Ashburn Magazine | January/February 2023 by InsideNoVa

RIDING AND RACING ON OLD-TIMEY BIKES

CAT & MOUSE: THE 'GAME OF CRIMES' PODCAST

SIX SAVORY SOUPS FOR WINTER

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024

THE MIRACLE AT SNICKERS GAP

Young Ashburn man helps save a trapped child

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Facebook and Twitter: @ashburnmagazine Ashburn Magazine is published every other month and distributed to about 13,000 selected addresses. While reasonable care is taken with all material submitted to Ashburn Magazine, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to any such material. Opinions expressed in articles are strictly those of the authors. While ensuring that all published information is accurate, the publisher cannot be held responsible for any mistakes or omissions. Reproduction in whole or part of any of the text, illustrations or photographs is strictly forbidden. ©2024 Rappahannock Media LLC.

IT'S LIFE CHANGING

From the Publisher

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HEART-WARMING FARE

Finally! A local Doctor is helping cancer survivors live lives free from the constant pain and suffering associated with Peripheral Neuropathy!

his month’s cover story is a little different from normal. As regular readers know, we try to focus our content exclusively on people who live in Ashburn or businesses and organizations located here. However, the event chronicled this month occurred at Snickers Gap, in western Loudoun County. The victim was a young boy from southeastern Virginia who was visiting his aunt and uncle in Centreville. But editor Chris Wadsworth discovered that one of the heroes that day was a young man from the Broadlands, and as Chris probed further he unwound a tale that deserved to be told. The result, “The Miracle at Snickers Gap,” begins on Page 18, and it’s guaranteed to restore at least a little of your faith in humanity. Late in the afternoon on Black Friday, Ashburn’s Zachary Turbyfill and nearly 20 other people – most of whom didn’t know each other – came together with one purpose. It didn’t matter where they were from, what they looked like or what their politics were – it only mattered that an 8-year-old boy was pinned under a large rock, fighting for his life. Not only did Ethan Chrisman survive, but he was able to travel to Richmond a few weeks later to meet Turbyfill for the photo that appears on this month’s cover. And I think you’ll agree that this heart-warming tale was well worth stretching our editorial horizons. Elsewhere in this month’s issue, you’ll meet neighbor Matt Goodwin, who you might have seen riding his old-fashioned high-wheeled bike around our community. You’ll learn how Belmont Ridge II retiree Morgan Wright draws on his law enforcement experience to create a popular true crime podcast – from his den. And through our “Wine & Dine” feature, you can vicariously sample six delicious soups from Ashburn restau-

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Irreversible is not a word you want to hear from your Doctor but it’s a common one if you’ve been diagnosed with ChemotherapyInduced Peripheral Neuropathy or CIPN.

BY AS T R I WE E

Ashbur

rants to help keep you warm this winter. It all adds up to the biggest January issue yet of Ashburn Magazine. And that’s appropriate because this issue wraps up our fifth year of publication – the magazine started in March 2019. We’re exploring some ways to celebrate that milestone with the community. One of our successes has been the annual “Best of Ashburn” survey, which gets bigger every year. Voting in the 2024 version is just around the corner, so follow our Facebook page and website for details on how to support your favorite local businesses. Meanwhile, enjoy this issue – we hope it warms your heart as much as it does ours.

BRUCE POTTER, PUBLISHER PUBLISHER@ASHBURNMAGAZINE.COM

The most common symptoms include: pain, tingling, burning, weakness, or numbness in arms, hands, legs or feet sudden, sharp, stabbing or shocking pain sensations loss of touch sensation clumsiness and trouble using hands to pick up objects or fasten clothing loss of balance and falling

Tom S. of Leesburg survived testicular cancer only to be living life in constant pain. He felt as though he were walking on pins and needles, becoming weaker and weaker every day. “I was beginning to be worried that one day I would be wheelchair-bound.” For some, their nerves will recover over time. For most, the nerve damage is ‘irreversible.’ Tom had Nearly half of the patients who undergo chemotherapy been told just that by a series of will develop Chemotherapy- Doctors and specialists. Essentially they could cure his cancer but Induced Peripheral couldn’t fix the damage done by Neuropathy or CIPN. the drugs used to cure his cancer. Chemotherapy meds travel Then Tom made a call to Rachal Lohr throughout the body and attack of FIREFLY|Acupuncture & Wellness cancer cells; sadly they can also cause severe damage to healthy right here in Ashburn. Rachal and nerves. CIPN can begin within her team are using the time tested weeks of starting treatment and science of Acupuncture and a can worsen as treatment technology originally developed continues. A high number of really by NASA that assists in increasing unfortunate people will be forced blood flow and expediting recovery to endure the symptoms and healing to treat this associated with CIPN for months, debilitating disease. or even years after they’ve completed chemo. After a series of treatments Tom was taking stairs with stride! When asked how CIPN was affecting his quality of life, he “We have a beach house and it’s responded, “It was difficult to up stairs. This morning I walked even walk up and down stairs right down the stairs and got in and do other things we usually the car,” Tom shared. take for granted.”

“I remember thinking ‘that’s become mighty easy for me’, I didn’t have to hold on to the hand rail or anything! It’s life changing to have this mobility back!” Again and again, we meet with patients who were once diagnosed as “untreatable” or “incurable” but after receiving Rachal Lohr’s treatments are now living lives free from pain and suffering. For over 16 years she has been reversing the effects of CIPN and other varieties of Peripheral Neuropathy, including that caused by diabetes without invasive surgeries and medications that come with uncomfortable side effects. If you’ve recently beat cancer only to find that you’re living a life in constant pain and discomfort or you’re struggling with the same symptoms as a result of either Idiopathic Neuropathy or Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy, Rachal and the incredible team at FIREFLY can help! Rachal Lohr is now accepting new patients but only for a limited time. In an effort to protect her patients, both current and future, she has made the difficult decision to limit the number of patients seen in her clinic.

Only 10 new neuropathy patients will be accepted monthly so call (703)263-2142 now to schedule a consultation.

Visit FIREFLYAcuAndWellness.com to learn more and to take advantage of their New Patient Offer!

Enjoy a unique & relaxing dental experience

CONTENTS

Excellent Dental Care For The Entire Family

08 TIME OF OUR LIVES

Only Murders in the ’Burn

32 WINE & DINE

Super Soups!

Popular true crime podcast originates in Ashburn neighborhood BY

CHRIS

Six savory concoctions found around Ashburn that will keep you warm all winter

WADSWORTH

14 ASHBURN VOICES

BY CHRIS WADSWORTH

Restaurant Reset

How the industry has changed post-pandemic BY

TONY

BUSINESS BOOM

Up, Up and Away

STAFFORD

18 AMAZING KIDS COVER STORY

Ashburn-based drone company captures sky-high views

The Miracle at Snickers Gap

BY CHRIS WADSWORTH

Young Ashburn man helps save a trapped child BY

CHRIS

MORE BUSINESS BOOM

WADSWORTH

Updates from the Ashburn business community

OUR NEIGHBORS

Penny for Your Thoughts

50 REAL ESTATE ROUNDUP

Local man leaps into a century-old hobby BY

CHRIS

ASHBURN MAGAZINE

The latest facts and figures about home sales in Ashburn

WADSWORTH

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24 52 AROUND TOWN

The Barn at Brambleton opens

56 DOING GOOD

Barking up the Right Tree Local nonprofit dog treat bakery seeing big growth BY CHRIS WADSWORTH

62 THE BURN

The latest restaurant, retail, and other cool news

O N

T H E

C O V E R

Ashburn resident Zachary Turbyfill and Ethan Chrisman meet at a park in Richmond. Several weeks earlier, Turbyfill had helped rescue Ethan after he was trapped under a boulder at the Snickers Gap Tree Farm in Loudoun County. (Photo by Astri Wee of Astri Wee Photography.)

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TIME OF OUR LIVES

Morgan Wright (right) receiving an award during his years as part of the Kansas Highway Patrol.

Only Murders in the ’Burn

Murphy. Regular readers will remember Murphy is a former federal agent who helped bring down Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar and was also one of the men on whom Netflix based its hit series “Narcos.” Ashburn Magazine featured Murphy in our cover story back in July 2020 before he and his wife moved to Florida. Ashburn Magazine sat down with Wright to discuss the podcast and how such a serious show originates right here in our relatively quiet community. Here are excerpts from our conversation.

