Warrenton Lifestyle Magazine May 2023

WARRENTON LIFESTYLE

When emergencies occur, every minute matters. We’re here to take great care of you when you need us. As an accredited Chest Pain Center and Primary Stroke Center, we provide 24/7 emergency care close to home. Part of our commitment to you is to create a health system you can count on today and for generations to come.

To learn more, visit FauquierHealth.org

Quality care means excellent care when you need it most.

“We used Patti both to sell our home and also purchase our new place. She is incredibly responsive, proactive and a great person to boot; we were very grateful to find someone like her who really cares and understands the ropes, which was important given how stressful real estate can be. Her energy and positivity are infectious, but she was also never anything but honest and straight with us during the entire process, which we really appreciated. We’re certainly calling her again next time.”

– S. Ritchie, Fauquier homeowner

we

Home is the most comfortable place of all, and the place to provide hospice care. The house you’ve lived in for decades, or an independent, skilled nursing or assisted living facility. Any patient, family member or friend can contact us anytime, 24/7.

the most comfortable place of all, and the place to provide hospice care. The house you’ve lived decades, or an independent, skilled nursing or assisted living facility. Any patient, family member or can contact us anytime, 24/7.

most comfortable place of all, and the best place to provide or assisted living facility. Any patient, family member or e house you’ve lived in for decades, or an independent, can contact anytime, 24/7. Our staff lives and works here because caring for our community is our passion.

Home is the most comfortable place of all, and the place to provide hospice care. The house you’ve lived in for decades, or an independent, skilled nursing or assisted living facility. Any patient, family member or friend can contact us anytime, 24/7.

400 Holiday Court • Suite 101 Warrenton, VA 20186

Home is the most comfortable place of all, and the place to provide hospice care. The house you’ve lived in for decades, or an independent, skilled nursing or assisted living facility. Any patient, family member or friend can contact us anytime, 24/7.

540.349.3970 | heartlandhospice.com

493 Blackwell Road • Suite 319 Warrenton, VA 20186

540.349.3970 | heartlandhospice.com/Warrenton

540.349.3970 | heartlandhospice.com/Warrenton

540.349.3970 | www.heartlandhospice.com/warrenton

“I wish we had known about hospice sooner.”

“I wish we had known about hospice sooner.”

“I wish we had known about hospice sooner.”

“I hospice sooner.”

FROM THE EDITOR

PLAN SOME SUMMER FUN WITH US!

t’s March...so although Old Man Winter may yet have another sur prise for us, we are moving slowly but surely into springtime. Our town will be waking up and there will be more things to do.

Under Contract the First Weekend Multiple Offers Above List!

7312 Baldwin Ridge, Warrenton, VA 5 bed | 4/1 bath | 6022 sf | 3.97 acres

Do you face each weekend with nothing fun to look forward to...just laundry and chores? We can help! FauquierNow and Warrenton Lifestyle produce Best Bets, a curated list of area events each week. We feature music, theatre, nonprofit fundraisers, outdoor activities, workshops, crafting opportunities, restaurant and winery news, and anything else that we can find that seems interesting.

To receive our Best Bets e-newsletter, sign up at fauquiernow.com/ newsletter. You will also have the option to receive other news, such as daily headlines and local offers.

ON THE COVER:

I know that buying or selling a home is one of life’s biggest decisions. It would be a privilege to guide you through the process and ensure your success!

SUMMER LEAGUES

Here’s the best part: if you’re having an event, we can help you get the word out at no charge. Add your event (and all the details) to our online calendar at fauquiernow.com/fauquier_calendar where it will get a lot of visibility, and possibly be selected for the Best Bets newsletter.

Summer leagues will only bowl Monday through Thursday nights so open bowling all Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings this summer through mid-August!

WEEKLY HOURS:

Sun-Mon Noon - 10 PM

Wed-Thurs Noon - 10 PM

Tuesday 9 AM-10 PM

Friday Noon - Midnight Saturday 9 AM - Midnight

(540) 216-7195

CREATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR

Jay Ford creative@warrentonlifestyle.com

ACCOUNTING

Carina Richard-Wheat cwheat@insidenova.com

PUBLISHER

Dennis Brack dennis@warrentonlifestyle.com

EDITOR Pam Kamphuis pam@warrentonlifestyle.com

ART DIRECTOR

Kara Thorpe kara@warrentonlifestyle.com

ADVERTISING

Sales Director: Jim Kelly jim@warrentonlifestyle.com, 434-987-3542

Senior Account Executive: Cindy McBride cindy@warrentonlifestyle.com, 540-229-6038

540-905-7791

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EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING OFFICE

Warrenton Lifestyle Magazine 70 Main Street, Suite 32 Warrenton, VA 20186 • 540-349-2951

ON THE WEB FauquierNow.com/lifestyle

Facebook: @FauquierNow, @WarrentonLifestyleMagazine Email Newsletter: Sign up at FauquierNow.com

The Warrenton Lifestyle Magazine is published monthly and distributed to over 11,500 selected addresses. While reasonable care is taken with all material submitted to The Warrenton Lifestyle Magazine, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to any such material. Opinions expressed in articles are strictly those of the authors. While ensuring that all published information is accurate, the publisher cannot be held responsible for any mistakes or omissions. Reproduction in whole or part of any of the text, illustration or photograph is strictly forbidden. ©2023 Rappahannock Media LLC.

Grandmaster Ron Jenkins of Karate Sports Academy

Photo by Luke Christopher

VOTE FOR Loretta Flynn for the Best Lender in Warrenton!

FROM THE EDITOR

Ithink we can safely say that spring has sprung, and there are a lot of things to do in our community in the gorgeous weather. Keep an eye out on our online calendar on FauquierNow. com and sign up for our weekly “Best Bets” email newsletter with our top five event picks for the weekend. Is your organization having an event? Let us help you get the word out! Event advertising is free on our website calendar, and your event may be picked for Best Bets. Go to the calendar on FauquierNow. com and click “create an event”.

Have a wonderful month, and Happy Mothers Day to all the moms out there!

NMLS ID 215260

M: 540.413.0177

TeamFlynn@acmllc.com

LorettaFlyn.com

EDITOR

Pam Kamphuis

What an AMAZING 50 years it has been!

We would like to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to Fauquier and the surrounding counties for allowing Payne Pools & Spas to serve all of your pool, spa, and fireplace needs!

VP, Sales Manager & Sr. Loan Officer

SCAN TO VOTE

WALDERA

Rene

Documentary chronicles the Grammy nominated jazz singer and Warrenton native’s path as she found her salvation in music.

BY SUE BALDANI

BY JENNIFER SCHULTZ-ANGOLI, FCPL

Corner Book Profile

‘Letter of Reprisal’ by James

H. McGee

PAM KAMPHUIS

JoAnn Nunn, a timeless and treasured teacher BY

AUBREY MARSHALL

BY DON BACHMANN

Bealeton business owner’s return to the sport—and the community—he loves.

BY SEAN BRODERICK

Do you really need a laptop?

BY KLAUS FUECHSEL

BY ERIKA WILSON

BY KARLA JONES SEIDITA

The Brown Family: Grayson, Candice, Mandi, Ashanti, Aaron, Isaiah, and exchange student Mariana.

Photo by Luke Christopher

Stonehaven Neighborhood Block Party

Come meet the neighbors and check out this beautiful new community, located just ten minutes from Downtown Warrenton!

Our Block Party will feature a fun atmosphere for the entire family!

Food • DJ • Model Home Tours • Door Prizes & Drawings

Meet local business owners for decking, patios, landscaping, window treatments, blinds, painting, custom cabinetry, local private schools and so much more!

Stonehaven is a master-planned community with new homes now selling, in Jeffersonton, Virginia. It features a 240-acre preservation buffer along the Rappahannock River and over 500 acres along Route 621. Planned amenities include a clubhouse, swimming pool, tennis courts, soccer fields, a baseball field, trails, a tot lot and more.

Let the Energy Flow

Reiki master and life balance advocate Mike Pierce’s “Energy of Being” opens in Warrenton

BY JENNIFER WALDERA

hile Energy of Being just recently opened in Warrenton in late 2022, Mike Pierce has been practicing wellness therapies and selling related goods through his online store for some time, living his dream of helping people restore their health while he restored his own as well.

Personal struggles inspired Pierce to start his business. Motivated by a desire to find answers and heal himself, Pierce began engaging in learning opportunities that would help him but that also served as impetus to guide others as well.

