from throughout | | 6 kitchen | cottage lighted stream, acres
SPRING GLADE
MIddLEBuRG, VIRGINIA
French Country home, with renovations in 1999 & 2017 | 4 BR, 5 full & 2 half BA, 5 FP, hardwood floors, flagstone terrace | Beautiful drive to hilltop stetting overlooking pond, lake & mountains | Im provements include pool, 2-car garage, 2 BR guest house & apartment | Lovely boxwood gardens | Kitchen allowance to be provided | 79.89 acres
BRICQUEBEC
Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905 helen MacMahon 540.454.1930
gardens & mature plantings | Improvements include greenhouse & workshop.
$1,850,000
Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905
SALEM HILL
MARSHALL, VIRGINIA
Well protected Fauquier location | 6 bedrooms | 4 full and 2 half baths | 3 fireplaces | Great views | Pool with large flagstone terrace | Large county kitchen | 4-car detached garage with apartment/ office | 9-stall barn | Covered arena | Outdoor ring | 4 stall shed row barn | 51 fenced acres
$3,690,000
Mahon
203 acres in River frontage 4 full & 3 1/2 Gunnite pool and private | 5 stall Jim paddocks, pasture | Old d
QUATERWAY CABIN
THE PLAINS, VIRGINIA
Log cabin circa 1850 with additions in 1940-1950 34 acres in 2 recorded parcels Exposed log on the interior and exterior, beautiful wood floors; exposed beams, stone fireplace with heatilator | 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 half baths, kitchen has been completely redone Improvements include log and stucco garage, a building that could be a studio or office and numerous other outbuildings Land is mostly wooded & rising, winter mountain views, another elevated building site | Approximately 2 acres open and a strong spring fed pond Property is surrounded by large parcels in conservation easement
$1,800,000
Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905
Margaret MacMahon Carroll 540.454.0650
ALDIE, VIRGINIA
VIRGINIA
Loudoun County location minutes to Upperville and Middleburg Surrounded by large properties all mostly in conservation easement Land is gently rolling, stone walls, mountain views, mature woods and decent pasture 4-bedroom perc site and an existing well
$1,195,000
Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905
Brian MacMahon 703.609.1868
RECTORTOWN, VIRGINIA
whether you are looking to establish a working farm, create an equestrian haven, or build your dream home in a tranquil setting | In conservation easement
A remarkable property located within a private enclave just minutes from town | Stone and stucco manor house with main level master suite | 7 additional BR | 5 stone FP |
$1,150,000
Anne Michael Greene 703.774.4748
Historic home circa 1803, in village of Aldie Originally a parsonage, part of land surveyed by George Washington | Four bedrooms, two full and one half bath, six fireplaces and old wood floors Front and rear porches, garden, in-ground pool, hot tub, entertainment area, gazebo, walkways and patios Large studio or office Conservation easement.
$995,000
Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905
Brian MacMahon 703.609.1868
THE PLAINS, VIRGINIA 3
OLD ALDIE RECTORY
RAMEY ROAD
BUNKER HILL ROAD
ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER
Vicky Mashaw vmashaw@middleburglife.com
ADVERTISING SALES
Jennifer Richards | jennifer@middleburglife.com
Andrea Ryder | andrea@middleburglife.com
ACCOUNTS ADMINISTRATOR
Joanne Maisano
DESIGNER: Elisa Hernandez
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR
Nicky Marshok
ON THE COVER
PUBLISHER: Greenhill Media, LLC
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Kaitlin Hill | kaitlin@middleburglife.com
COPY EDITOR & DIGITAL ASSISTANT
Susan Stark
Jason Murray of Arterra Wines flashes a smile during harvest season this September. Heidi Baumstark sat down with him to talk about wine, art, and how it all comes together at his Delaplane outpost. For her full story, turn to page 6.
All editorial matter is fully protected and may not be reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publisher. All unsolicited manuscripts and photos must be accompanied by return postage; the publisher assumes no responsibility. Middleburg Life reserves the right to reject any advertising. Distributed in Aldie, Alexandria, Boyce, Centreville, Delaplane, Front Royal, Great Falls, Haymarket, Leesburg, Manassas, Marshall, Middleburg, Millwood, Paris, Purcellville, The Plains, Rectortown, Tysons, Upperville, Vint Hill, Warrenton, Washington, D.C., and Winchester.
FIND US ON:
A view from above of Lost Mountain, formerly RdV. The landmark purchase marks a new era for the Delaplane vineyard. For more on the story, turn to page 10. Photo by ToddWrightPhoto.com.
CONTRIBUTORS
Shannon Ayres is a Reston-based freelance photographer. His work has appeared in Arlington, Chesapeake Life, Northern Virginia, Virginia Business, and USA Today magazines. He has an MFA in fine art photography from San Francisco’s Academy of Art University. His editorial work can be seen at sdayres.com
Callie Broaddus is a Warrenton native and graduate of the University of Virginia. After seven years as a book designer at National Geographic Kids, Callie founded the nonprofit, Reserva: The Youth Land Trust, in 2019. Callie’s land preservation projects and focus on youth empowerment are aided by her talent as a professional photographer. In her spare time, Callie enjoys Earl Grey tea, Harry Potter trivia, and dreaming of getting back into the jumper ring.
Caroline Gray is a D.C.-based lifestyle and travel photographer. A native to Northern Virginia, she holds a MBA from the University of Virginia. In October 2023, she launched her own photography brand after eight years in the fashion industry. When she is not behind the camera, she enjoys hiking with her Labrador retriever, Captain, visiting her retired horse, Cleverly, and trying new restaurants in Washington, D.C.
Diane Helentjaris chose Loudoun as her “forever home” in 1990. A former clinical physician and public health administrator, she has returned to her humanities roots. Diane's latest book, “I Ain’t Afraid — The World of Lulu Bell Parr, Wild West Cowgirl,” is a rollicking biography. Her novel "The Indenture of Ivy O’Neill” won the 2024 Maryland Writers’ Association novel competition in the historical/romance category.
Dulcy B. Hooper and her husband Richard moved to the country from Washington, D.C., nearly 10 years ago. Shortly thereafter, both began writing occasional articles for Middleburg Life. Dogs are a big part of the Hoopers’ lives and several of Dulcy’s earlier articles focused on the couple’s Chinese crested powderpuffs!
Beth Rasin graduated from Middlebury College, where she studied nonfiction creative writing. She worked as a writer and editor at The Chronicle of the Horse for more than 25 years, including 10 years as the president and executive editor. As a freelancer, she’s contributed since 2015 to Middleburg Life, as well as Northern Virginia magazine, Blue Ridge Outdoors, the former Loudoun magazine, and many others. She lives in Hume, where she and her husband and daughter run a boarding facility for retired horses. She enjoys running, hiking, and spending time with her adopted dogs and cats.
Shayda Windle is a freelance writer covering the arts, people, and places that make Hunt Country so special. Her work has been featured in Plein Air Magazine, the Fairfax County Times, and several online media outlets. In her spare time, you can find her enjoying the great outdoors and exploring Northern Virginia with her husband and two children.
Heidi Baumstark has been writing for several lifestyle magazines and newspaper publications since 2005, specializing in history-related articles highlighting Virginia’s Piedmont. She has been with Middleburg Life since 2014. Heidi hopes to inspire readers to pause and consider the people, places, and events that have shaped the story of our local history.
Michael Butcher is the owner of Butcher Photography. Originally from Christchurch, New Zealand, he resides in Springfield, Virginia, with his family. For the past 15 years, Michael has specialized in portraiture, event, and editorial photography. When not behind the lens, he enjoys gardening and swimming. More of Michael’s work can be found at butcherphotography.com.