Popular true crime podcast originates in Ashburn neighborhood BY

CHRIS

WADSWORTH

very week, Morgan Wright goes into the den at his home in Ashburn’s Belmont Ridge II neighborhood, closes the doors and sits in front of an array of computers and audio equipment. He’s preparing to record the latest episode of his “Game of Crimes” podcast that has attracted thousands of listeners around the world. “Game of Crimes” is a weekly interview-based true crime podcast that goes behind some of the biggest incidents in national and international crime. Wright is a former state trooper and police detective from Kansas who assisted in the Oklahoma City bombing investigation before moving to the Washington area, where he worked for defense contractors and big tech companies. He’s also a former senior advisor with the U.S. State Department’s Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program and a former technical advisor for the “America’s Most Wanted” television program and has appeared on network and cable news programs more than 700 times to discuss technology and national security topics. Wright’s co-host and partner in the podcast is former Ashburn resident Steve

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YOU’RE VIP MATERIAL

Morgan Wright sitting in his podcast studio at his home in Ashburn.

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"Game of Crimes" podcast co-host Steve Murphy. Murphy lived in Ashburn for many years before moving to Orlando in 2020.

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The podcast is called “Game of Crimes.” Tell us about that name: How did you come up with it and what does it signify?

Morgan Wright is an expert on topics such as national security and technology and appears regularly on broadcast and cable news programs.

“Watching ‘Game of Thrones’ one night, it just came to me. I said, ‘Hey, this is what it is. It’s cat-and-mouse. It’s good guys versus bad guys, good girls versus bad girls. So, I came up with ‘Game of Crimes.’ We always end our podcast by saying, ‘Thank you for playing the biggest, baddest, most dangerous game of all – the Game of Crimes.’ Our tagline is ‘Evil is coming,’ just like in ‘Game of Thrones’ when they say, ‘Winter is coming.’”

If you had 10 seconds in an elevator to explain the podcast’s concept to someone, how would you describe it?

Morgan Wright: “We are a long form, interview-style true crime podcast where we actually interview the people involved in some of the biggest cases that have ever happened. Pablo Escobar. The hunt for the

D.C. Sniper. The Boston Marathon bombing. The Green River Killer. The capture of El Chapo. We also talk about cases that are important, but people have probably never heard about. We’ve talked with human sex trafficking victims, people impacted by fentanyl. We interview law enforcement, victims, even the criminals themselves sometimes.”

At the time we are talking, you are up to Episode 127. That’s a lot of episodes. You have probably already surpassed the vast majority of podcasts. Many seem to come and go quickly. What’s your secret to success? “Seven episodes is kind of the cliff – a lot make it to seven or eight episodes and then they fall off. Steve and I love telling

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stories, and the people love the banter, too. We give each other crap all the time. I’m busting his chops for leaving me and going to Orlando and getting old and stuff. But I guess part of our secret sauce – and we do it without doing it in your face – is telling the story of law enforcement so people understand there are real people behind the badges, real people behind the stories.”

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What do you do when you drive by an accident? You slow down and you look.

Why is that important to you?

“We got so disheartened and disgusted by a lot of the stuff going on – the defund the police and how they were being treated. If you only understood what they go through on a daily basis. I’ve lost more friends to suicide then I have in the line of duty. It’s a tough business to be in.”

Who was your most memorable guest?

“That’s hard. I will tell you one – Episode 60. Natasha Herzig. Natasha came from a family in California. A very pretty young lady. Her family were missionaries. But she ended up falling victim to human sex trafficking. It was such an elaborate way that they recruited her. Long story short – she was trafficked for a year and a half. After she got out, she did adult films. You think of some of the people in porn and the sex industry and you think, ‘I wouldn’t do that’ and you think less of them. So, this was one of the interviews that really got to me. Natasha changed my worldview about this… and how we think about people in that industry. Now, my thought is not what are they doing and why would they do it. It’s about what led them to doing it. Were they trafficked? Were they victimized? What got them to that point?”

How big is the audience for “Game of Crimes”? Is it profitable? “We make money. It’s strange because when you look at the statistics, we are in the top 0.5% of all podcasts that are out there. But the real money is made at the top 0.1%. So, it’s not something you can just quit your day job and do. We don’t like to give out [audience] numbers due to our contract with Audioboom (Editor’s note: a podcast distribution platform), but I can put it this way – our downloads are in the millions historically.”

What does the future hold for the “Game of Crimes” podcast?

“We have been approached by a couple of folks that represent production companies. During the recent writers’ strike and actors’ strikes, network television and cable were starving for content. We actually had some people reach out that said they would like to take some of the podcasts and turn them into episodes [of their shows]. The sticking point has always been … a lot of them really just want access to our content and want to

pay us nothing. And we said, ‘Sorry, folks, this is not a charity.’ We are not a dot-org. We are a dot-com. And if you want to use our stories and our stuff, there is exclusivity, and it has to be very clear we’re the sources of it because we want the traffic to come to us [and the podcast].”

Is anything brewing at the moment?

“We’re still working on an opportunity right now, so we’ll see where that goes. Some podcasts have become TV shows, or they have made series about them. We have a couple of stories that we think would fit that. But we think there is a different way to tell a story than the way they currently do it.” A

To check out the “Game of Crimes” podcast, visit gameofcrimespodcast.com or search for it on whatever podcast platform you use.

What is it about true crime that seems to fascinate people? Why the huge interest in stories and dramas like this?

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“Have you ever driven by an accident? What do you do when you drive by an accident? You slow down and you look. This is what [true crime] is to most people. For some reason, there is a morbid curiosity, a morbid fascination. Nothing is more serious than murder. Murder is the ultimate crime. Can you get away with it? Or will you get caught? It’s a vicarious thrill for them. They can live through it, but they’re not in danger like the actual victim.” ASHBURN MAGAZINE

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ASHBURN VOICES A guest essay written by one of our Ashburn neighbors. Ford's Fish Shack quickly pivoted to preparing orders for carryout during the pandemic.

Four years ago, a cluster of patients in Wuhan, China, came down with a mysterious pneumonia-like illness. It was the first inkling that a worldwide pandemic was in the offing. Few local industries were hit as hard as restaurants. Tony Stafford, owner of Ford’s Fish Shack, looks back in our latest Ashburn Voices column, where local residents share their thoughts and views.

We had to somehow turn the largest barge in the smallest river as quickly as we could without capsizing the whole thing.

Restaurant Reset How the industry has changed post-pandemic BY

TONY

STAFFORD

Above: Ford's Fish Shack founder Tony Stafford. Below: A Ford's meal normally served in the dining room became a to-go order during the height of the pandemic.

o one will ever forget how the world shut down in March 2020, especially anyone who worked in restaurants. Never in my wildest dreams did I think the entire restaurant industry – one of the largest private employers in our great county – would be brought to its knees in a matter of days. On March 1, it was business as usual. By March 17, every full-service restaurant – and most any business serving meals away from the home – had closed their dining rooms and were limited to providing carryout meals. What did that mean? Before the pandemic, most dine-in restaurants did anywhere from none to 10% of their revenue in takeout orders. Suddenly, we were all scrambling to figure out how to do it to literally survive. We had to somehow turn the largest barge in the smallest river as quickly as we could without capsizing the whole thing. Parking lot patios sprouted up everywhere. If there was a level square of concrete, or even grass, we put a table there. Employees were dressing like your doctor would before surgery. Latex gloves and masks were the norm from your server and bartender – not to mention the poor customers. Restaurant owners became the

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Another big change in our industry is staffing. The industry employed millions of people before the pandemic. Many of us had our first job in some type of restaurant. We learned to multitask. We made good friends, and some of us met our spouses in our restaurant jobs. We never forgot those lessons learned at an early age. But when restaurants closed or scaled down, many people left the industry and never returned. That has hurt us. We have had to re-teach basic hospitality skills to a whole new generation of employees. Many don’t like to make eye contact or say “Thank you” or “Have a great evening” because we are all used to having a digital screen in our hand most of the time we are awake. We have to teach our employees that hospitality is something we all have, and we all can do.

local “mask police.” As a restaurateur, that was not a comfortable position to be in – having to tell your regulars they had to wear a mask to enter. We even started selling things to-go we never thought we would: uncooked steaks, produce by the pound, even rolls of toilet paper. Nothing was off the table. We had to survive – failure wasn’t an option. Fast forward almost four years, and restaurants are still trying to re-establish themselves in this new world. Nearly every-

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one in the industry now takes to-go food seriously. In some full-service restaurants, it’s 25% of their total revenue. We are designing restaurants with takeout doors, curbside service areas and even separate to-go markets to keep selling your favorite uncooked salmon so you can prepare it at home. We are embracing third-party delivery services like never before because we need those revenue streams. DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber Eats and others take big cuts, but a sale is a sale. We are all doing takeout catering for your family gatherings around holidays and celebrations. These days, a takeout family meal section on a menu is as common as an appetizer section or a dessert list. ASHBURN MAGAZINE

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Introduce Commuter Benefits to Your Workplace

Left: A Ford's On The Road food truck parked outside the Lansdowne Town Center location during the pandemic. Right: A sign taped in a Ford's window alerting customers to its curbside carry out hours.