“Years ago, I was having my own struggles in life and was, like many people, searching for answers and a positive, fulfilling path forward.”

Pierce started down his own path, finding ways to answer questions and to find healing. Once he started, he never stopped.

Learning the ropes

“As I searched for answers, I was intrigued by the power of hypnosis and earned several certifications in that field. I also became certified as a Reiki master, a master and trainer of neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), muscle testing, and an instrument that measures the human energy field including chakra size and alignment, the Bio-Well. I have also been fortunate enough to visit and participate in immersions which allowed me to learn how to have out

WSelenite is a gypsum mineral thought to clear negative energy and is used for purification

A variety of crystal bracelets with healing properties

Mitul Gandhi, MD Jey Maran, MD

Robert Marsh, MD

Tejas Suresh, MD

of body experiences. As I was on this journey, it quickly became very clear to me that everything is energy. Energy heals, energy can be manipulated and transformed, energy is life.”

The move to Warrenton

Pierce grew up in Fredericksburg and settled in Locust Grove where he met his wife who inspired the move to Warrenton.

“We spent a lot of time on the road going back and forth between my house and hers. Because she already had a long commute, we decided it was time for me to move to Warrenton. We are now happily married, and when I say DD is the most amazing person, it is an understatement. The love she shows the world is something we should all aspire to.”

Putting down roots

After operating remotely and online for several years, Pierce decided to open a physical location for his business that could serve as a spot for healing as well as offering the related goods. He could have chosen any number of spots, but he chose a unique but familiar location in Warrenton.

“My wife and I were looking for a location with charm, personality, and a bit of pizzazz for our first brick and mortar shop. We wanted a place that was easy to find, in the right price range, and had enough space to hold all the merchandise as well as room for me to be able to see clients. The roundish buildings on Keith Street fit the bill perfectly! The shape of the buildings, inside and out, give the space an extra boost of personality.”

Services

Pierce’s shop is small but mighty. He sells crystals, essential oils, tapestries, wall clings, jewelry, smudging tools, singing bowls, Zodiac and chakra kits, rain sticks, crystal lamps, and more.

Additionally, he offers services that include several different healing modalities like hypnosis, Reiki, BioWell readings of a person’s chakras and energy field, and others. He also offers educational opportunities such as a crystal grid workshop which teaches clients to create and activate a crystal grid to manifest their goals. He hopes to expand on workshop offerings.

“My passion is to help people and share with them how everyone can find happiness, improve their health and wellbeing, and find their own personal, positive path forward through energy work. This is my life’s work now and I couldn’t be happier.” L

Energy of Being

Mike Pierce

195 2-A Keith St,. Warrenton 540-987-6463‬ energyofbeing.com

While the store’s focus is on crystals, it also offers organic essential oils, smudge tools, tapestries, and more.

Incense is used with aromatherapy.

education

An Investment in Knowledge Pays the Best Interest

Educational options in our community

BY AMIE BOWMAN

“Learning is not by chance,” said former first lady Abigail Adams. Most of us have never considered taking a chance and educating our children outside of the public school system. That system worked for us, so why would we change? What other choices are there?

A growing number of parents in our community are asking those questions, and they are finding out that there are more options in our area than they had imagined.

3 Buckets of Options

Homeschooling involves parents choosing their children’s educational experiences based on each child’s—and family’s—needs, goals, and interests. Far from sitting at the table drilling a child with a workbook, today’s parents

can select from a wide variety of educational experiences for their children. Everything from doing biology on local farms to interning with state or federal government agencies to having language immersion classes with a Chinese professor in Beijing is available.

Classical education involves using the great works of history, science, and philosophy to build an integrated understanding of the nature of humanity, wisdom, virtue, and beauty. All educated people prior to the introduction of institutional schooling in the 1900s received a classical education.

Secular and religious private schools round out the general categories of educational options available in our community. These schools range from small, churchbased religious schools to larger, well-funded secular college preparatory academies.

Lifestyle spoke with representatives of each of the three categories to learn more.

The Naked Apple Tribe (a Homeschool Cooperative)

Homeschool Cooperatives (or co-ops) foster community among homeschooling families. “Our bread and butter at the co-op is family support. Kids can be filled socially anywhere, but we are really serving moms and dads,” said Naked Apple Tribe founder Ashlee Sharrett. The Tribe hosts a variety of activities ranging from academic and enrichment classes one day a week to pool parties, prom, and parent-child social events outside of school hours. “We are here to support each other and help instill a lifetime love of learning in each other’s children.”

Sharrett founded the Tribe, which meets in Vint Hill, in September 2020 because her family had recently moved to the area and needed to make friends during the COVID pandemic. Since then, the co-op has grown by nearly 400% and is considering adding a second co-op day to accommodate the demand. “I never imagined the need would be so large,” Sharrett said. But it is, and The Tribe is hosting open houses for interested families in March.

Ad Fontes Academy (a K-12 Classical Christian School)

Classical education does not require a private school—homeschoolers can be classically educated—but our community does offer a classical school option. Ad Fontes Academy (AFA), located in Centreville next to the Manassas Battlefield, offers students a rigorous, relational, and time-honored educational approach designed to equip them with the tools they need to think for themselves and to communicate articulately. An Ad Fontes education nurtures students’ hearts, souls, and minds.

“We are building the kind of people we need in society,” explains AFA Head of School Joshua McCroskey. The school supports the spiritual, academic, and social

The Naked Apple Tribe hosts a variety of activities for homeschool families ranging from academic and enrichment classes one day a week to pool parties, prom, and parent-child social events outside of school hours.

Ad Fontes Academy

Geothermal Repairs

formation of students through relationships with qualified mentor teachers, small class sizes, and an academic program that is both challenging and grounded in Christ’s teachings. “We are focused on building virtuous and wise people,” says McCroskey.

Wakefield School (a Secular College Preparatory School)

When parents think of college preparatory academies, institutions like Wakefield School in The Plains come to mind. “At Wakefield we use traditions as the foundation to prepare for the future,” said Head of School Ashley Harper. “Those who find their sense of belonging here choose to seek the challenge, make a difference, and live an extraordinary life.” The school focuses on providing the highest level of academics while allowing students to pursue their personal passions.

“We want to raise really good kids that have an impact on the world,” said Harper. The combination of academic excellence and real world application sets Wakefield apart. “Education will look different in 10 years, but the skills [that students develop at Wakefield] are the future.”

How Do Parents Choose?

Each of the representatives with whom we spoke was passionate about the children and families in their school communities, and each program offers exciting opportunities.

Ad Fontes Academy | adfontes.com The

Dave VP Loan Officer

Margie

FosteringSupport

Local foster parents Mandi Brown and Rebekah Neuhaus are committed to supporting foster families

BY JENNIFER WALDERA

The baby needs formula. The toddler needs a teddy like the one forgotten at home. The little boy needs shoes that fit. The sweet girl needs a brush to start pulling through her matted hair. The teenager needs a backpack for the first day back to school. The whole family needs to be fed.

FOSTER THE FAMILY DC

This situation is all too familiar to experienced foster families welcoming new children into their home. In an emergency situation, these families may only have a few hours’ notice before the children arrive, in need of not only basic items, but nurturing and comforting.

The Brown Family

For nearly a decade, Mandi Brown has been a part of this community. She and her husband Aaron have welcomed 17 foster children into their home in the New Baltimore area and adopted two of them. In those years

BY LUKE

she gained an excellent understanding of the challenges involved, which inspired her to join, and then help expand, Foster the Family DC, an organization dedicated to supporting families committed to fostering youth.

“We felt unsupported when we started out on our fostering journey, that is why Foster the Family DC is so important to us now.” Brown said. Envisioning a better experience for other families, she became passionately involved in the organization when they launched in Falls Church in 2021. Since then, she helped with the creation of the Prince William/Fauquier hub in Manassas.

“We deliver a care package to foster or kinship families within 24 hours of the arrival of children. Packages include brand new clothes, toys, games, hygiene items, blankets, formula, and things like that.” Brown said.

Mandi and Aaron Brown’s family includes two adopted daughters, Ashanti, 13, and Candice, 12, adopted ten years ago. This spring, the family has grown with the unexpected but joyful addition of Isaiah, 7, and Grayson, 5, through kinship care. This year the family also includes Mariana, an exchange student from Brazil.

