parades, and we are not the Better Business Bureau. We don’t address consumer complaints. We have a very specific role, and that role is to encourage people to shop locally.”

To this end, Combs, Sanders, and Fansler exhaust every effort to provide that encouragement.

Undoubtedly their success is, in part, the result of Combs’s complete and total dedication to serving Berkeley County. We have many incredible residents that work hard every day to improve local opportunities, and Combs is certainly among those most valuable to our community.

The county is fortunate to have her expertise, leadership, and dedication, and she is therefore one of the people to know in this community. For more information about the Chamber of Commerce of Martinsburg and Berkeley County, visit www.berkeleycounty.org.

Combs is supported by Office Manager Susan Sanders and Program Coordinator Amy Fansler.

The trio works hard every day to contribute to the community and improve opportunities for both businesses and the individuals who benefit from their success. Combs says, “We want businesses to be successful, because when local businesses are successful, we grow our tax base, we add jobs, and we improve opportunities for everyone living and working in that area.”

Combs and her staff promote Chamber businesses in a number of ways, but the most typical is an activity that is initiated by simply answering the phone. The chamber receives about twenty-five to thirty inquiries from citizens every day.

Locals and visitors alike seek the Chamber’s expertise in a way that is becoming increasing common.

Chambers of commerce across the country have evolved into, among other things, essential referral agencies that help connect citizens

www.AroundThePanhandle.com

[ 23 ]

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Eleven years ago Dr. Matthew Karen made the move from New York to Virginia to start a facial cosmetic surgery practice as part of a medical group. Just over five years later, he decided to branch out and create a practice based on his own unique vision. Now, tucked away in the rural community of Winchester, Virginia, Dr. Karen is providing patients a resort spa atmosphere with urban surgical experience through his medical practice Exclusively Faces.

“My vision of my practice was to sort of keep everything together,” says Karen. “The best way for me to have brought this all together was to set my office up where I can do everything at once and make it welcoming and quiet and… comfortable for everyone who comes here.”

The doctor’s facility on Valley Avenue is truly his vision come to life.

The first floor is home to Karen’s Otolaryngology practice, Winchester Ear, Nose & Throat Center, PLLC, and a state-of-the-art surgical suite.

At the top of the grand staircase, however, Dr. Karen has created a space where beauty can blossom.

These second floor offices house both the surgical and non-surgical cosmetic services, as well as a world-class medispa.

Exclusively Faces Resort Spa Atmosphere with Urban Experience

By Bethany Davidson

[ 26 ]

Contained in one building, these units function as part of a patientfocused center with the ultimate goal of providing the best results for each patient and client. “We share ideas,” says Karen. “Patients need surgery, but [they] also need skin care and evaluation. Aging does not just happen on the inside, but on the skin as well.”

And while each aspect of the center is individually thriving, the one thing that has made them all a success is Dr. Karen himself. Double board certified in facial cosmetic surgery and Otolaryngology, Karen is often referred to as “the face guy.”

“When you look at a fair amount of plastic surgeons out there, typically they do full body,” says Jaimie Wilkins, Patient Care Coordinator at Exclusively Faces. “And when you’re doing that, you get the training that you need, but you don’t get an opportunity to specialize in one

Around The Panhandle | SEPT • OCTOBER 2012

particular part of the body and that’s what he does.” With eight years of specialized training, all Dr. Karen operates on are faces.

flaws. It’s all about the patient and providing the service to make that person feel better about him or herself.

In addition to his expertise, patients and clients of Exclusively Faces also benefit from the personal attention of both Dr. Karen and his entire staff.

“Everyone is an individual,” says Karen, “and each treatment plan is designed specifically for what the patient needs.”

This relationship continues throughout the entire process. We “try to build a nice relationship with our patients,” says Wilkins. “It’s not just a one time procedure thing.”

Dr. Karen will be the person explaining and performing each procedure. He does not hand off these important tasks to a receptionist or nurse.

First time patients can expect a consultation to last approximately one hour. Each individual will meet with Wilkins, the Patient Care Coordinator, prior to the doctor’s arrival. They will discuss what services a patient is interested in and take a detailed set of “before” photos.

When Dr. Karen arrives, the three will sit down and further evaluate each patient and jointly decide on the most beneficial treatment.

Detailed consultations are provided to ensure that each patient is getting the correct procedure to correct what they want. At Exclusively Faces, staff doesn’t point out

www.AroundThePanhandle.com

The staff of Exclusively Faces will also be there for the recovery phase, monitoring each patient’s progress during several follow-ups. Sets of “after” photos will be taken at each appointment to give patients a detailed look at his or her progress.

“He puts a lot of time and effort into his patients,” remarks Wilkins. “I think the reason that people keep coming back is ‘A’ he’s just so good at what he does, but also he’s just so personable with people and he has a good bedside manner. And today, in any type of doctor’s office, that’s hard to find.”

In addition to his facial plastic surgery and non-surgical services, Dr. Karen has included a successful medispa as part of his Exclusively Faces practice. The spa is a vital part of the practice. It provides the services and products to get the best results and maintenance needed for pre- and post-surgery or injectables.

When a patient’s skin is in the best condition pre-surgery, they have a better healing and post-surgery experience, and they will maintain the results of their surgical or nonsurgical service.

While the medispa is frequently part of a patient’s cosmetic treatment protocol, it does stand alone, offering medical and relaxation services to Winchester and the surrounding areas. From body treatments and facials to HydraFacial treatments and massages, the spa offers a variety of services that will leave clients feeling wonderful. The difference, however, is that as part of Dr. Karen’s medical practice, the medispa has access to machines and products that most other spas don’t. “We offer the same spa-like experience, but when you walk out

[ 27 ]

of here your skin is going to look better and you’re going to be on the right path to what you need to do to maintain good skin,” says Wilkins.

Wilkins goes on to say that while the services provided at Exclusively Faces are far better than any services a client might receive at a hair salon spa, the prices are comparable. “If people were to call or stop by, they’d be pleasantly surprised.”

Clients will also be pleasantly surprised when pricing the skin care products sold in the office. “When [people] think of a plastic surgeon’s office and skin care, they think ‘oh, it’s going to be so expensive,’ and that is not the case,” Wilkins adds. “The people that are buying department store brand products really could spend just about the same amount of money with us and get a far better product that’s going to deliver them far better results.”

With machines and services like IPL Photofacial and HydraFacial and skin care lines such as Obagi and iS Clinical that only one or two other offices in the area have, Exclusively Faces is on the cutting edge of technology. According to Jaimie Wilkins, the office is always looking for new ways to advance medically.

“I think it’s kind of our niche…We offer a type of service that you really don’t see a whole lot of in this area, especially given the results from our equipment.”

Typically, the products and services offered by Exclusively Faces become more common as patients travel closer to the major cities. But for residents in Winchester and the surrounding areas, there is no need to travel. “I have located here for you,” says Dr. Karen.

More information about Exclusively Faces, including a detailed list of the products and services they provide, can be found at www. exclusivelyfaces.com. If you’d like further information, please call the office at 540-667-3223 or simply drop by their office in Winchester.

The staff will be happy to take you on a tour of the facility and schedule a consultation.

[ 28 ]

Around The Panhandle | SEPT • OCTOBER 2012

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Vandalia Brewery

Don’t be Afraid of the Cans In honor of Queen Elizabeth II of England celebrating her sixty years on the throne, please raise a toast of a West Virginia brewed beer to salute her Diamond Jubilee. Now wait a minute, not just any beer will do and why salute the Queen of England?

Well, Queen Elizabeth’s great, great, great, great, great, grandmother, Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III of revolutionary fame, was going to be honored by having the fourteenth colony named for her lineage, Vandalia. Fortunately those pesky founding fathers put a pin in the whole fourteenth colony bubble in 1776, and later, thirty wise legislators (fourteen not so much)

[ 32 ]

in 1863 felt that West Virginia was a much better name for the new state and left Vandalia to colonial history.

Several West Virginians have resurrected that bit of colonial lore and are about to produce the only fitting beer to give such a royal toast. That beer will soon be brewing again in commercial quantities here in the panhandle, just as soon as Daniel Maerzluft and his partner Shawn Mallory open the Vandalia Brewery in Martinsburg. They will soon be ready to offer up cans of their award-winning “Willy Nilly Stout”, or, if you are on the run, an “Allegheny Export,” or other craft beers.

By Rick Hemphill

Maerzluft looks like the quintessential West Virginian with his broad matter-of-fact smile and affable manner, yet he hails from Alaska and has been brewing beer here in the Eastern Panhandle as a brewer for hire for years. He is a man with an unyielding passion for his avocation and has created beers that show subtle nuances of color, aroma, and unique West Virginia flavors.

“The design of our brewery was done for the now-defunct old Mountaineer Brewery,” Maerzluft explains as his voice trails off a bit, while he laments his former employer’s closing. But it brightens quickly at the prospects now placed before

Around The Panhandle | SEPT • OCTOBER 2012

him. “We get the benefit of their construction, with a grain milling room, three-phase electric, propane, and the grain silo, which is the first piece of equipment that we bought on our own. I have tried to salvage all that I could,” he says proudly.

“We’ve been brewing at the Lost River Brewing Company in Wardensville, West Virginia, and working with a brewer there has given us an opportunity to test batch our beers,” Maerzluft says with the confident air of a Master Brewer. “I have been brewing beer, it seems like forever,” he says. “I won my first medals before I was out of school and brewing just got hold of me.

I just turned forty-two and I feel that it is time for me to make this happen.”

Shawn Mallory is retired from the United States Air Force and could almost pass for a close relative of Maerzluft as they are both equally excited about their new venture.

“When Dan and I started talking about this I just thought, ‘why not?’”

Mallory blurts out, echoing the ‘now’s the time’ push that Maerzluft started. “We have almost a turnkey operation ready to go and all we have to do is get the financials, line up a few more investors, and we can go from there. Initially we planned to be in operation by July 2012 but delays have happened,” Mallory says. “It is exciting to know that we will be the first brewery in West Virginia to have canned craft brews.”

explains. “Our stout is the recipe from the World Beer Cup. I actually haven’t made it since 2000. I made this British milk stout and hand bottled it for this little brewery in Ohio, and sent it off to an international event and won the silver medal. I promised myself that I would never make that beer again until I owned my own brewery.

We made the first batch late last summer and we went down to the Bramwell Oktoberfest and scored a gold medal.”

Clearly Maerzluft feels his brewing craft is closer to the skills of a great chef as he readily appreciates the nuances of his creations. “We also make a very nice root beer that even a non-beer drinker would enjoy. It’s made from real fruit, not extract, and fermenting the fruit with the beer without the alcohol. It really dries out the fruit and makes it tart so you get the essence and tang of the fruit without it being sugary.”

“I met Dan during the American Craft Beer Week in 2010,” Mallory says with a nod to Maerzluft. “I have always dabbled around in the home brewing aspect, and when I retired from the Air National Guard, I got interested in home brewing, and it just went from there. I went from brewing five gallons of extract brew to fifteen gallons of all-grain brews, and I have won three medals with my home brewing,” Mallory exclaims proudly.

“I want to have a lot of fun with this and it is what I want to do for a living,” Mallory exclaims. “I was twenty years in the military and was able to enjoy local beers from all over the world and now we can brew our own.”

“He is a fantastic home brewer!”

Maerzluft adds with a broad smile.

“We will be doing draft, twelveounce cans, and then, down the road, we want to get a small bottling line and do some high-end specialty beers,” Maerzluft explains. “We want to get some French wine barrels and whiskey barrels in here and do some barrel aging in the back room. And all of the specialty brews we want to put in the 750 milliliter bottles with the cork and cage. Real high-end stuff,” he proclaims. “But, for now, our goal is to make some great beer and get it in cans and sell a ton of it.”

“What is different about us is that we are going to have a wide array of beers available in cans, which is unusual on its own,” Maerzluft

“There are many advantages to cans,” Mallory relates. “It costs fifty percent less for us to can than to bottle beer, it is easier to

“I have lived here now for about ten years,” Maerzluft jumped in, excited to talk about their past and their futures. “I have been making so many beers over the years that it didn’t take long to focus on what I thought we needed and Shawn and I talked about what we wanted.”

www.AroundThePanhandle.com

ship canned beer, and there is no ultraviolet light to damage the flavors. We can fill sixty to seventy cans per hour,” Maerzluft adds authoritatively. “All we will have to do is a quick sanitation and run them though our system and they will be ready for the customer. Martin Distributing is who we picked to distribute our beer, and we feel that they are the best distributor for us in this area, and by using cans, we can sell to golf tournaments, parks, ball games, and many other places that bottles cannot go.”

“We are also partnering with restaurants and chefs to prepare specific foods to see how they are enhanced with our beers,” Maerzluft says as he enjoys extolling the benefits of beer. “Not just cooking with our beer but how beer as a beverage compliments the food.

Most people think that only wines can go with foods,” Maerzluft says.

“But we have found that beer can significantly enhance a dining experience. I want to do more of these beer dinner pairings. We want to invite people to the brewery and show them how to enjoy our beers or have a party at their home.”

Maerzluft has literally been brewing most of his adult life. “It began when I first shoulder tapped my first beer in Oregon when I was fourteen or fifteen years old,” Maerzluft remembers. “My best friend and I got a twelve-pack of cheap beer.

We were hiding in the backyard of his house, behind a tree, thinking we were having a great time. As we started our second can of beer, we got caught. My friend’s father brought us into the house with the rest of that twelve-pack, and he said, ‘you are not drinking that.’ His father owned the largest craft beer distributorship in Portland Oregon, and he sat us down and brought out two bottles of imported ale that was very high octane and the champagne of bottled beer,” Maerzluft says almost remembering the exact taste.

“He poured it properly and taught me how to smell the beer first, check out the aroma, look at the beer, and taste the beer. So I ended up working summers at the beer distributorship, loading the trucks, and by the age of seventeen, I was brewing my first beer, although my

[ 33 ]

first batch of bottles exploded all over the place.”

about where the beer is made and who makes it.”

By his mid-twenties Maerzluft was still on the West Coast. “I ended up managing the Tornado in San Francisco,” Maerzluft continues.

“And my boss was an avid brewer and encouraged me to attend the Siebel Institute of Technology World Brewing Academy in Chicago Illinois, which is the oldest brewing school in the country. I graduated in 1999 with a degree in brewing technology as a Brew Master, and I am going on seventeen years of professional brewing.”

“The most fun for me is to watch the look on somebody’s face as they enjoy one of my beers,” Maerzluft says, clearly anticipating having a lot of fun in the future. “They drink the beer and smile and order another one and as a brewer that is the greatest thing when they enjoy the product.”

Maerzluft and Mallory have a shared vision and a stake in their adopted state. “We are trying to put West Virginia on the map in the beer community, because right now it is considered a wasteland,” Maerzluft says as Mallory’s head gives a short bob of agreement. “We really want to bring West Virginia to the forefront and make this a beer destination and known as a state that has great beer.”

“We want people to know that whether they get one of our beers here or in Charleston, they are getting the best beer we can brew,” Mallory says with the certainty of confidence in his statements.

“We want to be a part of the community so we want to use as many local resources and talent as are available. It’s a big adventure that has great potential. Once we are able to, we want to set up a full-scale laboratory so the beer can be tested and analyzed. I plan on following the brewing process every step of the way.”

“We are trying to stick locally with all of our packaging materials,” Maerzluft interjects. “Our t-shirts and stuff are being done through a small local screen printer, and our can designs are created by a local artist. I still have two assistant brewers in the wings. They are all great people and they are all here in West Virginia.”

“What excites me the most is going into a convenience store and seeing our beer on the shelves,” Mallory says excitedly. “When they see that Vandalia label, it says something

“We believe in the Panhandle,” Maerzluft says proudly. “Eat locally, drink locally, and support the local craftsmen, restaurants, and local businesses in any way possible.

Support us and give us a chance.

Let us know what you think. I love feedback, and if we get enough responses, we will adjust our brews to make our customer’s happy.”

“Consider the opportunity of being part of the brewery,” Mallory says honestly looking for partners. “We are actively looking for investors so consider an investment into our brewery. We want to communicate with our investors, and we want local people to be our partners.”

“I would like people to understand the depth of what we are trying to create in a beer,” Maerzluft says to emphasize his commitment to quality. “We want people to taste all of the flavors and the intricacies of our beers. None of our beers are thrown together. There is a lot of thought and effort put into them.”

Mallory adds with enthusiasm “We want to be the brewery that comes out and hits Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Ohio and puts West Virginia on the map.”

“Finally, don’t be afraid of canned beer,” Maerzluft urges strongly. “It should be thought of as a small keg of beer in your hand. Don’t be afraid of the can!”

And let us give that toast to Queen’s Charlotte and Elizabeth with a cold can of Vandalia beer. Visit www. vandaliabrewery.com for more information on the brewery, or email info@vandaliabrewery.com for investment information.

