Warrenton Lifestyle Magazine December 2020

Warrenton D E C E M B E R

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HOME AND FAMILY OVER THE HOLIDAYS DESIGNER AMY BOYLE RECOMMENDS CREATING A COZY REFUGE FOR YOUR FAMILY GIVE YOUR HOME THAT HOLIDAY GLOW: GO ALL OUT WITH LIGHTS THIS YEAR

Warrenton Santa Goes Virtual!

DON'T DELAY YOUR SURGERY OR SCREENINGS BEFORE DEDUCTIBLES RESET IN JANUARY Screenings Annual Check-Up Colonoscopy Mammogram Well Woman Exam

Procedures Hip or Knee Replacement Hernia Surgical Repair Foot/Ankle Surgery Wound Care

We understand you may have been putting off your surgery or health screenings during this unprecedented year. We want to assure you that our facility is prepared, our providers are ready and appointments are available.

And, if you’ve met your deductible, your out-of-pocket expenses could be minimal or even zero.

Here are the steps we are taking to prepare for your healthcare visit with us: Enhanced cleaning procedures throughout the day Face mask requirements for everyone Waiting room areas adjusted for safe social distancing

Check with your provider for an appointment, call 540.316.DOCS

FauquierHealth.org

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Warrenton Gift Guide Special Advertising Section

In the midst of the holiday shopping season, now is a perfect time to explore the amazing variety of special goods and services available right here in Warrenton. As well as the unique gifts you’ll find for everyone on your list, you’ll be shopping conveniently and safely with online ordering and curbside pickup. With no delivery worries, you can shop on your own time, even for those last minute emergencies. Not only that, you’ll be supporting our local businesses and helping our community to thrive!

SHOP LOCAL THIS YEAR! Claires at the Depot

One of the most popular restaurants in town, Claire’s at the Depot serves contemporary American Cuisine with a Southern flair and an emphasis on local, seasonal ingredients in a casual yet elegant atmosphere set in a historic train station. A consistent favorite on the menu is “Claire’s Famous She Crab Soup,” just bursting with crab meat and flavor, as well as a fabulous cuisine of fresh meats, seafood and vegetarian options. Claire’s, which has received many accolades for food, ambiance, and service, is a perfect place for a lunch, brunch, dinner, and cocktails, making a gift certificate the perfect holiday gift.

GIFT CARDS MAKE THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT!

65 South 3rd. St. | 540.351.1616 | clairesrestaurant.com FB @clairesatthedepot

Designs by Teresa

Gateau

Latitudes Fair Trade

7 Main St. | 540.347.4762 | designsbyteresa.com | FB: @ designsbyteresaflorist

12 Culpeper St. | 540-347-9188 1gateau.com FB: @1gateau

78 Main St. | 540-349-2333 latitudesfairtrade.com FB: @latitudesfairtrade

Featuring a large inventory of fresh flowers and plants, this full-service florist shop offers holiday wreaths, centerpieces, and table arrangements as well as gifts and home accents. Designs

by Teresa always goes the extra mile to make your floral gift perfect, and local delivery is available. Check out the website or call to create a unique arrangement, or stop by to see us; not only can you select unique gifts that will cheer and delight, but shopping in the quaint, Italianate-style 1880s building that served many purposes before becoming a flower shop over 30 years ago is a pleasure in itself.

Elegant. Memorable. Delicious. Gateau Bakery Cafe and Tea Room is known for its delectable cakes and desserts, all skillfully made from scratch using the finest ingredients, to be enjoyed with an extensive list of teas, specialty coffees, craft cocktails, beer, and wine.

At the holidays, it’s also a fantastic place for gifts for sweet lovers, carrying gift baskets, tea sets, and boxed cookies and chocolates. Their jams, fudge sauce, and caramel sauce will add an elegant touch to your own homemade goodies, and make fantastic gifts as well.

Don’t miss their Christmas High Tea and Santa Tea for a treat during the holidays (reservations required).

Explore a huge selection of unique, high-quality, handcrafted artisan products at this local family-run Fair Trade shop where the variety of merchandise ensures there is something for everyone on your list. You will find a large selection of jewelry as well as children’s clothing and toys, accessories, clothing, home decor and kitchen products, and cards and journals.

But be sure to go during the holidays for their unique handcrafted Christmas decorations and tree ornaments. Every item in the store is produced by fairly-paid artisans and farmers in developing nations around the world, promoting dignity and respect for all people and the planet.

Warrenton Gift Guide Special Advertising Section

Main Street Wellness Co.

Marta Von Dettingen

Prissylily Co.

35 Main St. | 540.216.7371 mainstreetwellness.club FB: @themainstreetwellnessc

58 Main St. 540-347-7670 FB @MartaVonDettingen

30 S. 3rd St. | 540-216-3826 Prissylilyco.com FB: @prissylilyplants

Studio Luxe

Third and Main Gourmet to Go

9 S. 5th St. | 571.313.9788 FB: @Studioluxeboutique IG: @Studioluxeboutique

15 S. Third St. | 540.347.2935 thirdandmainva.com FB: @thirdmaingourmettogo

With all the stressors of 2020, we could all probably use a little namaste, and whether you’re shopping for an experienced yogi, someone with a casual practice, or a newbie who is just getting started, anyone on your list would love a MSW gift certificate to start off the new year feeling centered, calm, and strong in both body and mind. The boutique studio in Old Town offers both in-studio and virtual yoga and Pilates classes where all levels of expertise are welcomed by certified instructors and a personalized practice. This year, introduce that special person to a lifestyle and community.

Red Truck Bakery

Without a doubt, Red Truck Bakery is the place to go for baked goods during holidays. Need a ruck the ed9 special gift? Go for RURAL BAKERY a Moonshine Cake (double chocolate cake with real Virginny hooch), which was named one of the most unique gifts out there by Bon Appetit and NBC’s Today Show. Desserts are always a favorite at the holidays, and Red Truck has you covered with both the traditionals (Kentucky Bourbon Pecan, Pumpkin, Mincemeat pies) and unexpected (Flourless Chocolate Truffle Cake, Guinness Stout Irish Cake, Orange Cake). Shop early! Many of their products are available to ship nationally.

R T

®

22 Waterloo St. | 540.347.2224 redtruckbakery.com FB: @redtruckbakerywarrentonvirginia

Marta Irmen’s impeccable taste is the cornerstone of her Main Street jewelry shop. She personally selects each and every piece of fine, estate, and period jewelry, saying, “I have to like everything I carry; if I like it, I can help others appreciate its beauty.” The styles she carries favor Art Nouveau and Art Deco designs, valuing pieces made in the mid 20th century for the old world craftsmanship and solid feel. A trip to the beautifully restored historical building to look at all the many treasures is a treat in itself, as is her selection of German, local, and Belgian Chocolates.

Where fashion meets sophistication.

Specializing in fast fashion transitional pieces, sizes small to 2X. Studio Luxe is a women’s clothing boutique that is home to all things beautiful. With their friendly, personalized shopping experiences, their goal is to ensure every one of their gal pals walks out feeling like the best version of themselves. More than a boutique, Studio Luxe strives to be a part of the community, a place to have a girls night or host a sip and shop. New treasures arrive each and every day, and a gift certificate to this magical place is sure to be appreciated.

Think positive. Think plants. Adding a fresh, green look to your home can raise spirits and dress up your decor. And what a cheerful gift at the holidays for special friends or family! Prissylily Co. is your destination for a wide range of unique house plants, from common to exotic collectibles, that you won’t see in your average retail shop. Prissylily knows the trends and supplies quality products for home, business, or gifting. Guidance in selection and care of their plants is available, as are online ordering and shipping. Special December offer: 20% off any purchase until 12/31/20 with this ad.

Cherished for years as Renee’s Gourmet to Go, Third and Main has fabulously kept up and expanded their menu and maintained their friendly customer service since their purchase of the business last year. It is still known as one of the best places for a quick lunch of soups, salads, and sandwiches (both made to order and pre-prepared if you need a quick grab-and-go).

Treat yourself this month! But be sure to go on a Friday when their famous She Crab Soup is on the menu, and do not forget one or two of their sweets to enjoy in the afternoon.

KATE HEISLUP “I believe in customer service beyond the sale. My job is Real Estate, my business is building relationships” Let me guide you home.

A Tradition of Trust

LOCAL MARKET EXPERT

Contact Kate for a complimentary market analysis!

Kate Heislup, Agent - Licensed in VA www.LongandFoster.com/KATEHEISLUP Kate.Heislup@LongandFoster.com Cell: 571-244-6613 13875 Hedgewood Dr, Woodbridge, VA 22193

Santa Shops Local

You can too! Experience the magic of

Old Town Warrenton this holiday season!

Still Fun...

Still Lively...

Still Charming!

Visit oldtownwarrenton.org for more details

W L the WARRENTON

LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

PUBLISHER

Dennis Brack dennis@piedmontpub.com

EDITORIAL

Pam Kamphuis pam@piedmontpub.com

ART DIRECTOR Kara Thorpe kara@piedmontpub.com

ADVERTISING

Sales Director: Jim Kelly jim@piedmontpub.com, 434-987-3542 Senior Account Executive: Cindy McBride cindy@piedmontpub.com, 540-229-6038 Creative Services Director: Jay Ford jayford@piedmontpub.com

from the E D I T O R

O

ne day the dog came in after his morning stroll outside, and he was all wet. I said to my husband, “It’s raining outside.” He said, “No, it’s not.” I said, “Yes, it is, the dog’s wet.” He looked at his weather app and said, “It’s not raining, it’s not supposed to rain for two hours and seven minutes.” I said, “Honey, the dog looks like a drowned rat.” Then, after all this, we finally looked out the window to discover that it was indeed raining.

Silly as this is, it does demonstrate how dependent on technology we’ve become. The general consensus is that it’s replacing real communication and, for the kids, real playtime outside. Neither of which is good at all.

But where would we have been this past year without it? It’s been a lifesaver in so many ways: allowing some people to avoid unemployment by working from home, and keeping us in touch with those we love, whether far away or across town but still as far away as the moon. It’s also helped us in more recreational pursuits, which have also been crucial in these months of loneliness: humour on social media, connections with friends via zoom, games and movies for the kids.

