Warrenton Lifestyle Magazine October 2006

October 2006

Living & Shopping In Wonderful Warrenton, VA

ifestyle

m a g a z i n e

In this issue…

Liberty/Fauquier Football Pics Hurricane Katrina: One Volunteer’s Memories …and MORE!

October 2006

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Publishers Tony & Holly Tedeschi for Piedmont Press & Graphics tony@piedmontpress.com Advertising Cindy McBride CindyMcBride@piedmontpress.com Mitchell Morton mitchell@piedmontpress.com Warrenton Lifestyle Magazine c/o Piedmont Press & Graphics 404 Belle Air Lane Warrenton,Virginia 20186 540.347.4466 Ph 540.347.9335 Fx www.warrentonlifestyle.com For general inquiries, advertising, editorial, listings or technical support: E: WarrentonLifestyle@piedmontpress.com Tel: 540.347.4466 Fax: 540.347.9335 Editorial & Advertising office: Open 8:00 am to 5:30 pm Monday to Friday: 404 Belle Air Lane, Warrenton, VA 20186 The Warrenton Lifestyle Magazine is published monthly and distributed to all its advertisers and selected addresses. While reasonable care is taken with all material submitted to The Warrenton 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. Š2006 Piedmont Press & Graphics Printed in Warrenton, Virginia. USA

From the Publisher…

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all has arrived with its usual grace and beauty and October is the month when all of the “leafers” start their treks through Warrenton to the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains. Many of these folks will stop in our fine Town to shop, dine and relax. We will greet them with our best Warrentonian smiles, help with directions to get back on the road, recommend one of our fine dining establishments and point out places of interest. Or, send them to the new Visitors Center which just opened at the Mosby House.

This month’s issue of The Warrenton Lifestyle is, in my opinion, our best issue yet. There are five terrific features this month and some added benefits. We began subscription service for those of you who live outside of the delivery area and we did it at the bargain price of only $7.00 for a year so everyone with the Warrenton spirit can get a copy mailed to them. Also, our surveys are now online with automatic tabulating and instantaneous results.

Our features this month include a color pictorial from the Fauquier/Liberty football game by Chris Moorhead; a story by Red Cross volunteer, Lina Marengo-Frank, who left her career behind to help those suffering from Hurricane Katrina; high school student and future Governor of Virginia, Michael Rowand, contributes his first story to our publication with a unique profile of Warrenton’s popular and successful mayor, George Fitch; historian, realtor and Harley-rider Dink Godfrey takes us through Warrenton’s picturesque cemetery.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and all of us know of someone who has had to combat this disease. Fortunately, we are surrounded by a growing number of survivors because of the increased awareness of the importance of early detection and the advances in medicine. Amy Petty brings us advice and insight from a local perspective including a preview of the longawaited Cancer Treatment Center at Lake Manassas, co-founded

by Fauquier Hospital.

47 South Third Warrenton, Virginia 540-347-3868 www.christinefox.com MON -SAT 10-5 or by Appt.

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For rates & advertising information contact Cindy McBride at 540.347.4466 or email: CindyMcBride@piedmontpress.com October 2006

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Living A Healthier Lifestyle Breast Cancer Awareness Month information and go about your day.

But when you lose someone close to you, then it’s personal.

Ruth Linkous Willm was one of my greatest friends.

Funny and smart, Ruth Amy Petty, Drew Carey and Ruth Willm at the had the type of 1998 Superbowl. personality that made people want

by Amy Petty to be around her. Because her mother ctober is Breast Cancer died at 36 of breast cancer, Ruth made Awareness Month, a certain to have mammograms every fact loudly proclaimed year from the time she was 30. But she from public service missed one. The next year’s test brought announcements on tv and radio, the diagnosis of breast cancer. Over brochures in doctors’ offices, pink the course of a few years, it couldn’t ribbons on cars, runs and walks to raise be contained. She was only 40 when money, and more. It’s easy to see this she died. Ruth left behind a two year

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old daughter, Catie, and her husband, Lee. I often wonder what would have happened if she hadn’t missed that one mammogram.