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Honoring Distinguished Women

by Debra Cornwell

Three exceptional women from the Eastern Panhandle have distinguished themselves as excellent community leaders and role models for girls. As a result, they have been named 2012‘s Women of Distinction by the Shenandoah Region of the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital (GSCNC). The honorees are Berkeley County’s Leslie Crabill, Jefferson County’s Ora Dixon, and Morgan County’s Stacy Dugan. The women were selected by an independent Nomination Committee, not affiliated with the Girl Scouts, comprised of honorees from the past seven years. Businesses, organizations, and individuals are asked to nominate women for this prestigious honor. There were eleven nominees this year, according to Pam Allen of the Martinsburg Girl Scout Office.

In its eighth year, the 2012 Women of Distinction Awards Program benefits Camp White Rock, a camp located near Capon Bridge that was owned by the Shawnee Girl Scout Council which merged with the GSCNC in 2009.

The camp’s 130 acres include two large grass fields, naturalistic woods, and Capon River frontage. It also features lodges, a glen shelter, platform tents, and primitive units, as well as hiking trails, a sports field with a basketball court, a sand pit volleyball court, an archery range, and a low ropes course. [ 36 ]

Around The Panhandle | SEPT • OCTOBER 2012

young leaders.

Leslie Crabill

Leslie Crabill says she was caught off guard by the award, “Mary Hayward called and said she wanted to take me to lunch. When she told me the date I said, ‘Oh Mary, that’s the Women of Distinction luncheon.

I’ll be busy that day.’ She said, ‘I know. There will be a lot of us taking you to lunch that day.’ I got totally choked up.”

Crabill is a Berkeley County native who returned to her hometown to work and to serve her community after earning a degree in Journalism at West Virginia University. While at WVU, Crabill was President of the Kappa Delta Sorority which was honored as the school’s Outstanding Sorority on Campus while under her leadership.

She is currently Vice President and Trust Officer at the Bank of Charles Town, as well as Program Manager for BCT Investments. “Leslie truly epitomizes what it means to be a ‘team player.’ I wish I had ten of her at the bank! The enthusiasm she has for her job and life in general rubs off on others,” says Bob Baronner, President/CEO of BCT. Crabill and her husband, G.F. Crabill, married sixteen years ago. They are the parents of Collin, an enthusiastic twelve-year-old Hedgesville Middle School student. Crabill can be seen and heard cheering him on at numerous sporting events.

A graduate of the Leadership Berkeley Class of 2000, Crabill was recognized in The Journal’s “20 Under 40” series of outstanding www.AroundThePanhandle.com

Crabill is currently the Technical Advisor for the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation—an organization with $16 million in endowed assets which granted more than $2.3 million in support of local charitable causes in 2011. She also serves on the foundation’s event planning committee which produces the biannual Spirit of the Panhandle event. An active member of the Martinsburg Rotary, she currently collects food at Rotary meetings and at BCT for the Berkeley County Back Pack Program.

She was honored as the club’s 2008 Rotarian of the Year.

Crabill joined the Board of Directors of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of the Eastern Panhandle many years ago and has served on committees, served as CASA Board President, and is the founder of the highly successful Flamingos for CASA fundraising event. CASA provides court advocacy for abused and neglected children.

She served for many years as the “Elegance Chairperson” for the Girl Scouts’ Women of Distinction event. A volunteer for the United Way of the Eastern Panhandle’s Day of Caring, she also served on the Funds Distribution Committee, the Campaign Committee, and the Community Solutions Council.

She has donated her time to the March of Dimes Star Chefs Auction Committee and was the 2003 Chairperson for Walk America.

for the Healthy Smiles Mission of Mercy dental clinic. She has even previously grown and cut her hair for the Pantene Beautiful Lengths charity!

Crabill suggests that good leaders are approachable, understanding, and empathetic, “It’s really easy to see someone that’s struggling with life and just assume they’re struggling because of some fault of their own. It’s a little harder to actually stop, listen, and try to understand what they’re going through. Every day provides an opportunity to make the world a better place. Respect is really big in our home. We may have a difference of opinion, but we love and respect each other enough to empathize with their point of view.”

Ora Dixon

A Jefferson County resident for over thirty years, Ora Dixon has earned national and international recognition for her research contributions authoring and coauthoring scientific publications in the field of microbiology. She has worked for the federal government for thirty-eight years and holds a lifetime membership as a Girl Scout.

Dixon says, “When I learned that I was selected as the honoree for Jefferson County, I was speechless!

This honor is not just a personal achievement for me, but it is something extra special that makes me realize that there is so much more that I can contribute, even if it’s to continue to do my best in mentoring others. This Women of Distinction experience is one that I will cherish for a long time.”

Dixon’s pursuit of excellence encompasses

A member of the Junior Civic League (JCL) for over ten years, she has served as President, Board Member, and Coordinator for the Coats for Kids program. Through JCL, she also volunteered at Heartland Nursing Home and Meals on Wheels, and provided Easter baskets to children in need.

Crabill was also the event coordinator

[ 37 ]

extensive learning including a Masters of Art degree in Strategic Leadership from Mountain State University, a Masters of Art degree in Communications Studies from West Virginia University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology from Southern University, as well as numerous professional certifications.

Dixon applies that knowledge as a Biologist/Education Outreach Specialist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown where she develops and implements training programs including one entitled “Linking Girls to the Land.”

She has served as the USFWS National Girl Scout Coordinator and as Coordinator of the USFWS Boy Scouts of America National Jamborees of 2001, 2005, and 2010.

Dixon has spent years dedicating her talents and skills in an effort to help girls realize their full potential and growth through opportunities nor previously accessible to them.

Involved with Girls Scouts for over thirty years, her Girl Scouting career includes Troop Leader and President of the Girls Scouts of Shawnee Council. Through these various positions, Dixon has interacted with girls of various ages while serving as a mentor, coach, and role model for many who did not possess one in their lives.

When asked how she feels about being a role model for girls, Dixon’s reply indicates she has lived her entire life in preparation for the task. “As I recall the seasons of my life, there were individuals that influenced different phases of my being. My parents, sisters and brothers, teachers at school, church, community, and college adults all added something unique and special to the value of my character that helped me to make informed life decisions. As I developed into an adult, got married, and had four children, I learned first-hand the role of mentoring for youth, especially young women. My husband and I wanted to be the best role models for our children and other youth.

As a working mother, it was equally important for me to balance my time with my family, as well as with work and community activities.”

[ 38 ]

she sends personally written notes to legislators, employees, and volunteers, an endearing touch to express the gratitude she feels for generous and helpful people.

Dixon is a volunteer, supporter, or leader in many local and regional organizations.

Stacy Dugan

Ask Stacy Dugan to define her core and she’ll immediately say, “Arizona.” Arizona Henry was Stacy’s great-grandmother who raised her and taught her loving lessons of hard work, respect for your neighbor, and giving back to the community. “I was very surprised and blessed with this honor,” says Dugan, “It’s flattering, personally, but most of all, it’s a vindication for people like my greatgrandmother who raised me.”

Dugan’s career in health care began at sixteen as a dishwasher at Morgan County’s War Memorial Hospital where she was born. Two degrees and decades later, she is currently a registered dietitian for Valley Health Systems.

In 2008, Dugan was elected as the third female County Commissioner in Morgan County history. The 2006 fire that destroyed the Morgan County Courthouse inspired her to run for office even with no political experience—she was determined to help the community. Dugan is serving her second year as Commission President.

One of Dugan’s favorite places is the Morgan County Rescue Auxiliary Thrift Shop where she volunteers two weekends a month running a register, sorting clothes, and helping with the general operation.

Dugan is proud of her family: Bobby Dugan, her husband of twenty-three years, and her children Robert, Luke, and Danielle.

Creating a loving home to raise her children is the accomplishment she values most of all.

Dugan relishes her role as an example for girls in West Virginia who aspire to an accomplished professional life, as well as a positive and happy family life. Her example shows that tenacity, hard work, and a helpful personality are primary ingredients for true success. She says, “It’s very humbling, and I hope I can provide the leadership that this group expects of me. Any person who overcomes adversity can show others how to do it. Consistency, self-reliance, and hard work are values that young people learn by watching.”

The Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital is a non-profit organization with over 90,000 members, including 63,000 girls from kindergarten through twelfth grade in 4,900 troops throughout the District of Columbia, eight counties in Maryland, ten counties in Virginia, and seven counties in West Virginia: Berkeley, Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, Morgan and Mineral Counties. The Shenandoah Region is headquartered in Martinsburg.

The Women of Distinction luncheon will be held Wednesday, September 26 at 11:30a.m. at the Holiday Inn in Martinsburg. Courage Level sponsors are BB&T, Bank of Charles Town, Minghini’s General Contractors, Randy Smith, Shepherd University, and Ecolab. For more ticket or sponsorship information contact the Girl Scout office at 304263-8833.

One secret of Dugan’s success is her personal touch.

At the beginning of each year she purchases a pack of 200 thank you cards.

Through the year

Around The Panhandle | SEPT • OCTOBER 2012

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People To Watch

Brian Romine Everywhere I Look I See Green.

— By Rick Hemphill

A golf course has a certain mystical quality for those who enjoy the game. The summer sun shining unopposed through a clear blue sky bathes the fairways with energy and lights up the closely clipped putting greens until they almost glow in nature’s favorite color, green.

Brian Romine is a CPA and tax partner with CoxHolidaPrice LLP in Martinsburg and the different variations of nature’s favorite color take him from the links to the core of his accounting passion and his outlook for the future.

“I became interested in renewable energy through the tax credits that were available on electric hybrid vehicles,” Romine says with brightness and enthusiasm that can only come from someone who has found the spark that ignites the excitement of discovery in what he does. “My wife and I bought a 2006 hybrid car, and that was my first introduction to tax credits in the accounting world. A tax credit is an incentive in the renewable energy industry,” Romine says. “I sold our car that got twenty miles to the gallon and bought our Hybrid which gets forty-eight. I worked how long it would take with the tax credits to recoup my investment, and I was hooked from there. I felt that it was good for the environment and working with incentives makes me feel I am doing something that will be good for my kids by helping us make the transition from fossil fuels to green and clean renewable energy.”

Before there was green energy for Romine there was the green of the golf course. “I grew up here in Charlestown,” Romine says as he begins the tail his personal journey. “I went to all of the local schools, Charlestown Jr. High, Jefferson High School and Shepherd University, Shepherd College back

[ 42 ]

Around The Panhandle | SEPT • OCTOBER 2012

then. I got my accounting degree from Shepherd and then went into banking for a few years,” Romine continues. “I decided to take a break from the world and move to the beach for a year or so. I worked in the retail industries at the beach and had a good time playing golf in the Myrtle Beach, Ocean City, Dewey Beach areas. I had a good time and I wanted to get into the golf business and so I came back to manage Cress Creek Country Club in Shepherdstown.”

“I managed Cress Creek for about six years,” Romine says, as he clearly enjoys the memories. “I really enjoyed that it is privately owned, but the private country club industry is a little tough. My wife, Emily, and I had our first son, Alex, back in 2001,” Romine explained. “I thought I should look for something that is a little more stable.”

As parental responsibilities often require, Romine traded in one green for another. “I felt like going for my CPA license and getting into this industry, so I started commuting back and forth to Tysons Corner as I got a job with one of the big accounting firms,” Romine explains.

“I took some classes to prep for the exam and worked doing a lot of big corporate tax planning for about three years. I didn’t like the commute at all.”

“I had worked with Tony Price of CoxHolliadPrice LLC in Tysons Corner, and he called to tell me they were looking for someone to come in and help them out with the tax practice in their Martinsburg office,” Romine remembers. “So I have been there since January of 2006. I started out as a Tax Manager and I am now a Tax Partner.”

“I’m glad that I made the change,” Romine continues. “I really love the firm that I am working with and I really love the community.

It is still the Panhandle I grew up in, and I am able to participate in the Chamber events, local charity events, and local golf tournaments,” Romine says. “When you are commuting, it is tough to get involved in the community, especially when you have kids.”

www.AroundThePanhandle.com

“The group of people that I work with is really great,” Romine relates.

“It’s a small fifteen-person firm, and we work with a wide variety of clients, from small business owners to large corporations doing quite a big business. My role with the firm is to help them with tax planning and tax opportunities,” Romine continues. “One of the things I really enjoy doing is helping them understand how to take advantage of the available incentives that are out there, specifically for renewable energy related tax credits or grant programs.”

The green of renewable energy drives Romine’s excitement, and he has created a challenging and personally rewarding niche in the sometimes bland accounting world.

“There are lots of renewable energy incentives at the federal and state level that are constantly changing,” Romine exclaims. “Congress likes to change things, and you have to keep an eye on them. If you can find the right mix, you can really make a project worthwhile for individuals or businesses, and, at the same time, you can feel like you are doing something good for the environment. By helping our clients produce electricity from solar or other types of sources, we just might help our children grow up breathing air that is just a little bit cleaner.”

Where is the best place to start cleaning the air? “Absolutely West Virginia is a better place to install solar than other places on the east coast,” Romine Says proudly. “One of the things our good state of West Virginia has done is to incentivize the alternative fuel vehicle refueling infrastructure, so if you can design it in a way that allows you to use your solar to power an electric vehicle, then there are credits available at the state level. Getting credits from both the state and federal levels makes the whole thing much more affordable.”

One of his bigger projects has been with the American Public University in Charlestown, which recently put in quite a sizable solar array. “They have the largest solar array in the state,” Romine says with a happy smile. “Their 500 kilowatt solar array

sits upon steel support structures which cover the parking lot with fifteen electric car charging stations.

A portion of the system does the refueling of electric vehicles then the rest of it will provide a portion of electricity for the building. I went in along with the installer and helped explain to them how the federal credit works and how the state credit may work for them,” Romine says. “And in addition I showed them what the cash flow analysis looked like for installing it while taking the available federal and state credits. Then depreciating it, which saves tax dollars, and selling their Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC) to surrounding state power companies. And of course the benefits of the electricity they will generate.”

“We help clients and non-clients find a way to use the credits if they can,” Romine states. “Many of the projects we do come out cash positive from year one.”

Romine enjoys the creativity of this aspect of accounting. “It is a real interesting financial equation to put together for a client, especially for a company, that can expense the system, but it can also work very well for individuals in the right circumstances,” Romine says. “Some people do it because they like the financial aspect of it, some people do it because it is the right thing to do for the environment, and some people do it for both. I think I fall in the latter category, and it feels good from both sides.”

Romine hasn’t left the green of a golf course behind. “Having played a lot of golf in the past helps me spend time with clients and to get to know them in a way that is in a more comfortable environment than across a conference table,” Romine says smiling. “If you get to spend four hours with someone on the golf course you will be able to relate better, and it is more fun for me for sure.”

“I feel like my experiences have helped me greatly,” Romine explains.

“If I had gotten into accounting right out of school I think I would have struggled with some of the people skills that I learned from being in

[ 43 ]

the banking industry and especially as the manager at Cress Creek.”

Working as the manager and dealing with a wide variety of people trying to understand what their needs are.

What their wants are. I think that experience helps me quite a bit in this business.”

“That is what helps me get out in the community and talk with people comfortably about the credits and how they fit into different structures, such as corporations, LLC’s, partnerships etc. Now I understand how credits work for those types of structures.”

“Accounting is more challenging today than several years ago, as now there are more options. I am getting into the more technical aspects of the accounting, and the landscape changes rapidly,” Romine says. “The legislatures and Congress are good at changing things.”

“We are working with the state to interpret that credit in a way that feels comfortable to us, and the state is helping us to understand the best way to apply it when somebody installs a solar array on their rooftop and has three or four car charging stations,” Romine says, obviously surprised at becoming so involved with legislation and government regulations. “How much of that system is refueling infrastructure and how much is generating electricity needs to be defined. We went to the state capitol last week and met with the State Tax Department. We were talking it through with them trying to get some clarification on that,” Romine says. “The tax department

[ 44 ]

is very helpful, and they are talking us through this and helping us to understand it so that we can advise our clients appropriately.”

“West Virginia really stepped up here with what they passed,” Romine exclaims proudly when speaking of his home state. “This state also has a solar energy property credit for homeowners. Using those, the refueling credit, and the federal credit can generate some pretty nice numbers.”

And don’t forget the hybrid cars that started Romine down this green road. “There is a credit for buying an electric or hybrid vehicle for 35% of the cost of the vehicle up to $7500,” Romine explains with a broad grin. “So, if you purchase an electric vehicle for $40,000, and you can use the federal credit of $7,500, and the state credit of up to $7,500, you are looking at $15,000 off the cost of the car. Add solar on your roof, you are powering the car from the free energy of the sun which has wiped out your gas bill. The West Virginia energy credit is better than the federal credit since if you can’t use the entire West Virginia credit in the year you purchase the car you can carry it over each year until you have used it up.”