As the holidays approach and restrictions are beginning to lift at least temporarily, people are adapting in different ways. One way, like Warrenton Santa has chosen, is to go all virtual. Another way is to be creative as possible within safety measures, with things like the adapted Gum Drop Square and parade.

So this year, we can use both sides of the technology coin. Get out and socialize as much as your health and beliefs allow. Spend more time with family in person, but also use your technology to stay in touch. Don’t let this pandemic estrange you from your family and friends, losing time you can never get back.

DON’T FORGET TO VOTE IN:

ACCOUNTING

Business Director: Carina Richard-Wheat accounting@piedmontpub.com, 540-905-7791

PAM KAMPHUIS EDITOR

lifestyle’s cutest pet contest

SUBSCRIPTIONS

email jan@rappnews.com or call 540-675-3338

EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING OFFICE Piedmont Lifestyle Magazines 70 Main Street, Suite 32 Warrenton, 20186 540-349-2951

ON THE WEB

www.PiedmontLifestyle.com Facebook: @PiedmontLifestylePublications Email Newsletter: Sign up at www.PiedmontLifestyle.com The Warrenton Lifestyle Magazine is published monthly and distributed to over 11,500 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. ©2020 Rappahannock Media LLC.

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contents 10

Playing in the Real World Family recreation tips from the Library

BY LISA PAVLOCK, FAUQUIER COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

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Be the Star of the Show Video conferencing tips

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What a Music Career Looks like in 2020

...happening now!

Vote at PiedmontLifestyle.com

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Get into the Holiday Spirit Light Displays in our area

BY AMANDA M. SOCCI

No Greater Love Warrenton writer John Cassel’s memoir John Fifteen Thirteen

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Give your House the Holiday Glow Outdoor lighting tips from professionals

BY KLAUS FUECHSEL

BY PAM KAMPHUIS

BY PAM KAMPHUIS

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Cars, Planes, and Boats Warrenton Hobby Shoppe

BY LINDSAY HOGEBOOM

Thinking Outside the Box

A Vintage Christmas A designer’s look into the past

BY ROSANNA SMITH

BY MADDI MAE

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Home for the Holidays

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You Can’t Stop Christmas Warrenton Santa adjusts to the new normal

BY AMANDA M. SOCCI

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Wine Classics

Christmas in Warrenton in 2020

Creating a place to heal

Complement Traditional Fare with Timeless Wines

BY PAM KAMPHUIS

BY AMY BOYLE

BY MARK LUNA

Merry Christmas

...from my family to yours.

There’s no place like home for the holidays. When you’re thinking of your dream home this holiday season, call Patti Brown.

703-401-5798

patti.brown@LnF.com getmovingwithpattibrown.com 492 Blackwell Road, Warrenton VA 540-349-1400

Playing in the Real World

Catch a Fish, Throw a Ball, Fly a Kite: 21 Timeless Skills Every Child Should Know

BY JEFFREY LEE

Get everyone off their phones and social media and into family recreation with some help from the Fauquier County Public Library

The Treasury of Family Games

BY JIM GLENN & CAREY DENTON

Basic rules, illustrations, and strategies for hundreds of classic board, card, party, travel, and outdoor games are included in this family resource. With more than 300 diagrams, variations on original rules, and suggestions on how to keep children entertained, the possibilities for good old-fashioned family fun are limitless.

Cooperative Games and Sports

BY TERRY ORLICK

BY LISA PAVLOCK, PUBLIC INFORMATION COORDINATOR, FAUQUIER PUBLIC LIBRARY

I

n a year fraught with many uncertainties, one thing is certain – the holidays will look different from years past.

Celebrations will be smaller and the season's greeting will be delivered via phone, text or zoom.

With fewer traditional holiday activities available, start a new one – get comfy around the kitchen table and have a go at a new card game, gather around for a family craft afternoon, or play a challenging game of chess. And for those plagued by screen-fatigue (and let’s admit it, who isn’t these days?), these activities also provide a much needed break from our devices.

Ready to get started? Fauquier Public Library can help.

Our collection includes books on traditional, new and even unusual games – with choices for young children, teens and adults. Here are just a few of our favorites. Additional resources can be found in sections 794 and 795 on library shelves, or stop by the reference desk of your local library; our reference librarians are happy to assist you.

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The premise of cooperative games is that everybody wins and has fun. These versatile games allow you to adapt the rules, equipment, and number of players to your own participants' capabilities and to different settings. With activities like cooperative musical chairs, partner gymnastics, and math and spelling games, children learn valuable concepts. There is even a chapter dedicated to how to create your own games.

The Golden Book of Family Fun

BY PEGGY BROWN

The Golden Book of Family Fun is the go-to book for today's families looking for creative games, activities, party ideas, and crafts to do together. There is something for everyone in this book — making a backyard water park, classic outdoor games such as Kick the Can and Ghost in the Graveyard — even easy-to-make snacks.

Catch a Fish, Throw a Ball, Fly a Kite is for parents who want to teach their children what they enjoy learning — even the skills mastered as a youth or those unpracticed in a few decades. Activities range from practical, like locating the constellations, to completely frivolous fun, like turning a blade of grass into a musical instrument or making a far-flying paper airplane. Some are simple enough for four year olds, and others will appeal to the most jaded adolescent.

Each skill is illustrated and is rounded out with funny jokes or fascinating trivia (did you know that the world’s largest sand castle measured six stories high?).

Knowing how to fold a paper airplane may not be an essential life skill, but it just might impress the kids or spouse – and could lead to hours of family fun.

Screen-Free Fun

BY SHANNON PHILPOTTSANDERS

Check out this handy collection of over 400 family activities ranging from DIY projects to outdoor adventures or easy day trips.

Since many of the activities work well for kids at various ages, families can grow along with the different projects and make plans for both younger and older siblings. Try indoor projects like homemade slime, and outdoor activities like building a fort or a socially distanced neighborhood scavenger hunt.

OR UMP E 20+ P T H E A U R N AC ION F ECT P GA S S N NT I POI

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Great Games: Old & New, Indoor/Outdoor, Travel, Board, Ball & Word

BY SAM TAGGAR WITH SUSAN WILLIAMSON

Whether you want to play games indoors or out, this collection of games — tag games, board games, ball games, neighborhood games, and word games — is sure to inspire even the most cynical game-player. There are even tips on how to choose who goes first and game-playing strategies.

The Everything Tabletop Games Book

RESIDENTIAL &COMMERCIAL Serving Fauquier & Surrounding Counties for over 80 years

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For those with fond memories of playing board games as a child, the resurgence in board games as a hot new hobby comes as no surprise. The Everything Crazy Eights and Other Tabletop Games Book shows Card Games how to play some of the best

BY JOANNA COLE & tabletop games in the world, from strategy games like Settlers STEPHANIE CALMENSON of Catan to new games like Prefer cards to board games?

Gloomhaven. Throughout the Crazy Eights and Other Card book, learn the different genres Games is great for beginning of tabletop and board games: card players. It introduces the how to play each game, rules, different suits and face cards in and winning strategies — even With Coupon - Expires 08/31/19 a deck of cards, explains how to With Coupon - Expires new only expansions to keep favorite one coupon per table on regular prices hold, shuffle, and deal08/31/19 them, and one coupon per table on regular prices only games fresh and exciting. provides instructions for games

Call us for a Heating Service Check-up!

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DINNER SPECIAL Buy 1 Dinner & Get the 2nd Dinner 1/2 Price like Aces Up, Go Fish, and Spit.

Games of the World: How DINNER Fajita SPECIAL Dinner Special to Make Them; How to Play Hoyle’s Rules of Games Fajita Dinner Special Buy 1 Dinner & Get the

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More than 250 years ago, Edmond Tuesday & Thursday Hoyle first a guide to Games of the World is more than Tuesday &published Thursday Fajita Dinner Special the game of Whist. Since that just a “how to” book of games.

Lunch Special In addition to back-and-white Lunch time, the name Hoyle has become Mondays $8.99 Special synonymous with the rules of paintings, and $4.50 all lunchesphotographs, Tuesday & Thursday games.

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details on how to construct and play each game, it includes the history of over 100 games from around the world, from backgammon to the 3000-yearold Royal Game of Ur.

Gift Available 11am Certificates - 2:30 pm

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perfect for both casual gamers and

11am - serious 2:30 the most gamepm player, with rules, strategies, and odds for card,

Gift Certificates Available board, parlor, and computer games

51 W251 Lee Warrenton W Hwy Lee Hwy- -The The Warrenton Center Center and Scrabble.

251 W Lee Hwy The Warrenton Center 540-351-0011 19

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W A R R OF E FAUQUIER N T O N

540-351-0011 540-351-0011 Best

YEARS IN A ROW! THANKS FOR VOTING 10 9 YEARS 20I7

Lifestyle

THE 14TH ANNUAL

BEST Best

including backgammon, blackjack,

Whichever game you choose to play, have fun, stay safe and enjoy the holidays! ❖

THANKS FOR VOTING 9 YEARS IN A ROW! THANKS FOR VOTING 9 YEARS IN A ROW! LIFESTYLE } 12 { DECEMBER 2020 | WARRENTON of

W A R R E N T O N

Warrenton 1-2 page 12-21-20_Clipper 1/2 page 7-9-08 11/17/20 9:36 PM Page 1

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local expert THE EXPERT:

Klaus Fuechsel HIS EXPERTISE:

Computers & Technology

Klaus Fuechsel owns the local awardwinning computer repair store Dok Klaus. He and his team deal with all kinds of computer issues; data preservation is one of their top priorities.

You may contact Dok Klaus via phone 540428-2376 or visit his website www.DokKlaus.com.

Be the Star of the Show Adapting to video conferencing for work and recreation

ho would have thought a year ago that video conferencing would become an essential service for students, teachers, and employees all over the world? How can you get the most out of video conferences with your devices? Many of you have used Skype since it was released 17 years ago. It is a free telecommunications application that specializes in providing video chat and voice calls between computers, tablets, and mobile devices. I use it weekly to connect with my family throughout Germany and the US. In 2011 the program ZOOM was released, and in this unprecedented year quickly became the most popular platform. But there are many competing programs, such as Microsoft Teams, Webex Meeting, Facetime, Whatsapp, Google Hangout and Meeting.