Dr. John Williams, a Warrenton surgeon specializing in breast surgery, cites the importance of monthly selfexams and annual mammograms (the American College of Radiology recommends beginning annual mammograms at 40). He adds, “In addition to these screenings, the most important thing to remember is that if you ever feel a lump in your breast, it is very important to see your doctor or surgeon to have it evaluated, no matter your age.”

While finding a lump in your breast is nerve wracking, Dr. Williams notes that, “Most lumps are not cancerous.

We decide whether or not to remove the lump, and of course perform a biopsy. The minority of these lumps

Warrenton Lifestyle

palpate it. I took the x-rays to him, and I was in the hospital two days later.”

While Catherine’s mother did not have breast cancer, two maternal aunts did.

Catherine’s daughter, Karen, was only 12 years old at the time.

Catherine recalls, “I was worried I wouldn’t see her through school, and now look at me. I’m able to be with her children.

Having regular mammograms is so important.”

Karen echoes that thought, “I know it’s important for women to be diligent with monthly selfexams and annual mammograms, but having a family history really makes it imperative.”

So, what if you have a family

history of breast cancer? Dr. Williams recommends that patients with close family members diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 50, or have a history of ovarian cancer, should discuss with their physician the possibility of beginning annual mammograms earlier than age 40. In addition, they may consider genetic screening for the breast cancer gene.

For those who need chemotherapy and radiation, their needs can be met close to home. Fauquier Hospital’s infusion therapy center delivers chemotherapy, injections and hydration See Cancer Awareness on page 8

2006

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do turn out to be breast cancers.

When that happens, we work with the patient to make decisions on what to do surgically, make sure it’s not in the lymph nodes, and assess whether radiation or chemotherapy is necessary.

The overwhelming majority of patients with breast cancer have a lumpectomy with radiation. Fortunately in today’s world, mastectomy is very infrequent; however, when it is necessary, reconstruction options are available at Fauquier Hospital in coordination with plastic surgeon Dr. David Allison.”

Catherine Stone, 79, says she is a poster child for early mammograms, “Almost 30 years ago when mammograms were new, Georgetown University Hospital was asking for volunteers to get mammograms. I’m not the kind of person to run and do something like that – I don’t know what made me do it – but a friend asked me to go and I went. That’s when my lump, it was the size of a pea, was detected. After I had the mammogram, I got a letter saying that I should go to a physician. My doctor examined me, but he couldn’t

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Cancer Awareness cont’d from page 7

FOR MORE INFORMATION Fauquier Hospital: Visiting their website at www.fauquierhospital.org can help sort out the many services offered for breast cancer patients. Additional information about the Cancer Center at Lake Manassas is under the “Healthy Happenings” tab at the bottom of the home page in the Summer 2006 issue.

Look Good, Feel Better: In conjunction with the American Cancer Society, Fauquier Hospital hosts this free educational session to help breast cancer patients overcome the appearance-related effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. This two hour class is offered the second Tuesday of each month.

To learn more or reserve your spot in the next class, call 800-227-2345.

Cancer Center at Lake Manassas to open in November

to cancer patients. And in November, the Cancer Center at Lake Manassas will open. The new center, a joint project between Fauquier Hospital and Prince William Hospital, will offer state of the art services to cancer patients.

Those patients who previously had to travel Winchester, Charlottesville or Fairfax for radiation, will now have the benefit of receiving services much closer to home. Says Dr. Williams, “It really is just like Fauquier Hospital says, we’re able to provide advanced care close at hand.”

If you think you’re too young to know anyone with breast cancer, think again. You might not be on a first name basis with Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge or Kylie Minogue, but they have more than successful music careers in common. They have all battled breast cancer and seem to be winning.