“There is a lot to be said for being in the right place at the right time,” Romine says. “I came into this line of accounting when the technology began to blossom and this makes the day much more interesting to me than the standard core of accounting. Tax credits can be more exciting than golf, depending on how well you are playing and how large

the tax credit is.”

Romine is proud of his accomplishments, his state, his home, and his family. “We live in Shepherdstown,” Romine says.

“My wife has been co-owner of the Shepherdstown School of Dance for the last eight years and they have about eighty students. I have a wonderful family with a really smart beautiful wife—who supports what I do and does great things for the community—and a couple of great kids, Alex (ten) and Max (four). We are really happy in Shepherdstown and in this area of the Panhandle.”

Romine’s summary is simple and consistent with his beliefs. “Consider solar, talk to your advisor, talk to your neighbor who has done an install, talk to your accountant.

Solar makes a lot more sense these days. Explore the solar installs for powering your electric car. I would look at electric cars, have somebody run the numbers and help you check out the tax credits. Just about everybody I talk to who hasn’t thought about it is very surprised at what is available. Take a look.”

Green is a very pretty color in all shades and sources.

Romine maintains affiliations with the West Virginia and Virginia Society of CPA’s and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He is an active member of the Eastern Panhandle United Way Planned Giving Committee and the Eastern Panhandle Home Builders Green Building Committee. He is also a Grant Thornton Alumnus.

Around The Panhandle | SEPT • OCTOBER 2012

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The smell of fresh popcorn lingers in the air as crowds of people, young and old, anxiously await that moment when the lights will fade and the chatter around them will grow quiet. The gentle hum of the projector can be heard as the screen before them begins to flicker. As that giant screen comes to life each onlooker is transported to a different time and a different place. This is the movie experience. An experience that the owners of the Berkeley Plaza Theatre 7 believe should be available for everyone.

Nestled in the corner of an aging strip mall off of Monroe Street in Martinsburg, West Virginia, the Berkeley Plaza Theatre has been a landmark for local moviegoers since it first opened its doors in 1965. And today, despite all the alternatives, cinema lovers are still flocking to this spot for their dose of movie magic.

With prices that range from $5 for a matinee to $7 for an evening show, this family owned and operated theatre has some of the most affordable prices in the area and, according to theatre manager Matthew Elliott, that is what has led to its continuing success. “We give you good, reasonable prices,” says Elliott. “The reason why a lot of the theaters are crumbling,” he continues, “is because they don’t meet up to the expectations that the community wants. If the community doesn’t want to pay $12 for a ticket or $10 for a small popcorn, then they’re not going to go [there].”

“We’re not out there to make millions,” says owner Bob Elliott.

“We’re out there make money, but not to rob people. We want to make it affordable for everybody.”

To ensure that the movie experience is affordable and accessible for all, the Elliotts have created a free summer movie program. During the three summer months, individuals can come to the theatre on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings and see one of three movies totally free of charge.

This program allows the theater to help families that aren’t able to do everything that everyone else can.

“With the downfall of the economy

www.AroundThePanhandle.com

[ 47 ]

somebody needs to stand up and help people,” says Matthew. “It really doesn’t cost them anything,” Bob continues. “We’re not saying you have to buy from concessions. If everybody that walked through that door didn’t buy from concessions, so what. We’re still giving back to the community.”

started in a neighboring restaurant ripped through their theater. For nine months the business remained closed as they gutted the facility and worked to repair the damage. “It was a hard process,” says theater manager Matthew Elliott. “It was a long process, but it’s well worth it in the long run.”

changes include new additions to the concessions stand menu like slushies, pretzels, hot dogs and nachos. “We keep upgrading to everything that a movie theater’s expectations are supposed to be.

We’re not just a candy, popcorn, soda theatre anymore,” comments Matthew Elliott.

And the free movie program is just one of many ways in which the Berkeley Plaza Theatre gives back to the local community. According to Ashley Kilmer, a Match Specialist at Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Eastern Panhandle, the local theatre offers the non-profit discounts, if and when the organization wants to bring in a group of “Littles” for an outing. “For many of our Bigs it comes down to the pricing,” says Kilmer. “They keep their costs low which is a tremendous help to our Bigs and Littles, as well as our Little’s families.”

According to Matthew, the fire was a blessing in disguise as it provided an opportunity to remodel and expand.

When the newly renovated Berkeley Plaza Theatre reopened in March of 2007, it featured a completely rebuilt front concessions stand, new soda machines and popcorn popper as well as some upgraded seating.

The Elliotts also took this time to remodel the front ends of each theater installing brand new screens and masking and remodeling the curtains.

In addition to continuing to improve the Berkeley Plaza Theatre, the Elliotts have also taken on a new theatre project in the Charles Town area. Upon completion, the Windmill Cinemas 4 will be providing moviegoers in Jefferson County with the same great prices and hospitality that is enjoyed in Martinsburg.

At the Berkeley Plaza, which has been owned by Bob and Carol Elliott since 2006, customers are more than just dollar signs. “We treat you like you’re our family when you walk through that door,” says the Elliott’s son Matthew. At this theater, everyone is treated with kindness and character.

“It’s been four or five years since the fire happened and I think we’ve been keeping things up to date,” adds the younger Elliott. The theater recently installed NEL 1200 Digital Cinema Projectors with 5.1 Dolby surround sound. All movie operations from theater sound and lighting to previews and ads can now be programmed into the digital projectors.

Customers proved they shared the same devotion and loyalty to the local cinema as they patiently waited for the doors to reopen after tragedy struck the local business.

In June of 2006, the Elliott family was devastated when a fire that

While the installation of the new digital projectors was a requirement as studios are phasing out the production of 35-millimeter film, The Berkeley Plaza is making other changes based on customer satisfaction. Many of these

[ 48 ]

“I have to thank the customers [who have] supported this theater,” says Bob Elliott. “If it wasn’t for the [community] we wouldn’t be in business.” “We have customers [that] come from all over,” adds Matthew. “They come here and they say well I’ll never go back to another theater because this is my go-to theater.”

“It takes a lot of time and a lot of effort,” says Matthew Elliott. “But it’s worth it because you see the smiling faces, and you see the people when they walk in the door, and when they’re having fun and how excited some of the kids get when they walk in here.”

For more information about the Berkeley Plaza Theatre 7, visit www. berkeleytheatres7.com or call the movieline at (304) 263-9303.

Around The Panhandle | SEPT • OCTOBER 2012

RE-ELECT

House of Delegates

61st District

WALTER DUKE

An Experienced, Respected and Full Time Legislator

COMMITTED TO...

Stopping Federal Government Overreach Supporting WV Job Creation Efforts Attacking Substance Abuse Tax Relief, Including for Senior Citizens Additional Education Reforms Increasing Our Government’s Efficiency Call (304) 263-1808 or email: WaltDuke47@aol.com

Your Voice, Your Values

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Elect BETTY JO HERSH as your Berkeley County Magistrate.

Betty Jo Hersh for Magistrate in 2012

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Our TOP

10

Top Ten

Disgusting Ingredients You’ve Probably Eaten Today

Labels can be deceiving. Most of us do not even bother to read the labels, and when we do, we note a long list of ingredients we cannot even pronounce. Often found in that list is “natural flavors.” You probably know that this practice is a way for the manufacturer to protect a secret formula or recipe. What you may not know is that these “natural flavors” can include everything from insect-derived coloring to regurgitated secretions created in an animal’s digestive system. Here is a list of interesting, and sometimes disgusting, ingredients you have probably eaten today.

10. Silicon Dioxide

Oxygen, silicon, and aluminum are the three most abundant elements in the earth’s crust. Crystalline forms of silica include quartz, cristobalite, and tridymite. Silicon dioxide is the main chemical compound of sand. The FDA allows the use of it and considers it safe, as long as it doesn’t exceed two percent of the food’s weight. You can find it in foods like meat, spice powders, instant soups and sauces, snack bars, supplements, pharmaceutical drug tablets, and more.

9.

7.

10.

9. Borax

Discovered over 4,000 years ago, borax is also known as birax, sodium borate, or sodium tetra-borate, and is usually found deep underground. It’s is a crystalline compound that is the sodium salt of boric acid. The term borax is widely used to refer both to a miracle mineral, and to a refined compound with countless applications. The mineral keeps mice, bugs, ants, and mold away. It is used as a multipurpose cleaner, fire retardant, fungicide, herbicide, and… food preservative. Borax is banned as a food additive in the US, but it is allowed in imported caviar. You may not have eaten this additive today, but keep it in mind for the next time you attend a fancy fundraising dinner or special event.

8. Gelatin

This flavorless and translucent substance may be used as a stabilizer, texture enhancer, or thickening agent in foods. The active element of gelatin is the collagen obtained from various animal parts.

Yes, you read that correctly. Not just “animal parts,” but “various animal parts.

Most commonly, it is obtained from pig skin, bovine hide, and the bones of pigs and cows.

8.

7. Shellac

Shellac is obtained by refining the secretions of the kerria lacca insects.

These insects live in large colonies in the wooded areas of South-East Asia. Shellac is best known as a furniture polisher and wood finishing product, but you’ll find it in your grocery store too. The same product that is utilized for coating furniture is used also for coating fruits, vegetables, candies, snacks, and pastries, to make them look fresher and more appealing.

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Around The Panhandle | SEPT • OCTOBER 2012

6. Carmine

You may have recently heard that Starbucks decided to stop using carmine as colorant. No more insect-derived coloring in the Strawberry Banana Smoothie, Strawberries & Cream Frappuccino, or Red Velvet Whoopie Pie! Carmine is obtained from female cochineal insects. After the bugs are killed by immersion in hot water or exposure to heat, they are dried and their abdomen is extracted and cooked at high temperatures. The cochineal extract is added to everything from meat to marinades, juices, jams, gelatins and candies, baked goods, toppings, icings, and dairy products.

5.

6.

5. Human Hair & Duck Feathers

L-cysteine is a common flavor enhancer and dough conditioner used in bakery products (pizza, crackers, bagels, bread, croissants and donuts, to name a few). While some L-cysteine is chemically synthesized in labs, most of this non-essential amino acid is extracted from human hair or duck feathers. Thankfully, many L-cysteine manufacturers seem to have moved away from the disgusting hairderived substance, and on to the far-more-appetizing duck feathers.

McDonald’s confirmed some months ago that, as of last August, it has stopped using ammonia-based pink slime in the production of its burgers. What about the duck feather-derived L-cysteine used in its pies and rolls? McDonald’s confirmed that it uses L-cysteine made only from duck feathers, so there’s no human hair to worry about. Gee, what a relief…

4.

4. Cellulose

Odorless and tasteless powdered cellulose is sourced from either bamboo or cotton-based plant material. Often labeled as high-fiber or reduced fat, the “miracle” ingredient may be used in the following foods: cheese, yogurt, ice cream, processed fruits, vegetables, cereals, pre-cooked pasta, and bakery wares. Its use helps manufacturers replace the fat in products and extend self-life. Really, nothing says long-lasting like wood, after all. Taco Bell, Wendy’s Pizza Hut, KFC, and many other local favorites provide foods that include the ingredient.

3. Castoreum

The same substance that beavers naturally secrete to mark their territories, gives flavor (?!) to certain foods.

Castoreum is a bitter, strongly odoriferous secretion, produced by the animal’s sacs. These sacs are located by the anal glands. It has been used as a natural flavoring agent for seventy years, and is recognized as safe by the FDA. It is especially useful as an ingredient in raspberry and vanilla flavored foods. You may find it in ice creams, candies, syrups, and pastries. You will not find it listed by name, but it may be one of those “natural ingredients” we talked about earlier. Apparently, beaver-butt tastes like vanilla and raspberry. Eat up!

3.

2.

2. Insect Filth, Mold, Rodent Filth, Maggots

1.

The US Food and Drug Administration condones a certain percentage of natural contaminants in the food supply chain. While these are unintentional ingredients, they are nonetheless disgusting.

Industry estimates denote that there are an average of thirty or more insect fragments in your ground all spice. There are an average of four or more insect larvae in your package of berries, and those berries have a mold count of sixty percent or more. Chocolate has one or more rodent hairs per 100 grams, while canned and dried mushrooms have twenty or more maggots included free of charge.

1. The first Approval of Viruses As a food additive

The Food and Drug Administration approved, six years ago, a cocktail of bacteria-killing viruses to prevent listeriosis. Listeriosis causes 410 deaths per year in the United States. The special viruses (bacteriophages) are sprayed on poultry products and ready-to-eat meat just before they are packaged. These viral additives are used to fight potential infections from poor quality meat. After all, it’s easier to spray meats with viruses than to raise standards by which the meat is processed, right?

www.AroundThePanhandle.com

[ 51 ]

Get the Girls together for a Fabulous Spaaaah..... Day

304.821.1333 • 35 Hovatter Drive, Inwood, WV 25428

Posh Pets Boutique

Where Pets Get the Royal Treatment

By Victoria Kidd

We are a nation of pet lovers. Statistics related to pet ownership vary, but the general consensus is that there are more than 150 million owned dogs and cats in the United States. Many more American homes are shared with birds, ferrets, hamsters, and bunnies, as well as a wide variety of other types of animals. When asked, people may indicate any number of reasons as an explanation for their desire to share their home with a pet. No matter what reason they select, many will find that the pet they bring into their home will soon become a member of their family.

For residents living in the Northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, there are an increasing number of specialty stores that cater to these particular family members.

One of the most recognizable establishments is Posh Pets Boutique, a unique store located in the heart of Winchester’s downtown walking mall. It’s been serving as a premier destination for pets and the people who love them since opening in August of 2011.

The boutique is the product of Lanette Orduna and Rebecca Miller, two entrepreneurs who met through their association with the Briggs Animal Adoption Center and the National Humane Education Society in Charles Town. Their discussions led them to realize that their experiences and talents were extremely complementary. Miller is a keen researcher. She can identify common problems, locate solutions and products, and accurately evaluate quality. Orduna offers a wide-ranging business background and has even owned a similar pet-oriented business previously.

It was not long before the pair conceptualized a new business that would be driven by a love of animals, a desire to serve customer needs, and a passion for the local community. After testing their concept at a few smaller fairs, festivals, and other venues, the pair was ready to open a permanent location. “We were very excited when we learned that this space was available,” Miller says. “It offers everything we were looking for. It seemed like a great location from which we can continue to grow.”

As it seems, their assessment proved to be correct.

August marked their one-year anniversary, and the visibility of their location has certainly helped increase customer awareness. The space itself is located at 16 South Loudon Street. It is situated within the very heart of Winchester’s busy pedestrian walking mall. While the location has certainly helped people become aware of the business itself, it is their expansive product offering—coupled with a complete commitment to serving the needs of their customers—that has almost certainly kept customers coming back.

The store is filled with nearly every pet-oriented product imaginable. Patrons can find everything from natural treats and holistic supplements to durable toys and designer pet beds. There is even a large

[ 54 ]

Around The Panhandle | SEPT • OCTOBER 2012

sampling of pet clothing for those who want to ensure their pet is on the cutting edge of fashion. (And yes, there is, indeed, a pet dressing room available.) The diversity of the product selection is, according to Orduna, of secondary importance to the quality of the products offered.

“We are pet owners ourselves, and we do test at our homes nearly everything we sell.” She says.

“It’s extremely important that the customer is getting exactly what they want or need, and it’s important that the product itself is long lasting and durable. If something is of poor quality or if a solution product doesn’t work, we don’t sell it.”

Orduna shares her home with five cats, while Miller lives with six dogs.

Both women also open their homes to foster animals when needed.

These furry family members serve as a quality control team, each animal doing everything possible to prove the toughness or effectiveness of the offered products. Should a customer have a need for which the boutique does not have a product, the owners will research and locate solutions that best serve their needs.

Customers who frequent the store find it evident that Miller and Orduna have a passion for their business.

What they may not know is that the pair also has a passion for doing good work in the community. “We are very focused on offering lots of great products that are of good quality, but we are also about saving animals and supporting worthwhile charities,” Orduna explains. “We try to host at least one fundraiser

www.AroundThePanhandle.com

each month. We have had events where we have helped facilitate the adoption of up to six animals in one night! That is literally six lives saved, and that is a great feeling.”

It is not only the lives of homeless animals that are impacted by their efforts. Since its opening, the boutique has supported charities that support local groups such as The Laurel Center, an organization that assists individuals impacted by domestic violence, and CCAP, a cooperative group of faith-based organizations that work to aid those most in need. The owners have even been a key contributor in a project to raise $10,000 needed to provide a young, disabled girl with a service dog that would carry her oxygen tank. “We feel that serving your community is important, and we love participating in these projects,” Miller relays. “We’ve stuffed Easter baskets for foster kids and packed backpacks for school children from low-income families. We just love doing it. You could say that we have a passion for pets and nonprofits.”