In my opinion, a combination of several video conferencing tools for different needs makes the most sense. Most of these programs are free, or have at least a free entry-level version with a limited amount of time and/or users per session. Facetime works on Apple mobile devices, WhatsApp is good for free video calls and messaging on any cell phone. ZOOM and Google Meet/Hangouts are designed for desktop or

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Headset If you do video conferencing regularly, you might consider getting a wired headset which includes a microphone. This prevents annoying feedback from your speakers, too.

Cooling Pad If you’re using a laptop and have several hours of conferences a day, it’s good to have a cooling pad under your laptop to keep it from overheating. And a solid state drive upgrade can also improve your operation speed and lower the heating of your device.

Lighting

BY KLAUS FUECHSEL

W

For desktop and laptops, using a wired ethernet connection should give you the best connection. If you use wireless and the connection is too slow or dropping out from time to time, try to place your computer workspace close to your router or a good reception point.

laptop computers, but can work on phones and tablets. Google Meet in its Workspace Enterprise edition allows up to 250 people and the ZOOM Enterprise+ plan can host up to 1,000 participants. At the moment, basic ZOOM is free for hosting up to 100 participants up to 40-minutes, but one to one meetings are unlimited.

Equipment So what do you need for high quality video conferencing? An electronic device with a web camera, microphone, and speakers is a must. Most cell phones and tablets already have these features built in.

For standard desktop setups, you would need to get a webcam. Consider adding a new webcam to older laptops to deliver better video quality. But be aware that at the moment, “good” webcams are in high demand, which means that they are either not available or very expensive.

High Speed Internet The quality of a conference also depends on a stable, fast internet connection. If you are on a limited data plan, you might have to lower your video quality in order to decrease the bandwidth and data usage amount.

WARRENTON LIFESTYLE

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Choose a non-distracting location with good natural light, but not too bright in the background. It’s best to close the blind and/ or curtains on your windows. Try to light your face from the front or side. There are many special lights on the market for this.

For instance, my wife uses a clip-on variable USB light with a cellphone clamp when recording videos for her students.

Special Effects One feature that one of my daughters uses on Skype is “blurring the background”.

This keeps the viewer focused on her and less on the stuff around her. Sometimes she chooses a background which makes it look like she is sitting on the beach, although she is skyping from her living room. Some video conferencing regulars have installed special curtains or painted a “green screen” on the wall for TV-quality backgrounds. ZOOM offers a palette of virtual backgrounds, too.

But backgrounds can get really distracting when attendees decide to change them up during a conference.

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Cars, Planes, and Boats (models or remote controlled)

Hobbies are taking on a new importance during the pandemic, and Warrenton Hobby Shoppe is working toward fulfilling creative new (for kids) or nostalgic (for parents) ways for families to come together.

STORY AND PHOTOS

BY LINDSAY HOGEBOOM

A short time ago, if you were to ask Wes McCarville and Lori Gibson how they pictured their future, running a hobby shop on Main Street would not have been on the list. But as small towns have a way of doing, the community and friendships McCarville and Gibson found in Warrenton brought them an opportunity they couldn’t pass up.

How It Began When McCarville moved to Warrenton a year and a half ago, the first person he met was Burrell Spindel. “I went to Molly’s on a Tuesday night for trivia,” says McCarville. “I [was] just sitting up there…all by myself, and he’s like, ‘Hey, do you want to come join us over here?’

He introduced himself and him and I [have been] best friends since then.”

Spindel owned hobby shops for more than 30 years, including one of Fauquier County’s premier hobby shops, Virginia Hobbies Etc. At the beginning of 2020, Spindel began to experience some health issues that left him unable to continue to run his shop. McCarville explains, “He came to me and said, ‘Hey, Wes, do you want to buy the store?’” Although McCarville did not have experience in the hobby industry or as a business owner, he was interested

Lori Gibson and Wes McCarville, who have owned the Warrenton Hobby Shoppe since early 2020, cite fun, community, and friendship as core values at the heart of their business.

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about Warrenton.”

Hobbies Help During COVID “You know, honestly, for as difficult as it has been for people during [COVID],” says McCarville, “if you’re looking on the bright side of things, I do think this has given people an opportunity to reconnect on a family level.” And what’s better for families stuck at home with time on their hands than taking part in hobbies together? McCarville and Gibson quickly realized that hobbies have taken on a newfound importance during this unprecedented time and have been intentional about offering activities that promote fun and friendship. “That’s why we have a lot of cooperative games,” McCarville says. “A lot of these games, you’ve got to work together to win, and that’s the only way it works. I think that was a strategic move on our part.”

Gibson adds that another benefit of many of the activities the shop provides is that they can take place anywhere – including outside, which gets people out of their houses and into spaces where they can safely socialize at a distance. “The RC cars and planes and boats, they’re great outdoor activities,” she says. “It gets you out, and you can do it in the middle of nowhere.”

Gibson also says it’s especially important to have these types of activities during a time when people need to be intentional about doing things that bring them happiness and social connections. “It’s good to see people’s interests and passions being encouraged in a time when they can feel isolated,” she says.

“Instead of being isolated, they’re feeling more engaged and more connected.”

in the opportunity and committed to fulfilling the duties of his friendship in any way he could. “I had always told Burrell [that] he’s my best friend, I’ve always got his back, and I’d take care of him,” he says, “and so I was intent to make good on that promise.”

In May 2020, McCarville and Gibson officially fulfilled that promise by purchasing the shop, now known as Warrenton Hobby Shoppe, where Spindel continues to be employed. Gibson says, “We wanted to make sure that his legacy continued, that he was provided for, and we wanted to be a part of the main street community, so we were grateful to do that with him and for him.”

Fostering Family Fun and Tradition Now that McCarville and Gibson are running the shop, they have become fully immersed in the hobby industry. “It’s fun, because we learn a lot,” says Gibson. One of her personal favorite specialties has become the model kits, including model cars, planes, and boats. “People come in looking for a specific model kit, and they’re very, very passionate about it. It’s a tie back to their past. Someone will come in, like, ‘I remember doing that with my dad,’ so they want to pass that on to their kids. I think for me, that’s interesting. It’s the stories that they come in with, and the legacy and the stories that they want to leave for their families.”

Other popular aspects of the business that McCarville and Gibson have grown to know and love are games, puzzles, and radio-controlled (RC) cars, boats, and planes.

“We’ve been trying to do little things that are going to differentiate us from big chain

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Carrying Values Forward

stores,” says McCarville. One of the ways they’ve done that is by hosting events, such as game nights and RC vehicle races. Anyone who has been to Warrenton’s First Friday celebrations has likely been entranced by the RC cars zipping and flipping up and down the road in front of the shop at the RC car racing events. “I mean, how often do you get to run an RC car down the middle of Main Street?” exclaims McCarville. “And the board game nights – we don’t make any money off of that. But what have we done? We’ve built community and we’re connecting people.

We’re both very big into that. We want that community. That’s one of the things we love

WARRENTON LIFESTYLE

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As is apparent from the way McCarville and Gibson’s endeavors with the hobby shop began, fun and friendship are two core values that lie at the heart of their business.

“It’s a super small-town hobby shop, where people gather and exchange ideas,” says Gibson. “They’re engaging, and they’re supporting each other. We’re very humbled to be a part of that.”

“I’m happy [about] how things are progressing,” says McCarville. “Long story short, it’s going so well because we have good people that are with us and behind us.” Gibson agrees: “We’re very excited to be part of this community. We have an amazing team, amazing customers and we love our community.” ❖

Warrenton Hobby Shoppe 46 Main St., Warrenton • 540-347-9212 FB: @WarrentonHobby

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WHAT A MUSIC CAREER LOOKS LIKE IN 2020

BY MADDI MAE

T

Promotional shot for Quiet Corners. Photo by Gina Nilce.

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o paint a picture of 2020 for you, I need to briefly describe 2019. That year I played some of the best shows of my career, including two sold-out tour dates with Arizona folk-rock band Tow’rs where I befriended their leading couple, Kyle and Gretta Miller. Then I drove across the country with my best friend, stopping in Flagstaff to record a couple of songs with Kyle. Flew back out to finish recording the album, sold out of my first run of merchandise, did a hazy cowboy photoshoot with Culpeper photographer Gina Nilce, and got hyped for my first big release after six years of gigging nonstop and working my butt off. Oh, and I fell in love with that best friend, and we started a band together.

This year has been different. I was preparing to release the first single from my new record when the whole country screeched to a cacophonous halt. Pandemic. Quarantine.

No more shows. My longest performance drought in years, I ended up going five months without a gig.

The freeze hit hard – not just for me, but for the whole music industry. Because digital music cut the value of the music industry from about $20 billion in the late 90s to about $7 billion in 2015, musicians now rely on profit from live performances and merchandise sales. While artists are stuck at home with shows and tours cancelled, groups like the National Independent Venue Association are campaigning Congress to #SaveOurStages so

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The cover of Quiet Corners, Maddi Mae’s new album. Photo by Gina Nilce.

“WE ARE NOT ALONE AND WILL GET THROUGH THIS IF WE DO IT TOGETHER”

From a concert at Songbyrd Music House in Washington, DC. Photo by Gina Nilce.

that there are venues for us to perform in when traditional concerts are safe again.

It’s not all doom and gloom though. The best artists are creative and flexible, and we’re showing off those skills by adapting to these new circumstances with gusto.

With 50 tour dates cancelled, Kyle and Gretta of Tow’rs have taken the time to add on to their home studio, invest in new gear, and promote their recording services to other artists. For their own new album, the band had to compose together remotely instead of in the same room as planned. The socially distanced collaboration has been successful; on social media, Tow’rs is teasing the release of a new album for this month.

In early March, DC indie-soul band Oh He Dead flew out to Los Angeles to meet with executives at talent and publishing agencies. “It was really a dream-cometrue movie moment for us,” says founding member Andy Valenti. They had just begun planning an international tour for 2020.