According to the American Cancer Society, in 2005, more than 212,000 cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in the United States. If you are diagnosed, it is important to know there are many local resources to help you through your treatment.

Arm yourself with the knowledge that could save your life. Make sure to perform monthly breast exams, and follow your physician’s recommended schedule of mammograms. It could make the same difference for you that it has for Catherine and Karen.

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ACS website, www.cancer.org, offers extensive information to patients, families, friends and survivors. Information specific to breast cancer is offered that reveals statistics, risk factors, survival rates and more. In addition, the American Cancer Society sponsors a tollfree information line open 24-hours a day, year round, to respond to related questions.

Representatives at this number can also assist with other issues from nutritionists to helping arrange rides to treatment.

The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation has the mission to “eradicate breast cancer through research, education, screening and treatment.” Their website www.komen.org has a wealth of information Breast Cancer Support Group: Every targeted to breast cancer patients, survivors, third Tuesday of the month, breast cancer their friends and family members. patients get together at Fauquier Hospital to discuss medications, surgical options, coping mechanisms and more. For times and location, call the hospital at 540/349-0588.

American Cancer Society (ACS): The

Have a suggestion for a future column on making a healthier Warrenton? Email your ideas to amytpetty@adelphia.net. Amy Petty has lived in the Warrenton area for the past seven years. She is the Marketing Director for the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites.

Warrenton Lifestyle

October 2006

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Meet the Mayor George Fitch brings candor and worldly experience to Warrenton

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by Michael Rowand

nside a cozy office with its door open, inviting visitors, behind a large wooden desk with a computer perched upon it, sits Mayor George Fitch. Mayor Fitch is an enigma in American politics. He campaigned last year for governor as a maverick who ran against the selection of most Republicans in the state. He believes that growth in the local economy need not entail the destruction of the environment and that most social issues should be removed from politics.

Fitch’s political heroes are Teddy Roosevelt and the Prime Minister of Singapore, who turned the island nation into one of the world’s economic powers while the Mayor was living there.

When George Fitch was elected in 1998, he had his work cut out for him. “When I first came to office, I probably spent twenty to thirty hours a week fulfilling mayoral duties, trying to fulfill all the promises I made during the first campaign.”

This is in addition to his job an international trade consultant.

Since then, the work has dropped off significantly, with the completion of many of Fitch’s goals. Always a hard worker, Fitch still says he spends more time with his mayoral duties and is paid less than for his part-time consulting firm, but is trying his best in Richmond, but he’s got a Republican he makes it clear that “I’m glad to do it.” It is certainly a legislature to deal with.” Fitch speaks with the passion of a man tribute to his relatively middle of the road leadership that he discontented with those in power. “It’s especially polarized at is unopposed for the upcoming mayoral election. In his bid the primary level. [The extreme party members] should be on the hill doing the people’s business. for re-election in 2002 he won easily.

Fitch is very appreciative of the “I would urge those who believe in It’s all a game to them. Politicians should speak clearly. They should role his wife has played in his time an independent movement to speak out. say ‘Here’s the problem and here in office. “She’s played a big role my solutions.’ The sad thing in my victories, but it’s not just the Politics is simple. It’s the politicians that are is that in national, the less specific campaigns,” he says passionately, you are with your plan, the better.” “it’s in helping me make the best complicate it.”

Mayor Fitch intends to deal decisions for the community. You — Mayor Fitch with the one local issue that is always hear about the wife being the on most Warrentonian’s minds: power behind the throne and this is a classic example of that. I always turn to her for counsel.” growth. “I think the biggest thing people would say about Fitch then speaks of one of the plans he has proposed which growth is ‘There’s a lot of it. Can we slow it down?’ Everybody on he hopes to complete in his next term. “The recreation center the [Town] Council is unanimous to slow it down; it makes for smooth sailing. Usually it’s good to have more dissent, but this was all her idea.”