CHRISTOPHER

Ashanti, 4, and Candice, 3, with Mandi and Aaron soon after their adoption.

Important points about fostering

Foster homes are needed in Fauquier and Prince William Counties, especially those who will welcome teens and sibling groups.

Foster children have been traumatized from past experiences and their removal from their homes and parents and may present challenges as a result.

The goal of the foster care system is reunification of children with their natural family. Foster children may only become available for adoption upon termination of the natural parents’ parental rights.

As a foster parent, your job is to care for and nurture the children until reunification.

It can be a difficult journey at times but can be very rewarding.

BY

While she’s the coordinator for provisions for all of Prince William and Fauquier families, she also helps the foundation in other ways, too. From support groups she’s created to community events like 5k runs and Christmas parties throughout Warrenton, Woodbridge, and Manassas, Brown is an integral part of building support for foster caregivers in the region.

“It [fostering] can be a really lonely journey at times and not everyone understands the ins and outs of it and the trauma that children have been through. The first few years we didn’t know any other foster families and it did feel lonely at times. Foster the Family DC creates a community of people who know what you’re going through and support each other and that’s why I love it,” Brown said.

The Neuhaus Family

Real estate agent Rebekah Neuhaus and her firefighter husband embarked on a similarly lonely journey until they found Foster the Family DC.

With four biological children of their own, the Gainesville couple decided to pursue their dream of fostering

Above: The Browns—all of them—putting together a care basket with school supplies, toys, and more for a local foster family receiving new children.

Below, Top: Rebekah and Andrew Neuhaus have fostered approximately 20 children in the last 2 years. Most were unaccompanied minors from the border who only stayed for very short periods while their sponsors underwent verification and background checks.

Below, Bottom: The Neuhaus biological children, Hayley, 12, twins Caleb and Madelyn, 11, and Lincoln, 7, welcomed new brothers (not pictured) last year through the domestic foster care system: 4-year-old G.W. and 6-month-old M.Z. The family is in the process of adopting the boys, now 5 years old and 18 months old.

BY LUKE CHRISTOPHER

LUKE CHRISTOPHER BY JEN PARANZINO PHOTOGRAPHY (2)

We are freedom help hope peace of mind { caregivers }

We are freedom help hope peace of mind { caregivers }

We are

At FirstLight, the care we provide goes beyond the basics of bathing and medication reminders. If you or your loved one wants to work in the garden or play a cherished game, we’re there. Our team, led by local owners, Mark and Stacey Harvey, will spend time getting to know your family and finding ways to enrich your lives. Let us create a personalized care plan to fit your needs:

• Conversation & company

At FirstLight, the care we provide goes beyond the basics of bathing and medication reminders. If you or your loved one wants to work in the garden or play a cherished game, we’re there. Our team, led by local owners, Mark and Stacey Harvey, will spend time getting to know your family and finding ways to enrich your lives. Let us create a personalized care plan to fit your needs:

At FirstLight, the care we provide goes beyond the basics of bathing and medication reminders. If you or your loved one wants to work in the garden or play a cherished game, we’re there. Our team, led by local owners, Mark and Stacey Harvey, will spend time getting to know your family and finding ways to enrich your lives. Let us create a personalized care plan to fit your needs:

• Medication reminders

• Walking & mobility assistance

• Conversation & company

• Conversation & company

• Transportation, shopping & errands

• Bathing, dressing & hygiene

• Transportation, shopping & errands

• Transportation, shopping & errands

• Bathing, dressing & hygiene

• Bathing, dressing & hygiene

• Medication reminders

• Medication reminders

• Laundry & light housekeeping

• Laundry & light housekeeping

• Assistance with meals

• Laundry & light housekeeping

• Assistance with meals

• Assistance with meals

• Mail & paperwork organization

•

• And much more!

•

• And much more!

Caring husband and wife team, Mark & Stacey Harvey... here to make a difference.

Caring husband and wife team, Mark & Stacey Harvey... here to make a difference.

Caring husband and wife team, Mark & Stacey Harvey... here to

Call us today to schedule a complimentary consultation.

Call us today to schedule a complimentary consultation.

540-579-7570

Call us today to schedule a complimentary consultation.

Warrenton.FirstLightHomeCare.com

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Opportunity to lease 8,000 square feet

u s e s p o s s i b l e i n t h i s s p a c e , b u t i t i s c u r r e n t l y b u i l t o u t a s a l a r g e o p e n - p l a n o f f i c e s p a c e w i t h s e v e r a l s m a l l e r p r i v a t e o f f i c e s , b a t h r o o m s , k i t c h e n / b r e a k a r e a , a n d w a r e h o u s e s p a c e Q u i c k a c c e s s t o R t 2 9 v i a W a l k e r D r m a k e s t h i s a v e r y e a s y l o c a t i o n t o g e t i n a n d o u t o f w h i l e s t i l l b e i n g r e l a t i v e l y p r i v a t e S p a c e i s a v a i l a b l e O c t o b e r 1 , 2 0 2 2

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S p a c e i s a v a i l a b l e O c t o b e r 1 , 2 0 2

BY LUKE CHRISTOPHER

as well and within the last two years have opened their home to at least 20 children. It wasn’t until their most recent placement that they learned about Foster the Family DC, but they were so grateful for the organization’s assistance that Rebekah became a passionate supporter and an involved volunteer.

“We’ve really benefited from the support that they’ve given. Once, we got three boys on the same day. Since it was an emergency situation, we didn’t get a lot of notice… we had an hour and a half to get ready,” Neuhaus said.

Ranging in age from infant to 15, the children arrived at the couple’s home with little in tow except the emotional trauma that they had survived that day.

But thanks to Foster the Family DC, they didn’t need to worry about running out for clothes, food, or other necessities to make the children feel welcome or to begin bonding as a family.

She reached out to Foster the Family DC. “I put the children’s ages into the request, and everything arrived that day with the care packages and a meal for our familyfor nine people - which was incredible,” Neuhaus said.

Neuhaus credits Foster the Family DC for the opportunity that enabled her to give her newest foster children, whom they are working toward adopting, an amazing start, and says that their family life is more stable because of it. She also points to their support groups and events with gratitude for

normalizing foster care and the foster family unit.

“Just having the support through Foster the Family DC has made the last year a lot easier and gave us the opportunity to meet other families like ours,” said Neuhaus. “It helped us to see we’re not the only family who looks like this,” Neuhaus said.

Neuhaus has taken on some volunteer roles since she met Foster the Family DC, but she points to Brown as one of the top leaders who has done amazing work expanding the organization and working with churches and other organizations to garner the supplies needed to help foster families thrive.

Just as Brown offers incredible support through her services, Neuhaus offers advice for anyone considering fostering children.

“If you feel like that’s your calling… If you have that calling inside you… for sure take the first step. There are so many things that we’ve been able to experience that we wouldn’t have otherwise.”

Interested in learning more? Reach out to your county’s department of social services who will answer your questions, or volunteer with organizations like Foster the Family DC or any others that support foster families to interact with current foster parents and children. fosterthefamilydc.org

“There are so many things that we’ve been able to experience that we wouldn’t have otherwise.”

for the music

Soul

Documentary chronicles the Grammy nominated jazz singer and Warrenton native’s path as she found her salvation in music.

BY SUE BALDANI

Fine tuning an instrument is important in order to achieve clarity of sound and a beautiful piece of music. In life, fine tuning our talents, feelings, and experiences can also lead to great success. This was certainly so for René Marie, a Grammy-nominated jazz singer who has performed at Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center and the National Jazz Museum, to name just a few. But these achievements did not come easily, and it wasn’t until later in life that she reached these extraordinary heights.

A START IN FAUQUIER COUNTY

BY ANTONIO PORCAR

René Marie Stevens started her life, and musical, journeys in Warrenton. Born in 1955, the fifth of seven children in the Stevens family, she said, “I was born on Falmouth Street, then later moved to Meetze Road,” she said. “I attended Central Elementary School.”

Even as a young child, she felt there was something very special about music and the way she related to it. She said, “I remember being very young, like 4 or 5 years old, and hearing music being played on the radio,” said René Marie. “I would stop in the middle of whatever I was doing and listen to the lyrics, the melody and the harmony, and be moved by it.”

Her father played all different types of music in the home, exposing her to different genres, from folk to bluegrass to opera and

everything in between. While today her principal music style is jazz, hints of a variety of other styles also play a role.