While many customers are influenced to shop there on account of wanting to support a business that does so much good for the community, others are driven by products that are not even intended for pets at all. The store carries a large selection of pet-themed gifts.

Patrons can find t-shirts and original art from artist Claudia Sanchez.

Additionally, they carry a wide variety of plush animals and other collectibles from designers such as

Jim Shore, Amy Lancombe, Willie Rae, Romero Britto, and more. How these people-oriented objects ended up in a pet-oriented shop is by simple necessity. “We do not simply want to be a pet boutique. We want to be a pet destination,” Rebecca says. “This is a store for pets and the people who love them.”

Locals wanting to experience this destination will be excited to know that the store is open seven days a week, thereby helping to dispel the myth that everything in downtown Winchester is closed on Sunday.

Their hours are just one element of an overall strategy to accommodate the customer. Other measures exemplary of this strategy include their installation of an upstairs grooming space and their policy to ship any orders exceeding $75 for free. They also offer a loyalty program that tracks customer purchases leading up to the receipt of a free bag of high-quality pet food. Customers can enlist their services for pet sitting, and one can even rent the upstairs space for doggie birthday parties and other pet get-togethers.

To learn more about this unique and growing business, check out their Facebook page or visit their new website at www.loveposhpets. com. If you are yourself a pet lover, or you need to locate the perfect gift for one, consider visiting Posh Pets Boutique in Winchester. You will certainly find something of interest to you or your four-legged best friend.

[ 55 ]

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The Llamas are just an excuse to live here Lodestar Llamas - Pam and Ross Curtis Just south of Hedgesville on 901 amid the trees and undergrowth that flank this part of the road, sit a small herd of camelids quietly grazing over the hills and rocks.

They are ever alert and always watching. It has been over 10,000 years since their cousins roamed freely over North America, yet in the last fifty years over 158,000 llamas have come back to make a home in the United States. These South American pack animals were domesticated about 2,500 years ago by the ancestors of the Incas, and, here in the Panhandle, they have been mistaken for birds (in spite of their fur and four legs) and any other unrecognizable quadruped.

[ 58 ]

How these particular llamas came to live here is an interesting story.

“It’s her fault,” says Ross Curtis as he points to his wife Pam. “I have always wanted to live in the county and raise animals that I don’t eat,” Pam Curtis exclaims in her defense. During any such exchange, she and Ross will erupt into a laugh, indicating this is an ongoing discussion. “When I was younger it would have been horses, but now if I fell off a horse I would break so we went with llamas.”

“We were living in Reston Virginia, in a planned community that didn’t

By Rick Hemphill

even allow fences,” Ross begins.

He is a former Navy engineer and a now-retired English teacher who had once dreamed of living in Northern California. “At the time we purchased this place, we were both working in Northern Virginia,” Ross continues.

“Pam taught English at Thomas Jefferson High School until a year ago. I retired from the company I was working for in Reston, so I was semi-retired, and I established a civil engineering practice. We bought this place in 1998, so we have been up here eleven years now, and we have both become very involved in the community. I haven’t regretted it a bit, and it has been a lot of fun.”

Around The Panhandle | SEPT • OCTOBER 2012

“Llamas seemed to be a good compromise,” Pam breaks in. “We had both read some articles on llamas, and I had a friend that had a llama farm in Leesburg Virginia.

We went to visit them and bought our first llama from them. She was a pregnant female. We boarded our animals with them for several years so that when we moved up here we had nine llamas.”

As such, one could say that the llamas came first, resulting in the Curtis’s need to find a place to put them. Pam’s teaching position in Alexandria made their country dream a little more challenging. To explain how they ended up here, Pam says, “So we stuck a pin in a map and began to look for anything within two hours of Reston. One Labor Day we were in Shepherdstown, and the first picture the realtor brought up on the computer was this house. The realtor said, ‘Oh you wouldn’t want this. It is way too far out. I will find

www.AroundThePanhandle.com

you another one.’ Then the broker came in who is from this area, and said ‘Oh that is not too far out, get in your car and follow me.’ That was a Sunday. We put a contract in on Monday, and Tuesday it was ours.”

The llamas served as a conduit for their trek into the Panhandle, and they are now the center of Pam’s attention. “I love animals and the llamas have been just delightful to be around, Pam says with a smile that would tell any former student this isn’t in the book. “They are gentle and I don’t have to worry about anyone being bitten, kicked, or scratched. Spit on maybe, once in a while, but that washes off or dries.” She laughs. “They are so curious,” Pam explains directly pointing to the herd as if it were the blackboard. “If you have ever watched a herd of llamas when a dog comes by that they don’t know, they all move at once. Their heads just track the animal as one body.”

“They are as smart as a dog which is why they are used as guard animals,” Ross interjects.

“They will protect the young and infirm, and they get used to things very quickly. They like to smell little children’s hair, and they are fascinated by little kids or any new animal. These animals are really bonded to humanity. If they have been socialized properly, which isn’t difficult to do, they are very easy to be around and they don’t mind being around people.”

Llamas are more than just pretty faces. “We shear the llamas ourselves with scissors,” Pam says proudly. “I use specific garment shears, and I work with their fiber.

I shear, card, and spin the fiber to make yarn out of it. And one of the ways we will try to make money is to sell some of the raw fiber and the yarn that I make. It is a very timeconsuming process so I don’t do

[ 59 ]

very much of it, but that is one way you can make money with llamas,” Pam says. “When we started with llamas it was going to be a business.

Now it’s a hobby, but a thoroughly enjoyable one.”

“We have eighteen llamas now and one cria or baby llama,” Pam says as she looks out at the grazing herd. “We sell ours mostly as guard animals for other livestock.

We stopped breeding but we had an unexpected cria born this year, which is kind of embarrassing. Four years ago, when we stopped our breeding program, we had two crias born that year,” Pam explains a little sheepishly. “We thought we had two females but it turns out we had an intact male!”

“We are not having any more babies,” Ross says emphatically.

“There is just no market for llamas anymore, despite the fact that they make excellent guard animals for goats or sheep or for anyone that has animals and has had problems with predators. Llamas are an excellent solution.”

Both Pam and Ross have fond memories of their earliest experiences with these amazing creatures. They actually spent many years showing llamas competitively.

“There used to be a lot more shows around than there are now. For several years we did our own show at the Jefferson County fairgrounds called the Appalachian Spring Fling,” Pam says fondly as she remembers the events and the people. “And we used to do the Eastern Regional’s at the Martinsburg Youth Fairgrounds in 2003 and 2005. We had dozens of ribbons and a couple of trophies that we had won for showing.”

“Showing was fun while we did it because there is a whole llama community,” Pam continues.

“We have had ours inside at the Martinsburg Mall, the Martinsburg Public Library, and even in the Holiday Inn for a Rotary meeting.

It is not always a terribly good idea to take llamas inside since they are not housebroken. But because we weren’t breeding we didn’t have new animals to take to the shows and we couldn’t compete with some of the big farms.”

[ 60 ]

Yet the Lama’s helped integrate the pair into the local community.

“Everywhere I go people say “there goes the llama lady”, Pam exclaims.

“They don’t seem to care about anything else. They just want to know about the llamas.”

“We both have become involved in a number of nonprofit organizations,” Ross says explaining his preferences for his Eastern Panhandle home. “It has been a great opportunity to give back to our adopted community.

We moved up here from Reston where we lived for twenty years, and the community there is so very different. It is so nice to come into a community where you can actually do some good and actually get to know people. I’m on the Ambulance Authority Board and I’m an active member in the Chamber of Commerce. What I want to do is let people know about my engineering practice, but all we talk about are the llamas,” Ross says with a laugh.

“Pam is on the board of directors for CASA and she is a volunteer for the Children’s Home Society.”

“Getting involved in the community has been a lot of fun for me,” Says Ross of his eleven years in Berkeley County. “I joined the Rotary Club in 2002, and it wasn’t very long until I was the president of the club. It is nice to be appreciated, and you don’t get that kind of appreciation in the city.”

Twenty-five years of education makes Pam enjoy extolling the virtues of her animals. “We enjoy showing the animals to people because usually the people don’t know a lot about llamas or all they do know is that they spit. Our animals will not just come up and pit-too-ee at you!”

“Llamas spit at each other to maintain order and discipline in their society,” Ross explains with the engineer version. “If they feel another llama is standing in their space they will spit. There is something in their spit that causes a reaction in a llama’s nasal passages similar to an asthmatic attack, and they have difficult time breathing.”

“You can tell the difference between

the spitter and the ‘spitee,’ as the ‘spitee’s’ lower lip drops down, and they are drooling and gasping for breath for a few minutes,” Ross says.

“The first to spit shuts down the fight right there. By the time the ‘spitee’ recovers, they have forgotten what they were arguing about. There is no bone breaking or other violence.”

“They can spit just regular saliva that has no odor at all, or they can dredge the partially digested green gunk up from their three stomachs that smells like you have just been vomited on,” Pam says with her characteristic smile. “But it stops smelling when it dries, and it washes off.”

Just because they don’t show their llamas, doesn’t mean they are finished sharing them with the public. “Recently we took them down to the Wine and Arts Festival,” Ross says. “We have them at the Mountain Arts Festival and Hedgesville Heritage Days.”

“We do take them, by appointment, to schools, and church schools and events,” Pam adds. “We have taken them to birthday parties as an attraction, and we have taken them to fund raisers. It’s a lot of fun. Someone will call and they will ask if they can bring their grandchild up,” Pam says, but with the caveat.

“We do not have an open farm so we don’t encourage people to stop by for something to do. Please make an appointment to make sure we are here.”

And here is where they will stay. “We were going to retire to California and bought land there named Lode Star,” Pam remembers. “That is why we named the farm Lodestar Llamas twenty-five years ago. Fate was working in our favor, and we could not have a house like this in California,” Pam relates with a big smile. “Here we have this great place, and we are so happy.”

“I enjoy the Eastern Panhandle community. It has been really gratifying, and I feel like I am accomplishing something,” Ross adds with a final flourish. “The llamas are just an excuse to live here.”

Lodestar Llamas can be reached by emailing curtiseng@frontier.com.

Around The Panhandle | SEPT • OCTOBER 2012

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610 N. Mildred St, Ranson, WV 25438

The Air Show Will Still Go on

- By Bonnie Williamson

It was a beautiful September day, but it ended up having tragic consequences no one ever expected.

“You never think anything like this would happen at your show…never…”

So says Nic Diehl, the civilian organizer and vice president of Thunder Over the Blue Ridge, the annual Open House and Air Show at the 167th Airlift Wing in Martinsburg, WV. But tragedy hit his popular event last year, and it hit hard.

A single engine T-28 from the six-plane Trojan Horsemen Demonstration Flight Team crashed and exploded during a performance, killing the pilot. The two-day event was instantly closed.

Ironically, the day before, another plane crashed during an unaffiliated airplane race in Reno, Nevada.

Diehl says that unlike the Reno crash, “The audience at our show was never in any danger. Our audience is safe. There’s a show box for the audience so they are never directly under the course the

[ 62 ]

planes are following, like in the Reno event.”

Still, Diehl says there’s no question that what the pilots do at air shows can be risky. “It’s a very dangerous sport, with dozens of fatalities every year. But, again, it was shocking.”

Whether or not the show should continue was the next decision.

Thunder Over the Blue Ridge had been a popular event for the area since 2005. It was also a major fundraiser for the United Way of the Eastern Panhandle. However, the question remained: should it come back for another year?

The response was a resounding yes from all quarters.

“The love and support from the community was incredible. We didn’t want to end the show on the note we were on. We were contacted by the Trojan Horsemen Demonstration Flight Team, the team who lost the pilot in the accident. They encouraged us to continue with another air show,” says Diehl.

Peter Mulford, CEO and president of the United Way of the Eastern Panhandle, says the air show builds “good old American pride” in the community, the Air National Guard, and the volunteers who are involved in the event.

“There’s no question that the loss of life was a disaster, but the air show truly is a great event, a win/ win for the community. It generates funds that improve the quality of life for the community and the region,” Mulford says.

So the 167th Airlift Wing, along with the Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport and the United Way of the Eastern Panhandle, are partnering once again to bring Thunder Over the Blue Ridge Open House and Air Show to the Eastern Panhandle September 15-16. The air show attracts between 40,000 to 50,000 visitors a year.

This year’s open house and air show will be somewhat different than previous years.

“We’re going back to our roots.

Around The Panhandle | SEPT • OCTOBER 2012

We’ll have more static displays of airplanes that people can walk up close to and look at. We’ll still have a variety of military and civilian aerial performances but no team performances,” says Diehl.

This will be the first time the F-16 Fighting Falcon will be on display, says Diehl.

The F-16 Fighting Falcon is described

by Thunder Over the Blue officials as “a compact, highly maneuverable, multi-role fighter aircraft. It provides a relatively low-cost, high-performance weapon system for the United States and allied nations. In an air combat role, the F-16’s maneuverability and combat radius (distance it can fly to enter air combat, stay, fight, and return) exceed that of all potential threat fighter aircraft. It can locate targets in all weather conditions and detect low flying aircraft in radar ground clutter. In an air-to-surface role, the F-16 can fly more than 500 miles (860 kilometers), deliver its weapons with superior accuracy, defend itself against enemy aircraft, and return

to its starting point. The F-16 packs 27,000 pounds of thrust and can reach Mach 2 at altitude; that’s 1,500 mph.”

the C-5 and the C-130. A biplane called the Pitts Special will be on hand, which Diehl refers to as a “beautiful airplane.”

Diehl says another plane on static display is the C-5 Galaxy. The C-5 Galaxy is one of the largest aircraft in the world and the largest airlifter in the Air Force inventory. It can carry thirty-six standard pallets and eighty-one troops simultaneously.

The C-5 carries all of the Army’s air transportable combat equipment.

The wingspan of the C-5 is 222.9 feet. It is more than sixty-five feet tall. The C-5’s range is 6,310 nautical miles without air refueling.

Bill Finagin, the 2008 International Hall of Fame honoree, will fly the Pitts S2C aircraft. Finagin has been flying since 1955. He has won over fourty-five championship contests and was twice awarded the Pitts Trophy, making him the only recipient to receive it more than one time.

Another plane is the C-130 Hercules. This aircraft is the prime transport for air dropping troops and equipment into hostile areas.

The C-130 can hold a wide variety of oversized cargo including utility helicopters. It can airdrop loads up to 42,000 pounds. The wingspan of a C-130 is 132 feet, 7 inches. The height is 38 feet, 10 inches.

Diehl says there will be fly overs by

Jerry Wells, who began flying in 1995, will be piloting a Bucker Jungmeister, a 1930’s German Biplane which is still one of the best aerobatic airplanes ever built. He will also perform in the Extra 300, a German monoplane designed for aerobatic competition and air shows.

Charlie Schwenker will also try his hand with the Extra 300. Schwenker has won the Canadian National Aerobatic Championship, as well as regional International Aerobatic Club contests up and down the east coast.

Pictured from Left to Right - The men responsible for this year’s show. Maj. Tracy Adams, Lt. Col. Shaun Perowski, Tom McKenzie, Nic Diehl, Bill Walkup, and Peter Mulford

www.AroundThePanhandle.com

[ 63 ]

Scott Yoak will be piloting the P-51 Mustang “Quick Silver” also referred to as “The Resurrected Veteran”.

The paint scheme on the plane celebrates veterans with every marking on the plane being a symbol representing something about U.S. soldiers.

People won’t just be flying planes.

They’ll also be balancing on them.

Jane Wicker will entertain visitors with an act done years ago: wing walking. Diehl says wing walkers competed during the Barnstorming era trying to outdo each other.

Wicker climbs, walks, and hangs all over her 450 HP Stearman. No safety line is used.

Diehl says something youngsters will really enjoy at the show is, “a jet school bus that can go 350 m.p.h.!”

The bus is created by the Indy Boys, Inc. The bus is fitted with a 42,000 HP GE J-79 jet engine from a McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom fighter jet. The bus, called School Time, also belches out 80-foot flames.

The Air show will have a Friends of the Air Show Chalet, a shaded area where people can get out of the sun. Another place to take a break from the sun is the Kid’s Village.

Diehl says the Kid’s Village is located in an aircraft hanger. “There’ll be plenty of activities for your kids. The village is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The village also includes a lost and found area, a first aid station, and a mother’s tent.

Beverage vendors, restroom facilities, and food vendors are also available nearby the village.

Last year’s tragedy is not forgotten, but the community and the air show have moved on, thereby not allowing a horrible accident to keep them down.

Diehl says, “We will still have acts on the cutting edge and unique. We will not stay the same. We will always move forward with new ideas.”