Laticia Headings is grateful to call Middleburg home. She discovered Middleburg by attending the first annual Middleburg Film Festival in 2013 and has come back to the event every year since as a volunteer and attendee. Laticia is the founder of Latitude Media and has 23 years of experience as a producer, writer, and camerawoman for television (Discovery, National Geographic), and for the documentary film
“Everest: A Climb for Peace.”
Lia Hobel is a freelance journalist, known for her blog, Uplift Loudoun. In addition to her work for Middleburg Life, Lia writes periodically for online platforms with articles appearing on GOBankingRates, Forbes, Huffington Post, and Yahoo! She is a Loudoun 40 Under 40 honoree and a Certified Tourism Ambassador for the county.
Bill Kent’s journalism has appeared in more than 40 national and regional publications including The Washington Post, Art & Antiques, Philadelphia Magazine, Baltimore Magazine, New Jersey Monthly, and The Hunt. A former correspondent for The New York Times, he taught writing and journalism at the University of Pennsylvania, Rutgers, and Temple universities, and is the author of seven novels, a Fodor’s Guide, and a history of Atlantic City. When not writing, he enjoys walking his westies on Washington Street.
Gracie Savage is a local photographer who grew up in the village of Aldie and has been photographing local weddings, portraits, and events since 2016. Her passion began when she received her first camera in middle school and she continued to study the craft in high school and in college. She was a photographer at Georgetown University for over three years and joined Middleburg Life as a contributor in the spring of 2022.
Also in this issue: Austin Kaseman, Hannah Hazel Photography, and ToddWrightPhoto.com.
“A
rterra,” translating to “art of the land,” has more than one meaning at Arterra Wine, located in Delaplane and owned by Jason Murray and Sandy Gray-Murray.
For Jason, his craft is wine, and for Sandy, it’s working with clay, molding the earthy medium into nature-themed works of art in her on-site Hawkmoth Arts Studio and Gallery.
“I make the wine; Sandy does the art. We’re the classic momand-pop business where we do everything,” Jason says. The cou -
ARTERRA WINES & HAWKMOTH ARTS
Written by Heidi Baumstark | Photos by Shannon Ayres
“I make the wine; Sandy does the art. We’re the classic mom-and-pop business where we do everything.” – Murray
ple’s two sons, 18-year-old Grayson Murray and 15-year-old Caolan Murray, are on staff, too. Grayson just started at Virginia Commonwealth University in media production
and has worked at the vineyard on and off for the past four years. Caolan is in his second year working at the winery. Both sons have tended the vines and helped in the tasting room.
The vineyard is intentionally nestled in trees, working with nature rather than against it.
Arterra opened in February 2015, though Seven Oaks in nearby Philomont has been producing grapes for the business since 2005. At their winery, Murray and Gray-Murray embrace the principles of Wabi-sabi, a traditional Japanese worldview centered on accepting transience, imperfection, and natural processes. Those ideas are mounted in calligraphy above the three glass doors inside the tasting room: “Reverence for authenticity and earthiness”; “Appreciation of the genuine integrity of natural objects and processes”; and “Seeing beauty in impermanence, transience, and non-perfection.”
Wine & Art | Page 7
“I use a minimalistic approach. We want to capture the character of the grapes as they grow here — a true Virginia-style wine.” – Murray
VISITING ARTERRA
Located on the east slope of the Blue Ridge
Mountains in Virginia’s northern Piedmont, Arterra offers visitors tranquil views and an escape from the chaos of life. The property is part of
the Crooked Run Valley Rural Historic District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. A small bridge over the babbling waters of Crooked Run can be seen as visitors drive up the winding road to the winery.
Rolling hills of vines unfold before guests as they walk up the hill to the tasting room, with seating inside, on the patio, or under a canopy of trees where dappled sunlight peeks through. Nature is skillfully woven into the entire experience, from the bar’s tabletop of river stones under glass to tables with leaf impressions pressed into the concrete surface.
Nature inspires Gray-Murray’s art pieces, too. Leaves from the property are pressed into mediums like clay or concrete, or handcrafted into bowls, trays, vases, and hanging pieces, all of which are available for purchase.
CLEAN WINE PRODUCER
Rather than try to replicate wines from other regions, Arterra celebrates local practices and produces wine that is distinctly Virginian. Making progressive clean wine means that grapes are fermented with native yeast that naturally occurs on their skins without additives. “I use a minimalistic approach. We want to capture the character of the grapes as they grow here — a true Virginia-style wine,” Murray says. “The process is based on perception and intuition as opposed to lab work.” Only grapes grown at Arterra and Seven Oaks are picked for their wines.
Dry reds and Chardonnay age in older French oak barrels while other dry whites may be produced entirely in stainless steel. Arterra also makes amphora wines in clay vessels, an ancient winemaking method dating from 650 BCE.
JASON AND SANDY — THEIR STORY
“Life’s journey led us here. Sandy’s and my story are so intertwined,” Murray says. Both are from Howard County, Maryland, and went to middle school and high school together. “We never really spoke until junior year. That’s when her boyfriend at the time introduced us,” he adds. “We got together during our senior year of high school.”
Murray grew up in an agricultural area rais-
Top left: Jason Murray. Top right: Joaquin Gonzalez, the vineyard manager. Bottom: Chenin Blanc.
ing sheep, doing farm work, and taking care of livestock. “I went to the University of Maryland, worked at a garden center, and discovered I was more interested in plants than animals.” He went on to earn a master’s in horticulture.
Following graduate school, Murray worked for Loudoun County as a commercial horticulturist from 2001 to 2005. “I learned about grape-growing on the job at another Virginia winery, and from 2005 to 2014, I became a fulltime winemaker and learned every aspect of how to start a winery,” he says. “I developed my own approach to winemaking, creating natural, clean wine, sticking to a minimalistic approach.”
Gray-Murray studied art at Carnegie Mellon and then attended the Maryland Institute College of Art, a private art and design college in Baltimore where she trained as an oil painter. After school she worked in Baltimore writing curriculum and collaborating with teachers. She then got a job in Washington County, Maryland, initiating an arts integration program for the school system.
In 2009 she left the classroom and started developing her unique art style, selling pieces at wine festivals and other events. She developed a following, and soon Hawkmoth Arts was born.
WINE EVENTS & CLAY CREATION CLASSES
From May through October, Arterra offers “Wine Until 9” on the first Fridays and second Saturdays of the month. And, throughout the year, other seasonal events are planned, including special dinners, live music, vineyard tours, and themed wine tastings with culinary treats.
Guests can also connect with their own creativity by signing up for clay classes taught by Gray-Murray, which include crafting platters, trays, vases, or bowls. As Gray-Murray does, participants are encouraged to incorporate elements from the property into their clay pieces. Classes begin with a vineyard tour to learn about grape-growing and winemaking, followed by a walk to gather natural materials for their artwork. There are also couples’ classes for two people to share the art experience together. Of course, a
glass of wine is included.
WHAT PATRONS ARE SAYING
Jeff and Dawn Jenkins, from Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, have been wine club members since the pandemic. Jeff shares, “This was the first winery that turned us on to good wine. We’ve gone to other wineries, but we always come back here.”
Dawn says, “I’m sensitive to wines with additives and was [experiencing] negative effects. Drinking Jason’s wines, I don’t have any bad reactions. It’s the clean wine that attracted us. This is by far the most peaceful place with beautiful views — the whole package is perfect.”
Jeff adds, “We were just here last night at the Friday ‘Wine Until 9’ and decided to come back again today.”
Rebecca Pedrosa, of Linden, Virginia, says, “Coming here is like a piece of heaven. I work in Reston, so this is my escape. There are so many
wineries, but here, it’s all about the experience. Jason and Sandy are very humble and sweet people; that expresses itself through their wines. I did a pottery class with my teenage daughter and made a bowl with leaves. It was such a nice, shared experience making memories with her.”