Instead, Oh He Dead started doing “Jammy Jamz,” a livestream concert series (in matching

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pajamas,no less). “Obviously, interacting through screens is far from ideal, but it was nice to have some direct conversations and build relationships with the people who support us,” Andy said. Like Tow’rs, Oh He Dead has gotten better at collaborating remotely. Andy and guitarist Alex Salser have been passing ideas back and forth every day, writing enough songs for another two albums.

In Culpeper, Tanner Carlton and his brother Mason launched their record and podcast label Rixey in August 2019. Rather than hosting artists in their studio, a house off of Route 29 optimized for laidback collaboration and productivity, they’ve focused on helping their contributors produce from home. “We effectively decentralized a lot of the content we were helping create,” Tanner said. “It was an important step in our work.” Putting out 15 records and six podcasts featuring local creators, Rixey has managed to stay productive despite the setbacks.

Remember that #SaveOurStages campaign I mentioned earlier? We’re lucky in this area

WARRENTON LIFESTYLE

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that most of our music venues are actually breweries and wineries. “Once we were able to reopen the taproom, we could begin to talk about how and when to bring back live music,” said Dan Barret of Old Bust Head Brewing Company in Vint Hill. “We work in a creative industry, and have the opportunity to help support other creative, talented people in our area, and we don’t take that lightly.” For their large, covered outdoor space, Dan has now been booking mostly solo and duo acts who can provide a good amount of original music.

As for me, I released three singles in March, April, and May. I was planning to release the Quiet Corners album in June, but delayed it until September 2 because of the social tumult and unrest. Five days after release, it had been streamed 62,000 times in more than 60 countries on Spotify. I can’t tour to promote the release and I don’t have a team of professionals to help me, but my friends and family poured love on the record, and I've learned to invest in online relationships and make the most of my social media presence.

It’s easy to get down about challenging circumstances, but as Kyle beautifully put it, “Music is still healing, and it’s a room we can all go to inside ourselves to connect with the world or with someone else’s story . . . We are not alone and will get through this if we do it together.”

I’m thankful to be a part of something so powerful. ❖ ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Maddi Mae is an indieAmericana musician and music educator based in Remington. Her record Quiet Corners is streaming now on all platforms. Learn more about her at MaddiMaeMusic.com and sign up for a class or workshop at Write-Songs.com.

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No Greater Love Warrenton author John Cassel pens a faith-based tribute to those who’ve paid the ultimate price

BY PAM KAMPHUIS

“H

ell, I think you’re a saint.

I’m gonna call you Saint Nick.” This call sign, or nickname, was given to John Cassel by his Master this is what cops do. We lay down our lives Chief at the start of his career as a security for our friends. No greater love is shown contractor in the Middle East. Precipitated than when someone does that. It’s not just by the Master Chief noticing Cassel praying about me. It’s about all men and women in before a meal, the sign stuck. It felt right to law enforcement, in the military, in public Cassel; his son’s name, as well as his own safety, who are willing to die to protect middle name, is Nicholas. And Christmas not only their family and friends, but to was always his favorite holiday, earning him protect American lives. That verse has great the nickname “Holiday John” among friends significance to me.” and family. Then he researched the historical Cassel devoted his life to figure of Saint Nicholas serving to protect. As the son who —— as well as being of an Army ranger, he became the patron saint of sailors, JOHN 15:13 interested in law enforcement merchants, archers, repentant at a young age and joined the thieves, children, brewers, Greater love Columbus Police Department pawnbrokers, students, and has no one than soon after college. Becoming travelers —— was known this: to lay down immersed in the community for secret gift giving, which by knowing the city, its people, tied in perfectly with Cassel’s one’s life for and its dark sides intimately Holiday John persona. The one’s friends. made him a well known, well perfect call sign for him. liked, and effective officer.

It’s a nice story, but it’s But there came a time when only Christmas once a year, he felt called to do something different, and Cassel’s Christian faith —— and call sign —— is year-round. It has sustained him bigger, more. As a young husband and father, and with his wife’s support, he took a new as he navigated through two difficult service direction and applied to a firm providing careers that are not for the faint of heart security contracting to the Middle East. His and continues as he embarks on a third: application, which had been lagging, was inspirational writer. suddenly fast tracked in the days after 9-11.

Cassel explained, “The bible verse John “I think there were people backing out of 15:13 has been my favorite since I learned their contracts early and coming home, afraid it when I was a young cop. I was reading to be over there or to travel. But I wasn’t through my bible trying to find my faith afraid, I was ready. I think that was because again, and when I read that verse I realized,

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God had been whispering in my ear to be ready for a change. Then, seventeen days after 9-11, I was on a plane,” he said.

What followed was a 15-year career involving grueling physical, mental, and tactical training while working in conjunction with US Marines and the Secret Service in the Middle East and acting as a field training officer mentoring the newly formed Kosovo Police Department. Over the years, he worked in locations in the Balkans, South Central Asia, and the Middle East.

With both careers yielding extraordinary experiences, Cassel decided to share them in a book. But not just any book.

“I wanted it to be more than just another military or police biography. It needed to have that Christian faith slant to it. I wanted to reach out to people with my faith. In my mind, if I can bring one person to religion, prevent one suicide, save one marriage, if I can just accomplish one thing like that, it’s what I set out to do.”

In the book, Cassel relates many experiences ranging from humorous to terrifying, sparing nothing in the telling.

Included are his feelings, his frustrations, his hopes, and his Christian faith sustaining him as he navigated places and situations that are foreign to most. He highlights relationships with other members of his team and with the community, some short encounters, some involving lifelong bonds. Intertwined with the stories is the theme evoked by John 15:13: Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. Each story ends with a Bible verse.

“It’s a testimony. What I wanted to do was pay tribute to people, friends that I lost along the way, some of whom were killed in the line of duty. It means a lot to me to have this story published in December. One of my best friends, whose call sign was Southside, was killed in December, and I always remember him at that time of year. ” Cassel is now living with his wife and two children in Warrenton and working at the US State Department, where, he said, “My wife and kids don’t have to worry so much about me.” He joked, “I used to save lives, now I think about which top sheet to use on which report. It’s mostly computer and desk work. When you get into the daily minutia, you lose sight of the big picture, and I have to take a step back and remind myself that what I’m doing is still really important.” ❖

John 15:13 is available at The Open Book in Warrenton, and on Amazon in Kindle, paperback, and audiobook formats.

Happy Holidays!

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Thinking Outside the Box

Warrenton’s Christmas may look different this year, but creativity will save many traditions

BY PAM KAMPHUIS

C

hristmas in Warrenton has always been special and magical, for both children and adults. Our children have grown up going to the Christmas Parade and GumDrop Square to sit on Santa’s lap to tell him their Christmas wishes, and then shopping for Christmas gifts at Santa’s Secret Workshop on their own, with assistance from Santa’s elves.

Two years ago we published an article about everything and everyone that were involved with making Christmas in Old Town Warrenton magical. This year, of course, has been a whirlwind of uncertainty, but Warrenton didn’t give up. Our community leaders stepped up to the challenge and made creative plans and decisions while weighing safety with tradition, an extremely delicate balance.

With the pandemic restrictions constantly shifting, it was like trying to hit a moving target.

Charity Furness, Executive Director of Experience Old Town Warrenton, said, “We really had fun thinking outside the box. Once you get out of that box, of “this is what we’ve always done,” you can really reinvent an event. Our board leaders Tray Allen, Will Ashwell, and Amelia Stansell worked with me and the rest of the board to look at everything and discover different ways to make all our normal traditions safe and just as fun.”

The Parade: The Christmas Parade is, of course, one of the most popular events of the year, one that ushers in the holiday season. But this year, given the crowds it always draws, it wouldn’t be a safe situation. So Sean Polster, who chairs the parade every year, had to think creatively when planning the event.

The importance of the parade to our community was foremost on Sean’s mind as he planned, but one thing was not an option: not even trying. They decided to forge ahead with the reverse parade. He said, “I think we (all the volunteers) are committed to bringing the parade to our community in whatever capacity we can this holiday season as it is a source of joy for so many every year, and will be even more so now in 2020. This year has provided hurdles on every turn, and we know the pandemic landscape can change, but until we’re told we can’t do it, we are charging forward.”

GumDrop Square and Santa’s Secret Workshop: Experience Old Town

Warrenton also had to be creative this year to bring the same magic to Warrenton. GumDrop Square was the main problem; how were our kids going to see Santa?

“This is where we really got creative,” says Charity. “One of our thoughts was to use the new Town Hall building on Main Street, that used to be the bank. They had a drive-through, and we thought about putting Santa there, and having kids send their wish lists through the vacuum tube. But then we realized that it would be impossible to take photos through bullet-proof glass, so even though it would have been unique and fun, it wasn’t the answer.”

Having Santa meetings outside would also be safe, but would be first of all, cold, and then also weather-dependent. Having him sit in one of the showcase windows on Main Street was also a possibility, but there wouldn’t be any interaction with Santa at all, and also photography would again be difficult through glass. The performance room at the Gloria Faye Dingus Alliance was the choice in the end, having enough space to socially distance and limit the number of people in the building.

What about the elves? “We weren’t comfortable reaching out to the high schools for teen volunteers as we usually do,” Charity said.

“But then we decided that elves come in all shapes and sizes, and we reached out to local businesses.

The Purple Pumpkin and VonCanon General Store stepped up and their staff are the elves this year.

They were also generous enough to host Santa’s Secret Workshop at their locations. It’s a great example of how strong our community is, and how willing people are to chip in and help.” ❖

From the Mayor: Obviously, this has been a challenging year, but as a community we have weathered it remarkably well due to our devoted and passionate local support for our businesses and each other. And I think that is what we are going to see as we enter the holidays. We strive to find innovative ways to make sure we enjoy as many traditions as possible while providing everyone with a safe environment in which to enjoy them.

What will make this unusual Christmas truly festive and celebratory is not any one thing, it will be in how we share it as friends and neighbors. Our traditions may look different, but I believe that all of us will make sure that Christmas in Warrenton is as festive as ever. And, quite possibly, it might be the most special Christmas in memory.