His love of music and the freedom in expressing himself musically had a huge impact on her. “He would sing along and just let the music take over him, and so I felt very comfortable doing the same thing.”

Her mother, who passed away earlier this year, was also a big influence in her life. When she saw how much René Marie loved the piano, she signed her up for lessons with piano teacher Mr. Worrell on Curtis Street. She even brought a piano into the house.

When René Marie talks about her late father, her memories are bittersweet. “He was amazing, and I could see why my mother was so charmed by his personality,” she said. “But he had a proclivity toward alcoholism, which was very much helped along by living under Jim Crow laws. It can break your spirit.” He became abusive towards her mother, who divorced him when René Marie was 9 and moved with the children to Roanoke. René Marie maintained her connection to her father and extended family in Warrenton by returning to visit in the summers. Years later, he would be instrumental in helping her launch her music career.

BY JOHN ABBOTT

Left, Above: Rene Marie with her brother John.

Left, Below: The Stevens Family.

AWAKENING

But that would be several decades later. René Marie married, raised a family, and had a career in a bank. She didn’t perform for years, but started singing again when she was in her mid 40s with the encouragement of her older son. In the film, she related, “Something came alive in me that I had forgotten was there. That was it.”

Then her husband became abusive. “The night before I was supposed to record my first CD, he gave me an ultimatum. If I did it [the recording], I was not to come back home. So, figuratively speaking, he opened the door, I peeked out, and I walked through it.”

It was her father who gave her the money to record the CD, and in 1999, she quit her banking job to make music her full-time career. It took a lot of courage, and she was very scared, but three days later, she was hired for a 10-week gig. “It was incredible,” said René Marie. She signed to a record label, and she was on her way.

She has since released eleven albums and received numerous awards, including two Grammy nominations for best jazz vocals. When she was nominated the first time, she had trouble believing it was actually happening. “The person who called was trying to convince me for five minutes that it was real and not a joke,” she explained.

Today, René Marie is living in Colorado with her second husband, Jesse James Johnson, whom she married in 2006. Her two sons, Michael and Desmond, are all grown up, and Michael is also a musician and songwriter.

The Making of a Film:

“TUNING RENÉ MARIE”

René Marie received a grant that allowed artists to spend up to a month at an artist community. There she met Rachel Kessler [a director, producer and screenwriter based in New York]. René Marie said, “The filmmakers were given an assignment to choose one person from among the other recipients to do a movie short about. Rachel chose me.”

René Marie had just lost her sister and was sad and exhausted, so she didn’t want to do it at first. “But Rachel was so sweet and charming; I just fell in love with her. She was also persistent,” she said.

The resulting approximately 13-minute documentary, “Tuning René Marie”, captures the emotional journey from her childhood in Warrenton to performing for large audiences. It’s honest, and it’s soulful –just like René Marie herself.

Presented through a skillfully done series of mixed media, including animation and live action, and with her own voice recounting her story, it’s full of pain, but also suffused with hope and joy.

Directed by Kessler and produced by Polina Buchak, a Ukrainian film producer currently based in NY, the entire piece was filmed in Warrenton. It is, after all, where René Marie first discovered her love of music, and she still has many family members and friends there.

Some of the filming took place in and around her childhood homes, as well as in the building at 11 S. Second Street, the African American View Tree Lodge Masonic Hall. Masonic meetings are still held on the third floor, and the main floor has housed several restaurants over the years, at one point a barbeque restaurant owned by one of her cousins where René Marie performed early in her music career.

“Warrenton Mayor Carter Nevill was very supportive of the filming,” said Buchak. “He said, ‘Let me know what we need. We love this and want to support it.’’

Nevill said, “Warrenton has produced some significant artistic and musical talent over the years, really contributing to the arts and culture of the whole country. We want to help recognize and celebrate this any way we can.”

Tuning René Marie premiered at Woodstock Film Festival in New York. “We also showed it at the Virginia Film Festival and won the programmer's award for the best short documentary,” said Kessler. Since then, it has played in multiple venues.

“I think people are very touched by René Marie’s story,” Kessler continued. “There's obviously the specificity of her experience, but there's a very universal theme throughout all of it. One theme that came up in our conversations that I really wanted to weave through the film is that art and, in René Marie’s case, music, was her saving grace.”

Awards and the popularity of the film itself aside, the most important critic should be René Marie herself. Her thoughts?

She loved it. “I thought they did an amazing job evoking the spirit of what we went through as a family. I was in tears.” L

Still of the film Tuning Rene Marie. Rene Marie related in the film: “My mother brought a piano into the house when she realized how much I loved music. That piano gave me so much joy.”

Watch the trailer of Tuning Rene Marie

Behind the Scenes filming

BY RACHEL KESSLER

JoAnn Nunn

A timeless and treasured teacher

BY AUBREY MARSHALL

When someone says the name JoAnn Nunn in Southern Fauquier County, ears perk up. Whether you, your kids, or someone you know has had Mrs. Nunn as a teacher, everyone knows that she is truly incredible. Cedar Lee Middle School is blessed to have many excellent educators, but Mrs. Nunn is one that especially stands out.

Mrs. Nunn started teaching English for Fauquier County Public Schools in the fall of 1965, almost 58 years ago. Many teachers have made comments about her continuously evolving teaching style.

“Mrs. Nunn has been a role model for me for this specific reason: despite teaching for decades, she does not have the mindset ‘been there, done that’ toward her teaching strategies,” said her colleague, Elayna Gregory. “Her example of always having a positive attitude toward improving herself has encouraged me to do the same.”

Other colleagues described her as a dedicated lifelong learner whose teaching practices continuously evolve, a teacher who puts her students’ needs first, and a mentor whose opinion is highly regarded by those around her. One commented that even Covid could not deter her.

Mrs. Nunn’s popularity goes well beyond her classroom efforts. For example, her modern fashion style ensures that she shows up every day perfectly put together. Each of her outfits is planned, right down to the coordinated jewelry she wears. “She is one of the most fashionable teachers in the building,” said Bonita Crockett. “Mrs. Nunn’s fashion sense is brave and bold; she is unafraid to try a new trend and never fails to dress for the occasion.”

It's no surprise that Mrs. Nunn’s personality is legendary. “She’s an entertaining conversationalist with a dry wit,” said her close friend and colleague, Mary Keith Russell. With just one word, she lights up any room, and it’s practically impossible to walk into her classroom with a frown on your face. She’s an incredibly outgoing person who’s not afraid to say what she’s thinking, and

Student Submissions

this benefits students who enjoy connecting with teachers on a more personal level. To some, she is the mother or grandmother they never had.

Mrs. Nunn will always be a role model to everyone around her—students and colleagues alike. “She is an icon and pillar of the Cedar Lee community,” said Cedar Lee principal Leah Shorb, who cited her as an excellent example of an innovative educator. She added that despite being the most veteran teacher in the building, Mrs. Nunn regularly attends professional development classes to reinforce her already stellar practices. She always has a kind word for everyone, is endlessly patient, and wants the best for her students. Mrs. Shorb added, “The Cedar Lee Middle School community is beyond fortunate to have been blessed by such a caring, innovative, and charismatic educator for decades.”

As one of her current students, I am grateful that Mrs. Nunn has been my teacher for two of my three years at Cedar Lee. It will be a bittersweet moment when I leave her behind to go to high school, but I know that Mrs. Nunn’s influence will continue to impact me for years. L

Aubrey Marshall, an eighth grader at Cedar Lee Middle School, played basketball for the county championship team this past winter and is running cross country this spring. Aubrey is vice president of Cedar Lee’s National Junior Honor Society chapter and plays saxophone in the school band as well as in the all district and tri-county bands.

Warrenton Lifestyle supports local students in developing their writing skills and building their portfolios. Submissions of non fiction, essays, fiction, and poetry are welcomed. Subjects with a local or community angle are encouraged. Student artist submissions of any media are also welcomed. Please email pam@warrentonlifestyle.com

Back Behind the Wheel

Bealeton business owner's return to the sport— and the community—he loves.

BY SEAN BRODERICK

Greg Ralph has a knack for capitalizing on good opportunities.

There were the several automotive businesses he invested in through the years, each one a success that furthered his career.

Then there was the 1985 Dodge Charger that came into his life just as he was ready to get back on the tracks where he had won dozens of races decades earlier driving his 1968 Plymouth Barracuda.