Fitch has problems with the national political scene. He is a good thing. We don’t want to live in Centreville, with the tells of a growing dissatisfaction with the major parties and endless sprawl.” Fitch speaks of the difficulties of controlling the establishment that he became aware of while he was the growth “It’ll test the metal of a politician. The problem campaigning for governor. “What I learned was that the average in Richmond is that 45% of the campaign contributions are person wants a change. They don’t trust the establishment. from developers and builders. I’d like to see politicians spend They’re tired of sound bites; they want a solution to their more time on growth management. I think the electorate problems. Voters believe the parties have been recaptured by is going to make sure they do it.” Fitch believes he knows the extremes. There are now more independents than there See Mayor on page 12 are true members of the major parties. I think Tim Kaine 10

Warrenton Lifestyle

October 2006

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Mayor cont’d from page 10

are good sprinters. The sport required speed and power. Nobody believed you could pull it off.” Fitch did pull it off, with the help of corporate sponsors and the Jamaican Army, and the team made it to the Olympics. The Jamaican team

Mayor Fitch says that the most fun he has had as Mayor was when he put together a group to sing “My Girl” by The Temptations at a local function. “I got some guys together and it brought the house down. I would never have had that opportunity if I wasn’t Mayor since I can’t sing and I got no rhythm.”

Fitch says he doubts he’ll run for statewide office, but adds “never say never.” Fitch speaks glowingly about what he has completed. “My proudest accomplishment is delivering on all my promises. There are not too many politicians who can say that.”

how to reign in growth, although he recognizes he can only reduce growth, not cease it. “The way you control [sprawl] is through the utilities, water and sewer. You have to turn 700 houses into 300, using conservation easements. You have to say no.” Fitch sees this as a common struggle.

“You see that clash everywhere, developers and builders versus the community and its Michael Rowand is a 17 year-old senior citizens.” at Fauquier High School. He enjoys acting, Mayor Fitch, reading, cooking, political discussions and a classic fiscal Warrenton Mayor George Fitch, center, is flanked by Jull Saylors and generally being a man about town. conservative, despises Richard Hendershot. He takes part in a ribbon cutting for the Cannon Photos by Karl Pittelkau. Contact the record budget- Office building grand opening August 17. The recently completed office building is located on Frost Ave., or Route 211, in Warrenton.

Karl at www.whitepostphotography.com deficits and spending currently occurring in Washington. has inspired other tropical countries, “It’s totally irresponsible. And, the including Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, irony is the Republicans that are and Mexico, to form bobsled teams ringing up these record deficits. I and continues to practice to this day in guess human nature is to try to please Evanston, Wyoming. everyone. The politicians want to stay in power and for that they need the special interests.” Fitch believes that voters need to take responsibility for those in power and their actions. “The voters should ask themselves ‘Are your schools less crowded? Is your commute time less? What do you have to show We’ve got it all covered at: for the spending?’” Fitch says he has been disappointed by the apathy of young and independent voters. “I would urge those who believe in an independent movement to speak out.

Politics is simple. It’s the politicians that complicate it.”

Fitch is perhaps best known outside of Fauquier County as the organizer of the famed 1988 Jamaican Bobsled team portrayed fictionally in the 1993 Disney movie Cool Runnings. He tells of how the idea for the team came to be.

“I lived in Jamaica and my friend was getting married. Every year they have pushcart races, the Pushcart Derby. We were talking about sports and my friend challenged me that I couldn’t get a team together and to the Olympics. I thought the team could make it, as Jamaicans 12

Warrenton Lifestyle

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istoric Old Town Warrenton is the perfect place to shop for anyone in your life. With everything from jewelry to gift baskets and dinner to dessert you can get it all done with one stop and a stroll. Fine dining to family atmosphere filled restaurants and shopping with the dogs in tow are all acceptable behaviors. Buy a gift, have it wrapped, drop it at the post office, pick up lunch and be back at the office for that meeting.

