Haymarket Gainesville Lifestyle April 2023

Part of our commitment to you is create a health system you can count on today and for generations to come.

When our cover subject, Elmer “Stub” Estey, contacted us about reviewing his new book, Oxcart Gold Rush, his bio captivated us completely. Certainly we could review the book – his first at the age of 80 – but better yet, why not tell his whole inspiring story? Stub is an author, an actor, and a musician, all endeavors he pursued years after his corporate career – a time when most folks just want to put their feet up. He has an incredible zest for life and you’re going to love meeting him.

A zest for life is something Laurie Chalice of Haymarket has, too. In her case, it’s a passion for making the end of life as gentle and positive as it can be. As a patient care coordinator for hospice company, Capital Caring, Laurie is on a mission to eradicate the myths and misunderstandings about hospice care. As someone who’s had experience with hospice, I can attest to its value. It truly is, as Laurie states, “the ultimate end of life care.”

Caring is what it’s all about for our friends Pal Kahlon and his wife, Sonya Bhuller, of Gainesville Pharmacy. One of the last mom and pop pharmacies, Gainesville Pharmacy goes above and beyond to care for its customers and the community. Get to know them in “A Prescription for Patience and Caring.” You’ll be glad you did.

Until next month, thank you for being here and happy reading!

EDITOR Susan McCorkindale

SUE BALDANI

BY JONATHAN HUNLEY

The Haymarket/Gainesville Lifestyle Magazine is published monthly and distributed to over 15,000 selected addresses. While reasonable care is taken with all material submitted to The Haymarket/ Gainesville Lifestyle 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, illustration, or photograph is strictly forbidden. ©2023 Rappahannock Media LLC.

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There are many types of vein conditions, the most common of which are varicose and spider veins. Varicose veins are often the result of dysfunctional valves that cause blood to flow backwards and collect in the veins, making them enlarged. Spider veins are very small veins that appear as a red, purple, or blue web of veins just below the surface of the skin.

Our team of specially trained providers use minimally invasive procedures to treat these vein conditions.

Grab the mic, snuggle a bunny, and more this month to do list

Who doesn't enjoy belting out their goto musical anthem in front of their best brewery friends? The folks at TROUVAILLE BREWING COMPANY sure do. Join them for KARAOKE on Wednesday April 12 and/or 26, 6:30 p.m. - 9: 30 p.m. and work those vocal chords! The partners will be manning the bar so, after you're done singing, chat them up about the next beer you want to see on the menu. 14600 Washington Street #150, Haymarket

SING

Bring your ID and sip the day away at the VIRGINIA CIDER FESTIVAL Saturday, April 15, 11 a.m. at the Bull Run Special Events Center. Live music, food trucks, and 25+ hard cider producers from around the state to sample! Tickets: $45 in advance; $65 the day of the festival. General admission ticket holders will receive a complimentary tasting glass. Doors open: 11:00AM. First pour: 11:30AM. Tickets and information: tinyurl.com/h5xf6ujm

That’s right. You can love a baby bunny or a goat or both on Sunday, April 16, 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m., at LITTLE GOAT FARM AT THE LAKE. Bring the kids or a friend and spend 90 minutes snuggling and bottle feeding these adorable little guys. Little Goat Farm at the Lake, 8954 Burwell Road, Nokesville. Tickets: $40. To purchase and for complete information: tinyurl.com/2hyke4cn

STUDIO B SALON AND BEAUTY BAR is looking for a few brave souls willing to shave their heads. The Haymarket salon’s 2ND ANNUAL SHAVE THE DAY event supports the St. Baldrick’s Foundation in its mission to cure childhood cancers.

Join the fun Saturday, April 15, 1-4 p.m. at The Farm Brewery at Bull Run. There will be live music, food trucks, a silent auction, 50/50 raffle, give-aways, and more! 16015 John Marshall Hwy., Haymarket

Head to OLD BUST HEAD BREWING COMPANY for an immersive DROPSOUND YOGA class with instructor Jaimis Huff on Sunday, April 30, 2 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. The $25 registration fee covers the 75-minute creative flow streamed through DropSound noise-isolating headphones and one OBH craft beer or Mad Magic Kombucha. The class ends with a silent disco bash so you can let loose and finish the rest of your day with a smile. Old Bust Head Brewing Company, 7134 Farm Station Road, Warrenton. For tickets and information: tinyurl.com/4bmhbzyu

Fetch drinks at the bar with your four and two-legged friends during A Pup's Valley’s YAPPY HOUR at OLDE DOMINION TAVERN, Wednesday, May 3, 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Arrive early for complimentary yappy-tizers from Olde Dominion Tavern and some treats for the pups, too! Olde Dominion Tavern, 5351 Merchants View Square Haymarket. RSVP: yappyhourapv.eventbrite.com

DRINK

SNUGGLE

ZEN

Snakes in the Grass

(and Other Places)

Interesting facts and advice about these slithering reptiles

BY SUE BALDANI PHOTOS COURTESY OF BILL CRISP

Spring is coming, and that means that all sorts of animals are coming out to see the sun. Including snakes. That’s not always a bad thing, though. Snakes are handy to have around because they keep the rodent population under control. And that’s good for our homes, gardens, and farms.

Snakes are not always well-liked; some people are afraid of them, some just think they’re yucky, and some really believe that “the only good snake is a dead snake.” For the most part though, they can be left alone.

But sometimes – if they’re in your house, for example – they may need to be removed. Here’s where Bill Crisp, a herpetologist, wildlife educator, and licensed wildlife control operator and caregiver from Bristow comes in.

Working in the Prince William and Fauquier area, Crisp has removed over 200 snakes from residents’ homes, from basements, showers, closets, laundry baskets, and even the engine of a car.