The Charger was built by Bernard Weaver, a long-time drag racing friend who was behind that Barracuda years ago. And, like that car, this one was Mopar to the core.

In June 2020, Greg and Weaver struck a deal. Greg Ralph, drag racer, was back.

The Beginning: Horses and Cars

Greg grew up in Fairfax County back when it felt more like Fauquier. "I basically grew up on a farm," he said. "There were 4-H clubs and pony clubs. Fairfax doesn't have what it used to there."

Like many teenagers raised in rural surroundings, horses and cars captured his attention. After graduating high school, Greg started a career in the automotive industry and channeled his knowledge and passion for cars into a new hobby: drag racing.

He and the Barracuda were a perfect match, winning regularly at local tracks, mostly Old Dominion Speedway in Manassas. The success encouraged him to enter some bigger International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) events, where the winning continued.

He captured the Hot Rod class title at the 1985 IHRA Summer Nationals, and Super Rod title at the 1989 Spring Nationals. In between, he motored to a full-season championship at Old Dominion, earning the Super Pro title in 1987.

Opposite Page, Top: Greg’s current racer; 1985 Dodge Charger, full tube chassis, 650 horsepower, 440cc engine, 1/8 mile in five seconds, 2300 lbs with driver, two-speed power glide transmission. Opposite Page, Center (2): Greg’s 1968 Plymouth Barracuda, his original dragracer from the 1980s. Right: Greg with girlfriend Julia, son Larry, daughter Karen, and grandsons Logan, 5 (left) and Christian, 7 (right). Bottom row: In action at the Sumerduck Dragway.

New Priorities

While racing was rewarding, it was never Greg’s top priority. He had the businesses, and by the late 1980s, a growing family. Daughter Sarah was born in 1988. Not long after, Greg would sell the Barracuda—the first step in a gradual ramp-down of his racing activity. In 1990, his second child, daughter Karen, was born. Two years later, son Larry arrived.

With that, Greg stepped away from competition. "It was time to stop racing to help raise my family," he said. Back to the Cars

Years later, son Larry was fresh out of the Marine Corps where he had served as an aircraft mechanic. Like his father, Larry had a knack for not just fixing things, but understanding how they worked—and how to make them work better.

He and wife Ashley had settled in Bealeton to raise their own family, and Larry looked for an opportunity to start a career using those skills. He reached out to the auto repair business at the corner of Routes 17 and 29 in Opal.

Coincidentally, it turns out he wasn't the only one in his family interested in the shop.

Greg was ready to make a move as well. He also reached out to the Opal garage owner with an interest in purchasing it.

A New Family Gig

Two months later, in May 2017, Broadview Automotive was under new ownership, and Larry had a new gig.

The shop was small, with three lifts, but it thrived. Greg's reputation around the region and the quality of Broadview's work kept the bays full.

Greg's interest in old, fast cars never waned, nor did he hide it. Broadview's lobby was filled with trophies and pictures from his driving days, and servicing classic cars became a specialty.

In October 2022, Greg purchased another garage in Bealeton, doubling the size of the business and enabling him to devote the smaller garage to the classic cars.

The Pull of the Dragway

While Greg Ralph hadn't competed in nearly three decades, he never really left drag racing. He kept in touch with old buddies and took in some shows, even bringing the kids along. He looked at the occasional race car for sale, thinking that if the right opportunity came along, he just might drive again.

Then Bernard Weaver reached out about the Dodge Charger.

Larry said, "I knew when Dad told me that Bernard built the car that he was going to buy it, because Bernard built the Barracuda that he won all the races with back before I was born.”

Hitting the track

The Charger hit the track in early 2022 after some much-needed work and a little patience while the local drag strip, Sumerduck Dragway, wrapped up an ambitious renovation.

Greg’s team included Weaver, who rebuilt the transmission, C&C Automotive who does his engine machine work, Greg’s girlfriend Julia who threw her support behind the effort by helping sponsor the car through her Advantage II insurance agency, and Louia Christian who came aboard as the de facto crew chief.

And some of the family finally got to see Greg compete.

The first time Larry saw his dad compete was in Sumerduck’s Top Sportsman class. Ashley and their three kids were there, too. "We didn't know what to expect," Larry said.

That day, Greg and the Charger won their first race, and then kept winning. And winning.

The day stretched on, and Larry and Ashley had to hit the concession stand for some chicken fingers and hot dogs to tide the kids over.

"Dad was focused," Larry recalled. "You could tell he was just in the zone the whole night. It came down to the finals. And he won."

The result was memorable, of course. But so was the journey. Fellowship: what it’s all about

"If you're watching drag racing on social media or TV, all you see is a car that does a burnout and then goes down the strip," Larry said. "That's really not the most enjoyable part of it. It's about being together and watching it all work."

Greg and the Charger will be back out at Sumerduck this year. Broadview Automotive will be there too, every week. The business sponsors Sumerduck's Pure Street class, featuring street-legal vehicles that must be driven to and from the track. Greg wants to encourage safe racing at the track as opposed to street racing. “I stress that all the time. If you want to drive fast, do it where it’s legal,” he said.

“The sponsorship helps us give something back to the racing community and maybe encourages new people to try the sport,” Greg said. “A lot of the people that I raced with in the 1980s are still racing. It’s great to be part of that, and I want others to share the experience.”

“Most of the people I’ve met drag racing are hard-working people of integrity who are willing to help others. Everybody wants to win, but everyone’s also willing to help one another. That’s a big part of life, not just in racing, but in relationships. It’s a fellowship. I’ve always been drawn to that part of the sport.” With seven grandchildren ranging in age from 4 months to 9 years (and only one of them a granddaughter), Greg feels that the racing community offers good role models and would be pleased if any of them were to follow in his footsteps. L

Above, Top: Greg, Larry, and crew chief Louia Christian

Above, Bottom: Grandson Logan helping in the shop

Get to Know

Officer Francis Barlan

STORY AND PHOTO BY ERIKA WILSON

The Town of Warrenton Police Officer Francis “Frank” Barlan celebrated his first anniversary with the department in April this year. He had 6 years of experience with another agency when a fellow police officer suggested he join the Warrenton team. Officer Barlan is not only celebrating a work anniversary, but he is happy to be a new dad; his newborn is just 3 months old and he spends most of his free time with his growing family.

Officer Barlan made choices at an early age to fulfill his dream of working in law enforcement. “I’ve always wanted to be a police officer since I was in middle school. I went to college for criminal justice in Connecticut,” he said.

“Warrenton reminds me of my Connecticut hometown. It’s small, and everyone

knows everyone. It helps when you have a good rapport with others,” he said.

In his free time, outside of spending time with his newborn, he plays guitar, rides his motorcycle, attends car shows, and loves kayak fishing. “In Warrenton, I like hanging out on Main Street,” he said.

“I love helping people most about my job, and changing negative perceptions that people may have about police officers,” he

said. He recognized that Warrenton has fewer negative perspectives regarding officers than some areas, but there are still some who are apprehensive when interacting with law enforcement and reluctant to call when they need help.

He spoke of a positive interaction with a citizen: “I met someone whose son was killed by law enforcement. When I helped them with their car that was broken down, they said, “Thank you, I used to hate you all, but what you did was really nice.”

Effecting these changed mindsets is rewarding for Officer Barlan, and he thinks that it’s also good for the community to have positive interactions. This makes the most challenging part of his position a positive one.

Officer Barlan finds it important to connect with the community by mingling with residents, being approachable, and answering calls for service through his position. “Making sure the town of Warrenton and its citizens feel safe and protected is important to me. We want the town to know that we are there to help them,” he concluded. L

We want the town to know that we are there to help them.

Books to Dig Into

Houseplants & Indoor Gardening

Houseplants for Beginners: A Practical Guide to Choosing, Growing, and Helping Your Plants Thrive by Rebecca de la Paz

Killer Plants: Growing and Caring for Flytraps, Pitcher Plants, and Other Deadly Flora by Molly Williams

Never Put a Cactus in the Bathroom: A Room-byRoom Guide to Styling and Caring for Your Houseplants by Emily L.

BY JENNIFER SCHULTZ-ANGOLI, COLLECTION SERVICES DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, FAUQUIER PUBLIC LIBRARY

Spring arrived slowly this year, with cold snaps alternating with warm breezes and balmy days. The arrival of spring means it is time to pull out the shovels, make a trip to the local nursery, or hopefully nurture seedlings for a vegetable garden.