— CARTER NEVILL

While we realize that the success of Warrenton’s Christmas traditions is due to many organizations and individuals, the scope of the article didn’t have space to name everyone who gives their time and talent to our community every December. We appreciate each and every one of you who works towards making Christmas in Warrenton special.

Management Advisory Services | Tailored Engagements Tax Planning | Controller Services

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WHAT’S NEXT IN 2021

BY DAWN ARRUDA, Real Estate Agent

With everything that has been happening this year – the shut down and the economic turmoil taking place – it is hard to believe that 2020 has been one of the fastest growing for home prices (5.7% nationally) and one of the best years for sales since back in the early 2000’s. Amazing right? Let’s try to understand why so we can be ready for What’s Next!

Before COVID and the world shut down, we were going into the year (by we, I mean the real estate community) with the idea of wow! 2019 was a great year for home sellers, both nationally and locally. Home prices were rising at healthy rates, interest rates were staying below 5% and the economy was on course for continued growth. We were all cautiously optimistic for a robust 2020 as we were coming up on the 10year recovery from 2009. Full speed ahead for 2020 – then COVID hit.

The amazing thing about the shut-down was that the State of Virginia declared that Licensed Real Estate Agents were essential personnel. Agents and brokers were nervous about doing their job for their clients with so many what-if’s and the added responsibility for keeping everyone safe. We still needed to help our clients get their homes sold or find homes for the buyers who needed to move. We had to reinvent and get creative by using home videos, FaceTime w/clients, virtual Open House events, Zoom Meetings. We quickly found new and safe ways to get people through homes live and in person.

We adjusted and have had one of the best real estate years on record. Part of the drive for this was COVID! Not only did we still have the market in front of us for 2020, we had lots of people deciding that they needed more space, more land, more internet! The interest rate fell to an all-time low and is still holding at one the lowest rates, historically. Everyone who had a mortgage began flooding lenders with Refi’s or decided to move because they now could afford a house that better fit their new needs. We had very little inventory that drove up prices and caused bidding wars! It truly became a seller’s market. In some instances, there was only a 2-week supply of homes on the market. Investors started selling off rental inventory because pricing is historically high and landlords are having to accept, in some cases, no money for tenants who couldn’t pay. This encouraged 1st time home buyers to get a loan and purchase a home because the purchase was cheaper than rent. As I am writing this article, there were only 14 active and coming soon rentals listed on MLS in Fauquier County, 8 in Gainesville and 3 in Haymarket.

SO……WHAT’S NEXT? I often say “my crystal ball is not working“. But, I can take the past and build on what I think may or may not happen.

There are many factors that can make or break the market.

Interest rates – we believe they will remain low as we move into 2021. Then there’s that ugly word recession; will that happen? Depends on who you talk to. It feels like we will have an uncertain outlook as things change on the political landscape and that uncertainty can freeze people in place until they feel secure again…..out with the old and in with the new could be a great thing for the housing market in this area. We are somewhat insulated having the government in our backyard. Most people have refinanced their home and if you have not, you should consider it. Our home inventory is very low right now; only 156 active listings in all of Fauquier County. When inventory is this low and interest rates are low, home prices tend to spike, which is great for sellers! Buyers need to be well qualified to compete. If you have not looked at your credit or have no idea how you fit into the home buying market, now would be a great time to sit down with a trusted lender and see how that picture looks.

Job growth and just being able to hold onto your current job is going to play a big role in 2021. This is where that crystal ball would come in really handy! We, as a country, have not filled all the housing demands from 2019, so it could prove to be another record year. The bottom line is WE NEED INVENTORY! We also need to get through the 1st Quarter of 2021, to see where the forbearance issue shakes out. If your forbearance comes due (most will be in January-March) and you, the homeowner, are unable to pay back the payments or the bank does not offer a work through, have a conversation with a trusted lender for a refi or a trusted agent to get the house sold so you can move into something more affordable.

There is no reason for a foreclosure to happen if you act now.

My best advice to you, as we enter 2021, is that it could be a fast and bumpy ride. Hang on and hang in there! Please get the answers to your questions from professionals you trust!

Call on your lenders. Call on your Realtors, many of whom have been through tough markets in the past. Call on your financial advisors and have discussions with your family.

I hope the best is yet to come with the possibility of a new vaccine that could bring us back to something that feels a little more normal.

DAWN ARRUDA REALTOR® Dawn is always available to answer any Real Estate question. You can contact her at (540) 341-8933 or Dawn.Arruda@remax.net.

YOU ARE THE KEY TO MY SUCCESS! A Personal Message From Dawn Arruda RE/MAX Regency in Warrenton

We made it! Whoever thought we would be happy to see 2020 behind us?! I, like many others, was so excited for this amazing year to start with grand thoughts, ideas and excitement about the future…about the trips with family, celebrations, gatherings, concerts and events! None of that happened but what I did see was how, in the beginning, we all came together with that spirit we all knew we had to help one another and know that we can all pull through this terrible time together if we just remember to have a positive attitude and willingness to help. I am very blessed that my job is somewhat recession proof as long as I am willing to adjust with the conditions and learn more about how to assist people in their needs and journeys.

This year has brought me closer to the people I have worked with and for. I cannot thank you all enough because you helped me get through a year that rocked my soul and for that I am very grateful. Our journeys to find homes was a little different. Our journeys to get your homes sold was more encumbered but safe! I sleep well knowing that we did everything we could to do our job with the same professionalism and safety was top of mind.

To all of you….when you look back on this incredibly long year, stay focused on the positive and know that we weathered the storm. With 2021 around the corner, we can hope that the storm calms down and we start to see the rainbow shining through. I have enjoyed every journey this year with all of you and look forward to the journeys ahead! May all of you have a safe, enjoyable holiday and hold onto the simple moments that fill your heart with joy! Oh yeah, don’t forget to catch some sunshine on your face, Vitamin D is important!

Thank you very much.

Member, Fauquier Chamber of Commerce Economic Development/Legislative Committee Supporter, Kettle Run-Scholarship Program, Booster Club & After Prom Supporter, Boys and Girls Club of Fauquier Supporter, Habitat for Humanity

Realtor , RE/MAX REGENCY ®

Dawn Arruda & Co. LLC Dawn Arruda & Co. LLC Realtor Realtor Dawn Arruda & Co. LLC Dawn Arruda Dawn Arruda Co. LLC& Co. LLC Dawn&Arruda DawnRealtor Arruda Realtor® ABR, CDPE, MCNE Realtor Realtor® Realtor ABR, CDPE, MCNE

540-341-8933 Office 540-729-6740 Direct 540-341-8933 Office Dawn Arruda Dawn lArruda l 540-729-6740 Direct Dawn Arruda ® ® CDPE, MCNE Realtor ABR, CDPE, MCNE dawn.arruda@remax.net Realtor ABR, dawn.arruda@remax.net Realtor ABR, CDPE, MCNE 540-341-8933 540-729-6740 Direct VA 20187 RE/MAXOffice Regency ll 7373 Comfort Inn Dr. l Warrenton, 540-341-8933 Direct RE/MAX Regency lOffice 7373 Comfort Inn Dr. l 540-729-6740 Warrenton, VA 20187 l 540-729-6740 540-341-8933 Office Direct l Each office independently owned and operated dawn.arruda@remax.net ®

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Get into the Holiday Spirit

Meadowlark’s Winter Garden Walk of Lights

Don’t miss these seasonal light displays

BY AMANDA M. SOCCI | COURTESY PHOTOS

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020 has been a year unlike any in recent history. With so many issues that have challenged and divided us, now more than ever, we need something to unify us and help us get into the holiday spirit. I’d like to suggest lights. Specifically, seasonal light displays. Why? Because while we can’t change the difficult circumstances we’re going through as a country, we can certainly allow things to light up our lives and enjoy the holidays to the fullest. And what better way to do that than by experiencing the pure, breathtaking beauty of Christmas lights?

Bull Run Festival of Lights

Winter Walk of Lights

NOVEMBER 6 THROUGH JANUARY 10 BULL RUN REGIONAL PARK, 7700 BULL RUN DRIVE, CENTREVILLE

NOVEMBER 11 THROUGH JANUARY 3 MEADOWLARK BOTANICAL GARDENS, VIENNA

This could be the most picturesque drive-through holiday light show you’ll see this season! In the span of 2.5-miles, you’ll witness the brilliance of 40,000 lights set to music featuring festive holiday scenes including a giant whimsical Santa blowing gusts of air, the illusion of jumping deer, and a pirate trying to escape an alligator, among others.

After the drive-through, be sure to visit the Holiday Village and Carnival to ride the carnival rides and camels from Bar C Ranch.

This is the ninth year of this gorgeous, half-mile walking light display featuring fountains of lights, small wire light displays designed by local artists, a garden of light, and the Korean Bell garden, among others. The snack shop sells hot cocoa and treats.

Social distancing, mask-wearing requirements, and increased sanitation measures are in effect.

FOR TICKETS: BULLRUNFESTIVALOFLIGHTS.COM ENTRANCE FEES: $25 - $50 PER CAR; DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE ONLINE. CARNIVAL TICKETS COST $1.75 EACH; TICKET SHEETS AND WRISTBANDS ARE AVAILABLE. CAMEL RIDES COST $8 EACH.

FOR TICKETS: WINTERWALKOFLIGHTS.COM ENTRANCE FEES: $0 - $18 PER PERSON; DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE ONLINE. ADDITIONAL FEES APPLY FOR FOOD CONCESSIONS.

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TOP: Take in the lights and hit the ice.

Skate sessions in the Winter Village include a one hour skate block and skate rental. Skating tickets are in addition to general admission. BOTTOM: Experience seasonal social distancing at its most magical! Enjoy the Bull Run Festival of Lights’ 2.5 mile route from the safety of your car. Turn the headlights off, keep the heat on, and simply follow the glow.