We will get back to the core of what a restaurant is – I truly believe that – and every restaurateur wants to steer their ship in that direction. Restaurants are more than just a place to get a hot meal and cold drink. We are a social house for celebrations, anniversaries and catching up with old friends and a place to go when we are having a good day or even a bad day. We are still that and always will be. We are a little battered and bruised – but we will survive. A

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AMAZING KIDS

F E AT U R E

College freshman Zach Turbyfill, who assisted with the rescue of Ethan Chrisman.

P H OTO BY AS T R I WE E

Young Ashburn man helps save a trapped child BY

CHRIS

Ethan (left) playing with his sister and cousins at the tree farm. This photo was taken just a short time before Ethan was trapped under a boulder.

WADSWORTH

The pile of boulders at the Snickers Gap Tree Farm that has long been a popular place for kids to play. The larger boulder on the left is the one that slipped and fell on top of Ethan Chrisman.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JEN BAIRD

THE MIRACLE AT SNICKERS GAP

riday, November 24. It was the end of back-breaking day. Zachary Turbyfill, 19, was home for Thanksgiving break from his freshman year at James Madison University. He had enjoyed the holiday with his parents and three brothers at their home in the Broadlands. And then he’d picked up a quick weekend job at the Snickers Gap Tree Farm near Round Hill in western Loudoun County. All day long, he and his co-workers had gathered recently felled trees, loaded them onto carts for customers, driven them to another spot and unloaded them. Over and over since the crack of dawn. Now, the sun was setting. Snickers Gap was about to close after a busy “Black Friday” with long lines of cars filling the parking lot all day. Suddenly, all hell broke loose. “We were helping some guy load up this ginormous 11-plus-foot tree onto his car,” Zach recalled. “Then someone came sprinting down from the top of the mountain, and they were screaming that there was a kid trapped under a rock. We all looked at each other and were like, ‘What?’ And then everyone just started sprinting.” What happened over the next 30 minutes is etched in the minds of everyone who was at Snickers Gap that late Friday afternoon. Everyone except one person – 8-year-old Ethan Chrisman. He was the child pinned under an enormous boulder that had slid on top of him. Ethan is from Carrollton in southeastern Virginia. He was at Snickers Gap that day getting a Christmas tree with his family. Ethan’s parents were back home, so his grandpa and grandma – Keith and Jeanie Baird – had brought him and his twin sister, Annabelle. They were joined by the twins’ aunt and uncle, Jen and Jarred Baird of Centreville, and their two young children. Jarred and Ethan’s grandparents had gone down to the parking

‘IS MY BROTHER GOING TO DIE?’ The man running down the hill who had passed Jarred was David Trout of Leesburg. He was wrapping up his tree shopping and was the first person to hear Jen’s and Annabelle’s

"All I could see was his foot. The rock was covering everything but his one shoe." Left: An image of the rock that fell on Ethan, photographed roughly a week before the accident. It appears to be partly propped up on another rock. Right: Ethan, seen in Inova Fairfax Hospital shortly after the accident at the Snickers Gap Tree Farm.

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screams. He had also tried to lift the huge rock, but when he realized he couldn’t move it, he decided to find help. He was also probably the person Zach Turbyfill heard yelling as he came through the trees. “We ran up there and I saw all the rocks,” Zach said. “And I see the sister of the kid who is trapped, and she is screaming, ‘Is my brother going to die?’” Zach recalled that by this point there were at least five people – he describes them as “big guys” – all trying to move the boulder, but it was going nowhere. Zach and others raced into the scrum, everyone fighting for balance and a foothold on the uneven rocks, trying with all their might to move the rock off Ethan. Zach admits the moment got the better of him and he hopes people will forgive him his language. “I had never seen anything this real,” he said. “We were all struggling – max effort – and I yelled, ‘We’re not stopping. Lift this f—ing rock.’ I was screaming.” The assembled men – and there was a woman in there, too – started counting a cadence so they would all lift at the same time. Over and over again. Suddenly, the rock shifted a bit. Everyone worked harder, lifted harder. The boulder moved a little bit more, someone grabbed Ethan and pulled him out, and then the boulder slid down onto some other rocks. “Someone carried him away from the rocks and put him in the grass,” Zach said. “Everyone was screaming, ‘He’s not breathing. He’s

Left: Broken blood vessels can be seen in Ethan's eyes even weeks after the accident. Doctors told the family they likely came from the weight of the boulder preventing Ethan from breathing. Below: The light from an emergency medical helicopter above the Snickers Gap Tree Farm parking lot.

not breathing.’ His family was there crying. Everyone started praying.” Amid the chaos, a former school security officer, a nurse, and a man with emergency medical training were in the small crowd that had now gathered, Ethan’s family said. They started doing CPR, taking his pulse, and trying to get Ethan to breathe.

‘GAM GAM IS HERE’ During all this, Ethan’s grandmother, Jeanie, had been struggling to get up the mountain. She was wearing a medical boot on her foot due to an injured Achilles tendon. People were yelling that she needed help, and Zach Turbyfill ran to her. “I was in the black darkness. I couldn’t see anything,” Jeanie Baird said. “Finally, someone came over the top of the hill and came running for me. It must have been Zach and he helped me up that hill. My knees were jelly and he held me up and calmed me down.” “She said, ‘How is he? Is he alive?’” Zach recalled. “I said, ‘We got him out of the rocks,’ and she kept saying she needed to see him. She put her arm around me, and I helped carry her over to the kid where she fell over next to him crying.” “I fell down on my knees and crawled over [to Ethan],” Jeanie said. “His little eyes had tears coming out each side and I kissed his cheek and said, ‘Gam Gam is here. Gam Gam is here.’” Meanwhile, Ethan’s uncle, Jarred, was frantically backing his car up the

mountain to the scene. Realizing he couldn’t move the rock himself, he had run back down and gotten his car, thinking he could tie a rope to the boulder and use the car to pull it off Ethan. “When I pulled up, [Ethan] was not breathing and he did not have a heartbeat,” said Jarred, who watched the good Samaritans perform CPR while holding his wailing mother. “I was hysterical, but I calmed down and put my arms around her. And there was a very nice lady named Adelle who was holding her, too, and praying. And then they got him breathing again. They got his heart beating again. I said, ‘Look, mom. He’s breathing. He’s breathing.’” What followed is a painful mishmash of memories – people using their phones as flashlights, people crying and saying prayers, sirens in the distance, then ambulanc-

es pulling up. A stretcher. Ethan being whisked away to the parking lot below, where more people had gathered at a fence line and were praying together. Then a helicopter landing and a medical team flying with Ethan to Inova Fairfax Hospital, Northern Virginia’s Level 1 Trauma Center, where the most serious cases are taken. Ethan’s panicked family piled into their cars and took off toward the hospital. The dozen – or was it two dozen – people who had gathered on the mountain tried to make sense of what had just happened as they slowly turned and headed toward their cars and home. “It felt so strange walking away after an ordeal like that,” Zach Turbyfill said. “It felt like a dream that didn’t really happen. We walked away in silence.”

‘I’M CALLING THEM ANGELS’ When Ethan arrived at the hospital in Fairfax, he was having seizures and had to be intubated. One of his lungs had collapsed. He had two fractured vertebrae in his spine, a fractured left ankle, some scratches and lots of bruising. But he was alive. He spent a week in the hospital and was released wearing a back brace and a boot on his foot just like the one his grandmother had been wearing the night she struggled

P H OTO BY AS T R I WE E

lot to secure their tree to the top of one of their vehicles. Jen had stayed behind with the four children to let them play on a large pile of boulders and rocks that has been popular with kids and families for years. “Ethan was making like a burrow, clearing out rocks and I guess he was sort of under one,” Jen Baird said. “Suddenly he screamed. It was a scream like I have never heard before. I put my 2-year-old down in the grass and climbed down. All I could see was his foot. The rock was covering everything but his one shoe.” No one else was around. This late in the day, most families had made their way to the parking lot and were leaving. Jen tried to lift the boulder, but it wouldn’t budge. Annabelle

Ethan sits between Zach Turbyfill and his grandmother, Jeanie Baird, at a park in Richmond.

was screaming for help. Jen started screaming, too. “My hands were shaking,” she said. “My phone was at 13%. I unlocked [it] and called Jarred and said, ‘Help, help!’” “I was on top of my dad’s car strapping the Christmas tree to it when Jen called me,” Jarred Baird said. “She was frantic. I didn’t know what was going on. I jumped off of the car and took off running.” Jarred says he didn’t know what to think as he labored to climb the long, steep hill, but when a man came running down the hill past him yelling that they needed help, he says he started to think that maybe a boulder had fallen on someone. But nothing prepared him for what he found when he reached his wife and the children. “Ethan’s face was just sticking out from the other side of the rock and he’s lying on his back,” Jarred said. “He’s looking up and he’s unconscious. His face was purple.”