Crisp has had a passion for snakes all his life and hopes to spark that same interest in others. Or, at the very least, teach them what to do and not to do around snakes. Here, he shares some information you won’t want to hiss (ahem, miss).

Bill Crisp

K2C Wildlife Encounters

571-921-5771

k2cwildlife.com

Eastern Copperhead

Adult Length: 2-3 ft. Fact: Baby copperheads have yellow-tipped tails for the first four or five months of their lives.

danger!

There are only two venomous snakes in and around Fauquier and Prince William Counties

Timber Rattlesnake

Adult Length: 2.5-5 ft. Fact: Can rattle its tail three times as fast as a hummingbird can flap its wings.

WHAT TO DO...

If you come across one of these two snakes, STAY AWAY. If it has to be relocated because it’s in or near your home or business, call an expert.

did you know?

the eastern copperhead is able to detect the difference between a sick rodent vs. a healthy one and will choose to go after the sick one.

don’t fret!

... WE PROMISE!

Eastern Rat Snake

Adult Length:

Fact: The most common in the area and the longest snake in Virginia. Love to eat birds and bird eggs.

Eastern Garter

Adult Length: 3-4 ft.

Fact: Commonly found around houses. Have live babies and rear bone-like teeth.

best snakepet

Northern Ring-Necked Snake

Adult Length: 10-16 in.

Fact: The ring around the neck can be white, yellow, and even orange depending on the region.

Corn snake

Adult Length: 2-6 ft. Fact: Very low maintenance and hardy

SNAKES MAKE GREAT PETS ! They require very little maintenance and adults only eat every 10 to 14 days. To feed, you can buy frozen rodents and thaw them out. Snakes can live 20 plus years, so it’s a big commitment. Just be sure to buy them from a reputable breeder.

These local snakes that you are likely to encounter are completely harmless. In fact, they play a very important role in the ecosystem, so please, let them be!

Northern Black Racer

Adult Length: 2-5 ft.

Fact: A cousin of the Eastern Rat Snake, it’s the fastest snake in Virginia. Can be very moody and doesn’t like to be engaged.

Dekays Brown

Adult Length: 15 in.

Fact: Live underneath rocks, gutter splashes, and anywhere it feels secure.

Mitul Gandhi, MD

Jey Maran, MD

Robert Marsh, MD

Muhammad Siddiqui, MD (Palliative Care)

Geoffrey Moorer, MD

Tejas Suresh, MD

BY KARA THORPE

our neighbors

Flipping for Restore

Friends Alicia Blake and Donna Comer of Amissville donate their time and furniture restoration skills to the Fauquier Habitat for Humanity Restore

They’re not new to the hobby; both Alicia and Donna have had a lifelong love for furniture thrifting and flipping. The self-taught pair bonded almost 10 years ago while shopping for pieces at estate sales and auctions. They’d then refurbish and repurpose them for family and friends. They admit their car pentry skills are minimal, but sometimes just a little sanding and painting can trans form furniture from junk to treasure.

Now they volunteer their time regularly to the Fauquier Habitat for Humanity Re store in Warrenton. The home improve ment and reuse store sells new and gently used furniture, appliances, and home goods to benefit the Fauquier Habitat for Humanity. The pair donates flipped furni ture to sell, flips Restore inventory to help it sell more quickly, and enjoys styling the store’s window and floor displays. About two years ago they even started sharing their talents by hosting a monthly Redo it at the Restore beginners chalk paint class. “The classes are entertainment with purpose,” they said, “funds from your night of fun go towards helping folks in our community.”

On the following pages you will see a small sampling of some of the furniture pieces Alicia and Donna have flipped for Restore. The ladies will also talk a little about the process for each in their own words. And if you’re feeling inspired, make sure to visit the Restore to see some of their work or sign up for their next chalk painting class. Happy flipping!

This little table was scored on an online auction. Its top had scratches and water marks and the finish was dull –but the beauty of the wood really shone through with a little sanding, some honey

“The base is painted with ‘pencil’ ReColor paint sanded to give it that distressed look.”

The top to this end table purchased at an estate sale had some wear and some pretty deep scratches, so we decided to embrace its chippy goodness and add some distressed ‘winter’ ReColor chalk paint to the tops and sides with some distressing to let the wood peek through. The lovely basket weave on the drawers just had to remain natural and was still in excellent shape.“

We named this one ‘Beauty and the Beast.’ This piece lingered on the floors of the ReStore until it was being offered at 60% off and still no takers. A big part of repurposing furniture is being able to ‘see it’ with a little ‘love’ (work) applied. Again with ‘winter’ ReColor chalk paint and some gentle distressing to give it the appearance of a worn piece and she’s lovely! It sold in 2 days!”

The Fauquier Restore 617 Frost Avenue, Warrenton Shop Tues.-Fri. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sat. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. fauquierhabitat.org/restore

Everyone who shops, donates, volunteers or takes a class at Restore is part of a worldwide movement dedicated to ensuring everyone has a decent place to live.

Alicia Blake (left) and Donna Comer (right)

Some ‘winter’ ReColor chalk paint applied to this little half table really highlights all of its ornate carving. Another online auction win.

Take The Class!...

REDO IT AT THE RESTORE WORKSHOP: A BEGINNER’S CHALK PAINT CLASS

$85 includes painting materials and an item of your choice from a designated selection at the Restore Classes are held the third Friday of most months from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. Visit fauquierhabitat.org/restore to register.

All proceeds benefit Fauquier

This piece had clearly served its purpose during its heyday. Even though her bones were good, she sat for sale for quite some time. We dressed her up with a coat of ReColor ‘winter white,’ distressed her with some sanding and just the right amount of dark wax, and changed the hardware to update just a hair. As always, we finished the surface area off with a matte topcoat for good protection and out the door she went!”