Of course, not everyone has a yard to fill with flowers or space to grow summer’s bounty. Small space gardening and even caring for houseplants can be just as rewarding, if you know how to do it.

Warmer spring temperatures might also mean sitting outside with a good book – any good book will do – but in the spirit of the season, we have compiled a list of books sure to please avid and would-be gardeners alike.

Southern Gardens

Cut Flowers, Foliage & Fruits of the Southeast: Four Seasons of Floral Design by Lee Hemmings Carlton

Garden Secrets of Bunny Mellon by Linda Jane Holden

Gardening With Native Plants of the South by Sally Wasowski

Grow Great Vegetables in Virginia by Ira Wallace

Native Plant Gardening for Birds, Bees, & Butterflies

(South) by Jaret C. Daniels

Vegetable Gardening the Colonial Williamsburg Way: 18th Century Methods for Today's Organic Gardeners by Wesley Greene

Hay Hinsdale

How to Garden Indoors and Grow Your Own Food Year-Round: Ultimate Guide to Vertical, Container, and Hydroponic Gardening by Kim Roman

Sprouts, Shoots & Microgreens: Tiny Plants to Grow and Eat in Your Home Kitchen by Lina Wallentinson

Eco-friendly Gardening

100 Plants to Feed the Birds: Turn Your Home Into a Healthy Bird Habitat by Laura Erickson

Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden: A Natural Approach to Pest Control by Jessica Walliser

Grow Now: How We Can Save Our Health, Communities, and Planet--One Garden at a Time by Emily Murphy

The Tree in My Garden: Choose One Tree, Plant It--And Change the World by Kate Bradbury

Flowers, Fruits & Vegetables

The Complete Guide to NoDig Gardening: Grow Beautiful Vegetables, Herbs, and Flowers: The Easy Way! by Charlie Nardozzi

Floratopia: 110 Flower Garden

Ideas for Your Yard, Patio, or Balcony by Jan Johnsen

The Old Farmer's Almanac Flower Gardening Handbook

Grow Something Different to Eat by Matthew Biggs

Mastering the Art of Flower

Gardening: A Gardener's Guide to Growing Flowers, From Today's Favorites to Unusual Varieties by Matt Mattus

Storywalk

If you are looking for a fun, no-cost family activity, head over the Warrenton Branch Greenway and take a StoryWalk ® .

StoryWalks ® combine the pleasures of reading wonderful children’s books aloud with all the joys and benefits of walking together outdoors.

Each month the StoryWalk® , comprised of 20 stations, features a children’s book

selected by Fauquier Public Library youth services staff. By moving from page to page along the trail, families can develop literacy rituals by reading together.

Look for Llama Llama Red Pajamas by Anna Dewdney on the StoryWalk ® in May.

The Warrenton Branch Greenway StoryWalk is a collaborative effort between Fauquier Public Library, Fauquier County Parks and Recreation and Friends of the Fauquier Library and is paid for by the Patricia and Nicolaas Kortlandt Fund at the Northern Piedmont Community Foundation.

Gardening in Small Spaces

Grow Your Own Mini Fruit Garden: Planting and Tending Small Fruit Trees and Berries in Gardens and Containers by Christy Wilhelmi

Micro Food Gardening: Project Plans and Plants for Growing Fruits and Veggies in Tiny Spaces by Jen McGuiness

Small Summer Gardens: 35 Bright and Beautiful Gardening Projects to Bring Color and Scent to Your Garden by Emma Hardy

Tiny Victory Gardens: Growing Good Food Without a Yard by Acadia Tucker

The Vertical Veg Guide to Container

Gardening: How to Grow an Abundance of Herbs, Vegetables, and Fruit in Small Spaces by Mark Ridsdill Smith L

Dr. Shannon Moore | Dr. Lisa Butterfield | Dr. Barbara Masiello

Book Profile

Letter of Reprisal

by James H. McGee

Jim McGee’s first novel, a political conspiracy and military special ops page-turning action thriller has been some time coming. It took, as he says, about two years of actual writing, but his wife notes that those two years of writing were actually spread out over 30 years.

McGee, a lover of action/espionage thrillers who always had an interest in writing fiction, needed a subject he could sink his teeth into. Having arguably led a pretty exciting life with a 30-year career in national security, hostage negotiation, SWAT, and counterterrorism, in the field and as an instructor for military and law enforcement personnel, his life experiences contributed some ideas for a gripping novel.

Published in April 2022, Letter of Reprisal’s plot is built around a fictional security scenario: McGee considers, if a national security threat arose and the government failed to act, how could a response be galvanized, and who might be recruited to accomplish it? He said, “In my career, I had come to know some very special people, exactly the kind who might be drawn into such a mission. They inspired this novel.”

“Letters of Marque and Reprisal” refers to a concept that had been used back in sailing ship days to empower privateers as a supplement to naval forces. Unlike in many European powers, it remains in the US constitution. It begs a discussion about legal mechanisms to protect those serving in an “unofficial” status, as McGee’s characters are.

The book has sold steadily since publication, frequently finding itself in the top 1,000 in its Amazon sales category. In addition to a US audience, it has already found readers in the UK, Australia, and other international readers—it was, for example, reviewed recently in “The Baltic Times,” a news magazine serving readers in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Feedback so far has been overwhelmingly positive. McGee said, “The Amazon star ratings stand at 4.8 out of a possible 5.0—all but a couple of the 33 ratings have been 5s. Thus far, no negative feedback, although I know it will come—it always does.”

McGee answered some questions about his book and writing for Warrenton Lifestyle

What did you enjoy about writing the book? What did you not enjoy/find the most difficult?

In sports, there’s something called “being in the zone,” a mental state when you see the field clearly, the action in front of you slows down, and you feel utterly empowered to make things happen. Some special operations veterans

Synopsis: As Covid rips across the world in the summer of 2020, credible intelligence emerges of an even more deadly viral threat engineered by Chinese scientists to create global upheaval. When the government fails to mount an official response, a group of powerful Washington insiders turns to Harry York, a retired special forces operator who is fortuitously wealthy, and, at seventy, still trying to live a life of action despite increasing infirmity. They ask Harry to assemble an “off the books” special mission team to penetrate a lawless

region of Central Africa and eliminate the threat. Empowered by a “Letter of Reprisal,” Harry develops a novel plan to insert the team by parachute, destroy the virus laboratory, and then escape aboard a refitted and modernized World War II-era Catalina flying boat. He recruits a diverse international team, led by Grady Dawkins, a former Recon Marine, Kenya-born ex-Foreign Legionnaire Kip Mwangi, and Moira Finnegan, a talented aviator skilled in the arcane art of flying boat operations, along with special operators from multiple countries. Racing against the clock and the prospect that their plan has been compromised, the team cuts short their training and prepares to launch with only minimal preparation. The mission begins promisingly, but then things turn terribly wrong. In page after page of intense action, the team must fight to escape Chinese-trained local militias and then confront the sinister forces in Washington who betrayed the mission.

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About Jim McGee

Jim McGee earned a PhD in modern German history with a dissertation on the early history of the Gestapo, became a Fulbright Fellow at the University of Munich, and then taught college level history before entering the security profession. After 30 years of service, he retired in 2018 as Senior Security Advisor for the U.S. Department of Energy. He and his wife of more than 40 years, whom he met when, as an Army CID special agent, she took a hostage negotiation course he was teaching, have lived in Fauquier County for the last three decades. Having always been active in dog rescue, they share their home with two dogs, Simcha, an older Great Pyrenees, and Heidi, a recently adopted mixed breed. They both enjoy riding their motorcycles on Fauquier’s beautiful country roads and gardening.

and combat pilots I’ve known have also described such a phenomenon. For me, there’s a writer’s version of this, an interval where you know exactly what you want to say, and exactly how to say it—the words just flow. Unfortunately, for every such moment, there are also moments where everything is a slog, where completing even a simple descriptive paragraph seems excruciatingly hard work. But those zone moments make up for that. Does the book reflect any themes that are important to you?

My dad was a World War II infantry combat veteran. Like so many of his generation, he never spoke at length about his experiences, but, when I listened closely, I would pick up on things that have stayed with me. Once he remarked, “The real test of a soldier doesn’t come when things fall apart.” In the years since, I’ve heard that echoed by many of the special forces veterans I’ve been privileged to know. That’s the first theme. The second is related and has to do with the importance of love and comradeship, even in the face of heartbreaking loss. What is your writing process? Did you have the whole book planned before starting it, or did your characters have surprises for you along the way?