For more information, visit www. martinsburgairshow.com.

[ 64 ]

Around The Panhandle | SEPT • OCTOBER 2012

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Tackling the Challenges within Your Business Teams:

Dealing with Showboats, Underperformers at the Workplace | By Amy N. Panzarella, SPHR

“Are you ready for some football?” sings Waylon Jennings, Jr. In anticipation of the upcoming football season, parallels between the sport and the business world are evident. I don’t proclaim to know all the team rosters, but like many of you, I am familiar with the high profile players, such as Tony Romo, Payton Manning, Clay Matthews, and the like.

Unfortunately, there are other players of whom I’m equally familiar, but not because of their athletic prowess; rather, I know of them because of their controversial behavior that creates discord among their teams. One such player who comes to mind is Terrell Owens (a.k.a. T.O.).

T.O. was the showboating wide receiver in the NFL who played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, and Cincinnati Bengals. T.O. is unquestionably talented, but he placed more significance on rallying for personal attention and adoration, resulting in the alienation of his teammates, coaches, and even his fans due to his antics both on and off the field.

Now is a good time to introduce one sports/business parallel in which I was referring. Many of you probably recall the manager’s catch phrase in the 1990’s, “There’s no ‘i’ in team.” Unfortunately, for T.O., his teammates, and his fans, he did not subscribe to that philosophy. There is a chance that during your professional career, past or present, that you had a “T.O.” as a member of your team. While no playbook exists to script how to manage these high maintenance players, as the coach of the team, managers have an obligation to identify and correct this demonstrative behavior and compel the team to be cohesive! This might mean that difficult and unpopular decisions lie ahead.

Let’s start with establishing the construct of a good team. Effective teams have varying levels of performers, but each performer should contribute significantly within their capabilities. If managers are faced with a high-maintenance T.O. on their team, there is hope. Managers can capitalize on the strong talents their exceptional team members possess.

Managers need to redirect their high performing team members’ energy to a productive place. For example, assign this person to be a mentor or trainer

[ 66 ]

to another individual on the team who might be struggling to perform well.

What if a manager is faced with an underperformer who unrealistically views his performance as stellar? This situation usually manifests over a longer period and can be a tremendous source of frustration for the manager and the team. Ultimately, the manager must convey to the underperformer the areas of opportunity for improvement.

The decision to improve belongs to the employee. Tony Dorsett, best known as the Dallas Cowboys’ star running back in the 1980’s, said, “To succeed, you need to find something to hold on to, something to motivate you, something to inspire you.”

It is quite possible that the underperformer is simply not inspired and motivated by the work required and would be more effective working elsewhere in a different role. Managers, like NFL coaches, are burdened with the responsibility of cutting team members due to sub-standard performance, or due to a wrong fit on the team. It is an injustice to the team, the business, and the customers to allow a negative, underperforming, or disruptive employee to remain with the company. Members of a team can exude confidence in their abilities, but they must have the ability to demonstrate that they can walk the talk!

If YOU are a “T.O.” of your team, take heed. You will do well to share the credit of your successes with your team members and always humble yourself!

One fact remains: unless you play a solo sport like tennis or golf, both the failure and success of the team is attributed to everyone. Let’s face it: the wide receiver cannot run the ball downfield to gain yardage unless his offensive line is there to protect him from the opposing team and block those opponents from tackling him.

If YOU are the “coach” of your team…you better be prepared to step up and blow the whistle on the distracting behavior of your unruly and attention hungry team members. If, despite your best efforts, you are unable to compel the “T.O.” of your team to meld with his counterparts, you must strongly consider that your team may have to function without this powerhouse. If it improves the morale of the team, it may not matter whether

you win or lose; cut your losses and find another player who can be a valuable contributor to the team on every level, not just the performance on the field.

Inevitably, one or more members of the team may outshine the others by virtue of hard work and dedication. Conversely, there may be members of the team that are average performers, but their desire to succeed and make their team proud compensates for their technical deficiencies.

Do you remember the story about Rudy Ruettiger? The movie Rudy was made to depict his struggle and desire to play football for Notre Dame. Rudy poured his heart and soul into his schoolwork and his physical transformation to earn a spot on the team, and earn it he did during his last year there! He was prohibited from putting the uniform on and even sitting the bench due to the rules at that time, but he sat in the stands for every game and cheered his team to victory.

Awe-inspired by Rudy’s determination and commitment to play, his teammates and coach rallied before the final game of the season in 1975, and he was invited to wear the uniform and participate in the game. During one of the two plays that Rudy participated, he sacked a player of the opposing team for the winning play of the game! Rudy was by no means a star player as he lacked the physique and experience of his counterparts.

Despite his many shortcomings, thirtyseven years later he is still one of the most highly regarded players of the Fighting Irish football team. Why? The answer is quite simple. Rudy had heart, passion, courage, dedication, a strong work ethic, a desire to win, and a commitment to be part of a team that he believed in and was proud of: Notre Dame. Rudy is the epitome of a committed and effective team player.

There is certainly a balance to strike, and it is up to the manager to identify the strengths and weaknesses of its team members in an effort to steer them toward the established goals. At the end of the day, most managers would rather have five Rudy’s on their team, than one T.O., even if that means losing the game.

Vince Lombardi said it best, “Individual commitment to a group effort? That is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.”

Around The Panhandle | SEPT • OCTOBER 2012

Let Us be Your Human Resource The Eastern Panhandle Society for Human Resource Management (EPSHRM) invites you to join us at our breakfast meeting the 2nd Wednesday each month. EPSHRM is an affiliate of the National SHRM. Our chapter offers many programs that are conducive to the needs of business or office managers, as well as HR professionals. Additionally, being a member of EPSHRM affords you a fantastic opportunity to network with these individuals and work together on those challenging issues that arise in our workplaces.

Meetings start at 8:30 AM ($20 fee for non members) Blue Ridge Community & Technical College Tech Center/Berkeley Business Park 5550 Winchester Avenue (Rt 11 S.), Inwood. (in the old Corning Building)

September 12th

Emotionally Intelligent Leadership with Liz Weber

October 10th

Social Media (What You Should Know) with Sandra Sponaugle

November 14th

Benefits: Health Reform Updates and Open Discussion

If you would like to learn more about the EPSHRM chapter, please do not hesitate to contact Amy N. Panzarella, SPHR, directly at 304.919.1120 or apanzarella@ apus.edu. We are happy to meet with you personally to discuss the benefits of joining our chapter.

Membership Fee -$75.00 Per Year

Meet our Board: Regina Turner, Membership Chair, David Barton, Legislative Chair, Jessica Jackson, President Elect, Vicki Shean, Hospitality Chair, Amy Panzarella, President, Lesley Hower, Secretary, (Not Pictured: Patricia Hubbard, College Relations Chair and Cheryl Kemmerer, Treasurer).

Rely on Rick

For Answers To Your Real Estate Questions

304.263.2121 (office) 301.991.3454 (direct) Rick Boswell (Broker/Owner)

Benefits of a Home Warranty A Home Warranty is a residential service contract that provides repair and replacement coverage for many of the home’s most essential systems and appliances. With a home warranty, sellers and buyers can be protected against costly breakdowns before, during, and after the sale of the home.

Additionally, home buyers can move in with the confidence of knowing that their budget and new home is protected against unexpected mechanical failures. They’ll also get the convenience of having live service representatives available to them twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year, with most providers.

Home sellers can sell with confidence by providing a home warranty as a special feature, thereby giving the home a competitive edge over other properties on the market. Buyers will have more confidence in the home and there is usually less negotiating associated with getting

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closer to the seller’s asking price.

Home warranties are also available independently to homeowners to cover a home annually after a sale.

Personally, my warranty covers my home that is over twenty years old.

I had recently had to have my heat pump replaced. I am not sure what the cost would have been without the warranty, but I do know that my warranty cost was much less than what would have otherwise been a major expense. I have heard some estimates for similar jobs of up to $6000.00!

To provide another example, consider the story of one of my listing clients who found lost hot water recently. The client used the free coverage my provider offers to them while having their home listed for sale. They called the provider and subsequent paid the plumber $60 for the service call. The service covered the replacement of the elements in the water heater as well as a leaking pressure relief valve. The coverage would have paid to have the unit replaced unit if such had been needed.

This coverage saved my client over $400 that they would have had to pay without the warranty.

Others have had stoves, dishwashers, and other appliances

covered for using our advice in obtaining a warranty.

When selecting the warranty provider, I suggest carefully reading the fine print. Exclusions can limit what is and what isn’t covered. Improper installation of a component, or neglect of regular service, can limit or cancel your claim. As with any warranty, the coverage is only as good as the provider. Be careful in selecting a company and do your research.

I generally suggest warranties on big dollar investments or purchases.

I am not a big fan of getting a $10 warranty on a $20 toaster. However, a car, home, or large purchase certainly gets my attention regarding additional coverage and “peace of mind.”

As with anything, you may have to make a few calls and demand service to see the claim through.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease, holds true in many cases. However, I can squeak pretty loud when it comes to getting the service I paid for upfront!

304.263.2121 (office) 301.991.3454 (direct) Rick Boswell (Broker/Owner)

Around The Panhandle | SEPT • OCTOBER 2012

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Summit Point Getting a Taste of Victory Their marketing material proclaims that victory is rare. As we struggle through our day-to-day activities, most of us would concede that such is true. We have jobs that are not the glamorous endeavors we dreamt of as children. We have commutes that exhaust us, family demands that stretch us to our limits, and bills that, well, create barriers to our dreams. Our only relief is to find a place where we can achieve some small sense of victory. For many Eastern Panhandle residents, that place is Summit Point Kart, a local destination affectionately called SPK. SPK is located in the Summit Point Motorsports Park Complex in Summit Point, West Virginia. The complex itself offers everything from accident avoidance training to a vehicular drifting track. The SPK facility is the newest addition to the park, having

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- By Victoria Kidd

opened as part of the complex’s offerings in 2009. It offers European style karting in a setting that accommodates individuals seeking a friendly atmosphere where they can put in a few casual laps or endeavor for an intense, competitive afternoon with friends.

It was immediately popular with local residents, and even patrons who were driving from long distances. In order to best manage the venue, SPK’s management segregated the facility into its own independent company in 2012. Jens Scott, son of the late Bill Scott, is the man behind SPK’s development and continual success. People who know Scott, know that he is a man who is very passionate about what the facility is offering to the public.

“What we offer is a true racing

experience for a price that is impossible to find at any other venue,” Scott says. “You can ride our karts, which are the fastest in their class, for $25. That is a seriously affordable outing for the average person.”

This price point makes a visit to the track a great option for families and individuals who are seeking a fun activity that does not “break the bank.” The track even offers what they call a “Kart ‘Till You Puke Package” for $125. This package allows you to race for as long as you can stand it in a single day. The track’s options are designed with a sincere desire to offer the customer a true racing experience.

The track itself is .55 miles long, and offers twenty-two turns to challenge drivers of all skill levels. Its design

Around The Panhandle | SEPT • OCTOBER 2012

Kart allows it to be adjusted to meet the needs of smaller groups or younger participants. With realistic top speeds of sixty-five miles per hour, guests will undoubtedly feel their hearts racing (no pun intended) as they head towards the checkered flag. Helping customers to truly experience that feeling is what brings Scott the most joy.

Scott explains, “We had to determine what our mission was. We had to ask ourselves if we were out to amass a pile of money or to crush our competition, and I think we determined that those things are decidedly not what we are all about.”

Scott even says that he has worked to become friends with the management of other tracks because he feels that they share a similar mission. That mission is, ultimately, to promote motorsports.

“Motorsports have value. Not only www.AroundThePanhandle.com

are they fun, but they do require the driver to think and develop a skill set. They require math and science. They require the driver to understand, at least on some level, how the physics of the kart impact how the kart works. It all involves more than just driving.”

Regular track patrons would certainly agree. Every weekend, locals flock to the track to find a taste of the victory we all seek. They come from all walks of life, and they bring with them different desires.

Some simply want to race. Others desperately want to win. The latter will keep detailed records of the performance of each kart. They will trade a favorable starting position (which was won in pervious races) to obtain a kart that has performance with which they are more confident.

They will race, and one person will get the honor of achieving a victory over all others. It’s fast. It’s fun. It

evens offers an avenue to quell that carnal competitive urge we all have.

Their motivation for spending their weekends at the track is simple.

“They may be a plumber or carpet cleaner or tile guy during the week, but they are superstars when they come out here on the weekend,” Scott says enthusiastically.

That transformation from “average Joe” to superstar is one that is not limited to adult riders. Scott and his staff have taught more than 600 kids to ride at the track over the past two years. “Of those 600 kids,” Scott says, “some fraction of those are saved from video games. One dad even said that his son had stopped playing games all together, and he focuses on getting better at driving.

I mean, that’s great. We can help get these kids outside and get them more active. Everyone benefits from that.” [ 71 ]

The track offers a type of kart for any individual who may have an interest in getting more active and spending time behind the wheel.

There are three classes of karts available. The smallest are the Kid Karts. These are engineered for small drivers. The second are the Sodi RX7 Racing Karts, which can achieve speeds exceeding fifty miles per hour. The third are what they call “water-cooled monsters.” These are the Sodi RX250 karts, and they can reach speeds of sixty-five miles per hour.

In addition to offering a kart choice that is appropriate for any type of driver, the venue can assist with corporate activities, bachelor parties, birthday parties, and more. They can provide catering, tents, and trophies for a corporate event, and they can even provide coaches to increase driver capabilities and photographers to capture all the action.

If all that was not enough, SPK hosts an annual overnight endurance race, aptly named the SPK 500. They also provide the venue for several private and public racing leagues, as well as a racing school. All of these elements are consistent with Scott’s philosophy, which serves as the guiding credo for the business.

“Our customers are why we exist,” Scott says. “My dad wanted to make sure that there was always a place for motorsports in this area forever, and that is what we have to do. That is what SPK will continue to do. We will always work to ensure a place where people can come to enjoy a little time at the track.”

SPK is not just a local business of interest. They are really a local destination. Worried that you don’t have the gear necessary to enjoy your day at the track? There is no need to fret. SPK offers an “arrive and drive” experience. Everything you need, from a helmet to a driving suit, is available to you at the track.

All you need to bring is your desire for victory, and you are ready to roll. To learn more, visit http://www. summitpointkart.com/ or call 1-800973-1136.

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Around The Panhandle | SEPT • OCTOBER 2012

Panhandle

Healthy

LIVING

Here’s your chance to do something good for your community and for yourself at the same time. The United Way of the Eastern Panhandle is holding United We Cycle, an indoor cycling event to raise funds to benefit the United Way’s health programs and initiatives in our community.

United We Cycle is a way for everyone to have a chance to be a part of improving our community while getting some exercise. If you have not done an indoor cycling class before, this is your chance to try something new.

Some of the area’s best indoor cycling instructors from The Wellness Center @ City Hospital and Gold’s Gym will be leading the classes on November 3, 2012 from 7am to 1pm at the Martinsburg Mall. Six separate forty-five minute classes will be offered. Raising funds will get you a seat for the ride of your life.

Certified Spinning Instructor from The Wellness Center @ City Hospital, Ralph Goolsby, and Group Fitness Instructor from Gold’s Gym, Andre Graves, will be two of the featured

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Do Good… | By Dana M. DeJarnett, MS

instructors for United We Cycle.

Ralph has been an instructor since 2006. Ralph says “cycling is a great cardio workout… I try to make my classes enjoyable and, at the same time, provide you with a good workout. I love what I do, and believe that the most important part of any fitness program is helping people of all ages and abilities achieve their health and fitness goals. Regardless of your age, ability, coordination, or fitness level, the Spinning program is designed to bring health and fitness to every lifestyle.”

Classes will be geared to beginners but those who have experience can increase their intensity or take more than one class or all classes!

Information about United We Cycle will be posted on the United Way of the Eastern Panhandle’s website http://www.uwayep.org.

What can you expect from an indoor cycling class?

Indoor cycling classes, commonly called Spinning, a trademarked name, is a group exercise class conducted on stationary bikes that are specifically designed to feel like a road bike. The bikes have a weighted flywheel with a seat and

handlebars that adjust. The pedals have toe clips that any type of sneaker will fit.

The great aspect of indoor cycling classes is that it is a class that a beginner can take alongside an experienced rider and both can get a great workout to fit their needs and fitness level. The rider determines their own intensity. Each rider controls their own bike’s resistance and pedal speed. Instructors will guide the class through the workout and suggest resistance changes, pedal speed (also known as cadence or revolutions per minute) and position changes to simulate hill climbing, jumping, sprinting, etc.

Another advantage of indoor cycling is that there are no complicated moves or routines to remember.

Indoor cycling is something everyone can do.