Winter Glow DECEMBER 11 AND 26 GEORGE WASHINGTON’S MOUNT VERNON ESTATE, 3200 MOUNT VERNON MEMORIAL HIGHWAY, MOUNT VERNON

Prepare to witness the Mount Vernon Estate bathe its main building and surrounding trees in soft hues of lights and holiday patterns while guests take a peaceful stroll listening to the harmonious sounds of Christmas carolers. Experience a melodic and historic evening by engaging in pleasant conversation with soldiers reenacting an 18th century winter encampment and watch out for the sparks flying at the blacksmith shop. The Mount Vernon Inn food truck sells warm food and beverages.

FOR TICKETS: MOUNTVERNON.ORG/PLAN-YOUR-VISIT/CALENDAR/ EVENTS, THEN SCROLL DOWN. ENTRANCE FEES: $25 FOR MEMBERS, $30 FOR NONMEMBERS

Christmas Illuminations at Mount Vernon DECEMBER 18 AND 19 GEORGE WASHINGTON’S MOUNT VERNON ESTATE, 3200 MOUNT VERNON MEMORIAL HIGHWAY, MOUNT VERNON

The normally serene estate kicks it into high gear with explosive fireworks that shine brightly against the dark nighttime skies overlooking the Potomac River. Enjoy the visual dips and bouquets of fireworks as they ebb and flow to the beat of the accompanying music. Watch out, because you may just see an unusual visitor greeting guests at the estate - - the friendly camel, Aladdin, is sure to put smiles on faces of all ages.

FOR TICKETS: MOUNTVERNON.ORG/PLAN-YOUR-VISIT/CALENDAR/ EVENTS, THEN SCROLL DOWN. ENTRANCE FEES: $20 FOR MEMBERS, $22 FOR NONMEMBERS

Ice and Lights NOVEMBER 20 THROUGH JANUARY 3 THE WINTER VILLAGE AT CAMERON RUN, ALEXANDRIA

Now in its second year, the Ice and Lights attraction transforms Cameron Run’s water park into a dazzling display of walk-through Christmas lights with an option for ice skating. Be sure to stop by the colorful tunnel arch and the interactive orb field and sing-to-me tree. There are many opportunities to take photos throughout this attraction. Food concessions are available.

FOR TICKETS: CAMERONICEANDLIGHTS.COM ENTRANCE FEES: ADMISSION TO THE VILLAGE ONLY: $8.16 PER PERSON. 1-HOUR ICE SKATING ADD-ON: $12.52 PER PERSON. ADDITIONAL FEES APPLY FOR FOOD CONCESSIONS.

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Warrenton Christmas Parade, Town of Warrenton DECEMBER 4

The town of Warrenton has altered its typical parade by offering a reverse parade this year. Floats will be parked and displayed along Main Street and attendees will drive by and view them from the safety of their vehicles. Keeping in mind the idea that holiday lights are here to light up our lives, the town of Warrenton is encouraging all its floats to ‘Light Up the Season!’ in an effort to brighten the night and everyone’s spirits as it continues this beloved Warrenton tradition.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. FOR MORE INFORMATION: WARRENTONCHRISTMASPARADE.COM

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Give Your House that Holiday

Check the product packaging to check limitations, such as how many strands can safely be strung together, says Mike Sfreddo of Virginia Christmas Lighting and Decor Company

glow

Outdoor lighting tips from professionals

S

BY PAM KAMPHUIS

eeing homes decorated with outdoor lights is one of the joys of the holiday season. It’s so bright and cheerful, and this year, with social distancing impacting our seasonal celebrations, driving around neighborhoods seeing houses aglow from the safety of our car will be even more important. Make the extra effort and give your neighbors something to enjoy!

Depending on how elaborate you want to get, installing holiday lights can be hard, time consuming, and even dangerous. We’ve interviewed three area experts to get their take on the best practices and products, and to get some handy tips. Kim Terry, who has been the groundskeeper at Airlie in Warrenton for eight years, takes on the project of adorning the resort with white lights in mid-November. At this huge resort, a large staff, including a staff electrician, is required to accomplish this, and the results are stunning and magical. Charlie Beaty is the owner of Piedmont Lawn and Landscaping who supplements his landscaping business by decorating homes with outdoor lights during his favorite time of year. Mike Sfreddo is the owner of Virginia Christmas Lighting and Decor Company in Nokesville where he and his professional craftsmen installers also eagerly await the Christmas Season every year.

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The grounds of Airlie are magical at Christmastime due to a large staff beginning adorning the property with white lights in November. “We keep stringing lights until we run out,� says Groundskeeper Kim Terry. Photos courtesy of Airlie.

Safety first: what outdoor lighting tips do you have for homeowners?

According to all our experts, always plug the light strings or extension cords (use the outdoor versions of both) into a GFCI outlet, or use a GFCI adapter. That way, if any moisture finds its way in anywhere the power will cut off, which could possibly save your house and your life. Also, be sure to read the product packaging for important information, such as the number of strands that can safely be linked together to avoid a fire hazard. And, of course, only install your lights yourself if you are 100 percent comfortable on a ladder. The cost to pay a professional is not worth your life.

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Is it important to have new light strings every year? How long can strings last?

Which lights are the most energy efficient? Is it important to turn the lights off at night?

LED lights strings will last multiple years, while incandescent lights will need spot replacement of bulbs or fuses every year.

And, Charlie reminds us that each year strings should be inspected for frays or exposed wire which can be dangerous.

According to Mike, LED (or SMD) lights consume a fraction of the power required by incandescent lights. Turning the lights off when they aren't needed will extend bulb life. Consider using dusk/dawn timers to automate the on/off cycles of the lights.

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Tip: Pre clip your bulbs with the attachments before starting, you will be on and off the ladder in half the time, says Charlie Beaty of Piedmont Lawn and Landscaping

coating on the wires, and do not set them too deep. And be careful not to pierce the string with the staple. If you do, eliminate that string.

What's the deal with white lights?

With LED lights in particular, white is not always white. Simply organized, Charlie explained, there is pure white, cool white, and warm white. According to Mike, professionals distinguish them as follows: "cool" white looks icy and has a bluish hue, "pure" white is the brightest and purest (think hospital sterile), "warm" white resembles the light produced by incandescent bulbs, "sun warm" white has a slight bit of yellow, "champagne" white is aptly named, and "amber" white has a brownish hue. At Airlie, Kim uses a “warm” white, which she feels is more elegant, but which can be hard to find locally. If you prefer the hue of incandescent, there are LED versions out there that can come close.

What are the best types of outdoor lights? Do they need to be waterproof?

No light string is 100 percent waterproof, but as long as water does not infiltrate vulnerable areas, such as connections between strands, there are rarely any issues. Mike recommends avoiding the use of electrical tape where strings connect; instead of keeping moisture out, electrical tape traps any moisture that comes in, which is more dangerous. Always make sure that any open female ends face down so they do not collect water when it rains.

What kind of lights do you recommend?

At Airlie, LED lights are used because there are more lights per string so they are closer together creating a more showy look. All three of our experts agree that commercial grade lights have advantages over home-use versions.

Their waterproofing is more solid, they

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last longer, and come in longer strands. The suppliers are likely to have more stock, meaning a) they are unlikely to run out, and b) you can get all your strings in the same brand and color so all your lights are the same shade and match exactly. With homeuse strings you may have to mix different brands together, making subtle color variations a possible problem.

What are the best types of attachments?

There are many great clips out there —— they have different clips to attach to shingles, ridges, gutters, and even magnetic clips for metal roofs. Make sure you do your research and buy the right clips for each of your surfaces instead of buying an all-in-one; it will make your life much easier, Charlie explained. Hot glue is also a possibility on almost any surface besides stucco and painted brick. Staples can be used, but they are not a favorite with our professionals. If you do use them, Kim recommends using special rounded ones that are designed for this purpose that will not crush the plastic

WARRENTON LIFESTYLE

}

What other cool things can you do with lights?

According to Mike, high tech features such as color changing lights and timing to music, which have always been the domain of people with programming abilities, are becoming more user-friendly. Now powerful mapping and programming products are available in easier-to-use formats that everyone can have fun with. Some are even app-driven.

Final tips?

Charlie: Pre clip your bulbs before you do your install. You will be on and off the roof or ladder in half the time.

Mike: Installing light strands with the lights on will help identify bad bulbs and assist in visualizing good bulb placement (such as in bushes).

Kim: Mix it up a little. There are many different lights out there. Icicle lights can be beautiful, big bulbs in the ground along walkways can light the path as well as being decorative, and don’t forget the batterypowered lights for wreaths and things that are far from a power source. ❖

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For ALL Your Remodeling Needs Our Services include: Kitchens • Bathrooms • Basements Decks • Carpentry • Flooring Electrical Service • Tile • Cabinets Our mission is to provide you with the lowest competitive pricing, quality products and exceptional service.

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www.blackwoodkitchenandbath.com {

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39

AMY BOYLE

Home Holidays F O R

T H E

A Place to Heal

STORY AND PHOTOS BY AMY BOYLE

T

his year more than ever our homes need to be festive, yet comfortable and cozy, for the holiday season as our families recover and heal after this tumultuous year. 11 Magnolia Lane design blogger Amy Boyle of Warrenton shares her ideas for creating a magical environment for her family to relax and reconnect with each other.

“I foresee more traditional decor this year— things that evoke nostalgia, like popcorn garlands, dried oranges, (battery operated) tree candles, plaids, and tartans, are all returning this year as we turn to our homes for comfort,” Amy says.

Her home itself is done in a neutral color scheme, which allows her to play with all sorts of different colors for the holiday season; she especially likes the festivity of gold and silver metallics, but this year is incorporating the more traditional reds and greens also.

But don’t isolate your family, says Amy. “While home is nice, focusing on giving and reaching out to others who are isolated is truly what the holiday spirit is all about.”

How to Make Your House Smell Like Christmas 1 sliced orange (including peel) 5 (approximately) cinnamon sticks 1 bunch fresh rosemary 1/2 bag fresh cranberries (Optional: add fresh cloves for a spicier scent) Add ingredients to a large pot of water and bring to a boil. Turn heat down to low and let it simmer all day.

Replenish water as needed so it doesn’t burn.

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Financial Services Without the Fine Print At Meridian Financial Partners, we operate with an openness rare in the financial industry. Client-centered and independent, we are fee-only fiduciary planners—we don’t work on commissions or get paid by anyone other than you.