BEFORE

One of our favorites! Like so many pieces that come to the ReStore, this one had clearly been used and abused. The dated dark finish, knicks, and scratches were keeping some from seeing what life still remained. Notice this piece has very little distressing, mostly found in places where distressing would occur naturally over time and use. To distress or not to distress is a question often asked and lightly debated in most chalk paint classes. We are both fans of the distressed, chippy, worn look, but know all too well that is a personal preference only.“ L

Prince William County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and supports workforce diversity.

Wh

en you want to do eithersomething, do it, or stop talking about it.

From Diary to Book

BY SUE BALDANI PHOTOS BY LUKE CHRISTOPHER

Haymarket resident Elmer

“Stub” Estey’s path to becoming a published author started with a century-old diary found in the attic of a house his parents, Elmer and Emily, purchased in Pompey Center, NY, in 1944. The house was quite old too, but perfect for the couple to raise their five children.

It was his four older sisters, all under the age of 12 at the time, who found the diary along with a loaded pistol. Fortunately, their mother took the gun away before anyone got hurt, and as a writer herself, held onto the writings of another.

“My mother was a gifted writer and she was in Who's Who of American Women,” said Estey. “In addition, I think she just valued history and artifacts such as this.”

The diary, started in 1845, titled Daniel W. Holbrook, Memorandum Book of Remarkable Events As They Occur, includes Holbrook’s five-year journey to California to join the Gold Rush. Although the diary is in great shape, the handwriting is very hard to decipher, so reading it is quite a chore. Over 75 years after it was found, Estey decided to type out the entries.

“My initial thought was to get it typed so people, like my sisters, could manage to read it,” he said. When he was finished, the 160 page written diary was about 60 typed pages.

This endeavor led to the creation of his book, Oxcart Gold Rush , published this past December. Interspersed throughout the pages are sections from the original diary, and excerpts, sketches, newspaper articles and advertisements from history that align with Holbrook’s travels. One clip describes a new and improved steel plow and an ad for The Pony Express (delivery in 10 days from New York to San Francisco!).

“It helps readers immerse themselves in

his time,” said Estey. “I would read something Holbrook wrote and it would set me off on a research project. I would do research for a day or two, write a page or two and then boil it down to the essence. I interwove those little entries with his, but very carefully in order to maintain the integrity of what he wrote.”

Educated as an engineer, Estey spent 30 years with AT&T and then several years teaching management and consulting at his alma mater, Clarkson University in New York. “I always thought any book I would write would be about that. I was never a history buff, but this diary brought history to life.”

Writing this book, he said, was a great way of honoring Holbrook's life and remembering history itself. “It's just one man's story, but I like the notion that every person's story is important and adds to our understanding of the past. I'm proud of the fact that this book will preserve his story and my research for generations.”

At 80 years young, author, actor, and musician Stub Estey’s doing it all

Making Music

Estey said he’s a storyteller in his music too. “I've always been involved in music. As a teenager, I sang in church choirs and I've continued to sing in church choirs for over 60 years.” He also played clarinet and bassoon in his high school band, and was involved in the theater as well.

In college, he learned to play the banjo and a friend of his learned the guitar in order to provide music for their fraternity. “We're talking about the 60s, so we were singing folk songs in those days. I also learned to play these songs on the guitar.”

One of his favorite memories is being at a Kingston Trio concert. “That was my favorite band – in the 60s they were a very popular folk group,” said Estey. “I knew every word of every song. They didn't have any seats left in the audience, so they put 12 chairs on stage and I took one. At one point, one of the band members forgot the words, but I just kept on singing. So I can

say I sang on stage with the band.”

Later, he became busy with work and family and didn’t learn any new songs for the next 40 or 50 years. “Then I had this idea to go back to it. I got together with several other folks and we formed the Fair Gap band.” At this point, he was 72 years old.

Estey played in the band for about four years, but put music on hold again to serve a three-year term on the board of the homeowner’s association of the Dominion Valley Country Club in Haymarket, where he and his wife reside.

Acting the Part

When he left the board, instead of music, he returned to theater after a 60 year hiatus. “My son has been active in theater for over 20 years, and I kept saying to myself, ‘I can do this,’” he said. “When you want to do something, you either have to do it or stop talking about it. You can't sit around and say how great it would’ve been if you tried.”

Today, at the age of 80, Estey is busy act ing with the Fauquier Community Theatre in Warrenton. This past February, he was in The Greatest Generation Speaks

bucket-list role in March - the stage manager in Our Town, and produced the show as well. The band, he said, is on permanent hiatus for now.

Forever Young

“You can't do everything all at once, but you can do things in bites,” said Estey. “That's how I evolved. I think the key to staying young is to stay active. Find out what you like and then throw yourself into it.”

He’s also very much a family man. He and his wife Nancy have been married for 56 years and have two children, Chris and Kelly. They also have two grandchildren, which is what brought the couple to Haymarket. They were living in North Carolina and driving to Herndon to visit Kelly and her family quite often, so they decided to move closer.

“I was an avid golfer, so my house hunt-

After a 60-year hiatus from the stage, Stub returned to the theater at age 77. Here, photos from his performance in Gift of the Magi - the Musical.

“I celebrated my 80th birthday by publishing this book,” Stub said. “Now I’m starting to think about what I want to do if I grow up.”

Catch Thoroughfare Gap’s terrific rendition of “Jackson” here.

Peaceful Transitions

Haymarket’s Laurie Chalice is committed to eradicating the myths – and misunderstandings –surrounding hospice care

BY JONATHAN HUNLEY | PHOTOS BY LUKE CHRISTOPHER

Laurie Chalice lifts up death.

“Don’t make it, ‘Oh, it’s the end of everything,’ you know,” she said recently. “It’s OK. It’s the next journey.”