Cycling is a cardiovascular workout that strengthens the heart and lungs, as well as strengthens the legs and core (midsection). It is good for people with joint or back problems or someone who has a problem with weight bearing exercise.

Cycling is a low

Around The Panhandle | SEPT • OCTOBER 2012

impact, high calorie burn workout.

Riders burn about seven to thirteen calories per minute, which can add up to almost 500 calories in a fortyfive minute class.

You can expect a class to include a warm up and then a combination of sprints, hills, jumps, and intervals, finishing with a cool down. No special gear is needed for class. You might want to wear padded shorts or have a gel seat to cover the seat for comfort. A towel and water bottle are also recommended for class.

The hope from United We Cycle is to not only to raise awareness and funds for health initiatives in the community, but to improve the health of individuals participating in the event and promote physical activity for all. Participants might be motivated to continue indoor cycling classes on a regular basis and may even be interested in getting out on the road.

The Eastern Panhandle offers some great trails such at the new Route 9 Path, C & O Canal and the paved Rail Trail in Hancock, MD, which is close to Berkeley Springs. If you do venture out on the roads or trails,

www.AroundThePanhandle.com

remember some important safety information and rules of the road.

For road or trail biking, an essential piece of equipment is a helmet. Did you know that it is the law in West Virginia is that anyone under the age of fifteen is required to wear a helmet, and it is unlawful for a parent or guardian to allow a child under fifteen to go without a helmet?

Riders who do not wear a helmet are fourteen times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than a helmeted rider. Ninety-one percent of bicyclists killed in 2009 were not wearing a helmet. Helmet use is estimated to reduce head injury risk by eighty-five percent.

A bike helmet only works if you wear it correctly. Check to make sure the helmet has a seal of approval from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the American National Standards Institute, or the Snell Memorial Foundation. Make sure it fits snugly and your visibility is not blocked by the helmet. Read all directions for proper fit found in the instruction manual.

Bicyclists have the same rights and duties as drivers. Ride with traffic

on the right most side of the road.

Use hand signals when turning, and obey all traffic signs and signals.

For safety, wear bright-colored clothing, don’t ride on sidewalks, watch for turning vehicles, and be on the lookout for parked cars, debris, potholes, utility covers, and railroad tracks (cross railroad tracks at right angles). Also, don’t forget to get your bike checked regularly to make sure breaks and gears are working properly. When riding on a designated path, watch for walkers, joggers, and dogs on leashes.

Some WV cycling laws to be aware of: • Riders shall not ride more than two abreast, except of paths or parts of roadways set aside for exclusive use of bicycles • Bikes must be equipped with a bell, but not a siren or whistle, and working breaks • If riding at night, bikes need to be equipped with a white light in the front and a red reflector in the back Whether you decide to stay inside or ride outside, keep on pedalin’ your way to good health.

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Good Luck to All Local Sports Teams on Your Upcoming Seasons!

Pride, Hometown e! ic Local Serv

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Apple Blossom Mall Gets a Facelift

Get Ready for a Whole New Experience

By Victoria Kidd

In 1982, Apple Blossom Mall opened its doors to the public, becoming a shopping destination for residents in the Northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The mall is currently home to more than ninety-five national, regional, and local retailers and eateries.

From large department stores to smaller specialty shops, the mall offers something for everyone as it continues to serve as a hub for local shoppers.

While the stores have changed over time, the mall itself has remained stylistically as it was in 1982.

However, that is about to change.

The Simon Property Group, one of the largest retail real estate

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companies in the entire world, owns the Apple Blossom Mall property.

In May of 2012, it announced that it would be renovating its property beginning in June of this year.

The renovation coincides with a recent exciting announcement from Carmike Cinemas, Inc. The movie theater giant recently announced that it would be replacing the dated six-screen existing theater with a state-of-the-art, twelvescreen theater. The venue will be called the Apple Blossom 12, and it will feature total seating for over 2,400 guests. (To put the sheer size of this facility into perspective, the extremely popular Alamo Drafthouse Cinema of Winchester seats around 900 guests.) Truly, the new complex

will be grand in size, but it is the innovative technology behind the picture that will really impress its guests.

The theater will be built around Carmike’s “BIGD” auditorium. This auditorium will feature a wall-towall screen spanning over sixty feet wide and towering an amazing three stories tall. That is taller than the existing mall complex. Digital projectors for both 2D and 3D movies will provide an outstanding picture, while the latest in 7.1 surround sound technology will “turn things up a notch.” In technical terms, the theater’s Christie Brilliant 3D Flash Projector provide a light output of 30,000 lumens, meaning patrons will experience a picture

Around The Panhandle | SEPT • OCTOBER 2012

quality with a noticeably higher resolution.

As guests enjoy a higher sound and visual quality, they will certainly appreciate the stadium-seating configuration that comes complete with plush leather high-back rocking seats. The theater’s construction is expected to be completed in spring of 2013, and it will certainly bring increased interest in the mall itself.

In anticipation of that renewed interest, Simon Property Group announced its renovation of the mall, thereby coinciding with Carmike’s big project. The mall renovations are currently underway, and mall leaders are hoping to have the renovations completed some time near the start of the 2012 holiday season. The two projects are separate, but each undertaking will benefit the mall complex, and thereby the surrounding community.

The community can anticipate a completely different experience once the renovations are complete. Larry Nelson, Simon’s Area Director of Mall Marketing, explains, “Guests can expect a more modern and up-todate experience.” He relays that the renovation covers many of the mall’s primary features both inside and outside the building itself.

The facility will get a completely updated entrance to the food wing, and secondary guest entrances will be improved as well. In the food wing itself, there will be a newly created outdoor terrace seating area, and improvements will be made to the indoor seating areas.

Architectural modernizations will give the main concourses fresh new ceiling finishes and decorative features. The dated brick flooring will be replaced with porcelain tile and modern accent carpeting. Old in-floor planters will be removed, and modern soft seating areas will be added. New signage will more efficiently direct guests both inside the mall and in the parking areas.

While these updates will change the look and feel of the mall, there are two changes that will more dramatically impact guests.

Nelson explains that the first is the expansion and modernization

www.AroundThePanhandle.com

of guest restroom facilities. “Most people are not aware of this, but when this mall was built, there was no requirement for public restrooms.

The small restroom that is open today was originally intended for staff use only. We have been asked numerous times to improve guest amenities in that particular area, and I think the public will be happy with what they see related to the new family restrooms.”

In addition to the new restrooms, the mall will welcome a new addition that is sure to excite local families. This addition is the new 1,200 square-foot common area play facility that offers children a

We want to serve our guests.

We want them to be comfortable here. place to play safely, regardless of the weather outside. It also offers a little something for parents too.

“We will have comfortable seating for parents to stay close to their kids, and we’ll have digital device access and recharging stations to help keep adults occupied while their kids enjoy the playground’s features,” Nelson says. The play area will serve as the focal point for many kid-friendly activities planned for the future. “This will help make the mall a destination for parents. That is really what it is all about. We want to serve our guests. We want them to be comfortable here.”

The end result of the mall renovation, let alone the addition of the new theater, is that the Apply Blossom Mall will be able to attract increasingly more appealing tenants.

Nelson and his colleagues assert

that retailers want to associate themselves with high-end properties that create exceptional atmospheres for their guests. According to a May 2012 press release distributed by Simon, they are already negotiating lease commitments with new retailers in conjunction with the renovation plans.

Needless to say, this is where the community will actually see the biggest benefit. While everyone loves to shop within an appealing atmosphere, new and larger retail stores increase choice, generate jobs, and improve the local tax base.

The entire community certainly benefits from endeavors such as this.

For many residents, these benefits are long overdue. Nelson concedes that the entire mall management team would have liked to have seen the renovation project kicked off years ago, but economic factors impacted its perceivable delay. With the economy improving, now is the opportune time for this massive undertaking. It is also a great way to mark the mall’s thirtieth birthday.

This multi-million dollar renovation will bring much needed change to the only enclosed mall complex in the Winchester area. Visitors to the mall will notice ongoing construction leading up to the holiday season, but they can get a first-hand look at the anticipated outcome, as color renderings and samples of new mall finishes are on display in the common areas. The mall’s management asserts that all work will be performed in such a way as to minimize the disruption of the shopping experience.

Local residents can learn more about the endeavor by visiting the mall’s Facebook page or by visiting the property company’s website at www.simon.com. Through these avenues, management will soon be announcing the mall’s official Grand Re-Opening Celebration. Be sure to stay tuned for new information as it becomes available. Our beloved Apple Blossom Mall will certainly continue to be a local destination of choice for many years to come.

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Just in Time Seafood A Fresh Taste of the Chesapeake Bay in Martinsburg “Got a dozen of your extra large crabs today and they were awesome!!!!!”

“Got crabs from them several weeks ago, they were GREAT! They even stayed a few minutes after they closed so we could get our order.

We’ll be getting our seafood from them now on!”

These are actual posts from the Facebook page of Just in Time Seafood, a new restaurant and seafood shop in Martinsburg’s Commons Shopping Center. Since their Grand Opening in June, seafood lovers from the surrounding area have been marveling at a local establishment that has seafood as fresh as that which they could get closer to the Chesapeake Bay. A quick look at some of their regular offerings tells at least part of the tale. They offer everything from rockfish, snapper, and flounder to shrimp, calamari, scallops, and oysters. One can even sample the finest quality lobster tail and in-shell oysters and clams. Perhaps most unique is that they offer live crabs, providing an opportunity to enjoy unparalleled freshness.

Naturally, the ability to get all of these offerings fresh on a daily basis in the area is a delight to area seafood lovers. The owners, Justin

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Around The Panhandle | SEPT • OCTOBER 2012

and Kelly White, are informative and helpful to customers ranging from old pros to those just dabbling in the arts of fresh seafood.

In a recent visit to Just in Time, Kelly explained how this establishment came into being.

“First, the name comes from Justin’s name—Just in Time Seafood,” said Kelly. “Justin had been commuting for eight years down to his family’s restaurant, Captain White’s, at the Wharf in DC. He wanted to bring the same concept from their seafood restaurant to here. A lot of people from this area were going to DC for fresh seafood!”

She explained to us how Justin’s family’s relationship with seafood goes back even further to his grandparents. For example, his mother is from the Eastern Shore on Hooper’s Island, where she worked at a picking house for live crabs.

We weren’t there for very long before realizing that the live Maryland Blue Crabs are a specialty at Just in Time. Declared Maryland’s “State Crustacean” in 1989, this is the sweet crab meat found in many dishes in homes and restaurants in the Chesapeake Bay area. Some crab meat recipes have been handed down for generations.

The blue crabs are brought in daily in large bushel baskets, then set out on display and kept fresh with occasional water spraying.

Customers then select the ones they want to take home or eat there.

As with all the seafood offerings at Just in Time, the kitchen staff will even steam your crabs for you right there—for free.

“Here, you can see your crabs,” said Kelly. “You can see them put in the pot and when they’re taken out.”

Before we dug into a seafood combo platter, Justin took time from his kitchen duties to explain the art of crabbing to us.

“Traditionally, in deeper waters in the bay, you use a long trotline,” explained Justin. “A trotline is a line that is hooked and baited along its length, after being anchored on both

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ends. You look for crabs that have taken the bait, net them, and then toss them in your bucket. But you have to be skillful or you’ll scare them away.”

Learning about the blue crabs had given my guest and me quite an appetite, so we sat down for one of Justin’s trademark offerings: the Super Combo Platter, which at $21.95 was a steal for two people eating fresh seafood.

You have your choice as to certain options to have in your combo, so we went for the Whiting filet to accompany the rest of the combo, which included four shrimp, four oysters, four scallops, several clam strips, a crab cake, and a choice of two sides. We chose hushpuppies and their boardwalk fries, which you could imagine being a big hit with the kids down at the D.C. Wharf. We opted for having our seafood fried rather than steamed.

In no time, we had an ocean’s feast to sample! My guest enjoyed the lightly seasoned shrimp and scallops the best, while I was impressed with the sweet meat in the traditional Maryland crab cake. The clam strips were tasty, too, a bit more chewy than the other meats. We both loved the way the hushpuppies had only a light breading, not a heavy outer shell as one often gets elsewhere.

This was a perfect sampler for our first trip to Just in Time—and believe me, this will be the first of many, as we investigate other menu items including flounder fish sandwiches, jumbo scallops, and my guest’s favorite…calamari.

The atmosphere at Just-in-Time is very much like being at a family restaurant and fresh seafood shop at the beach. Justin and Kelly are both polite and informal, and clearly they are already establishing a good bit of repeat business from the familiarity they had with their customers.

But as nostalgic as this mini-beach vacation can be, Just in Time is also a rather sophisticated operation, in tune with its 21st century clientele.

For example, they feature alerts for their Facebook friends, giving them regular updates on specials that

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come in from the sea on a given day. This is helpful, as those with a particular favorite seafood item can quickly know when it’s available.

Justin and Kelly White are off to a great start offering the Martinsburg area a delicacy we inland folks could have only dreamed of until now—a local place to experience regular, fresh seafood at a reasonable price.

Whether you have your own seafood recipes at home you want to try or want to enjoy the way Justin and his kitchen staff prepares your selections for you, Just in Time is poised to become a permanent fixture in Berkeley County.

For more information, go to Just in Time Seafood’s Facebook page or their website at: www. justintimeseafood.com. They also invite you to call them at: (304) 262-FISH.

At a

Glance

Just In Time Seafood 245 Retail Commons Martinsburg, WV 304•262•3474

First Impression

 Service

 Food Quality/Taste

 Value for Money

 Overall Atmosphere

 [ 86 ]

Around The Panhandle | SEPT • OCTOBER 2012

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West Virginia Breeders’ Classics

A Night at the Races, A Boost to the Local Economy

By Bethany Davidson “Come on, Juice! Come on, Juice.”

The stands at the then Charles Town Races literally reverberated with the screams of excited fans that night in October of 1987 as local horse, Onion Juice, crossed the finish line and became the first winner of the West Virginia Breeders’ Classic.

Now twenty-six years later, the next generations of West Virginia horses are vying for a chance to come out on top in what has become the showcase for the state’s thoroughbred industry.

Held on the third Saturday in October, the WVBC is a night of racing specifically for horses that are either bred or sired in the state.

“The other…big races that they’re having at Charles Town now are what they call open company races.

Those horses come from all over the country,” says Co-Founder and President of the WVBC Carol Holden.

“Our races are the showcases for the West Virginia thoroughbred industry.”

In 1986, the West Virginia Breeders’ [ 88 ]

Classic was just an idea in NFL Hall of Famer Sam Huff’s head. The idea was conceived while Huff attended the Maryland Million, which is a special day of races for Maryland sired runners, with partner Carol Holden. After seeing how wellattended the Million was, Huff thought ‘Why can’t we do this in West Virginia?’ One year later, after just a few months of planning, Huff and Holden successfully held the first WVBC. “It wasn’t easy to get the job done,” recalls Holden, but Sam Huff is a very determined individual and made sure it happened.

features, the West Virginia Breeders’ Classic with a $500,000 purse and the WV Jefferson Security Bank Cavada Breeders’ Classic with a $250,000 purse, as well as seven other races. Winning one of these additional races comes with an $85,000 prize. This year the purses for this full card or nine-race event will total $1,345,000 making it one of the most important races of the year for those involved in the industry. “These are the largest purses that they will race for the entire year,” Holden says.

That first night held only five races with purses of $25,000. Only the feature winner walked away with a purse of $100,000. While the prize money seems small looking back, that type of money was unheard of at that time in West Virginia.

Through the years, the WVBC has given out more than $20 million in purses and has added several more races.

People see how much money horses can make at a big race like this, Holden explains, but they don’t know about all of the bills involved in getting there. From breeding mares and stud fees, to veterinary services and board and training bills, horses come with a multitude of expenses.

The Classics give them “an opportunity to make enough money to keep going in this business,” says Holden.

These races include the two

The winners aren’t the only ones Around The Panhandle | SEPT • OCTOBER 2012

taking home cash during the West Virginia Breeders’ Classic. The local economy also gets a huge boost during this weekend. The WVBC, which has been named a Top 20 Event in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society, brings in a fair amount of travelers. According to Hollywood Casino management, approximately 7,500 people attend the annual event. “The hotels, restaurants, and many of the local merchants see a great increase in their business [that] weekend,” says Richard “Dickie” Moore, a WVBC board member.

But it’s more than just tourism.

Jefferson County has been a fixture in the thoroughbred breeding industry since the 1930’s and with many of the winners living within Jefferson and the surrounding counties, that purse money gets recirculated into the community. “The money gets churned throughout so many of the local businesses because the people at the farms have to buy feed, they have to have veterinarians, they have to have help. There [are] a lot of auxiliary businesses that benefit,” says Holden.