For Murray and Gray-Murray, the winery is all about making people happy through nature, wine, and art. Murray concludes, “We create things that connect beauty and nature. With so much negativity in the world, natural beauty brings you back to the positive side of the human experience.” ML
Arterra Wines & Hawkmoth Arts 1808 Leeds Manor Road Delaplane, VA 20144 (540) 422-3443 arterrawines.com hawkmotharts.com
“We create things that connect beauty and nature. With so much negativity in the world, natural beauty brings you back to the positive side of the human experience.” – Murray
Left: Nature is front and center in Gray-Murray’s art. Right: Natural elements from the grounds pressed into clay.
the new era: LOST MOUNTAIN
Written by Dulcy B. Hooper | Photo by ToddWrightPhoto.com
Wine enthusiasts following the trajectory of Virginia wineries have no doubt heard the news with a sip of pride for what has been accomplished since Rutger de Vink’s vineyard produced its first vintage in 2008.
Described as “the upstart winery determined to prove that Virginia wine could stand proudly among the world’s best in quality and price,” the sale of RdV has become the first major wine investment in Virginia by a foreign entity in nearly 50 years. The purchase and accompanying rebranding were announced in June in a joint statement from RdV and the new owners, brothers Martin and Olivier Bouygues.
now Lost Mountain, from above.
The brothers are known for having developed one of France’s largest family conglomerates, operating in construction, media, and telecommunications. They oversee four exclusive French wine estates (including Bordeaux’s famed Chateau Montrose), a Cognac house, and a truffle farm. The acquisition of RdV represents their first step abroad, French investment in Virginia wine, and the opportunity to highlight their group by naming it Eutopia Estates, “the place of the good, of the joy.”
Rutger de Vink will stay on as a consultant through the 2024 harvest. He’s praised the winery’s team and supporters, stating that “we have created a world-class wine and helped put Virgin-
ia on the worldwide wine map.” Founding member and Master of Wine Joshua Grainer will continue his work, alongside Pierre Graffeuille, CEO of Chateau Montrose.
According to the announcement, doing business as “Lost Mountain” rather than RdV aims to pay tribute to the “remarkable terroir of this ancient knoll once beloved by George Washington.” ML
Lost Mountain 2550 Delaplane Grade Road Delaplane, VA 20144 (540) 364-0221
Character as unique as yours
Clover Hill
Positioned on an expansive 21-acre estate, Clover Hill boasts exceptional amenities and a prime location mere minutes from the charming village of Great Falls, bustling Tysons Corner, and downtown McLean. A gated entryway introduces the estate via a gently winding driveway that welcomes you into a picturesque landscape with expansive views in every direction. To the left, rolling hills gracefully lead to a serene private lake, while to the right, vast lawns reveal a beautifully appointed stable and private pastures. Atop the hill, the manor house captures the understated charm of a European country estate, thoughtfully designed to harmonize with its extraordinary natural surroundings.
Offered at $13,750,000.
Mark Lowham CEO & Managing Partner +1 703 966 6949 mlowham@ttrsir.com
Byron Hughey Sales Associate +1 703 447 1992
bhughey@ttrsir.com
740 LEIGH MILL ROAD, GREAT FALLS, VA 22066
THE NORTON NETWORK RALLIES AROUND VIRGINIA’S GRAPE
Written by Kaitlin Hill | Photos by Hannah Hazel Photography
“It’s very unique, but it is not for everybody,” Skip Causey says of the Norton grape and, by extension, wines produced from it. Causey, owner of Potomac Point Winery in Stafford, Virginia, continues, “But we are finding that it has a cult following. And people want to know what your Norton is, because some people do it very differently.”
The range of expression from the Norton grape is advocated for and captured by members of The Norton Network, a group of 22 wineries and vineyards from all over Virginia with the aim of educating the public about “Virginia’s Native Grape.”
“I love the idea that they put us all together,” Causey adds with a nod to Chrysalis Vineyards owner Jenni McCloud, marketing and public relations manager Jill Smedley, and winemaker Jake Blodinger.
Smedley says, “We wanted to have a Norton Wine Day. There is a Syrah Day — why isn’t there a Norton Day? And it snowballed from there into, let’s have a whole weekend, or a whole month.”
McCloud interjects, “Let’s have a decade!”
McCloud’s enthusiasm for the grape is shared by the members who have joined her in the Network. Sharon Horton of Horton Vineyards in Gordonsville says, “For us, joining the Network was obvious. We all have this grape that we want to showcase and it was a common thread.” She adds with a laugh, “These are our people, and we want to spend time with our people and showcase what Virginia does through this one particular variety.”
Kirk Wiles of Paradise Springs shares, “We’ve been making Norton
Norton grapes. Norton | Page 13
“For us, joining the Network was obvious. We all have this grape that we want to showcase and it was a common thread.” – Horton
Norton | From page 12
since 2008. Norton is distinctly Virginia and we want to embrace that sense of place and terroir.”
He continues, “People either gravitate toward it or it’s not for them, but it is really a talking point in the tasting room. It’s part of Virginia’s wine history.”
The grape’s history is a huge part of the appeal, according to Anna Want of Casanel Vineyards in Leesburg. Of her decision to produce Norton and join the Network, she says, “We were definitely attracted to the history. We fell in love with the story of it.” She adds, “It’s the wild vine. We just let it do what it wants to do. It has its own personality and way of doing things.”
Dustin Miner of Nokesville Winery echoes Want’s sentiments, recalling, “When I tasted my first Norton, it was very, very different. And when you realize the story behind it, it’s a wine made from tragedy.”
That story is perhaps best known by McCloud and Horton’s father, the late Dennis Horton. “Historically, you couldn’t come up with a better story about a native grape,” McCloud says.
The Norton grape was originally cultivated in the early 1800s by Dr. Daniel Norborne Norton, a horticulturalist in Richmond, Virginia. The grape’s exact parentage is unknown, as he was experimenting with the crossbreeding of many breeds.
The grape made its way across America, notably taking root in Hermann, Missouri, in the 1840s, and enjoying its heyday in the 1870s, ’80s, and ’90s, prized for its resistance to disease.
McCloud continues, “It was once world-renowned until Prohibition decimated the vineyards, the records, and the facilities.”
Matthew Allen of Piedmont Meadows says, “Norton is like the punk rock of the wine industry. It was almost completely wiped out during Prohibition, and there was this one rebel monk in Missouri who had saved a few vines so that
Norton | Page 14
“Norton is like the punk rock of the wine industry.” – Allen
Top: Jill Smedley, Angelina Rabena, and Jake Blodinger of Chrysalis, John Delmare of Rappahannock Cellars, Jenni McCloud, Skip Causey of Potomac Point Winery & Vineyard, Caitlin and Sharon Horton of Horton Vineyards, Chelsey Blevins and Dave Drillock of 53rd Winery & Vineyard, Dustin Minor of Nokesville Winery, Jason Murray of Arterra Wines, Kenny White of Chateau MerrillAnne, and Matthew Allen of Piedmont Meadows. Bottom: A collection of Norton wines from the Norton Network.
he could make wine for religious practices. And from those vines, we saw the resurgence that came later.”
Pre-Prohibition plantings were discovered in 1965 at Stone Hill Winery in Hermann, Missouri. McCloud shares, “The first plantings that Dennis [Horton] and I did came from Stone Hill cuttings, where that vine was found.”
McCloud and the members of the Network seek to restore Norton to its former glory and, perhaps, convert Norton skeptics through advocacy and education. The group will host a Norton Wine Tour from October 18 to November 10 and feature stops at Norton Network wineries and vineyards.