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Warrenton’s Cemetery History Surrounds Us

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you may come across a white marble

by Dink Godfrey auquier County, Virginia is filled obelisk marking the grave of Captain with history and the memories John Quincy Marr. Captain Marr, a of those who lived it. The Fauquier County native and graduate county seat, Warrenton, has of Virginia Military Institute, was the privilege of containing the largest leading the Warrenton Rifles at Fairfax cemetery in the county. Within the Courthouse in the early morning hours boundary of this lovely garden of stone, of June 1, 1861 when he was struck by rest some of the very interesting remains a bullet and died on the field of battle.

His body was brought home to of our past.

There are political appointees, Warrenton, where he was given a hero’s funeral with over lawyers, educators, one thousand five soldiers, and successful hundred people in business people buried attendance.

His here. Artist, newspaper death carried with founders and just plain it the dubious folk compose this distinction of being beautiful final restingthat of the first place for those who Confederate soldier, made the history of officer or enlisted, to Fauquier County. die in battle, during Located near the War Between the center of the Charles Lee the States. oldest section, a Another interesting grave in the horizontal marble stone, now cracked and broken, suspended cemetery is that of Lycurgus Washington by several courses of deteriorating Caldwell. One of his claims to fame is brick, marks the final resting-place of that of being the man who telegraphed Charles Lee. Mr. Lee was the third the famous words, “What hath God Attorney General for the United States wrought?” to Samuel Morse. Mr. Morse of America (1795-1807). He held was on Capitol Hill, in Washington, this position during the Presidency of D.C., demonstrating to Congress his new invention, George Washington. the telegraph.

Mr. Lee was a Mr. Caldwell was prominent Fauquier in Baltimore, County resident who Maryland sending lived in the original his famous message Leeton Forest home on to Morse.

Lee’s Ridge Road, south Mr. Caldwell of Warrenton. Earlier lived a very members of his family interesting life, to had been instrumental say the least. He in providing land for helped to start the the original settlement local newspaper, of Warrenton, known now known as the then as Red’s Store Fauquier Timesand later as Fauquier Democrat.

Mr. Courthouse.

Caldwell and his As you meander family lived in a very through the cemetery, John Marr

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unique house on Smith Street, which was in his family until the late 1980s or early 1990s. The house is still standing today.

During the War Between the States, while Mr. Caldwell was working for the Confederate Government in Richmond, his wife communicated with him constantly. Many of their letters are now published in a great book called “My Heart is so Rebellious.” Their exchange of letters gives a real insight into what was going on in Warrenton and Fauquier County during that great conflagration.

Exploring more you will find a simple gray granite stone inscribed Samuel Chilton. A lawyer here in Warrenton, Mr. Chilton represented John Brown in his ill-fated trial in Charles Town, Virginia, now known as West Virginia. Mr. Chilton was also a

Samuel Chilton

member of the group of representatives from each county who voted for and against secession from the United States in 1861. A lovely oil painting of him hangs in the General District Courthouse, “the Old Courthouse,” in Warrenton.

On the west side of the cemetery, you will find another large flat marble stone resting on bricks. This marks the grave of British Army Captain Charles Daniell England who was born in Ireland in 1853, and who died in Warrenton in 1925. Inscribed upon his stone are his military credentials: Captain of the See Cemetery on page 18 Warrenton Lifestyle

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Community Event Confederate Grave Marker Dedication Samuel Freeman, Private, 1840-1919 Co. I, 11th Regiment Virginia Infantry “Rough and Ready Rifles” Saturday, October 7, 2006 at 1:00 P.M. Grove Presbyterian Cemetery Goldvein, Fauquier County, Virginia

October 2006

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Cemetery cont’d from page 16

Woodhouse Border Rovers, Zulu War. Richard Norris Brooke, a professional artist, lies in his family plot near the center of the cemetery.

As a teenager Mr. Brooke helped the local school children paint the names on wooden crosses of the Confederate soldiers interred in the Warrenton Cemetery. Union Cavalry used these crosses for firewood in the winter of 1863, leaving almost six hundred soldiers unnamed for one hundred thirty-five years.