“As for breeding industry,” says Moore, “there have been many breeding farms developed. The stallions now standing in WV has more than tripled since the implementation of the WVBC. It

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has been a win-win citation for the horseman, businesses and the state of West Virginia.”

person, interested parties need only to contact the WVBC office for invitations.

Several charities are also beneficiaries of the WVBC. All of the revenue from the Breakfast of Champions is donated to two local charities. These charities are the Eastern Panhandle Free Clinic and the Charles Town Races Chaplaincy.

Five percent of the funds from the rest of the events are donated to five other deserving charities.

Friday morning, October 19th, has guests hitting the links at the Locust Hill Golf Club for the WVBC Celebrity Golf Tournament. Singles can register for $75 while a foursome can play for $300. This event begins at 9 am.

This year’s races will be held at the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, in Charles Town, West Virginia on Saturday, October 20th.

Post time for the first race will be 7:15pm. For those who are unable to make it to the track, the races will be televised live on Comcast Mid-Atlantic, HRTV, and TVG. All the action will also be replayed nationally on Fox Sports Net. But the Breeders’ Classics is more than just a night at the races, it has become a three-day event that draws both locals and out-oftowners. Things kick off Thursday October 18th with the WVBC Gala Dinner and Dance at the Clarion Hotel in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. This black-tie-optional evening features the music of McCusker and Barrick and is open to anyone who would like to attend. With a cost of $100 per

With guests from both the racing world and the NFL, the annual Breakfast of Champions is perhaps the second most popular event of the weekend. Attendees will have a chance to get autographs and listen to some great stories and maybe catch an impromptu Sam Huff roast.

A suggested arrival time for the buffet-style breakfast held at the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races is 9 am.

While this year’s guests have not yet been confirmed, previous guests have included Hall of Fame Jockey Pat Day; King Leatherbury, the thirdwinningest trainer in the country; and Secretariat owner Penny Chennery. Football legends John Unitas, Sonny Jurgensen, and John Riggins have also attended.

For more information about the West Virginia Breeders’ Classic and its events visit www.wvbc.com or call 304-725-0709.

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Lady Appleseeds, Inc.

Planting Seeds of Hope — Bonnie Williamson

A unique, volunteer-driven Martinsburg, WV nonprofit organization started last year to extend a helping hand to others.

Lady Appleseeds, Inc. was created

by Tina Dorsey. “We’ve all been there. A number of years ago, I was on food stamps and needed assistance. Lady Appleseeds helps a number of nonprofit groups to raise much needed funding,” Dorsey says.

What makes Lady Appleseeds different from other nonprofit groups? The organization’s mission statement explains that the group is driven “to create a community of women who exemplify the true meaning of friendship. We will support one another while we extend a helping hand to others.” It also says they will have “as much fun as possible at all times, no matter the task or situation.”

The only man involved with the group is Mike Dorsey, Tina’s husband. Other members of Lady Appleseeds are Mary Iden, Sandy Leishman, Teresa Taylor, Deborah Valentine, Bernadette Schultz, and Tina Mason.

“We just felt a women’s group would have less stress. Ladies can just be ladies. We can relate to each other better. And we also participate in different fun events together, like plays. A lot of men don’t like plays,” Dorsey says, laughing.

The women meet every month for

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three hours to plan events and schedule fun activities they can do together.

Coming up with a name for the new organization was a bit of a challenge at first. “We had to make sure no other organization had a name that we wanted. There were all kinds of ideas out there. Well, West Virginia knows apples. That worked well with our slogan, planting seeds of hope,” Dorsey says.

The first activity the group participated in was making Christmas wreaths for the Heartland of Martinsburg nursing home last December. “We wanted to get our name out there so people would begin to know about us,” says Dorsey. This year, they made Easter center pieces for the nursing home.

Many other groups are now receiving Lady Appleseeds’ helping hands.

They have helped the Community Combined Ministries Networks, Inc. Bethany House shelter, as well as the Kidz Power Pacs at Eagle Intermediate School, a program that provides food for children. Their efforts have also supported CCAP/ loaves and fishes, U.S. troops, St. John’s Lutheran Church soup kitchen, the Salvation Army, and the SPCA animal shelter. They’ve also donated glasses to the Lions Club.

An upcoming event for Lady Appleseeds will be a Yard Sale/ Vendor event to be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the parking lot of

Buffalo Wild Wings on September 15th. The event benefits Bethany House. People can donate items or rent space.

On October 6, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the group will hold a Mini Fair at War Memorial Park to benefit U.S. troops, CCAP/loaves and fishes, and the Salvation Army. The Salvation Army has an angel tree with the names of children who can be “adopted” to receive Christmas presents.

Participants can receive discounted ticket prices if they bring two nonperishable items for CCAP/ loaves and fishes or two items for the troops. Troop items may include toothpaste, note books, phone cards, razors, sunflower seeds, peanuts, pens, tooth brushes, soap, deodorant, licorice, gummies, puzzle books, brushes, and combs.

The Mini Fair will include games prizes, face painting, moon bounces, and a petting zoo, as well as appearances by Mickey and Minnie Mouse, the Chick-fil-A Cow, McGruff the Crime Solver Dog, and Ronald McDonald.

Lady Appleseeds are members of the Berkeley County Chamber of Commerce and actively participate in Main Street of Martinsburg events like Bike Night and the Scarecrow project, an event where groups create scarecrows that are placed on poles all around Martinsburg.

Members will march in the Apple

Around The Panhandle | SEPT • OCTOBER 2012

Harvest Parade at the Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival in Martinsburg this October.

Another tool used for donations is the sale of coupon books from Sheetz and Domino’s Pizza. “For $10 you get twelve coupons that are worth about $25 for items at Sheetz.

The coupons can be used at any Sheetz and don’t expire until March 31, 2015. Or for $10 you can get sixteen Dominos coupons that allow you to buy one pizza at the regular price and get one for free, carry out only,” says Dorsey.

Dorsey says speakers from different nonprofit organizations come to Lady Appleseeds every month to let the ladies know what is needed.

“Most groups aren’t out there the way we are or as much as we are. We’ve even gotten pillows for groups. We want to help and get people what they need. We do it all,” says Dorsey.

Lady Appleseeds holds guest meetings periodically at the Martinsburg Public Library to get the word out about the group. Dorsey has appeared on local radio stations, too.

Lady Appleseeds is always looking for more volunteers. For a minimal fee and dues, members receive a t-shirt, pin, tote bag, and a key chain. People can be members of Lady Appleseeds or sponsors for a community group.

“We’ve approached the Girl Scouts and high schools so students can do community service projects. Again, we are volunteer driven. No one gets paid,” Dorsey says.

Along with all of her volunteer work, Dorsey is the mother of three children, Ashley, 15; Justin, 25; and Corey, 23. She is also a full-time student at Blue Ridge Community College, studying to be a paralegal.

“Since my children are older, it

allows me to do a lot. And there’s a lot more to come. We’re already planning next year’s events. What we need to do. We are always looking at other places we can go to help others. We want as much exposure as we can get to promote our group,” she says.

Dorsey best sums up why Lady Appleseeds exists on her website.

“We are willing to volunteer our time by doing community service projects, fundraise, and much more.

This will give everyone a chance to give back to their community in the Berkeley County, WV area. I truly believe that help needs to start here, where we live first. We also want to meet new people in everything we do, help others in need, experience new things, be a part of our community, and the best part is enjoying the special outings just for the ladies.”

For more information, go to the website at www.ladyappleseeds.org

Tina Dorsey and the other members of Lady Appleseeds Mary Iden, Sandy Leishman, Teresa Taylor, Deborah Valentine, Bernadette Schultz, and Tina Mason pictured here helping out at Bike Night.

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Serving Classic Cuisine

The Press Room |

Shepherdstown, WV

By Debra Cornwell Frequently at the top of Mid-Atlantic Best Weekend and Best Day Trip lists, Shepherdstown is a unique introduction to Jefferson County and West Virginia. The Potomac River town’s latest accolade is Baltimore Magazine’s 2012 Best of Baltimore Winner for Day Trips. Yet, a great destination cannot be great without great food, and The Press Room is among the delightful eateries of Shepherdstown.

Since 2007, The Press Room has satiated locals and visitors with clean, classic cuisine under the guidance of owner/chef Michael Luksa and his wife/business partner Deborah. The Luksas have realized their dream of owning a casually elegant dining establishment embodied in The Press Room.

“When we started thinking about doing our own restaurant, we researched our favorite restaurants from the Gramercy Tavern and Balthazar in New York City, to places in Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, DC,” recalls Deborah.

“Although we picked up a few great ideas, we realized that we have to know our clientele and locale and do something true to that.”

The duo met over thirty years ago when Deborah was attending Shepherd University and waiting tables at the Yellow Brick Bank Restaurant. Michael’s family had moved here from Buffalo and while dining at the restaurant mentioned

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[ 95 ]

that they had a son with culinary experience who was looking for work. The fates were in motion for happy partnership for Michael and Deborah.

The sixty seat restaurant is located in The Independent Building.

Constructed in the 1790’s, the building had many uses of over the years. Historian Jim Surkamp’s research reveals it housed a harness-making shop and on the side, the workers would re-stitch baseballs brought in by local children. The building is best known as The Independent newspaper headquarters. When looking at the building, Michael inquired about a large, square hole in the floor. He learned that is where the printing press was located. He connected the images of the printing press as well as pressing of grapes and olives, and the name, The Press Room, was born.

Seated on wonderfully comfortable chairs and nibbling on the house made bread—a nice dense bread

[ 96 ]

with a great crust—we took in our surroundings. Approaching guests take note of lush plants in the large windows and in an elegant, purpose-built, conservatory-like vestibule. The warm brick walls are set off by large paintings by artist Susan Carney—each of an individual vegetable in a warm color pallet. The look is sleek without being stark. The polished tables reflected candlelight alongside the fresh flowers and extra virgin olive oil, and the soap from Mexico in the wash rooms is lovely.

I sampled sublime Katama oysters from Massachusetts, Pemaquid oysters from Maine, and Indian Creek oysters from Prince Edward Island. Found off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, the Katamas were salty with a hint of sweetness. The Pemequid was plump with a lemony finish. The Indian Creek oysters, my favorite selection, were mild and delicate. The Press Room’s signature mignonette includes fennel, shallots, sweet red pepper, carrots, and a subtle vinegar. All exquisite, they would be divine washed down with

chilled champagne.

One of my companions contentedly munched on house made mozzarella with freshly snipped basil and large Mortgage Lifter tomatoes drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. My other companion chose well with the mussels, a selection that offers white wine, garlic, tomatoes, and spinach with a toasted baguette slice for soaking the tasty broth.

Our entrees—two penne bolognese and a Chilean sea bass—were delectable. Nine pasta dishes are on the menu. The bolognese is a rich, slowly cooked sauce with ground beef, not-too-hot sausage, a red wine reduction, tomatoes, mushrooms, garlic, and a touch of cream. The Chilean sea bass disappeared from the menu when the market price skyrocketed, but devotees can rejoice with its reappearance. A thick super-white piece of fish, also known as the Patagonia Tooth Fish, there cannot be a fish that is anymore succulent.

Michael prepares it to perfection

Around The Panhandle | SEPT • OCTOBER 2012

with a thinly crisped skin in an orange, shallot, and dijon reduction accompanied by a side of haricot verts.

We finished our meal by sharing a lavender crème brulee. Regular readers of Featured Eats might remember my love-hate relationship with crème brulee. With the addition of lavender, this is a love. Lavender is an under-utilized herb in cooking.

I make cookies with it, and when a recipe calls for Herbes de Provence, I add a pinch more lavender. The subtle fragrance of the lavender adds so much to this creamy dessert with its caramelized sugar lid.

If you want a dinner reservation in the summer during the Contemporary American Theater Festival (CATF) at Shepherd University, you might want to make your reservations in February.

Michael says the restaurant has customers who come back year after year. Deborah relayed, “One gentleman came in and said, ‘You probably don’t remember me,’ but I knew who he was and inquired about his wife. He said, ‘It’s good to be here, and I’ll see you again next year!”

Diners can expect friendly, professional service. Michael says the servers understand and respect the food. The Luksas know how to promote team work, too. After several weeks of being crazy-busy during the CATF season, the Luksas took their team to Kent Island overnight for a fishing charter and crab feed.

The Luksas agree that the food they serve is a type of comfort food that is not buried under layers of ingredients. “We showcase the main ingredient and add a nice accompaniment,” they say. “We have the familiarity of “Cheers” with our regular customers, too.” The Press Room has an extensive menu, and although the restaurant has evolved over the last five years, it stays true to the Luksas vision of classic, clean cuisine.

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[ 97 ]

Now It’s Your Turn Recipes to Spice Up Your Life | Bake a Treat this Fall

Apple Pie Directions Ingredients

ees to 450 degr Preheat oven poke a few h ug do e pi of in a pie pan 1 box yer of crust la aside. e t on se e rk ac Pl r h with a fo ug do e th in 3/4 cup suga air hole flour, salt, ther sugar, s flour wl, mix toge bo e sliced 2 tablespoon l ac al Pl sm . a eg In ce, and nutm lt pi ls sa al ith sugar , on w on po e cinnam 1/8 teas l and sprinkl w bo e on rg ly coated. la am a gh apples in ground cinn es are thorou pl ap til 1 teaspoon un mixture. Toss to pan. in 1/4 allspice Spoon apples sprinkle with nd nutmeg ou gr butter, then on and po ith w es pl 1/4 teas ap Seal edges ot ith top crust. and sliced D w r ed ve el pe Co . whiskey 6 tart apples nts in top. to 350 lted butter cut steam ve sa s on po es temperature 2 tabl utes. Lower in m warm. e 10 rv r fo Se ey .

Bake s whisk l 40 minutes na tio 2 tablespoon di ad and bake an

Pumpkin Cake

Ingredients 3 1/2 cups flour 2 tsp baking soda 1 1/2 tsp salt 3 tsp cinnamon 2 tsp nutmeg

2 tsp pumpkin pie spi ce 3 cups sugar 1 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs

Directions

Preheat oven to 35 0 Mix all the dry ingred ients in a mixing bowl set aside. Blend with an electric mixer oil, eggs, wa ter, and pumpkin then slowly add the dry mixture until well blended. Bake in 3 greased loaf pans for 40 to 50 mi nutes or until a toothpick comes ou t clean. Let cool the frost and top wit h candies of your choice.

2/3 cup water 2 cups cooked plain pumpkin 1 container of cream cheese frosting

[ 98 ]

Around The Panhandle | SEPT • OCTOBER 2012

Peac h Cobbler

Ingredients

Directions

1/2 cup margarin e 1 cup flo ur 1 cup wh ite sugar 1 cup mil k 1/2 tsp s alt 1 tsp bak ing powd er 1 pint sli ced peac hes

ookies

wnie C o r B t u n l a W e t Chocola

Ingredients

Preheat o ven to 35 0 Place ma rgarine in an 8X8 gla dish. Place ss ba dish in ove melted. n until butt king er is In a mediu m bowl, co mbine flou baking po r,salt, wder, and sugar. Mix stir in milk well, then . Spoon m ix tu on top of re into ba melted m king dish, argarine. peaches o Place the ver flour m ixture do not stir Bake for 5 0 to 60 m inutes, un are bubbly til peache and crust s is lightly b serve with rowned. a scoop o f ice cream .

Directions

375 oven to Preheat d sugar ning an g e in rt n o e h s rt l until le sho Whisk rge bow me vegetab sugar r in a la ggs one at a ti e n w th e ro g b 2/3 cup t to e en h h g in T li t . d a d e . Be orate ps pack smooth ly incorp ombine te 1 1/2 cu le p m ater. C until co la and w soda, and 2 eggs d vanil g d a in r k a te b a coa, poon w dd flour t flour, co bowl. A 1 tables ll a m s s ixture a illa salt in a to creamed m oon van in fold in 1 teasp ; re d e tu d mix pa our til blen fl r n e u p d d u uts. Dro w e c o e ln 1 1/2 low sp cocoa p and wa hes c s d e in ip n h 2 c te t e te abou unswe chocola bake f dough a 1/3 cup spoon o okie sheet and ing sod k le a b b ta n o n o o c o p s a g a in to te d n n 1/4 s depe apart o te u lt in a s m s 9 chip spoon for 8 to .

1/2 tea hocolate isweet c oven m r e u s o y s p 1 1/2 cu walnuts hopped 1 cup c

Almond Pea r Tart

Ingredients

Directions

Pastry for single-cru st pie (9 inches)

3/4 cup p lus 2 teasp oons sugar, div ided 3 tablespo ons all-pu rpose flour 4 cups slic ed peeled fr pears (ab out 4 med esh ium) 3 tablespo ons sliced almond

s

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On a lightly floured surf ace, roll doug 10-in. circle h into a . Transfer to a parchmen lined baking t papersheet.