On what they hope their efforts will achieve, Wiles offers, “To change the perception of what Norton can be. To show that if you really love the grape, you can make some fantastic wines from it, and that not all Nortons are the same.”
Father-daughter duo John Delmare and Kelly Knight of Rappahannock Cellars echo Wiles’ note on flexibility. Knight explains, “Everybody’s putting their own customized stamp on it. We make a sparkling wine Norton; we make a dessert wine port-style Norton. Norton is really versatile and we need to get that word out there.”
Causey adds, “I like this about the tour: [Participants] can go taste eight different styles of Norton in a weekend and see how complex it is, that it is not a unilateral wine, and that it can be a very fun varietal to play with.”
That versatility will be on display during the wine tour, where each vineyard and winery will highlight their library of Norton and how it can change over time. Causey explains, “I think all of us have the idea of showcasing what it does when it is young and over a long period of time, because that is a unique part about the Norton.”
Horton shares, “We’re opening our bottles from 30 years ago. So, 1994 to present, the whole library will be open for tasting.”
“This year is about starting the conversation in a very large and collaborative way.” – Smedley
Wiles laughs, “We’re not going back to ’94, because I was 12 years old then, but we are going to dig into the library and bring up some Norton we made 10, 12, 14 years ago … to show how beautifully it’s aged and how nicely the acid has softened.”
As the Norton Network members gear up for Virginia Wine Month and the Norton Wine Tour, Horton’s concept of a “common thread” is on full display. As Smedley says, “This year is about starting the conversation in a very large and collaborative way.” And Allen finishes, “The Norton Network is really a win for Virginia. We can work together as a collective better than we can individually to share what works best, [what] one harvest year looks like versus the next in terms of how we’re managing the winemaking process, and to collectively put an effort forward to make the Norton great.” ML
For more details on the Norton Wine Tour and a full list of participants, visit MiddleburgLife.com.
Jenni McCloud listens in during a Norton Network meeting in August.
Norton | From page 13
At Home with Omega Landscape Construction
Written by Bill Kent
Ask Mackie Jenkins about the latest trends in landscaping and outdoor living spaces and he’ll give an immediate response: “I don’t do trendy.”
Ask him why, and he’ll direct you to the heart of Middleburg, where you’ll find the stone façades of the 1729 Red Fox Inn, the oldest restaurant in Virginia, and the King Street Oyster Bar, inside the former 1924 Middleburg Bank building.
Some people merely see two stone buildings. “What I love about Middleburg,” Jenkins says, “is that trends don’t work here. Both buildings were constructed using our indigenous stone. Though one was built 300 years ago and the other just 100 years ago, their exteriors remain timeless — and always will. Whether it's 1729, 1924, 2024, or even 2200, our indigenous fieldstone will always be the trend.”
Another place he’ll reference is the Middleburg Community Center, and not just because he and his family enjoy the pool. “It is one of the most important places in town, not because of who built it or who visited, but because so many different people who come to the Community Center enjoy it and have great times here.
“That’s how I want people to feel with what I make,” he adds. “It has to be enjoyable and it has to fit with the history, the heritage, and the natural surroundings. You shouldn’t know if it’s 1804 or 2024; it should be as if it’s always been there. I’ve turned down a lot of business because people want something else. What I’ve told them has become my motto: If I can’t build it right, I won’t build it.”
Mackie and his wife, Megan, are now in their second decade as “hardscapers” — builders of patios,
driveways, retaining walls, pergolas, water features, and what Mackie considers his specialty: outdoor kitchens. They founded Omega Landscape Construction in Mackie’s hometown of Amissville a year after meeting and falling in love.
Mackie’s father, “Big” Mack Jenkins, had been construction superintendent of what is now FedEx Field and oversaw other buildings for the federal government. Megan comes from a family of entrepreneurs. They named the business “Omega” for the “I am the Alpha and the Omega” passage in the Biblical Book of Revelation. Marriage, three children (with the fourth, a daughter, expected in November), and a dream of living in Middleburg happened quickly thereafter.
Why Middleburg? “We were always aware of it,” says Megan, who grew up in Warrenton. “When we began to get work here, we dreamed of living here.”
The dream began when Debbie Burton called them to bid on a driveway, stone paving, and retaining wall outside Atoka Chase’s Bandits Run Farm. Megan asked Burton if she could bring her children on the visit. “The children really enjoyed meeting the animals,” Burton remembers. “Mackie explained to me precisely which kinds of stones to use for the driveway to make it beautiful. You don’t normally think of a driveway in those terms, as a thing of beauty that complements the house, but Mackie showed me how it would work.”
During that visit, one child, Leah, who was 5 years old at the time, resolved to become an equine veterinarian.
Omega | Page 17
The Jenkins family. Photo by Michael Butcher.
Omega | From page 16
Later, when Burton sold the farm, “Mackie’s workmanship definitely added to the value.” She plans to have Omega do additional work on her current home in Middleburg.
Elton Hyder didn’t know who did the outdoor kitchen and dining area behind the 150-year-old house he and his wife, Laura Francis, bought at Stonewall and Walnut streets. “From the street, you wouldn’t think it was anything more than part of the house. It’s only when you’re in the
house that you realize how it becomes a perfect extension of the home.”
When they found out Mackie and Megan had done the work, they asked them to do more improvements, and now consider them friends.
“From a practical point of view, the design is intelligent and comfortable,” Hyder says.
“We sit out there as much as possible,” Francis shares. “We’ve actually met more people just
sitting outside and talking to passersby than anywhere else in town.”
A year and a half ago, Megan and Mackie finally made the move to Middleburg with a Washington Street office on the second floor above Common Grounds. Realtor Laura Wright says “it was a special blessing” to help them find a house.
“They are so honest,” she says. “They really do radiate warmth and kindness. And their desire to be here, and their appreciation of Middleburg, is genuine. A year ago last April, they came up to
look at places and stayed over so they could help the next day at the annual cleanup.”
The couple brought their kids to last year’s Christmas Parade and are frequent customers at Michelle McNaughton’s PLAYroom toy store.
“They are such bright lights,” McNaughton says. “They’re very good, very nice people. I feel like I’m almost family now.”
Omega does about 10 construction jobs a
year, ranging in size from a small patio and firepit in front of one of James Madison University’s dining halls to larger residential projects of thousands of square feet.
“We try to turn the business off at 5:30 on weeknights, 2 o’clock on Fridays,” Megan says.
“It doesn’t always work that way,” Mackie admits, “but we still try. It’s hard when you have your own business, but we try to give ourselves as much family time as possible.”
This last summer, family time included reg-
ular visits to the Community Center pool and “sometimes, getting up super early,” Mackie says, “before most people are awake, and just walking around Middleburg and enjoying how good it feels.”
When the family passed a Middleburg house that had some of Omega Construction’s work, how did Mackie feel?
“Even better,” he says. ML
Left: Stone steps built by Omega. Photo courtesy of Omega Landscape Construction. Middle: Stone entryway. Photo by Michael Butcher. Right: An outdoor kitchen. Photo courtesy of Omega Landscape Construction.
In March 2024, Middleburg Life asked around town for nominees for a “Locals We Love” column celebrating the women who make a difference in the community. It came as no surprise that Kayse Small, owner of Le Boudoir, was recommended enthusiastically and by many. When asked what they love about her most, those who knew her were quick to comment on her smile and positive energy.
At the time of the interview, Lee Ann Adams
remembering KAYSE SMALL
Written by Kaitlin Hill | Photo courtesy of Le Boudoir
Mikeman, owner of The Middleburg Bride, shared, “She has that big smile, one of the biggest smiles in town. And her energy is unbelievably positive. She’s an optimist.” And her coworker Jordan Gensurowsky said, “She is one of the kindest people I have ever met.”