After the War Between the States, Brooke went to Europe for advanced studies in art. He returned to the U.S. and became famous for his use of local black families as subjects for his art. Mr. Brooke has one of his military paintings, “Furling the Flag,” hanging at West Point, United States Military Academy.

Associated with the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., this Fauquier County native has many of his art pieces now owned by the same. To say he was a successful artist is accurate. On November 22, 1909, Warrenton experienced a devastating fire which burned a great section of the west end of town. From this devastation, Brooke lost over twenty thousand dollars of his artwork from

his Warrenton Studio. In 1909 dollars, that was a considerable sum.

From the World War I era we have the grave of John D. Sudduth, a Corporal with Company D, 116th Infantry Regiment, also known as the Warrenton Rifles. Corporal Sudduth was the first Fauquier County man to die in that war to end all wars. The

John D. Sudduth

Warrenton American Legion Post is named in his honor.

With World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, men and women who were associated with names and places

like Pearl Harbor, Tokyo Bay, Chosin Reservoir, Hamburger Hill, Pleiku, Idrang Valley repose in the Warrenton Cemetery and many other cemeteries in the county.

These few examples of Fauquier County’s history only scratch the surface of the treasure that lies buried in the Warrenton Cemetery and all other cemeteries in the county. We need only to turn off the television, cell phones and DVD players and just walk through our cemeteries to begin to truly understand the richness of Fauquier County history.

It is not the buildings and towns that make Fauquier County historically significant. It is the people who dreamed and built these buildings and towns that really make our county historically significant.

George V. “Dink” Godfrey, Jr. is a native son of Warrenton, Fauquier County, Virginia. Dink has been working on a book identifying Confederate graves in Fauquier County since the fall of 1999.

He is locating and photographing all the graves he can, approximately one thousand three hundred to date. In addition, he has collected the photographic images of over two hundred Confederate soldiers.

September Online Survey Which is your favorite Warrenton grocery store?

Store Response Percent Food Lion 6.7% Giant 20% Natural Marketplace 13.3% Safeway 60%

October Online Survey

What is your favorite fall sport?

Cast your answers at www.warrentonlifestyle.com

Survey is conducted by SurveyMonkey.com and results do not necessarily reflect the views of The Warrenton Lifestyle Magazine or its publishers.

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Warrenton Lifestyle

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Memories of a Volunteer Local American Red Cross

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by Lina Marengo-Frank had been talking about making my first visit to New Orleans for the past several years, partly because a French Creole dialect is spoken there, similar to the one I grew up speaking in the Republic of Seychelles.

In my travels, I have seen poverty and devastation, especially through Africa.

Like you, I have also watched disasters unfold on television; however, I never thought I would personally play a leadership role in any large scale disaster.

Nor did I think I would witness so much human suffering and devastation as I did in New Orleans after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

When Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, I was the Branch Manager of one of the area’s major banks. News reports quickly began to show the massive devastation.

Watching television, no matter the time, every topic was about Katrina ravaging the Gulf Coast, leaving hundreds of thousands without food, water and shelter.

One day, my husband asked if I would be willing to help the American Red Cross, something he wanted to do, but could not because of his job. Not really knowing what I was getting into, I went to the Fauquier County Red Cross and offered my help.

The Fauquier Chapter had received an overwhelming response from the community to their pleas for help.

People were coming out county-wide offering their help and bringing donations. They seemed to provide training around the clock. After three full days of training, I was told I would soon hear from the Chapter regarding deploy20

ment and would have 24-hours notice to go. The call came on September 20th, 2005. Two days later I flew from Dulles Airport to Montgomery, Alabama. When I arrived, I was bused to an old Wal-Mart building that housed the Red Cross disaster center. Suitcases and people were everywhere. It was as if this place could not have been in the United States of America.