Below: Zach Turbyfill and Ethan Chrisman meet three weeks after the accident in Richmond. Below center: Ethan met with Brad Poindexter, who performed CPR to save the boy, while still at Inova Fairfax Hospital. Right: The Christmas tree the family purchased at the Snickers Gap Tree Farm. They almost decided to get rid of the tree after the accident, but once Ethan's prognosis turned positive, they decided to keep it as a symbol of hope.

DAVID TROUT – first person to respond to cries for help, ran to get more people to help RIDING AND RACING ON OLD-TIMEY BIKES

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P H OTO BY AS T R I WE E

For our cover photo, Ashburn Magazine arranged for Zach Turbyfill to meet with Ethan Chrisman along with his sister and grandparents at a park in Richmond. The family was very happy to meet Zach in person (again) and have the opportunity to thank him. And Zach was thankful to get a highfive from Ethan and see how well he was doing.

up the mountain at Snickers Gap to reach her injured grandson. “To end up at the top of a mountain with a nurse and a retired [security] officer and even an EMT guy who hadn’t planned on being at the tree farm but had a sudden urge to go that afternoon – it was a powerful moment,” said Jeanie Baird, her voice breaking. “So many people there – I’m calling them angels because I think God put the right people in the right place at the right moment to save Ethan.” Zach Turbyfill is still a bit shellshocked by the whole experience. He grew up going to the tree farm each December. He and his brothers played on those rocks when they were younger, even posing for family photos in front of them. When told Jeanie Baird had referred to the people on the mountain that night as “angels,” he demurs.

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“I think anyone in our situation would have done the same thing,” he said. “It just happened to be us.” Ethan’s aunt, Jen, says her nephew remembers nothing of the incident and is expected to make a full recovery. “To me, it was a miracle,” she said. “Seeing everyone come together the way they did. The people that were placed there at that farm. I wish it didn’t happen in the first place, but things do happen. And weirdly enough, it kind of strengthened my faith. I am just so grateful.” Zach admits his faith is still forming, but he’s also inclined to believe something special was at work that night. “It’s called faith because you have got to believe in it,” Zach said. “If there is a God, I believe he was watching over [Ethan], and I believe he’s supporting the family and has guided them through this troubling time.” A

J A N U A R Y/ F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 4

CAMERON TROUT

– David’s son, who helped comfort Ethan’s cousins during the incident

Be Inspired

AMELIA TROUT,

David’s wife, and LIAM TROUT, David’s son – offered support

ADELLE HANSEN – prayed with the family and comforted them RON HANSEN, Adelle’s husband – offered support ALEXANDRA WALCOTT, Adelle’s

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daughter – prayed with the family NOAH CORREA, Adelle’s son – a Marine, helped lift the rock ETHAN CORREA, Adelle’s son – also a Marine, helped lift the rock SAM WILLARD –

But as discussed in the story, Zach was by no means the only good Samaritan at Snickers Gap that fateful evening. While no one is sure of the number — at least a dozen or more people came and helped. Some worked to lift the rock. Others offered prayers and comfort to the family while others rounded up help, called 911, or took care of Ethan’s young cousins.

worker at the tree farm who helped lift the rock

The Baird family has been attempting to gather the names of everyone who contributed that evening in order to offer them their heartfelt thanks. While this list is not complete — and may never be complete — here are the names they know — and some they don’t know — among the “angels” who came to their rescue:

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– performed CPR/ chest compressions on Ethan to restart his heart KATIE POINDEXTER –

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– helped stabilize Ethan’s spine

STEVEN TURNER (firefighter/EMT) and RYAN PAGAN (paramedic) – ambulance crew who responded to Snickers Gap CAROLYN TRENT

– emergency flight nurse on the helicopter that flew Ethan to hospital

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F E AT U R E

shburn is full of bike riders. During nice weather, they sweep down Claiborne Parkway and other area roadways in great flocks – moving in unison like geese or starlings. The W&OD Trail is often thick with cyclists in their skin-tight jerseys and shorts, feet clipped in pedals, heads down into the wind. But with all these bike riders one man stands alone. Matt Goodwin may be the only cyclist in town riding what many would probably call an “old-timey bike” – although it’s more properly known as a highwheel bicycle. “They are also called ‘penny farthings’ – which is a reference to the mismatched wheel size,” said Goodwin, who works in federal contracting and lives with his family in Ashburn Farm. “British pennies are much larger than farthings [another type of coin]. Some people think of these bikes as a large unicycle with a training wheel trailing behind – that works for me.” Few images more easily evoke the late 19th century than the sight of a rider balancing atop a giant front wheel with a tiny rear wheel behind. It’s downright cliché. But a highwheel bicycle is far different from

PENNY FOR YOUR Matt Goodwin's high-wheel bicycle features a large front wheel and a tiny rear wheel. This style of bike is nicknamed the penny farthing.

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OUR NEIGHBORS

Matt Goodwin of Ashburn rides in the 2023 Clustered Spires High Wheel bike race in Frederick, Md.

today’s bikes – and it’s more than just the big wheel. Originating in the 1880s, the bike has no chains or gears. The pedals are connected directly to the big wheel, so the larger the wheel, the farther the bike will travel with each rotation of the pedals. The larger tires are also better at absorbing bumps in the road. “Compared to modern bikes, these are notably missing the air in the tires. The tires are solid rubber – pneumatic tires hadn’t been invented yet,” Goodwin said. Alarmingly, perhaps, high-wheel bicycles are also missing brakes. When mounting the bike, the rider steps on a small peg with one foot, pushes the bike forward and – as momentum picks up – climbs into the seat. To stop, it’s basically the same process – only backward. The rider resists the forward momentum with the pedals and then, as the bike slows, leans back and steps off via the peg. “Or simply jump off backward when things [get] hairy,” Goodwin added. Goodwin became interested in these unusual bikes in 2022 when he learned about an annual high-wheel bicycle race held each summer just up the road in Frederick, Md. It’s called the Clustered Spires High Wheel Race. “The [high-wheel] bike is very popular in Europe and other places in the world,” said Jeanne Rhodes,

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Matt Goodwin at the track at Sanders Corner Elementary School where he learned to ride his high-wheel bike.

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“READING THE BIOGRAPHIES OF OTHER RACERS, MANY OF THEM SEEMED TO JUST STUMBLE INTO [THE HOBBY], AND I GUESS I THOUGHT I COULD STUMBLE INTO IT, TOO.” who along with her husband, Eric, founded and runs the annual Clustered Spires race. “There are races in Australia, England, Belgium, and Sweden, for example. [But] our event is the only one of its kind in the U.S.A.” At the national level, high-wheel bicycle enthusiasts are a bit of an ad hoc group. There’s an organization called The Wheelmen that celebrates the history of bicycles and many of its members ride penny farthings. But otherwise any organized high-wheel groups are strictly local. At first, Goodwin just thought he would take his wife, Natalia, and their three daughters to watch the Clustered Spires race. But then a crazy thought occurred to him: What if he learned to ride a highwheel bicycle and entered the race himself? “It seemed like something that

Matt and his bike pass through the crowds at the 2023 Clustered Spires High Wheel race.

was very accessible. If I could find a bike, I could teach myself to ride it. I realized that I had the time. It was November and the race wasn’t until July,” Goodwin said. “Reading the biographies of other racers, many of them seemed to just stumble into [the hobby], and I guess I thought I could stumble into it, too.” He quickly started doing research. Prices for a high-wheel bike span a wide range – from as low as $1,200 up to $5,000 or more. These are new, modern bikes built in the style of the olden days. An actual vintage penny farthing is usually pricey and hard to come by. “Most racers in our event ride modern reproductions rather than actual antique high-wheels,” Rhodes said. Goodwin looked for used bikes for sale online but couldn’t find any. He found high-wheel bike builders in England, Australia, Uruguay and California, but he ended up ordering one from Sweden. The builder, Per-Olof Kippel, had business in the United States and hand-delivered the bike to Goodwin’s home, where they assembled ASHBURN MAGAZINE