On August 8, 2024, Bernita “Kayse” Small passed away peacefully, surrounded by family and friends in Haymarket, Virginia. Small was born on March 4, 1962, to Wallace and Mary Duplechain in Church Point, Louisiana. Kayse was a United States Air Force veteran, a student of Le Cordon Bleu School of Cooking, a true friend, a dedicated mother, a loving wife, and a fierce advocate for women’s empowerment and self-confidence.
At the news of her passing, we asked again,
“What do you love most about Kayse?”
Susan Byrne of The Byrne Gallery shared, “She was so resilient. She was someone who knew what she wanted to do, she didn’t pick an easy thing, and she just did it. I think that is a real tribute to her.” She added, “And, she was upbeat about it and happy.”
Briaunna French, a friend and Le Boudoir employee, said, “She genuinely cared about every single person that she came into contact with. It wasn’t a facade, it wasn’t fake… She treated everyone the same — so nice, so caring, so polite.” She added, “When she was in Middleburg, you just knew. It was a light going through Middleburg that everyone felt… I’ll remember her forever.”
Wendy Osborn, owner of Chloe’s of Middleburg, captured Small’s legacy and impact, saying, “Kayse Small was a beacon of positivity in our community, touching the lives of many with her infectious spirit. Her legacy of joy and compassion will be remembered by all who knew her.”
Small was predeceased by her mother, Mary, and her brothers, John and Joseph. She is survived by father, Wallace; her husband, George; her children Kimberly, Amber (Simon), Baruch, Ishmael (Jasmine), Robbie, and Solange; and her grandchildren Ariana Simone, Ellena, Olivia Grace, Aiden, Derrick, Kairo, and Cataleya Josephine. ML
Kayse Small.
The Plains – From the Manor house to the manicured gardens, grounds, dependencies and hundreds of acres of land with protected view-sheds, Oakendale is an exquisite horse country estate. John Coles | 540-270-0094
Boyce – Three adjoining parcels with spectacular views and easement potential! Prime open farmland with standing tree cover, forest timber and perennial streams. Clay Hill road frontage. John Coles | 540-270-0094
Marshall – In addition to the classically beautiful brick manor house, ca. 1935, there is a stunning, newly constructed second home, both are perfectly sited for privacy and views. John Coles | 540-270-0094
Delaplane – Exquisite and beautifully sited. Located within the Crooked Run Valley Rural Historic District. 10 BRs/6.5 BAs. Behind the house are a pool, barns, paddocks and mature woodlands.
John Coles | 540-270-0094
Middleburg – The manor house, ca. 1925, is a 22 room home w/ many upgrades, sited to make the most of the stunning natural landscape, with Goose Creek River frontage and Bull Run Mtn views. John Coles | 540-270-0094
Middleburg – Ideally located with spectacular views
Boyce – Turn-key horse
on the outskirts of Millwood in Clarke County. Surrounded by
and on the edge of the Blue Ridge Hunt’s best territory.
Embury
The Solheim Cup Brings Big Crowds & Great Golf to Gainesville
Written by Kaitlin Hill | Photos by Austin Kaseman
This September, hundreds of thousands of golf fans gathered in Gainesville, Virginia, to watch top players from the LPGA take on the Ladies European Tour in the Solheim Cup at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.
Founded in 1990 by Karsten Solheim, a Norwegian-American golf club manufacturer, the tournament is a biennial event that alternates between the United States and Europe, having last been hosted at Finca Cortesin in Andalusia, Spain.
This year, in its 19th running, the Cup returned to the United States in both location and in title, as the U.S. clinched a 15.5-12.5 win over Europe, their first victory since 2017. A birdie by Lilia Vu on the 18th hole sealed the deal.
Of the American team, Captain Stacy Lewis says, “From the moment this team was together, they were together… I’m just so proud of them. I’m proud that they get this moment where they get to celebrate tonight and win this Cup,” expressing pride in the golfers, caddies, and
team support system in the postwin press conference.
Not just a win for team USA, the tournament was a great success for the region, with the highest ticket sales for competition days in Solheim Cup history and record-breaking coverage on NBC, the Golf Channel, and Peacock, putting all eyes on Virginia.
Following the tournament, the LPGA announced the launch of its inaugural LPGA Legacy Initiative to celebrate the 2024 Solheim Cup victory. Creating a lasting impact on the communities that host the tournament, the Legacy Initiative awarded $10,000 each to five local charities: CitySwing Foundation, Hispanic Heritage Foundation, National Links Trust, Our Military Kids, and the Wake-Robin Golf Club.
Of the experience at Robert Trent Jones Golf Course, Team USA’s Nelly Korda sums up the weekend best, saying, “This was probably the most fun I’ve had on a golf course ever.
Golf | Page 25
The crowd looks on as Alison Lee tees off at the first hole.
Golf | From page 24
Just the team, the team environment, the caddies, everyone getting along, the fans. Everyone was so incredible. We all vibed really well off of each other. This is probably the most I’ve laughed and the most I’ve fist-pumped ever on a golf course. It was just an amazing week and a dream come true.” ML
For more of Austin Kasemen’s photos of the 2024 Solheim Cup, visit MiddleburgLife.com.
Top left: Approaching the seventh hole. Middle: Rose Zhang. Top right: Pride for Team USA. Bottom left: A mix of US and European fans smile for the camera.
Friday, October 18:
Sponsors Preview with Artists 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Opening Gala 6:30 - 8:30 pm, Admission $30
Saturday, October 19: 10 am - 6 pm
Sunday, October 20: 12 pm - 4 pm
Admission is Free Saturday and Sunday
HOLIDAY
CHILLY HOLLOW BREWING COMPANY Comes to berryville
Written by Diane Helentjaris | Photos by Michael Butcher
Aherd of Angus cattle graze in the uplands north of Route 7 in Clarke County, just outside Berryville. The Blue Ridge Mountains rise to their east. The snaking Shenandoah River hides behind the rolling countryside.
A herd of 50-plus Angus belongs to Kinder Bauernhof Farm on Chilly Hollow Road, owned by the Warfield family for decades. While building their Warfield Homes construction company, the family — which includes their kin, the Dulaneys — found they enjoyed going to nearby breweries and wineries. For years, they talked about opening their own brewery. It would offer expanded use of their land while retaining its rural heritage. This autumn, what began as kitchen table chatter will come to fruition with the opening of Chilly Hollow Brewing Company.
As they geared up for the project, Madeline Dulaney was a natural choice to take on the role of marketing and events director. She is from Suffolk and married into the Dulaney family. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business and a master’s degree in marketing from William &
Mary. For several years, she worked in a marketing agency.
Dulaney is an animated champion of the soon-to-be brewery. It’s “a way to keep the land productive, keep the cattle farm, grow hops [and other new crops], and preserve the legacy of the farm.”
The goal, she explains, is to create “very high-quality, chemically perfect beer.” The team is “excited to capitalize on plentiful nearby farms and businesses to infuse flavors from farm-grown herbs, berries, and such into brews. Cider, wine,
and seltzers will all be offered along with food.”
Chris Jacques (pronounced “Jakes”) has been brought in as the chief brewer. Jacques, a native of Massachusetts, came to Virginia 11 years ago after brewing for the Samuel Adams and Harpoon breweries in Boston. Most recently, he brewed for Quattro Goombas Brewery in Loudoun County.
“He’s excited about the ruralness — Chilly Hollow will be only the second brewery in Clarke County,” Dulaney shares.
Dulaney notes that the family wants to promote
Hollow | Page 29
Chilly Hollow.
Hollow | From page 28
the brewery as a “third space.” Meaning, if home is a person’s first space and work is their second, then third spaces are those informal places where they get together with others to relax. The
and conversation is a major activity. Pubs, coffee shops, hair salons, churches, and even post offices can all serve as third spaces.