We focus on your best financial interests and yours only.

540.878.5416 • info@MeridianFinancialPartners.com 39 S. 4th Street Warrenton • MeridianFinancialPartners.com

Meridian_WarrentonLifestyle.indd 1

Give the gift of home, Become a foster parent in Virginia.

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Merry Merry Christmas, Christmas, neighbors. neighbors.

We wish all our neighbors peace, joy and love this Christmas season and wish beyond.

Weneighbors are blessed to bejoy part oflove suchthis a wonderful We all our peace, and Christmascommunity. season and beyond. We are blessed to be part of®such a wonderful community.

Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.

Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®

Glenn Albert, Agent 324 Waterloo Street Warrenton, VAAgent 20186 Glenn Albert, Bus:Waterloo 540-347-3339 324 Street www.glennalbert.com Warrenton, VA 20186 Bus: 540-347-3339 www.glennalbert.com

Proudly serving Warrenton for 14 years

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Loving Care Care When When You’re You’re not there there Pro Loving not Loving Care When You’re not there MiD-DaY WaLKS WaLKS & viSitS viSitS ving MiD-DaY MiD-DaY WaLKS & & viSitS vaCation/hoLiDaY vaCation/hoLiDaY vaCation/hoLiDaY M SPeCiaL neeDS neeDS SPeCiaL SPeCiaL neeDS v Kelly Parrish -- owner owner Kelly Parrish Kelly Parrish - owner Carmen Rivera, Agent 251 W Lee Highway Suite 237 Warrenton, VA 20186 Carmen Rivera, Agent 251 WBus: Lee 540-347-1566 Highway Suite 237 www.carmenriverainsurance.com Warrenton, VA 20186 Bus: 540-347-1566 www.carmenriverainsurance.com

S 540-272-9546 Kelly 540-272-9546 BONDED •• INSURED INSURED •• LICENSED LICENSED BONDED BONDED • INSURED • LICENSED

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www . { DECEMBER 2020 | WARRENTON LIFESTYLE } 41

Something new!

This year, try these ideas: Add fresh greenery from your yard to large bowls or pots, then adorn them with christmas lights or ornaments for fresh and inexpensive holiday decor.

Add warm throws and candles around your house to make your home feel comfortable and cozy.

Even if you don’t have a fireplace, groups of candles around the house provide the same touch.

Use wrapped gifts as decorations to add color and a festive atmosphere.

ABOUT 11 MAGNOLIA LANE | 11MAGNOLIALANE.COM 11 MAGNOLIA LANE, A LIFESTYLE BLOG, WAS STARTED IN 2010 BY AMY BOYLE AND HER CLOSEST FRIEND AND PARTNER CHRISTY BLACK AND HAS GROWN TO HAVE A MONTHLY SOCIAL MEDIA REACH INTO THE MILLIONS. THEIR THEMES INCLUDE FOOD, FASHION, DECORATING, DIY PROJECTS, ORGANIZATION, ENTERTAINING, AND MORE.

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Animal Care Center SERVICES

Brin

g yoLeavin ur p g to ets wn? to o ur h ou

House & PetSuites

se!

DID YOU KNOW that Awesome Smiles is now a proud preferred provider for disabled veterans?

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43

a vintage christmas HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHAT SANTA’S WORKSHOP MIGHT LOOK LIKE?

BY ROSANNA SMITH

R

osanna Smith, a local business owner with a love of antiques and penchant for nostalgic story telling typically uses her collection of vintage treasures to style weddings. She says that weddings are a day when multiple generations of families gather to celebrate love, honor traditions and create new memories. Curating an atmosphere that incorporates antiques in the décor makes for conversations that start with Remember when… or My grandparents once told me…, and the sharing of family folklore ensues.

Rosanna discovered during a different kind of project the similarities between weddings and the holiday season, which also are a time for families to experience opportunities for storytelling and family traditions. Supplying a red velvet sofa for a Breakfast with Santa photo booth, she became immersed in dressing up the whole set to create an imaginary North Pole Workshop scene. Using some of her large collection of vintage pieces gathered over the years — because you never know what you might need to spark a feeling of joy — the set came to life as her impressive imagination kicked in. Her goal: she wanted for the parents and grandparents accompanying children waiting in line for their turn with Santa to experience their own walk down nostalgic Memory Lane, creating an opportunity for sharing memories and family stories. Look through these photos of the set yourself and see if memories are sparked, or, for the younger generation, questions come to mind. Memories and stories from our older generations are treasures; do not waste the opportunity this holiday season to capture them.

44

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CHICK’S ur hearts.

It is aWishing All a Merry Christmas & SERVICES INC. Happy Holidays! offer automotive old. We look ng the automotive Thanks to everyone for making 2020 a great year. Looking forward to helping you in 2021 with your real estate needs. May you have peace, health and happiness throughout the year.

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Y ALM RASPBERR THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts. It is a SHORTBREAD TS RIN BP UM TH blessing and pleasure to continue to offer automotive ients redcustomers Ing services to our new and old. We look GLAZE COOKIE • 1 cup powdered softened , butter cup 1 • forward to another 50 sugaryears of serving the automotive • 2/3 cup sugar t • 2-3 teaspoons water • 1/2 teaspoon almond extrac • 1 1/2 teaspoons needs of the community. flour rpose • 2 cups all-pu almond extract • 1/2 cup raspberry jam

MERRY CHRISTMAS from everyone at Chick’s Services!

338 Broadview Ave Directions Warrenton, VA 20186 540-347-3992 www.chicksservice.com r 1. Combine butter, suga nd and 1/2 teaspoon almo extract in bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping y. bowl often, until cream Add flour; beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until well mixed.

Cover; refrigerate at least 1 hour or until firm.

2. Heat oven to 350°F. 3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Make indentation in center of each cookie with thumb Fill each indentation with about 1/4 teaspoon jam.

4. Bake 14-18 minutes y or until edges are lightl browned. Let stand 1 minute on cookie sheets; remove to cooling rack.

Cool completely.

5. Combine all glaze ingredients in bowl with whisk until smooth.

Drizzle over cookies.

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Serving Prince William, Fauquier and Surrounding Counties

OLD SCHOOL SERVICE

338 Broadview Ave. Warrenton, VA 20186 540-347-3992 • chicksservice.com

with

559 Frost Ave #101, Warrenton, VA 20186 Phone: (540) 349-1221

8074 Crescent Park Dr, Gainesville, VA 20155 Phone: (703) 753-7910

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This year, we added three additional Associate Medical Directors to our team, dedicated to serving our patients.

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OFF{

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With technology providing much of today’s entertainment for kids, having old toys in Santa’s workshop might prompt a parent to share a story or two about when they were kids. The metal toy tractors and red barn conjure images of outdoor playtime, or perhaps tiny elves clearing snow and going through “reindeer caretaking” training.

And memories of little red wagons are sure to be treasured as well.

The luggage is for Mrs. Claus who is hoping to go with him this year as she’s been cooped up and needs a vacation! Santa put his everyday boots near the luggage because he’s ready for a vacation too.

The simple game of playing catch with a trusty leather mitt and mask could keep kids entertained for hours, until the street lights came on. A parent might ask their children if they’ve ever noticed what time the street lights come on nowadays. I bet they haven’t!

Santa’s North Pole Workshop includes a vintage phone and old-fashioned feather pen to make any notes from his conversations with the parents who call to speak with him directly. And although Santa likely has an iPhone too, he still likes to stay organized by keeping his lists of things to do, as well as his Big List, in actual hard copy on his typewriter which has no memory so it’s all secret.

46

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The old sleds with their metal rails surely carry with them the imagery of euphoric speeding down a white hill with at least someone catching air before crashing! If that was your mom or dad or grandparent, and they had that awesome experience when they were kids, wouldn’t you want to know about it?

Santa still likes to use his trusty globes to track all the places he’ll be visiting in the world. The bird’s eye view is more akin to his ‘sleigh in the sky’ view and his ‘magic’ binoculars help him to always watch and know when kids are good and bad. There are two clocks in Santa’s Workshop… the large one without hands because it’s *always* Christmas in the North Pole, and the special gold one keeps him on track for his special voyage.

The lanterns are for traversing between all the buildings in the North Pole, such as the main Workshop, the Toy Shop, the Reindeer Barn, the Cottage, the Tool Shed, the Great Hall, and the Sleigh Shed. So many different lanterns are needed also because good lighting is everything, and frankly, Rudolph needs to save his red-nose energy for the trip.

WARRENTON LIFESTYLE

}

Lifestyle

THE 15TH ANNUAL

20

BEST

20

OF FAUQUIER

BEST WINERY 2010-2020

Merry Christmas!

I would like to thank everyone for making 2020 a great year and I am looking forward to helping you with your real estate needs in 2021!

Brenda Rich

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You Can’t Stop Christmas!

WARRENTON SANTA ADJUSTS TO THE NEW NORMAL

BY AMANDA M. SOCCI PHOTOS BY TRAVIS ROGERS

T

he coronavirus may have impacted our ability to get together with family and friends during the holiday season, but it will never stop us from celebrating the biggest holiday of the year and inspiring us to spread peace on earth and good will to men.

Christmas may be only one day of the year, but there’s a special person who makes it his mission to celebrate it year-round.

Meet Warrenton Santa, whose rock-hard beliefs in Christmas prevented him from revealing his real name to us because he was unwilling to ruin the magic of Santa for the children. Initially, this hard-working veteran and father of four felt it was a calling for him to put on the Santa suit for the first time in 2012 to help out his church. “I thought it was the greatest thing on earth. I enjoyed it because I was in the military for 20 years and I wasn’t always home for Christmas. My kids spent a lot of time at Christmas without dad at home,” he explained. In 2014, Warrenton Santa expanded into a business, appearing for parties, holiday gatherings, and home visits with kids.

Warrenton Santa is dedicated in his professional development with an impressive education from the International University of Santa Claus, multiple outfits and costume pieces, and most importantly, a deep-seated desire to impart Christmas spirit and spread his message of joy and

kindness. His busiest day of the season has always been Christmas Eve, where he’d be racking up serious mileage with his driver for twelve hours visiting as many children as possible at their homes in Fauquier County and some parts of Culpeper.

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After receiving word that many of his usual Christmas-related events and activities were canceled this year, Warrenton Santa began developing new, innovative ways to connect with children amidst the current environment to ensure that nothing, not even the coronavirus, would stop Christmas. Unable to do his usual at-home visits, Warrenton Santa had to get creative to offer modified in-person and Santa photos in the most socially distant, COVID-conscious manner possible.

For example, On December 5th, the nondenominational New Life Christian Church is hosting ”Christmas Through the Ages” at Piney Branch Elementary School in Bristow. This is a drive-through Christmas lights event in which families drive through a designated path, observe the beautifully decorated cars, and see Santa at the end. Warrenton Santa will be there to chit chat with families, answer any questions, and pose for pictures while families remain seated in their cars.

“The idea is that cars will drive up and Santa walks up to the vehicle within a six-foot boundary where he will spend a few minutes greeting the kids and spreading joy. This is to give kids a sense of normalcy during COVID restrictions,” noted Warrenton Santa.

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Warrenton Santa knows children will be disappointed to not see him in person, so he decided to host Christmas Book Read-Alouds at the North Pole, a.k.a. a dedicated room in his home. He purchased a professional microphone setup and created a warm office environment with attractive Christmas props. He also brushed up on his technology skills and spent the month of November recording himself in full attire reading aloud from select Christmas books, designated as appropriate by children’s book publishers including Scholastic and Penguin Random House.

Warrenton Santa plans to broadcast these pre-recorded videos and offer Facebook Live presentations of new Christmas Book ReadAlouds throughout the month of December on his business Facebook page. “On Sunday nights, I’ll try to do Advent and talk about the lighting of the four candles. It’s a big Catholic tradition. There’s a significance of the candles,” noted Warrenton Santa.

So, this year, the services Warrenton Santa is offering are phone calls and video calls with kids, instead of his traditional oneon-one chats. He’s also offering his “Sneak and Peek” service, which superimposes a stand-alone photo of Warrenton Santa unloading gifts onto a parent-supplied photo of their own living room so children can see photographic proof that Santa visited them.

In-between modifying his services to make them compliant with state restrictions on gatherings and getting ready for the Christmas season, Warrenton Santa has also found time to write. He has two separate book projects in progress: a children’s book and a nonfiction book about Christmas that features the history of Catholic Christmas traditions and incorporates how St. Nicholas became the modern-day Santa Claus.

Warrenton Santa works exclusively with locals to help him offer his services, and he would like to offer thanks to Rusty Von Keller and Lisa Smith from the Fauquier Book Rescue program, local author and elementary school reading teacher Jennifer Kristin Armstrong and illustrator Michelle Heiser for permission to read from their children’s book, Mother Nature’s Christmas Tree, and Travis Rogers from Reformed Photography.

By adjusting to the new normal and changing the way he will do business this year, Warrenton Santa and his helpers are successfully keeping true to his steadfast beliefs in the power of sharing his Christmas spirit with the local community as much as possible. ❖

Information and details at facebook.com/Warrentonsanta and warrentonsanta.com

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local expert

Pairing and Comparing the Classics Celebrate the holidays and finish the year with traditional fare complemented by timeless wines.

BY MARK LUNA

I

n all things created, there are the classics. From literature and song to automobiles and the drive itself, anything that has maintained the highest standard over the longest period of time has earned the classic moniker; certainly, there is classic cuisine and make no mistake, in the wine world, there are classic grapes.

I love wine grapes, always have, and have written many paragraphs about grapes from all over the world that have produced extraordinary wines. Many different grapes can actually fall into their own ‘classic’ category, relative to their place of origin.

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That said, however, in the wine world, there’s only one real collection of noble grapes, the true classics, if you will.

For this column, the last of this unforgettable year, I choose to focus on the four noble grapes — chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon — and offer some delicious pairing ideas for each. Not to be forgotten, of course, are the classic red wine grapes: merlot, cabernet franc, and syrah, as well as the white wine grapes: chenin blanc, and riesling, whose range of production styles virtually exceeds them all. Each of these timeless varieties

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THE EXPERT:

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Mark Luna is a Portfolio Rep for Roanoke Valley Wine Company. He holds a WSET Level 3 (Advanced) certification through the Wine & Spirits Education Trust. He is also a certified Italian Wine Scholar, graduating with Honors, through the prestigious Wine Scholar Guild. Both certifications are industry recognized post-nominal accreditations. Through and beyond his work for RVWC, Mark writes, teaches and guest-speaks about wine in a variety of both industry and privately held events.

He lives in Warrenton with his family. Mark can be reached at info@winespique.com.

should be considered as well, perhaps for another time.

Chardonnay In the Santa Rita Hills of central California sits a wonderful winery called Liquid Farm. Owner Jeff Nelson and winemaker James Sparks produce some of the finest chardonnay wines you’ll find. Adhering to the philosophy that wine is an above ground/below ground nexus that produces liquid from farming, their wines display the characteristics of what can be considered classic chardonnay, the go-to dry white wine.

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The standout is the Liquid Farm White Hill Chardonnay 2017. More Chablisiane in style, the unique salinity comes through from the ancient soils of Santa Rita Hills. It’s floral and fragrant, with fresh tangerine, beeswax, and jasmine. The minerality is up front, followed by a slightly creamier mid-palate with hints of baked lemon curd.

As for food pairings, this chardonnay complements an array of seafoods ranging from shrimp scampi to grilled tuna and baked salmon, depending on the seasonings of choice. For a different protein approach, duck and chicken, served with sautéed fresh vegetables and quinoa, will also make this wine soar. An endorsing 94 points from Wine Enthusiast is all the concurrence you’ll need.

Sauvignon Blanc

For the last several years, the sauvignon blanc wines of Marlborough, New Zealand have been universally recognized as having the most typicity of any wines produced in the world. When you smell and taste a sauvignon blanc from that region, you instantly know what it is and where it’s from, which is quite an accomplishment given its very deep French roots. Still, sauvignon blanc, with its succulent and herbaceous characteristics, can be grown around the world and produce some of the most distinct wines you’ll ever drink.

Nestled between the bluffs of Blind River, a half mile from the sea in the cooler Awatere Valley, New Zealand, is Waverly Vineyard and Barker-Marque winery, home to the award-winning family of estate grown and certified sustainable wines.

Of the numerous wines produced by partners Gillett Johnson and Simon Barker, the gem here is their exotic Three Brooms Sauvignon Blanc 2019. Aromatically, this beauty has the usual suspects of currant leaf, kiwi, and passionfruit, and the expected finesse of minerality. This particular vintage, however, offers additional notes of dried

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Sec Pinot Noir 2016, eponymously named for the signature vineyard. This certified organic, dry-farmed wine is both powerful and elegant, with congruent notes of earth, flowers, and big red fruit. It’s explosive in both its aromatics and palate, with a finish you’ll find only in the Willamette Valley.

As for food pairings, you won’t find a more versatile red wine grape than pinot noir, period. Pick a protein, it pairs. Savory carbs?

It pairs. Delicate white fish with mesclun greens? It pairs. I’ve enjoyed Evesham Wood Le Puit Sec Pinot Noir with filet mignon, lobster, baked salmon, and countless other various sized dishes.

Cabernet Sauvignon

herbs and flinty smoke. In the mouth, the attack is bright, fresh, and intense. It’s truly about the fruit, though, with both citrus zest and tropical sensibilities. It’s also 100 percent certified vegan, organically grown and sustainably farmed — rich, balanced, textured, and complex.

For a wine such as Three Brooms Sauvignon Blanc, food pairings are very direct. Match it with white meats, tuna, or swordfish, but don’t forget white fish, asparagus, and complex salads with beets, arugula, and hearts of palm.

From the classic whites to their classic red counterparts, we travel to Oregon and back to California for pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon.

Pinot Noir

Evesham Wood winery was founded

by Russ Raney in 1986, based on the idea that ‘small is beautiful’. According to Russ, actuating this philosophy in the pursuit of greatness relies on two basic principles: obtaining optimally ripe, low-yield fruit from the best possible sites in the Willamette Valley, and using minimal intervention in the winemaking process.

Since 2010, Evesham Wood has been owned and operated by Erin and Jordan Nuccio, with whom Raney worked closely for many years prior to retirement. Erin has continued this approach and the wines are spectacular. I’ve often written about my love for Oregon pinot noir, and one of my favorite bottlings is Evesham Wood Le Puit

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Not every grape grower produces wine and certainly not every winemaker owns vineyards, in fact, most don’t. Fritz Stuhlmuller, however, was so inspired by the complex wines being made from his family’s vineyard that he established a small, artisan winery bearing the Stuhlmuller name.

That was in the mid 1990s, after a decade of enjoying a reputation as a world-class grape grower. The wines easily followed suit.

For cabernet sauvignon lovers, especially with a big and traditional meat-and-potatoes meal, Stulhmuller Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 is the one to get on your table.

Twenty years ago, a new winery was built on the property. Stuhlmuller became a sustainably farmed operation and sized themselves just perfectly so as to handle the small amounts of world-class, estate fruit used exclusively to create their Alexander Valley wines. With talented winemaker Leo Hansen at the helm, Stuhlmuller Vineyards annually handcrafts small-lot jewels that embody a classic expression of both style and sense of place. Low yields of small, intensely flavored berries exhibit beautiful fruit, with subtle notes of herb and olive along with the rich cherry, black fruit, and cocoa characteristics that personify the Alexander Valley terroir.

This is a meal wine, and what instantly comes to mind is a cut of meat (with a touch of fat to handle the age-worthy tannins), savory potatoes, and a side of bold greens.

I would decant this wine for about an hour and insist on big Bordeaux style glassware; it deserves the proper vessel.

So, classic wines with classic foods will make for a great holiday season and a wonderful way to conclude a year that we’ll never forget. I look forward to 2021 and to all that awaits us in the wine world.

Until next time, Happy Holidays, Happy New Year and Happy Vino’ing! ❖

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