I spent a lot of time working out planning the action before I put the first word on paper. In an action thriller that involves the characters going on a mission, you must plan the mission, after all, even as you might plan it in real life. But once I had the basic outline in place and started writing, I quickly found that the characters started to take over, and that the main characters started to have surprises for me. A love story developed unexpectedly, and one of the central events (a spoiler) wasn’t in the original outline, but something that, in the end, just had to be.

Is there anyone else that should be mentioned that was instrumental in the production of the book?

My late agent, Tom Epley, became a friend and fell in love with the story and the characters he believed in me and in my writing at a critical time. Do you plan to continue to write?

We’re committed to finding individuals with the right heart posture. This innate sense and passion for caring for others defines the EverNest team. From personal care services to companionship services and beyond, our home care offerings are tailored to suit each of our client’s lifestyles and needs.

I’ve already started a sequel. Along the way I became “friends,” so to speak, with the characters I’d created, and while some, sadly, became casualties, I want to involve these friends in fresh adventures. L

stops along the way

AN ESSAY BY DON BACHMANN

AMothe r ’ s Gifts

Mother’s Day, for most of us, is a special day on which we express our gratitude to our mother for all she has done for us. We usually take her to dinner, buy her flowers and cards, and gather the entire family around in celebration. It is a deserved expression of love.

However, for many of us, we can only honor Mother’s Day in reflective remembrance of a loved one who has passed. I believe it is right that we do so – right that we reflect upon what was given to each of us beyond the gift of life.

I think of gifts given and freely taken. I think of my brother and sister and wonder what each of them would say about what was given to them.

And, I wonder if their reflections mirror mine.

The more I ponder, the more I realize that we are shaped by gifts given. I realize that small seeds planted can burst forth with new promise when nurtured in a caring environment. I also realize that the ultimate testament of love is to give of one’s self – and what better example of giving than a mother striving to help her children become all that they can be?

As in most families, we tend to remember the good times, but we also remember some of the bad times – times that inflicted wounds that were hard to heal. My mother shepherded us through those times and provided the necessary healing

salve – a mother’s love.

My mother loved her children and had the ability to make each of us feel special; she gave each of us special gifts. To me she gave the gift of forgiveness. She once told me that no matter what trespass I might have committed, if I was sincere in my contrition, I could always count on two things. One was God’s forgiveness, and the other was hers.

Over time, I tested the boundaries of her forgiveness; I was always the prodigal son. I remember committing transgressions that left her on bended knee seeking divine guidance. In her later years, she would remind me, “I always prayed the hardest for you – and still do.”

Her humor was wry, but never cruel. It bespoke of her no-nonsense Kansas upbringing as a first generation American. Her character was formed by old-world values and new-world aspirations; both were tempered by fervent religious principles.

Her path, though never easy, was clear to her and she sought to make it so for her children. She did what all mothers do, she sought to guide, she worried, she prayed, and she called upon her inner strength to fight for her family.

Later in life, she once told me, “If it wasn’t for you, I would have remained a brunette twenty years longer.” And whenever I called her “foxy lady” for her graying hair, her retort was quick: “You stop

that right now or you’ll never make it to Heaven!”

Despite her admonishments, I always knew she acted in what she considered was my best interest. She was always there for me – always there for her family. And, no matter what, she never gave up on any of us – not ever.

I hope each of you can think of your mother as a special person in your life; I hope you can remember gifts given. Perhaps it was a word of wisdom, an expression of faith, her example, or merely a smile of unconditional love. For me, it was all that and more. She taught me not only about how to live life, but how to leave it.

At the end of her life, when she was in hospice care, her moments of lucidity became less frequent. All that any of us could do was to try and bring her some comfort, by being with her, by sitting next to her, by holding her hand.

It was during one of these moments that she opened her eyes, smiled at me, stroked my hand and said, “Take care of one another and be kind.” In a moment, she drifted off again, and after a while I came to a realization. I realized that, in fact, I wasn’t holding her hand; but rather, she was holding mine and was trying to comfort me.

This is what I remember of her: her simple truth – the embodiment of how she lived her life, “Take care of one another and be kind.”

As a final thought on this Mother’s Day, we all want to believe that we have made a positive difference in the lives of others. As I reflect upon my mother’s life I can say she made a difference in my life and the lives of our family. I pray that all of you have such thoughts and memories on this very special day. L

Stops Along the Way is a column by Orlean resident Don Bachmann

Left: A picture of my mother from 1943 that my father carried with him during WWII. Above: My mother in 2011, the last time she was able to visit Virginia.

A Desktop for A Desktop

Do you really need a laptop?

BY KLAUS FUECHSEL, DOK KLAUS COMPUTER CARE

In the last decades, laptops have taken over the market and have distinct advantages. But the old-fashioned desktop computer is still worth considering for some computing needs and is making a comeback.

Desktops are still the workhorse computers for businesses. Software programs are getting better — and larger, so those running Windows 7 and 8 are being forced to upgrade their computers to adapt. If that’s you, you have some choices to make, and a desktop may work for you.

Smaller Sizes of Desktop Computers

A standard desktop tower used to be about ¾’ wide and 1 ½’ square. Lately, desktops have become smaller and smaller, so they can easily fit on any desk. Today you

Tips for a healthy desktop

A desktop should never be plugged right into a wall socket, but instead be connected to a surge protector. Even better, get a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) battery-backup device that includes surge protection. A UPS can save your desktop when there’s a sudden power outage.

can choose between big desktops, slim and sleek towers, and mini desktops. One of the smallest desktops is 4’ x 4’ inches square and only 1’ high.

What size desktop is best for you? For home and remote work computer use, slim desktops are a great choice. To minimize cable spaghetti,we recommend a wireless mouse and keyboard. And unlike laptops and All-in-Ones, you can connect any type or size of monitor to a desktop, even touch screens. Heads up: some of the newer desktop computers do not have ports for the older monitors, so you may have to purchase a new monitor. The quality of new screens is much better, and for around $150, you can get an eye-friendlier 24” or 27” monitor.

Easier to upgrade and update

One of the advantages of a desktop is that it is much easier to upgrade. Because solid state drives have become smaller, even mini desktops have designs allowing two drives. RAM is easily upgradeable, and USB ports can be added. You can exchange the video card to create higher quality screen output, or even, in some cases, add a second video card allowing you to connect several monitors so you can surf or write an email on one screen while watching a video or playing a game on the other. Two monitors are also great for online classes, teaching, or attending a zoom conference, especially if you are viewing content or creating documents together.

Lower cost, sturdier, fewer repairs, and no dying batteries

If you really don’t need a laptop to take with you on the road, you’ll find that basic desktops are generally cheaper than laptops, even if you have to buy a new monitor as well. They are less expensive to repair and maintain, and less likely to encounter a crisis: being dropped or spilled on. And they don’t have batteries that die at inopportune moments.

But please remember that even the sturdiest of desktops needs some TLC and regular maintenance if you want to use it for years to come. L

Complicated taxes?

Complicated taxes? Bring

Complicated taxes? Bring it on.

done isn’t enough - you need your taxes done right. That’s where we come in. We hire and train the most qualified tax professionals to ensure you claim every credit and deduction you deserve so you get your maximum refund. Guaranteed.*

Call

Taxes are complicated. Getting your taxes done isn’t enough - you need your taxes done right. That’s where we come in. We hire and train the most qualified tax professionals to ensure you claim every credit and deduction you deserve so you get your maximum refund. Guaranteed.* Call

Taxes are complicated. Getting your taxes done isn’t enough your taxes done right. That’s where we come in. We hire and most qualified tax professionals to ensure you claim every deduction you deserve so you get your maximum refund. Guaranteed.

Taxes are complicated. Getting your taxes done isn’t enough your taxes done right. That’s where we come in. We hire and most qualified tax professionals to ensure you claim every deduction you deserve so you get your maximum refund. Guaranteed.

Call

Getting

Taxes are complicated. Getting your taxes done isn’t enough your taxes done right. That’s where we come in. We hire and most qualified tax professionals to ensure

Taxes are complicated. Getting your taxes done isn’t enough your taxes done right. That’s where we come in. We hire and most qualified tax professionals to ensure you claim every deduction you deserve so you get your maximum refund. Guaranteed.