And Chalice, a 54-year-old Haymarket resident, prepares the ailing for that journey. She’s a patient care coordinator with hospice company Capital Caring, and she’s passionate about her work. She believes the last moments in a person’s life can be full of joy.

“Have fun all the way to the end. And that’s kind of my motto, you know,” said Chalice, who’s lived here 25 years. “It’s, ‘Death is not a bad thing.’ It’s just something we all go through, and it’s different. Talk about it. Don’t be afraid of it. It’s going to happen to us all.”

The National Association for Home Care & Hospice defines “hospice” as a “model of care that focuses on relieving symptoms and supporting patients with a life expectancy of six months or less.”

The Washington-based nonprofit says that there are 33,000 home care and hospice organizations in the nation that employ more than 2 million nurses, therapists and aides. Home care and hospice providers care for 12 million patients.

With that many people – and their families – involved, it might seem like most Americans would know a little about the health care option. But misconceptions about hospice can be common. Some people think it involves simply loading patients up on morphine until they die. But in reality, Chalice said, a lot of hospice patients don’t even take the painkiller.

Another fallacy is that patients enter care and two weeks later, they die. That’s not necessarily true, Chalice said: She’s had patients for as long as three years and as short as less than 12 hours.

The idea is to comfort the sick, and that mission is tackled by a team of a doctor, a nurse, a certified nursing assistant, a chaplain, a social worker, and volunteers, said Chalice, who’s been doing this work for eight and a half years.

Hospice workers can come into the patient’s home to provide care, or see patients at a hospital or another

“I see my mom laying there. I see my dad laying there. And I give them the care I’d give my parents.”

Above and Below. Chalice with a few of the many patients she’s cared for the past 7 years.

medical facility. Some companies operate standalone hospices, which have more of a homey feel than hospitals.

While it’s now Chalice’s profession, she also has had personal experiences with hospice. Her mother was a longtime nurse and frequently told her she should be one, too.

Chalice went in another direction, though, and was an electronics buyer and materials manager for 25 years. But every time someone in her family got sick, she was always involved. So she decided to start nursing school, and she did really well. She left the electronics field behind for a home health company, and within a year, her boss asked her if she wanted to try hospice work.

A few years later, Chalice’s mother was suffering from vein issues and went into surgery for a blockage in her leg. During the procedure, though, she had a major stroke. She couldn’t eat, she was paralyzed and blind, and she couldn’t speak. So the family decided she should have hospice care and that Chalice would be involved. Her mother’s doctor

told Chalice that, after taking care of her mom, she would either love hospice more, or pull away from the practice. Her mom passed away after only about 48 hours, but the experience solidified the younger woman’s future path.

Two years later, in 2021, Chalice’s father got sick. He had been in and out of the hospital, mainly from the stress of his wife being gone after 63 years together. And he already had congestive heart failure, but it was starting to get worse. So Chalice brought her hospice team in, and they took care of him for a year before he, too, passed away.

The experiences, though, were so rewarding that Chalice wanted the families of other patients to feel like she did.

“And that’s how I look at patients now more than ever,” she said. “I’m like, I see my mom laying there. I see my dad

laying there. And I give them the care I’d give my parents.”

She does things such as putting one female patient, who’s in a wheelchair, in an all-terrain vehicle and driving her around. It is important for hospice patients to stay active, after all.

Then there was the time when Chalice, who was wearing blue scrubs when interviewed, bought Ohio State-themed red scrubs to wear around a patient who was a graduate of the university. That was quite a sacrifice because Chalice is originally from Michigan, and Ohio State is the bitter rival of the University of Michigan.

Chalice will presumably continue her special brand of care for years to come, too, as she’s finishing up work to become a registered nurse and is looking to start her own hospice company.

When she begins care, she asks patients if they’re afraid of dying.

“I don’t want someone holding that in,” she said. “Let’s talk about it, get it out, so we can deal with it and get them to a place where they’re not afraid. To me, that’s very important: for someone not to be afraid.”

One initially fearful patient was Josephine Russo. She had cancer before dying at 65.

Said Chalice: “When I first started with her, she said, ‘Laurie, I’m scared to die.’ And I said, ‘Well, I believe when you get closer, that’s going to change.’ And closer we got, she said, ‘I’m not afraid anymore.’”

Russo’s husband of 50 years, Joe, praised Chalice’s work. He said she’s a “wonderful lady.”

“She did an excellent job,” said Joe Russo, who owns Giuseppe’s Ristorante Italiano in Haymarket.

Important things to know about hospice

Laurie Chalice, patient care coordinator with hospice company Capital Caring, offered these tips on hospice care, especially for those who are considering the option for a loved one:

Hospice is covered by Medicare and most private insurance companies.

When seeking information about hospice, it’s important to ask others about their experiences, Chalice said: What did they and the patient like? What didn’t they like? A hospice should support a patient and family.

Informationseekers should also ask a prospective hospice about its employees: Does the provider have quality staff and enough workers? Does the company have enough coverage so that a nurse can get there when death is imminent?

A hospice should provide lots of education and ensure that a family understands what’s going on at all times.

Families should have the same hospice team throughout their loved one’s time under care. Some companies will send a different nurse every week. That’s not good, Chalice said.

Hospice is 24/7. That doesn’t mean workers will be in a patient’s home around the clock, Chalice said, but rather that, if family members encounter a problem at 3 in the morning, a hospice representative will either walk them through a solution over the phone or come out to the house immediately.

You can fire your hospice. If families find that their loved one isn’t getting good care, they can end the relationship and start another, different one.

It’s OK if family members aren’t there when their loved one takes the last breath. Sometimes they are sleeping and they wake up and their loved one has passed. “That doesn’t change a lifetime,” Chalice said.