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around for a bit with one foot on the peg and managed to swing my other leg over and onto the saddle. The YouTubing paid off and I didn’t fall.” “The girls and I were super excited,” Natalia Goodwin said. “The girls were yelling, ‘That’s my daddy. That’s my daddy.’ I was confident he was going to get it. He did so much research and planned for months. And he never fell – not once.” Goodwin laughs as he admits he has fallen since, but it was well after his initial learning phase. One fun aspect of riding an oldtimey bicycle is that many fellow riders – especially at races and other events – take it an extra step by dressing up in old-timey clothes. Imagine things like knee-high socks, bow ties, caps and suspenders. “One advantage of dressing up is that it elicits a great response from the

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crowd – and that’s just fun,” said Goodwin, who says he didn’t go old school, instead wearing an old bike jersey with the state flag of California on it. The Clustered Spires race last summer was Goodwin’s only race so far. Participants see how many laps they can do in a set amount of time on a loop through the streets of Frederick’s downtown. “The day of the race was thrilling. The competition was grueling, and it was a hot one out there, even for July,” Goodwin said. “I didn’t make the final round, but I’m proud of how competitive I was.” Now, he’s looking to the future – the next Clustered Spires race is set for July – and, yes, Goodwin plans to be there. In the meanwhile, if you see someone riding a high-wheel bicycle around Ashburn, you’ll have a pretty good guess who it is. A

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SCOT T FIELDS

it in the living room. “We became friends,” Goodwin said. “He is a fixture at the Frederick race, having won several of [them] himself. I would estimate half the riders there are on his bikes.” Goodwin’s high-wheel bike has a front wheel that is 54 inches tall – 4½ feet in diameter. Goodwin is 6 feet tall, and the wheel reaches his armpits. The handlebars are at the same level as his shoulders. Goodwin watched YouTube videos to learn how to mount the bicycle, how to best ride it and how to dismount. Still, he was nervous the first time he took the bike out to the track at nearby Sanders Corner Elementary School. “The whole family came out to watch. Honestly I didn’t know what was going to happen, and I was a little nervous,” he said. “I scooted

Below and right: Riders in the Clustered Spires High Wheel race sometimes dress in old timey clothing. Far right: Goodwin with his proud daughters at the race.

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F E AT U R E

SUPER soups! WINE & DINE

Six savory concoctions found around Ashburn that will keep you warm all winter STORY

AND

PHOTOS

CHRIS

WADSWORTH

hen the winter winds start to blow and the temperatures drop, my thoughts always turn to soups and stews. It’s one of the four main food groups on my own personal food pyramid. (The others being cheese, pretzels and fried chicken. I’m kind of a health nut.) I enjoy making homemade soups – a cream of mushroom is my specialty. And at local restaurants, I have been known to skip a big burger or steak and make a meal out of a bowl of soup, stew or even chili. (Sorry, servers, I’ll make it up in the tip.) With that in mind, your trusty magazine editor went out in search of some soups at Ashburn restaurants that you should consider trying when you need to warm up during our chilly winter. months.

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We believe who children become is as important as what they know.

AVGOLEMONO SOUP Mediterranean Breeze 20693 Ashburn Road Avgolemono soup is sometimes known as egg lemon soup. It features fresh chicken broth, orzo pasta, egg and lemon and is famous on the mainland and the many islands of Greece. “We call it the ‘miracle soup,’” said Terry Kasotakis, who opened Mediterranean Breeze in 2004. “If you have a cold or stomach pain – with some of this soup, it’s done. You don’t even have to go to the doctor.”

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MULLIGATAWNY SOUP

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THUKPA NOODLE SOUP

Saffron Indian Cuisine 43170 Southern Walk Plaza Mulligatawny soup originated in southern India. The delicious version served at Saffron features yellow lentils, black peppercorn, garlic and ginger as its primary ingredients. “Especially good in winter, our mulligatawny is a hot, spicy soup that will clear your nose and throat,” said Saffron’s owner, Shankar Puthran. “Ours isn’t overly spicy – we don’t go overboard with the spice because some people don’t like it. But in India, it can be very spicy.”

Roadhouse Momo & Grill 44050 Ashburn Shopping Plaza, No. 151 Thukpa is a hearty noodle soup from the Himalayan region. The thukpa at Roadhouse Momo & Grill comes in a chicken version, a water buffalo version and a veggie version. We tried the chicken thukpa, and it came heaped with noodles, onions, chickpeas and more. “Thukpa is a dish from the north. It originated in Tibet, but when it migrated to Nepal, different regions added different ingredients,” said Sid Kafle, a manager at Roadhouse Momo & Grill. “Our cuisine is from Kathmandu, so ours is kind of like a wintery comfort food.”

Editor’s review: One of my favorites in Ashburn, this creamier version of mulligatawny will open your eyes without making them water.

Editor’s review: A new favorite. The flavors – including some aromatic curry – blend perfectly. I will come back for this one. ASHBURN MAGAZINE

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GREEN CHILE PORK STEW Anita’s 44305 Ice Rink Plaza Anita’s specializes in cuisine from New Mexico, and what could be more New Mexican than the “green chile,” which is a pepper more properly known as the New Mexico chile. The Green Chile Pork Stew might more accurately be dubbed a “stoup” – halfway between a chunkier stew and a brothier soup. “We have different soups – a chicken, a posole and the green chile stew,” said Anita’s manager Miriam Guerrero. “Personally, I like the posole the best, but customers always like the stew. They say it’s delicious.” Editor’s review: You can taste the green chile right away – there’s a little bite to the broth – and large chunks of roasted pork and potatoes are hidden under the surface. Plus the fried dough sopapillas were a bonus.

Editor’s review: Sipping on the milky broth of this soup is like settling in under a blanket on a cold winter’s day. I would describe it as cozy. And the meat and veggies are filling.

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Sense of Thai St. 20413 Exchange St. This soup is perhaps best known by some variation of the name Tom Kha Gai, a Thai coconut chicken soup. At Sense of Thai St. in One Loudoun, it’s also called Galangal, which is a spice from the galangal root somewhat similar to ginger. Other ingredients include mushrooms, cilantro and scallions. “It’s a traditional Thai soup,” said Sense of Thai St. manager Ratthanon Sungdee. “It’s the most popular one. It comes with coconut milk, and people love it. It makes it creamy.”

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POTATO LEEK SOUP Finnegan’s Grill & Irish Pub 44050 Ashburn Village Blvd., No. 199 Potato leek soup has a bit of an identity crisis. Its roots are reportedly in France, but then again Ireland is known for its potatoes, and potato leek soup has appeared on many a pub menu on the Emerald Isle. At Finnegan’s, the soup is served during the fall and winter as a puree of potato, leeks, onions and celery. “A lot of customers don’t realize it’s house-made. We make it from scratch,” said Olivia Dereggi, a server at Finnegan’s. “The staff loves it. I have it for lunch every day.” Editor’s review: Thick and creamy and a bit cheesy, the Finnegan’s version is a longtime favorite, like sitting down with an old friend. A ASHBURN MAGAZINE

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t’s a moment Missie Ellis will never forget. Two in the morning. Hiking down a narrow trail in the wilds of Iceland. Arctic cold. Strong winds blowing. And the volcano erupting nearby. “Fighting through those conditions and concentrating on flying was exhilarating and worth the discomfort for the shot of a lifetime,” Ellis said. Flying? The shot of a lifetime? Yep, Missie Ellis is a professional photographic drone pilot. And while her company, Vantage Point Drone, is based here in Ashburn, she has traveled around the United States and the world capturing video and photos of places both mundane and mind-blowing: Florida, California, Tahiti, Scotland, Switzerland and more. Originally from Miami, Ellis dabbled in photography while moving around with her husband, Mark Ellis, an Air Force pilot. But