77 W LEE HWY.,

enough your taxes done right. That’s where we come in. We hire most qualified tax professionals to ensure you claim every deduction you deserve so you get your maximum refund.

Tax Group, Inc.

Block error on your return that entitles you to a larger refund for smaller tax liability, we’ll refund the tax prep fee for that return. Refund claims must be made during the calendar year in which the return was prepared.

* If you discover an H&R Block error on your return that entitles you to a larger refund for smaller tax liability, we’ll refund the tax prep fee for that return. Refund claims must be made during the calendar year in which the return was prepared.

claims must be made during the calendar year in which the return was prepared.

OBTP#B13696@213 HRB Tax Group, Inc.

* If you discover an H&R Block error on your return that entitles you to a larger refund for smaller tax liability, we’ll refund the tax prep fee for that return. Refund claims must be made during the calendar year in which the return was prepared. OBTP#B13696@213 HRB Tax Group, Inc.

Spring Chicken

BY KARLA JONES SEIDITA, HOME ECONOMIST

The weather is warming and the days are getting longer. Flowers poke their sleepy heads up through the moist, fragrant soil. Everywhere you look, everything is green. It must be spring.

Spring. Lovely spring. Bloom’n spring. Gorgeous, fragrant, colorful spring. A time of rebirth and rejuvenation. A time to swap winter’s heavy fare for lighter recipes of the season. Chicken is the first thing that comes to mind…. Spring Chicken.

Spring Chicken

Oh my gosh… This chicken is just too divine for words.Tender. Juicy. Velvet-y. Quick to make with unlimited variations. Guaranteed to be your go to chicken recipe. The secret to all the unbridled yummy-ness is a baking soda brine. Yes, a baking soda brine! Baking soda makes this recipe pure magic. Let’s get into the kitchen!

How to Butterfly Chicken Breasts

Chicken breasts cook unevenly because one side is thicker. Some cooks pound breasts to flatten the thick part for uniform cooking. But, if you butterfly them instead, you’ll get the same results with lots less work.

To butterfly a chicken breast, slice through one side of the breast starting at the thickest part and ending where it’s just starting to get thinner. Leave the opposite side attached and uncut. To prepare the recipe, open the butterflied chicken breast like a book and use it in one piece as a larger, thinner breast.

SERVES 4 TO 6

RECOMMENDED PAN – 10 TO 12 INCH SKILLET

INGREDIENTS

8 (thin cut) skin-less, boneless chicken breasts – about 2 pounds*

2/3 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs (approximately)

3 Tablespoon butter

3 Tablespoons olive oil

*If thin cut breasts are not available at your store, get 4 regular skinless, boneless chicken breasts – about 2 pounds –and “butterfly” them.

COOK’S TIP

DIRECTIONS

1. Velvet (tenderize) the chicken breasts (see directions left) Rinse breasts well. Drain but don’t dry. Coat both sides of the damp breasts with bread crumbs. Spritz the skillet with cooking spray then add the butter and oil. Heat until a pinch of bread crumbs sizzles. Add the crumb coated breasts (in open position if butterflied).

2. Cook on medium (in batches or in 2 pans, as necessary) till golden brown on 1 side – 1 to 2 minutes depending on the thickness of the breasts. Turn breasts. Cover pan. Remove from heat. (Yes, you only cook one side.) Let sit off heat, covered, about 5 minutes for the second side to brown. Meanwhile, prepare sauce or topping for serving. When the second side has browned, it’s ready. Optional (but yummy!) - pour pan juices over cooked chicken before adding sauce or topping.

It’s ok to peek under a bit of the chicken as it cooks to check for brown-ness but don’t move the breasts around or turn them over and over. Undisturbed contact with the pan is needed to ensure golden browning and correct cooking.

Giving Chicken that Velvet Touch

Cooking skinless, boneless chicken breasts so they’re tender and juicy is one of the hardest things to do. But “velvet” the chicken before cooking and it’s perfect every time.

Velveting is a classic Asian restaurant technique that easily adapts to the home kitchen. Chicken (other meat, too) is briefly brined in baking soda and water or given a dry baking soda rub. It’s magic!

This recipe is enough for about 2 pounds of skinless, boneless chicken breasts – (8 thin cut) or (4 butterflied).

INGREDIENTS

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 cup cool tap water

DIRECTIONS

Mix baking soda and water in a large bowl. Add the chicken breasts. Swish them around so the liquid reaches all surfaces. Let soak at room temperature for 20 minutes. Drain. Return breasts to bowl and cover with cool tap water. Swish breasts to rinse all surfaces taking care to rinse the inside of the bowl at the same time. Drain. Repeat for a total of 5 times. Chicken must be very well rinsed to remove all traces of baking soda.

Toppings and Sauces (with Wine Pairings!)

Serving suggestions for divine dinners.

Chicken Schnitzel

Garnish cooked chicken with chopped fresh parsley. Sprinkle a few capers on top if you like them and happen to have them on hand. Serve with fresh lemon halves for squeezing over the chicken at the table. Spaetzle or steamed potatoes, green beans and a salad of sliced tomatoes would be good sides.

French Onion

Top with sauteed onions, crispy bacon and gravy. To round things out, add a baked potato, butter, sour cream and broccoli salad.

BOTH PAIR WELL WITH: CHARDONNAY

Produced completely in stainless steel and hailing from its Whetstone Run vineyard, DuCard Vineyards 2021 Whetstone Chardonnay ($36) expresses vibrant tropical notes and a hint of smokiness. ducard vineyards.com

Asian

Pour heated bottled or homemade Asian sauce over the cooked chicken. Serve rice, stir fry vegetables and a cucumber salad alongside. For an easy, homemade Asian sauce, mix: ½ c sweet orange marmalade, ¼ BBQ sauce (your fav) and 1 Tablespoon soy sauce. Simmer for 5 minutes to blend flavors. (Be sure to use “sweet” orange marmalade. It’s not bitter like regular marmalade.)

Curry and Raisin

Stir a handful of raisins into your fav Indian cooking sauce and heat. Pour over the cooked chicken. Garnish with chopped, fresh parsley. Serve with steamed carrots, naan bread, plain yogurt and cucumbers.

BOTH PAIR WELL WITH: VIOGNIER

Viognier is an excellent choice for both these dishes. It’s a full-bodied white wine beloved for its fruity aromas. Local Vintage: DuCard Vineyards 2020 Signature Viognier ($34). This aromatic dry white features wildflowers at first and honey and melon in the background. ducardvineyards.com

Chicken Parm

Cover cooked chicken with hot pasta sauce and cheese. Microwave to melt cheese or place in a 325 degree oven. Serve with a side of spaghetti, garlic bread and a green salad.

PAIRS WELL WITH: MERLOT

With its soft tannins and fruitiness, Merlot is perfect with food or on its own. Local Vintage: Barrel Oak 2019 Merlot ($39). Garnet color with aroma of red fruit and a palate of bright flavor of cranberry and pomegranate, this Merlot offers a warm spice on the finish. barreloak.com

Alfredo

Cover cooked chicken with heated Alfredo or cream sauce. Mushroom soup sauce works well, too. Serve with asparagus, linguini and a cherry tomato salad.

PAIRS WELL WITH: PINOT NOIR

If your favorite sauce is creamy, Pinot Noir is the way to go. It’s the most popular, light-bodied red wine anywhere and is loved for its red fruit and spice aromas. Local Vintage: The Winery at LaGrange’s 2020 Pinot Noir ($50). wineryatla grange.com

Peppers and Onions

Serve cooked chicken on a bed of olive oil or water sauteed onions and bell peppers (red, orange, yellow or a combo). Add an iceberg lettuce wedge salad with hot bacon dressing.

PAIRS WELL WITH: CABERNET FRANC

With its herbaceous aromas and medium body, Cabernet Franc is the perfect complement to the peppers and onions in this recipe. Local Vintage: The Winery at LaGrange’s 2020 Cabernet Franc ($40). wineryatlagrange. com

Mexican

Heat your favorite salsa and pour over the cooked chicken. Cover with cheese, if desired, and microwave to melt or place in a 325 degree oven. Serve with cornbread and a salad of black beans, corn and spring onions.

PAIRS WELL WITH: PETIT VERDOT

A full-bodied red, Petit Verdot pairs nicely with this delicious recipe. Local Vintage: Barrel Oak Winery Petit Verdot ($46). barrel oak.com L

Reaching for a hand and touching a heart.

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