After two days, I received my first assignment. I had chosen to go to the hardship servicing center in Centerville, Mississippi, interviewing clients as they came in, making sure that they met Red Cross aid requirements. The Red

Volunteers packed their bags with 24-hours notice and slept in close quarters.

Cross provide immediate funds, food, clothing, medicine and shelter for people who had suffered severe damage to their homes.

This Red Cross assistance — provided via a charge card — ranged from $360 for one person to $1,565 for a family of five or more. We needed to make sure that money was going to those in the greatest need and to connect these people with other agencies, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agen-

Signs such as this could only encourage us to help more.

cy (FEMA) and Habitat for Humanity, for long term assistance.

Every day was an emotional one, seeing children and the elderly holding everything they owned, usually just the clothes on their backs. One day there seemed equivalent to a month.

Sometimes, when I looked at the clients approaching my station, they seemed motionless and frail, arms limp at their sides, heads bowed. They looked robbed of everything, even hope. I wanted to show them empathy, but how could I possibly understand their pain? Often I sat in silence with them, waiting for them to start the conversation.

During the next few weeks, I filled out paperwork and interviewed clients.

Workloads increased as clients found their way to us from across the Gulf Coast area. The day’s work started at 7:00 a.m. and lasted until we finished all the cases for that day, sometimes seeing 1200 clients. Still, with each passing day, I realized that I was getting stronger with my simple, solemn prayer of “help me, my Lord, to be strong in strength, truthful, and patient in my assisting the clients.”

I thought I would go home after three weeks, but when asked to stay longer, it hit me. How could I possibly leave when so much still needed to be done? The victims had captured my heart. Though I had just bought a new Warrenton Lifestyle

house and looked forward to decorating, that was not my priority.

After five weeks, the local Red Cross Chapters of that area decided to open another servicing center closer to the devastation. Some volunteers went to Baton Rouge to complete their assignments. I went back home to Virginia. After a much needed week’s rest, I returned. This time I was deployed to Baton Rouge and was asked to stay for three or four weeks.

My assignment in Baton Rouge was Damage Assessment Supervisor, which included daily training of new volunteers and visiting homes for hurricane damage assessment. Even though it had been weeks since the first hurricane and so many other relief organizations were in place, the Red Cross teams often were still the first responders.

Some people were leery of any help.

Some were running from the law. Some were angry they had been denied financial assistance and were dissatisfied with service provided by the Red Cross and FEMA. In the rural parts of the Gulf Coast, I saw decomposing cow and horse carcasses caught up in trees. People were so focused on surviving that taking care of those types of things simply wasn’t a priority. I will never forget the stench of October 2006

the mold that hovered in the air where homes and businesses had flooded or the sight of babies crawling on floors that were mold-infested. In New Orleans, abandoned houses were spray painted

with the number of bodies found inside.

Famous for its music, New Orleans was in total silence. Even the birds were in See Red Cross on page 22

T Afte he Ultim r-Sch a ool S te nack

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Red Cross cont’d from page 21

mourning.

After several weeks in the field as training supervisor, Red Cross officials asked me to work in the disaster relief headquarters in Baton Rouge. Soon after, I was asked to serve as the Baton Rouge Chapter Liaison for the operation.

I worked in the field, trained volunteers, completed case work, worked with the local chapters and local police. I also developed a training institute for all of the Louisiana Red Cross Chapters to train new and existing volunteers in different aspects of the Red Cross Mission and Vision. This had been the biggest natural disaster that the Red Cross had ever taken on in this country. We were all writing the book as we went along, eager to build on what we learned. When I finally was ready to come back home after eight months, I was the last volunteer in Baton Rouge. I stayed behind to wrap things up as the rest of my co-workers moved to New Orleans.

Since my return, I have been very active with the Fauquier County ARC. With local lessons learned from the massive relief effort, the Fauquier Chapter now offers workshops that allow in-

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depth screening before sending people on any disaster. We realize that we need people on the disaster site who can work effectively with minimum supervision.