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her life took a turn after a chance encounter in 2014 with a little white drone. She spotted it buzzing over her head at the Reston Town Center. It was there to record a local 5K race, but Ellis was captivated. “On the way home, I Googled ‘white quadcopter,’ and I had one ordered by the time we got home,” Ellis recalled. She started experimenting with her new miniature aircraft and soon became quite proficient at it. She decided to start selling her images – but that came with new hurdles in the form of a pilot’s license and special certifications from the Federal Aviation Administration. Ellis was one of the first people in the country to earn a Part 107 certificate for commercial drone pilots when she passed the test in summer 2016. She’s also one of a small minority of women who are professional drone pilots. Statistics show there

are roughly 300,000 certified drone pilots in the U.S., but only about 8% are women. “Three years ago, I was on a women’s panel at the New York Film Festival and got to talk with a lot of women and answer a lot of questions on how I opened my aerial photography business,” Ellis said. “I love helping people, so it was great.” Vantage Point Drone officially launched in 2016. Ellis’ services include commercial and residential real estate photography, aerial marketing, before-and-after construction images, mapping, time-lapse videography, 360-degree photos, consulting and drone instruction. Typical clients include real estate agents, general contractors, marketing companies, event coordinators, homeowners associations and even television and film producers. Yes, Ellis’ video work has appeared in shows like the “Depp v. Heard” docuseries on Netflix. Sandeep Sharma is a bi-coastal filmmaker working out of both North Hollywood and Ashburn. He has been working with Vantage Point Drone since he arranged for Ellis to get aerial imagery of a family member’s wedding in 2020. Since then, he

ance that she will not be retiring any time soon as I do not want to lose such a valuable asset for my projects. Fortunately, [she] has assured me that she will be working for many more years to come.” Vantage Point Drone has many other local clients, including homebuilder Stanley Martin Homes and L.F. Jennings, a construction company. Ellis captured photos showing Loudoun United’s Segra Field in Leesburg while it was being built, and she works with the folks at EatLoco, who put on many of the area’s big farmers markets. Dan Hine, the CEO of EatLoco said the drone photos are important because they can capture the size of the markets. “That’s one of the things that draws people – and the only way to really do that is with drone footage,” he added. “You can see all the vendors. You can see all the visitors enjoying themselves. You can even see the big parking lot, because that’s so important for people going to a farmers market.” Flying a drone in Loudoun County can sometimes be dicey thanks to airspace restrictions around Dulles International Airport. Ellis says maps aren’t always cor-

Left: Missie Ellis looks at an erupting Icelandic volcano on her drone video screen. Right: One of the Icelandic volcano images taken by Ellis' drone.

has incorporated her video into several of his projects, including some of the material captured in that wild Icelandic shoot. “From wild horses, volcanoes, to the countryside of Iceland, I now have an immaculate choice of footage to choose from to incorporate in my film,” Sharma said. “I have repeatedly asked Missie for reassur-

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rect or fully updated. Her drones also use “geofencing,” which means they are programmed to stay out of restricted areas. It is possible to fly in and around a restricted area, but only after receiving proper authorization. Another challenging skill is learning how to fly a drone indoors. In the business, it’s called FPV – or first-person view – and the video gives you the sensation that you are flying through the building yourself. Ellis has tried it once – and plans to do more training on FPV videography so she can add it to her services. “There’s dust indoors. There are sometimes wires. There are a lot of things you have to take into account when you’re flying indoors,” she said. “At Smokehouse Live [a former restaurant in Leesburg], I flew through the bar and over to the concert area and it was pretty cool. The client was really excited, but I was sweating it, let me tell you.” A

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MORE BUSINESS BOOM

Venture X expands at One Loudoun

enture X, a flex office space provider at One Loudoun, will expand its space in January, adding 8,000 square feet on top of the current 24,000 square feet. This will translate into roughly 25 more offices with space for an additional 150 people. Venture X, a national brand, is owned locally by Richie and Charissa Parson of Leesburg. They opened at One Loudoun in September 2021 and provide office space with a shared lobby, reception and cafe for more than 100 businesses. “We’ve been so excited about the interest in our space – consistently since we opened. Since July 2022, we haven't been under 90% occupancy,” Richie Parsons said. “We have been looking for an opportunity to add offices to meet this demand for entrepreneurs and businesses around Loudoun County who have been on our wait list.” The Parsons also opened a 28,000-square-foot Venture X location at Mosaic in Fairfax County and plan to continue expanding in Northern Virginia.

Local dental practice donates food for each new Invisalign patient

Robin Kinkead with the Dulles South Food Pantry and Dr. Kevin Lee.

ver the Thanksgiving holiday, Broadlands Complete Dental wanted to do something to support families in need. So, the practice decided that for each new Invisalign case started at a recent open house, it would donate a turkey or a ham to the Dulles South Food Pantry. When the dust had settled from the busy day, the office at 43710 Southern Walk Plaza did the math and made plans to donate 20 turkeys or hams. “We hope to make a meaningful contribution to the well-being of our neighbors. Our work has more to do with people than it has to do with teeth,” said Dr. John Park and Dr. Kevin Lee in making the announcement. Broadlands Complete Dental is in its 10th year.

New urgent care center opens in Ashbrook Commons

n Inova-GoHealth Urgent Care center opened in late November. The medical facility is at 20070 Ashbrook Commons Plaza, Suite 104. That’s near the Harris Teeter grocery store near Ashburn Village Boulevard and Russell Branch Parkway. The new center is one of at least 15 Inova-GoHealth Urgent Care locations in Northern Virginia. Inova-GoHealth also has facilities in the Broadlands Village Center and Leesburg. The brand has been expanding rapidly in the region, doubling its footprint in the past year. Upcoming new Inova-GoHealth openings include Herndon and Falls Church. At the new Ashbrook Commons location, patients can be treated for common health issues including COVID-19, flu, fevers, asthma, allergies, minor cuts and burns, pink eye and more. The center is open 365 days a year and sees adults and children 6 months or older.

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Yoga studio celebrates grand opening

thira Sukham Yoga opened its new studio in Ashburn this fall. The studio is at 43490 Yukon Drive, Suite 100. Sthira Sukham Yoga offers traditional hatha yoga classes, which move more slowly with the aim of calming the nervous system and easing the mind. Owners Kate Thuss and Jason Weaver say they are aware that yoga can be intimidating to a beginner, so they take extra steps to make everyone feel welcome and comfortable. “After teaching for nearly a decade, I’ve lost count of the number of people I’ve encountered who think they ‘can’t do yoga’ and that really breaks my heart,” Thuss said. “I want everyone to have the chance to experience how incredibly powerful yoga can be.” A

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R E A L E S TAT E R O U N D U P

The November Details

Ashburn’s TOP TEN

Closed sales: • • •

Up 25.6% in 20147 Zip code Down 30.8% in 20148 Zip code Combined sales totaled 91, down from 92 a year earlier. That was better than the overall Loudoun County decline of 5.2%.

Pending sales:

The big picture

• •

Down 11.1% in 20147 Down 11.9% in 20148

• •

Up 12.5% to $652,500 in 20147 Up 12.9% to $733,000 in 20148

• •

17 in 20147 16 in 20148

Median sales price:

Home sales were flat in the two Ashburn Zip codes combined in November, compared with November 2022. A big improvement in the 20147 Zip code was offset by a decline in the 20148 Zip code. November is typically a slow month, but… That’s the best year-over-year performance in nearly 18 months – and median sales prices continued to rise, according to the latest data from the Dulles Area Association of Realtors.

Average days on market (homes sold in November):

Top sales: The five highest-priced homes that sold in each of Ashburn’s two Zip codes between late October and mid-December. Data and photos from Realtor.com.

20147

20148

20230 KENTUCKY OAKS COURT

23038 LAVENDER VALLEY COURT

43468 FOXGROVE COURT

22497 TERRA ROSA PLACE

44340 OLDETOWNE PLACE

21896 PROVIDENCE FORGE DRIVE

$1,220,000 Sold: Dec. 8 4 bedrooms 4½ bathrooms 5,101 square feet $1,150,000 Sold: Oct. 31 3 bedrooms 3½ bathrooms 3,375 square feet

$1,450,000 Sold: Oct. 31 5 bedrooms 4½ bathrooms 6,109 square feet

$1,125,000 Sold: Oct. 24 4 bedrooms 4½ bathrooms 3,493 square feet

$1,375,000 Sold: Nov. 10 5 bedrooms 5½ bathrooms 6,590 square feet

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$1,169,000 Sold: Oct. 30 5 bedrooms 4½ bathrooms 4,239 square feet

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$1,060,000 Sold: Oct. 27 4 bedrooms 3½ bathrooms 4,261 square feet

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$1,125,000 Sold: Dec. 15 5 bedrooms 4½ bathrooms 4,028 square feet •

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AROUND TOWN

The Barn at Brambleton

major milestone in the history of the Brambleton neighborhood took place in late November when the community unveiled its new event space called The Barn at Brambleton. A former dairy barn at Evergreen Mills Road and Belmont Ridge Road has been turned into a state-of-the-art facility. Brambleton leaders were joined by area dignitaries for a party and ribbon-cutting on Nov. 30, and guests were invited to explore the new space. This includes the Soave Grand Hall on the upper level with space for roughly 225 guests. Meanwhile, downstairs you’ll find the Arcola Room, which can hold 250 people. This room used to be the main milking room filled with metal stanchions and stalls for the dairy cows. Some of the stanchions now hang on the wall of the lower lobby. Much of the wood on the floors and the stairs in the new facility originally came from the barn and was saved and repurposed. The original cupolas from the barn’s roof can also be found around the property as accent items. At one time there were two

Local leaders join executives from Brambleton and Soave Enterprises at the ribbon-cutting for The Barn at Brambleton event facility.