Hospice workers also get attached to certain patients, Chalice said. After caring for one woman for three years, she said she probably actually cried more than the patient’s daughter did when the end arrived.

“We do get emotional, and that’s OK,” she said.

Their care doesn’t end with the time of death, either. A hospice should follow a family for 13 months after their loved one passes, Chalice said. For example, she delivers flowers on birthdays and major holidays. And she stops by for coffee if she’s in an area where a hospice family lives, just to see how the survivors are doing.

Two women were left alone after being with their husbands for 75 years, Chalice said: “So we stayed very close to them, and both of them are doing great today.”

The second year after a loved one passes is actually harder than the first, Chalice said. In the first year survivors are getting adjusted, changing the bills, the credit cards, all those things. The second year, however, feels more like, “Oh, they’re really gone.”

Chalice also thinks people can perceive when life is ending, and she offered two anecdotes as proof. Recently, the father of a coworker got sick, went into the hospital, came home, and was fine. He told the kids, “Why don’t you go get a pizza, and, you know, we’ll have dinner. I’m going to take a nap.” He went upstairs, pulled out shoes and his favorite suit, and wrote a note about what he wanted at his funeral. Then he laid down and died.

Another man, a friend of Chalice, went out one night, saw all of his friends and told them, “I just want you to know that I love you and how much you mean to me.” Then he went home, went to bed and never woke up. L

“There are so many benefits from hospice that people don’t know about,” said Chalice. “It’s really the ultimate end-of-life care.”

Geothermal Repairs

A Prescription for Patience and Caring

Gainesville Pharmacy goes above and beyond for its customers

BY SUE BALDANI | PHOTOS BY LUKE CHRISTOPHER

on top of the latest pharmaceutical advancements to keep their neighbors healthy.

Gainesville Pharmacy, said James, was one of the first places in the area that had the COVID vaccine outside of the Virginia Department of Health. “There would be lines out the door and Pal would stay late making sure everybody got vaccinated. He actually received a commendation from the governor because of all the hard work he put in.”

Bhuller, who is also a nurse at a local community hospital, and her mother also came in to help out during this time.

Many of the vaccines that people, especially seniors, request in order to stay protected are available. “As things change, we try to adapt as much as possible,” said James.

“For example, we are right across the street from a 55 and older community and we've had a lot of people coming in asking about shingles vaccines. We started offering these in January once Pal knew it would be covered by insurance. He didn’t want them having to pay out of pocket.”

Medication Costs

Understanding the medications we take, especially when it comes to side effects, dosages and drug interactions, can be daunting. For our elderly population, who are often prescribed a myriad of drugs, it helps to have someone who will answer their questions and address any concerns.

Laura James, operations manager and lead technician at Gainesville Pharmacy, said, “Sometimes, especially when patients are sick, they may be confused, upset, or even angry. Our pharmacist and owner, Pal Kahlon, will sit and talk with them. By the time they're done, they feel much better.”

Long-time customers, Gail and Rich of Haymarket, agree. “Pal knows every customer by name and provides a level of service and care unrivaled by any big chain pharmacy out there. He’s the last of a true breed of pharmacists. He goes out of his way to make

sure his customers’ needs are met as well as the needs of the local community we live in.”

Kahlon and his wife, Sonya Bhuller, took over the business in 2017 (it was originally established in 2012). Kahlon had previously worked for other independent pharmacies as a compounding technician for almost 10 years.

“He had always wanted to open a pharmacy where he could be his own boss and where his efforts would benefit the community we live in,” said Bhuller. She and Kahlon live in Western Prince William and have two daughters, ages 8 and 3.

Community Involvement

The couple helps the community by holding collections for the Haymarket Regional Food Pantry, Treats for Troops, Boxes of Basics, and other local charities, and by sponsoring local school events. They also stay

Coverage for medications can change frequently, which can be very stressful for everyone, but especially seniors. First and foremost is the financial burden these changes can cause for those on limited incomes. Plus, said Bhuller, seniors tend to like consistency and when things change without their knowledge, it can lead to unhappiness and confusion.

“We try to inform them prior to filling the prescription exactly what their cost will be, and if they are unable to fill it due to the price, we find comparable and cost-effective options, which may not be possible with big box pharmacies.”

Access to Medication

Another challenge some seniors may face is getting ahold of their medications. While they can have them delivered through mail order pharmacies, that can sometimes delay treatment. So, Gainesville Pharmacy delivers. “This

From left, Bahadur Singh, owner Pal Kahlon, Sonya Buhller (RN), Laura James, and Amar Gousheh.

helps make it easy for patients to receive their medications in a timely fashion and helps keep their condition from deteriorating,” she said.

Added James, “If we don’t have a particular medication that day, we can get it by the next morning. As a small pharmacy, we order what we want when we want, and it gets here when we need it. Granted, there's sometimes nationwide back orders that are out of our control, but we always do our very best to get the medications we can to our patients who need them.”

“If Pal does not stock something you want, he will do his best to get it for you and fast,” said Rich. “His technology also makes refills and routine transactions easy and fast.”

Prescription Regimens

Many medications have their unique regimen that can be hard to understand, explains Kahlon, and he and his pharmacists are always available to simplify things. For example, patients may be prescribed injectables, but no one has instructed them on how to administer them properly.

“It can be overwhelming when you’re newly diagnosed with a condition that requires you to take shots,” he said. “We walk our patients through the process and make sure they can return the demonstration. We want them to be comfortable with what they need to do.”

Added Gail, “He collaborates with his customers to meet their needs, whether it’s compounding advanced formularies that most other pharmacies cannot or will not

do or simply delivering a prescription for a homebound customer.”