Today, as people can do more activities online and virtually — from renewing a driver’s license to attending church — they may find themselves missing the informal elbow-rubbing and jawboning inherent to communal hangouts. The pandemic, by limiting access to third spaces, underlined their value in promoting connectedness. Not to mention, rural areas like Clarke County typically have fewer third spaces than more urbanized spots.
Dulaney emphasizes the value of a place like Chilly Hollow Brewing Company as simultaneously preserving the land while offering a place to hang out. They hope to offer live music and host events such as trivia and bingo nights. Underscoring the commitment to build community are plans to support local causes, both with donation opportunities and by supporting visibility. An extensive merchandise store will offer products from local small businesses, and a walking trail, a giant Connect 4, and a playground for children will encourage fresh-air fun.
Looking ahead to the future, the Chilly Hollow Brewing team has planted nearly 100 apple trees. Once mature, their fruit is intended for cider. For now, the saplings are thickening and growing. Hops have been planted and are twining up ropes. The Angus are calving. Fans are following the construction progress on Facebook and Instagram, and looking forward to updates on the brewing process. Soon the taps will open, amber beer will flow, and a roaring fire will burn at the hearth. ML
Chilly Hollow Brewing Company
late urban sociologist Ray Oldenburg coined the term and wrote about their importance in promoting community. Third spaces are open and accessible. Folks can come and go as they please
669 Chilly Hollow Road Berryville, Virginia 22611 (540) 401-6172 chillyhollowbrewingco.com
Top left: Chilly Hollow co-owner Stephanie Dulaney and marketing director Madeline Dulaney. Bottom left: The taproom. Right: A welcome sign is ready to greet visitors when Chilly Hollow opens.
Arterra
Abandoning techniques that would be used to replicate the great wines of other regions, Arterra instead celebrates the greatness of Virginia Wine.
Relax and discover award-winning fine wine and craft beer. The panoramic countryside views and ambiance are perfect for the whole family four-legged friends included!
3623 Grove Lane, Delaplane, VA 20144 barreloak.com | @barreloakwinery
Chrysalis Vineyards
Taste Norton wines from the world’s largest planting of Norton, The Real American Grape!® Taste Viognier, our premiere white and America’s first plantings of the popular white varieties, Albariño and Petit Manseng. Pair your glass with our artisan cheeses made on-site.
39025 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg, VA 20117 chrysaliswine.com | @chrysalisvineyards
Fox Meadow Vineyards & Winery
Nestled at over 1,800 feet, Fox Meadow is known for spectacular views, but it’s the hospitality that keeps guests coming back. From the selection of handcrafted wines to the locally sourced small bites, it’s an experience that won’t soon be forgotten. 3310 Freezeland Road, Linden, VA 22642 foxmeadowwinery.com | @foxmeadowwinery
Hunt Country Wineries & Breweries
Good Spirit Farm
Good Spirit Farm is a winery, garden, guesthouse, and gathering space on 42 beautiful acres in Round Hill, VA. We invite you to come out and relax with friends, family, and a glass of wine while enjoying the beautiful natural setting.
35113 Snickersville Turnpike, Round Hill, VA 20141 goodspiritfarmva.com | @goodspiritfarm
Lost Barrel Brewing
A family-owned brewery located on a stunning horse farm in Middleburg. Enjoy beer, wine, hard seltzers, cocktails, mocktails, and a full menu!
36138 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg, VA 20117 lostbarrel.com | @lostbarrelbrew
Naked Mountain Winery & Vineyards
A hidden treasure of the Virginia wine scene that has flourished for over two generations. With award-winning wine, delectable bites, and stunning views of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains, there is no better place to spend a fall afternoon.
2747 Leeds Manor Road, Markham, VA 22643 nakedmtnwinery.com | @nakedmtnwinery
Rappahannock Cellars
Embark on a journey through Virginia’s wine country, where family heritage and the stunning Blue Ridge foothills inspire a new era of winemaking. 14437 Hume Road, Huntly, VA 22640 rcellars.com | @rcellars
As a kid, Jamie Potter would amble through the woods and splash in the waters of the Long Island Sound near his home in Greenwich, Connecticut. It was the perfect setting for adventure — an intersection between a fantastical playground and physical dreamscape.
“It’s where all my stories began, exploring the tide pools and going into forests where we would find old ruins of things deep down in the earth. Having that freedom planted a seed for a lot of my work,” he says.
Potter’s professional endeavors come in many creative forms — musician, illustrator, songwriter, and, more recently, award-winning author of a young adult book series centered around a 13-year-old mortician’s apprentice with a penchant for ghostly detective work. “Thomas Creeper and the Gloomsbury Secret,” his debut novel, was released in 2019 and won the Kraken
THE WACKY WORLD OF JAMIE POTTER: Author, IllustrAtor, MusIcIAn, And More
Written by Laticia Headings
Prize for Middle-Grade Fiction.
Two years later, the sequel, “Thomas Creeper and the Purple Corpse,” was released and shortlisted for the 2023 Stoker Award for Young Adult Fiction, an honor voted on by bestselling authors of horror.
“The first book got me out there in the world and set up a model of the town,” says the 41-yearold, who goes by the pen name J.R. Potter. “The weird town of Gloomsbury I’ve created is loosely based on my hometown, all of the old robber baron money that was in New England during the Victorian era, and shiftiness behind the scenes.”
The sequel, published by Black Rose Writing, continues Thomas’ journey into the otherworldly. “In this book, I explored the physics and mechanics of the supernatural world and played with the rules. Things like can ghosts talk to other ghosts? That was really fun,” says Potter, who is currently narrating the audiobook and voicing all the characters. It’s an experience he describes as “challenging and wonderful,” adding, “I love writing lyrically and poetically to make the sentences fun to read out loud.”
Thomas, the curious protagonist, is both an amalgamation of and an homage to Potter’s younger self. “There is a golden time around fourth, fifth, sixth grade that I go back to and am in touch with,” Potter admits, adding that middle and high school held challenges for him. “You’re sort of avenging that younger, insecure part of yourself in a way.”
Potter grew up feasting on comic books and
devouring John Bellairs’ gothic mysteries. “I love a book because it forces us to be present,” Potter says. It was through this literature that he learned how to intersect “terror, humor, and heart” into his own budding writing career.
“When I was 9, I created my own newspaper called Greenwich Weird, which was about ghost sightings. ‘The X Files’ had just come out, and that show that rocked my world,” says Potter, whose first job was fittingly a paper route. “Not much has changed. I still really love telling a supernatural, tantalizing, wacky tale.
“I was very lucky to grow up in a family of artists and art enthusiasts,” he continues. His parents, who met in art school, often took him and his older brother to New York City for Broadway shows, theater performances, and visits to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. “All those amazing experiences just electrified me. That changed my life and created a lasting impression.”
Though art was important, Potter’s early aspirations were more academic. With the goal of becoming a teacher in his hometown, he immersed himself in history books and ancient mythology, majoring in history at Brown University.
After college, he shifted paths into hospitality and became a restaurant manager, and still works several nights a week at a local Middleburg eatery. “I love restaurants because you get some great character studies,” Potter laughs.
Though he didn’t end up in a classroom, World | Page 33
Jamie “J.R.” Potter. Photo by Shannon Ayres.
World | From page 32
Potter’s work inspires kids around the country. His new literacy-based series, called “Cowbots,” is is designed to build word vocabulary and teach sentence structure. “My whole platform is based on wonder and literacy,” Potter says. “I gauge my success on how many young readers I can get excited about books — my books or other books — and keep them reading, thinking, and dreaming.”