In a large bo wl, combine 3/4 cup suga flour; add pe r and ars and toss to coat. Spoo over the pa stry to with n in 2 in Fold up edge s of pastry ov . of edges. er filling, leav center unco vered. Sprin ing kle with rem sugar. aining Bake at 450째 for 15 minut es or until cr is golden an ust d filling is bu bbly. Sprinkl almonds; ba e with ke 5 minutes longer. Using parchment paper, slide the tart onto a w to cool. Yiel ire rack d: 8 servings .

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The recent recession has taken its toll on many towns throughout the country. This toll is often extremely apparent in the downtown area of these towns, where this economic impact is further amplified by the presence of a local shopping mall.

Fewer and fewer people seem to shop in downtown areas.

Five women volunteers in Charles Town, West Virginia are determined to break this trend. Charity Beth Long, is president of Discover Downtown Charles Town (DDCT).

The other members are Cathy Skinner, Kelly Patton Edward, Lisa Mercer, and Kate Brown, all local business women. The organization has four committees, including an economic restructuring committee.

“Helping the economy of the area is important. But you don’t have to be in business to join our group. We are open to all kinds of volunteers. We want to support the revitalization of Charles Town and to create a community atmosphere so people can discover what our local

[ 100 ]

merchants have to offer,” says Long.

Long continues, “We’re a nonprofit organization created to preserve, promote, and enhance the physical, social, cultural, and economic vitality of Charles Town’s historic downtown center with an unwavering commitment to its growth and sustainability.”

DDCT began last year, creating the Third Thursday’s events program held every third Thursday in the summer until October.

Long says Third Thursday runs in the evening from five until nine, and “takes over Charles Street at the intersection of Washington and Charles Street, to provide locals and visitors alike with an evening showcasing the charm of Charles Town.”

Third Thursday includes contests, vendors, events, and music.

Downtown businesses are open to supply food and drink specials.

August’s event had a “Fields, Farm,

and Fun” theme. Events included a Hula-Hoop competition, a corn-onthe-cob eating contest, a vegetable decorating event, a bubblegum blowing contest, sidewalk chalk art competition, a moon bounce, and pony rides.

“We wanted people to enjoy our agricultural history, as well as enjoy the present and have Charles Town residents get a sense of who they are. Whole families come out for a night of fun,” says Long.

The Third Thursday scheduled for September 20th will have a colonial history theme as a preview for Charles Town’s Heritage Festival taking place on September 22nd.

There will be a colonial costume contest, live music, street vendors/ crafters, a free children’s craft workshop, business specials and promotions, and history tours.

The October 18th Third Thursday will feature beer and cider, as well as other activities.

Around The Panhandle | SEPT • OCTOBER 2012

Charles Town is the county seat of Jefferson County and it is full of history, Long says. It was originally chartered in 1786 by the State of Virginia and named for Charles Washington, brother of the first president. It was also the scene of the trial and execution of John Brown, the abolitionist whose raid on nearby Harpers Ferry started the Civil War. Two of the three treason trials ever held in the United States were conducted at the Charles Town Courthouse. The area is sometimes overshadowed by Civil War events but the Colonial Period was just as significant.

“People who visit here may be aware of our history but unaware of our town. They’ll say, ‘I didn’t know there was such a quaint town here with so much character, so unique.’

We want people to know that,” says Long.

Some businesses that have participated in Third Thursday include Jumpin’ Java Café, Albert and Arnold’s Wine and Cheese Shop, Dish Bistro, Grandma’s Diner, Carmen’s Beads and Bling, Tiptoe Studios, Beasley’s Books and Eccentricities, Paddy’s Irish Pub, and Skippers Downtown Dips and Deli.

Long says many plans are in the works for future projects for Charles Town. “We’re talking about developing a visitor’s center for tourists and a transit center for commuters. We want to know about the businesses here now. What do they need? We want to develop mentoring programs to help them out. Want to know what the new businesses are and find ways to support them and have customer survey programs,” she says.

Long said DDCT is still growing.

Her fledgling group is still working out the paperwork that will allow fundraising activities. She describes DDCT as a precursor to a Main Street program, like the one in Martinsburg. Ann Paonessa, a Charles Town city council woman and staff member of DDCT, is the group’s liaison to the Main Street program.

According to the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s website, Main Street is a national movement that has spanned three decades

www.AroundThePanhandle.com

and taken root in more than 2,000 communities. The movement has spurred $49 billion in reinvestment in traditional commercial districts, galvanized thousands of volunteers, and changed the way governments, planners, and developers view preservation. Over the past thirty years, the National Trust Main Street Center has overseen the development of a national network of coordinating programs that today includes thirty-seven statewide programs, seven citywide programs, and two regional programs. These coordinating programs help cities, towns, and villages revitalize their downtown and neighborhood business districts.

Coordinating program staff helps build the capacity of local Main Street programs, expand the network of Main Street communities, provide resources and technical assistance, and work with the National Trust Main Street Center to explore new solutions to revitalization challenges while responding to emerging trends nationwide.

Throughout the nation, communities are using the Main Street approach to revitalize their traditionally commercial districts, whether they have officially designated Main Street programs or if they simply incorporate Main Street into existing economic development, historic preservation, city management, or urban and community planning programs. Whatever form a preservation-based revitalization initiative takes, the national network of coordinating and local Main Street programs provide action and support on all levels.

Perhaps through the work of DDCT, Charles Town will someday have its own Main Street program. At the very least, area residents can take pride in knowing that there are a handful of dedicated locals advocating for downtown businesses while exemplifying “local pride.” For more information concerning upcoming events, or to simply support this movement, visit the group’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ discoverdowntowncharlestown.

[ 101 ]

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By Natalie Greene

Places To Get Your Ink

Sakura Tattoo

- Winchester, Virginia Owner Jesse Tseronis has been tattooing since 1995 and is a versatile artist that enjoys tattooing in all styles. He has a particular focus on Japanese imagery, classic Americana, black and gray, and biomechanical tattoos. In addition to Tseronis, two additional artists—Aaron Robinson and John Hoffmaster—can be found working at the shop. The team is always excited to work with customers who have an idea for a custom tattoo, but need a talented individual to help get it ready for their skin. The shop takes great pride in offering customers a clean, sterile environment that provides the perfect venue to create tattoos that stand the test of time. You can learn more about them at www.sakuratattoos.com.

Cherry Bomb

- Martinsburg, West Virginia Cherry Bomb has called Queen Street home for the past ten years. They have four award-winning tattoo artists who passionately love art. They each have amazing drawing skills, and they take great interest in creating custom work. They specialize in black and gray letter, “American traditional” pieces, and portraits. They also have a large collection of stock tattoo pieces (called “flash” in the industry) to choose from. In addition to tattoos they offer body piercing.

Owner Kim Toney has twenty-two years of body piercing experience. They have an expansive selection of body jewelry and are looking to expand the shop in the next couple months. Visit them on Queen Street or call (304) 226-4448 for more information. [ 104 ]

Around The Panhandle | SEPT • OCTOBER 2012

B.S. Tattoo and Skate

- Berkeley Springs, West Virginia You can find this great shop in Berkeley Springs. It stands uniquely inside of a BBQ restaurant called Earth Dog Café.

The shop was opened about three years ago and is owned

by Laura Talbert and Jason Roderick. They offer professional tattoo art services by Roderick, an acclaimed artist who has been tattooing for the past twenty years. While Roderick is providing incredibly detailed tattoos to his clients, Talbert serves in a business management and marketing capacity.

Together, their efforts have built a highly successful shop in Berkeley Springs. There goal is to provide unique quality work at a reasonable price while maintaining a clean, sterile, friendly environment. Visit them online at www.bstattooandskate.com.

Body Art Tattoo

- Berryville, Virginia The late Tommy Painter was a man respected throughout the tattoo industry. Painter helped develop a lot of the equipment that is still used today by tattoo artists around the world. His wife Sharon McCarty-Painter Is devoted to making Body Art Tattoo the best it can be. His son Jason McCarty followed in his father’s footsteps, and today he is an award winning artist who is known for his photo realism portrait work. The pair works alongside well-respected artists Neil Stavely and Evan Bowman, creating a team of talented people devoted to satisfying customers. A unique characteristic of this shop is that they offer tattoo laser removal at an economical price.

You can contact them by calling 540-955-0111.

Panhandle Ink Custom Tattoos

- Martinsburg, West Virginia This is a great little shop that was awarded Readers Choice Awards by the Martinsburg Journal for the 2010 and 2011 award periods. They are open seven days a week from twelve to “whenever the job is finished,” which makes them unique.

They are located in an ultra-clean studio on the corner of Winchester Avenue and King Street in Martinsburg. Artist “Big John” specializes in black and gray. Another artist, Aaron, has been tattooing in the D.C. area for years and specializes in traditional “Sailor Jerry” type pieces. Check ‘em out at www.panhandleink.com.

Slowpokes Tattoos

- Ranson, West Virginia Located less than ten minutes from the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, you will find the longest-standing tattoo studio in the Charles Town/Ranson area. Slowpokes Tattoo continues to be successful after many (many) years in business. Andy, the shop’s owner, offers clean, professional tattooing in a safe and welcoming atmosphere. They have a large selection of flash designs, but they also encourage individual ideas for them to develop into one-of-a-kind designs.

The skilled and award-winning artists truly care about the craftsmanship behind the customer’s tattoo. Thus explains the name, Slowpokes. They put the time and care into every piece because they know that tattoos are forever, and they should be a representation of the client. You can reach them by calling (304) 724-6582. www.AroundThePanhandle.com

[ 105 ]

Why should I choose sunset water services?

Great question, and there are four reasons: Price. Most first time buyers either spend too much or too little. With Sunset Water we have no commissioned sales people and we’re not franchised. The lack of these two things will save you money. You’ll also notice that we advertise our prices. Our prices are also written on our sales literature and posted on SunsetWater.com.

We don’t “size up” the customer when we pull in the driveway. Our profit margins are exactly the same regardless of your income level.

In fact, your family size and water conditions actually dictate what we recommend for water treatment.

And all our prices include installation and free removal of any existing treatment system. When comparing our treatment systems to the “big box” stores, our prices, at first glance, may seem higher. However, by the time you add installation, extended warranties, and other expenses we are almost always a much better deal.

Now that leads me to the number two reason: Products. Virtually all

[ 106 ]

our products are “American Made” and I’m proud of that. We’re sort of like an independent insurance agent. We actually pick and choose what products we’ll offer to our customers. In fact, every system we sell is built to my specifications.

I know what works and I know what doesn’t. When you deal with Sunset Water, it’s like having your very own purchasing agent. Our water softeners are “two tank” systems. Salt is a corrosive and water is a vapor. Keeping the two tanks separate will greatly increase the life expectancy of the system.

It also prevents salt bridging, and, when the time comes, the system is much easier to repair. Our Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Systems are a manifolded design which greatly decreases the amount of plumbing needed.

Third, our warranties are the best true warranties in the business!

Everything we sell has a one year satisfaction guarantee. Most of our water softeners have warranties for five years, inclusive of parts and labor. Your only expense is the salt that you put into the system. I encourage you to read the fine print of our competitors. They will claim that they have a “lifetime” warranty,

but it normally doesn’t include the labor or the parts that usually go bad. Also, our systems on average have a twenty year life expectancy.

That leads me to the final reason: Service. We’re the best! We service just the Eastern Panhandle and because of that we have quick response times. We don’t have trip charges. We don’t have surcharges.

We service most brands of water treatment systems too. So, if you are unhappy with your current provider, give us a call. You’ll be glad you did!

Do those electric gizmos work to soften hard water?

Short answer, no. Long answer, I wish they did but they don’t. Over the past thirty years, I’ve personally tested most of these devices. It was the magnets in the 80’s, metal alloys in the 90’s, and now we have electronic devices that generate a magnetic field with an LED to make you think they’re working.

When I first started Sunset Water Services, I was also the plant engineer for Cassco Ice. I tried all

Around The Panhandle | SEPT • OCTOBER 2012

sorts of devices trying to prevent limescale buildup in the water jackets of the compressors and in the ice machines. Nothing worked except ion exchange. (That’s a fancy term for water softener). The bad part about these devices is the fact that by the time you realize they’re not working, you can’t get your money back. The day I find a true salt free softener that I can verify truly works, I’ll be selling and installing them.

That leads me to another term: “Salt Free”. Some water treatment dealers sell systems that they claim to be salt free, and they are, if you use potassium chloride instead of sodium chloride. Potassium chloride will cost three to five times as much as sodium chloride. They are totally interchangeable with any residential water softening system. If you’re on a sodium restricted diet, instead of using potassium chloride, use sodium chloride (salt that come in either pellets, crystals, or blocks), and purchase a Reverse Osmosis Drinking System to remove the sodium chloride from your drinking water. In the long run, you’ll save

hundreds of dollars and have bottled water quality drinking water to boot.

Should I rent or buy a water treatment system?

Buy! When you a rent a system, you normally pay for it over and over.

At Sunset Water Services we don’t lease our water treatment systems.

Heck, with our five year parts and labor warranty, you’ll pay for the system in three years and still have two to spare. From the consumer’s stand point, renting is a poor option.

You’re wasting your money.

We see that you deliver salt, will you deliver to me?

Of course! We deliver over a tractor-trailer load each week. In fact, almost every hotel, motel, restaurant, and business in the Eastern Panhandle uses our services.

We also have many residential customers who like the convenience of home delivery. We’ll also check

your treatment system while we’re there. Our minimum salt delivery is four bags, and the more you buy, the less it will cost. You can also purchase directly at our show-room/ warehouse on Wasser Drive off Ridge Road South by Hedgesville High School.

“THANK YOU” to all our customers?

As we all know, these past several years have been difficult for any business. At Sunset Water Services we have done our best to provide our customers the most affordable service possible while maintaining high standards. One of the few positive aspects of a weak economy is the fact that potential customers are comparative shopping which is great! At Sunset Water we never ask for the sale and we never conduct telemarketing. For us “word of mouth” is the best advertising.

Again, thank you to all our 15,000 Eastern Panhandle customers.

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panhandle

PROFILE

Dylan Hahn

Red Top Studios.

By Tera Sakisat

Video is a key element of modern life. Businesses use it to capture the attention of potential clients and individuals use it to save a memory. A young, local entrepreneur and his up-and-coming videography company are helping the Eastern Panhandle community to use video as a means of expression. For individuals, he is truly capturing the moments that matter. For businesses, his company offers uncommonly personalized services that demonstrate a true investment in the client’s needs. His company is Redtop Studios, and if you haven’t heard of it yet, you surely will soon.

At just Twenty years old, Hahn is becoming a wellknown videographer. Redtop Studios, the business Hahn started only a year ago, has done work for a number of individuals and businesses in the Eastern Panhandle.

Don’t let Hahn’s age fool you. As young as he may be, he knows his way around a camera and has been passionate about videography for, practically, his whole life. He draws inspiration from everywhere and anything videographic. “I can never just sit and watch a movie. I’m always analyzing it for new ideas. I’ll watch commercials for hours just to study them,” Hahn explains.

This native West Virginian got his start at the early age of ten when Hahn’s parents brought home a camera. “It was one of the big ones that you put VHS tapes in,” he laughs. It has been his passion ever since. “I just wanted to jump into it.” As it turned out, Hahn demonstrated the perfect blend of artistic and technical talent necessary to be a videographer.

After graduating high school, Hahn decided to turn his hobby into a career, and he excitedly opened Redtop Studios.

He has come a long way from the bulky, VHS camera. Today, he uses modern equipment and resources to produce topquality video. Redtop Studios is a full-service videography provider. While Hahn is able to provide services for special events of individual importance, his studio is ideally suited to serve the needs of businesses and nonprofit organizations.

These organizations have come to trust him as their preferred provider for commercials, web videos, and even short movies. His artistic eye can make sure your video can communicate whatever messages or emotions you want to portray. Hahn makes each film personally satisfying to the client, while still making sure it can address to a wide variety of audiences.

When asked what makes his studio stand apart from any others, Hahn states that he “captures the details.” “I get everything,” he says. Arguably, his youth provides a refreshingly trendy point of view, while his commitment to providing good service ensures that he remains true to what the client wants. Whether it is a church event, a wedding, a concert, or a commercial, Hahn is the uniquely talented for the job. To him, videography is not only his profession, but also an art form and a passion.

If you are interested in learning more about Dylan Hahn, and how he can help put your business in the spotlight, you can contact him by emailing redtopstudios@gmail.com..

[ 110 ]

To tell a story or save a memory, Dylan Hahn is who you can trust to save that special moment in a really special way.

His fresh point of view and artistic passion brings something unique to each video. That passion, coupled with his professional outlook and experience, denotes that clients can expect the highest quality video services in the area.

Around The Panhandle | SEPT • OCTOBER 2012

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