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Left: Guests at the grand opening of The Barn at Brambleton gather near a historic piece of farm equipment preserved at the site. Above: The Arcola Room used to be the main milking area for the former farm's dairy cows. Below: The original cupolas from atop the barn now grace the property.

Get the good seats. silos on the property. One had to be torn down, but the other has been incorporated into the new space and features a circular staircase between the two levels. Outside is a large patio for outdoor events, and it faces a grass-covered hillside that forms an amphitheater of sorts. There is also a large deck outside the Grand Hall that looks out over a pond. The Barn at Brambleton will be available to host special events for the Ashburn community as well as anyone in Northern Virginia and beyond. Planners anticipate that it will become a popular wedding venue. A

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Pete Yuska, general manager at the ECHO Barkery

said. “This equates to we need more people, and we will be adding additional jobs as we grow and as we scale.” No one could have imagined numbers like this or even an enterprise like this just a few years ago. Pre-pandemic, ECHO focused on placing the people it served with area businesses. But when the pandemic shut the world down, these individuals were suddenly without a job. It was a tough blow, and the powers-that-be at ECHO knew they had to rethink things. “We had over 100 people that relied on us for employment, and the initial goal was just get them back to work,” Yuska said. “So, we decided to create something internally.” Thus, the Barkery was born. Rather

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Thousand Oaks sells under its private label – Pooch Hooch Gourmet Dog Treats. Over the years, the bakery has learned other new tricks. It still has the standard three flavors of biscuits – chicken, bacon and peanut butter. But the recipes have been retooled to make them simpler and healthier. The bakery has also ramped up special flavors linked to particular seasons and holidays. “Our current one is called Winter Wonder and it’s flavored with sweet potato,” Yuska said. “Our last one was pumpkin

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than relying solely on placing clients with community partners, ECHO would launch its own businesses that would provide much-needed jobs while hopefully turning a profit that could support other ECHO endeavors. The Mon Amie Amy gift shop in Ashburn’s Goose Creek Village shopping center is among the local retailers that carry the Barkery’s biscuits. Owner Amy Weisberg has a special-needs child herself and learned about the Barkery as she explored future options for her son. “I said I would love to sell these in my store because I have a small section for animals, and I also want to do anything to help out the disabled and special-needs community because it’s dear to my heart,” Weisberg said. “My own dog loves them. I have a Goldendoodle and she loves them.” Weisberg’s husband owns Thousand Oaks Barrel Co. in Manassas, which specializes in wooden barrels and other supplies and gifts for bourbon aficionados. He has hired the team at the Barkery to make a line of dog treats that

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Kelly is one of the employees at the ECHO Barkery in Ashburn. Her dog, Sophie, is obsessed with chicken and loves the tidbits produced at the bakery.

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very two weeks, a young woman named Natalie comes home to Alexandria from her job at the ECHO Barkery in Ashburn. She’s especially excited because it’s payday, and she and her parents gather together while the envelope is opened. “Her father has told us how… she always holds the paycheck up and says she is taking her mom and dad to dinner,” said Pete Yuska, general manager at the Barkery. Natalie is one of 16 employees with intellectual or developmental disabilities at the ECHO Barkery, at 20630 Ashburn Road. (Editor’s note: The organization prefers not to share its employees’ last names.) At the Barkery, they spend their workdays listening to music and enjoying each other’s company while baking organic dog treats that are sold in stores around the Mid-Atlantic. Providing meaningful jobs like this for adults with disabilities is the mission of the Leesburg-based nonprofit ECHO (Every Citizen Has Opportunities), and it’s the focus of the Barkery since it was launched during the pandemic in 2020. Now, the bakery is seeing some major growth with no end in sight. “We’ve been growing at a rate of over 100% year over year, revenue-wise,” Yuska

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Pooch Hooch dog treats are produced by the team at the ECHO Barkery and sold by the Thousand Oaks Barrel Co. in Manassas.

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issues, advocating for smaller budgets and years.” Tuesday’s gathering was held at Jennie lower real estate and property tax rates. The Dean Elementary due to ongoing renova- council’s fiscal 2024 budgeting will start in earnest in the upcoming weeks. tions at City Hall. “I want to welcome Sonia to the council. Meanwhile, Democrat Ralph Smith and Republican Teresa Coates Ellis were sworn in I look forward to working closely with her for their second terms. With Vasquez Luna COUNCIL PAGE 8 replacing Republican Lynn Forkell Greene

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Under state law, the Prince William three contested general elections for the contest for Feb. 21. The seat was vacated after the Dec. 16 resignation of Cand- Board of County Supervisors cannot ap- district, Republicans have won by an average margin of 2,090 votes. point a temporary reland, a Republican first elected Although the candidates are placement ahead of in 2011. affiliated with political parties, a special or general Candland’s resignation was under state law, they will appear election. It is the only spurred by expanded limitaon the ballot without their party local governing body tions on his voting powers by designation identified. in Virginia specificalCommonwealth’s Attorney Amy The winner of the special elecly barred by state law Ashworth. The recommendation tion will have to run for a full from appointing a temwas tied to Candland’s involveBOB WEIR porary replacement for KERENSA SUMERS four-year term in the November ment as an applicant in the congeneral election, when all eight a vacancy among its troversial PW Digital Gateway BY TIM CARRINGTON For Foothills Forum seats on the Board of Supervisors are up proposal in his district, which includes members, with very limited exceptions. f Washington’ s buildings form Republicans will try to retain the seat, for grabs. nearly 70,000 residents. The project proas is often said, a they would off stage set, poses 27.6 million square feet of data cen- while Democrats hope to capture it for the backdrop to a sweeping drama er a perfect ELECTION PAGE 5 elements first time in more than 30 years. In the last ters on 2,139 acres along Pageland Lane. mixing of renewal, uncertainty For more than and neglect. reinvented itself, four decades, the tiny town has as the Inn at Little expanded its Washington culinary and lodging lifting some two empire, lives. Meanwhile,dozen buildings from their past a parade of outsiders and renovated built homes for retreating, remote-working. retiring or Both patterns are continuing Washington’s commercial, public– investment in structures is estimated and residential BY JARED FORETEK to be about since 2010, with jforetek@insidenova.com half a dozen major $23 million home A new Manassas City Council was sworn See TOWN, Page into office Tuesday night, with Democrats 12 expanding their advantage to 5-1 on the GAVEL PASSED, MAYOR GETS temporary dais at Jennie Dean Elementary TO WORK Dan Gleason, owner of the School. Sumac food truck, and his Democrat Sonia Vasquez Luna made a wife Abigail BY LUKE CHRISTOPHER are leasing Headmaster little bit of city history Tuesday, becoming ’s space. BY BEN PETERS the first Latina woman to serve on City Rappahannock nock County News staff for Marin County, Council. A labor organizer and native of El Sperryville’s California. ter’s Pub was popular Headmas- the Sumac Dan Gleason, owner of Salvador, Vasquez Luna said it was an honor sold and is closing food truck that March, but a in outside parks to be the first Hispanic person to serve on new new ownership restaurant under his wife Pen Druid Brewery, and will take its the council. soon after. place the coupleAbigail are leasing from the space where “It’s not only an honor but a responsibiliCurrent owners Jordan and Cliff master’s currently sits and Headty that I don’t take lightly … I’m really hap- Democrat Sonia Vasquez Luna was sworn into office on Manassas City Council Tuesday night. Vasquez Miller IV are plans to leaving RappahanJARED FORETEK | INSIDENOVA py,” Vasquez Luna said after being sworn Luna is the first Hispanic person to serve on the council. New Town Mayor See PUB, Page BY LUKE CHRISTOPHER ALSO MAKING in. “We are ready for the responsibility. I’ve on the council, Coates Ellis is the sole Re17 Mayor Fred CatlinJoe Whited honors former NEWS Manassas Council Terms New been talking to each one of you and getting publican on the council. She has historically era begins with in his inaugural address. a boost to know you. I’m looking forward to work- been one of the most conservative members » Tom Osina: 2020-2024 for business  Page 8 ing together as Manassas celebrates 150 on the council when it comes to budgeting