Drug Interactions

Since seniors are often on multiple medications, using one pharmacy can also prevent dangerous drug interactions. “We’re a full service pharmacy and recommend that patients use one pharmacy to prevent various medication interactions,” said Kahlon. “We also make sure we educate our patients on the supplements that can be depleted with long-term usage of medications.”

Compounding Services

Since Gainesville Pharmacy is a compounding pharmacy, it often handles custom medications. “Many of the seniors in our area are active or retired military and are covered by TRICARE,” said James. “Many insurance companies don’t cover compounded medications, but TRICARE does, so we work with them to make sure we get as much covered as possible in order to make it more affordable for a lot of those seniors.”

Another huge benefit of compounded medications is the ability to tailor it to the patient. “Some senior citizens, as well as kids, may have trouble swallowing pills, so we can do liquid medications for them,” she said. “We can also make dissolvable gummies that go under your tongue.” The pharmacy even compounds medications for pets. For example, they can make them into chicken flavored treats that cats and dogs will happily ingest.

Added Gail and Rich, “Gainesville Phar-

“Pal knows every customer by name,” said long-time customers Gail and Rich of Haymarket. “He provides a level of service and care unrivaled by any big chain pharmacy out there.” Below: As a compounding pharmacy, Gainesville Pharmacy can tailor medications to its customers’ needs.”

macy takes care of the whole family, even our four legged ones.”

A Family Atmosphere

For James, working at Gainesville Pharmacy has been a true pleasure. “My husband Chris is currently active duty with Space Force, but we've lived all over the country. Being a military spouse, it's hard to find somebody to hire you.

“Also, since my husband works at the Pentagon, it can be difficult to get back to Gainesville quickly. We have a 12-year-old son Jake and an 8-year-old daughter Lily, and there’ve been times I’ve had to miss work to care for them. Pal and Sonya are very flexible with my schedule and understand my unique needs. They are simply caring people.”

She said they also make her feel like part of the family. “When you're a military family moving around a lot, it's really nice to have that feeling.” L

Gainesville Rx Pharmacy

7963 Heritage Village Plaza, Gainesville 703-743-5603

info@gainesvillerx.com

GainesvilleRx.com

MARKET UPDATE

Inventory continues to be incredibly low, while there are still many families, desperately looking for homes in this area. The competition continues to be fierce with multiple offers, limited contingencies and escalation addendums on homes that show well and are priced right, from the start. This is the formula for obtaining the most competitive offer as opposed to stalling a sale by overpricing and then having to work the price downward. Pricing right from the start, draws the crowd, results in multiple offers and this is when offers are the most competitive. This is my best advice to sellers.

For purchasers, my best advice is to bring a strong and competitive offer or jump straight to the head of the line and come visit us at Stonehaven! Each week, we sell homes to families without the stress and headache of competing with multiple offers, paying over list price and waiving all contingencies. Easy-peasy but you better hurry because people are snatching up our current inventory FAST!!

Whether you are a buyer or a seller, hire a REALTOR, who is experienced, an expert negotiator, understands the business and strategies to help you win in any market, regardless of extenuating conditions.

For more information or to learn more about strategies to help you win, contact Julia Foard-Lynch, REALTOR® and owner of Cornerstone Realty Team, LLC, an Affiliate of Century 21 New Millennium.

Julia Foard-Lynch has been serving Fauquier and the surrounding counties, with excellence in Real Estate for the last 18 years.

it’s gonna bee a

Honey of a Spring

BY KARLA JONES SEIDITA, HOME ECONOMIST

Bees love spring. The warm days tease Mother Nature to open her sleeping blossoms. Bees celebrate the season by flitting from flower-to-flower sipping the sweet nectars. Along the way, they spread the pollen they’ve collected. It’s a honey of a life.

When they’re done for the day, the bees buzz back to their hives for twilight sessions of honey making that can last well into the night. Bees certainly work hard for their honey.

You can help the bees with their work by planting a bee-utiful buffet of flowers that they find irresistible like asters, sunflowers and zinnia. In return, they’ll gift you with an abundance of their gorgeous, healthy, rejuvenating super food.

Hot tea sweetened with raw, local, unfiltered honey is a time-honored remedy for soothing throats and chasing away sniffles but don’t wait until you’re under the weather to enjoy the good taste and good health of honey. There’s a whole hive full of tasty ways to pollinate your meals. Let’s buzz on into the kitchen!

Sweet as Honey Tea Bread

This is a honey of a recipe. Incredibly easy and incredibly delicious, especially when thickly spread with butter. Serve it at your next garden club gathering and you’ll be queen bee!

MAKES 1 LOAF

SPECIAL EQUIPMENT

Loaf pan measuring 9 X 5 X 2 ½ inches

Baking parchment

INGREDIENTS

2 cups dairy or non-dairy milk

2 Tablespoons vinegar

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 cups whole wheat flour

2 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt (optional)

1 cup honey

Note: There are no eggs, butter or oil in this recipe.

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix vinegar into milk and let sit 10 minutes.

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

3. Cut pieces of baking parchment to fit sides and bottom of pan. Corners of pan may have slight gaps. Grease or mist unlined pan with baking spray. Fit parchment pieces into greased pan pressing down so they stick to the pan. Set aside.

4. In a large bowl, whisk both flours, baking soda, salt (if adding), honey and milk mixture. Batter will be thin. Pour into prepared pan.

5. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean and bread starts to pull away from the sides of the pan – 55 to 60 minutes.

6. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pan. When completely cooled, wrap and leave at room temperature overnight to mellow before cutting. Store in refrigerator.

Grow the Flowers They Love

Help the bees make honey! Start with these easy-to-grow basics for your bee friendly garden. Vary the plants to bloom in different seasons so the bees will have a continuing buffet.

Sub 2 cups buttermilk or kiefer for the dairy or non-dairy milk. Omit the vinegar.