In March of 2023, Potter was accepted into one of the top 10 artist residencies, Chateau Orquevaux in France, where he spent 13 days with artists of various disciplines. His work there earned him the Denis Diderot Emerging Artist Award.
“Kirby Hart Vs. The Moss Men” is Potter’s latest young adult series, a thrilling 1950s-Hollywood-monsters-meets-STEM-robotics story. In
the future, he would like his books to have a video game component and ultimately find their way to the big screen.
Potter, now a resident of Upperville, is closely connected to music, too, singing and playing five instruments. In college, “I kind of majored in rock and roll. I had a band called The Good Days,” he shares. It was then that he discovered a passion for bluegrass music and pursued an internship
with Smithsonian Folkways, a nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution. “I didn’t get paid, but I got to take as many records home as I wanted, which was a dream,” Potter remembers. “I call myself ‘poly-jammerous’ because I love so many different types of music!”
Potter regularly draws crowds at venues around Hunt Country. He performs both solo and with The Crooked Angels, a band he and
his wife, Amy, formed together. The couple has released two albums, “Bread & Bourbon” (2016) and “Indian Summer” (2017), blending their voices with a soulful mix of country, blues, and Americana.
“It’s very hard to sum up what I do because I love to do a lot of things. I’m not one thing. There’s a prism of various versions of myself,” Potter notes.
Some might say he is living out his childhood dreams, a sentiment with which Potter wouldn’t disagree. “What’s exciting about standing at the intersection of many communities, a lot of crafts, and a lot of different approaches is that the view is never the same.” ML
For more information on Potter’s work, visit jamesrobertpotter.com.
Left: Potter brings a bit of magic to his writing. Photo by Shannon Ayres. Middle: Potter’s second book. Artwork by Honie Beam. Right: Porter with his guitar. Photo by Shannon Ayres.
10 YEARS OF COMPASSIONATE CARE AT THE ADLER CENTER
Written by Dulcy B. Hooper | Photos by Caroline Gray
The historic village of Aldie is home to one of the most state-of-the-art inpatient hospice facilities in the country. It is the only facility of its kind in Loudoun County and one of only four in the state of Virginia.
Located on four acres, the 50,000-square-foot Adler Center for Caring on the Van Metre Campus is a special branch of Capital Caring Health, which was founded in 1977 and has been around since hospice care began in the United States. CCH operates the only two inpatient facilities in the region: the Adler Center and a practice housed within Sibley Memorial Hospital in the District of Columbia.
Now in its 10th year of operation, the Adler Center is a special 21-bed unit for when around-theclock pain management and patient monitoring is necessary. In addition to the medical staff, there are social workers, chaplains, and volunteers available to serve the needs of patients and their family members.
Beyond treating adults, Capital
Caring Health is one of the largest providers of specialized pediatric hospice care on the East Coast. It has a dedicated pediatric team and is designated as a regional center of excellence for children with life-limiting disorders. Unlike hospice services for adults, children in hospice care are not required to forego curative or life-prolonging treatments. In fact, nearly 20% of children in CCH’s palliative care and hospice program experience stabilization of their disease progression.
Along with private patient rooms, the Adler Center includes family rooms, playrooms, a library, two kitchens, and a nondenominational chapel. There are ground-level gardens, solariums, a pergola, walking paths, and a labyrinth, all available for the comfort and care of patients, family members, and visitors.
Beginning just this year, Capital Caring Health will become one of only two of the country’s 8,100 hospice providers to use its own cus-
Compassion | Page 35
Top: Franklin Guerrero, VP of philanthropy, and Steve Cone, chief of communications, marketing, and philanthropy. Middle: A tiled mosaic adds a pop of color to the Adler Center. Bottom: The common space is warm and cozy.
Compassion | From page 34
tomized vans and trained drivers, ensuring that patients enrolled in hospice care are picked up at local hospitals promptly and by knowledgeable staff and transported to their residence or to an inpatient facility.
Because Capital Caring Health is a nonprofit organization, it turns no one away. In fact, in its 47-year history, CCH has provided nearly $100 million in charity care and grief counseling at no cost to the families. Steve Cone, chief of communications, marketing, and philanthropy for Capital Caring Health, shares, “At the Adler Center, we provide a critical level of care regardless of a person’s ability to pay. This is a hidden gem in Loudoun County and more people need to know about it — and about the tremendous benefits provided to patients and their families.”
The word hospice derives from Latin “hospitum,” meaning hospitality or a place of rest and protection for the ill and weary. During periods of crisis or increased symptoms, short stays at an inpatient facility can help bring symptoms under control.
The goal of hospice care is to prioritize comfort, quality of life, and individual wishes, and includes addressing physical, emotional, spiritual, and social needs. Hospice care also includes assistance for patients’ families, helping them cope with
what is happening and providing care and support to keep patients at home whenever possible.
Franklin Guerrero, a Loudoun County resident who recently joined Capital Caring Health as vice president of philanthropy, says, “To quote Margaret Mead, we are at our best when we serve others. A hospice inpatient facility such as the Adler Center is so regional and communal; it is truly at the heart of community-based caring. We bring our humanity to the forefront by such caring, and hospice allows us to retain this humanity to the very end.”
“These are very special facilities,” Cone says. “They are few and far between. We do everything we can to make it as comfortable as a home setting and least like a hospital.” Cone adds that the Adler Center is the only end-of-life care center he knows of that allows family and friends to visit patients around the clock — and allows pets to visit, too.
“We should all care about this unique Loudoun County facility,” he concludes. “Everybody is better off when patients are comfortable, pain free, and receiving the best care possible.” ML
Capital Caring Health
Adler Center for Caring 24419 Millstream Drive Aldie, VA 20105 (703) 957-1777 capitalcaring.org
CREATURE COMFORT: ROBOTIC PETS
Capital Caring Health has been providing robotic pets to seniors regionally and nationally for more than three years. Now, in a joint initiative with Ageless Innovation (a manufacturer of robotic pets), CCH is distributing thousands of these pets to veterans in long-term care facilities around the country, as well as to others whose social isolation and physical limitations make them good candidates for such companionship.
These lifelike pets mimic how real pets feel, move, and sound — without the veterinary bills, special treats, or need for walks! The robotic pets, including dogs, cats, and birds, react interactively to light, sound, or a person’s voice, touch, or presence. For instance, a robotic dog might bark, wag its tail, or turn its head toward its human companion. The more their human companions interact with them, the more the robotic
pets interact back.
There are many known benefits to incorporating pet therapy into hospice and palliative care programs, including the impact these pets have on social isolation, loneliness, and cognitive decline. For patients at Capital Caring Health’s Adler Center in Aldie, companion pets are offered as a component to patient care plans and have been found to be particularly valuable for pediatric patients, veterans, and individuals with dementia.
“The robotic pets are a hit with many patients in our care,” said Steve Cone, chief of communications, marketing, and philanthropy at Capital Caring Health.
“In fact, we have seen some pretty remarkable outcomes.” Cone added that the pets are beneficial not only for patients, but also for patient families and members of the medical team.
Robotic pets make good company.
692 Federal Street, Paris, Virginia, 20130 (540) 592-3900 ashbyinn.com
The Ashby Inn & Restaurant sits in the tranquil and historic village of Paris, Virginia. It is considered a hidden gem surrounded by beautiful countryside and filled with history dating back to 1829. Long regarded as one of the best restaurants in Northern Virginia, the Ashby Inn offers a menu that is thoughtful, expressive, and, in spring and summer, inspired by its own gardens
The restaurant is a locally sourced, farm-to-table restaurant providing a unique experience with a range of wine, beer, and spirits from our surrounding area and around the world Give us a call today to book a dinner at our award winning restaurant!