The stage is set for a February special election to fill the seat vacated by former Prince William County Supervisor Pete Candland in the Gainesville District. Haymarket Town Council member Bob Weir, who won the Republican nomination in a contested election Monday night, will face Democrat Kerensa Sumers on the ballot next month. Judge Kimberly Irving issued a writ of special election last week scheduling the

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at Halloween. We do apple pie over the Fourth of July and a carrot-flavored treat around Easter in the spring.” Future plans call for launching larger baked birthday bones and small birthday cakes for dogs, topped, of course, with edible frosting. One of the employees helping bring these plans to life is Kelly, who is from Sterling and has worked at the bakery for two years. “I love it here,” she said. “This is my favorite job because me and my mom do baking all the time at my house.” Kelly likes everything about making the biscuits – organizing the ingredients, baking them, even packing them up. And she always makes sure to take some treats home for Sophie, the rescue Labrador Retriever she got from Arizona last year. “She loves chicken,” Kelly said. “Whenever my mom puts out chicken for my dinner, she goes crazy. She’s obsessed with chicken. It’s her favorite flavor.” More dogs than ever are joining Sophie in her love of the Barkery’s biscuits. In October, the bakery took a major leap forward when its product line caught the eye of Whole Foods supermarkets. “We got picked up… by nearly every Whole Foods in the Mid-Atlantic – 50 Whole Foods stores from New Jersey through eastern Pennsylvania through southern Virginia,” Yuska said. “That was a big deal.” The Barkery also hired its first full-time sales rep earlier this year and that made a huge difference, seeing the bakery jump from about 30 accounts at the start of the year to roughly 70 accounts currently. But the biggest goal for the Barkery isn’t one that you would necessarily see on the store shelves. Yuska admits the bakery still isn’t profitable and relies on grants from public and private funding sources.

TIME TO SHOP

Upper left: An ECHO transport van sits outside the ECHO Barkery on Ashburn Road. Lower left: Jocelyn, an employee at the Barkery, is baking dog treats. Right: Team members Phil (left) and David (right) fill bags with the treats produced at the bakery.

Some locations in the area that regularly carry ECHO Barkery dog biscuits and treats: Whole Foods, Ashburn Mon Amie Amy, Ashburn Belly Rubs Biscuit Bar & Spa, Ashburn Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming, Ashburn Happy Hound, Lansdowne SimplyBe Coffee, Leesburg Very Virginia, Leesburg Shear Love Pet Spa & Boutique, Leesburg

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Anchor Bar, Leesburg Quattro Goombas Winery, Aldie Old Towne Pet Resort, Sterling LMAC, Sterling You can also purchase ECHO Barkery products at echobarkery.org and have them delivered to your home.

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Private Schools Serving Ashburn Left: Barkery employee Amy organizes bags of dog treats that are ready to be sold in retail stores around the Mid-Atlantic. Right: Huckleberry finds his favorite treats at the Barkery in Ashburn.

The ECHO Barkery isn’t the only business enterprise created by the nonprofit to help provide jobs for its clients, who range in age from their early 20s to their mid-70s. Blue Elegance: The ECHO team at Blue Elegance makes unique handcrafted bracelets, earrings and necklaces as well as scented candles, wax melts, diffusers and more. A Blue Elegance store is located at ECHO’S headquarters, 71 Lawson Road SE in Leesburg. (blueelegance.org) Inclusive Solutions: This ECHO service provides employers with clients who excel at performing a wide range of tasks such as sorting, collating, box assembly and packaging. This allows a business’ team to focus on other, more pressing matters. (echoinclusivesolutions.org)

“Our goal next year would be to break even and hit profitability and then in subsequent years, to increase our headcount here of people we can serve and start building our brand and expanding out of the immediate geographic area,” he said. Despite the Barkery being a true business – with all the associated ups and downs – Yuska says the best part of his job is something that not every business can provide – the smiles of his employees. “You can see it in their faces. They wear their emotions on their sleeves,” he added. “It’s very rewarding for me personally and for them because when anyone does a good job, there is a sense of accomplishment.” A

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Your child deserves a world-class education in a safe environment to learn and grow. Since 1961, the Fairfax Christian School has inspired students with a passion for learning. Our exceptional teachers follow a time–tested curriculum that brings excitement to learning, promoting critical thinking and creativity while focusing on the success and talent of each student. Beginning with four-year-old kindergarten, your child will set out on a nurturing, motivating and challenging academic path that continues through lower and middle school with Christian values, which develop ethical and emotional intelligence. Your child will excel in high school with a university-preparatory program, including dual enrollment and Advanced Placement classes that prepare our students for top universities. Our Loudoun County campus offers state-of-the-art facilities, including science and computer labs, a library, a performance hall, a large gymnasium and outdoor sports facilities. The Fairfax Christian School is fully accredited by Cognia and Christian Schools International.

Preschool is your child’s introduction to their community, and learning begins the very first moment they step through the doors of The Gardner School. With caring and compassionate teachers, we foster creativity and encourage daily exploration. Our blended curriculum nurtures intellectual growth, while open-ended play helps our students build friendships, curiosity, and confidence. We provide a safe and nurturing environment for children to become their authentic selves. The most important story your child will ever tell is the story of their own life. Give them a strong first chapter at The Gardner School. We serve families in Sterling, Ashburn, Leesburg, and areas surrounding Loudoun County. To learn more about enrollment or our intentional approach to early childhood education in northern Virginia, schedule a tour to visit us today!

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THE BURN A round-up of the latest restaurant, retail, and other cool news from Ashburn and beyond. Check out The Burn at TheBurn.com and follow it on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

DEBUTS FIRST LOUDOUN LOCATION

A new cookie shop has opened in the Broadlands Village Center. It can be found inside the small Eataliano pizzeria and restaurant. The cookie shop is called Moltn and is based in the Washington area. The brand uses other restaurants to bake, sell

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Rubino’s – a well-known pizzeria in the Southern Walk Plaza shopping center – has split its space in order to open a sports bar and restaurant. A floor-toceiling wall now separates the spaces. The pizzeria side is roughly one-third of the original space, while the sports bar is taking the other two-thirds. Rubino’s Sports Pub & Grill will seat roughly 70 people when finished and will offer a separate menu from the pizzeria, one featuring pub-style food. There will be roughly 15 televisions, and the front windows have been replaced with garage doors that can be opened during nice weather. The pizzeria is open for business as usual while the sports pub should open in early 2024.

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At press time, Brambleton residents are still waiting for the new Rush Bowls to open in the Brambleton Town Center. The açai bowl and smoothie shop is taking the corner unit in the center, across from Onelife Fitness. The latest sign of progress came when the permanent signs were installed

It looks like a new fast-casual restaurant could be headed to the former Zoës Kitchen space at One Loudoun. We’ve learned that a small but growing chain known as Dig is considering the spot, a few doors down from Trader Joe’s. Dig specializes in healthy bowls, salads and other comfort foods. As an example, the Classic Dig features charred chicken, roasted sweet potatoes, charred broccoli with lemon, and brown rice, with garlic aioli on the side.

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The Burn has learned that a popular Cuban restaurant is moving from its current location at the Dulles 28 Centre into Ashburn. Cubasi Bistro is taking a spot in the Moorefield Village retail center near Loudoun County Parkway and Ryan Road. It’s moving into a space next to a Domino’s Pizza. The owners say they are making the move due to higher costs at the current location. No timeline was given for when the Ashburn store might open.

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and distribute its custom cookies. You could call it a “shop within a shop.” Cookie flavors on the Moltn menu include Reese’s Peanut Butter, Cookies & Cream, Oatmeal Raisin and Triple Chocolate.

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in December. This is the first Loudoun County location for the fast-growing national brand. An official opening date for the Rush Bowls hasn’t been announced.

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The Dash In restaurant and convenience store brand continues to pursue additional locations in Loudoun – and now has its eye on a spot in Ashburn. The proposed store would be built on the northwest corner of Loudoun County Parkway at Claude Moore Drive. Dash In wants to build a 5,600-square-foot

convenience store along with an estimated eight fuel pumps, or 16 fueling stations, according to documents viewed by The Burn. A

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