The bread may seem dry if cut the same day it’s baked.

Salt fills out the flavor of the bread but if you’re trying to cut down on salt, you can leave it out.

BAKER’S TIPS

ASTERS BEE BALM CONEFLOWERS

JOE-PYE WEED SUNFLOWERS ZINNIA

About Shave the Day

On April 15 from 1-4 pm, local heroes of our community will come together for “Shave the Day” to honor the children who have had to shave their heads due to children’s cancer. These volunteers will have their hair shaved off by a professional stylist for a great cause. This is our second year presenting this event and while we raised over $10,000 last year, we are looking to raise even more this year! The Farm Brewery in Broad Run are great supporters of the event as well and they will be donating a portion of the event’s proceeds to our cause. Also, various local businesses have donated items to be auctioned off at our silent auction. This is a family friendly event with bounce house, face painting, balloon art and more!

The ladies of Studio B are proud to be a part of such an amazing event in bringing the community together. We love getting out and being involved in all aspects of our community and it is part of the culture that we have created within our salon. Brooke Bailey and her elite stylists invite you to join us for a wonderful day of activities. We’d also like to thank the local businesses that have donated their time and efforts in joining us to make this a magical day for these children.

Fat Free Lemon & Honey Salad Dressing

Don’t get stung by the high cost of bottled dressings with all their preservatives, gums and fillers. Just squeeze fresh lemon juice over your salad then drizzle with honey to taste. Sprinkle with a bit of salt if desired. Tastes like the first bite of spring. Couldn’t bee easier!

Pan-Asian Honey Dipping Sauce

You’ll bee dipping and drizzling this addictive condiment on anything and everything even salads.

MAKES 1/3 CUP

INGREDIENTS

3 Tablespoons honey

1 Tablespoon soy sauce

1 Tablespoon roasted sesame oil

2 teaspoons lemon juice

DIRECTIONS

Mix. Store in the fridge.

So Easy, Homemade Honey Ketchup

Read the labels of grocery store ketchup and you’ll see that most start with tomato paste. So why not grab a can and make you own? You save a bundle and wind up with a delicious homemade ketchup worthy of any French fry. Best of all, there’s not a smidge of high fructose corn syrup. It’s 5 hives up for this recipe!

MAKES ½ CUP

INGREDIENTS

3 oz. tomato paste

2 Tablespoons honey (to taste)

1 Tablespoon vinegar (your fav)

¼ teaspoon salt (to taste)

¼ cup water

DIRECTIONS

Mix. Good as is or jazz it up. Keeps 4 weeks in the fridge.

JAZZ-ERS UP

(CHOOSE ONE OR SEVERAL)

Onion and/or garlic powder, pickled jalapenos, red pepper flakes, capers, hot sauce, pickle juice, balsamic vinegar and/or more water for the consistency you like.

Where to Buy Local Honey

Local honey means it comes from not too far away - about a 50 mile or so radius. Check the label. And if you see “raw” and “unfiltered” on the label, it’s a plus. Raw honey has not been heated. Unfiltered honey has not been strained to remove pollen or other particles. Many stores in our area sell local honey. Here’s a few:

Honey Mustard

The bee’s knees on hot dogs and sausages. Sandwiches, too. A stinger of a dipping sauce for veggies or nuggets and simply buzzing as a salad dressing.

MAKES 1/2 CUP

INGREDIENTS

¼ cup honey

¼ cup brown or yellow mustard

DIRECTIONS

Mix. Keeps indefinitely in the fridge.

Hot Honey

Worker bees love this tasty addition to ham biscuits, sandwiches, bagels - whatever. Good, too, as a glaze for roasts, grills and broils. Spread on the last few minutes of cooking to caramelize. Keep a jar on hand and use it everywhere.

MAKES ½ CUP

INGREDIENTS

¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

½ cup honey

DIRECTIONS

Mix. Infuse overnight so flavors can develop. Keeps indefinitely at room temp or in the fridge. Stir before each use.

BEALETON: MESSICK’S FARM MARKET

GAINESVILLE: EDEN NATURAL MARKET

LAKE RIDGE: THE BEE STORE (SWEET SOPHIA)

MARSHALL/ MORRISVILLE/ WARRENTON: CFC FARM & HOME CENTER (THE CO-OP)

NEW BALTIMORE: BUCKLAND FARM MARKET

WARRENTON: THE FARMERS MARKET

Roasted Acorn Squash with Honey, Orange, and Rice Stuffing

Don’t let everyday meals drone on and on. Try something new like this yummy stuffed squash. An absolutely lovely vegetarian main dish. Nice, too, as a feisty side with meat or poultry. Bee sure to use “sweet” orange marmalade. It’s not bitter like the regular kind.

SERVES 2

INGREDIENTS

1 acorn squash (about 3 inches in diameter)

1 ¼ cups cooked rice

2 Tablespoons sliced almonds

2 Tablespoon melted butter

2 Tablespoons honey

1 Tablespoon sweet orange marmalade

2 Tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped – no stems

¼ teaspoon salt

Pinch pepper

For serving - 1 cup vegetable or chicken gravy

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat to 375 degrees.

2. Cut squash in half. Remove seeds and discard.

3. Cover a baking sheet with foil. Spritz foil with cooking spray. Place squash, cut side down, on prepared pan. Roast till soft and there’s a bit of brown on the cut side - about 45 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, for the stuffing, mix rice, almonds, melted butter, honey, marmalade, parsley, salt and pepper.

5. When squash is done, invert and fill cavities with stuffing. Tent with foil and return to oven until stuffing is hot – about 10 minutes. Serve with hot gravy. L

meet&greet

Ryan Walker

House of Mercy

8170 FLANNERY CT., MANASSAS 703-579-0281

RWALKER@HOUSEOFMERCYVA.ORG HOUSEOFMERCYVA.ORG

When and why did you decide to join House of Mercy?

I joined House of Mercy in September 2020. I had just gotten married and moved to the area for my wife’s job, but due to the pandemic I couldn’t get a job as a Recreational Therapist, which was my previous field. Through a Bible Study at All Saints Catholic Church, I met our Executive Director Jessica Root and found out that she was looking for someone to work in Donor Relations. My second major in college was Nonprofit and Philanthropy Leadership with a concentration in fundraising and it had been my dream to work at a Catholic Nonprofit, so when I was offered the job I was thrilled.

How does House of Mercy serve the local community?

We provide free food and clothing to families in need. We also provide opportunities for our patrons, volunteers and the people we serve to grow personally and spiritually.

Please share one of the greatest moments you’ve experienced since joining House of Mercy.

I was covering the food pantry when a young woman came in to register. As I was telling her about all the services she could receive she began to cry. She was taken back by the amount of free food and clothing she could receive and said that no one had ever helped her this much before. It was a blessing to see how our organization can impact someone the first time they walk through our doors.

Tell us about your experience with HGBA.

I’ve had a great experience with HGBA so far. Everyone there is wonderful and I’ve learned so much about small businesses and our community by being a part of it. How has it supported you and House of Mercy?

We’ve made some great connections and partnerships to help support the food pantry through HGBA. It’s a wonderful opportunity for businesses to come together in support of the betterment of their shared community.

What are the top three business tips and tricks can you offer other professionals?

Care about your customers, take pride in the product or service you sell/provide and care for the people you work with.

Are you from this area? If not, what brought you here and what do you like about living here?

I grew up in Warwick, New York and moved to Pittsburgh after college. My wife’s job brought us to Manassas and I love the area. It’s a lot like the town I grew up in so I feel right at home.

What is your favorite season in this area, and why?

Fall, I love it when the leaves change.

Do you have any hobbies?

I enjoy reading, writing fiction, poetry and religious essays, watching movies and walking my dog.

What is your favorite restaurant?

Mariachi’s in Old Town Manassas.

Are you involved with any other nonprofits?

Yes. I’m involved with the Knights of Columbus at All Saints, as well as some of their young adult ministries. What was your first job, or your most interesting job prior to joining House of Mercy?

My first job was as a counselor at a sleep away camp for children and adults with disabilities. It’s that job that first got me interested in helping people and in nonprofit management. L

The Haymarket Gainesville Business Association was established in 1990 and is the premier association supporting business and community involvement in the Haymarket-Gainesville area. They offer a forum for information sharing and contribute to community projects that positively impact businesses and residents. Want to learn more? Visit www.HGBA.biz

Keep

A

It’s Spring! Time to explore Prince William Parks

Travel around Prince William County this spring to explore its beautiful parks and attend free events! Once you’ve arrived at a park (either to explore the park or attend an event), use your phone or mobile device to check in to the park you are visiting. Upon completion of checking in at a total of 11 parks, you will earn a PWC Prize Pack (limit 1 per household). You must complete a total of 11 park check-ins (any combination of parks of your choice) to redeem a PWC Parks Prize Pack. PWC Parks Explorer is free to play and there’s nothing to download! Anyone can play. Happy exploring! For complete details, visit tinyurl.com/5yshwkx9

Remember Okra’s?

Two new restaurants are taking its place

Sweet! Candytopia is coming to Tysons Corner Center

Miguel Pires, the man behind Zandra’s Taqueria – which itself has locations in Manassas, Haymarket and Fairfax – is taking over the former Okra’s space in the same building on Center and Battle streets, renovating the building to restore the “historic character” and clearing space for two new eateries.

According to a news release from the Manassas Economic Development Authority, Pires and his team are converting what was the Okra’s banquet room next door to Zandra’s into an “Asian street food concept called Zengo’s.” The release says the Zengo’s menu will include items like bao buns, pot stickers and satay skewers.

In addition, the former bar and kitchen area of Okra’s is being made into a gastro pub called Gadfly. An old coin shop there will also be converted for the restaurant, which will feature outdoor seating and a “rotating menu of seasonal dishes and elevated pub fare.”

“We’re extremely excited to bring these new concepts to downtown Manassas,” Pires said in the release. “Downtown is the heart and soul of Manassas and has so much going for it – we’re thrilled for the opportunity to invest in the City again and continue to revitalize this one-of-a-kind-location.”

Adults, ready to have a field day? Join the fun and support

The Sweet Julia Grace Foundation

Remember the excitement and anticipation after Charlie found the final golden ticket in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”? Ever wish a Candy Land game board could come to life?

Candy lovers will be able to immerse themselves in the sweet stuff, now that Candytopia will open later this month, in Tysons Corner Center in Fairfax County.

Its originators call it an “outrageously interactive candy wonderland,” with 16,000 square feet of 14 different interactive environments — each suitable for social media moments, of course.

Sculptures, paintings and other displays are made entirely of jelly beans, gummy bears, gumballs, licorice, rock candy and sour worms.

The Sweet Julia Grace Foundation is gearing up for another fun (and funny!) Adult Field Day on Saturday, May 20, at The Farm Brewery at Broad Run. Check-in begins at 11 a.m., and the games will run from 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. Registration is open now but there are two important requirements: Players must be 18 years of age or older and they must be ready to laugh. If you’re cool with those conditions, get all the details and register right here: sweetjuliagrace.org/fieldday

COMING SOON!

Local business... the heart and the lifeline our of community. From retail stores to restaurants, entertainment and service providers, these are the organizations and people who make this county a great place to live. Our annual “Best of” competition strives to highlight local businesses as voted on by you, our readers.