IN MEMORY OF GENNETTE MARIE MAISANO
Written by Kaitlin Hill | Photos courtesy of Joanne Maisano
Gennette Marie Maisano’s life was celebrated at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Gainesville, Virginia, on September 14, 2024. In his homily, Reverend Vincent Bork spoke of Gennette’s beauty, both inside and out, her service to others, and her devotion to those she cared about, especially her children, David, Thomas, Gina, and Joanne.
Gennette was born in New York, and, after graduating high school, became a model in the Fashion District. A love of travel and adventure inspired her to join the Capitol Airlines Training Program and go on to be an airline hostess. It was during her time in the sky that she would meet her husband, John, to whom she was married for 30 years. Though their relationship ultimately ended in divorce, the couple remained in contact as they aged and until John’s death in 2024.
Gennette would move from New York to La Jolla, California, where she volunteered at Scripps Memorial Hospital. In 2000, Gennette settled in
Virginia with her daughter Joanne.
The staff at her assisted living facility, The Wellington, remember Gennette for how helpful she was, commenting that she viewed her time there as “work,” as she assisted the staff and welcomed newcomers to the community.
In her spare time, she enjoyed The Washington Post and New York Times crossword puzzles, the company of animals, especially Joanne’s two dogs, and was dedicated to her faith.
At 92, Gennette died peacefully six weeks after being diagnosed with a terminal illness. She faced her final days bravely, and with strength, still bringing a smile to the face of those around her.
Gennette is survived by her son Thomas (Laura), daughters Gina and Joanne, grandsons John (Morgan) and Robert (Ashley Rose), and her two great-grandchildren, Colette and Maximus. She is predeceased by her sister, Mary Louise, and eldest son, David.
Top: Gennette in her Capitol Airlines uniform. Bottom: Gennette at The Wellington.
sCenes from the middleburg ClassiC Salem Farm Showgrounds in Upperville, VA
September 18 - 22, 2024 |
Photos by Caroline Gray
Our Favorite Boozy Gifts
Photos by Callie Broaddus
Old Fashioned Combo - Earl Grey Vanilla Cocktail Syrup, $15.99, & Old Volstead’s Straight Bourbon Whiskey, $8.99, Available at Mt. Defiance Cidery & Distillery
“Hauntingly Good Spirits,” $19.99, Available at Crème de la Crème
Horse Head Pitcher, $130, Available at Tri-County Feeds
Jean Dubost Bottle Opener, $128, Available at Les Jardins de Bagatelle
Original Howard Allen Photography Coasters, $40, Available at the Museum of Hounds & Hunting North America
Four-Pack of Beer, $15.99, Available at Lost Barrel Brewing
“Tequila Mockingbird,” $17, Available at Brick & Mortar Mercantile
Antique Flasks, $155 - $235, Available at Federal & Black
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Jean Bowman: 60 Years Retrospective Art Exhibition
October 1 - 27 | mhhna.org
On display through October 27, Jean Bowman: 60 Years Retrospective at the Museum of Hounds & Hunting North America offers a rare opportunity to see 45-plus works from local private collections. This is the first time this collection of work has been made available for public viewing in Middleburg and includes notable pieces like the famous 1988 Orange County Hunt Scurry and a presentation fixture of Queen Elizabeth II’s racehorse Hopeful Venture.
Paint Club with Kim T. Richards
October 8 | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | theartistsinmiddleburg.org
Join Kim T. Richards for her monthly Paint Club at the Artists in Middleburg. Richards will provide bite-sized lessons concerning skills and topics related to oil and/or acrylic painting. October’s subject will be flower bouquets. Tickets are $110 and can be made through theartistsinmiddleburg.org.
Girls’ Night Out at Ash Salon & Spa Haymarket
October 11 | 5 to 8 p.m. | salonash.com
Spend a night getting pampered at Ash Salon & Spa! The $10 ticket includes snacks, drinks, complimentary consultations, a live brow-tattooing demonstration, and a chance to win door prizes! Call ahead to prebook services like an Express GLO2 Facial, Lip Flip, tarot card reading, or 15-minute chair massage! For more information or to book your spot, visit salonash.com
Lucketts Fall Vintage Market at the Clarke County Fairgrounds
October 11 - 13 | luckettsmarkets.com
The annual Fall Vintage Market returns offering a weekend of vintage shopping with something for everyone, from vintage clothing to one-ofa-kind furniture. The market highlights over 200 of the best vendors on the East Coast in addition to live music, a beer garden, and food trucks! Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased online through Eventbrite.
Rejuvenation Celebration at May Aesthetics
October 17 | 5 to 7:30 p.m. | mayaestheticsboutique.com
Learn the how-to’s of anti-aging with the professionals at May Aesthetics. The evening will start with an exclusive VIP early-access preview offering members the opportunity to explore medical-grade anti-aging treatments and services. At 6 p.m. doors open to the public for an evening of skin care insights with the May Aesthetics team. For more information, visit mayaestheticsboutique.com or call (703) 653-0781.
2024 Middleburg Film Festival
October 17 - 20 | middleburgfilm.org
Hollywood comes to Hunt Country at the Middleburg Film Festival. This year’s event promises to be full of amazing films, fascinating panel discussions, celebrity appearances, and fun for all. To reserve passes and experience one of Hunt Country’s signature events, visit middleburgfilm.org.
Calendar | Page 43
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Calendar | From page 42
Flagship Wine Dinner at Chrysalis Vineyards
October 18 | 6 to 8 p.m. | chrysaliswine.com
Experience an unforgettable evening celebrating Virginia’s native Norton grape. Part of the Norton Wine Tour, this dinner will take participants on a culinary journey highlighting Norton wines through thoughtful pairings of a multicourse dinner. Tickets are $150 and can be booked through Chrysalis’ website.
Reach the Roots: First Annual Kinloch Farm Tour
October 19 | 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. | kinlochfarm.com
Get an inside look at Kinloch’s regenerative farm and conservation efforts while enjoying family-friendly activities, tasty food, and live music! Highlights from the event include a scenic hayride, farm demonstrations, conservation chats, and a chance to meet the Kinloch calves! To RSVP for the free tour, visit kinlochfarm.com.
Fall Beer & Wine Festival at Bear Chase Brewing
October 19 | 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. | bearchasebrew.com
Enjoy some of the best local breweries and wineries all in one place! This year’s participating groups include Eavesdrop, Lost Barrel, Old 690, Adroit Theory, Ocelot, Lark Brewery, Hillsborough Winery & Brewery, Corcoran Vineyards & Cidery, and more! Presale tickets are $45 and can be booked through Eventbrite. Tickets are $50 at the door.
11th Annual OBH Benefit 5K
October 26 | 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | oldbusthead.com
Don’t miss Old Bust Head’s 11th annual race benefiting Finley’s Green Leap Forward. The course covers the lovely rolling hills of Vint Hill, perfect for both serious runners or those who would prefer to walk or stroll. Dogs and costumes are not only welcome but encouraged at this fun, family-friendly race. The race also has a virtual option for those who cannot make it in-person. To register, visit oldbusthead.com.
Boos, Barks, & Brews
October 27 | 4 to 7 p.m. | middleburghumane.org
Support the Middleburg Humane Foundation while enjoying a delicious crab cake dinner from Talk of the Mountain Crab Cakes and tasty brews in the lovely setting of Barrel Oak Winery & Brewery! Attendees are encouraged to bring their pups for a dog costume contest. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $75 each at middleburghumane.org. All proceeds benefit the foundation.
Hot Dog It’s Halloween! at MCC
October 31 | 5 to 7 p.m. | middleburgcommunitycenter.com
Celebrate Halloween at the Middleburg Community Center’s annual event. Enjoy a costume parade through downtown, a hot dog dinner at the Community Center, and trick-or-treating!
For more Hunt Country events, visit MiddleburgLife.com or scan here:
