Warrenton Lifestyle Magazine January 2023

WARRENTON LIFESTYLE

From working as the head chef at his restaurant, to enjoying tennis, basketball, skiing and motocross, Andrea Ferrero’s life has kept him in motion. But it took a toll on his knees. After years of steroid shots, he opted for knee replacement surgery at Fauquier Health. “Being able to come back so quickly was amazing,” says Andrea. Joint and spine care at Fauquier Health. Today and every day

Andrea Ferrero Orthopedic patient

FROM THE EDITOR

Anew year with new challenges

This year marks my 15th year working at Rappahannock Media for Warrenton Lifestyle and The Piedmont Virginian. Through those years in this role, not only have I had a lot of fun, I have also learned a lot about Fauquier County and the surrounding area. I’ve come across many interesting places and met many people.

This extensive knowledge of the area may be very useful in a new role in my personal life this coming year: Mother of the Bride. My daughter Sarah and her fiancé Michael have recently announced their engagement.

There’s absolutely no doubt that this part of the state is a beautiful setting for a wedding, with many gorgeous venues, stunning scenery, and world-class food and wine to choose from.

This is good because dress shopping, venue shopping, caterer shopping, cake tastings, photographer shopping, and probably many more things that haven’t even dawned on me yet are in my future.

I feel somewhat unprepared. Looking back, my mother planned my wedding, down to the smallest detail, mostly because we were married in her garden in my native Rhode Island. I think the only things I did were order the invitations and try on dresses.

I will say, one thing that I won’t do is make cream of broccoli soup on the morning of the wedding. I can’t remember why, but at my wedding my mother decided we needed that soup. I also don’t remember why she chose to make it herself, especially since we had a caterer who probably wished she wasn’t in their way in the kitchen.

Especially when she forgot to put the top on the blender, and there was broccoli soup all over the kitchen. She was so busy cleaning it up that I had to flag down my aunt Jeannie to zip up my dress. But everything else was absolutely, completely perfect. Thank you, Mom.

I hope I can do as well.

EDITOR Pam Kamphuis

PUBLISHER

Dennis Brack dennis@warrentonlifestyle.com

EDITOR Pam Kamphuis pam@warrentonlifestyle.com

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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. ©2023 Rappahannock Media LLC.

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STORY AND PHOTOS BY WHITNEY

PANDIL-EATON

Local Business Be Well and Thrive with the “Skin Care Chef”

Lessons learned overcoming a devastating diagnosis inspired Natalie and Mitch White to create an organic skin care line of products.

BY SUE BALDANI

Mary’s Alpaca Farm Store: Exquisite fiber products in the Plains

BY SUE BALDANI

BY CAITLIN ADKINS, SPACES ORGANIZED AND STYLED

Fauquier’s Matt Fischer helped Team USA bring home the silver in Junior Men’s Roller Hockey at the 2022 World Skate Games

BY JAYA PATIL AND PAM KAMPHUIS

STORY AND PHOTOS BY ERIKA J. WILSON

BY KARLA JONES SEIDITA, HOME ECONOMIST

Mary Forte, left, and her twin sister Anna Carner-Blangiforti with two of Mary’s alpacas from a herd numbering about 100 on her farm in The Plains.

Photo by Luke Christopher

Nothing too Trivial

Test your memory and knowledge or show off your vocal skills at one of the local trivia and karaoke events

BY WHITNEY PANDIL-EATON

What are two activities happening in the Warrenton area that involve people from all walks of life, cordial competition, family-friendly fun, and heart-pumping excitement? The answer is trivia and karaoke.

Whether you like brain teaser questions or belting out an American classic, several restaurants and breweries in Fauquier County hold trivia and karaoke events weekly or for special occasions.

It’s a

Old Bust Head

Question: Which local brewery will be celebrating their 400th trivia event this month? The answer: Old Bust Head, located at Vint Hill Farms Station.

“Like many of the events we host at Old Bust Head, Trivia Night is a way to bring our local community together,” said Cara O’Neal, social media manager at OBH. “We have many regulars who come to Trivia Night every week and we love seeing familiar faces in the taproom.”

One such group of regulars is the Seay family of Warrenton who have been attending trivia nights at various venues in town for three years.

“It’s just a fun night out and a great

way to spend time as a family,” said Kristina Seay, operations manager at ERM and Associates in Warrenton. Seay said she regularly attends trivia with her husband, Brian, a forensic toxicologist at Quest Diagnostics and adult son, Carter, who works at Spitony’s Pizza.

Each member of the Seay household has their trivia category niche and they bring in additional friends and family to help bolster their competitive edge.

Others use trivia to meet and compete.

Moving frequently due to his active-duty status with the United States Coast Guard, Lt. Craig Rooke said trivia events help him meet people in his new community.

“Most of the friends I have I met at trivia,” said Rooke, who lives in Old Town Warrenton. “You just meet a lot of good people [at these events].”

?1. What was the name of the roller rink in southern Fauquier marked by a huge roller skate in front?

2. Which Fauquier Confederate was nicknamed “The Grey Ghost?

great way to get out of the house, laugh, and meet new people or old friends.

O’Brien’s Irish Pub

Community and camaraderie are two compelling reasons to host trivia, but there is a third reason: tradition.

Jerry O’Brien, owner of O’Brien’s Irish Pub in Warrenton, said “pub quizzes” are a traditional part of the pub experience in his native Ireland.

“People looking for something to do during the week can come, have a nice meal, and have fun,” he said.

Allison Coppage, trivia host at O’Brien’s, said her trivia format is themed-based but she always throws in a question or two about Irish culture which patrons enjoy. Also popular are the music round (listen to a snippet and name the song, album, or artist) and the picture round (identifying things like cartoon characters or business logos by sight).

Craft & Crust Pizza

For other Fauquier County residents, their sense of community comes through stretching their vocal cords and dancing.

The Craft & Crust Pizza Tavern, which opened in Remington in 2021, has held karaoke weekly for more than one year.

“We wanted to provide entertainment for the community,” said owner Dawn Rana. “People of all ages love karaoke and we’re a family restaurant so we thought people would enjoy some good food and clean fun.”

Chris Boswell, Fauquier Trivia

“I love Chris’s format structure because you know what’s coming,” Seay said of Chris Boswell, AKA “Fauquier Trivia”, who hosts trivia at Old Bust Head. "You don’t have to be a brainiac to enjoy it.”

“Chris has these one-liners that just stick out,” Rooke added. “He’ll have the whole room going.”

The Hosts:

With great style comes a great (and loyal) fanbase.

Beyond the brain-teasing questions and song organization, trivia and karaoke attendees say it’s the performance of the event hosts that brings them back week after week.

Boswell said he has been organizing trivia for more than 10 years. With a background as a musician, Boswell said doing trivia allows him a creative outlet.

“I have a hunger for the stage and for interacting with people,” he said. “It takes personality to do trivia. It’s like an act which allows me to get my stage fix and have fun.”

Boswell hosts trivia at OBH on Wednesdays from 6-8 p.m.

Allison Coppage

The days of a domestic relations attorney are often long and difficult which is why Coppage finds catharsis in the banter and friendship she has found with her loyal trivia fanbase at O’Brien’s.

“For the two and a half hours I’m here I don’t think about trials or mediation,” the lifetime Warrenton resident said. “As much work as (preparing trivia) is, everyone enjoys it, it gives me a break, and it gives back to the community.”

“Allison is a pillar in the community,” O’Brien added. “Everyone knows her and respects her, and she has created a family (like) atmosphere here.”

O’Brien’s Irish Pub hosts trivia on Wednesdays from 7-9 p.m.

5. Name one of the businesses that previously occupied the building that now houses the library?

?4. Who is the town of Warrenton named after?

3. Who made history as one of Fauquier County’s first Black deputies?

Linda Bradshaw, Karaoke with Linda B.

With her signature sequence fedora, decorative hip scarf, and no-nonsense attitude, Linda Bradshaw, AKA “Karaoke with Linda B.”, has gained quite the following for her karaoke events throughout Fauquier County.

Andrew Margrave routinely makes the 45-minute drive from Fairfax to Remington to attend Bradshaw’s karaoke held at the Craft & Crust Pizza in Remington.

“I’ve been to numerous karaoke venues… Linda is the best of all of them,” he said.

“Her showmanship and presentation are outstanding. She’s the gold standard for karaoke jockeys.”

“Linda is bubbly, creative, and always very reliable,” said Michelle Bland, who coowns Craft & Crust with Rana.

Semi-retired, Bradshaw said her motivation to be a karaoke jockey is to get out, meet people, sing, and have fun.

“It’s a party and I’m the hostess,” she said. “I really like developing relationships with customers and making everyone feel like friends, family.”

Organizing your life to accomplish your 2023 goals

BY CAITLIN ADKINS, SPACES ORGANIZED AND STYLED

athome

Take a moment to look back and see how you are feeling about 2022. Did you set goals at the start of the year? Were you successful in accomplishing them?

For most people the answer will be “no.” So how can you make 2023 different?

Put it in writing

Statistically, only 1% of people actually take the time to write down their goals but you are 42% more likely to accomplish them if you put them on paper. It makes a world of difference to actually write (or type) them down so they become more concrete, and you will be more likely to take the steps towards fulfilling them.

Break goals into increments

You can’t take a large goal and accomplish it in one day. You have to break it down into smaller projects to do throughout the year. For instance, say that once and for all you want to organize your house and get on top of the clutter. This could be broken down by room; for instance, the attic is one chunk, the basement another, the spare room another. Or, you could break it down by task: plan to get all the trash out of the house as one project, then take care of all the donate/giveaway items, then organize and put away what’s left, and then thoroughly clean the spaces.

it down

Schedule your time

The important thing is to plan by the year, quarter, and week, allotting time to work towards your goals. Whether you use a written planner or a computer/phone app, the process is the same. Choose the method that works best and is most comfortable for you and your family.

The Big Picture (Look at the whole year)

Start by putting all of your family and friends’ birthdays, anniversaries, and special occasions that you don’t want to forget into your calendar/ phone now. Add vacations (if you haven’t started to plan them yet, it’s time!), school breaks, holiday schedule, sport schedules, family dentist/doctor appointments, vet visits, etc. All those things we do every year can be planned for so they don’t creep up on you. You might want to add in big work project deadlines or conferences so you can see at a glance when your busiest times will be. Go ahead and add in your recurring to-do’s, prescriptions to be ordered, bills to be paid, yoga classes. Don’t forget to block in time for taxes in February and March!

Distill Down (quarterly)

Now that you can see your 30,000 foot view of 2023, go back and look at your yearly goals that you have set. Establish a quarterly goal; perhaps you’d like to have the attic done by the end of March. What are the steps you can take during those 12 weeks to work towards one of those project chunks?

Zero In (weekly)

Block out a time, once a week, to schedule out your next upcoming 7 days, and add new appointments, meetings, and errands. Then, you can see where there are gaps of time each week to work towards that quarter’s goal. Consider how to use your time efficiently. Do you prefer to spend the bulk of your Saturdays powering through those steps all at once, or do a half-hour every day after work? Then block those times into your calendar accordingly. As you go through this process, each week will get easier to plan as you get a sense of what is working best.

Establishing Habits

Sometimes accomplishing goals, like becoming more physically fit, require establishing a new habit. The easiest way to do this is to piggyback off of an existing habit. For example, if you want to start to go to the gym every week, maybe tack that on after you go to church on Sunday. Going to church is a habit you already have adopted, and you can easily associate another habit with it. L

just for fun...

I use the GOOGLE CALENDAR and keep everything there. Then, I add everything to the calendar on my phone. Then I write everything into my PRETTY PAPER CALENDAR BOOK that I keep near my desk. Clearly I need a better solution but it works for me!

SUSAN MCCORKINDALE, EDITOR

For work I use a HARD COPY CALENDAR and write down my schedule and list of contacts for every day. No apps... old school for old people. For home I have a list by day and hour of what I want to accomplish, otherwise time gets away from me in this fast-paced world.

CONNIE FIELDS, ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER

I use a SPIRAL BOUND 9” X 7” WEEK-AT-AGLANCE PAPER CALENDAR I have tried apps and the calendar on my phone but always go back to the paper planner. I like seeing the whole week laid out at once.

MARTI BADILA, SALES ADMIN

I swear by a PAPER ERIN CONDREN LIFEPLANNER. I have for years. I’ve tried to be a digital planner/use a digital calendar and it doesn’t work for me. If I don’t write things down where I can look at them all the time, I forget about them.

NICKY MARSHOK, GRAPHIC DESIGN

I use GOOGLE CALENDAR because it ties in nicely with the whole suite of Google apps.

DENNIS BRACK, CEO AND PUBLISHER

I can’t stand paper planners or handwritten lists, mostly because I can’t find them when I need them. At work we use TRELLO to track projects, and I’ve also made a personal board to prioritize my own tasks. I use GOOGLE CALENDAR for both home and work events. But possibly the handiest app I use is COZI, which is a list organizer that is shared with family. It makes grocery lists so easy — anyone can add items to it, and it will sync and pop up on the phone of whoever goes to the store next. All three of these apps I can use from either desktop or phone.

PAM KAMPHUIS, EDITOR

I’m a bit of a hybrid. I do most of my work planning and scheduling using GOOGLE DOCS and OUTLOOK EMAIL. I do use a TACTILE NOTEBOOK for day-today to-do lists and reminders/ chores. Oftentimes items will get transferred to and fro between the two. I like a touchable notebook more than doing things online, but it’d simply take too long if I were to do everything via handwritten notebook.

TREVOR BARATKO, EDITOR

We surveyed the staff of Rappahannock Media to see how they keep their lives organized. Here’s what they had to say. In this digital age, you may be surprised!

Healthy, Strong, and Vibrant

Natasha Frisk’s passion is guiding others to find their strengths in mind and body

BY ERIKA J. WILSON

“Ifeel that my purpose is to help educate women, and to help them understand how their bodies work,” said Natasha Frisk, a natural wellness practitioner who offers in person and online coaching in nutrition, exercise, and holistic health for women at her Fitness and Energy Wellness practice in Vint Hill.

For many, the New Year brings new goals and resolutions. Most people resolve to live a healthier lifestyle and then find themselves unsuccessful at meeting their goals. That’s because being healthier requires a new mindset. Frisk helps women shape this new mindset by supporting them in developing lifelong practices instead of following short-term fads.

The Beginning

Frisk’s motivation to help people live a healthier lifestyle began in 2008 when she needed additional support on her weight loss journey. She explained, “I have always been athletic. But in 2008, after I had my daughter, it took me a while to lose the weight. I fell in love with being back in the gym.”

“Tasha’s Teas” boxes include items such as Raspberry Leaf Hibiscus Rosehips Passionflower loose tea, a yarrow candle, a lavender charcoal soap bar, a tea tube of the Better Belly Tea.

This, along with concern about a family history of diabetes, high blood pressure, and breast cancer, jump-started her to begin personal training and go back to school to educate herself. Frisk became certified in natural wellness and nutrition, personal training, and advanced pilates.

Frisk, who was diagnosed with endometriosis in her late thirties, also wants women to know they should pay attention and question everything about their bodies. She wishes she had known sooner and encourages others to recognize early that irregular, painful, and heavy periods are not normal.

Family and Community

Frisk’s goal of educating, motivating, and empowering healthy living carries over to her family life. They practice meatless Mondays and their goal is to work towards growing 80% of their food in the future. She said, “We are raising our kids to know food, and what nutrition works best for them.”

“I also attended the Warrenton’s Farmers Market as a vendor. I like to support them; I want to get people to go and understand where our food comes from in our area, and to support our farmers.”

Emotional Eating and Knowing Your Body

Frisk is passionate about bringing balance to emotional and stress eating with a program called Food and Flowers Therapy, in which flower essences are paired with nutritious food to help women gain control over emotional or stress eating and build a healthy relationship with food. She also offers vitamins and supplements, meal

Get to know Natasha

Family: Husband Danny, daughter Kayana, 14, and son Joe, 17. Both teens run Track and Field at Fauquier High School

Years in Fauquier: 11

Originally from: Loudoun County Residence: Just outside Warrenton on a small 6-acre homestead

Pets: 20+ chickens, a goat, and three dogs.

Favorite restaurant: Her go-to healthy pick is Covert Café’s Veggie Hummus wrap, and El Agave restaurant for a night out with her family.

plans (which are customizable and come with a shopping list and a swap list), and tea box products to support the needs of her clients.

Advice for Readers

“Be intentional, and be mindful of the things you put in your body,” she advises. “I tell people about the two “R”s, remove and replace. Remove negative things in your life, but remember to replace them with something good for you. So, for instance, remove foods that cause health triggers or harm your body and replace them with foods that nourish. Remove sedentary habits and replace them with active exercise routines that you love and will practice consistently. If you can go outside for a walk, do it. Nature is all around us, and the heart loves green. It helps you to calm down, and satisfies your connection with Mother Nature.”

Frisk concluded, “Optimal health and wellness is achieved when we align our environment, body, and spirit as one. What I do is to help women develop the tools to live a long, strong, and happy life.” L

No one person has the same body or goals. Nutrition and fitness are very individualized, so find out what is right for you.

of

FAUQUIER

A LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

We’re excited to present the second edition of our premier special section:

FACES of Fauquier!

This separate section of Warrenton Lifestyle focuses on some of the many amazing faces that help make Fauquier County a truly unique business community. You might recognize many of the folks on these pages as friends and neighbors..

We hope you enjoy FACES of Fauquier and visit the featured businesses.

FACES of Fauquier is published annually in our January issue and is also available as a digital edition on our website at fauquiernow.com/faces2023.

Thank you to all the businesses for being part of this special section.

Watch for the next FACES of Fauquier in January 2024, and if you would like to be considered to be featured, please let us know (faces@warrentonlifestyle.com).

FACES of Fauquier is a free annual publication of Warrenton Lifestyle. Copyright © 2023 by Rappahannock Media. All Rights Reserved. Information in this magazine is as correct as possible at press time but is subject to change. Reproduction of any photographs, illustrations or written material without prior consent from the publisher is prohibited.

Warrenton Lifestyle, 70 Main St., Suite 32, Warrenton, VA 20186

Dennis Brack Publisher

DENNIS BRACK

Publisher

JIM KELLY

PAM KAMPHUIS

JAYA

PATIL

LUKE CHRISTOPHER

CINDY MCBRIDE

Sales Director

Editor

Account Executive

Project Photographer

Project Writer

FLOORING SALES & INSTALLATION

Colvin Floors

Shane Colvin

Shane Colvin grew up learning everything about flooring from his father, Henry, who started in commercial and residential flooring sales and installation in 1971. Shane gradually took over the well-established and trusted company from his dad and was primarily managing the business by 2015. He took over completely when Henry passed away in 2020. Since then, Shane has had to face some tough curveballs.

During COVID, the business remained operational. “We worked through the height of the pandemic and kept our installers and staff employed and all as safe as possible,” Shane said. The changes and fluctuations in interest rates, inflation, and the housing market that have occurred since then also directly impact the business. It has been a tremendous achievement for the business to survive the pandemic and unstable market conditions.

Shane’s staff, a team of five, is crucial. His mother, Claudia, who has done the bookkeeping from day one, still does it to this day. “Jenn, Kelli, Mike, and Jeremy are at the front of everything. They’re always eager to provide individualized attention to each customer that comes through the door. They will even meet clients after hours if that’s what it takes.”

Shane’s work ethic is the same. Running the family business has been a rewarding, yet demanding job. His years of experience have provided him with outstanding expertise and insight into managing any flooring-related matters, no matter how difficult or complex. He invests the time to research and learn everything about a new product and its installation before he brings it into the showroom. He has earned a reputation as a well-respected and trusted expert in all aspects of the flooring business.

Colvin’s experienced crew specializes in

the installation of specific types of flooring. They are carefully hand-picked to work for Colvin. The current crews have been used by Colvin Floors for years and must maintain the highest quality standards. They are respectful of the customers and do everything necessary to ensure that the job is completed promptly and correctly.

Clients can see the wide variety of flooring materials ranging from carpet to hard surfaces on display at the Warrenton store or on the Colvin Floors website. Onstaff design consultants are well-versed and guide customers through the process of choosing the materials and colors that will work best in their space.

“We will consistently push the boundary to provide the highest level of product and service possible,” Shane said. “We’re going to be there for customers whenever they need us, whatever their needs may be— however big or small.”

Commercial Real Estate Services (CRES) has been recognized as Fauquier’s Best Commercial Real Estate Company for two years running in Warrenton Lifestyle’s Best of Fauquier contest. They’ve been around since 1999, serving the larger DMV area while based in Warrenton.

The company works with commercial real estate that’s anywhere from 3,000 square feet for lease to over 500 acres for sale. Who’s behind the company with such longevity and reach? Four people, including President Bill Chipman and there’s only more growth on the horizon for CRES.

They work on the sale, lease, and appraisal of commercial real estate. Most of their daily business is in sales.

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE SERVICES

CRES

Bill Chipman

They also offer consultation services and there’s a “possibility of starting an investment and development side for the company,” Chipman said.

Being based in Warrenton while serving a large region gives CRES a unique perspective on Fauquier County compared to our neighboring metropolitan areas.

Chipman believes commercial growth is exactly what Fauquier needs and predicts it will take place since available land in adjoining counties is dwindling.

“Smart commercial growth in [Fauquier] will help lessen the tax burden that is currently too dependent on the residential tax base,” Chipman explained, and commercial growth “typically does

not put too heavy of a burden on schools, fire and rescue, and other public facilities.”

Chipman cites an example of commercial growth, “We are representing a property that is proposed for a data center development that will greatly increase the commercial tax base that, we believe, have minimal impact to the surrounding properties given its location and existing infrastructure on the site” Chipman said.

Speaking of surroundings, despite reaching across the DMV, CRES shines in Warrenton. “We believe our company offers the best full-service commercial real estate services in and around Fauquier County,” Chipman said.

FirstLight Home Care of Warrenton

Presidents Stacey and Mark Harvey

FirstLight Home Care has been voted Best Home Health Care in Warrenton Lifestyle’s Best of Fauquier contest for the last two years, putting them on top despite COVID’s devastating impact on healthcare.

“Staffing is always a challenge since you have a lot of people who have gotten out of healthcare because of the fear of the pandemic,” Stacey said. Even so, they’ve managed to build a staff of 80 caregivers and five office staff.

“We’re happy with the growth of the business, but we’ve sadly outgrown our Main Street office,” Stacey said. They are now located on Culpeper Street across from the courthouse.

What won’t be changing is their quality home care services to their clients, who

are mostly seniors but can also include new parents who may be stressed by their new role. Their caregivers can help with household tasks, daily living challenges, transportation, companionship, and more.

Their certified nurse assistants and personal care assistants attend regular training sessions to keep up to date on industry standards, learning things like Hoyer lift operation and how to spot depression in the elderly.

In addition, to maximize their positive impact, Stacey recently became certified in case management and public guardianship.

“That means I can help out with coordinating between client’s doctors, [keep] in touch with the families to

keep them updated, [and help] with insurance,” she said. This can take a lot of stress off family members.

The challenge with clients is educating them on when to seek out FirstLight’s services. Many come to them as a last resort, when the stress of caregiving is beginning to take its toll.

“We’d like to get in to help as soon as possible, before that happens. We’re happy to start out slowly, visiting infrequently at first so people can get used to the services,” Stacey said.

“When we look for caregivers, we look for the heart, somebody who truly cares and wants to do this,” Stacey said. “I can train somebody how to properly give a bath, I can't train the heart.”

“We really enjoy helping [bring] the client's vision … to life,” Valerie Gibson, president of Gibson Home Services, said. Whether it’s adding flair with wainscoting, building a deck, or adding some dimension with coffered ceilings (one of Gibson’s favorites), Gibson loves to see the transformation of the client’s space.

Gibson and co-founder and vice president Josh Gibson, who had years of construction experience under his belt, started the business in 2005, and have been exceeding clients’ expectations ever since.

Gibson Home Services offers just about every service needed to remodel, repair, maintain, or improve clients’ homes, from interior work such as flooring, kitchens, basements, bathrooms, and custom carpentry, to exterior projects such as windows and doors, decks and porches, and gutters, just to name a few. Building

Gibson Home Services

Valerie Gibson

materials used are chosen for high quality and longevity.

“We try to offer as many services as we can do really well for our clients,” Gibson said. “If it's something that we can't do ourselves, we try to align with subcontractors that have the same core values, operate the same way, [and] offer the same level of service and client experience that we do.” A tall order, considering their bottom line is “If it isn’t good enough for our home, then it isn’t good enough for yours.”

In their line of work, “getting people motivated, on your page, and on track for your vision can be a challenge,” Gibson said. With four new hires in 2022, bringing their team to 13 employees, the Gibsons have built a cohesive team that meets their high standards and provides clients with top-notch service.

In the future, Gibson Home Services

will be providing these services from their new home on Main Street in The Plains, which they have been looking forward to for quite a while.

They plan to add a showroom as well, where they can offer more hand-selected products and streamline their customers’ shopping experience by enabling them to see a variety of options at once.

They hope to fill their showroom with quality cabinets, countertops, flooring, decking, and more. “We’re not sure what it’s going to look like yet exactly but we would like to try to do something along a good, better, [and] best scenario focused on value and longevity so that clients can be confident they are getting a quality product that will last them for years to come,” she added.

With over 18 years worth of exceeding expectations, it seems Gibson Home Services is right on track.

TAX PREPARATION

H&R Block

Jean Queen

Anyone who stops by for help from H&R Block in Warrenton or Bealeton “may not know my name, but they know the person who does their taxes and has been doing it for 10-20 years,” said franchise owner Jean Queen.

Queen has been in the tax game for 55 years. She started off working for H&R Block corporate and bought her first franchise, the Warrenton office, in 1972. She had always been interested in owning a franchise and had five offices at one point. Nowadays she owns the Warrenton, Bealeton, Culpeper, and Orange offices.

“The business is a family affair,” she said. Her husband helps with maintenance in the office. Her daughter

Norma graduated from filling staplers and opening boxes as a kid to managing the Culpeper office. “She’s my right hand. She’s been with me for over 35 years,” Queen said.

With loyal employees and clients who have been with the office for over 30 years, the concept of family goes further. Most of their employees are local and many Fauquier County clients have been coming for years.

“We offer all the products and services that a corporate office would,” Queen said, which includes personal and business taxes; corporation, partnership, estate, and trust returns; bookkeeping and more.

“Back when I started, we did

everything by hand… Over the years, things have changed with technology and taxes,” Queen said. They keep their skills sharp with annual training and do an average of about 4,000 returns in the county each year.

Even if there’s something they haven’t seen, they know where and how to find what they need to serve every client. They’ll even offer special appointments if someone can’t make it in during office hours–all you must do is ask.

Finances can be considered personal. “[Clients] will share their whole life story with you,” Queen said. But Queen’s H&R Block family shows up. “We don’t disappear after tax season… We’re here all year long,” she said.

HEARING CARE

Hearing Assessment Center

Dr. Nikki Butler

Dr. Nicolette “Nikki” Butler, Au.D. comes to Warrenton, and the Warrenton Hearing Assessment Center (HAC), from Alaska, where she completed her residency and studied the relationship between speech comprehension and our memory.

Dr. Butler is certified by the American Board of Audiology, a distinction only held by 15% of audiologists.

When HAC purchased the private audiology practice previously known as Fauquier Hearing Services in 2019, Dr. Butler joined the team as part of the transition. Their current practice is a team of three: Dr. Butler, Hearing Instrument Specialist Dawn Jeckell, BC-HIS, and Office Manager Becky Abdullah. They hope to add a patient care coordinator to the mix.

The team offers all of the audiology

services with the exception of balance testing, including hearing testing and protection, hearing aid fitting and repair, tinnitus treatment, and more.

“There are 48 million Americans with hearing loss. Many in our community,” Dr. Butler said. Hearing loss can be enabled by or increase the risk of other health and cognitive declines such as diabetes, depression, cardiovascular disease, and even dementia.

“Recent research shows that the risk of developing dementia increases with the severity of the hearing loss,” Dr. Butler said. Hearing loss can affect your social, emotional, and physical health tenfold.

“Studies have shown that cognitive function can be improved after only three months of consistent use of properly fit hearing devices,” Dr. Butler

said. “It's just a matter of people seeking the right help as soon as they notice a problem.”

People wait an average of seven years to be seen for hearing loss. “To help overcome this challenge, we spend a significant portion of a hearing evaluation appointment on education and counseling,” she added.

Part of that education can be dispelling misconceptions. Of those, Dr. Butler summarizes it as such: hearing loss is never normal, it slowly progresses, it has an impact on your daily life, and it should be tested by a professional.

“The sooner you treat your hearing loss, the sooner the brain can begin retraining to process sound,” Dr. Butler advised, and she’s here to hear you out.

HOSPICE CARE

ProMedica/Heartland Hospice Care

Hawes

When ProMedica/Heartland Hospice Care moved to Warrenton in 2010 from their Fairfax office, it was a move towards what they knew rather than away from it.

“All [65] of my staff that work here are local so they're able to get to their patients quickly and serve the community that they live in,” Senior Administrator Amber Hawes said. “They're able to take care of their neighbors, which is kind of the heart of Warrenton in of itself.”

“We provide care wherever a patient calls home, whether that's actually in a home or in an assisted living facility, a nursing home, [or] hospital,” Hawes said. That care can encompass psychosocial or spiritual support, pain and medication management, equipment, therapy, or bereavement services with a varied care team.

In the cases where care is in a healthcare facility, “We work with the staff to make sure that they have all of their needs met,” Hawes added. The benefit for both medical staff and patients: “We’re able to do one-on-one care,” she said.

Hawes worked at Fauquier Health Rehabilitation and Nursing Center and an assisted living facility in town as an RN before joining ProMedica/Heartland in 2010. “Growing up here and having been born and raised here, it's nice to have the opportunity and the privilege to take care of my friends’ parents, aunts, and uncles,” she said.

“Hospice has a stigma [that] you're actively dying,” she added. While Medicare, their primary payer, makes some regulations on what qualifies, people can go on and off hospice multiple

times. “We are able to take care of people for over a long term period,” Hawes said.

The biggest hurdle is getting people to utilize hospice sooner. “We can do so much of a better job when we have six months to be able to help prepare family and a patient for end of life instead of six days or six hours,” Hawes said.

Hawes is also now the Virginia State Representative for My Hospice Ambassador, which means she’s often at the capitol pushing for change. “If people have questions or issues that they want to raise with the local congressman, I'm always happy to advocate,” she said.

Above (from left to right): Sadia LaRose, Kelly Harris, Eric Reeves, Mike Reese, Jenn Horste, Amber Hawes, Angela Jacobs, Dana Conway

Amber

LEGAL SERVICES

Growing up, Fauquier County native Attorney Marie Washington watched Matlock with her grandfather and became fascinated with the law. Now, seeing the wide range of different issues that come through her Old Town Warrenton office every day, she realizes that Matlock was true to life in at least one way: you can never know what to expect.

It seems like there’s no side of law that Washington doesn’t work in. Since 2003, The Law Office of Marie Washington has been helping clients with an impressive scope of issues pertaining to criminal and traffic violations, domestic relations, collections, business law, estate planning and probate, landlord-tenant issues, and more.

Office of Marie Washington

She and her staff go above and beyond to be welcoming to anyone who could use their help and to put clients at ease in what is sometimes a very stressful situation. She wants people to be comfortable coming to her. “Lawyers are human beings too,” she said. “No need to be intimidated. It is a team effort to get a desired outcome for your legal issue.”

Professionally, Washington has earned local and national awards across all the areas of law she practices. Just this past November, she was admitted to the Supreme Court Bar. She has also been voted Best Lawyer in Warrenton Lifestyle’s Best of Fauquier contest multiple times.

Washington is well known locally for her community involvement and charitable work.

In her capacity as a lawyer, she has volunteered at Expungement Clinics, which involve helping people clear criminal records, and has organized student programs with a junior judges’ program in the elementary schools and a summer legal seminar program at the high school level. “I was able to help with Wills for Heroes, a free program to produce wills for first responders and their spouses, in the Spring in Culpeper.”

In other volunteer work, she has served on the boards of multiple community nonprofits and organizations, including the Mental Health Association of Fauquier, Warrenton United Methodist Church, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Fauquier, and others. “I would like to do something more with elder care and nursing homes.”

Law

Marie Washington

Minera Orthodontics

Dr. Soledad Minera, DDS

“We make braces fun,” Minera Orthodontics owner Dr. Soledad Minera, DDS said.

A native of Guatemala, Dr. Minera has a doctorate in dental surgery from the University of San Carlos of Guatemala, and spent an additional three years earning an Orthodontic and Dentofacial Orthopedics degree from Rutgers School of Dental Medicine.

Minera took over the practice in 2020 after working under previous owners Drs. Robert and Juliana Miller for a couple of years. Unsure that she’d be able to practice as an orthodontist when they moved to Warrenton due to the already

established practices, she accepted a part-time position at Miller Orthodontics.

“That first day, I felt like I was walking into my destiny. The office felt right, the vibe, the staff. I never thought to own the practice, but when the opportunity arose, it was like a dream come true,” she said.

Minera was thrilled when many of the staff stayed with her through the transition. “We are a fun, loving, and dedicated group of people. You will feel it as soon as you walk in the door for the first time,” Dr. Minera said.

“We love what we do. We are constantly educating ourselves,” Dr. Minera said of her staff, which now numbers ten.

“We pride ourselves on being in a small town with the most advanced technology in orthodontics today,” she added. “That technology reduces treatment time and appointment [frequency].”

Digital advances in the field include digital scans, custom 3D-printed clear braces, manufactured aligners, and the ability to position metal braces with digital design.

High tech doesn’t mean unaffordable prices though. “We want everybody that wishes the best smile for themselves or their children to be able to afford it,” Dr. Minera said. “We make it possible for you to have the smile you always wanted.”

TRANSITION SERVICES

Overwhelmed, How Can I Help?, LLC

Barbara Lynn Stohlman

“I would have never known had you asked me 12 years ago what a transition service company was,” Barbara Lynn Stohlman said. Barbara is the founder of the local senior transition service company Overwhelmed, How Can I Help?, LLC (OHCIH).

When her parents passed away in 2011, she and her brother had to comb through their parents’ estate. A friend showed her an article about transition services that help in those situations. Barbara could see that doing that work would be a great use of her design, technology, and psychology background.

Barbara spent 2013 training with the national company franchise, Caring Transitions and with Conquer the Clutter. She decided she wanted to take

transition services in a new direction, so she started OHCIH, a for-profit company, in 2014.

“We’re there to help [clients] in whatever way we can. We customize it around the person that we're working with,” she said. OHCIH offers help with downsizing, packing/unpacking, moving, aging in place, estate sales, and just added interior Christmas decorating after a client asked this past holiday season.

“[About] 80% of our work is working with the aging population and some of them have different forms of dementia and physical ailments,” she said. They work with realtors, lawyers, estate planners, auctioneers, specialists, wealth advisors, or case managers to get a senior the services they need.

“You have to be willing to listen … to what their needs are and understand

where their sensitivity lies,” Barbara said. They offer a free in-home consultation to facilitate personal relationships with potential clients.

Their team is sensitive to the emotional experience of their clients. “It takes somebody that has a heart. This is … all about serving,” she added. She embodies that heart, having simultaneously juggled COVID and stage four cancer while managing the business.

Barbara made it through and continues to support her community with her business. “Our team feels that giving back is a calling,” she said.

“Nobody is really prepared,” Barbara said. That’s why OHCIH is here to make the changes in life a little easier. It’s all about taking the stress out of the transition.

Rappahannock Electric Cooperative

UTILITIES

Rappahannock Electric Cooperative's roots reach back to the 1930s when Northern Piedmont Electric Cooperative (NPEC) and Virginia Electric Cooperative (VEC) were founded. NPEC merged with VEC to form REC in 1980. What was the NPEC office is now REC’s Culpeper office.

Director of Member Services & Community Relations Jeff Henry works out of the Culpeper office with a team of 81 employees, 13 of which are in member services. They’re on the larger end of energy cooperatives, but they have small-town interests.

“Our employees live in the communities we serve, and it shows,” Henry said. Their best measure of member satisfaction was when they received a JD Power score of 796, ranking

them 16th amongst all utilities in 2021.

The old company can still learn new tricks, such as with electric vehicles. As EVs gain popularity, REC has responded to the higher energy needs with innovative energy usage solutions. They’ve developed a Vividly Brighter Charging solution for EV owners to charge outside of peak hours–keeping costs down and distributing the load on REC’s transformers.

“We have made some smart investments in technology which have helped to control our distribution expenses,” Henry said. Their technology increases accessibility and transparency for members.

Their Advanced Metering Infrastructure reads energy meters through the power lines instead of dispensing people to read them. Their

Affordable Energy Efficiency program offers home upgrades that can be paid back through a member’s energy bill. Both solutions save money all around.

Even with uncontrollable factors such as rising energy prices, “we help our members by providing programs and education to help use energy as wisely as possible,” Henry said.

“We are owned and governed by our members. If there’s something you believe we should be doing, let us know,” he encouraged. “It’s not uncommon to see REC represented at community events or civic group meetings.”

“Even though the industry continues to change over the years, our core values have remained the same,” Henry said. “We are not just here for a job. We are here because we genuinely want to serve.”

Jeff Henry

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE

Ross Real Estate

Tyler Ross

Ross Real Estate celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2022.

“From what was just me in a little shoe-box office has grown to a collection of people that are often referred to … [as] the best agents around,” broker Tyler Ross said.

Ross Real Estate now has a team of 12 licensed agents with excellent reputations who “challenge and humble” Ross. “We recruit one to two experienced agents every few years who really fit in with our professional culture and values, and who bring a wide spectrum of professional and life experiences.” This variety of experience is rarely found in the real estate community.

Focused on quality over quantity, the size of their team is still

impressive – and so is their scope of work. The agents at Ross Real Estate have listed residential properties from Shenandoah to Arlington for $85,000 to $2.4 million just last year.

Ross personally specializes in land transactions and has ventured into land-centric investments. “The personal exposure is fun for me, but also it helps me advise clients on lesser known opportunities. Whether it is conservation or development oriented, I enjoy having the personal experiences to share.”

“Anything to do with land and houses piques the curiosity of everyone in the office,” Ross said. The shared passion for real estate is not the only thing that unites their agents.

“We’re in a people business that relies on networking and sharing,” Ross explained, so in an era where a significant number of people work remotely, having a brick-and-mortar office is a way to facilitate that. “Being together [also] cultivates that familial culture our office has. We get together not just to grind down on work or set goals, but we enjoy seeing one another.” Meetings can be creative as well, such as their annual clay shoot office meeting.

The Ross Real Estate team enjoys seeing you too. If you’re considering entering the real estate market, they encourage you to shop around for lenders and Realtors–“and make sure one is from Ross Real Estate!” Ross said.

Warrenton Dental Care

Dr. Ryan Shearer

Dr. Ryan Shearer followed in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps as a dentist. It’s the family business for him, but that also goes for his employees at Warrenton Dental Care.

“We have a close family-type atmosphere among us who work here. We believe it’s infectious,” Dr. Shearer said. Some of the eight employees were inherited when Dr. Shearer took over the practice in 2014.

Since the original practice has been around for over 40 years, some of those staff surpass Dr. Shearer in time with the practice. Everyone at Warrenton Dental Care is about putting the time in.

“We love to get to know our patients,” Dr. Shearer said. “We take our time to make sure patients are comfortable… Once we truly understand our patients, we work together to treat them in their best interests.”

Comfort is important to the dentists at Warrenton Dental Care since they know the anxiety that can come with a trip to the dentist — as well as the repercussions of skipping a visit.

“Oral health is a major factor for quality of life,” Dr. Shearer explained. Poor oral health does more than just risk the life of your teeth–it can affect almost every aspect of our health and social lives.

That’s why their team of dentists, oral hygienists, and staff are here to offer the dental services you need without stress. They work with specialists to cover services that require more expertise in the pursuit of providing patients with the best care possible.

Patients can take the community’s word for it. Dr. Shearer’s associate Dr. Shibu Thomson, who has worked in Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Culpeper for the last 20 years and has now been with the practice for three months, was voted by his peers as top dentist on Top Doctor in 2022. Dr. Shearer earned best dentist in this past year’s Best of Fauquier contest.

FARMING & AGRICULTURE

January 16 marks the 100-year anniversary of the Strother family’s ownership and stewardship of 500 acres in Delaplane that now houses the family-owned Valley View Farm, a seasonal agri-tourism destination and educational farm.

On the farm, you can find pick-yourown fruit orchards, and a Locavore Farm Market selling local artisan food, local meats and eggs, and craft beverages including wine, cider, and mead.

This history of the property is fascinating. Originally the home of the Powhatan Indians, the farm was patented in 1731. Pioneers settled in the valley in the 1740s and many structures from that era remain today.

In the mid-nineteenth century, the property was owned by Quaker pastor

Valley View Farm

The Strother Family

Henry Simpers who offered it as a stopover for the Underground Railroad. Both Union and Confederate troops camped on the property during the Civil War, including Stonewall Jackson’s troops on their way to the battle of Second Manassas.

Current owner and steward Philip Carter Strother’s great-grandfather George Thomas Strother bought the farm in 1923, which was then operated by Philip’s grandfather Charles Edward Strother, Sr. from 1926 to 1987. “He bought and sold cattle, raised sheep and horses, and built a new manor house and red barn which is the current location of the Locavore Farm Market,” Philip said. Neighbor and famous general George S. Patton enjoyed foxhunting with him as fellow members of the Cobbler Hunt.

In 1997 the property passed to Philip’s father, Charles Edward Strother, Jr., where he and Philip formed Strother Family Vineyards in 2016, and a pick-your-own attraction known as Virginia Perfection Orchard. Two years later they opened the Locavore Farm Market and Tasting Room in the historic red barn. The property passed to Philip in 2018, and was placed in trust in 2004.

Family isn’t just what built Valley View Farm, which continues to thrive under the Strother Family stewardship. Philip, who also owns Philip Carter Winery in Hume with his wife Danielle, and their three sons operate the farm and winery. Their eldest, Landon, is the vineyard and orchard manager and Pierce and Carter help whenever they’re home from James Madison University.

Back row: Danielle M. Strother, Philip C. Strother, Carter D. Strother, Landon C. Strother, P. Pierce Strother Front row: C. Edward Strother, Kathleen D. Strother

Warrenton Dermatology and Skin Therapy Center

Dr. Juan-Carlos Caballero

Last time we caught up with Warrenton Dermatology and Skin Therapy Center, they were anticipating the addition of a surgery center in their building. This they have accomplished. “We are excited that the Warrenton Dermatology Skin Surgery Center is open and currently providing Mohs surgeries,” said owner Dr. JuanCarlos Caballero.

“Opening and growing our Mohs surgical unit in Warrenton ensures that patients in Fauquier and surrounding counties have local access to the best surgical care for complex skin cancers of the head and neck,” Dr. Caballero said.

Many of their patients come in for skin cancer diagnosis, treatment, and management. Previously, those patients were referred to Mohs centers in Northern Virginia. “They now have the option to have that service close to home,

within the same practice they know and trust,” Dr. Caballero said.

His team of 22 has been providing general adult and pediatric dermatology services since Dr. Caballero took over the practice in 2008.

Cosmetic offerings include CoolSculpting, Botox, facials, chemical peels, microneedling, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for hair loss, Fraxel and BBL laser skin rejuvenation, and hair reduction services.

Their services include dermatologic surgery, treatment for acne, psoriasis, eczema, rosacea, and other skin disorders, and skin cancer detection and treatment.

“We’re proud of expanding Warrenton Dermatology to become the premier dermatology practice in Fauquier County by providing board-certified providers and cutting-edge technology in both cosmetic and medical services to our community,”

he said, adding that they also offer telehealth appointments and interest-free financing options.

Dr. Caballero is concerned with the growing use of under-qualified and noncredentialed providers in the industry, likely heightened by the prevalence of social media and tik-tok where consumers may be deceived by filtered photos and altered videos.

“There is no substitute for boardcertified providers with years of education in medical school and advanced specialty training, and patients will not find the same level of expertise and safety when receiving medical and cosmetic dermatology services at a salon or spa,” he explained.

No matter what brings you in — whether it’s cosmetic or medical — Dr. Caballero and his colleagues are laser-focused on full-body skin care with a personalized integrative approach.

local business

Be Well and Thrive

Lessons

learned overcoming a devastating diagnosis inspired a local couple to create an organic skin care line of products

BY SUE BALDANI PHOTOS COURTESY OF BE WELL COMPANY

Natalie White had always lived a very healthy lifestyle. “Through my childhood, my dad was juicing for us before juicing was cool,” she said. “I made all my kids’ organic baby food, I was never overweight, and I always worked out.” So when she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 2014 while she and her husband (then fiance) Mitch, both Virginia natives, were living in Charleston, SC, she was shocked.

But Natalie had blurred vision, migraines, speech issues, and other neurological symptoms. Mitch knew something was wrong. “I'd been watching her decline, but she’d been hiding it really well,” he said. One day, it got so bad that he had to carry her into the emergency room. After doctors performed an MRI, she was referred to a neurologist.

The Diagnosis

“We followed up with the neurologist two weeks later, and after he looked at the MRI, he handed us a pamphlet that had a list of drugs for multiple sclerosis and told us to pick out two,” Natalie said. “He explained that if those didn’t work, then we would try another. He also told me to pick out a wheelchair.”

Although she was scared, Natalie had no intention of taking the drugs. “Why would you ever take an immunosuppressive drug when what you need to be doing is supporting your immune system?” said Natalie. “It just seemed counterintuitive to me.”

A Search for Alternative Treatments

Although they didn’t know it then, this thought process

Natalie and Mitch may consider opening a brickand-mortar store in the area if the business continues to grow so quickly. Right: The Get Me Started Kit includes the three foundational facial care products of the line.

Above:

Natalie, due to her creativity with the use of food-grade ingredients in the preparation of her skin care products, has been dubbed the “Skin Care Chef.”

would be the beginning of a whole new lifestyle and business for the couple.

“When I was diagnosed, there wasn't a lot of information about treating MS naturally, but I did come across Dr. [Terry] Wahls, who had reversed her own MS through diet and lifestyle changes,” said Natalie. “I trusted what she was saying, so I bought her book and literally consumed it as fast as I could. I said, ‘This is what we're doing’, and Mitch was all in.”

Consuming this kind of natural superfood diet takes a fair amount of effort in shopping, planning ahead, and preparation, but Natalie didn’t mind at all. “When my doctor mentioned a wheelchair, I don’t think you could have horrified me more. That was my motivation, so it wasn’t hard for me. We just took it step by step”

By radically changing her life and adopting a clean eating and clean living lifestyle, Natalie says she has reversed her MS. “I have MS. It will always live in my body and I will never cure myself as far as I know, but I am reversing it every day with the choices I make, the products I use, and the foods I eat. All the MS symptoms are controlled, which is key.”

Gingerbread Coffee

INGREDIENTS

1 cup coconut milk (we use full fat, you can sub any milk here)

½ tsp powdered ginger

Feed Your Glow

While the products offered by Be Well are geared toward skin care, they haven’t forgotten the healthy eating part of the equation that their clients are facing. After all, beauty comes from within. A page on their website, called “Feed Your Glow”, is devoted to nutrition, where Natalie shares with her clients the natural superfoods that she eats and her recipes.

Moving into Skin Care

About a year after her diagnosis, Natalie started to experiment with skin care products for herself because she couldn’t find any that were clean enough, didn’t make her symptoms flare, and that she enjoyed using.

Mitch said, “Natalie designed the products using the 100% natural superfoods powered by probiotics that she used to heal herself from the inside out.” After all, what we feed our skin is just as important as what we feed our bellies. All the ingredients are plant-based, organic, vegan, and toxic-free. They are also all food-grade, which led to her being dubbed “the Skin Care Chef.”

So, in 2017, armed with what they had learned about diet and lifestyle choices, Natalie and Mitch set out to help others live healthy lives as well. They founded Be Well Company, which sells the all-natural, non-toxic organic skincare products Natalie created for her own use.

The Products

Creating products that are not only therapeutic but luxurious as well was really important to Natalie, so her skin care line includes things like face cream, masks, exfoliators, salves, calming butters, and salt baths, all of which are made for pampering.

The most popular item Be Well offers, she said, is its Get Me Started Kit. “It's the three foundational products that anyone and everyone can use. These are the first products that I created and that I use every day. There’s a cleansing oil, a probiotic toner, and a nourishing face cream. They feed and balance your face to help you glow from the outside in.”

The second top product is her all-natural deodorant. “It took me years to develop and honestly, a lot of tears.

DIRECTIONS

½ tsp cinnamon

¼ tsp nutmeg powder

1 tbsp molasses

½ tsp maple syrup

To make the creamer, add all ingredients to a glass jar with a lid and shake to combine. Store in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to enjoy, heat and pour the desired amount into a mug of fresh-brewed coffee or over two shots of espresso.

Above: The Best Deodorant, so named by Mitch because it is so effective, is their best-selling product and has won multiple industry awards.

Top

“We are totally in love with Warrenton.”

Top

I named it ‘The Best Deodorant.’” Mitch added, “It's unbelievably effective. The problem with most of the alternatives is they just block pores, mask scent, and dry the skin. Natalie designed a deodorant that balances the responsible bacteria.”

Working hard

“We work a lot,” Mitch said of their lifestyle. All the products are made by hand in Natalie’s studio, a second commercial-grade kitchen in their home which her father Sam helped to build. “We don't outsource any of it,” said Mitch. “We produce it, package it, and ship it ourselves.”

The company has a large volume of sales (which double every year), but Natalie said the products are not hard to make, and over the years they have streamlined their processes so they are ultra-efficient.

Coming Home to Family

After 10 years of living in Charleston where they had moved for a business opportunity, Natalie, a Winchester native, and Mitch, who grew up in Northern Virginia, decided to move back to this area in 2020 to be near family. They settled in Warrenton in 2022.

This allowed for more family involvement in the business. Their daughter, Emma, has recently joined the company, and during the holidays when things get very busy, Natalie’s mom, Camille, comes in to help. “My daughterin-law Meagan is an artist, and she does graphic work and other things for us too,” said Natalie. Meagan is married to their oldest son, Tanner, who is in the Army along with their other son, Simon.

The couple is looking forward to sharing what they’ve learned and the products they’ve developed with the people in Fauquier County. “Mitch and I are totally in love with this town. It has that small town feel and the people are just so welcoming,” said Natalie.

Right now, Be Well is strictly an online company, but if the demand keeps growing, a brick-and-mortar store seems likely. L bewellcompany.com

I’ve neglected my mouth for years and I am scared to death of the dentist. How can you help me?

q. a. We develop a rapport with our patients. Once you get to know us, your anxiety will diminish. We have medication, nitrous oxide, and administer painless injections. We are very sensitive to your feelings. We want you to be comfortable. If you need a lot of dental work, we can do one tooth at a time, or your whole mouth in as little as 1 to 2 visits. We tailor our treatment to your needs.

left: Natalie and Mitch moved back to the area to be near family and say

right: Natalie’s mother Camille helps out during busy times. Left: Natalie and Mitch’s daughter Emma has recently joined the company.

Getting FleecedGe

Mary’s Alpaca Farm Store: Alpacas and fiber products in The Plains

BY SUE BALDANI PHOTOS BY LUKE CHRISTOPHER

When Mary Forte first encountered an alpaca, she found herself staring at a strange creature. “I see this head on a long neck just above the fence line kind of looking at me,” she said. “That was my introduction to alpacas. They’re very cute, but when you first see them, they look a little like miniature Loch Ness monsters.”

That chance encounter literally changed Forte’s life. Fast forward to today in The Plains, and she has become an alpaca expert and breeder, and most recently, opened a farm store selling exquisite fiber products and clothing.

The Beginning

With a background in breeding Arabian horses, she became interested in raising alpacas too, and in 1994, when they were imported into this country from Peru, she got her chance to turn her desire into reality. “An alpaca was only supposed to be for the

royalty in Peru, and you had to be of royal blood to even wear alpaca clothing, but Peru was having financial issues.”

She started with three alpacas, and eventually started breeding them. Now well-known in the alpaca world, she has been named Small Breeder of the Year many times over and has won many national and regional championship ribbons.

The Move to The Plains

Forte and her husband Harvey were living in Miami where they did not have a farm for her alpacas. “I missed my herd and had to fly all over the country to train them for the showring,” Forte explained. Her twin sister Anna Carner-Blangiforti, suggested the Middleburg area, and Forte spied Cedar Hill Farm (est. 1865), a 160-acre estate, in The Plains. “When I saw it, my mouth just fell open. It was that beautiful. The land just rolls and it stays green almost all year round,”

she said. Harvey wanted a property close to airports and cultural venues, and she wanted a farm, so it fit the bill, and they purchased it in 2004. After he passed away, Forte relocated to Cedar Hill with her 40 alpacas.

Mary’s Alpaca Farm Store

Forte built an enormous two-story barn on the property that matches the old stone "country French" style of her house. This is where Mary’s Alpaca Farm Store is located. This truly unique shop with its lovely red carpet and sparkling chandelier sells beautiful and cozy merchandise made from alpaca fiber.

Before opening the store, Forte wasn’t sure what to do with all the fiber that was left after the alpacas were shorn each spring. Most of it she just donated to commercial mills.

Right: Mary Forte is truly living the Alpaca Lifestyle on her 160-acre farm in The Plains with a herd of about 100 treasured alpacas, a variety of other farm animals, and her Dalmation, China. Her twin sister, Anna Carner-Blangiforti (in the white sweater), lives adjacent to the farm and helps out. After shearing the alpacas, the fibers are crafted into soft clothing and adorable hypoallergenic toys that are sold in Forte’s farm store, and the manure is used to manufacture plant fertilizer. Top: The sisters on horseback, circa 2008

“Now, I take the fiber and I barter it,” she said. “I have 600 pounds of really prime fiber and I send it out to different vendors around the U.S. whose business is collecting as much as they can from breeders in the country. They then send it to Peru, or use their own knitters, and I buy the finished products back wholesale and sell them retail in my farm store. I now have the opportunity to design some products myself.”

Customers can find socks, shawls, women’s and men’s sweaters, gloves, scarves, stuffed animals that are “softer than soft” and hypoallergenic, fiber dryer balls, and much more.

The most expensive thing in her store is a men's black opera cape with a hood that’s lined with white silk. “It was made by a designer and I got it from an auction in Peru. It's just magnificent. One of the lead dancers in the American Ballet Theatre modeled it for me when he stayed here on the farm in our Airbnb cottage.”

All in the Family

Included in her store inventory is a book written by her sister. “It’s called BlossomThe Wild Ambassador of Tewksbury and I think they're going to be making a movie out of it,” says Forte.

The store also carries a product called Unicorn Clean, which is made for cleaning fine natural fibers, developed by Anna and her husband Pino. Forte’s daughter Melanie is a part owner of the company, which operates out of an office located upstairs in the barn.

The Fleece

Forte explains that there are actually two types of alpaca fiber, or fleece. “There’s Huacaya, which is very fluffy, and then there’s Suri, which sort of looks like dreadlocks, but the fiber is longer and very smooth. It usually grows between three and five inches, and the longer the fiber gets, the better the garment that you can make from it.” Out of her 100 or so alpacas (she used to have over 160, but

sold many of them, many locally), almost all are Huacaya.

Because of the way alpaca fiber grows, it not only has a very silky feel, it’s also hypoallergenic and 30% warmer than wool. “Things that are made from alpaca fiber are usually blended with another material, such as Merino or silk, to give it some stability,” she explained.

Fleece from different parts of the animal are used for different products. “The blanket part, from the neck to before the tail, is the best that the animal can produce,” says Forte. “It’s prime fiber. So, the blanket area would be used for sweaters, shawls and those types of things. Other parts, like fleece from the legs, for instance, would be used more for things like socks.”

Running the Busy Farm

In addition to the alpacas, Forte has 12 semi-retired polo ponies including Angel Baby, Simba and her favorite, Peach; a

Forte, left, with Anna, who watches over the farm when Forte is away. “She’s like an animal whisperer,” said Forte

Mary Forte’s Alpaca Fun Facts:

They are inquisitive and intelligent

They are loving; they take care of each other.

They make great pets and are easy to care for

They like to jump and leap around in the air, which is called pronking.

Alpacas cannot defend themselves

They don’t have hooves; they only have pads and two toes

They only have teeth in the front, on the bottom.

They can live just on grass, but I also feed them hay and about a cup of grain every day.

They can live outside to minus 20 degrees, but in the summer when it’s very hot and humid we have fans to keep them cool.

We’re here. We’re ready.

We’re here. We’re ready.

When a disaster strikes, we will be there. Backed by one of the industry’s largest catastrophe response teams, we’ll be ready to help when you need us.

When a disaster strikes, we will be there. Backed by one of the industry’s largest catastrophe response teams, we’ll be ready to help when you need us.

When a disaster strikes, we will be there. Backed by one of the industry’s largest catastrophe response teams, we’ll be ready to help when you need us.

When a disaster strikes, we will be there. Backed by one of the industry’s largest catastrophe response teams, we’ll be ready to help when you need us.

Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®

Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®

Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®

Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®

Glenn Albert, Agent 324 Waterloo Street Warrenton, VA 20186 Bus: 540-347-3339 glenn.albert.le0c@statefarm.com

Glenn Albert, Agent 324 Waterloo Street Warrenton, VA 20186 Bus: 540-347-3339 glenn.albert.le0c@statefarm.com

State Farm Bloomington, IL 2001966

State Farm Bloomington, IL 2001966

State Farm Bloomington, IL 2001966

State Farm Bloomington, IL 2001966

Glenn Albert, Agent 324 Waterloo Street Warrenton, VA 20186 Bus: 540-347-3339 glenn.albert.le0c@statefarm.com

Glenn Albert, Agent 324 Waterloo Street Warrenton, VA 20186 Bus: 540-347-3339 glenn.albert.le0c@statefarm.com

Charles Robinson Ins Agcy Inc

Charles Robinson Ins Agcy Inc

Charles Robinson, Agent 28 BLACKWELL PARK LANE WARRENTON, VA 20186 Bus: 540-680-2485

Charles Robinson Ins Agcy Inc

Charles Robinson Ins Agcy Inc

Charles Robinson, Agent 28 BLACKWELL PARK LANE WARRENTON, VA 20186 Bus: 540-680-2485

Charles Robinson, Agent 28 BLACKWELL PARK LANE WARRENTON, VA 20186 Bus: 540-680-2485

Charles Robinson, Agent 28 BLACKWELL PARK LANE WARRENTON, VA 20186 Bus: 540-680-2485

Carmen Rivera, Agent 251 W Lee Highway Suite 237 Bus: 540-347-1566 www.carmenriverainsurance.com

Carmen Rivera, Agent 251 W Lee Highway Suite 237 Warrenton, VA 20186 Bus: 540-347-1566 www.carmenriverainsurance.com

Carmen Rivera, Agent 251 W Lee Highway Suite 237 Warrenton, VA 20186 Bus: 540-347-1566 www.carmenriverainsurance.com

Carmen Rivera, Agent 251 W Lee Highway Suite 237 Warrenton, VA 20186 Bus: 540-347-1566 www.carmenriverainsurance.com

We’re here. We’re ready.

We’re here. We’re ready.

2,200-pound Belgian draft horse named Cam Cam; a donkey named Giuseppe; a Dalmatian named China; and two adopted cats, Sushi and Dhabi. “It’s a whole menagerie of fun!” she said.

But it’s a lot of work.

For the past seven years, Forte has had a family of Quechua Indians (a mother, father, and son) from Juliaca, Peru, to assist with caring for the alpacas. They are on site 10 months out of the year.

Her partner, P. Jay Fetner, helps her run the farm, as does Anna. “I sold her a piece of my farm and she now lives next door,” says Forte. “She watches over my animals while I’m away, and she's just like an animal whisperer.”

Forte is generous in sharing her farm with

others. In addition to the Airbnb “Alpacas and the Stars”, which guests say is “just like heaven”, she has participated in the Fauquier County Farm Tour, and offers tours of the property and animals.

“Alpaca people speak proudly of the “Alpaca Lifestyle”. As you might suspect, this means different things to different owners, but my farm, Mary’s Alpaca, exemplifies the common denominator of a wide-ranging pursuit of happiness that includes the entire family, from babies to seniors, which transcends typical herd farm animals”. L

The farm and Mary’s Alpaca Farm Store are open by appointment only, via email at mary@ marysalpaca.com or via text to 305-803-1444

An SideAlpacaBusiness

Forte has a very interesting by-product side business. “This is funny — I have a patent on alpaca poop!” she says, laughing.

“It’s the best organic plant fertilizer around,” she explained. Made from manure on Forte’s farm, it is appropriate for both indoor and outdoor plants. It’s sold in small pouches that dissolve in water (one pouch per gallon of water), so it’s incredibly easy to use. It’s also odorless, which is a nice thing, and pet-friendly.

Forte’s African Violet (pictured above), nourished by her fertilizer, was awarded Judge’s Choice at the Middleburg Green Show.

The cozy inside of Mary’s Alpaca Farm Store, which is housed in Forte’s huge two-story barn.

On a Roll

Matt Fischer helped Team USA bring home the silver in Junior Men’s Roller Hockey at the 2022 World Skate Games

BY JAYA PATIL AND PAM KAMPHUIS PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE FISCHER FAMILY

Matt Fischer has had his eye on making it to the Roller Hockey World Skate Games, the highest level of competition for roller hockey players, for quite some time now. Having played from childhood, the eighteen-year-old Orlean resident has been jockeying as a free agent player to be as visible as possible to the bigger coaches since high school. When he caught the eye of Anthony Violante, or “Coach Vio” of the New York Roadrunners he began to believe it could come true.

And it did. Matt traveled to Buenos Aires, Argentina in October to play on Team USA with an impressive outcome. The team brought home the silver after losing to the team from China in the seventh game.

“It was an incredible experience, I’ll never forget it. I’ve never played at such a high level before. It was really prestigious. It was also a big challenge,” said Matt.

The importance of his accomplishment was not lost on his parents. Karl Fischer, Matt’s dad, wrote, “The privilege of being recognized as one of 14 players in the entire nation to represent our country on the world stage is truly a once in a lifetime experience.”

A Lifelong Audition Process

Matt played in the big leagues in Argentina, but Christina recalls the little boy starting out. His first exposure to roller hockey was as a small child being carted to his older brother Joseph’s games. “He always wanted to keep up with ‘the big kids’”She recalled.

“My brother had a big influence on me playing,” Matt said, “I looked up to him.”

The Guys from Virginia Matt already knew most of the players on Team USA because he’s played with, or against, them over the years. His close friend, Cole Taylor from Madison, was also on the team. The two have been playing together since kindergarten, which is, Matt said, “As long as we can remember.” When they started playing regionally against other states, they became know as “the guys from Virginia”. Below: Matt and Cole as kids at — where else? — the roller hocky rink. Left: Matt and Cole on Team USA in October

Fauquier’s

He also learned a lot from his father. Karl grew up in Buffalo, NY, and played ice hockey competitively through high school.

“My dad coached me for a good portion of my life, up until just a few years ago,” Matt said. “As a coach, you want to teach your players to want to win, so I was around that mindset a lot with him. That probably contributed to my competitive mindset quite a bit,” he said.

Matt started out in hockey in the Fauquier County Roller Hockey League (FCRHL), which practices and plays at the outdoor hockey rink at the Warrenton Aquatic & Recreation Facility (WARF). “I love the rink at the WARF because that's where I spent most of my childhood. I’d go play there for hours and hours and that's how I'd get better,” he recalled. He would practice with his friends sometimes but also put in countless hours on his own. “You have to hold it upon yourself to stay up with the competition,” he said.

As he grew up, Matt became more and more involved in the sport, coaching youth teams and serving as referee. “I just wanted to be around the game as much as I could,” he said.

When he was old enough, Matt joined a local travel team, the Patriots. The team did well, qualifying for bigger tournaments regionally and nationally.

“Once you start going to the bigger tournaments, it's hard to step away,” Matt said, “When you get a little success and you go up to the nationals, you just want to keep working and try to get better to stay on that level of competition.”

His momentum was challenged when tournaments kept getting canceled because of COVID. However, unlike many who floundered during the shutdown, Matt picked up the pace. Christina said, “He just kept going, he

kept practicing skills and lifting weights and running. He definitely put in the time and effort.”

Making it to Team USA

When Coach Vio became one of the Team USA coaches, he asked Matt to play for him in Argentina.

Matt was well qualified. Those years as a free agent had given him a lot of experience playing against many different players from all over the world, some of them former NHL players or drafted players and D1 college athletes. The formidable opponents offered impressive competition but also gave him valuable experience of meeting many different players, all with different techniques and strengths.

Matt has always connected with people easily. “He’s super confident but also really down to earth and friendly,” Christina said. “He is quick to smile, and he'll talk to anybody. He knows all the refs and all the refs know him. He knows the coaches. He knows players from all over the country. He just talks to everyone.” It makes it easy to envision him networking very successfully in a future career.

The Games

Now, two months after coming home from Argentina, the thrill hasn’t worn off. “He’s still so pumped up,” Christina said.

“I thought it was really cool at the time,” Matt said. “But I think I appreciate it more now. I look back and realize that it was definitely as cool as I thought, if not cooler.

One of the things that made it so cool was the formal presentation. There were ceremonies with horns and drums and flags, and National anthems before each game.

“I love the rink at the WARF because that’s where I spent most of my childhood. I’d go play there for hours and hours”

Left: Team USA with Coach Don Maxwell (far left) at the medal ceremony where they were awarded the silver medal after a 2-5 loss to China in the 7th game. Below: Matt in action at the Games

Buenos Aires Outside the Rink

Another aspect of the Games was being exposed to other cultures. Argentinians love their sports. Matt said, “The first night we were there, the city was in party mode from a hugely successful soccer match. There was yelling, horns honking, smoke bombs, flares going off. We could hear the celebrations until 2 a.m. I was lucky to see that. It’s not something you see every day.”

The parents also, who, after all, had nothing to do when the team wasn’t in the rink, immersed themselves in the experience. Christina said, “We were in the heart of the city for ten days. We went to local markets and restaurants. The food was amazing.” Argentina is known for its steak, and it lived up to its reputation. “You could cut it with a butter knife,” she said. “And it was cheap. We had steak dinners with bottles of wine for about $16.” The players enjoyed the steaks too, but will also always remember ordering empanadas from the corner store.

What now?

“It was really exciting,” they both agreed.

But the competition was formidable. Christina said, “There were some incredible teams from other countries. Our players are used to being able to skate through their opponents and score easily, but in Argentina their opponents were just as good as they were. They needed more finesse, to figure out how to get around challenges.”

Matt agreed, “It was way harder than I thought it was going to be. The work ethics of other teams, like Italy, shocked me. All the teams put up a good fight.”

Since all the teams were staying in the same hotel, they met skaters from all over the world in different skating disciplines. The language barrier was a problem sometimes, but, Matt said, “It was cool hearing others’ perspectives. We even met some artistic skaters from New Zealand.”

Matt is back at West Virginia University studying for a career in dentistry and playing for an inline hockey league in PA, which sounds far, but is only about an hour’s drive. In fact, the proximity of the rink was a big factor in his college choice.

He said, “I’ll keep playing as long as I can. At this point, with all the time I've put in, I can't imagine my life without playing.”

“He pushes himself in almost everything he does,” Christina said, and Matt explained, “I'd rather do something that tests my limits and pushes me than something I know I could handle. I don't want to do something that’s too easy and know [that] I could be doing better.”

He approaches life just like he plays on the rink. “He doesn't wait for things to happen, he makes them happen,” Christina said. L

Matt with his parents Christina and Karl at a pre-tournament get together before leaving for Argentina

Baby it’s Brrrrr Outside!

Chase Away the Chills with Hot and Yummy Homemade Stew

BY KARLA JONES SEIDITA, HOME ECONOMIST

The holidays are over and everything’s been put away. There’s really nothing that has to be done right now except maybe some laundry but that can wait.

It’s too cold to work in the garden but the ground’s too wet to work the soil anyway. The weather is so yucky that even the dog doesn’t want to go outside.

Seems like a good time to veg-out and hibernate. Yes, that sounds perfect….. vegging-out all cozy and warm with something hot and homey and yummy to eat. Maybe even a glass of wine…. or two. Yup. Hibernating sounds like a plan.

Easy, Old Fashioned Beef Stew

Remember the days when you’d come home from school chilled to the bone and starving? Opening the door, a whiff of grandma’s simmering beef stew filled your senses making you all cozy and warm. Rekindle those delicious memories with a pot of your own homemade stew. It’s easier than you think and grandma would certainly be pleased. SERVES 4 TO 6 A 5-QUART POT IS RECOMMENDED

INGREDIENTS

2 lbs. beef stew meat (beef cubes)

¼ cup flour

½ stick butter

2 medium onions (chopped – about 2 cups)

4 cups beef stock

4 medium potatoes (peeled or unpeeled & cut into 1 inch chunks – about 4 cups)

1 pound carrots (peeled and cut into 1 inch chunks)

2 teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon pepper

1 cup peas (frozen or canned with their liquid)

OPTIONAL GRAVY THICKENER

2 Tablespoons flour

¼ cup water or room temperature beef broth

DIRECTIONS

Melt butter in a large pot. Dry the beef with paper towels. Toss with ¼ cup flour. Cook meat (and any remaining flour) in the melted butter until the meat is lightly browned. Add onions and stock. Simmer, partially covered, until the meat is fork tender, about 1 ½ hours – longer if needed. Add potatoes and carrots. Continue simmering, partially covered, until veggies are soft – about 30 minutes then stir in the peas (plus liquid if canned) and heat to warm the peas. If you like your gravy thicker, dissolve 2 Tablespoons flour in ¼ cup water or broth and stir into the stew after the peas are added. Continue cooking, stirring gently, until the gravy has thickened and bubbles – about 3 minutes.

Cook’s Tip: Choose your potato: Red skinned and Yukon gold both hold their shapes during cooking for a picture perfect stew. Russets, on the other hand, soak up liquid which often causes them to fall apart yielding a rustic look. But both taste good so use whichever potato you like or happen to have on hand.

PAIRS WELL WITH: PETIT VERDOT

A full-bodied red, Petit Verdot pairs nicely with this hearty, full-bodied, stew. Local Vintage: Barrel Oak Winery Petit Verdot. $46. barreloak.com

Quick White Chicken Chili

So delicious. So easy. Not your traditional chili but a fancied up, spiced up, crazy–quilt of flavors that’ll stick to your ribs. So yum you won’t be able to stop eating. Guaranteed to take the brrrrr out of your day!

SERVES 4 TO 6

A 5-QUART POT IS RECOMMENDED

INGREDIENTS

½ stick butter

1 Tablespoon chopped garlic (about 6 cloves)

1 Tablespoon chili powder

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon garlic powder

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon pepper

1 medium onion (chopped –about 1 ½ cups)

3 Tablespoons corn starch

1 cup chicken stock

1 cup half & half

4 oz. cream cheese

1 cup corn (frozen or canned with the liquid)

1 (15 oz.) can black beans (rinsed and drained)

1 (15 oz.) can white beans (like cannelloni – rinsed and drained)

1 (10 oz.) can diced tomatoes with green chilies – like Rotel brand)

Meat from a rotisserie chicken (about 4 cups)

For serving – Hot cooked rice, noodles or corn chips

Optional garnish - Tajin (pronounced “ta-heen” – a cayenne pepper based Mexican chili lime seasoning blend)

DIRECTIONS

Melt butter in a large pot. Add garlic, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt, pepper and onion. Cook on low, stirring occasionally, until onion is very soft – about 3 minutes. Whisk in the corn starch, stock, half & half and cream cheese. Simmer on low (uncovered) until the cream cheese melts – about 5 minutes. Stir in the corn, black beans, white beans, tomatoes and chicken that you’ve removed from the bones. Simmer on low (partially covered) about 15 minutes or until it’s reduced to a thickness you like.

Cook’s Tip: Tajin is available in the Mexican food section of grocery stores everywhere. Once you’ve tried it, you’ll use it on everything – even watermelon!

PAIRS WELL WITH: CHARDONNAY

Chardonnay is an ideal choice as it complements the chicken, chili, and spices in this stick-to-your-ribs stew. Local Vintage: DuCard Vineyards 2020 Chardonnay. $32. ducardvineyards.com

Red Bean Etouffee

Etouffee (pronounced eh-too-fay) is a Cajun stew that hails from Louisiana rice country. It’s rich and warm and can be spicy or not according to who’s doing the cooking. It’s cozy and comforting, too. Etouffee is always served over rice. This particular recipe just happens to be vegan (there are no animal ingredients) but there’s a shrimp and sausage, non-vegan variation if you prefer.

SERVES 4 TO 6

A 5-QUART POT IS RECOMMENDED

INGREDIENTS

¼ cup olive oil

6 cloves garlic (about 1 Tablespoon)

¼ teaspoon pepper

2 medium onions (chopped – about 1 ½ cups)

3 to 4 stalks celery (chopped – about 1 cup)

1 medium green pepper (chopped – about 1 cup)

3 or 4 carrots (peeled and shredded – about 1 ½ cups)

2 Tablespoon chili powder

2 teaspoons cumin

1 teaspoon dried oregano

2 Tablespoons brown sugar

2 teaspoons soy sauce

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or to taste)

2 (29 oz.) cans diced tomatoes (with their juice)

2 cups vegetable broth

2 (15 oz.) cans dark red kidney beans (drained and rinsed)

1 ½ teaspoons salt (or to taste)

For serving - 4 to 6 cups hot, cooked rice Handful of chopped, curly, fresh parsley (no stems)

DIRECTIONS

Heat the olive oil in a large, deep pot. Add the garlic, pepper, onions, celery, green pepper, carrots. Cook on medium, stirring, until the vegetables soften and are just starting to brown – about 3 minutes. Stir in the rest of the ingredients. Cook, partially covered on medium low, so it gently bubbles for about 2 hours or until it’s reduced to a thickness you like. Serve over rice and sprinkled with parsley.

Shrimp and Sausage Variation: Use chicken or beef broth. When the etouffee is almost done, stir in about 3 cups (or to taste) of cooked shrimp and/or sliced, cooked sausage. Partially cover and continue simmering to finish the cooking and heat the additions.

PAIRS WELL WITH: CABERNET FRANC

With its herbaceous aromas and medium body, Cabernet Franc is the perfect complement to the spices in Etouffee. Local Vintage: The Winery at LaGrange’s 2020 Cabernet Franc. $40. wineryatlagrange.com L

MAY HAVE MISSED

Warrenton police chief to leave town for top post in Charlottesville

Warrenton Police Chief Mike Kochis is leaving the town to become the city of Charlottesville’s next chief of police.

Kochis, 48, who joined the Warrenton department as chief in January 2020 after serving 17 years with the Alexandria Police Department, said he was not looking to leave the department. But when the position opened up, Kochis said he believed he could make a difference in helping the city heal after years of distrust following the Unite the Right rally in 2017.

Kochis said he believes his record over the last three years helping the town through several challenging events, including the pandemic — which hurt the department’s budget — and anti-police protests following the murder of George Floyd, makes him uniquely qualified to help bring reform and establish “trust” between the city and police department.

Kochis will begin in his new role around Jan. 16, 2023.

Fauquier County Supervisor Holder

Trumbo won't seek reelection in '23, endorses Broaddus for Scott District

After nearly two decades in public office, Scott District Supervisor Holder Trumbo announced Tuesday he will not seek reelection in 2023.

Trumbo told FauquierNow he will endorse Ike Broaddus, the co-owner of Old Bust Head Brewery in Vint Hill, to succeed him.

Trumbo, who was appointed to the Planning Commission in January 2004 and then elected to the Board of Supervisors in January 2008, presided three times as chair of the board and four times as vice chair.

In addition to owning and operating Old Bust Head with his wife Julie, Broaddus was CEO of Century 21 New Millennium from 1990 until 2001. He also served as chair of the Vint Hill Economic Development Authority from 2007 until 2013, vice chair of the Fauquier Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) program committee for nearly 20 years and treasurer of the high school board where his late daughter Finley attended from 2010-2014.

Broaddus said he’s worked on several issues over the last 20 to 30 years as a community activist, including opposing the expansion of Route 29, preserving rural land Fauquier and facilitating economic growth in Vint Hill and the county’s other commercial districts.

Trumbo said he doesn’t take credit “singularly” for any projects or initiatives that have come before the board over the last 14 years.

Nevertheless, he highlighted his support for various projects and initiatives, including the redevelopment of Vint Hill into a bustling commercial hub and preventing urban sprawl past Loudoun and Prince William County into Fauquier