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Middleburg’s Community Newspaper Volume 13 Issue 9
B E L O CA L BUY LOCAL
Y OP LOCALL ITY AND SH R COMMUN OU T OR PP SU
www.mbecc.com
Lessons of 2016
Page 40
January 19 ~ February 23, 2017
Shiloh Baptist Church Celebrates 150th Anniversary
Page 3
The Search for NEW Heroes! Middleburg Town Council Report
F
Dan Morrow
Page 22 w w w. fa c eb o ok . c o m / M i ddl eb ur g E c c en t r i c
Continued page 15
Request in homes by Thursday 1/19/17
“If the world were a logical place, men would ride side saddle” - Rita Mae Brown
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Choosing Sides, The elegance of empowerment
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ormer Councilmember Kathy Jo Shea, of Foxcroft Road, appeared before Council “in response to an article in the Middleburg Eccentric, which mentioned volunteers for Town committees.” Shea expressed “disappointment” that, according to the story, “a staff member” appeared to question a Council decision, namely whether or not new requirements for background information on volunteers for Council committees, boards, and commission had an adverse effect on the number of people willing to apply Shea noted that “as a former councilmember, she pushed to have applicants submit a bio with their letter of intent to serve.” During her eight years on Town Council, she said, she saw lots of variety in the letters of intent. Having more information on an applicant, she believed, was important. Noting the anticipated growth and coming changes in demographics of Middleburg, Shea noted that Council would, inevitably appoint individuals “they only knew slightly or not at all.” Shea also reminded Council that committee members, as well as Council members, were legally bound by the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and “suggested they should be willing to cooperate as Town representatives.” Shea further observed that while Council regularly expressed its appreciation for the work of volunteers in Council Chambers for volunteers, in her view they did not do, often enough, so “in a way that was meaningful.” In Shea’s opinion, Council needed to regularly and systematically acknowledge the volunteers for their expertise and contributions, recognize their roles as prominent and competent members of the Middleburg team. Active recruitment of new volunteers, she said, is vital. In her eight years on Council, Shea “observed that some Council members were particularly good at convincing citizens to join and be a part of committees. She encouraged the new members of Council to take recruitment on as a significant and serious commitment. In conclusion, Shea noted that while “Council had someone who worked with and supported the staff; there was no one on the Council to give support to the volunteers. New Year’s Kudos At its regular monthly meeting on Thursday, January 12, 2017, Middleburg Mayor Betsy Davis and the entire Town Council unanimously passed a special resolution of appreciation for the volunteers, sponsors, and donors who made this year’s Christmas in Middleburg Celebrations one of the best ever. Mayor Betsy Davis noted that she had “heard nothing but praise” for the celebrations. “The crowds,” she said, “were a perfect size – full, but not overly full. . . “and parking went beautifully.” This year, by 6:00 p.m. “everyone was gone, and everything was clean,” Davis observed, “and everyone had a great time, including the parade participants who raved over the Towns’ new crowd control barriers.” Davis then presented a signed copy of the resolution to Jim Herbert, Chair of the Christmas in Middleburg Committee. In accepting the resolution of appreciation, Herbert expressed his appreciation for the work of Councilmembers and Town staff that assisted, including Marvin Simms, Chief Panebianco, and Councilmembers Hazard and Daly. “Whenever something