The chapter offers supervisor training and manager training, along with the many preparedness courses, such as CPR, babysitting and swimming. A major misconception is that local Chapters receive funding from national ARC headquarters. We do not. In fact we pay monthly assessment dues to the ARC. If a situation occurs in Fauquier and Rappahannock that we cannot handle, then the National Red Cross will assist us. However, the local chapter must still play its role as first responder. Local chapters rely on the community for the financial support that enables the Chapter to meet its obligations to the community.

Because helping people is imporant to me, it wasn’t difficult for my friends and family to understand how three weeks can turn into eight months.

During the experience, I made a number of new friends, but I became especially close to another volunteer from Seattle. We talk on the phone almost every day and hope to volunteer for more disaster relief one day. After eight

months in the recovery efforts, I came home exhausted, yet heartened, by the good that I felt I had done.

Our local Red Cross Chapter is located at 54 S. Third Street. or go to www.fauquiercounty.redcross.org or call 540-349-2516

Where In Warrenton?

Where in Warrenton was this photo taken?

We will occasionally publish a portion of a photo of some person, place or thing uniquely Warrenton. Correct photo guesses will be put into a drawing.

Winner receives a check for $25.00.

Send your guess by the 15th of this month to our fax number at (540) 3470917 or email to WarrentonLifestyle@ piedmontpress.com or postal mail to: Warrenton Lifestyle Magazine, c/o Piedmont Press & Graphics, 404 Belle Air Lane, Warrenton, VA 20186.

Last month’s winner

Scott Proudfoot, for correctly identifying the neon sign at the Frost Diner.

Warrenton Lifestyle

BEST OF

2006

WA R R E N T O N

October 2006

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Map of Warrenton HEALTH, BEAUTY & DINING 1 Carousel Frozen Treats 2 Cold Stone Creamery 3 Crescendo Bistro 4 Madison Tea Room / Jimmies Market 5 Mom’s Apple Pie 6 Nova Urgent Care

FALMOUTH STREET

RETAIL & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES 7 Andreas Keller/ Mid-Atlantic Mortgage 8 BB&T 9 Capitol Sheds 10 CFC Farm & Home Center 11 Christine Fox 12 Country Chevrolet 13 Hartman Jewelers 14 Holiday Inn Express 15 Payne Pools & Spas 16 Remax/Loni Colvin & Robin Law 17 Rob-Rit Communications/Sprint 18 Shelf Life 19 Superior Heating & Air 20 The Galloping Grape Piedmont Press & Graphics/Warrenton Lifestyle Magazine NG WI AL

October 2006

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Liberty takes Fauquier in the 2006 Fauquier Times-Democrat Bird Bowl.

Photos by Chris Moorhead for Whitepost Sports More sports action photography can be seen at www.whitepostsports.com

Junior defensive back Walter Davis closes in on senior fullback Dustin West.

Liberty’s newly-refurbished stadium boasts state-of-the-art artificial turf. The improvements were made possible through a contribution by Kip Hull, a 1997 graduate of Liberty High School. The $950,000 donation includes not only state-of-the art artificial turf, but also extensive excavation and grading and a below-ground water drainage system.

Fauquier senior outside linebacker Steve Schrank, right rear, and his teammates pull down Corey Lillard, while Liberty’s Anthony Thompson, left, tries to hold back Nick Caito.

Fauquier’s marching band enters the field for their half-time performance.

The color guard, led by Liberty senior cadet Lt. Col. Thomas Richardson, marches onto Liberty’s field for opening ceremonies during the opening season game September 2.

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Fauquier junior Aubrey McLean finds a clear field.

Spirits soar as Liberty players hoist a well-earned trophy at the end of the game, celebrating their 22-6 win over county rival Fauquier. Should they win one more “Bird Bowl” game the school will retire its second trophy in its history.

Warrenton Lifestyle

October 2006

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A division of Piedmont Press & Graphics 404 Belle Air Lane • Warrenton, Virginia 20186

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